Conventions

Countdown to Comic-Con, continued...

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13th: THE COMIC-CON BEGINS

Our first artist signing is with John Mueller, the human behind Oink, a post-apocalyptic comic centered on a pig-man hybrid out for his own in an uncaring world. Those who haven't checked out Oink (and you ought to be ashamed of yourselves) will recall Mueller's paintings from the covers of various Vertigo titles, including the late lamented Swamp Thing. Attentive CBLDF supporters will note that Mueller provided the art for this month's Web auction. Fans of Oink and other bovine diversions can find John at the CBLDF booth Thursday at 12 noon.

A quick spot check if you're 12 and under: Who is Will Eisner? If you can't answer that question, we envy you---you have some excellent reading ahead! Everyone else will be pleased to learn that the inventor of the graphic novel will be signing books and extending his wisdom at the CBLDF booth Thursday at 4pm. Keep an eye out for A Family Matter, Mr. Eisner's latest contribution to the upper crust of sequential art, which makes its debut at Comic-Con International.

Mark Waid made a splash on the popular consciousness when Parade magazine plastered his mug on its front cover, along with a dozen other people and their annual income for 1997. At that moment, Mark became the most eligible bachelor in comics. Just don't tell his girlfriend! Mark has written hundreds of comics and he's currently the man behind the typewriter for Captain America: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY. Trivia buffs, who know Mark by his lean and hungry visage, will be glad to hear he's open game at the CBLDF booth from 4pm on.

This is how the Mark Waid Trivia Challenge works: for every comics question up to DC's Crisis (but also including anything Waid has ever written) that stumps Mark, he will himself donate $5 from his own pocket to the CBLDF. This is an opportunity too good to be true! It costs you absolutely nothing to make Mark pony up to the CBLDF. Chris Oarr, the Fund's Executive Director, asked us to remind all con-goers that Mark was stumped in Charlotte by a lad of 14 with a Kingdom Come question.

We hasten to add that Mark Waid is more than just a trivia punching bag. He's one of the most prolific writers in the business today. So prolific, in fact, that Mark will write you your very own superhero dialogue right there on the spot at the CBLDF booth. As Mark puts it, "Why should artists have all the fun? I can't sketch worth a lick, but comics fans seem to like what I have to write. For the Fund's sake, let's hope they'll pay for an original line of dialogue!" Actually, we know they'll pay for this one-of-a-kind keepsake, because Mark has raised over $500 to date at Heroes Con and Wizard World 98 doing what he does best. If you're curious to see the results, just stop by the CBLDF booth at 4 o'clock Thursday or Friday, when Waid will be jotting away in defense of liberty.

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1986 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights for members of the comics community. Donations and inquiries should be directed to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

For additional information, call 413-268-7776 or e-mail the CBLDF staff.

271 Madison Avenue, Suite 1400
New York, NY 10016
800-99-CBLDF
info@cbldf.org

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