This is another drawing from the San Diego conference, of a movie fan waiting in line to get into a panel featuring members of the cast of The Expendables. Like an E-ticket ride at Disneyworld, this session had fans waiting in line for hours.

8-Rock

This is another of my Comic-Con drawings, and this time it captures that intense moment when a long-time fan gets his turn to step up to the mic and ask a question of one of his heroes. It was fun to watch people question, comment on, or compliment writers, directors, and artists whose work they had admired for years. The comic book fans were the most intense, with the possible exception of the Charlaine Harris fans. And, yes, I stepped to the mic a few times myself, to ask questions of actor-director Bill Duke and sci-fi visionary Samuel Delany.

8-Rock

This is another drawing from my Comic-Con sketchbook. I’m sure I’m not the only one who actually can pay closer attention to what’s being said when I am doing something with my hands. For some people it’s knitting, but for me its always been drawing. I’ve stopped trying to pretend I’m just doodling. Now I just bring a real sketchbook wherever I go, and if I draw something I really like I can add color with paint or markers, or I can scan it and post it without having to deal with the problem of lined paper.

Anyway, I decided to scan this drawing and format it as a comic book cover. It was a lot of fun to try, and I’m definitely going to try it with some upcoming posts, as well.

8-Rock

This is one of a series of drawings I did at Comic-Con in San Diego, inspired by the Black people I saw in the conference sessions, hallways, and in the exhibition hall. Having never attended this conference before, I was as surprised as I was thrilled to see  so many Black folks–as attendees, vendors, and panelists. It was fascinating to hear Black sci-fi novelists, comic artists, film directors, and costume designers tell the story of how they got their start. Afro-nerd pride was in the air, and I was happy to be among so many of my people.

8-Rock

PS: The t-shirt design is the San Diego skyline.

This drawing was inspired by a recent trip to a local Walgreens. The line at the pharmacy was incredibly long, and some of the customers were less than cordial with the staff; but this one pharamcist in particular remained cool and contained, greeting everyone with respect and a smile. In the brief moments between customers, though, his smile would falter for a moment and I could really see how tired he was. I admired him, though, for treating everyone well, not because they were nice to him (because several people were not) and not because he necessarily felt like it, but because it was the right thing to do.

— 8-rock