The San Diego Comic Convention has now entered the culture to such a degree that it only needs to be identified with “Con.” (“Did you register for Con this year?” “See you at the Con!” etc.) You could helicopter above the Sentinilese People and send down registration lanyards to be welcomed.

Con has gotten so big, it is more like 50 cons (thanks, Mikey! –Con Brown) in one gigantic cultural cloaca. And by cloaca, I do mean where everything crashes into everything.

Back in simpler times, when comic books were printed on filthy newspaper, the Con had not really found its thunder. As Rick Marschall quipped, “The very year before we went (1978—Calendrical Brown) was more like a garage sale with old wine boxes full of comic junk!” Which is what he enjoyed about the con. I had only the slightest acquaintance with such things as a comic con—having visited a science fiction convention in Manhattan’s old Commodore Hotel which also had a few comic books.

I am going to do Rick the disservice of very quickly describing him here as I wish to do a more complete job on him—and Ralph Macchio – at another time. Ralph was the Assistant to Rick the Editor of all the so-called B&W books (color covers wrapped around a black ink only interior). Suffice to say, this remarkable and erudite ephemeral collector and I hit it off and are good chums to this day. Ralph too for that matter!

The “fourth” in this club was noted critic and publisher, Gary Groth. Yes! The very same who wrote within, guided and established the nit-picking tone for and published The Comics Journal. At the time of this story, TCJ had not reached the X-ray intensity of the comic universe analysis it would be known for. In fact, TCJ had been in business only for a few short years. It is still holding its head high, online to the present day. Well, comics have become more influential than ever.

Let us turn to mid-1979 when comics were less influential than ever. I had become a fixture in the “Black & White Book” office at this point. When Rick brought up the idea of traveling to this far-off convention, I unconsciously reached for my wallet, disturbing the moths and counted my change through my care-worn thin jeans. I thought not—but Rick pointed out that jamming several people into a room, taking apart the beds so there were mattresses for all and sharing food was what one did at these things. All I had to do was cough up airfare.

Thus it came to be! Of course this is a larger story and perhaps enough details will shine through the thick skein of lies I am telling. Among the various reasons to make this trip was extremely Australian Peter Ledger. Artist, Illustrator, Underwater Explorer, Aviator and for all I know, Statesman! Peter was a really great artist and one cannot hurry greatness. There was the matter of several pages of the famed and fabled Weird World book that needed doing! He would do them right under our noses! All the way to the Con! (And when I say, ‘Con’ I mean Convention and not Confidence Scheme…)

Again I am going to do a great disservice to no-longer-with-us Peter, as I certainly am doing a fuller tribute and recognition of this Bullpenner. Indeed; that’s how much time and well he integrated himself into the comic world!

We are off! When traveling to southern California, fly a Pan Am 747!

Richard E. Marschall. AKA: Mr. Rick, Ricko and Marshal Rick

Ralph Macchio. AKA: The Karate Kid, Raf, Kiss of Death

Let Hertz put you in the driver’s seat!

Since Rick gave us a couple of extra days—and yielding me one of the most lavish vacations I could have dreamt of or hoped for—we spent some time in LA!

Once in Los Angeles, Disneyland is right there! This was more like it for me! I had last been to Disneyland when I was knee-high to Mickey himself back in 1967. During a weird personal episode when me and Mom relocated to LA forever! We struggled back to NYC about 8 months later, only succeeding in losing all my #1 comics and trimming my little RoloDex of chums. Of course my oldest friends were surprised to hear from me, but as thorough friends will do, were glad I returned!

The Magic Kingdom does not disappoint.

You might not believe your eyes… The Haunted House did its best — yes, the “magic” here is that Ralph, Rick and I jammed our blubbery bodies (okay, Ralph is really thin but believe me, Rick and I strained the safety bar…) and eagerly awaited the HOLOGRAPHIC GHOST to sit between us!!! There it was.

I think this was the early Space Mountain! I’m surprised my camera wasn’t flung from my hand by the g-forces!

When finished with the Magic Kingdom, be sure to seek out the other Magic Kingdom, Frederick’s of Hollywood. For me, the Temple of the Topology of Cantilever Suspension (–of Disbelief! —Eyeballs Agog Brown).

Part 2: The elaborate display booth! Peter Ledger shows off his stuff! Ralph splays himself out like a crime victim!