This weekend I will be heading back to Cincinnati Comic Expo to see awesome comics fans hailing from Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana!
I’m really looking forward to it, as CCE is one of those conventions that you can tell is supported by a vibrant local fan community. Conventions are places where you can buy art and swag and find out about cool new things, but at the end of the day for a lot of people they are most notably about being among your own. Conventions like Cincinnati Comic Expo that celebrate that spirit of community as part of the overall con experience are a pleasure to participate in.
Anywho, the 5th Annual Cincinnati Comic Expo is 9/19 to 9/21/2014 at the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati. I will be at Booth 228. Here’s a map where you can find me at the con!
Sunday at 1:15pm to 2:00pm, I will be moderating a panel that fans of teen sidekicks and team books will not want to miss:
Comic Legends George Perez and Marv Wolfman LAZER KRAZE Panel Room (Junior Ballroom C,D) Moderated by Christopher Jones Panelists: George Perez and Marv Wolfman
Additionally…
FREE STUFF! You heard me, Cincinnati! FREEEEEEE STUFF!
Who doesn’t like free stuff??? Just come find me at any point at Booth 228 to get yours!
I will have FREE mini-prints or buttons for Facebook & Twitter followers….
And FREE posters for my new comic series, Parallel Man! For everybody who wants one! You can even have one of each! And I’ll sign them free too!
Also… Art and Comics for sale! I will have a few Young Justice trade paperbacks with me and, as usual, I will have all of my prints available, which are $5 each for small black & white prints and $20 each for 11×17″ full color prints. This is a convention special and a significant discount from my Etsy store.
In particular I have quite a few Doctor Who and Superhero prints (including Young Justice!) Here’s a small selection:
And of course I will be doing sketches throughout the convention by request!
My Cincinnati Comic Expo 2014 sketch prices are:
$40 for a head shot
$60 for a full figure character + $30 for each additional character in the same sketch
Here are a few examples of convention sketches from previous cons…
Whew! So I hope to see some of you this weekend at Cincinnati Comic Expo! Stop by, say hello, get some free stuff. :)
This past weekend I was fortunate enough to have been invited to be a guest at the Cincinnati Comic Expo. Hal and I arrived at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport which has the airport code CVG, the same abbreviation we use for our home convention CONvergence, which I suppose could be taken as a good omen for the weekend to come. We were met at the airport by Amanda Gilliam, which was the first time that I’ve ever had the driver-with-your-name-on-an-erasable-marker-board experience. Amanda wasn’t driving us though, she hooked us up with a pre-paid shuttle to our hotel in Cincinnati while she went back to wait for the next out-of-town guests due to arrive.
Friday afternoon was spent setting up my booth. We’re forever trying to find ways of streamlining my convention set-up, making it faster to put together and getting the most bang for the buck given the limitations of bulk and weight that is practical to bring to a convention by plane. This was the best iteration to date, but we’ve already got ideas of how to improve it for next time!
Young Justice fan art from Jim Haas
The convention was open from 5:00-7:00pm for a “preview night” for Exhibitors and VIP Ticketholders. I didn’t do a lot of business, but there was a lot of browsing and it was a great chance to meet some of the other folks there for the show while traffic was light. The cosplayers were already out in force, and we started capturing photos. When I say we, I mean mostly Hal. She’s the reason you see as many photos in my social media on a convention weekend as you do, as she’s both taking the photos and posting them while I’m busy drawing and talking to fans. Hals are very useful, I highly recommend them.
Friday Night was the Comic Expo’s Geek Prom, which had a Saturday Morning Cartoons theme,with many of the attendees in cosplay or pajamas.
Art of War II at the Mainstay Rock Bar
Saturday Night featured an after party at the Mainstay Rock Bar including the second annual installment of an improv drawing event called Art of War. Artists went head-to-head in drawing challenges in an elimination structure. This year I was happy to just watch, but if I make it back next year, maybe I’ll participate!
I love meeting all fans, but I’m always especially amused by exchanges with costumed fans that revolve around their costumed personas. A Nightwing cosplayer asked if I would “sign his wing,” and then proceeded to lean over for me to sign the chest logo on his costume, playing it up like I was signing a female fan’s cleavage. (I never get asked to do THAT… maybe I should be grateful?) Judge Dredd and a colleague stopped by and were very concerned with whether the free candy being offered at my table met with regulations.
Signing Nightwing’s costume
These Judges meant business
My favorite had to be when a Dalek glided to a stop in front of my booth. Its eyestalk examined my many Doctor Who prints and then informed me “YOU ARE CHAR-GING TOO MUCH FOR DE-PIC-TIONS OF A TIME-LORD.” I said there was a discount for Kaled Mutants. The eyestalk returned to the prints, then pointed back at me. “I WILL CON-SI-DER YOUR OFFER.” Then it glided away. I wish I had video.
I did a number of sketches while at the Expo, and you can see those below.
Ace the Bat Hound
Zatanna
Darth Vader
The first sketch request of the weekend was for one of the Super Pets, and I opted for Ace the Bathound. I’ve always loved the inherent goofiness of a masked crime-fighting dog, and enjoyed doing a melodramatic take on the beloved Bat-pet. Next up was a Young Justice style Zatanna. I’m convinced that the only reason she didn’t have her trademark fishnets on the TV show was the limitations of animation, so she’s got them in this sketch. Finally, I was asked for a Darth Vader by Cincinnati Comic Expo founder and director Andrew Satterfield. I don’t often get asked for characters from outside of comics, so this was fun to do. Big thanks to Andrew for bringing me to the convention!
JLU-style Huntress
Artemis
Darkseid
One fan asked for a Justice League Unlimited style Huntress, which I was happy to provide. Next up was a quick head sketch of Young Justice’sArtemis which I did as gift for the daughter of Brian Tudor, who sent out a Tweet about wanting to see me in Cincinnati that got me on the radar of CCE Director Andrew Satterfield. The Darkseid sketch I did during some down time when I felt like drawing. I’ll have it for sale at my next convention for unless someone makes me a better offer first! :)
Avengers sketch cover with Tigra
Green Arrow sketch cover with Arrow vs Etrigan
Two different fans asked for sketch covers. One had seen a Tigra sketch I’d done at another convention and liked that I emphasized her feral nature over her sex appeal, and asked for something in a similar vein. Another fan asked for Etrigan vs. Green Arrow.
Madman without a Box
And finally, I did one more sketch just to be drawing during some down time. I started drawing the Joker, and had gotten as far as deciding what kind of tie to give him – bolo, straight necktie, or bow tie – when inspiration struck. Between the Joker drawing turning out pretty well and the Doctor Who reference, this seems to have gotten a pretty good reaction on social media. I may have to do another version of this as a print! I’ve still got this original art, so it also will be available at my next convention unless I get a better offer! ;)
At the Hall of Justice – Cincinnati’s Union Terminal
Before leaving town I had to visit the great comic book geek landmark of Cincinnati, Union Terminal which these days is the Cincinnati Museum Center. Back in 1973 it served as inspiration for the Justice League’s Hall of Justice on The Superfriends!
My thanks again to everyone that stopped by my table at the Cincinnati Comic Expo, and all the great volunteers who made the event happen and made me feel so welcome there. You’ve got a great convention and I’d love to come back!
I had a great time at the Cincinnati Comic Expo this past weekend. I’ll have a write-up of the weekend shortly, but I got so many great cosplay photos, I decided to give them their own post. My thanks to all the great cosplayers who stopped to have their photo taken, and a big thanks to my web minion and booth helper Hal Bichel for taking most of these photos while I was busy drawing and talking to fans!
FRIDAY
Velma Dinkley
Green Army Man
Joker
The show was only open on Friday night for two hours for Exhibitors and VIP ticket holders, but there were already some cosplayers about.
GEEK PROM
CCE13 Geek Prom
Ninja Turtle Balloons
Me flanked by Batgirl & Robin
There was a Geek Prom event on Friday night, with a theme of Saturday Morning Cartoons. There were plenty of cosplayers, pajamas and breakfast cereal, as well as some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle balloon sculptures as decoration!
Amanda as Leia
Morpheus & Death
“Lazy Batman” and Selina Kyle
Amanda was the con volunteer who met me at the Airport, and she’d changed into a Princess Leia cosplay for the Geek Prom. Loved “Lazy Batman” in his Bat-Robe.
Joker
Kermit & Jim Henson
Deadpool as Prom King
Check out Kermit‘s steampunk hat! Towards the end of the evening, Deadpool (and his companion Batgirl) were named King and Queen of the prom!
Harley Quinn
Enchantress, Loki, Riddler, & Thor
Riddle me this: Thy is The Riddler hanging out with the crew from Asgard? Anything goes in cosplay!
Scarecrow
“Fancy” Solomon Grundy
A pair of Robins
When we saw that the nerdy looking zombie was “Fancy” Solomon Grundy we cracked up.
Rose, Jack, and The Empty Child
Pacific Rim
Great group cosplays at CCE13.
Dr. Octopus
Robin
Walt Disney & Mickey
Loved the Doc Ock cosplay! Note the little Mickey Mouse in Walt Disney‘s pocket!
The 11th Doctor
Me with Wonder Woman
A great 11th Doctor with a to-scale sonic screwdriver! And a FANTASTIC Wonder Woman!
Cap, Spawn, & Batman
Spawn – UNMASKED!
That may be the best Spawn costume I’ve ever seen!
The Flash
Beast
Captain & Mary Marvel
I love me some Marvel Family!
Nightwing
Static
Mortal Combat’s Jade
Nightwing really got into the spirit of my Disco Wing mini-print!
Mal & Kaylee
Ms Marvel
This Ms. Marvel was one of my favorite cosplayers at CCE13!
The Brave Family
Dr Fate & Zatanna
Two family portraits (If you assume Young Justice continuity where Zatanna’s father Zatarra becomes a host for Doctor Fate!).
1st Doctors
Alan Scott Green Lantern
Judges
These judges inspected my booth for code violations. I was lucky enough to keep out of the iso-cubes.
Ant-Man
Zatanna
Gambit & Luke Cage
SUNDAY
4th Doctor & The TARDIS
River Song & Amy Pond
Slave Leia
That River Song / Amy Pond pair really were mother and daughter – but you know – the other way around. And I spotted a Slave Leia, so it was officially a convention!
Stormtrooper
Thor
Welcome to the Asgardian gun show!
11th Doctor
Indiana Jones
River Song
Who’d like to see a Team TARDIS consisting of the Doctor, Indiana Jones, and River Song?
Batgirl & Batman
Two-Face
Thankfully these three didn’t all stop by at the same time – there could have been trouble.
Nightwing
Me with The Batman
Apparently the denizens of Gotham were out in force on Sunday…
Chell
Vocaloid
Poison Ivy
Love the Poison Ivy dress!
Ensign Ro & Iron Man
Ensign Ro vs The Gorn
And finally, here’s a pair of photos featuring Web Minion Hal in her Ensign Ro cosplay. My thanks to her again for taking most of these photos!
SHOW HOURS: Friday 9/13: 5:00pm to 7:00pm Saturday 9/14: 10:00am to 7:00pm Sunday 9/15: 10:00am to 5:00pm
I’ll be there for the Preview Night on Friday and All Day Saturday and Sunday. I won’t be in Artists Alley, I’ll be in Booth 431 (next to Blue Line Pro and Illustrator David Michael Beck). I’ll have Young Justice trade paperbacks and Art Prints for sale, and I’ll be doing original commission sketches. I’ll have my usual convention exclusives like the ever-popular Disco Wing mini-print!
We’ll be doing aYoung JusticeMeet-up for Cosplayers and Fans at 7:00pm (show close) on Saturday. It’s a chance to gather everyone together to meet, get photos, and talk informally. See the graphic below for the meet-up location.
Christopher Jones is a comic book artist who has worked on DC's Young Justice, The Batman Strikes!, Batman '66, Justice League Adventures; Marvel's Superhero Squad, Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes; Titan's Doctor Who; Re-Animator, Dr. Blink: Superhero Shrink & more!
Conventions | Christopher Jones | 
September 17, 2014 12:28 am | 
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