My Dragon Con Artist Alley Comic Book Haul
Full Report
A look at my Dragon Con Artist Alley comic haul, from signed Marvel and Star Wars books to Transformers art and an incredible gold foil exclusive.
Dragon Con has a lot competing for your attention. Panels, costumes, gaming, vendors, late nights, and enough walking between hotels to make you question every footwear decision you've ever made.
But one of my favorite parts of the convention was much simpler: walking through Artist Alley, talking with creators, and finding comics I actually wanted to bring home.
I believe Artist Alley was up on the fourth floor, and it ended up being one of the areas I enjoyed the most. There is something different about buying a comic directly from an artist, writer, or inker who worked on it. You're not just pulling another book out of a long box. You get the story behind the book, a conversation with the creator, and sometimes a signature that turns an already cool comic into a souvenir from the convention itself.
And I definitely came home with a few.
1. The Transformers Books Were Hard to Pass Up
One of my favorite pickups from the entire convention was the Unicron piece inspired by Transformers: The Movie.
If you grew up with that movie burned into your brain, you already understand.
The colors, the enormous Unicron looming over everything, and the classic Transformers aesthetic immediately caught my attention. I also picked up another Transformers piece featuring several familiar characters in a fantastic old-school composition.
These are exactly the kinds of convention purchases I enjoy. They aren't about checking a price guide five minutes later. They're about finding something that connects with a part of comic and pop culture history you already love.
2. Star Wars Was Well Represented
The Star Wars side of the haul turned out great too.
I came away with an Ahsoka #1 variant and a Star Wars: The Mandalorian #8 featuring Din Djarin and Grogu. Both were signed, which makes them considerably more interesting to me as convention pickups.
Modern variants can be a dangerous rabbit hole for collectors. There are simply too many of them to chase everything. Artist Alley changes that equation a little. When you meet the person behind the artwork and get the book signed directly, you're collecting an experience along with the cover.
That's a much better reason to own a variant than simply hoping scarcity will make it valuable someday.
3. Marvel Added Some Serious Color
Deadpool, Wolverine, Spider-Man, and Venom also managed to find their way into the pile.
I picked up signed copies of Wolverines & Deadpools #1 and Deadpool #1, plus Amazing Spider-Man: Spider-Versity #1 and a great-looking Venom #1.
This is where Artist Alley becomes dangerous in the best possible way.
You walk past a table thinking you're just going to look. Then you recognize an artist. Then you see a cover you've never noticed before. Five minutes later you're holding another comic and figuring out how much room is left in your bag.
We've all been there.
4. The Dragon Con Gold Foil Comic Might Be the Perfect Souvenir
Possibly the most uniquely Dragon Con pickup of the bunch was the official gold foil comic featuring the famous Marriott carpet pattern.
This thing is wild.
The reflective foil changes dramatically depending on the light, while the carpet-inspired artwork immediately connects it to Dragon Con culture. It's one of those comics that probably makes very little sense to someone outside the convention, which is precisely why I like it.
A great convention souvenir should remind you exactly where you were when you found it.
This one absolutely does.
This Is What Convention Collecting Is About
Artist Alley ended up being one of my favorite Dragon Con experiences because it brought the hobby back to something basic: great artwork, interesting comics, and conversations with the people who actually create them.
Not every comic purchase needs to be an investment thesis. Sometimes the best books in your collection are valuable because you remember buying them.
These definitely fall into that category.