I finally managed to track down a copy of the Skeletal Book (Swamp Version) last week. The envelope has some wear at the top, but the book/jacket are in perfect condition. The Hyperstoics and Sparrow books are great, but it’s nice to see Pus’s art in a little larger format. A few pieces in this one that I had never seen before, too.
I don’t know if I’m going to go completist crazy and try to find the Pusfan version; only time (and availability) will tell!
NYCC. An event I dread. But year after year, I find myself in the middle of the chaos, waiting in line for a signing, browsing box after box of discount back issues, or just meeting up with friends and soaking up the admittedly nerdy environment.
The last two years have been worth it thanks to signings/exclusives from Pushead. Last year was my first time meeting him; the culmination of 24 years of Pushead collecting found me somewhat apprehensive. I’ve met most of the artists/filmmakers/etc that I most greatly admire. Some have been awesome (Alejandro Jodorowsky, Kenneth Anger) and some have been very negative experiences (Mark Ryden, I’m looking in your direction). So the idea of finally getting a chance to talk to Pushead left me a little worried. What if he was some rockstar who’s attitude was going to make two and a half decades of collection seem pointless?
As it turned out, he couldn’t have been a nicer guy, actually taking the time to chat with everyone who braved the NYCC to meet him. I walked out of there with a new Skull Pirate and a sense that he really loves his fans.
So this year, when I heard he was going to be signing at the NYCC yet again, I didn’t waste any time. I bought a weekend pass so I didn’t have to worry that the day his signing was scheduled for was sold out. I waited patiently for the announcement of which day he’d be there, and when that finally came, booked my bus ticket. I ended up at the bar until 3am the night before the signing. Home and asleep by 4am. Up and on a bus by 8am.
By the time I got to the Javitz center, I was a zombie. Perfect for a Pushead signing!
This was the first year that I went with a single agenda (the signing) and with my level of exhaustion, I really wasn’t having it. I was sort of grumpy, truth be told. I made one or two passes of the convention center, checked out a few vendors and ran into a few friends, then just sort of settled in.
Kirkland from Toybot Studios was really helpful with information; we shot the breeze for a while before I finally settled in at the Toy Tokyo booth to wait it out. Always nice meeting genuine people. Around 2pm, folks started gathering at the TT table- the lucky first tier getting their pre-drawn numbers and the rest of us waiting to see where we placed in line. I pulled 36. Not going to lie, I was a bit disappointed. A handpaint would slip through my fingers yet again…. but hopefully there would enough books and booty sacks to go around. (in line, we heard conflicting numbers on totals)
Most of the folks in line were awesome. We shot the shit about Pushead and how we became fans. There was a good mix of kaiju, Skateboard and music fans all lined up waiting for their chance at finally getting to the table. There were a few folks in line who drug a significant other with them to get an extra book/toy, and one guy who had absolutely NO idea who Pushead was, yet got a better number than most of us. His wife was also in line with him. He was a weirdo… screaming at anyone who accidentally bumped into him (which was inevitable, due to the sardine can atmosphere) and giving us the stinkeye. When you see such a limited toy end up on the auction sites…. this is how they get there.
We edged closer, a small group of us still talking and making the time go faster. We got the announcement that the hand paints had sold out, but there were still booty sacks…. and the books had yet to arrive. Yikes!
When my time finally came, I was able to get a sack (with the colorway that I really wanted) and a book, as well as yet another chance to tell Pushead just how much his art has meant to me over the last few decades. Just like last year, I walked away with the feeling that his fans really do mean a lot to him. It totally made the chaos of the day worth it.
With the book and toy purchased, I made my way out of the convention center. I didn’t even have a chance to open the booty sack and see which version of the Siamese Captain I got; I knew that if I double timed it I could make an earlier bus back to Philly. I finally cracked open the Sparrow (which makes #4 for me- two regular editions, one MELT tip in and now the brown slipcase version) and saw the giclees, sticker and personalization.
I decided to wait on opening the toy, which came in an awesome Skeletal screenprinted bandana, until I got back to Philly. With the high of getting both the book and the toy, of meeting so many awesome pieces and having a chat with Pushead, I wanted to have one last thing to look forward to.
The bus ride home was quick; despite not being able to sleep I at least rested, getting back to Philly exactly when I needed to be back instead of a few hours late like I was scheduled for.
I finally untied the bandana and got a chance to look at my Siamese Captain; it was exactly the color I wanted. Word was that the piece had a production run of 40- four colorways x 10/e. I’ve still only seen three of the four released, so I’m hoping that folks get motivated to share their pictures in the coming weeks.
In the end, the whole day was exactly what I wanted it to be… still need to get an elusive HP though!
-Shawn
Sparrow Pushead Edition with bookplate
The Pushead edition of IDW’s Sparrow line of books is a great little book. While the Hyperstoic issues have a nice DIY feel to them, it’s nice to walk into a bookstore and see a Pushead book.
This edition was exclusive to Meltdown Comics; 77 copies got the deluxe treatment via a signed bookplate tipped in.
My Pushead Addiction 