San Diego 2013

Many many many thanks to the wonderful folks who honored me as a guest at San Diego Comic Con this year. A grateful tip of my Dodgers' cap to Janet and Beth in Guest Relations - particularly Beth, who helped my daughter Rachel achieve her dream of seeing Jennifer Lawrence in person at the Lionsgate panel. (And the Fox panel, too, of course.)

And thank you, everyone, for the Inkpot award.

I haven't been to Comic Con in San Diego as a guest in, well, ever. The last time I attended was about six years ago when Rachel wanted to see what it was like (as did I). It was pretty amazing but also, I have to admit, pretty stressful. I don't feel comfortable in large crowds. And San Diego Comic Con is practically the definition of a large crowd, to put it mildly. So when I was invited to attend I was worried I'd soon find myself cowering in a corner popping Xanax like tic-tacs.

But, in fact, the entire experience was a delight. Janet and her crew made me feel extremely welcome, and the panels I appeared on were lots of fun (though I was amused/upset to learn I'd traumatized Mark Waid with the death of Gwen Stacy, among the many other readers whose childhood I unintentionally ruined). And the fans -- the fans, meaning you, we're great. It was a pleasure to meet all of you, and I hope we have a chance to talk again soon at other conventions.

And, of course, there was this, my personal favorite moment of the whole con, when Rachel made a new special friend: