One of my main goal for San Diego Comic Con 2007 was to get my portfolio seen by as many editors as humanly possible. To achieve this, I knew I had to plan early. I started by looking at schedule for every portfolio reviews from CCI website, listed the potential targets (anyone who, I felt, would care to look at manga, and a few who I didn’t think would but hey, I was desperate), considered the fact that I had to sit at SLG table at 11.00-12.30 and 3.00-4.30 everyday. Then I went through all my works, trying to select the best one, but ended up with 100 pages worth of works, I don’t know if that’s for the better or worse, but most of the editors actually looked through most of them. Then I prepped up the files, heading to kinko’s. I made 10 copies of my portfolio, ready to drop off to any unfortunate targets.

First day (Thursday) was a disaster, and I realized how naive (or stupid) I was, I arrived at the con at 9.30 or so, and there was a long long LOOOOOOONG badge line, and I need to get in before 11, good thing the exhibitor/professional line was much shorter. After gotten a badge, I head straight to SLG table sitting there idly (people don’t care much for unknown creator, I’ve learnt) until 12.30 then I ran straight to portfolio review area, which taken longer than you’d have thought, cos I got lost and didn’t know where the reviews actually took place.

Now, if you ever done any of these portfolio reviews, you probably know by now how silly I was, because, I thought that I could just show up at 12.30 or so and get my portfolio reviewed by Darkhorse editor because the review schedule was 10.00 am - 3.00 pm, boy was I wrong, you had to show up like 30 mins before the review start, just to signed up, the last guy who was on the list that day didn’t even get reviewed because the editor was running out of time.

Wised up, I was keeping an eye on the lady who carried the list, waiting to sign up for Tokyopop review that started right after Darkhorse, and my effort was paid off, I was second in line for Tokyopop review, which went really well, the response from both editors was very positive. I really hope they’d have some job for me soon T^T.

That day, I also dropped off my portfolio at Marvel, out of the principle that I wanted my work to be seen as much as possible, I didn’t expect Marvel to be interested in my work, unless they have some secret manga projects going on, who knows.

Friday, my plan was to go there earlier, to sign up for Darkhorse review again, this time, I got in line safely, only to get cut off because they only opened for 45 people. Feeling like a bit of a failure, I went to attend DC talent search panel instead, hoping that DC might be interested because they actually did some manga stuff, at least, I thought I had better shot at them than Marvel.

Needed to unload my portfolio, (it was pretty heavy), I was walking the con floor looking at a few other publishers that I knew published manga or manga influenced graphic novel, I dropped one off Antarctic Press and Oni Press. The response from Antarctic Press was fantastic and promising (still haven’t heard from them tho). Oni press, on the other hand, I didn’t get to talk to them directly so I really don’t know if they even looked at it or not.

Saturday was busy day for me, I showed up extra early, the line for Darkhorse review was already LONG, I stepped in line hoping that I wouldn’t get cut off again, since this was the last day of Darkhorse portfolio review, if I missed this, I don’t think I’d ever get a chance again, I don’t think I can afford to attend any con or coming to the US again unless I actually scored some paying job. Thankfully, I was second from the end of line, the guy behind me got to carry a sign saying he was last in line and send people off, not a good karma job I’d say.

After signing up, I went to Marvel booth to check if I’d get to meet editor or not, and to my total surprise, I actually got in, I totally didn’t expect that. DC, on the other hand, wasn’t interested in my works at all, that baffled me until today. Not that I was narcissistic enough to think that DC MUST like my work, but for the fact that Marvel actually took interested and DC, who I thought was more open to other style of works, didn’t.

After meeting with Marvel, which went as well as it can be, the editor liked my works, but they don’t have any project that can put me in, I went to Darkhorse review, my review was short, while the response from the editor was positive, he said the same thing as Marvel editor said, he didn’t know what or where he would put me, but he accepted my drop off and said that he would pass it to Manga editor, it was as good as it can be for me.

I dropped my portfolio off to a few other people, hoping some would actually have a job for me, no luck so far, but I’m glad I went through all those troubles, at least I can say that I’ve tried, and not just sitting there twisting my thumbs waiting for jobs to miraculously landed on me. (altho that would be nice :P)

The only downside tho, I felt like I didn’t really get a chance to enjoy the Comic Con as much as I could, I was constantly running around, I didn’t even get to walk the whole con floor, only half, it was such a pity, since I don’t think I’d get a chance to go back any time soon.

Special thanks for Kinko’s guy at downtown Kirkland, who was really nice and accommodating, also had a lot of good words for my works, thanks guy!