ARTISTS WE LOVE Our usual spotlight is on hold this issue to talk about the heart of Comic Con A byproduct of the major publishers not being there was you had to be in Artist Alley if you wanted to see creators Rob Liefeld told his podcast listeners. Every day, Artist Alley looked more and more full. As much as Luis enjoys Comic Con, it looked like the last place he would want to be—so many people, so close together, and more than one person without a mask in the picture above. Without the major publishers providing spaces where fans could talk to creators for free, Artist Alley brings the pressure of selling new and completed work. I’m not ordering a commissioned piece? I’m not buying one of your books on the table? I’ll just keep my distance and not take up your time. A bunch of the artists Luis wanted me to try to find did not have tables, but Artist Alley seemed twice as big as previous years. There were 15 aisles, some with 31 tables. The walkways were all wider which required even more space. Fans lined up for signatures and browsed merchandise in every aisle. Being surrounded by so much work on display is completely inspiring. To share the moment with thousands of fans brings a lot of hope that COVID has not killed everything. —MV
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Art Department Weekly • New York Comic Con 2021
