I woke up around 3:00 AM Thursday, July 14, got my car packed and drove to Ralph’s house with hardly any traffic. We loaded up Ralph’s SUV with the boxes and stuff and we (including Janae) were off to SD by 6:00! We got into the Convention center around 7:45 AM and the union dock workers brought our boxes to the tables. (Quite a difference from last year when we showed up after 8:00 AM). Janae and I got our exhibitors badges, while Ralph parked the car, and we got in the convention center with no hassle  (another blessing, as last year was a completely different story). We set up the table. Christine shows up to set up her table (which is right next to ours). With a prayer with Christine, we started the Con. Later on, we met up with Jesse and Don and Jose, our fellow roomies. Thursday is a slow, but productive day. Ralph has the opportunity to pray for a lady that has been battling with breast cancer, and everyone around the table gets involved in it too. This was a really touching moment. God would continue to bring others to the table throughout the four days, to pick up tracts and to be prayed for and to witness the love of God. I got to meet up with the Community Comics guys, walk the floor a bit and have a great time being behind the table.

The Con closed down at 7:00. We (Jesse, Jose, Ralph and I) go to check into the hotel. By the time we are done (not due to hassles, but just the driving time) we are too late to go to dinner at the Horton plaza and go to Denny’s instead. (It’s not enough that we have Denny’s almost every time we have a CCAS meeting, so we, in all faithfulness, must continue the tradition in SD!) We have a great time as Linda, Geoff and Eric join us for a post-dinner dinner at Denny’s. We drive back to the hotel. The girls go to theirs and we finally get to bed by 11:00PM. Long day. My eyes are bloodshot.

I woke up around 6:00 AM on Friday. We head to the convention center, but not before stopping at Jack in the Box for a nice cheap breakfast. (A first for me; usually I just starve). It would be the first of many Jack in the Box breakfasts this Con, unfortunately. We set up the table and Friday is a really busy day. Things have definitely picked up since Thursday.

Ralph has the opportunity to talk with a young man about his objections to Christianity. The discussion goes on for longer than an hour. The young man is respectful and it doesn’t escalate into anything else. Praise God for putting the right words in Ralph’s mouth! Christine puts up a sign that says “Free Prayer”—a great eye catcher.

I don’t really get a chance to walk the floor today, but I do get to go to a panel on the “Evolution of the Superhero”, an interesting panel. I buy some of the Alias comics—including David, A Shepherd’s Song, by Royden Lepp, a great adaptation of David’s life. I also get a few other books throughout the four days, including Lions, Tigers and Bears, a great animation-style book. We closed down at 7:00 and head to Horton Plaza for fun and food. Camera wars ensue at the dinner table. It’s like D-day with flashes going off in every direction. It’s great fun.

We head back to hotel and we talk fanboy stuff with Don and Jose and Jesse. Ralph is out. Lights go out at 11:00.

Saturday morning. Jack in the Box. Again. We head to the Con. I am finally caught up on my sleep. Today is the busiest day thus far, with multitudes of people and noise and stench. Buzz Dixon moderates the Spiritual Themes Panel, which goes incredibly well. The participants included: Brett Burner (co-publisher of Alias Comics), Leo Partible (co-founder of DPG Visions), BJ Oropeza (author, The Gospel According to Superheroes) and Ben Avery (writer, The Imaginaries and Lullaby).

After the panel, I am able to walk around more, as more people are freed up to watch the CCAS table. I am easily bored with the sheer amount of unoriginality on the floor. There is little that actually interests me. I go to another panel on Pre-pressing digital files that Kevin told me about. And, actually, Geoff and Linda and Kendra and Don attend too. Ooooh… pre-press… so interesting…This is geek-factor at its best.

The Con ends at 7:00 and we are Horton Plaza-bound. Saturday night is the Christian comics creators get-together. We usually hijack chairs and tables from other vacant places, but we are only able to get a few to start with. So, people get their food in shifts so everyone can at least sit down when they eat. There is a lot of people that show up. I don’t think I’ve seen so many of us together at one time before. Great conversations. Fellowship. Food. I have a really great time. Ben Avery’s cousin (?) and his wife take some group shots of us.

Sunday morning. Jack in the Box for the last time. Ugh. The Christian comics panel starts at 10:30. I’m not able to attend, but I hear that Kevin’s mini-sermon on alter egos is great. Ralph, Don and Kevin then talked about the trials and successes they’ve had through the years regarding publishing and regarding the table at the Con. I hear it is a great recap of the Christian comics movement. Sunday is an incredibly busy day; as it is “family day”.Hordes of kids and parents walk the floor. I personally think that Sunday was the biggest day for the CCAS table. There was very little left of the tracts by the end of the day.

This has been a great Con. There was so much positive response from people saying how glad CCAS was there amidst all the evil. I was able to talk with some people who really encouraged us to continue this outreach. I was even able to meet one of the original founders of the Con back in 1976. She was a nice old lady. She also thanked us for being at the Con. Apparently she is still very much involved in the Con, which she referred to as her “mission field”. Excellent. God really blessed this trip. Things went so much smoother than last year: Parking, setup, drive time, hotels, walking, everything was so blessed by God.

The Con ends at 5:00. It has been an incredibly draining but satisfying four days at the Con and I am finally glad to be going home.  We tear down and leave the Con around 6:00. Two hours later we’re unpacking at Ralph’s house and saying goodbye. Ralph drops me off at my Grandfather’s house, where my car is parked, and I drive home. I walk in the door and hug my mom and I am so happy to be home. Time to get some sleep.

Robert Flores
Corona, CA
July 27, 2005


Following is some great pics from the Con!