Upcoming Shows:

(July 25, 2008) With the Bristol Show coming up tomorrow, here is an overdue update on recent shows.

The 2008 Heroes Show was my best ever in 14 years as a dealer. It was also the best ever Heroes for my boothmate Banks Robinson of Comic Whiz, and his second best show ever (the best ever, which was a surprise to me: Virginia Vintage!!). Neighbor Rick Fortenberry had his best Heroes, too. There was some trepedation, with record gas prices, but moving to the 200 aisle was a huge plus. One group of collectors, from Hillsville, Virginia came to Charlotte Friday, and then returned again Sunday. I was able to make some better-than-average buys and trades, too.

Thanks to the dealers (Banks, Rick, Robert Beerbohm and Chuck Rozanski) and collectors who bought from me and helped make this a special show. The show was great except for Sunday afternoon, when I began feeling sick. It seemed like the symptoms of a kidney stone. I dragged myself to the first aid station and was given a cursory checkup, and then told I could rest for 20 minutes and then I had to decide if I wanted to go back to the showroom or to the hospital emergency room. Based on prior experience with kidney stones, I felt it was just a matter of suffering for a few hours and then things would be all right. I went back to the show and laid on the concrete floor, and that was actually the most comfortable I felt during the ordeal. Late in the evening I felt well enough to walk around, and people (some I didn't even know) were asking if I felt okay. Banks and Jay loaded my comics in their van, and then drove to where I was parked and off-loaded on to my truck. Profuse thanks to Banks and Jay, to Guy and Kristie Joyner, who kept checking up on me, and Brett Carreras, who brought me water. On the way home, I felt another wave of sickness as I drove through heavy traffic and a 30-mile thunderstorm. I just wanted to get home. By the time I was nearing the Virginia border, I was driving 85 mph, one hand on the steering wheel and the other holding a puke pan. I called Nancy and Chris to meet me in Hillsville and drive me the rest of the way home.

Of the many great sales, the two that stand out in my mind: early Saturday morning a mother and two daughters, about three and five, found some comics they loved: Scooby and Littlest Mermaid. Their smiles were like sunrise over the mountains. Just a few minutes later, a father and two sons, about six and eight asked if I had any Johnny Quest. I did, and they were ecstatic: "Wow! The quest for Johnny Quest is at last finally over! Awesome!"

(May 1, 2008)

Saturday, May 3 is Free Comic Day, and for several years we have set up at the Mountain Empire Comics Store on Roan Street in Johnson City, Tennessee. Even with rain in the forecast, we'll probably make the early morning drive. Store owner John Stone has lots of specials, plus events. He and Robert Pilk of Mountain Empire Comics/Bristol will sponsor a show Saturday, July 26 at the Bristol Mall. (May 2 update) Johnson City looks like a go, even though there's a slight chance of rain. Always a good show/event.

Saturday, May 10 we will set up at Dave Hinson's and Rick Fortenberry's Charlotte Comicon, at the Best Western in Charlotte (off I-277). This is the top one-day comic show in the Carolinas.

June 20-22 we will set up at Heroes at the Charlotte Convention Center. About 8,000 to 10,000 people attend this major show.

August 16 is the 11th annual Virginia Vintage Comics Show at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Virginia.