Granite State Comic Con 2026 recap

While Terrificon is my main showto attend, Granite State Comicon is always a on my convention season docket. One hour north into New Hampshire, the show has grown over the years of my attendance. It first was in the ballroom of the Hilton, then the expo center in the hotel, then both the ballroom and the expo center, and now the ballroom, expo center, and the arena across the street!

Every year they have a nice list of local artists in attendance with a smattering of bigger names. And each year there is someone I haven't met before. Interestingly enough, there aren't many comic dealers there. Instead, toys, shirts, posters, and other memorabelia dominate. 

Still, if Terrificon is the main course, Granite State is the dessert of the season. 

This year I was most excited to meet Steve Lieber. Lieber drew the fantastic Jimmy Olsen book that Matt Fraction wrote back in the Event Leviathan days. I loved that book. I hadn't seen Lieber at a show before so he was first on my list. Anything else I got at the show would almost gravy.

I got to his table right as the place opened on Saturday and was first on his commission list. 

Love this sketch of my favorite hero, flying in the clouds and looking up to the sun. Nice use of copic markers to add some shade and depth to things as well. 

So cool to add to the collection.

A Million Thanks!

I know this self-congratulatory post is coming only a little over a month after my anniversary post, but yesterday Supergirl Comic Box Commentary passed 1,000,000 visits in just under the 3 years I have been following my stats. And I thought that was a nice little landmark to commemorate.

So first off, the blog now has a new banner bar to welcome everyone. As I did before, I turned to my good friend Jeff Caporizzo to design the new look for the place. We both felt that my Craig Rousseau commission of Supergirl really captured her as a character. The tag line of 'critique, community, exclusive content' hopefully captures the spirit of this place. At least, that is what I hope this place has going for it.

Jeff is an graphic designer and artist who blogs about the life and journey of an artist here:  http://artandevery.typepad.com/blog/

I decided to do some navel gazing and see which posts have mine have garnered the most hits over the years. Two posts' histories dwarf all others in terms of their viewing and I had to chuckle a bit. There are other posts I am much more proud of. And I think these popular ones have been seen not strictly for their content.

The number one post for viewing here is 'Apocalypse Thoughts: What shouldn't be in the movie' viewable here:
http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/2010/07/apocalypse-thoughts-what-shouldnt-be-in.html

It was a post done before the release of the Superman/Batman:Apocalypse movie, basically Supergirl's origin. In that post I hoped that there wouldn't be a 'naked Supergirl' in the movie. And, wouldn't you know it, 'naked Supergirl' is an oft-searched item on the internet leading people to that post.

Ironic, isn't it!

The number two post is my review of Cry For Justice #5, viewable here: http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/2009/11/review-cry-for-justice-5.html
I can only assume that this is a popular post because the cover is Supergirl kissing Captain Marvel (and 'Supergirl kissing' is also a popular search term), includes a scan of Starfire and Donna Troy in bikinis, as well as a scan of Red Arrow with his arm ripped off. I also think this is pretty ironic. I wouldn't think any of those scans represent my purpose here.

Anyways, I will continue my mini-celebration tomorrow by reviewing Supergirl #1,000,000.

Thanks again Jeff! The new banner looks snazzy!

Craig Rousseau Commission

Every so often I feel I blunder into something wonderful.

A few years ago I was attending a local comic convention and saw that Perhapanauts artist Craig Rousseau was going to be in attendance. I had seen Rousseau's stuff on line and in a handful of issues and liked his style. I figured a Rousseau commission would be a nice addition to my collection.

At this point in my commission gathering, I was buying the pieces loose to hang on the 'wall of fame'. (I have since switched to a sketch book.) So I contacted Rousseau before the convention and asked if he was doing commissions. He replied that he was and that he could get it done before the con so I could pick it up first thing. He also talked about getting it done in color on Canson paper for a higher price. I only had one color commission in my collection at this point and thought it about it.

Luckily, I decided it was worth the extra cash. Luckily ... I can remember thinking about it for a while. And I say luckily because I ended up getting this great commission which just pops off the page. It is such a nice and innovative interpretation of Supergirl. I have lots of commissions still hanging on the wall; this one seems to get the most comments. I sort of blundered into something fantastic.

Rousseau has since become a favorite of the supergirls at home; he drew both Spiderman loves Mary Jane Season Two and Her-oes. Here is a link to his website: http://www.craigrousseau.com/home,1.html You should definitely check his stuff out there.

He will also be attending the Baltimore Comic-Con at the end of the month.