San Diego Report #2! Howdy! After having to skip a day yesterday because we were just so crazy busy, I am back with more news from this year's San Diego Comic-Con International . I'll start today's report by simply expressing that our booth is incredible this year. I designed some simple block and board bookshelves to install on the ends of our 7-booth display, and they are working really well. As a result, we have about 60% more linear shelving than what we had last year. That's the good news. The bad news is that unpacking and organizing that many books is a logistics nightmare. We were not able to get them completely sorted last evening for the Preview Night, but we're about finished this morning. We now just have to wait and see if this new arrangement helps our sales... Speaking of sales, I did a quick survey of the comics and art dealers on our end of the hall, and the general feeling was that Preview Night was OK, but not great. In part, that may have been because the convention made Preview Night tickets a separate option this year, rather than automatically including them with all full memberships. Whatever the case, 9 out of 10 dealers with whom I spoke were reasonably satisfied, while one Golden Age dealer was quite pleased because he had several large sales, including one for over $1,000 to a buyers who flew in from England. At least no one was complaining, so I am optimistic that everyone's overall sales will keep us all coming back. This morning is starting off really, really well... Mile High crew @ SDCC 2010 (click on image for larger view) In other news, I created a really cool event yesterday (or at least I thought it was cool...), where we had William Murakami and Bill Daniel fly in from our Denver warehouse with the my best Edgar Church collection comics in locked black briefcases. I had them also bring police issue handcuffs, dark glasses, and wear their jet black Mile High Comics jackets that I had embroidered especially for the show. Six of us from Mile High then met them at the front door of the convention center (in identical outfits), and we formed a protective phalanx around them. My original plan had been for us to just go directly to the secure showcase that we had set up in our booth, but the producer of the Morgan Spurlock documentary in which I am participating requested that we march through the entire Golden Age pavilion area. I had some misgivings about doing this, as it is really easy to look like some sort of pompous idiot with that kind of a stunt, but I spoke with most of the dealers on the aisle we were filming, and they were all quite nice about it. The photo tells the rest of the story. Edgar Church showcase for SDCC 2010 (click on image for larger view) Another photo that I've included for you is of the actual case filled with the Edgar Church comics. It is attracting a LOT of attention. I do have two strong nibbles on key books (which mean nothing until I see a check...), including one offer that is ostensibly being put together for everything in the case. My first reaction when I heard that might surprise you, as it really made me feel like hurling. The idea that I would not have any more of the Church books, after 34 years of owning them, upset me so much that I could think of little else for the next hour. I know that it sounds insane that I really do not want to walk out of here with a million dollars+, but you do have to bear in mind that I have eight million other comics and books sitting in Denver that I would be delighted to sell. Why in does it always have to be my personal comics that end up being what everyone wants? I obviously know the answer to that question, but it still upsets me far more than you would think. The one big news topic for this year's convention is about where future shows will be held. We have two years left on our contract with this convention center, and then the committee is free to move to another city. Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas are trying to lure Comic-Con away, but I hope that they do not succeed. I really do like visiting San Diego each year, and it is after all, a long tradition for us to be in San Diego. That having been said, I would advocate for a longer show. If all of the tickets for this year's show sold out by March, then we really need more days. Two weekends plus the intervening days would be ideal, but even a six-day show would allow far more fans to attend. Speaking as a dealer, most of my costs are in transportation costs, and set-up. Having more days to amortize those costs would be a great benefit. I would probably have to fly out our staff in shifts (most folks couldn't hand the pressure for longer than five days...), but a couple of extra airfares just wouldn't increase our costs significantly. My ire may be simply impossible because of scheduling conflicts with other shows, but if the city of San Diego is serious about keeping Comic-Con (and its estimated $50,000,000 boost to the local economy), then they darn well better be thinking in terms of innovative solutions. My final item for today is what I think is an incredible offer. When we made up our Mile High Comics jackets, I had several extra embroidered. I am planning to give away six of these jackets, customized to the winner's size. The way to enter the contest is to place any order with us for $50, or more, over the next five days. For every $50 you spend with us through next Monday, at noon, a slip of paper with your name will be entered one more time. We're going to draw the winners of the six jackets out of a hat on Monday afternoon. It may take a couple of weeks to get the new group of jackets done, as it takes an astonishing 37,000 stitches to get the colors right on our Captain Woodchuck logo. Suffice it to say, however, if you wear one of our jackets, you'll be the coolest. Happy Collecting! Chuck Rozanski, President - Mile High Comics, Inc. P.S. I forgot to mention our ongoing 40% off SANDIEGO codeword is still in effect for you on all of our back issue comics and magazines, as is the very steep discounting of our base prices that we put into effect directly on our website (please keep in mind the codeword does not apply to new comics, Dallas Stephens comics, trade paperbacks, hard covers, graphic novels, statues, or supplies). I highly encourage you to take advantage as quickly as you can of the great discounts that we have in effect for you right now. Click here to view all the Free Bonus Book Giveaways Current Newsletter