Fan Expo 2016

[romanheart]

I went on the Sat. It was bedlam. I left early that day and maybe got to the comic book artists and dealer area around 10:30am. Moving around was tough and figuring out where to get my books signed took a while.

 

I had an ASM Campbell variant I was going to get signed by Stan and a DD to be signed by Frank. I was in a 2 hr line for Stan. He actually took a nap for 30 mins apparently. I should have just left it at the booth with the Frank Miller book to be signed. It's not like he had the stamina to look up at anybody. I don't know what the fuss is about getting your book signed the day of in order to send it away for grading. I literally could have done a switch after my book was signed as I took it to a different line myself.

 

I looked all around for the best books and deals I was interested in. It seems like every year I pick up books from one dealer, but it seems to be a particular dealer every year.

 

I picked up Omega Men 3, MTU 95, and CA 360 from Big B Comics. One of the guys working the booth showed me their Tec 28 6.0 worth $60K US.

 

I ran into Jim (Guardian Comics) and the fellows from ER Comics. Nice to know some of the board members in person now. Jim sold me a run of ASMs and I was able to pick them up at the show.

 

I wanted to meet some of the celebs but that meant making the trek back to North building. Just making my way back there would have ate up a half hour.

 

And now some photos with a little eye candy thrown in.

 

 

 

 

An actual decent looking Harley Quinn as opposed to the many walking around with 'Daddy's Lil Monster' shirts.

 

 

I didn't know who she was but she put in the time and seemed worthy of a photo.

 

 

My friend Yvonne from way back dressed as Emma Frost. She hung out in the line with me for Stan.

 

A stunning beginning cosplayer from my home city of Ottawa.

 

 

 

 

[jsilverjanet]

some pics aren't showing up

[romanheart]

Leeanna Vamp and I. She was quite nice.

 

Nicole Marie Jean. Pro cosplayer.

 

 

Kristen Hughey. Pro cosplayer. Very nice and had the largest line when I was there. She takes a nice photo.

 

 

 

What can you do? Google photos is far from perfect.

[Guardian Comics]

Great meeting you Tony...looking forward to hearing from you soon.

 

Jim

[Black_Adam]

 

Great photos! And you're right, Ms. Vamp looks very nice.

[TupennyConan]

Great meeting you Tony...looking forward to hearing from you soon.

 

Jim

 

Hi.

 

 

[VintageComics]

So Informa, the company that owns Fan Expo and Megacon now also own the Boston Comic Con.

[TupennyConan]

So Informa, the company that owns Fan Expo and Megacon now also own the Boston Comic Con.

 

Correct.

[TupennyConan]

How does that information make you feel?

[TheLiamSturgess]

How does that information make you feel?

 

Not a big fan of these big companies (Reed Pop, Comicon International, FanExpo) dominating the market. I much prefer shows like Tampa, run by collectors, for collectors.

[VintageComics]

How does that information make you feel?

 

I have already heard negative things about Boston even though they only announced it a few weeks ago.

 

Megacon didn't go smoothly fom the dealers I spoke to earlier this yea.

[TupennyConan]

When I spent NYE in Toronto with you a few years back Roy, I said then that Toronto deserves a a better show.

[Dale Roberts]

I've heard that Informa bought DragonCon. Not confirmed tho.

[VintageComics]

When I spent NYE in Toronto with you a few years back Roy, I said then that Toronto deserves a a better show.

 

Peter Dixon puts on a monthly Toronto, comics only show.

 

From what I can see Fan Expo is a large, corporate sponsored show with relatively little vintage selection for a show of it's size (I believe they are top 5 on the continent for attendance). They've expanded the show into the adjacent North convention center but last time I was there a few years ago it was mostly sports card guys.

[Kevin Boyd]

Peter doesn't put on a monthly comics only show, he did for a while, but stopped. Every so often he says he'll start it up again. I would set up if he did. There's another semi-monthly dealers only show at Wilson and Jane, Toronto Comic Book Show for the hardcore book collectors and that has built up a decent reputation as a buying show. The last time outsiders tried to stage events here they didn't go so well, like Wizard or that SuperFan Comic Con fiasco at the ex a few years back.

 

Boston is in a strategic alliance with FanExpoHQ at this time. I'm not sure what that entails, but I was told that was the case again in conversation on Fan Expo weekend. I got to meet the guys who book for Boston and we had a great time last weekend.

 

I've heard nothing about DragonCon other than I think it's on the same weekend again next year as Fan Expo Canada (but Baltimore isn't).

 

From where I was, the guests did well, they were happy and were making money and there was a happy, positive buzz in the comics section.

 

I had my two vendor booths but I sell books --- and sales of trades and graphic novels was the strongest I've seen. I sold less pop vinyls and statues than in previous years but there's an overload of that kind of merchandise, but each year the crowds are different too and have different needs/demands.

 

[theThreat]

Well I missed the show because I was in Europe.

 

But I haven't been in years. Really, 60 dollars for a 1 day pass for Saturday? 60 dollars just to walk through a door? last time I was there it was $70 for a Leonard Nimoy autograph.

 

These shows are so over commercialized. Who can afford this?

[Kevin Boyd]

It is cheaper than that on Thursday and Friday.

 

But attendance was up, last year it was 128K and change paid attendees.

 

Prices were:

Thursday, September 1, 2016 $25 CAD / $19 USD

Friday, September 2, 2016 $40 CAD / $30 USD

Saturday, September 3, 2016 $60 CAD / $45 USD

Sunday, September 4, 2016 $45 CAD / $34 USD

 

Personally, if I just wanted to buy comics / see dealers Thursday is always the best deal. Prices are always highest on the busiest days.

 

 

[Guardian Comics]

Peter doesn't put on a monthly comics only show, he did for a while, but stopped. Every so often he says he'll start it up again. I would set up if he did. There's another semi-monthly dealers only show at Wilson and Jane, Toronto Comic Book Show for the hardcore book collectors and that has built up a decent reputation as a buying show. The last time outsiders tried to stage events here they didn't go so well, like Wizard or that SuperFan Comic Con fiasco at the ex a few years back.

 

 

Kevin: Agreed, would be the first I've heard of Pete putting on a show and working as closely with him as I do nowadays you'd think he'd have told me first.

 

As well you are absolutely correct, the TCBS has become an absolute gem of an event and is the perfect comic book convention. It happens 5-6 times a year, the selection is probably better than a FanExpo combined, no Cosplay, no guests just a straight up comic book show. What Rob has created is nothing less than genius, and I think both markets become totally satisfied.

 

Jim

[THE_BEYONDER]

It is cheaper than that on Thursday and Friday.

 

But attendance was up, last year it was 128K and change paid attendees.

 

Prices were:

Thursday, September 1, 2016 $25 CAD / $19 USD

Friday, September 2, 2016 $40 CAD / $30 USD

Saturday, September 3, 2016 $60 CAD / $45 USD

Sunday, September 4, 2016 $45 CAD / $34 USD

 

Personally, if I just wanted to buy comics / see dealers Thursday is always the best deal. Prices are always highest on the busiest days.

 

 

[Kevin Boyd]

I stopped doing them (TCBS) a while back because I just wasn't selling anything there. I don't deal much in single issue comics anymore, and found I was just breaking even bringing trades and other stuff, I had nothing of interest for that audience that was a little more speculation-focused than I normally deal with, so I moved on.

 

I do better at the Ontario Collectors Con group of shows in Mississauga, where people are more inclined to buy a book to read with their other purchases.

 

With a show like FanExpo,dealers need to make their money on the table investment, so while you'll see the higher end books and dealers like Harley, Big B, Comic Book Addiction, selling there, etc., they don't bring boxes of cheap $1-5 books that a bin diving show like Rob's can provide with low cost tables and he sells out fast.

 

Our December Fan Days show is always a good buying and selling show because the tables are pretty low cost, waiting for the date on that.