I ask fwooshmembers questions.
They answer them.
SDComics "But it’s worth it. Oh boy, is it worth it."
Do you prefer wooden toothpicks or plastic?
Well, wooden leaves splinters. Plastic breaks. Ideally, toothpicks should be made of adamantium.
How did you find the Fwoosh?
Pabs. He left a link on the RTM buzz board several years ago. "The silliest place on the ‘net to talk about Marvel Legends", I think he called it. I lurked for a while and then finally decided to join in. I love the Fwoosh. I hope it lasts forever.
Do you own a comic store in San Diego?
It’s funny, the online community asks me that quite a bit. No, I don’t own a store. However, a very good friend of mine, a man I’ve known for about 25 years, owns a comic shop here in town called San Diego Comics and Collectibles. I took the screen name SDcomics as an homage of sorts to his fine establishment.
How many years have you been into comics? How did you get interested in them?
This little hobby/obsession of mine started when I was a wee small lad. It was back in 1964, when I was but five years old, that I saw my first comic book at a barbershop in a small town in rural Indiana. I still remember it vividly. It was Justice League of America number 34 ("The Deadly Dreams of Doctor Destiny!") I picked it up, started looking at the pictures, and decided it was the coolest thing I had ever seen in my young life. It was shortly after that I saw my first Marvel Comic. It was an issue of Strange Tales that featured the Human Torch and Paste Pot Pete. That was over forty years ago, and I’ve been hooked on comics since. I’ve never stopped loving this hobby. 
Can you draw professionally?
Not a lick. I admire the heck out of people that can, though. It must be cool to make your living by drawing.
What is your favorite movie?
Oh, there’s so many movies that I love. It’s hard to come up with a favorite. I will go see anything directed by Quentin Tarantino. Zack Snyder really impressed me with 300. And I think Chris Nolan is an extraordinarily gifted filmmaker.
What’s up with the smiley faces? Where do you get those?
Hmmm. That’s an interesting question. I guess it goes along with my love of comics.
A picture can sometimes say a thousand words.
You go to the comic con every year?
Oh, yes. I went to my first San Diego Comic-Con in 1982. I was in the Navy then and stationed up in Ventura County. I transferred down to San Diego the very next year and I’ve lived here ever since. I have never missed a comic-con in all the years I’ve been a San Diego resident. There are a lot of comic book conventions these days and they’re all a lot of fun, but there’s really nothing that can equal San Diego in terms of size, scope and sheer excitement. It really is a Mecca for anyone that cares about comics, movies, animation and fantasy. I really believe that if you’re a fan of pop culture then you owe it to yourself to attend at least one SDCC in your lifetime. It’s an experience you’ll never forget.
What do you do now? Still in the navy?
I was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1985 after serving for six years. Since that time, I’ve worked for a defense contractor on a Navy base here in San Diego.
Before I got out of the service, I knew I would spend the rest of my life in San Diego. I fell in love with this beautiful little seaport city the first time I came here all those years ago, and I’ve loved it ever since. The beaches, the cool ocean breezes, the mountains, and the scenic vistas … I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
And every year you create and maintain a countdown thread in the forum.
The Countdowns started as a way of keeping folks informed. As we get close to Toy Fair and SDCC, we always get a lot of "When is Toy Fair again?" or "When is SDCC again?" type posts. Having a countdown thread and updating it everyday so it stays on the front page alleviates a lot of that. I believe it was Ray’s idea to put the actual dates in the subject line. That was sheer genius on Ray’s part. The initial post of every countdown thread will always include the pertinent information of the particular event we’re counting down to. The dates, the times, the location, the admission cost, the official event website url, and I anything else I can think of to throw in there.
Do you go to other SDCCon like events?
Oh, yeah. I’ve been to Wizard World Chicago, Wizard World Los Angeles and Wonder Con in San Francisco. It’s been several years since I went, but I’ve been to the Mid-Ohio Con. They’re all great shows and they’re all a lot of fun. Someday I’d really love to go to the New York Comic-Con. I really expect NYCC to rival SDCC someday in terms of size and scope. I’d really like to go to Toy Fair someday, too, but it should be noted that Toy Fair is a trade show and not a fan event. I’d be there to work and cover the event for AFI more so than have fun.
What are some things to do in San Diego for comic fans?
Interesting question! The San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau has a motto: "Come for the convention, stay for the vacation!" We have nearly seventy miles of beaches here, so there’s plenty of opportunities to surf or go sail boating. I believe there’s going to be a sandcastle competition the same weekend as SDCC, so if you’re good at building sandcastles you might wanna check that out. If you’re into beautiful scenery and getting close to nature, you can go for a hike up in the Laguna mountains. There’s Torrey Pines if you like to golf. A lot of comic-con attendees like to go down to nearby Tijuana for dinner and dancing. It’s a trolley ride away from the convention center.
And there’s always the old standby’s for folks who wanna do the tourist thing: The World Famous San Diego Zoo, Sea World and the Wild Animal Park. San Diego is a gorgeous resort city. Take some time and look at some of the scenery while you’re here.
Also, comic fans should make it a point to see "Too Much Coffee Man: The Opera" while they’re here for SDCC. It’ll be playing at the Horton Grand Theatre on fourth avenue downtown, a few blocks from the convention center.
I’m serious. "Too Much Coffee Man: The Opera." It’s destined to be a classic in the annals of comic book inspired operas.
How much money do you spend on the comic con?
It’s an expensive venture. For starters, it’s about ten dollars a day to park your car. It’s a five day convention so there’s fifty bucks right there. My membership badge is 60 bucks. Dining downtown can run you anywhere from five or six bucks (McDonalds) to one hundred bucks (Lou and Mickey’s for Steak and Lobster) per meal. One thing I’ve learned over the years: If you take the Big Mac over the steak, you’ll have more to spend on comics. I like to buy a lot of stuff in the dealer’s room, mostly back issues, trade paperbacks and action figures. And of course, there are the convention exclusives.
Typically, I will spend between 700 and 1000 dollars at SDCC. And bear in mind that I’m a San Diego resident. I’m not paying for airfare and a hotel. If that were the case, I’d be spending closer to two grand.
But it’s worth it. Oh boy, is it worth it.
What do you say to the girls who are dressed up at the con?
I will always ask if it’s okay to get a picture. If they’re pretty, I’ll tell them that. And if I ever see one dressed as Black Canary, I’ll probably propose.
What do you like to do at the Con?
One of my favorite things to do at SDCC is talk to the Golden, Silver and Bronze age comic creators that are in attendance. Sorry for the name dropping, but this year I got my Essential Ghost Rider trade paperback signed by GR creators Gary Friedrich, Mike Ploog and Roy Thomas. It was the first time I ever met Friedrich and Ploog and it was quite a thrill!
The movie panels are fun. The Lionsgate presentation featured none other than Jessica Alba.
From the Hulk movie panel, Edward Norton (Bruce Banner) and Liv Tyler (Betty Ross).
Iron Man movie looks amazing. The trailer was stunning. Here’s a pic of the Stan Winston designed Mark-1 Iron Man armor that was on display in the Marvel booth:
Stan Winston
Iron Man cast: Actor Robert Downey Jr., director Jon Favreau, actress Gwyneth Paltrow and actor Terrence Howard.
I was surprised that Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg and Karen Allen joined Paramount’s Indiana Jones 4 presentation via satellite.
Who do you get to meet at the Con?
Oh, all kinds of interesting people. For starters, there’s Booth Babes like Dazza Del Rio.
and Karen Palinko.
Fellow online action figure enthusiasts, like Julius Marx, Rob and Bobbi.
What do you buy at the Con?
Interesting question. You would think, wouldn’t you, that after forty + years of collecting I’d have just about everything I need. But no, there’s …
GRAPHIC NOVELS!
OLD COMIC BOOKS!
MMMMMmmmm cookies …
Did you stay on budget?
Nope. I ate too much, drank too much and spent WAY too much.
You know. Pretty much a typical SDCC vacation.
The con was fun this year. I’m exhausted and broke, but happy.
I’m seriously thinking of going next year.
I hope you will. It’s my dream to try and get as many Fwooshers together as possible for SDCC. It would be a blast to get everyone out here for the show.
Start saving, kids.
And thanks SDComics!