Terrificon 2025 Prep

Summer is convention season and my convention is of course, Terrificon.

I have been going to the con since 2017 and have always been impressed with the event. 

It is run at a great site, Mohegan Sun Casino. Free parking. Restaurants from fast food to fine dining.

It is run by a great show runner, Mitch Hallock. Hallock is clearly a fan of comics, a 'one of us' kind of kindred spirit, and is present at the show.

And it always has the best comic guest list. From legends to new talent, it is always a long list of guests.

The bottom line is if there is one show I am going to go to in 'con season' it's this one. And this year is no different. You can click here ( https://www.terrificon.com/ ) to get the run down of the show, including the great comic guest list and pretty impressive celebrity guest list too. 

For me, we are four weeks away and so that means it is prep time. Who am I going to try and commissions from? Who am I running to in hopes of getting some books signed? And what books am I going to try and get signed for friends who can't attend?

Let's start with the guest I am most excited to meet and hopefully get a sketch from.

I have always wanted to meet Kerry Gammill having been a fan since he drew the cover for Power Girl #1. I love his style. Gammill drew the covers for that Power Girl mini-series, the covers of the Supergirl mini-series in the 90s, and other Super-related stuff. For me, based on that, he has a solid Matrix Supergirl connection. He hasn't been at any convention I have been to so I was thrilled when I saw him on the list!

I really hope that I can get a commission from him and get books signed. 

Next on the commission wish list is Scott Kolins. Kolins is another one of those artists who I have hoped to meet but have never had the opportunity before this year. I have been a fan of Kolins since his Flash work (indeed starting with that Zoom issue in his picture). He drew some of the Justice League 3001 book which included a displaced Silver Age Supergirl so there is a connection.

I think he has a really kinetic, energetic, flowing style so I would love to see what he would do for a Supergirl commission. He might be the first table I run to.

The last artist I have never met before and am completely thrilled to meet is Kyle Baker. As crazy as it sounds, I first saw his work as inker over Vince Giarrano on the short lived Haywire book from the late 80s. I also loved his work on the Shadow book as well.

His style is so unique and interesting that I might see if he is sketching at the con. One of the categories of commissions I get are seeing Supergirl drawn by artists who might not be known to draw characters like her. This would fit the bill.

There are a ton more artists there worth mentioning - Romita Jr, Silvestri, Starlin, Chaykin, Joelle Jones, Mirka Andolfo ... and so on. 

So the wish list is Gammill and Kolins but if I am shut out there are plenty more worth looking at for a sketch.

And I haven't even mentioned the writers (or writer/artists) yet.

I just want to thank Jeremy Adams for his work. His Flash run was brilliant. His Green Lantern book IS brilliant. His Flash Gordon title is amazing. He writes the books I want to read. I'll have books for him to sign for sure. 

And while I have met Steve Englehart before (at Terrificon in 2017) I am really glad he is going to be back at the show. In 2017, I brought him his brief Mister Miracle run and some Detective books to get signed. But since that time, I went through my insane obsession about Event Leviathan and the Manhunters. So I will be bringing some of his Justice League of America books from the 70s that re-defined Manhunters and the Guardians!

There are plenty of other guests I can't wait to meet or re-meet. The Simonsons, the Pinis, Jerry Ordway, Dan Jurgens, Kevin Nowlan, Kevin Maguire, Will Conrad, Tom Derenick ... the list goes on.

So time to finalize pulling books and prepping the bag.

The panels were just announced as well.

I'll feel obliged to go to the Dan Jurgens/Tom King one, even if I didn't like Woman of Tomorrow. But plenty of others to go see. Starlin/Englehart talking about comics in the 70s will be great. And I always love hearing Howard Chaykin!

Will anyone else be there?