Torpedo Comics Collectors Convention//July 15th, 2018//Los Angeles, CA 1 1

[HENRYSPENCER]

Hopefully the show next year is a full three days which justifies the trip from the East coast.

[aardvark88]

On 7/1/2018 at 2:32 PM, RockMyAmadeus said:

 Just take the 405 and get off like you're heading to LAX.

How much is parking?

Over night parking is $24 if one is staying at least 1 night at Hilton LAX comicon rate. Day time parking is cheaper.

[RockMyAmadeus]

11 minutes ago, aardvark88 said:

Over night parking is $24 if one is staying at least 1 night at Hilton LAX comicon rate. Day time parking is cheaper.

I live 20 miles away from LAX, so I wouldn't be staying overnight.

[Bunky Brian]

I think John's idea for this type of con, is great, if a lot of collectors show up AND BUY COMICS! more dealers will participate and maybe John will expand it with more days.  Bunky's were invited but between prepping in No Cal and So Cal, for the SD "media" event, could not find the time to make both happen.

I would love to do this type of show, if it grows and sustains real deal collectors that buy! and drop SD forever,

Just saying,

Bri

[Dreamtoreal1]

I am ready! 

[oceans11]

I'm ready for this one. My local comic guys up here in  NorCal were going to do the show, but backed out, but I've got my ticket and ready to find a deal or two.

[Dreamtoreal1]

10 hours ago, oceans11 said:

I'm ready for this one. My local comic guys up here in  NorCal were going to do the show, but backed out, but I've got my ticket and ready to find a deal or two.

see ya there Doc

[Robot Man]

13 hours ago, oceans11 said:

I'm ready for this one. My local comic guys up here in  NorCal were going to do the show, but backed out, but I've got my ticket and ready to find a deal or two.

Who is it that backed out?

[Robot Man]

On 7/8/2018 at 7:56 PM, Bunky Brian said:

I think John's idea for this type of con, is great, if a lot of collectors show up AND BUY COMICS! more dealers will participate and maybe John will expand it with more days.  Bunky's were invited but between prepping in No Cal and So Cal, for the SD "media" event, could not find the time to make both happen.

I would love to do this type of show, if it grows and sustains real deal collectors that buy! and drop SD forever,

Just saying,

Bri

MANY if not most of the local SO CA collectors have dropped SD already. I was offered a badge from two dealers and I politely turned them down. There is a LOT of local buzz about this show. I suspect they will be coming out of the woodwork like they do for Terry's show in Jan. People WILL be bring cash and more than willing to spend.

The key to a dealer doing well at this show (or any show for that matter), is to have a wide variety of material priced right. Not necssarily cheap, but fair. Got to have something for everyone. Buzz gets around a show fast when dealers like that show up. If all you have are the usual big dollar  "wall books" priced crazy, you won't do well. So many dealers pin their hopes on a couple of deep pocketed buyers. There will be a lot of competition in the room. So if you want our money, keep that in mind. People will be spending money there.

Yeah, I really hope this takes off and I am looking forward to it. I am even cutting short a vacation/buying trip and flying home a day early to make this one. I would like to see this one flourish and become a regular event and hopefully see you there next year Brian!

[dem1138]

Looking forward to the show!

 

Edited July 11, 2018 by dem1138

[Ghost Town]

Just spent the day at the show. Really enjoyed it. I didn't check out the original art room. But the comic dealer room was pretty sweet. Just a room full of solid dealers with a lot of great books.

Good clean venue, easy access. It had an old school vibe, but in the best possible way. 

I hope it becomes a regular thing and grows a bit. (But not too much.)

 

[joeypost]

2 hours ago, Ghost Town said:

Just spent the day at the show. Really enjoyed it. I didn't check out the original art room. But the comic dealer room was pretty sweet. Just a room full of solid dealers with a lot of great books.

Good clean venue, easy access. It had an old school vibe, but in the best possible way. 

I hope it becomes a regular thing and grows a bit. (But not too much.)

 

May have to go to this one next year.

[rabidwolf]

3 hours ago, Ghost Town said:

Just spent the day at the show. Really enjoyed it. I didn't check out the original art room. But the comic dealer room was pretty sweet. Just a room full of solid dealers with a lot of great books.

Good clean venue, easy access. It had an old school vibe, but in the best possible way. 

I hope it becomes a regular thing and grows a bit. (But not too much.)

 

Was there too. Agree with GT. 

Great show for vintage collectors. Hope this becomes an annual event. Stopped going to SD years ago and this was a great alternative. 

[sacentaur]

The show was just OK today, IMHO. Lots of quality dealers, lots of books. Lots of high prices too, but to be fair the dealers are paying increased rates for quality material.

I expected attendance to be higher - in the later afternoon the show was dead - but that's OK as this is the first year, and word should spread.

The LAX Hilton is a convenient location, but parking, lack of A/C at times, and poor lighting need to be addressed for next year's show (already scheduled for July 14th).

Got to chat with numerous boardies, and had fun even if my purchases were less than expected.

Thanks to those who organized the event!

[jmg3637]

I was surprised at how the show had cleared out by early afternoon,  but that was the time when I was able to work out two trades to fill many holes in Four Color run.  I bunch from Terry, but mostly mid to low grade, and a couple of very sweet books from harley

The heat got to be a problem for me, but the ready supply of cold water in the hallway helped.

As a Los Angelino, I certainly plan on attending next year, and I really cannot imagine attending SD ever again.

recognized and talked to a number of the dealers,  but not to any individual boardie

[Robot Man]

50 minutes ago, sacentaur said:

The show was just OK today, IMHO. Lots of quality dealers, lots of books. Lots of high prices too, but to be fair the dealers are paying increased rates for quality material.

I expected attendance to be higher - in the later afternoon the show was dead - but that's OK as this is the first year, and word should spread.

The LAX Hilton is a convenient location, but parking, lack of A/C at times, and poor lighting need to be addressed for next year's show (already scheduled for July 14th).

Got to chat with numerous boardies, and had fun even if my purchases were less than expected.

Thanks to those who organized the event!

Good to see you Steve. Yeah, lighting was a problem. I parked next door with no problem except for trying to find my car at the end. I talked to John for a while. He was real receptive to my comments. He couldn't have made much if any money on it. Lowest table rates I’ve seen in a long time and $20 admission. 

I bought quite a bit but didn’t see anything I went specifically to find. To be honest, I didn’t expect to. The stuff I’m looking for is pretty scarce and high demand. 

Was very impressed with the dealer line up. The only way to get that many quality dealers at a small show like this was the timing and timing was perfect. I won’t miss SDCC at all except for the vibe and social part.

I did a report with pics over in GA in “Son of my 50 Year Junk Obsecession” if anybody is interested.

[aardvark88]

5 hours ago, Ghost Town said:

 Really enjoyed it. I didn't check out the original art room. But the comic dealer room was pretty sweet. Just a room full of solid dealers with a lot of great books.

I hope it becomes a regular thing and grows a bit. (But not too much.)

 

I don't think they hit their goal of 1,000 paid attendees. Excellent comic selection with wide variety. Saw 3 copies of a scarce Fox Giant that I had never seen before at 2 different dealers tables and 1 of them was in the original art section where there were at least 4 Hulk #180s, 3 hulk #182s, Avengers 1 fine, Avengers 4 raw, Iron Man #1 raw. I picked a few Howard Keltner fanzine mags, Frazetta White Indian zine, book about UGs and history of comics next to Big Ron. My buddy grabbed a decent early oversize b/w Phantom Feature Book (don't think it was the 1st app. due to price point but still scarce). Nice mix of 1/2 price SA, BA including ASM, FF, X-men, lots of slower selling Adv, Action, Superman comics and some decent selling DC 80 Pg Giants, Batman, Detects, Neal Adams Strange Adv's (Deadman), Aquaman by Neal Adams. Saw a Detect #33 origin for a modest $225k.

The artists and publishers (of Red Nails oversize by BWS, Doc Dave Winiewicz's Frazetta hardcover catalog had me drooling over it ($100). Saw OA to Steranko's double page splash from Capt America circa #111: mind blowing, framed. 

[aardvark88]

52 minutes ago, Robot Man said:

 Yeah, lighting was a problem. I parked next door with no problem except for trying to find my car at the end.  Lowest table rates I’ve seen in a long time and $20 admission. 

I bought quite a bit but didn’t see anything I went specifically to find. To be honest, I didn’t expect to. The stuff I’m looking for is pretty scarce and high demand. 

Was very impressed with the dealer line up. The only way to get that many quality dealers at a small show like this was the timing and timing was perfect. I won’t miss SDCC at all 

+1. As I am aged at over 50, the lack of lighting in the corner of the hall made it tough to dig thru boxes and probably reduced that vendor's sales, unfortunately. 

I parked on the Sat. night, and barely got a spot in the basement 5th floor of 6 parking. Even Sunday night parking at Hilton LAX was full so only the folks/guests who had reserved could find a parking spot on the 5th level. The gentleman handing out the wrist bands was nice enough to offer me 2 discounted parking passes. I did not realize it was a 2 step process to exit the parking lot. First insert the paper pass u entered the Hilton LAX lot with then (2) insert your discounted ($17) pass. Bit confusing to a Canuck with all this hi-tech parking in/out.

Frank Cho was happy to sign any graphic novel one brought to him. Mr and Mrs Wendy Pini had some great stories of exclusive direct distribution of Elfquest. Mr and Mrs Gerhard were glad to meet some Cerebus fans. Mark Schultz did not have a new SDCC sketchbook but did bring at least 2 portfolios of his Xenozoic, Kull and Dark Horse finished pencil work: outstanding per normal. Overwhelming selection of top OA on walls and items to be auctioned off that may have been in portfolios or framed. Great first effort Ultimate/Torpedo con. Thank you !

[mysterio]

Thanks for the reports gents, I may have to consider this one next year if it becomes a regular thing. 

[rabidwolf]

Definitely looked like a success for a first time show based on what I saw.