Hand of Fire, again, goes to San Diego!

News! Once again the Pop tribes are gathering on San Diego Bay for the adrenaline-fueled whirlwind, the mad four-and-a-half-day spree, that is Comic-Con International! Once again I (Charles Hatfield) and most of my family will be there, and again I’ll be signing copies of Hand of Fire at the Jack Kirby Museum booth!

That’s Booth 5520, the Comic-Con HQ of the Jack Kirby Museum and Research Center. It’ll be along the wall in the Golden and Silver Age Pavilion (near Convention Center Lobby B1), just a few steps away from the TwoMorrows booth, TwoMorrows being the publisher of The Jack Kirby Collector and many other fine magazines and books. Thanks to Kirby Museum trustee and tireless Kirby scholar Rand Hoppe—with of course thanks to his fellow trustees Tom Kraft, John Morrow, and David Schwartz as well—I’ll be there at Booth 5520 signing and personalizing the Eisner-winning Hand of Fire and encouraging visitors to join the Museum.

I’ll be there at the following times (which Rand has kindly posted at the Kirby Museum site as well):

Thursday, 12:00-1:00pm
Friday, 3:30-4:30pm
Saturday, 12:30-1:30pm
Sunday 11:30am-12:45pm (immediately after the Kirby Tribute Panel)

I hope many of you will drop by and chat, and show the Museum some love and support—perhaps even donate toward the Museum’s goal of establishing a lasting brick-and-mortar presence. I’m proud to do anything associated with the Kirby Museum, and, once again, grateful that they’re hosting my signings!

Note that I’ll also be premiering my brand-new book, The Superhero Reader, co-edited with friends and colleagues Jeet Heer and Kent Worcester! And I will have some copies of it to sign and sell. So, anyone, everyone, with an interest in Jack Kirby or in the history and criticism of the superhero, seek out the guy at the Kirby Museum booth with the fiery red pen. Give the Museum your support! And, whatever you do, don’t miss the following splendid event:

The (Annual) Jack Kirby Tribute Panel
Sunday, July 21, 10:00 to 11:15am, Room 5AB

Official copy: Each year, we set aside time to talk about Comic-Con’s first superstar guest and the man they call The King of the Comics, Jack Kirby. Jack left us in 1994, but his influence on comics, film, and this convention has never been greater. Discussing the man and his work this year are Neil Gaiman, Tony Isabella, and Kirby family attorney Paul S. Levine. And of course, it’s moderated by Mark Evanier.

Unofficial response: Neil Gaiman? It will need that double room!

One last thing: New to CCI, or in need of a refresher course? Tom Spurgeon has a wonderful set of tips for the Comic-Con goer, well worth checking out! Some of those tips have already passed their sell-by date (getting registered for the Con, finding a hotel room, etc.). But many others are still relevant and wise. Enjoy, and take care!