UNBE-F*CKIN-LIEVABLE!

Just read this headline over on the Beat:

Breaking: Big Apple to go head to head with New York Comic-Con next year

And people said Wizard's scheduling of the Anaheim Comic Con on the same weekend as Reed's C2E2 next April was just coincidence. Ha! Suckers.

For shame, Shame-us. For shame.

SAN DIEGO PODCASTING PANEL!

On Thursday July 24th:
5:00-6:00 The Third Annual Comics Podcasting Panel— The best of the best in comics podcasting returns to San Diego for the third annual discussion of comics podcasting and how it's affected the comics media. A no-holds-barred discussion with comics podcasters Bryan Deemer and Peter Rios (Comic Geek Speak), Charlito and Mr. Phil (Indie Spinner Rack), Joe Gonzalez and Jimmy Aquino (Comic News Insider), Josh Flanagan and Conor Kilpatrick (iFanboy), and John Mayo and Bob Bretall (Comic Book Page). Room 32AB

From what I understand, now to be moderated by Fred Van Lente instead of Rick Remender. Only five podcasts represented? I thought for sure there'd be more.

Anyway - stop by, wear your CGS shirt and come with good questions. Frankly, you hear us talk all the time - what more could we possibly say? I want to hear from YOU! We may also use this night as a good time to gather everyone for an impromptu listener meetup/dinner.

See you there!

OFF TO GOD'S WAITING ROOM

So I'm off to Florida for my first stop on the 2008 Convention Tour for CGS (Comic Geek Speak - the podcast I do with my friends). We'll be in MegaCon, Orlando, FL. until Monday. I can't wait. We haven't been there before so I'm looking forward to seeing old and new friends, meeting new listeners and just having a blast. And one of my friends from Philly will actually be there as well. So that makes it all the better.

When I return, I'll be starting choreography for my next gig: Mystery of Edwin Drood. Great whodunnit type musical. I'm also anticipating Spring. It was beautiful in Philly on Monday and Tuesday - people in Philly come out like roaches when the weather gets nice. I love it. Nothing like sitting in Rittenhouse and watching the shorts and tank tops come out. I'm such a perverted old man.

Also, the other venture I help out with, Comics Now! Magazine, will be shipping its second issue in a few weeks. It gets better and better.

Send good thoughts for the plane ride. And, for post-show festivities, send good thoughts for my liver.

That is all.

WOW

The weekend is over and our Episode 300 was a success. It's crazy to think that over 150 people traveled to Reading Pa. from all over the country (and one guy from the UK) to come and celebrate comics with our podcast. It's an amazing community of people that I consider friends. Surprisingly, the weekend wasn't too quick and it didn't drag. It moved along at a great pace while we set up, signed people in, made the creators feel comfortable, talked, laughed, etc. Everyone seemed to be incredibly excited and happy and the money was flowing which was great for Lem at Golden Eagle Comics. I met new people, saw old friends, finally talked with people I only talk with through our forums. My co-host Bryan busted his ass to make this a worthwhile event and it happened.

During the actual Episode 300 recording, I think I teared up at least five times. It's not just about people hanging out. It's about people wanting to share their joy and their excitement and their passion for a similar interest. That's no different than coming together for a sporting event, a business, music - whatever. I have no regrets about the weekend and hell - I walked out of there with an iPod Nano from Bryan. How awesome is that.

We're already making plans for next year - bigger and better - so I hope to see even more new people attend.

If anyone would've told me in March'05 that by Sept'07 we'd be running our own convention, I would've scoffed. But here we are.

Bravo.

YOU HAVE REACHED...

...Most likely I will be away from my computer for a good solid three days - Friday thru Sunday - as I romp around with my comic geek friends at our annual celebration. We've hit 300 Episodes for our podcast and we're doing it up big time at our local comic shop here in Reading, Pa. We have 130 people coming from all over the country to shop, meet, talk, laugh, drink, etc. Also, we've invited 25+ creators to help make the weekend special. All in all, we're looking at close to 175 people just because of a podcast. How cool is that?

So if you're near Reading, come to the Episode 300 bash at Golden Eagle Comics at the Fairgrounds Square Mall, Saturday Sept. 22 from 9 to 6:00.

Rock on.

PHILLY - CHARLOTTE - NEW YORK

This weekend starts a trio of fun filled weekends for the month of June.

First up, Philadelphia on June 9th. I'm meeting up with listeners of the internet talk show podcast I co-host/produce for the first ever CGS: Philly gathering. CGS: Philly is just one of many communities that have sprung up on our busy forum and it'll be a great way to meet those listeners that are in our backyard. Later that night, I'll meet up with a bunch of theatre friends to eat, drink, laugh and bowl. Let's hope I don't have a repeat of closing night for 42nd Street. I don't want my face in a trash can for hours again. Ugh.

The following weekend is the Heroes Con in Charlotte, NC. I'll be driving down for the looooooong trip on the 14th and staying until the 17th. Heroes was my favorite con of 2007. It's medium sized with tons of creators, tons of great shopping and an interesting night life if you can find it. Heh. Really looking forward to going back there again. The homemade pull pork is excellent.

And finally, on June 22 through the 24th you can find me in New York at the MOCCA Comic Arts Festival. It's the heart of the indie circuit and most of the work presented is home made. The creators are there doing their craft for the sheer fun of it and it's wildly different in tone and vibe from other comic book conventions. It's down in Soho so it's away from the tourists and since most of the presenters and attendees are all creators, it's a great place to meet new people and see some exciting work. So looking forward to going back now that I know more than I did even last year about the exhibitors.

So that's where I'll be for the next few weekends.

See you in July!

PITTSBURGH. AWAY I GO.

Off to the Pittsburgh Comicon tomorrow morning for 4 days. I think I'm more excited for this convention than I was for New York in a weird way. Great people, great convention, great food. Looking forward to it.

NY NY TAKE TWO

Heading to NY this Thursday for the second annual New York Comic Con at the Javitz. It's a big geek fest. Me and my friends and our lil podcast show will have a table at the show to meet listeners, conduct interviews, etc.

Last year's show was so huge they had to turn people away. I'm looking forward to seeing friends, hanging out in NY, laughing and having a good time. I'll be heading back to Reading on Monday... I think.

See you cats later.

BRISTOL OR BUST

So I'm in the process of getting my ass to Bristol, UK in May. It'll be the first time I've been out of the country since I was 3 and went to Puerto Rico (not that I really remember that).

Peter in the United Kingdom.

Who woulda thunk it?

Guess I better learn how to drink a pint.

"CALIFORNIA HERE I COME"

For the first time ever in my life I'm heading out to the left coast. California. San Diego to be exact. To attend the grand San Diego Comic Con for the first time as well. It's 3-4 blocks of comic book convention stuffed with Hollywood premieres, comic debuts out the wazoo and creators as far as the eye can see.

Or so I'm told.

I'll also be crossing the border into Tijuana. Let's just hope they let me back! Haha.

So I'll be gone for a week. And I'll be loving every minute of it.

"...Open up that golden gate, California here I come"

NORTH CAROLINA, RAIN AND SUPERMAN...

I'll be heading down to Charlotte, NC this weekend to attend Heroes Con, one of the East Coast's best comic book conventions. There are tons of creators there, some of my favorites, and I'm looking forward to interviewing as many as I can for the podcast. I'm also looking forward to meeting the listeners that will be attending. I plan on having a great time.

It's been raining all weekend and into this week. Which really stinks 'cause the pool is finally blue and I wanted to get some color before heading to NC. I'm not pasty white, but I'm not my lovable butter rican flavor that I can be. Heh.

And finally, Superman Returns opens tomorrow. I saw Superman when I was 5 at a drive-in with my mom and the sole image I can remember from that time ia Christopher Reeve flying towards the camera in the Fortress of Solitude wearing the Superman suit for the first time.

I can't wait to be that 5 year old again.

HAPPINESS IS...

...traveling on a beautiful sunny day.

...walking through New York's non-touristy sections and stumbling on a great, cheap restaurant.

...spending two days at a comic book convention that focuses on actual comics and not booth babes and variant covers.

...meeting people who you sorta know beforehand and becoming good friends in just a few sentences.

...crashing at someone's apartment and remembering why Queens is such a great area to live in.

...spending more money than you intend and yet not caring.

Happiness is being true to yourself during the best years of your life.

THE 'BURGH

Going to Pittsburgh this weekend with friends for a comic convention. We've been given a booth and we're hosting the trivia panel. I'll also have the chance to meet my favorite comic artist.

Life is good.