This past weekend was BellCon 2008. It was fun. I arrived later than I hoped, about 2 or 3 hours into the 7 hour con. As soon as I found him I joined Jonathan at his post. I’ve been to a fair number of conventions, this is only the 2nd time that I’ve been to one in a professional capacity. The Portland Comic-Con and BellCon are the only 2 conventions that I’ve managed to attend, they each have their high points. It was Michele’s first comic convention, I’m glad she enjoyed it. For my next con I’m hoping to have a decent little selection of shirts and a few books to show off next time. Maybe some prints as well. I should look into a heat sealer and some packaging supplies.
Note to self… start laying out 52 Weeks of Hell before the month of October is done. So far all I’ve done is gathered a selection of comics for the book.
The following was published in the Bellingham Herald, a paper which I would generally rather wipe my ass with than read, it’s very rare when I see an article in it that sneaks past my loathing of it.
Bell Con 08 draws crowd of comic book fans
PETER JENSEN / THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
After the success of last year’s Bell Con, a Bellingham-based comic book convention that attracted 1,500 people in its first year at The Majestic, organizer Darren Davis said he knew he needed to make this year’s convention bigger and better.
He, along with co-organizer Jason Schultz, did just that at Bell Con 08, held at Whatcom Community College Saturday, Sept. 27. He moved it to a larger venue and doubled its size and the number of comic book vendors.
They added more live music and brought in big names in the comic book world, including Marvel Comics illustrator Clayton Crain, who has helped produce installments in the “Ghost Rider” and “Spider Man” comic book series.
About 2,000 people from around the Pacific Northwest attended this year’s convention, making it the second-largest convention in Washington state. And Schultz and Davis aren’t done yet.
“We can make this bigger and better,” Davis said. “I want it to be more entertainment-based than people just selling stuff.”
The convention had 80 vendors from as far away as British Columbia and Northern California attend, Davis said.
The Bellingham Public Library was also at the convention to encourage children to read graphic novels.
Davis said he struggled learning to read as a child, and graphic novels helped him learn that skill.
“It’s a way for me to get kids excited about reading,” Davis said. “They play too much video games.”
Comic book writing partners Brendan Jerwad, best known for his work on “G.I. Joe” and “Battlestar Galactica” comics, and Eric Trautmann, who writes “Perfect Dark” and “Check Mate” comics, attended the convention and said it was an opportunity to connect with fans.
“It’s just a good chance to get out and talk to the fans and maybe introduce new people to the books,” Jerwad said. “Plus, it’s a way to get out the house for a day, which is a good thing.”
