Life is a Highway
... and I Drove it to Heroes Con ...
Greetings,
Sorry for the massive delay in getting this Cosmic Update out. I just haven’t been myself lately. Getting old is something I recommend avoiding - it’s been a bit of a letdown. But no one cares about that ... let’s talk about Heroes Con (and a few other things) …
Heroes Con - STILL America’s Favorite COMIC Convention
Every June I make the trip to Charlotte for Heroes Con, and every year I ask myself the same question: “Can this show really be as good as I remember?” The answer, somehow, is always YES.
I’ve been attending Heroes Con since 2010, and after all these years it still feels like coming home. Sure, it’s one of the greatest COMIC BOOK conventions in the country, but that’s almost become secondary for me. What keeps pulling me back isn’t just the guest list or Artist Alley.
It’s the people. The conversations. The feeling that, for one weekend, everyone in the building speaks the same language.
This year, I was set up at Table AA-1487 between the incredibly talented Marlin Shoop and, quite possibly, the best pitchman in comics, Trevor A. Mueller. Behind me were last year’s neighbors, Tohm Zahler and Steve Conley, so I couldn’t have asked for better company.
Friday night’s Drink & Draw was another reminder of why Heroes Con is so special. Watching artists donate their time and talent to raise money for Parkinson’s research through Team Cul de Sac always restores a little bit of my faith in this industry. It’s one of those traditions that perfectly captures the spirit of Heroes Con.
It also gave me a chance to spend time with some of my oldest and dearest friends Deleon Walters, his wife Niki, and my old chum Jordan Steel Thompson. I also finally crossed paths with Enrique Lopez. We’ve somehow managed to miss each other for years, so it was great to finally fix that.
Beyond being the best comic convention in America, Heroes Con is like a giant family reunion. It’s where you reconnect with friends you may only see once a year.
I spent much of the weekend hanging out with Roland Mann (former Malibu and Marvel writer/editor, now steering the ship at SilverLine). I had the opportunity to spend time with Howard Mackie (whose personality is every bit as big as his career) and Tom DeFalco. Outside the Westin on Saturday, I caught up with Pat Broderick (Micronauts) and met Bob Camp (the creator of Ren & Stimpy). I also got to see old friends Ryan Miller, Billy Tucci, Steve Bryant, Kirk and Mindy Spencer, Jeff Dekal, Jamie Jones, Graven Ravenwolf, Travis Gibb, Jeff Carroll, and Paul Pelletier (who hopefully we’ll get a COSMIC cover from soon).
Saturday night was the annual Art Auction. The artwork was spectacular as always, although I’ll admit the atmosphere felt different this year. The room was louder and more crowded than I remember, and Roland and I ended up slipping out a little earlier than usual.
Even so ...
When people ask me what my favorite comic book focused convention is, I never hesitate - Heroes Con. Every single time. Not because it’s the biggest. Not because it’s the flashiest. Because it never forgets what it’s celebrating - COMIC BOOKS and those that create them.
If you’ve never been or even if you have, put June 11–13, 2027 on your calendar, I’d love to see you there.
Explore the Worlds of Infinity Con
With Heroes Con now in the rearview mirror, I look forward to a different type of show - Infinity Con - July 11 & 12!
Watching my friend David Heringer build this convention over the years has been inspiring. What started as a relatively small show in Lake City has grown into one of Florida’s most unique convention experiences. Every year David adds another layer to his vision, and every year Infinity Con feels a little more immersive than the year before. David isn’t trying to copy all the other conventions, he’s building his own vision.
This year’s show features an incredible lineup of makeup and effects artists, including Leslie Rosado, Autumn Turgeon, Kayla King, and more. Our friends from Noise Complaint will once again be performing throughout the weekend, while the Fallout Experience returns alongside the 501st Legion, the Mandalorian Mercs, and the crew of the USS Kahi Tam.
Of course, I’ll be there representing Cosmic Times, joined by creators including Michael Shelfer, Christopher Burdett, Mark Maddox, Daniel Hooker, and an incredibly talented lineup of artists and writers.
Tickets are now available for Infinity Con! So grab your weekend pass and come explore the worlds of Infinity Con with me July 11 & 12 at the Donald L Tucker Center in Tallahassee, FL.
Streaming with SilverLine
I’ll also be back with the SilverLine crew on Wednesday, July 1st at 9:00 PM Eastern for another live stream.
I’ll be chatting with Barb, Rob, John, and Kasisi about comic books, conventions, and whatever else comes up along the way. Jump into the comments and join the conversation—we always have a great time.
A Tease of What’s to Come
Just putting this here without comment …
… more on this in the next Cosmic Update.
Thanks for reading to the end of this Update, I hope you enjoyed my short Heroes Con wrap-up and that you will join me at Infinity Con and will tune into the SilverLine live-Stream on Wednesday.
Stay Cosmic,
Martin
Enjoyed the heck out of hanging with you, sir! Love our conversations about the industry! :)