Here’s where I camped for five days of Comic-Con International. On Saturday I wheeled out the heavy artillery: the extend-o-matic Cool Jerk banner in the background (now visible from 1/4 mile away), and the “ASK ME ABOUT MY FUNBAGS” t-shirt. A lot of people did ask me about my funbags. Others just stared at my funbags. I even let some people gently touch my funbags.

Supergirl, Robin, Batman and Batgirl stopped by to administer some justice.

I don’t know why Hawkgirl and Poison Ivy joined the Dynamic Duo… but I’d let Batgirl slap the Batcuffs on me any day.

And speaking of Batgirl, meet Yvonne Craig! She’s adorable and was really tolerant of folks like me coming by and posing for photos with her. Woof!

Just as adorable is this sketch of my gal Darlene by Arthur Baltazar, the artist of Patrick the Wolf Boy.

Ming the Merciless, Martian Girl and Barbarella popped by the concession area for some pretzels.

Meet Jen Prescott. um… I guess she’s dressed as Robin and her stuffed tiger is wearing a Batman mask. And Charlos Gary, close personal friend and cartoonist (“Working it Out”)

Wonder Woman about three seconds from kicking my ass.

Kirk Alyn-style Superman and Green Lantern (the dude dressed as GL is a pro; last year he was Flash, Hulk, Electro, Vision and Mr. Fantastic. I also saw him as Angel this year).

My neighbor to the right, Phil Foglio. Name sound familiar? It’d better; Holmes has probably been doing the indy comics thing since before you were born!

Mystique, as she should’ve looked in the movie. Anyone in Hollywood who says “costumes in the comics just won’t translate to the silver screen” needs to come to SDCCI.

Beast…. or maybe he shoud be called “Sweaty Yeti.” OK, Hollywood doesn’t need to see this guy; they did fine with Kelsey Grammer’s makeup.

Brandon Routh should’ve been wearing hornrim glasses and a fedora with a PRESS sign tucked into the band.

Power Girl. Woof. With Martian Girl and Mystique, among the best costumes at Comic-Con this year (at least that I saw).

Woof. Once again. I have no idea who they are or where they came from… but their FREAKING MOUTHS MOVED WHEN THEY TALKED!

Catwoman checking to see if the photo made her butt look too big.

Meet Zachary Simon. And meet Armpit Beachhead (hair courtesy of Photoshop). And did you see Charlos Gary a few photos back? Say hello to Manhattan. I’m holding open auditions for Puppy Fizgig, by the way. I’m dead serious. Must be a Cool Jerk fan. E-mail me.

Jonathan Solomon — a long-time ‘Jerk addict — handed me his sketchbook and said, “Can you draw me a sexy Velma? You know, from Scooby-Doo?” I had 5 minutes to spare, so voila!

She’s a Supergirl, all right. She had all the poses down pat. Last year she was Hawkgirl.

This will be somebody’s birthday gift in 2007, methinks. Me heart Adam Hughes (the artist whose designs this sculpture is based on).

Again, the Puppy thong was a sure-fire crowd-pleaser. Say hello to Camilla d’Errico, a brand-new ‘Jerk and FREAKING INCREDIBLE ARTIST! She should have gone through the brainwashing and mind-control chip implantation by now….

Half of the “Poway Posse” — Nathan Pierce, Joseph & Ben DiAnna — dropped off another monetary memento. Remember a couple years back when they trashed that Five Spot? Well, at least they’re using foreign currency nowadays. Thanks, guys!

Sigh. Another year, another Comic-Con International in San Diego. Another exhausting five days of playing pitchman and getting through on adrenaline and minimal sleep. And another five days with my voice totally thrashed.

Wouldn’t miss it for the world.

In a nutshell, SDCCI was really terrific for me and Cool Jerk. I’m almost totally out of air fresheners and ashcans. Many t-shirts are gone and may not be reprinted. The Post-Its were a smash and so were the Happy Happy Funbags.

I had a mental checklist of Cool Jerk fans & friends that I expected to see, and I saw pretty much all of ’em at one point or another. I’d like to say thanks. I know SDCCI is gi-freaking-normous and there’s so much to see and do… and it means a lot that you all took a few minutes to swing by and chat/buy stuff/get some sketches. There’s no way I can mention all of you, but “hey!” to a chunk of the Poway Posse (Nathan, Ben, Joseph, Barry), Jamie, Sister Mary Shovelface and Superfro, Chris C. the Tokyo Pizzaboy, Layman, Marc Mason, Allen, Robert the Adult Swimmer, sketchmongers Jonathan and Jonathan, Will “Thwip” Bento, Kim the caffeinated cat-girl and her pop, the Louisiana Pines, Charlos and so many more!

Special thanks to my gal Darlene, who provided a lot of support and behind-the-scenes brainpower. I really appreciate that she spent so much time with me behind the table, luring unsuspecting comics fans into our web of comedy. Despite the hours she spent working the table, she was able to meet two of her idols: Yvonne Craig (actress who played Batgirl on TV’s “Batman”) and Carmine Infantino (artist who brought Batgirl to the comics as a result of Yvonne’s character’s popularity). She also blogged for Comixpedia.com

If you’d like to live vicariously through me, check the photo-heavy recap page.

Oh, the sacrifices I make!

This weekend is my 20-year class reunion, which is being held in Carson City, Nevada. And this weekend is also San Diego Comic-Con International.

I really tried to figure out a plan where I could attend both, including flying up to Reno this afternoon (Friday), renting a car, driving 30 miles to the capital and saying “Hi!” to scores of old friends and former classmates… THEN turning around and driving back to Reno and flying out at midnight (or whenever the latest flight out is) so I could be back at the ‘Con by 8am Saturday.

Impossible. =:^(

So the upshot is: I’m at Comic-Con, all you beautiful babies! It’s a freaking gas! I’ve been having a great time catching up with all you Cool Jerk subscribers (some have been addicted to Armpit & Puppy’s shenanigans since last year’s ‘Con, some since 1992!) and I hope my voice can survive until Sunday evening! I’ve been selling CJ shirts, Funbags, button packs, window decals, ashcans (comic booklets) and doing as many free sketches as my wrist will allow! And that was just yesterday! There’s still three more days left!

So I just want to say thanks to all of you. It was really hard to R.S.V.P. a “not going to attend” for the reunion, but because of you Cool Jerk readers and sleeper agents, it’s worth it.

New strip here, Chester! And check out the Morgue if you need to catch up on Armpit’s hairstylist story. Tidbit: “The New Lou” is about 80% accurately based on the gal who cuts my hair. And I had two sketch requests for her yesterday!

My veal pen for 2005. T-Shirts, collectible business cards, buttons, stickers, sampler books, hats, Jones soda and a thong. Even MORE crap for all!

David Poller, yours truly and Jason Childs at the table.

If Gotham’s defenders are here… who’s protecting the city?

I guess that leaves Batgirl, whose shift begins in an hour.

And here’s the movie version of Nightwing.

Two candy-powered ‘Jerk fans, Kim the Cat and Ian.

The source of the aforementioned candy. He looks more like Elton John than Johnny Depp, tho.

“How much do you like Cool Jerk?” “THIS much!”
Other days they were dressed as Hulk and She-Hulk, Flash (below) and Catwoman, two members of the Green Lantern Corps and Vision and Scarlet Witch.
The dude was commando. Swear.

Sweet Jesus. This guy makes Jack Nicholson look like an old woman. And (seriously) he’s a Cool Jerk subscriber!

The ass of the Fastest Man Alive! (this one’s for all the ladies)

The Sentinel of Liberty better not skimp on the relish.

Another Black Canary, Catwoman, Batman (in back) and Harley Quinn.

Doc Splatter’s colleague, straight from London — Shawn (of the Dead)!

Hey, zombie! Watch out for Shawn!!

Spider-Man nemesis Electro! The fingertips really shot electricity, I think.

Dark Phoenix stopped by to annihilate the hemisphere.

Jack Black was hangin’ around, talking smack and promoting “King Kong.”

Gene Simmons looking skeezier than ever.

One of the best costumes at the ‘Con…

…and one of the worst (hint: Dr. Doom doesn’t have “dirty pillows”).

Another celeb. I always dug his song “Rock You Like a Hurricane.”

Scarlet Witch and Vision. Homeboy’s mask was too high so you can see his chin bulging out of the costume’s neck… among other bulges.

He’s got a Question for you: what’s the matter with the dude over his right shoulder?!?

“So, what’re you gonna wear to the ‘Con today?”
“Oh, I was thinking my denim short-shorts, striped leggings and my Sidewinder missile bra.”

She’s actually quite shy, I’m told.