San Diego Comic-Con 2019 was kind to Cool Jerk, despite me spraining my back a few days before the show and being in teeth-gritting agony most days. New items this year included The Mightily Marvelous Cool Jerk Fun Book (my legit first and only all-ages publication) and something I called the Official Cool Jerk Mystery Funbag, a blind box-style lootsack with roughly $80 of Cool Jerk merch for a mere $30. I had hidden behind the table a select few of the three-volume Like, For Shore! The Complete Works college strip collections. These were limited to 75 editions and I literally had them under wraps and off the table because they were made especially for Cool Jerk patrons who have all the books. (Also available to the general public via my Cool Jerk store, here!)

This was my 17th year in a row exhibiting in Small Press, in pretty much the exact same spot. What’s mind-blowing is that a bunch of high school kids I met that first year in 2003 (The Poway Posse) are now the same age I was when I met them! As ever, it was great to see so many of my friends and meet new ones. Special thanks to Nathan, Ricky and his nephew Brandon, and Richard’s pal Alex for helping me with table stuff this year.

Now, on with the show!

Here’s our doggo, Doctor, charming attendees outside Hall B. (The top photo is also him, cosplaying as Doctor Strange.)

Timely and popular cosplay pairs this year include Thanos and Death…

… and Thanos with youngster Gamora.

Also popular this year were various takes from “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” Especially Spider-Gwen (aka Ghost Spider) and warmup-sweats-wearing Peter Parker.

Saw this same dude at Denver Pop Culture Con earlier this summer, also cosplaying Madcap.

Sort of a casual-Friday-meets-hipster version of Thundercats’ Cheetara.

I confess I have no idea who she’s cosplaying. Anyone?

For all you European readers, here’s Obelisk and Asterisk. Nice job!

Ace Ventura, Pet Detective. The wardrobe and hair were on point; the fact he stayed in character (gait, exaggerated pantomiming) was just gravy.

Brianna Turnier as Jubilee (non-vampire version because she left her fangs at home). Her hands did give off bright lights, despite the photo.

Me, with a Damage Control employee and Taskmaster. Wish I’d gotten a full-figure pic of Taskmaster; George Pérez would’ve been honored.

PRO TIP: Try to call out a cosplayer by their character name when asking for pics or selfies. They love that. I was able to get Arachne‘s attention by calling out “Excuse me… Julia Carpenter? Can I get a pic with you?”

XY chromosome version of She-Ra and a non-barefoot Fred Flintstone (with bonus Dino).

I’m… not certain who they are, but they’re terrific. Anone throw me a bone here?

Simon Williams a.k.a. Wonder Man. No safari jacket? Well, I can’t blame him. It was pretty warm and humid that weekend.

An above-average Felicia Hardy a.k.a. Black Cat.

Another Marvel couple— Havok and Polaris.

Bellatrix Lestrange and Voldemort. His wand fu was exceptional.

I wasn’t able to sneak away from the Cool Jerk table except for the few minutes before the show opens each day, but I was able to see the actual (?) prop of the Oxygen Destroyer from the first Godzilla movie, Gojira (1954). Also in the frame are one of King Ghidora‘s heads and a small-size Mothra larvae.

And I was also able to get a sweet, up-close pic of the actual Godzilla 2000 suit, also part of the Toho Pictures display.

Onto the Cool Jerk table itself. Here are a couple versions of my Cool Jerk enamel pins, where each pin comes with an original drawing on the backing board. These were both snatched up before the day ended.

This particular Cool Jerk Canvas Panel sold like gangbusters. In fact…

…this knot of Handmaids purchased the last one I had at the show. If you’d like one for yourself, buzz me (contact information at the top of the page) and order one up!

Totally unrelated to the previous photos, here are longtime pals Sean and Lacie. I was surprised they made it, what with Lacie being due pretty much two weeks after the ‘con. I think their not-quite-ready-for-the-world daughter cosplaying as the Death Star is adorable.

Also coming by the table are Mason and Pamela. I think I’ve known Mason at least 10 years and Pamela had just cleaned off her cosplay…

…as Pennywise. (FULL DISCLOSURE: This pic of Pamela, promoting the “IT!” board game, was not taken by me.)

Our cartoonist buddy Abby Denson (Dolltopia) came by and got to catch up a bit with Darlene.

Sorry, folks— another one I don’t recognize. Anyone…?

My cosplay of the day winner was this rather dark version of Ariel…

…and the following day I had to give it to Vlad Dracul.