It's Andy Fish!

Did HEROES CON ’26 with the Boys in June, I usually help out every year. This year, being the last person to know I was actually sick with a potentially terminal disease I noticed I was tiring easily, that and 65 of my closest friends pulled me aside and said “You have to go get checked”. I appreciate all of them.

Charlotte North Carolina is one of the friendliest cities I’ve ever been too, but it’s also one of the hottest and most humid. We pulled into the loading dock very easily and got the truck unloaded and in no time we had the booth setup. In the photo above that is them in the center of the pic, they had a massive booth just as you walk in the door. They do a beautiful job with setup– compare it to the next door neighbor who would probably get kicked out of flea market for having such a bad display.

In terms of Comic Book Conventions, true pure NATIONAL Comic Book conventions, so I’m talking dealers coming in from all over the country, there are only TWO of the well over 200 comic shows that run in the United States and I would say HEROES CON in North Carolina and LITTLE GIANT in New Hampshire are it. No celebrities, no soda vendors, no crafts people, no insurance companies or cell phone carriers.

San Diego Comic Con, which in my opinion is the most fun Convention of the year, although its overwhelming, still has old comics but nowhere near what Charlotte or Little Giant do.

The Number One reason I’d say collectors come to HEROES is to meet comic book professionals and get their work signed. The best way to be successful in that is to use the program guide to map out who is signing and where they are set up. Some signatures are relatively easy to get, waiting in line for 10-20 mins if the pro is tied up talking to a fan, but some can take upwards of 90 mins if the creator is especially popular or (worse) if a fan has a wagon full of boxes of comics they’d like signed.

Shopping for old comics you’ll have a LOT to look at– things you have been looking years for and things you’ve never seen before but now must have. I’d say with that the best thing is to have a list and bring it with you. More expensive, rare or unique comics are usually on the wall display behind the boxes, so scan that first. Some dealers allow you to come behind the table while other’s do not. Even if you see someone back there who is shopping don’t assume you are allowed back there too-that may be a longtime customer or the dealer may only allow 1 or 2 people closeup access at a time, just ask.

If you are wearing a backpack take it off and carry it in front of you so you aren’t hitting people with it– and then place it down either between or in front of your feet while you browse. NEVER access your bag while you’re in the booth you don’t ever want to be accused of stealing.

Most dealers are willing to work with you on a price, but be realistic, 10-15% off is a reasonable offer a complete lowball one is not. Especially if they don’t know you. Be respectful and handle their books carefully, remember they aren’t yours until you buy it.

Plan and you’ll have fun at a show, and Heroes this year was as good as ever!