A few things relating to my WW Chicago 2014 experience...

Hi there,

I thought I would share my experience from the Wizard World Fan Expo that was held in Chicago this year.

First off, I should explain that I have been a Spider-Man fan since I started collecting Amazing Spider-Man comics (way) back in 1982. The very first comic that I ever bought off the newsstand was ASM #227 and I was pretty much hooked from the first page (actually I think it may have been the cover).

Since then I have managed to acquire every regular title Spider-Man comic ever published (Amazing, Spectacular, Team-Up, Web, Spider-Man, etc.) including a lot of appearances by, one-offs and mini-series.

So, as you can see, I am a pretty big Spider-Man fan.

My convention experience prior to Chicago was limited to just one event -- Toronto 1991 -- Where I had Todd McFarlane sign my copy of ASM #300 (in gold ink). I remember feeling a bit weird about having to stand in line to meet him, especially since none of the other artists or writers had line-ups. I also remember that Mr. McFarlane was not very friendly and seemed (was) very arrogant.

All in all, it was not a very fun experience, and since then I have stayed away from conventions -- Until now!

I should also mention, however, that a few years ago I purchased a CGC 6.0 copy of ASM #1 from someone on Craigslist for $6,000.00.

...(Now, I know that some of you will cringe at the next part of this story, but I have to tell it in order for any of this to matter)...

Once I got my newly acquired ASM #1 home, I cracked open the case, and carefully read through the comic (this was the first time ever that I had read an original copy).

After reading it, I put it away with the intent of getting it graded (again) some day -- But I really wanted Stan Lee's signature on it, and I also didn't want to send it through the mail. So, I waited...

Cut to August 2014:

Convention Day 1: I arrived in Chicago after a 7 hour drive from Toronto, Canada. I had 43 modern books (mostly ASM#1 vol.3 variants) and 7 silver age Amazing Spider-Man comics with me, two of which were Amazing Fantasy #15 and my aforementioned Amazing Spider-Man #1.

I finally found my opportunity to not only get Stan's signature, but CGC was grading on-site as well, so I wouldn't have to worry about sending my expensive comics through the mail.

I've sent tons of comics to CGC in Florida to be graded, but I had never been through the on-site process so I was very nervous, anxious, AND stressed out! Carlos, who owns Gotham Central Comics in Mississauga (near Toronto), gave me the name of someone that he said would help me out -- Mike B., a CGC on-site rep.

I visited Mike at the CGC booth as soon as the convention opened on the Thursday and, I have to tell you, he was amazing! He really helped me out -- My anxiety level even lowered to the point where I could talk without throwing up. Actually, everyone at the CGC booth was awesome! What a great group of people -- Super energetic and super helpful -- They really made the experience that much better!

Of the 50 comics that I brought with me, I subbed 40 comics for modern tier grading, 4 for silver tier pressing and grading, and the remaining 6 comics I wanted to get signed (by Stan Lee), pressed, and graded (various tiers).

Convention Day 2: Stan Lee was signing at 6pm so I showed up 3 hours early to get in line. Lucky for me that I did, because at 4pm we found out he was going to be there earlier than expected. At around 5:30pm he showed up, and 10 minutes later I finally met one of my childhood (and adulthood) heroes. It was unbelievable and I was in comic nerd heaven!

Watching him sign my copies of AF #15 and ASM #1 was euphoric. And because I was getting six comics signed by him, I was able get one question out before I was herded along -- I asked him why he had named Peter Parker "Peter Palmer" in the second story of ASM #1. He paused, looked up from the comic he was signing, and said:

"I made a mistake -- That's all it was -- Just an terrible mistake"

After getting my books signed (and recovering from my meeting with Stan), I dropped them off with the CGC guys and rushed back to my hotel room where I lay down and replayed the events of the day in my head. I was exhausted, but numbly happy.

Convention Day 3: I received all my modern subbed comics (that was fast!) -- Of the 40 that I got back, 34 were 9.8s. The issues that didn't get a 9.8 were duplicates of subs anyway, so I was really, really happy with with my haul!

Convention Day 4: I got the rest of my graded comics back -- Of the 6 that I got signed and graded I received:

- 6.0 (restored) on my AF #15 (I knew it was restored before I got it signed and graded)

- 4.5 on my ASM #3 (I thought I would get a 3.0)

- 9.8 on my ASM #700 Ditko variant; (I did not expect that! Woo hoo!)

- 9.8 on my ASM #1 vol.3 Ross sketch variant (Nice!)

- 9.8 on my Collectible Classics: Spider-Man #2 chromium cover (What a relief)

And my ASM #1 that was a 6.0 before I cracked it open to read?

...

I got a 6.5!!!!!

Can you believe it? Words cannot describe how happy I was (am). When does that ever happen?

All in all, my experience in Chicago was unbelievable -- From meeting Stan Lee and getting his signature on a few of my favorite Spider-Man comics, to getting to meet the extremely nice and helpful CGC crew, to everything else at the show, I would have to say that I would definitely do it again!

Thanks for listening...

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