Gotham After Dark: Wizard World Philly 2009

Here are pictures from June's Wizard World Philadelphia Comic-Con! It was a wonderful opportunity to meet the greats of the comic book industry, and discover what may be the future funny book writers and sketchers and tracers and colorers. And people in costumes everywhere. And . . . booth babes!

Enjoy the pics.

Howard Chaykin, the legend, holding a Wolverine Skrull commission sketch he drew at the con, and at the same time, telling you a story through his eyes.

JG Jones, artist extraordine on the Final Crisis saga and Wanted series.

Amanda Conner, one-half of comic book royalty, signing one of her early works, Vampirella.

Alvin Lee, artist of Street Fighter for Udon, is a name that you should get familiar with. Here he is with a commission sketch of Akuma. He also designed and sketched his own haircut also.

Alex Maleev, artiste du jour of the magnificent Brian Michael Bendis run on Daredevil, here posing with a commission sketch of Daredevil, Skrull form, on the exclusive Secret Invasion sketch cover issue.

Garth Ennis, creator of the hit book Preacher, orchestratd the return to glory for the Punisher, writer of countless books that will disturb your sleep, including the Battlefields sagas, Hellblazer, Wormwood and Crossed, here signing a commission sketch of Preacher's Jesse Custer and Herr Starr for a fan.

Ennis' partner-in-crime, artist Steve Dillon, showing off his work, a Bullseye sketch for a fan.

Legendary artist, Kevin Maguire, best known as the man that can make a superhero cringe - by drawing them cringing. And doing it very well. Here he's signing a Justice League trade paperback.

Amanda Conner's other half, The Jimmy Palmiotti. Writer. Artist. Inker. Plumber. CPA. Shaman. Master of Gymkata. If you pull 5 random books from your collection right now, at least 2 of them Palmiotti has done something on them. He may have stapled the book. Here he is looking a sample of Wednesday comics #1: 3 weeks before it released.