One reason the timing of this trip worked out so well is because I got to attend the fantastic Comic-Con International comic book convention. As gatherings of this type go, this is the Big One, the mother of all comic book conventions. Each year thousands and thousands of comic book enthusiasts (crazy people some might call them) descend on San Diego's huge convention center. For three days, devotees swarm over the booths, check out the latest information, get autographs from celebrities and buy tons of oddball merchandise. It's simply great. You've gotta see it.

For a person like me, who has been involved in creative matters my entire life, this place is a Mecca for artists, writers and others who think up zany, entertaining concepts. The convention is pretty much divided up into three kinds of vendors: 1) Merchants who sell comic books and memorabilia, 2) Comic book publishing companies who want to reveal their upcoming products, and 3) Comic book artists who want to show off their portfolios and new comic book ideas.