So, what's all this hype about the San Diego Comic-Con? And why do I keep going every year? Isn't it just for "comic geeks"?

Well, it used to be just for comic geeks, but since the blockbuster success of comic-based films such as "X-Men", "Spider-Man" and "Sin City", the "Con" is now the place to launch a film, and consequently one sees all the movie stars and directors there: Hilary Swank, Samuel L. Jackson, Guillermo Del Toro, Quentin Tarantino, Bryan Singer, Robert Rodriguez, and the Wachowski Brothers.

I just returned from the 2006 Con, and besides having a booth there, I was involved with a number of events:

1. I did a panel discussion and signing of the 3rd volume of "Flight", a huge graphic novel containing work from many artists, such as Jeff Smith. I did an 8-page story called "The Cloud".

2. Nickelodeon had a presentation of their new crop of pilots from Frederator Studios, mine is called "Gary Guitar". They showed a few others that were knock-outs.

3. The Spike & Mike Festival had their annual late-night screening of "Sick and Twisted" shorts, where the audience's applause (or boos) decides the fate of some untested cartoons. About 4,000 rabid cartoon geeks were looking for blood. They showed a film called "Spiral", directed by reclusive animator W.P. Murton and produced by my studio - happily, it didn't get rejected.

4. A presentation of the new Animation Show. I was joined by Robert May, Don Hertzfeldt and Mike Judge. My film "Guard Dog" was shown, as was Don's ever-popular "Rejected", to an equally large and rebellious crowd.

Beyond these events, I had a table to sell my merchandise - CDs, posters, books, t-shirts, sketches, and mostly DVDs. The great part for me is an opportunity to meet my fans and talk to people about independent animation.

This year, the convention seemed to be twice as busy as last year, and I also got to hang out with such animation directors as Will Vinton, Aaron McGruder ("Boondocks"), Mike Mignola ("Hellboy"), Geoff Darrow ("The Matrix"), Danny Antonucci ("Ed, Edd & Eddy"), the Adult Swim guys, and of course the aforementioned Mike Judge and Don Hertzfeldt. I also encountered Eric Goldberg, Matt Groening, Art Clokey, Tom Warburton, Craig McCracken, Robert Smigel, and Ray Harryhausen.

Programs included sneak previews of "Brother Bear II", "Open Season", "Ant Bully", "Happy Tree Friends", plus Jerry Beck's "Worst Cartoons Ever Made". How many animation festivals can compare with that line-up?

The good news is that NYC will host the New York Comic-Con next February, and I happily predict they will have equal success in attracting the large animation crowd - and recommend that you attend. For more info, contact: www.comic-con.org/ or www.nycomiccon.com/

This month's cartoon is page 37 from my book "Sloppy Seconds" (Plymptoons Publishing), and it's called "Hollywood Decision-Makers". I think this was done about the time that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone were having really successful movies like "Conan" and "Rambo", and this was my reaction to that.