AFA Action Alert!

REPORT ON PITTSBURGH COMICON

Friday, April 25, 2003

Heather Mohnkern and I arrived at the Pittsburgh Comicon at the Expomart in Monroeville Friday afternoon. There was no problem finding a parking space in the 1,600-vehicle parking lot. After paying our entry fee ($17 per day, per person!), we entered the 72,000 square feet convention center.

As we first entered the Expomart, the table I noticed was the Japanese anime -- videos and video games. The Comicon program indicated that there was an Anime Marathon each day. There was also a Movie Marathon all weekend. Ratings ranged from G To R with several non-rated movies in between. The Anime/Movie Room Rules included "Not all films are age appropriate;" "No minors allowed in the rooms from 11:30 p.m. to 5:00 a.m." and "No sleeping in the Movie or Anime." According to those rules, children under the age of 17 would have been permitted into the R rated movies.

Heather and I walked down the first aisle a little further and immediately began encountering blatant pornographic material--Playboy magazines on the bottom shelf and right at eye level of young children. There were two rows of these magazines (right below comic books) as well as several boxes of Playboy and other 'adult' magazines on the table. This booth also had toys and trading cards for sale.

On down aisle one brought us to Playboy Playmates Mandy Fisher, Jennifer Lavoie and Julie Cialini. The tables were covered with their albums of nude and semi-nude photos. Right across from Fisher and Lavoie was 'artist' Stacey E. Walker with her very 'revealing' drawings and photos. These were easily seen by passer-bys of all ages. The porn stars were, of course, a drawing point to young men who wanted pictures taken with their arm around their favorite 'playmate.'

Conveniently located right beside Playboy Playmate Julie Cialini's table was erotica illustrator David Nestler. Front and center was his nude drawing of the woman on the pick Cadillac! Right beside Nestler's table was Dorian with his 'revealing' illustrations. Tic Tac Toe Three in a Row!

Heather and I both found it 'interesting' that the 'playmates' and the illustrators thought putting little stars or circles on the nipples of the women in the pictures would suddenly make them appropriate for children to view. This was reinforced a little later when we found the table of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) and Heather asked them about this practice. They didn't have a problem with any of the displays! We witnessed several young men (early teens) 'checking out' the photos on the tables at the Playboy Playmates' tables. Obviously all connected to the convention are blinded to the potential dangers of permitting these young men this 'little peek.'

As we 'visited' with the men who were representing the CBLDF, we noticed that the table right across from them had pornographic videos. The jacket covers were not X-rated, but the titles included "Girls Gone Wild," "Girls Gone Wild II," and "Janene and Vince Neil--Uncut/Uncensored." As we stood a short distance away, we saw a young man who had been following his father take a quick look at the videos as his father turned his back. How poignant the lesson to parents and dangers to their children when they turn their backs in such a 'comic book convention' as this!!

Jennifer Janesko's table was surrounded by her paintings with the little dots/stars covering the nipples. Again making it appropriate fare for a comic book convention! Janesko had available for $5.00 a book with copies of her paintings in it.

Heather had a disturbing encounter with an artist who, in his own words, was 'prostituting himself' for the day to raise money for his newest project. He had a sign at his booth similar to this:

Peck on the cheek...$1.00
Kiss on the lips...$3.00
French kiss...$5.00

Unfortunately he had 'customers.'

There were several vendors with "Adult Comic Books." The books were shrink-wrapped and in boxes out of view of the public. When asked if they thought the boxes were in an appropriate place because of children, they had no problem with the location of the boxes of adult comic books. One vendor even said he carded his customers to verify they were 'of age.' Heather and I both thought, "Sure and we're supposed to believe you?"

When questioned about the sexual content of comic books, vendors repeatedly said, "The children today do not buy comic books. They have moved on to video games and computers. Comics are about adults and primarily adult men ages 16 to 30." They obviously believe what they are saying!

As we wandered the remaining convention center floor, we encountered more fantasy, horror, witchcraft, Satanism, and spiritualism intermixed with 'legitimate' comic book characters. There is obviously a seeking out there, but even more obvious is that many are seeking in the wrong places. And if you aren't satisfied with what you find, there was one book entitled "How to Commit Suicide Successfully" available for purchase to all over 18 years of age.

Heather spoke with Renee George, co-organizer with her husband Michael, and Mrs. George expressed no concern about children being exposed to pornography. She did not believe it would happen! Obviously, she had not closely checked out their convention.

As the afternoon wore on and the time for closing the Dealers' Room drew near, they began heavily promoting the "Make-a-Wish Casino Night" which would open one hour after the Dealers' Room closed.

I have to agree with Heather's percentage estimates of attendees: 85% men, 10% women, 5% young boys 15 or younger. This was Friday afternoon--things changed some on Saturday!

I attended the "Make-a-Wish Casino Night" arriving shortly after they opened the doors at 8:00 p.m. For the $5.00 entry fee I received a handful of bills (play money) to play roulette, craps, black jack, poker or to bid on horse racing. There were no age restrictions on players/bidders. There was also alcohol available, beer and hard liquor (in a brown bag) was consumed on premises. The hour I was in attendance between 50 and 75 people participated in the Casino Night. There were adults, teenagers, and children (usually with the entire family). More people were wandering in as I left a little after 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 26, 2003

When I arrived today, most of the parking lot was full with only a couple spaces empty.

Much the same today: porn stars, illustrators of erotica, little dots on nipples, Playboys, horror, fantasy, and spiritualism.

Today there were more children. The displays were much the same. Nude and semi-nude pictures and drawing in abundance. Many more young teen boys looking through the porn stars' albums of pictures.

Several times I witnessed parents stand between their young children and Playboys or other pornography. Question again: "Why should parents have to be concerned with what their children encounter at a comic book convention?"

I inquired about Ivy Blue at the Information table and found that she'd cancelled at the last minute.

Also discovered several books of non-shrink wrapped Playboy magazines conveniently located so all passing by could see the front cover. There were also Maxim magazines in the boxes. These were placed on the floor under a table directly across from the area set up to sell t-shirts and sweat shirts.

Today I witnessed a vendor actually ask for ID of three young men as they checked the titles of his 'adult comic books.' This was the same vendor who told us yesterday that he required ID. These young men could have passed as 18, but he required them to be 21 because he said that is what New York required and that was where he lived. These guys tried to talk him into changing his decision, but he did not budge. They knew they only had to be 18 in Pennsylvania to buy pornography. It would appear they had done it before!

I thought to get a better perspective on the changing comic book industry I needed to speak with someone who had been to many more than I have. I chose the creator of the Green Lantern, Martin Nodell. He first created the Green Lantern in 1940. Unfortunately, he did not see a problem with the sexual content in today's comic books because society is changing and it is more acceptable now. When he said that an older lady in the next booth interjected, "That doesn't make it right!" I finished my conversation with Mr. Nodell and moved to the next table.

This was the illustrator best known for The Iron Man, George Tuska. It was his wife, Dorothy, who had made the comment concerning sexual content in modern-day comic books. She and I had a lengthy conversation and she is very distressed about not only the comic book industry, but our changing culture as a whole. She said, "They (those in the industry concerned with moral issues) were a dying breed." She fears for her grandchildren's future. When I told her who I represented, she gave me a knowing look and said I was on "the right side."

As mentioned earlier there were more children, although not a lot of real young children. Mostly ten and above, with a lot of young teens -- mostly male. There were more costumed characters today -- Spiderman, Darth Maul, three of the Ghost Busters, one of the guys from KISS and many I had no idea who they were!

The Make-a-Wish Auction seemed to be even more heavily promoted today than the Casino Night was yesterday. The Dealers' Room closed at 6:00 p.m.

I attended the Make-a-Wish Auction, arriving shortly after opening at 7:00 p.m. This took place in the Showroom, the same as Casino Night last night. The tables around the room were lined with some of the illustrations, etc. that were to be auctioned. These works were from the 'guests' of the Comicon -- another connection tying Make-a-Wish to the Comicon. I only stayed the first hour of the auction, but almost $10,000 was raised in that short time period. Some of the items auctioned were works by Stacey E. Walker and Dorian, also a "Vampi" picture and Martin Nodell's largest green lantern that had been on his table brought $80. One item brought a final bid of $2,100! Michael George was the auctioneer for the event. Alcohol was again consumed on premises.

A BIG night for the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Western PA and Southern West Virginia!! The auction went until 10:00 p.m.

ACTION NEEDED

Send a letter to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Let them know their association with known pornographic events is harmful to their character and credibility.

After you send your letter, remember to forward this alert to a friend!

Click Here To Send Your Letter Now!

E-mail this page to a friend

---

You are subscribed to %%list%% as %%emailaddr%%. Click here to unsubscribe.