Here we are in the deceptive time-warp between two conventions – the big Toronto con wrapped up last week (feels like it was yesterday), and the Montreal show is coming up next week. Incidentally, so many people dropped by our table saying that they’d be in Montreal and were hoping to get a sketch from Dale that we decided to attend both days of that show. Dale’s schedule doesn’t really permit another whole week-end away, but the fans come first!

Originally, because of that crazy JSA book, we weren’t going to go to the Toronto show, for the first time in… I don’t know how many years! But then we saw [Fan Expo organizer] Aman Gupta at the Shuster Awards in June, and he said, “You HAVE to come, you’re like family!” And, big softies that we are, that did it for us!

He was right, too. We see so many familiar faces, so many regulars at that show, that it is definitely starting to feel like we’re going to visit family. We always look forward to a visit from brothers Nathan and Joel, from Andrew (thanks for the wine, it was great!) and his buddy Chris, from Kyle, Dave D., Shawn, Marshall (and nice to meet you, Debbie!), Daniel, Jason (I still feel bad I forgot your name this time around), Peter (loved that piece Dale drew for you, but forgot to take a picture), brothers Scott and Brad (such sweet guys), and the gang from All-New Comics (Peter, Brian, Gus...) -- thanks for the great t-shirt, Brian! And as a treat this year, we got to see “Dale from Jamaica” again (he filmed Dale doing a Hawkman sketch for him; check it out here). Sincere apologies if I’ve forgotten anyone!

We got to meet a few new die-hard fans as well, and a Montreal gang that we look forward to seeing again next week!

We remembered our camera, thankfully, but… I forgot to take pictures of many of the sketches! I did remember for one of my favorites: the Scooperman sketch Dale did for Kyle, who owns the eponymous ice-cream parlor in Picton, Ontario. We’ve included pictures of a few of the con sketches here (some are rather distorted due to the angle of the camera).

Dale did an interview with Jeffrey Renaud at CBR while he was doing a sketch for a fan. Jeff did a great job putting it together; check it out here.

Then there were social engagements – dinner with beloved friends one night and with DC movers and shakers the next. Both were marvelous, except that yours truly was ill the first night. L Oh, and a big highlight of the show, of course, was meeting Alex Ross (and his delightful wife T.J.) for the first time. We all got along swimmingly!

We also had a great time with our neighbors at the show, the Immonens, and listening to the witty repartees of Peter David, who sat to our right.

The only down side was that Dale ended up working his little butt off all week-end again. One day, as Gog is my witness (she said, doing her best Scarlet O’Hara impression), he shall be able to look up from his sketch board at one of these shows and SPEAK!

In the meantime, we’ll take it as a very good sign indeed that he is in such high demand at the cons!

If you were at the show and would like to share your experience, leave a comment!

P.S. Warm thanks to Aman, Tiz, Kevin and the whole crew for putting on a great show!