Which Comic-Con do you frequent and where in the world is it? Have you met there with an author/illustrator?

Why do we go there in the first place? I'd better be home reading...Plus all these costumed characters heighten my agoraphobia.

Charlotte, NC is yearly excellence with debates and patient authors.

It is captivating to hear in a U.S. based Convention a debate about European Artist Moebius. Or amazingly complex, like living history, to attend to the interview of the Illustrator of Blacksad, Juanjo Guarnido who was schooled by Disney animation when it operated in Paris, by the famous in-person Author/Illustrator/ex-Professor of Comics at SCAD and now forming his own studio Chris Schweizer the author of Crogan's Adventures with questions so incredible that Guarnido was interrupting his interview every two seconds to state that his interviewer was a genius.

And then what fame can do to an Artist like Jason Latour and Jason Aaron with whom you could leisurely chat the year before and now to do the same have to linger with 150 others adoring fans queuing for a drawing! Though not quite the queue for Stan Lee.

Not to forget that unless you had an advance ticket you will chat with a costumed character Batman or Captain America or with someone who did not have her costume delivered in time for the date of the convention while you are two blocks distance from the entry doors of that Convention Center.
The indie isles are great and they have a quick draw for the kids and teens.

Now granted it is that if you live in a rural area, near a desert or at the top of a mountain, you may miss the excitement of such gatherings. So in this case how to you make it up?

None :)

Now technically I usually try to get to the Phoenix one because it is in town but that's about it...

Big Wow ComicFest, San Jose, California.

We're going this Saturday to the one in Rosemont, outside Chicago, which we've done for several years now. Yes, I've met with authors/illustrators. Our daughter enjoys the celebrities and costuming. I like the bargain graphic novels.

In the San Francisco area I try to get to APE (Alternative Press Expo), where I've at least said hello to Bill Griffith, Charlie Spike Trotman, Keith Knight, MariNaomi, & Bob Fingerman. When WonderCon was here (it's moved to Anaheim), I got to meet Wendy Pini & Amy Reeder. I'm looking forward to the SF Zine Fest next month, where I can count on finding interesting artists I've never heard of.

I've been to the Boston Comic Con, as well as I think it was called the North East Comic Con. Since I'm in New England there are lots of smaller cons that I can get to and get back from in one day, so I basically go where the people are in the region. (And, I have a list that has about 4 names that if I see 'em I'm going).

I did go to BCC last year because Gail Simone (amongst others) was there, she was awesome, but this year I gave it a skip 'cause I knew it would be crazy with Stan Lee there. We'll see who they get next year...

I've been to New York Comic Con a few times over the years. My favorite part is the Artist Alley, where a bunch of writers and illustrators can be found. And, yes >6 DanieXJ:, it is crazy when Stan Lee is there!

We had a blast at the Chicago comic-con, and sweetieg is right for us, too - Artist Alley is our favorite part.

>7 sweetiegherkin: I also felt that after the only halfway pulled off 2014 BCC, raising the price in 2015 wasn't cool. But, that's the business side I guess.

Denver ComicCon. Have gone all three years and talked to some of the same artists and authors every year.

>9 DanieXJ: Hmm, there may have been more to that. I know with the first time I went to NYCC (2010 I think), they were using just a tiny portion of the Javits Center. Now they've expanded to using the entire convention center for the full four days. I don't remember if there was a corresponding huge jump in price, if any, but that would make sense if it did since they're now spending more to have a larger space. Could be something similar going on with BCC.

>11 sweetiegherkin: You're probably right, and we'll see who they get next year if I think it's worth it or not. I'm not the awesomenest with crowds to begin with, even friendly ones, so if they have some good guests/writers/artists I may go on a Sunday or something.

>12 DanieXJ: Yep, last year I went to NYCC on a Thursday. It was SO much better than I went on a Saturday one year. I'm not the best with crowds either. :)

I would love to go to a comic con, but there isn't one close to where I live and don't have the funds to travel long distance. I do keep up with all the latest news on anything comic book related on Comic Vine and have been following them for three years now.

I've been going to New York Comic Con. I've missed only one since NYCC started. I usually just take photos of cosplayers and toys, shop in the Dealers' Room, and hang out in Artist Alley. Most are happy to sign my program and pose for a photo. I've had lovely chats with many favorite artists, especially Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti who are both incredibly gracious and friendly. Last year I chatted with Jim Shooter, who's close to my age, for almost an hour, which was very cool. In other years, I've gotten to meet Ramona Fradon and Leonard Starr, both people whose work I've loved since I was a kid.

I've never been, there is none accessible to me. ...Well technically there is a Belgian convention but, it's in a language I'm no good at and with people I'm unfamiliar with so...

I've been to NYCC. Skipped last year due to work reasons, but will be heading back this year. Two years ago I was able to chat with Paul Azaceta, artist for the Outcast series written by Robert Kirkman. He was awesome and very friendly. Signed my 1st print Outcast book. Now I need to get Kirkman to sign it and I can finally frame it. I tried to chat up Max Brooks while he was signing my copy of The Zombie Survival Guide but he wasn't having it. I agree >13 sweetiegherkin: I try to go to NYCC Thursday or Friday. Saturday always has the most going on, but last year's Friday show didn't look to shabby.