Saratoga Comic Con – May 4th and 5th – Review

Saratoga Comic Con – May 4th and 5th – Review – by Ian Losz.

It’s been some years since I have attended a comic convention.  You see, I used to attend many of the biggest ones … as an artist.

I sat shoulder to shoulder with some of the most iconic comic book artists of the time. There were alleys of known and unknown artists. Sometimes over 100 – 200 tables of them.

But let’s back up. I was in the sports world traveling the globe covering soccer, tennis, golf and the Olympics.

On a return trip from the England,  I got a call from an editor under the same publishing company as my magazine.

There was a convention in Orlando (where I was living). Rather than fly someone across the Atlantic, would I be interested in interviewing some of the guests ? Sure.  I said I could and I would.

At the Convention, after I interviewed several celebrity actors, i gravitated down to the artists alley. I had never before known the process in the making of a comic book. The writers, the pencilers, the inkers and the colorists. The publishers, the printers and the distributors. Here, I learned.

I was immediately drawn to the art. There was a passion with which the artist, whether famed or upstart, hawked their creations down each aisle.

I had worked for plenty of magazines at a time when print

magazines were still prevalent. Marvel Comics was at an all time high and with top- rated TV shows like Smallville (Superman) and the franchises of Batman, Spiderman, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings exploding on the market.

After many conversations with artists in the alkey, a local fledgling studio asked if I wanted to draw for them. I did want to. And, I did draw. It led to a wonderful decade of comic books, yrading card companies and independent film productions. There were lots of Celebrity interviews and radio and tv shows. Well worth saying “yes” to.

So here I was this month in Saratoga. There were still some comic artists there. However,  the focus was now on cosplay – the adornment of costumes. Some store bought and some home crafted. Some fierce and some funny. Sublime to the ridiculous, just hundreds and hundreds of costumes. Entertaining indeed.

Yet, it reminded me of why I stopped appearing at Cons as an artist. The future wasn’t in making comics. Now, it was in making costumes.

Still colorful. Still creative. But not up my alley.

There is still creativity here. However,  the axis of it has tilted.

There were merchandise vendors, panel discussion rooms and of course a grand costume contest. All this was entertaining and the ocean of cosplay surged around the convention center. One professional cosplay artist came all the way from Florida.

The celebrity alley featured most names i did not recognize.  Particularly, cartoon voice actors.

The only name that did ring a bell, was Jenna Jameson.  Award winning adult film star, producer and sci-fi movie actress.

I guess her popularity is timely with another public trial featuring adult film actor in the news.

I’ve met many “stars” on the convention circuit. It’s a metaphoric career mountain being climbed. Some on their way up to the height of their fame, others on the low sloping decline.

In Jenna Jameson’s case, it may just be a plateau she is resting upon. Diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome and blood cancer over a year ago, she was given only months to live. As fortune would have it, she was misdiagnosed. A devastating prognonsis none the less. Her illness caused her to lose full mobility which required assistance to walk.

So, it was surprising to see her walk in under her own power. Still looking frail, however, she greeted her fans and onlookers with a positive countenance.

She has shunned pharmicudicle cures turned to alternative medicine and natural remedies. Her physical recovery has been arduous and taxing, but apparently pushing toward success. She is alive.

Meanwhile, the buzz of the costume contest echoed like a Taylor Swift concert.

A noticeable difference from the old cattle call days of these runway shows, was the incorporation of small skits or performances accompanying their stage outing. Some acted out mock fight scenes. Some lip-synced favorite songs and some just posed audacously.

Either way, the hall full of onlookers were entertained. And to me that’s the bottom line.