Comic-Con Charms City

BALTIMORE -- At first, one would think you had entered a movie, as you look up to see Imperial stormtroopers having a conversation with two Jedi knights, perhaps asking if those are indeed the droids they are looking for. Looking in another direction, you see Spiderman posing for pictures with excited children, while Blade the vampire hunter stands in silent vigil over the exit doors, his sword purposefully drawn. This mix of superheroes, Jedi, and Japanese animated figures descended upon the Baltimore Convention Center for the Baltimore Comic-Con. The convention, held Sept. 27-28, offered scores of comic-book fans the chance to shop and meet several of their favorite comic-book creators.

“The fans who come out for this are true die-hard comics people,” said Steve Rotterdam, senior vice president of sales and marketing for DC Comics. “We get a caliber of interest which is somewhat refreshing.”

Even though it's not the largest convention, more than 100 writers and artists were scheduled to be on hand to sign comics, do sketches and chat with fans.

“This is a convention where fans can really get up close with talent that are in some ways inaccessible at other conventions,” Rotterdam said.

Miranda Rosenfelt, a comic convention veteran from the Washington DC area, arrived dressed as Batgirl. “It’s nice to be able to meet people who write the characters that I grew up loving,” she said.

She wasn't the only one sporting a costume, as many of the comic aficionados posed for pictures together.

“It’s fun for me,” Rosenfelt said. “You go [to cons] to see that kind of intense devotion to that world, and if you don’t, it’s a little bit of a letdown.”

Another highlight of the convention was shopping, as attendees used the opportunity to seek out rare or vintage items.

“People are finding things that they can’t find elsewhere,” said Jonathan Cohen, manager of area retailer Beyond Comics.

Cohen already had two offers by Saturday at noon for an eight-foot-tall Incredible Hulk statue that was used in theaters to promote last summer’s film.

Some in attendance were just as interested in politicians as they were the Hulk. James Cucchiara, of StylinOnline, designed t-shirts featuring Sen. Barack Obama pulling his shirt open Superman-style, to reveal a stylized O where the familiar S would be. The image had been painted by acclaimed comic artist Alex Ross.

Cucchiara had to reassure several fans that a shirt featuring Sen. John McCain would be next. “I’m not really Republican or Democrat, I’m a capitalist, so I saw an opportunity,” Cucchiara said.

Several of the comic companies in attendance also convened in panel discussions, allowing creators to talk about where books were heading and answer questions from fans.

The creative team behind the Superman-related titles announced plans to begin a new storyline: Superman discovers a population of survivors from his home planet of Krypton, reversing his status as “The Last Son of Krypton.”

Writers Geoff Johns, James Robinson, and Sterling Gates, as well as artist Jamal Igle and editor Matt Idelson, discussed what it was like to work on such an iconic character.

After one fan inquired as to the potential return of a particularly obscure character, Robinson said he would accept the challenge and try to bring the character back. When an even more obscure character was mentioned, Johns suggested Robinson might want to resurrect him as well, prompting laughter from the crowd.

Writer-artist Brian Michael Bendis, who participated in several panels, including one where he debated fellow-creator Robert Kirkman, expressed hope that some of the attendees might someday return as creators themselves.

“Honestly, all I can really hope is that someone creates something spectacular,” Bendis said.