Source: ugo.com

Of course, it wouldn't be Comic Con without talk about actual comics! Well, I don't have the best current story information (mostly because I've been out of the loop since Secret Invasion), but I did get to see Stan "The Man" Lee.

I had to get in line pretty early and sit through a terrible panel for Marvel Super Hero Squad (there's no way kids care about voice actor panels), but I got in. Not the best seat, but while they were in between panels, I noticed the name plate for the moderator - Todd McFarlane. Holy eff. I was going to be in the same room as two of my favorite comic creators ever.

Todd came out to introduce Gil Champion, Stan's co-creator of POW! Entertainment (Purveyors of Wonder), which brought us the likes of Stripperella (who actually appeared in the flesh - lots of flesh!) and Who Wants to Be a Superhero?. It was basically just a plug for their new projects, but no one could really care less, we were just there to see Stan! So without much ado, Smilin' Stan came out to chat with Todd about his creative process and how he came up with characters like Spider-Man and Thor. Unlike the impression he may give on screen, Stan has a few marbles loose. That's fine, but Todd was really trying to run a serious discussion to benefit the audience. He talked about Dr. Fredric Wertham, who paved the way for the Comics Code Authority. We all know Todd and Stan have a great relationship, but I'll be damned if Todd's patience wasn't being tested. Stan loves telling stories, but there's a reason he writes them down and doesn't orate them. "Oooh! Remind me to tell you about the romance stories I used to write!"

Overall, I'm honored to have been in the same room as Stan Lee. I couldn't get an autograph or picture taken with him, but with any luck, I'll meet up with him next year.