With “The Avengers” movie dominating the box office, it’s no wonder that Big Wow Comic Fest attracted thousands to San Jose last weekend.
The laid-back, two-day comic book convention included graphic novels, comic books, cartoons, fine art, entertainment, games and costumers at the San Jose Convention Center.
This year featured respected comic artist Jim Lee; renowned cartoonist Morrie Turner, creator of the beloved Wee Pals comic strip; Jane Wiedlin from the ’80s rock band The Go-Go’s; and Thomas Jane, lead actor in 2004’s “The Punisher.”
Chris Perguidi, of Gilroy, and Allan Angel, from San Jose, owners of Integrity Comics, sold comics to eager fans.
“It’s going pretty well. I almost didn’t come today because my hot water heater broke, and I was trying to fix it,” Perguidi said. “We’re working on a new horror comic book and it should come out next month. We’re also doing some stuff with Tim Vigil who is a classic comic book artist plus making new movies.”
Morrie Turner, 88, from Oakland, came to Big Wow Comic Fest for the first time and enjoyed interacting with fans.
“This is my first time in San Jose. I’ve been doing this strip (Wee Pals) for 47 years. I finished the book ‘Black Sports Heroes Past and Present,’” Turner said. “Peanuts inspired me. I like Charles Schultz. He encouraged me. Wee Pals came through the civil rights movement.”
Down the aisle in Artist Alley sat freelance commercial artist Lela Dowling, 55, of Los Gatos, with her artist husband Frank Cirocco. Dowling does conceptual work for various clients including Mattel, Hasbro, Electronic Arts, Yahoo! and Leap Frog.
“I remember when I was in high school, my art teacher telling me I would never make it freelancing,” Dowling said. “I actually came to this convention last year just to visit a few people. We were talked into coming out of retirement. Sales are going well.”
Oakland filmmaker Ernest Fosselius, 66, entertained visitors with his humorous anecdotes. He created the popular “Star Wars” parody “Hardware Wars” back in 1977.
“I went there (to see ‘Star Wars’) with some friends and they went, ‘This is the coolest thing in the world man! There’s never been a movie like this!’” he said. “They were all so hyped up on it. I watched it and thought it’s kind of cheesy. I was never into sci-fi. Then I said, ‘I’m going to do a spoof.’ They said, ‘Oh, no man! Lucas, he’s got people and they’ll get you, man! Nobody makes fun of Lucas!’ I said, ‘OK. That makes me want to do it all the more.’ I grew up on MAD Magazine. They make fun of everybody.”
Artist Danny Bulanadi, of South San Francisco, worked for DC and Marvel Comics. He inked for titles like “Captain America” and “Conan The Barbarian.” He also illustrated the bestselling “Good vs. Evil” graphic novel for No Greater Joy Ministries. Now, he does art for Kingstone Comics.
“I think Big Wow Comics is really good, especially to the kids who want to draw,” Bulanadi said. “Women and girls that are artists need to see this place. It will give them inspiration.”
Perguidi offered advice to aspiring comic book creators.
“A lot of people want to do what we do and they want to follow their dreams … but many people make excuses: ‘I’m bored, I’m a woman, I’m black, I’m whatever.’ You can’t say that,” he said. “Everyone has a brain and two hands. My parents were drug addicts. No one believed in anything I did. I still go out there every day and go to every one of these shows. That’s how you become successful.”
