San Diego Comic Con 2009

Just back from the Con and there were several warm,
fuzzy events that I really enjoyed. On Saturday there
was a remembrance of El Cortez days when
the convention was all about comics, partying,
drinking and laughing, when everyone gathered
around the pool and drew pictures and leaped into
the pool, with or without clothes. Pros and fans of all ages hung out and had a great time getting to know each other. The panel consisted of Mike Friedrich, Jack Katz, George Clayton Johnson,
Sergio Aragones, Mark Evanier, Bill Stout and Mike Royer (right) and they each told about some hilarious events, shared some touching memories and recounted a lot of absurdities that just don't happen any more. The good old days of uninhibited mayhem and silliness.
Me and my trusty WITH MY OLD PAL sign at the 40-years of Comic Con party with (l to r) Mike Friedrich, Paul Levitz, Trina Robbins, Bud Plant, Jim Valentino, Lee Marrs, Jackie Estrada, Bob Beerbohm. The center photo is from the remembrance of El Cortez days panel and shows Jack Katz, George Clayton Johnson and Sergio Aragones. The Thursday night party celebrating 40 years of Comic Con included some people I hadn't seen in 30+ years. We've all gone through some physical changes, but we're all pretty much the same people we were 30 and 40 years ago, just older.

Saturday there was also an appreciation of the work of Harvey Kurtzman. Among the panel members was Kurtzman's daughter Nellie, publisher Charles Kochman, author and publisher Denis Kitchen, Kurtzman colleague Bill Stout, president of DC Comics Paul Levitz, and historian and moderator Mark Evanier.