What do you get when you combine a F-22 Raptor, Star Lord from Guardians of the Galaxy, a gauntlet of local artists and creators, the deep, window-rattling scream of a F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, an annual event from Diamond Comics Distributors and a fun, informative live broadcast with www.comicbooked.com‘s Managing Editor? You get my weekend, of course! It pains me to report that Captain America: Civil War was not one of those weekend events that I can say I attended.
While travelling between local comic book shops this weekend, the roar and scream of jet fighters and propeller aircraft alike sounded as they streaked through the skies. The rumble as they darted overhead, over the sunny Fort Lauderdale skyline was a sight to behold and one to be remembered.
I will remember watching these aerial acrobatics as I drove to may local comic book shops for the 2016 Free Comic Book Day. Here, Free Comic Book Day is traditionally held in a tent in the busy parking lot outside of the comic book shop. This weekend however it was indoors, shared between the table-top gaming satellite and the main shop next door. Perhaps this was to mitigate the might and fury sounding overhead, perhaps this was to keep cool, but whichever the case, it worked quiet well! The table-top gaming location was rearranged so that customers would pass through an aisle of local artists and creators. I had the pleasure of speaking with and meeting a few of these local individuals. South Florida is truly a confluence of art and culture and celebrates self-expression. This was on display on Saturday as I walked past tables of fantastic original art pieces and jewelry and original works of fiction that these people created and were proudly displaying for sale. There were costumers and cosplayers amongst the throngs of FCBD-goes, one of which was Mr Peter Quill, Starlord. One individual whom I met via Facebook, a local gentleman, created a comic book entitled Tart which is about a time traveling, demon hunter. It is filled with vibrant, rich coloring and wonderful story-telling. Stay tuned for an in-depth review of this book.
Again on Sunday the sounds of the Breitling Jet Team and the Thunderbirds permeated the sky over south Florida’s Gold Coast. As I completed my morning run, with tightly choreographed air demonstrations close above, I contemplated the afternoon’s schedule: Wish Mom a Happy Mother’s Day and prepare for my live-broadcast on YouTube.
I had the opportunity – nay – the pleasure of conducting a live broadcast via my YouTube channel, JLS Comics, with comicbooked.com‘s Managing Editor Justin Padgett. The interview is part of an on-going series that is all about the “how to’s” of the comic book world – how to budget, how to organize, how to store, how to collect comic books. Justin and I talked about the life of a Managing Editor, working for a website and how to start. We talked about current comic book world-events and we talked about past experiences and future goals. It was fun and informative and thorough and yet seemingly done all to quickly. I closed out the weekend of my comic book adventures with the beautiful cinematic masterpiece that is Halle Berry’s Catwoman. Okay, so maybe I exaggerated there but I will admit that I did enjoy the movie, for all its faults and failings it was a fun movie.
This will do it for this inaugural installment of my weekly adventures in comic book collecting, vlogging and writing – I look forward to seeing you again for part 2 where hopefully I will be able to report that I saw Captain America: Civil War!
To see the full interview, play here:
