Pat's 1998 Dragon Con Photo Album
All photos are copyright 1998 by Patrick Sun. Unauthorized use without written consent is prohibited.
Now we return you to your regularly scheduled convention.
Every year, Dragon Con is a 4-day sci-fi/fantasy/comic/gaming/video convention
held in Atlanta, GA. This year it was held on Labor Day weekend at the Apparel
Mart/Hyatt/Merchandise Mart, all of which are located downtown and within 2-3
blocks of each other. It was a pain to have to walk all over creation to get to
the panels that I wanted to attend, but I guess that's the best the convention
organizers could do. The past Dragon Cons haven't been all that exciting for me,
but at least this year there was plenty to occupy most of the four days I was there
this year. It helped that I didn't attend any of the other major comic-related
conventions this year, so I had to make the most of what Dragon Con had to offered.
Table of Contents:
Dragon Con Registration Lines
Let's get the photo album started with a few photos of the lines that attendees
encountered when they went to pick up the badges:
- Johnny-come-lately's: This was the line for those
who didn't pre-register.
- Early birds: This was the line for those who did
pre-register. It's definitely worth it to pay $30 early, rather than $50 later.
Dealer Room
Now let's take a peek at the dealer's room filled with all the people and merchandise on display:
Dealer Booths
Let's take a look at some of the dealer booths that caught my eye:
Costumed attendees
Every year lots of attendees dress up as different characters from the comics, TV series, and movies.
Here's some notables that caught my eye:
- Alien creature being accosted in hallway.
- Centauri: from Babylon 5. I think that was his real hair.
- GWAR: I wonder if it took only 1 badge to get both of these people into the convention.
- GWAR: Being interviewed and holding some alien baby in his arms.
- Lara Croft: of Tomb Raider fame.
- Lara Croft: Smiling.
- Lara Croft and me: I couldn't pass up the opportunity.
- Medieval meets Feudal: Woman in armor, man in oriental garb.
- Armor and skulls: Fearsome costume, and it looks functional too.
- Tango: a new character that was being introduced at the Clayton Moore Creations booth.
- Stormtroopers and Boba Fett surround, er, escort a lovely lady around the convention.
- Stormtroopers in the building: Look at the little kid's reaction to seeing them. He's awestruck.
- Stormtroopers and multiple Boba Fetts take pot shots at me. Where's my light sabre when I need one?
- Xena: Warrior Princess. Where's Gabrielle or Calisto?
The comic-related displays and booths were on the minimal side this year, reflective
of a stabilized downturn in the comic market these days, but still the turnout wasn't too
bad. It's nowhere like San Diego Comic Con or Chicago Con, but those are mostly about comics
while Dragon Con has always been a menagerie of similar genres: Sci-fi/comics/fantasy/gaming.
Dealer Room
Here are some photos of publisher booths that I came across:
Comic Book Creators
Here is a ton of photos of comic creators, you might recognize the name, now match it to a face:
- Adam Hughes and Jason Pearson: Both good solid artists from Gaijin Studios, which is located in Atlanta.
- Berni Wrightson: Who could forget his classic Swamp Thing? He's now working on Punisher at Marvel!
- Billy Tucci: Creator of Shi. He looks quite happy to be at Dragon Con, no?
- Bob Burden: Creator of Flaming Carrot. He's always happy to give interviews.
- Budd Root: Creator of Cavewoman - a fun comic.
- Cully Hamner and Jason Martin: Cully looks a bit constipated, and Jason's recommends not 1 but 2 helpings of maalox for him.
- David Mack: Creator of Kabuki - a strange and nifty character, well executed.
- Phil and Katja Foglio: Phil smiles as Katja sticks out her tongue and pinches a nipple. :)
- Howard Porter: Artist for JLA - could have modelled for the part of Clark Kent.
- Jeff Pitterelli: Airbrush artist extraordinaire.
- Jeff Pitterelli: With his latest piece, and huge "7 of 9" painting.
- Jim Lee: "I just sold my Wildstorm universe to DC, and I'm now going to Disney World!"
- Joseph Linsner: Creator of Dawn - always happy to meet his adoring fans.
- Joseph Linsner: Dawn plays a major role at this year's convention. In fact the badges all have Dawn on them.
- Julius Schwartz: Editor of Superman comics for a generation, sitting with a fan and Forrest Ackerman.
- Kurt Busiek: Writer extraordinaire - writer of KB's Astro City, The Avengers, and Iron Man.
- Matt Wagner: Creator of Mage and Grendel. Those Grendel and Mage action figures ROCK! Go and buy them now. Oh, there's also a Madman action figure too. I own all three of them...MUHAHAHA!!
- Terry Moore: Creator of Strangers in Paradise - a wonderful book - go buy it if you haven't started to read this title.
Fan-Pro Comics Trivia Contest
The Fan-Pro Comics Trivia Contest was a very close contest this year. It helped that Mark Waid was nowhere near the state of Georgia.
The final score was 298-288 in favor of the fans. Here's some photos from the contest:
- All of the contestants.
- The Fan Team: Mike Standish, Brian Bailie, David Serchay, and Jonathan Woodward.
- The Pro Team: Kurt Busiek, Jim Lee, Robt. Williams, and Bob Burden (sometimes).
- Trivia: "Where are those damn questions?" ponders Serchay.
- Condolences: Brian and David offer Kurt condolences on the close decision. Jonathan decides to show off his butt. :)
Sci-Fi Writers and Directors
One of the highlights of this year was being able to attend panels by Harlan Ellison, Ray Bradbury, Jerry Pournelle, Larry Niven, and Ray Harryhausen.
Here are some photos of the various writers and directors from the panels:
- Jerry Pournelle, Larry Niven, James Hogan and Kevin Anderson talk about the future of sci-fi literature.
- Ray Bradbury and Brad Linaweaver (who was a PITA who loved to hear himself talk).
- Ray Bradbury: Got a standing ovation during his entrance and his exit from the room. A beloved man by his fans.
- Harlan Ellison: His panels were always fun and full of fans.
- Harlan Ellison: Always worth the price of admission at any convention. He's simply hysterically funny and spot on.
- Harlan Ellison: Proof positive the pen is mightier than the sword, well, especially if you were a pen-swallower.
- Harlan Ellison: "Let me at'em! Let me at'em!"
- Harlan Ellison and me: "You know I can't sign this book, it was written by James Joyce, you illiterate sack of fecal matter!"
- Harlan Ellison: "Well, uh, thanks anyway..."
- Harlan Ellison: "Good lord, when will the signing insanity end?"
- Ray, Harlan, and Ray: Ray Harryhausen, director of The "Mighty Joe Young" join Harlan and Ray Bradbury on the Masters of Fantasy panel - very entertaining.
- Ray, Harlan, Ray, and Harry: How Harry Knowles was asked to be the moderator for this panel is beyond me.
- Ray Harryhausen and Harlan Ellison: Bright lights, big city.
- Ray Harryhausen and Harlan Ellison: You could tell this was the last day of the convention, no?
Babylon 5 Cast Members
Now for some photos from the Babylon 5 crew:
- B5 Signing table
- Jeff Conaway: AKA Zack Allen. That's his wife in the background.
- Jeff Conaway: more reminiscent of Kenickie from Grease.
- Jeff Willerth: AKA Kosh - the man in the suit.
- Jeff Willerth: AKA Kosh - the voice.
- Pat Tallman: AKA Lyta Alexander. "You know, Kosh, you really should zip your robe up after you do whatever it is that you do."
- Pat Tallman: Doing her best Lynda Carter - Wonder Woman impression.
- Peter Jurasik: AKA Londo Molari - signing his new book, "The Ambassador" (I think)
- Peter Jurasik: Posing with B5 fans.
- Robin Atkin Downes: AKA Byron - next to be seen on Beverly Hills 90210...Yikes!
- Wayne Alexander: AKA Jack/Lorian/etc.
- Wayne Alexander: Soon to appear in the X-Files season premiere.
- B5 Panel: Jeff Willerth, Pat Tallman, Robin Atkin Downes, Jeff Conanway, Wayne Alexander, Peter Jurasik, and Peter David.
- B5 Panel: Jeff Willerth, Pat Tallman, Robin Atkin Downes, and Jeff Conanway.
- B5 Panel: Wayne Alexander, Peter Jurasik, and Peter David.
- B5 Panel: Everybody sings "Happy Birthday to Robin", well, since it was his birthday!
Sci-Fi celebrities
Here are other celebrities in attendance that have sci-fi roots:
Friday night's main events were a short concert by Apollo Smile (the live action anime girl), a review of comic-inspired
costumes by the dance group Torchy's Tease, and the Dawn Look-alike contest:
Apollo Smile
Photos of Apollo Smile and her concert:
Torchy Tease Dancers
Photos of the Torchy Tease dance numbers:
Dawn Look-alike Contest
Photos of the Dawn Look-alike contest (there were more contestants than what I am showing here):
Models and Actresses
Now what's a sci-fi/fantasy/comics convention without a few scantily clad models and B-movie actresses? If you're offended by this sort of thing (strictly PG-13) you can leave now.
Otherwise, let's get on with the show:
Alley Baggett, Lingerie Model of the Year, was also present, and I managed to snap a few photos of her, so enjoy!
Well, that's my photo album of Dragon Con '98. Thanks for visiting my 1998 Dragon Con page.
Hope you had fun.
So how many have visited since 09-15-98?
Last revised on 09-15-1998 by Patman
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