How to Contact Comic Artists and Writers
The first annual New York Comic-Con featured Milla Jovovich and was so successful that the organizers almost had to shut it down. The second annual New York Comic-con was much better organized, and even brought in Steven King and Stan Lee to meet the fans.
Here are a few more tips for connecting with your favorite comic book artists and writers at various comic book conventions across the country…
Meeting in person:
Although most comic creators, artists, and writers will tell you where to send fan mail within their publications, the comics industry also goes to great lengths to be available to its fan base through conventions, expos, and events. for fans.
The general rule of thumb is that if you wait a bit, a comic book convention (or “comic-con”) is likely to be announced in your area, and the organizers will make all sorts of promises about who will be there (more often than not who will be there). will not show up). Buy your ticket anyway, and take a few hundred bucks and a good Sharpie, because even if the people who show up aren’t the people promised, they’re most likely worth meeting.
Most of today’s comic book conventions go way beyond comics. They often feature actors, directors, TV stars, set designers, comic book artists, writers, and a variety of retro names that will have you scratching your head trying to remember who they were. The show usually charges around $25 per ticket, but the attractions will last all day, from rare movie screenings to autograph sessions and bootleg comics for sale. Most conventions travel across the country so fans don’t have to spend money to travel.
What should you bring to sign? Nothing really, unless you know someone will be there and have some important memories for that person. There are usually many items for sale at comic book conventions that you can buy to sign.
Prices at convention vendor booths aren’t usually cheap, however, you can pick up some really cool pop culture memorabilia if you look hard enough, and the chance to get that item signed by its maker can be something really special. .
Comic book conventions and comics themselves are a huge industry that is growing every year. So comics are a great place to spot rising stars before their signatures are worth thousands of dollars when they really hit it big.
How do you find a comic book convention in your area? It’s pretty easy: just visit the Comic Book Conventions website. This resource lists all upcoming comic-cons, usually four or five a weekend, and also announces schedule changes, cancellations, and contact information.
The best conventions return on the same date every year, like Mid-Ohio-Con, which takes place in Columbus, Ohio over Thanksgiving weekend. The 2004 Mid-Ohio-Con lineup included Soup Nazi from Seinfeld and Noel Neill, the original TV Lois Lane, as well as many other names in the comics industry.
Vancouver Comic-Con happens once every few months, while Dragon-Con takes place every September. Every corner of the country has some kind of meeting, but even if you have to get in the car and drive a few hours to get to a large convention near you, the money spent doing so can be recouped when you pick up that authentic sketch of John Byrne and auctioned it off on eBay.
Big names in the comic book convention business include the following:
San Diego Comic-Con International, PO Box 128458, San Diego, CA 92112-8458, 619-491-2475
The biggest and the best, Comic-Con has become a brand in the business. Tens of thousands of fans gather each year, some traveling from across the country to hear expert panels, get autographs, buy souvenirs, watch special movie screenings, and just hang out.
Dragon*Con, PO Box 16459, Atlanta, GA 30321-0459, 770-909-0115
A solid number two, Dragon*Con takes on more of a fantasy bent, but it’s not just for Dungeons and Dragons fans. D*C grows each year, and as collectors grow from obsessed teenagers to well-funded adult fans, the money passing through the registers continues to grow as well.
Big Apple Comic Book Convention, 75-34 Metropolitan Avenue, New York, NY 11379, 201-865-3288
This is in New York City, so of course it’s big. If you live in the Northeast, the Big Apple Con is for you.
Mid-Obio-Con, PO Box 3831, Mansfield, OH 44907, 419-526-1427
The Midwest really knows how to put on a show, and MOC always has an interesting lineup of names. It’s not the biggest comic-con out there, but it has a reputation for being one of the best.
Mega-Con, PO Box 1097, Safety Harbor, FL 34695, 727-796-5725
New York Comic-Con, Jacob Javiz Center, 655 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001, 1-888-605-6059
Sending fan mail:
To write to your favorite comic artist, look for your fan’s email address printed on the comic. Or send your letter to the comics publisher, whose address will also appear inside the book.
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