I went to my first comic-book convention in 1981, at the Masonic Temple in Portland, Oregon. I couldn't have known it then, but it was an event that would alter the course of my life, or at least my eventual choice of occupation. I had no idea what to expect, but when I walked in, my mind melted. It was as if someone had super-sized my beloved comic-book shop. An ocean of long boxes, the musty odor of my pre-teen dreams . . . I couldn't believe it. You might say my emotional development halted right there. (However, I've carried it with me since, neatly preserved in a Mylar snug.)A few years, a lot of miles, and a ton of comics later, and I have the privilege of representing Dark Horse at comic conventions, book fairs, and trade shows all over the world. To say I enjoy that aspect of my job would be a bit like saying Frank Miller has passing admiration for Will Eisner. Working the shows is a bit like being on the frontlines of the industry. There are few things I enjoy more than rubbing elbows with our press contacts at New York Comic-Con, chatting with our international publishing partners at the Frankfurt Buchmesse (loose translation: Book Mess), or most importantly, getting feedback from our fans anywhere from San Diego Comic-Con International to Wizard World Chicago. After all, that's what most of us still are in the comic business - fans.
Some things have changed since 1981. While "conventioneering" is still probably the best way to fill that pesky hole in your collection, these events are no longer simply seas of long boxes; they're pop-culture bonanzas, cinematic and interactive explosions. There's something for everyone. Games are your thing? Check. Want to see sneak-previews from the latest Hollywood movie? Get in line. Want to buy toys unavailable anywhere else? You got 'em. Looking for Lou Ferrigno? There he is.
Sure, conventions have become giant media-driven behemoths; yet there's a spirit of togetherness that remains from the early days that can't be killed by exposure. What I love most about this business is that everyone's invited. No matter what's happening in your life, no matter how young or old you are, no matter how much money you make, you can pick up a copy of The Goon or Blade of the Immortal and be taken away. There is no test for being a fan, you just sign up. Nowhere is this more on display than a comic show. When I see a Star Wars fan talking to a Star Wars artist, and they both have the same excitement in their eyes, that's a beautiful thing.
As I write this, we're hitting the ground running on our World Tour 2008. Maybe I've already seen you at Toy Fair, or at the Hellboy II cast signing in our booth in New York, or even at London Book Fair. If not, I hope to see you in our booth in San Diego, or Chicago, or . . . Well, you never know where we're going to show up, but you can bet we'll have great creators there, fantastic giveaways, and a staff full of fans, just like you.
Sometimes my life feels like an endless series of hotel rooms, Sharpies, pallets, boxes, and shrink-wrap. Then the doors to the show open, fans rush in, and I'm back in the Masonic Temple, age 11, with my buddy Sterling; Smelling the dusty past, and seeing my future.
See you on the circuit,
Dirk Wood
Director of Marketing