"I’ve Been Conned!"—Special Pittsburgh ComicCon Report

By Beau Smith

This week is a special Pittsburgh Comic Con Busted Knuckles column where I'm gonna give you the skinny on last week's convention that I attended. I've got lots of photos and gossip of what went on. So sit back and enjoy the report:

Last weekend I was a guest at the Pittsburgh ComicCon in Monroeville, Pa. It was a very nice drive north on I-79 where I saw plenty of deer, wild turkey, hawks and assorted other wildlife. It's a relaxing drive through my scenic state of West Virginia.

As always, Pittsburgh Con is well organized and I was taken care of like I was some sorta Hillbilly royalty. (Which I might be) Renee' George and her staff did a great job in arranging our tables and feeding us. (Feeding me is always an important thing.) This year they had me in a great line up. The string of tables had me side by side with my old friend, Tim Truman (Conan) Dan Fraga (Fantastic Four), David Mack (Daredevil), Billy Tucci (Sgt. Rock), Wayne Faucher (Countdown), Joe Jusko (Tomb Raider), and Alex Saviuk (Web Of Spider-Man). It was like lining up clones of the Three Stooges and giving everyone a chance to line slap all of us at once.

Dan Fraga, Beau and David Mack

I enjoy the Pittsburgh Comic Con because there's always a great turn out of readers and fans. It's one of those cons like Baltimore Con, Mid-Ohio Con and Heroes Con, where you get a chance to really talk to the readers, sign your work and also hook up with old friends and make new ones. This was a truly relaxing con for me and even with the drive, I felt really good when I got back here at the ranch.

Joe Jusko	Wayne Faucher

Tim Truman and I got to talk about "the good ol' days" when we were working at Eclipse Comics along with out buddies, Chuck Dixon, Flint Henry, Tim Harkins, Tom Lyle, Gary Kwapisz, John K. Snyder III, Tim Bradstreet, Todd Fox, and some of the other usual suspects that we closed bars down with. Tim was there with his wife, Beth and son Ben. It was great to see Ben all grown up. He's turned into a fine young man and I give credit to his mom, because if he would've taken after his daddy, Tim there's no telling what trouble he'd be in today.

Tim Truman, Ben Truman and Beau

Billy Tucci lived up to his nickname of "The Ugly American" as he told us tales of being overseas and making his impression among the French, the Germans as well as the Brits. I'm surprised they haven't taken away his passport by now. When he and Joe Jusko talk, I always find it hard to understand what they're saying in their New York accents—and people tell me I talk funny. Good thing I had the laid back and quiet David Mack on the other side of me. He balanced things out.

Beau and Billy Tucci

Another long time friend of mine, Ron Frenz (Spider-Girl) was there. Not surprising since he's a local hometown boy. Ron has always been one of the quickest wits in comics and he entertained me to no end. He was saddled up at a table beside former Marvel big shot, Tom DeFalco (Spider-Girl). Tom is another one of those New York guys that I find hard to follow when he talks. Everything that comes out of his mouth sounds like it was dialogue from a mob movie. Tom and I battled all weekend on who was writing the more manly stuff. We went toe to toe when both of us had prose stories in Moonstone's Werewolves: Dead Moon Rising book. Dave Ulanski was there to referee the event.

Beau and Ron Frenz

Tom DeFalco, Beau and Pat Olliffe (Artist Spider-Man, Batman)

I was glad to see Lora Innes (The Dreamer) set up. The lovely Lora was there promoting her book The Dreamer and should have a very big announcement to make public very soon. Lora and I have been working on a project called Courting Fate for a few years. A humor/romance/pop culture works that's kinda like the Archie Comics for the new century (If you can still call this century new). As usual, Lora didn't put up with any of my smart-ass remarks, but in manly fashion, I showed her that I was still the Alpha male when I tricked her into doing a panel for me. I called it promotion, she called it a trick.

Beau and Lora Innes

I saw and talked to the ever suave Darryl Banks (Green Lantern) as he signed tons of comics for his loyal readers. Like his readers, I sure would like to see DC sign him up for some new Green Lantern stuff.

At one point in the show, Scott James (Savage Dragon) had to come and separate me and Tucci as we were giving each other chair shots during a heated discussion over which one of us would CNN's Robin Meade run off with if she had the chance. Good thing Scott broke things up. I was just about to slap an arm bar on Tucci that would've slowed up his Sgt. Rock work.

Beau, Scott James and Billy Tucci

Of all the guests there I'd have to say that Sal Buscema had the longest lines. Sal was doing sketches, signing books and telling some really great stories about working in comics. He is truly a gentleman and a professional. We are very lucky to have him.

Nice guy Talent Caldwell (Fathom) was telling me horror stories of the last convention he did with Jusko and Tucci. It seems those two Yankees got poor Talent in the middle of what could've been a very violent situation. Ask him about it when you see him at the next con.

If you're looking for back issue deals on comics and trade paperbacks, then the Pittsburgh Con is THE place for it. Loads of Silver and Bronze Age comics for $1.00 to $3.00 each. All the dealers had great deals and I took advantage of it. I loaded up at Todd McDevitt's New Dimension Comics booth . I came home with a stack of great Silver Age comics that I was missing from my collection. Stuff like Lois Lane, Sub-Mariner, Combat Kelly, Captain Savage and His Leatherneck Raiders, The Fly and a lot more. All in great condition.

I was lucky enough to have a steady stream of readers at my table all weekend. I signed stacks and stacks of the hundreds of comics I've written through the years. I also signed a lot of my current releases such as 24: Cold Warriors, Cobb, Wynonna Earp, and my new marketing book, No Guts, No Glory: How To Market Yourself In Comics from Blue Art Pro. I'm very thankful to all of you that came by and I appreciate you buying my stuff. That means a lot to me and I loved hearing your thoughts on my work, makes it all worth it. (That and a check from my publishers. I won't lie)

I hope to see you there next year and on the convention trail this summer. Look for me. I'll be the guy denying that he knows Tucci and Jusko.

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Busted Knuckles Manly Pittsburgh Con Cover of the Week: Adventures Of The Jaguar #9
Oct. 1962
Archie Comics

Growing up, Archie Comics super hero line was one I always sought out. They were wild, over the top and had some of the most far out bad guys ever. The dialogue ranged from those that would make Doctor Doom proud to some late 60's hipster stuff that made me chuckle even then. The art was always great in these issues and more than worth the cover price. With this manly cover how can you go wrong? You've got a horny robot alien that looks like he was built out of your kitchen trashcan and a rocket ship that would make a great clubhouse. Plus you just gotta love Jaguar's stylish boots.

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Busted Knuckles Babe of the Week: Robin Meade
CNN Anchor

Now you can see why Billy Tucci and I fought over her.

Say no more.

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The Roundup

I hope you enjoyed the Special Pittsburgh Comic Con Report. As I said before, I hope to see you there or at another Con this year. Make sure you stop by and make sure I'm breathing. I hope you enjoyed the photos and I'll see you all next week.

BEAU: "Robin, You Could Never Love Billy...He's As Small As A Hobbit!" BILLY: "Robin, Love me! Beau Looks Like A...Crusty Old Farmer!"

Your amigo,

Beau Smith
The Flying Fist Ranch
P.O. Box 706
Ceredo, WV. 25507
www.flyingfistranch.com
beau@flyingfistranch.com

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Prove your manhood by visiting Beau at the Flying Fist Forum!

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