I have a lot of work to do but it can wait.

Despite many potential setbacks, my trip to New York Comic Con was a complete success.

I wasn't initially sure I could get to the City for this event; at first, I had someone with a car interested in coming with me, but lost them quickly. Hillary was thinking about visiting her grandma on Long Island over the same weekend, but those plans also fell through. On Thursday, I was reading the student announcements and noticed that there was a bus to New York City sponsored by Raices, Asian Cultural Awareness, and Ujima on the day of the Venture Bros. events. The discounted Saturday passes to Comic Con were only sold until midnight on Thursday so I took my chances and bought a pass without knowing I'd be able to get there. Fortunately, the next morning, I woke up early and secured a spot on the bus.

The bus left campus a half-hour late and traffic into the city was hellish. (I blame the Pope.) The first group was dropped off in Brooklyn; I got off with the second at Times Square. (What a terrible place.) I walked to the Jacob Javits Center, arriving at around 1:30. It was clearly too late for me to get tickets to the Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick autographing session. I wandered around, alone and unsure of what the hell was going on. I collected lots of free stickers, pins, postcards, and catalogues, bought All-Star Superman at 25% off shelf price, and ignored Bill Plympton without realizing it. My stomach soon reminded me that I hadn't eaten any breakfast, so I went outside for a $3 hotdog and a $2 can of ginger ale.

The Venture Bros. Panel, an unticketed event, was scheduled to start at 4 PM, so I went down at 3 and sat by the sign in front of the room where it was being held. I was joined by a girl, Anna, who was also waiting for the Venture Bros. We got to talking and I adopted her as my Comic Con companion. She had some really cool Venture Bros. pins; I asked where she got them and she pointed at a lady standing nearby. When I got up to talk to this bearer of swag, I noticed a gigantic line forming on the other side of the door, opposite where we were sitting. We got into line as quickly as possible but were worried about being able to get into the room. We were about half-way across the lobby in line, a line that eventually stretched to the end of the room, wrapped around the back, and extended past the front of the line. Anna's boyfriend, Andrew, joined us soon after we got in line. Eventually, the doors opened and not only did we get in, we managed to find pretty good seats.

The panel didn't start until 4:30. During those thirty minutes, Doc and Jackson were sitting by the stage, doing nothing in particular, so Anna and I walked up, sharpies in hand, hoping to get autographs. While we waited for other people with the same idea to clear out, another guy by the stage commented on my shirt. I explained enthusiastically that the lumpy yellow blocks were all over Tokyo sidewalks for blind people. I asked him if he wanted to touch it and he complied. When we finally asked for autographs, we were turned away and told to come to the autographing session. Ten minutes later, the situation was the same, and we returned, telling the woman who had turned us away that we didn't have tickets for the autographing session. She told us patiently that there were only 100 tickets and that Doc and Jackson would be signing autographs for an hour and a half; if everyone with tickets was finished, they would let ticketless fans get autographs. We returned to our seats, excited for what was in store. We were both at the convention primarily for the Venture Bros. events and were pleased that, not only did we get into the panel, we might be able to meet the creators/voice actors and get autographs as well.

Upon returning to our seats, I suddenly realized that the guy who I made touch my shirt was Michael Sinterniklaas, the voice of Dean Venture, the cast member with the most fanatic female followers. I felt like a bit of an ass. But soon, my shame was replaced with joy, for the season 3 preview was played and the disorganized and entertaining panel discussion and Q&A followed. James Urbaniak and Doc Hammer are really hilarious; during the Q&A, a girl asked Michael if she could get a hug. Doc chimed in, "Can I get a teary-eyed hand-job after that?" James Urbaniak was asked to say a bad pick-up line in the voice of Dr. Venture; he stole Doc Hammer's sunglasses and said "I'm blind, but I can sense that you want to fuck me. Meeoow." There were other quotable moments but I will not bore you with what are probably more 'you had to be there' sorts.

We rushed upstairs after the panel discussion to the autographing area; sho 'nuff, the ticketed folks were gone within thirty minutes and we made our way to the tables. Doc and Jackson were busy with other fans, so I went over to the table where Michael Sinterniklaas and James Urbaniak were and apologized to Michael for my blunder. He signed my season 2 DVD case "You made me touch you!" We got to talking about being international brats (he was born in Amsterdam and grew up in London; his mom grew up in Japan), college, alcohol at college, sex at college, David Sedaris, and studying abroad.

Eventually, Doc and Jackson were available for autographs. I got them to sign the cover of my season 1 DVD case and next to their respective voiced characters in the season 2 case. Anna and Andrew had to leave, but we exchanged information and hopefully she'll be sending me pictures soon. James Urbaniak was busy with the press, so I waited around, talked to Michael a little more, and eventually got the good doctor's autograph. I thanked the friendly fellows and left the convention to catch the bus.

Since it was still 7 PM and the bus wasn't due to leave until 8, I decided to walk uptown to the rendezvous point. I stayed river-side to avoid Times Square but eventually had to cut through Broadway and boring New York. Apparently I gave myself enough time; I hung out in a nearby grocer/deli for twenty minutes before anyone else from school showed up. I slept on the bus back, dreaming dreams of Venture, hung out for a little while with friends after arriving on campus, and eventually retreated to my room to fall into a satisfying sleep.

And now I actually have to do work. Poop.

Photos from Comic Con start on page 2.

EDIT: Season 3 Preview, the panel in its entirety, and a few highlights.

EDIT No. 2: I just watched part two of the panel video. When Doc and Jackson are searching the crowd for costumed people to ask the final questions, you can hear me yell "HANK!" (19:50); I'm pretty sure Sinterniklaas points and says "oh my god, that's my gal, Jack!" I cannot resist inserting a girly "squee!"