Well, I realize this is long overdue, but I've been busy, still am, so please, cut me some slack.

Last week was the Dallas Comic Con. I was one of the guests amongst a pretty great guest list. Tim Bradstreet, Tony Harris, Bernie Wrightson, Cat Staggs, Howard Chaykin, Jim Daly, Marlin Shoop, Dave Dorman & Steve Niles were just some of the Comic Guests and Celebrity guests were also pretty great, Karen Allen, Michael Gross, Alan Ruck and Jeremy Bullock just to name a few off the top of my head.

The weekend started early for me as I arrived in Dallas early on Thursday. Mark, on of the organizers, picked me up at the airport and we then spent most of the early afternoon running errands and picking up others at the airport. First of which was Tim Bradstreet and his wife and newborn daughter. I've known tim for just a short time (a litle over a year or so) and he's not only a great cover artist, but just an all around good guy.

After dropping Tim & Family off at a friends house whom they were visiting, we left to get Howard Chaykin at the airport. Now, for those of you unaware who Howard is, Google him... plain and simple. Too much to get into, but he was the man who was responsible for the original artwork for the famous 1976 San Diego Comic Con promo poster for Star Wars. The poster is worth a fortune now. If you have one, I hate you.

After picking up Howard, we went to dinner. Mexican, great place, the name escapes me, but they had only 2 items on the menu and it was fantastic.

Let's Fast-Forward to Friday, we snag Tony Harris at the airport and head to downtown Dallas to Scott Harben's studio.Scott is a very prolific photographer, doing work with companies like BMW, Ford, various other Magazines and companies... his body of work is just amazing. He's also an amazing metal sculptor whose work is sought after. Scott works with Tim on getting the reference shots for Tim's covers. Backgrounds, Props, Actors...

I basically then spent the rest of Friday watching the photoshoot for Reference to some upcoming Punisher covers... and not only that, became an upcoming cover. Here are some shots to look over:


http://www.tomhodges.com/art_posting/shoot01.jpg
Here is just a small portion of Scott's studio. The loft space was at LEAST 3000 + square feet, 15 foot ceilings, hardwood floors... freakin Terri's dream space... and this isn't even the half of it! Just amazing.

http://www.tomhodges.com/art_posting/shoot02.jpg
Props... and yes, they're real. There was more... alot more!

http://www.tomhodges.com/art_posting/shoot03.jpg
Tim directing Punisher model Tom O'Brien.

http://www.tomhodges.com/art_posting/shoot04.jpg
Scott directing Tom. Tom was a great guy, really great.

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Tom, Tim and the back of Tony Harris' head. Tony was another great guy. for those unfamiliar with Tony, FOR SHAME! He's only the penciler on the Eisner Award winning book "Ex Machina". Not only an amazing artist but a fun guy to hang around with!

http://www.tomhodges.com/art_posting/shoot07.jpg
OK, for those of you who buy comics (or don't), make sure to snag "Punisher #38" in which I will be featured on the cover. The shirt and coat, along with how I had to sit made me look SO HUGE.

Fun times which ended with a very late dinner with a bunch of the shows guests, Tom Jane, Karen Allen, Bernie Wrightson and his lovely wife Liz... great time.

Ok, onto the show...

For the most part, the show was great. I did a lot of sketches, sold some sketchbooks... a piece of original art. The prints seemed not to move as well as I would have hoped, but hey, that's ok, that means people who could attend the show will make out in the end! Besides, by early Saturday Morning (Day 1 of the 2 day show) the ATM in the convention center went DRY!

Ok, now more pics!
http://www.tomhodges.com/art_posting/DCC01.jpg
Michael Gross (America's favorite TV Dad) and Cat and I. He was such a nice guy! Looked over our art with Karen and Alan Ruck... speaking of which...
http://www.tomhodges.com/art_posting/DCC03.jpg
"when Cameron was in Egypt land... let my Cameron go..." Also a very nice guy!
http://www.tomhodges.com/art_posting/DCC02.jpg
Cat and I with Karen Allen holding the original art for the cover set.

http://www.tomhodges.com/art_posting/DCC04.jpg
Cat, Jeremy Bullock(Boba Fett), myself and Dave Dorman. Jeremy is just a great guy and always has been. I've known him personally for a few years now and he and his wife are just great people. Dave Dorman is alo one amazing artist and has been doing Star Wars art for a long time now.

I don't have the pic with Tom Jane around but when I find it I will post it. The last day of the show, Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) showed up to walk around and go to dinner with Jeremy. It was nice to see Peter. He's such a nice guy!

All around, a good time to be had. Sunday night,a large group of us went to dinner and then back to the hotel to sit in the lobby for hours on end just chatting and laughing (Tony Harris and Jim Daly had me in tears) Just a fun time. Looking forward to their Sci-Fi Show in Dallas in july (a week before San Diego and a week after Heroes in NC... BUSY month come July!)

My next show is Wizard World Philly the first weekend in June.

Ok, back to work.