NEW SEGMENT ON THE BLOG: THE MOUNT RUSHMORE LIST!
Welcome to a brand-new feature here on the blog — The Mount Rushmore List!
Now, if you're confused by the concept, you're not alone — but don't worry, it's simple: each time, we’ll highlight a Top 4 list centered around that week’s theme. Sure, we could’ve done a Top 5, but let’s be honest… Mount Rushmore just sounds cooler.
With Comic Con Week upon us, it only makes sense to kick off the series with the Mount Rushmore of Comic Con Moments.
I recently crunched the numbers and realized I’ve attended well over 200 comic cons in my life — starting as a kid and continuing over the last decade and a half. I’ve done San Diego Comic-Con 13 times, driven cross-country at least a dozen, and made more trips to Chicago than I care to count.
But this list is all about con floor moments — not panels or afterparties, just the wild, funny, and unforgettable experiences that could only happen in the middle of a convention. These are the memories that still make me laugh every time I think of them.
WASHINGTON: The Rhino at the Front Desk
Let’s start with an all-time favorite — Summer Chicago Show, years ago.
My buddy and coworker Jose was cosplaying as The Rhino (yes, full costume, no pockets). After the show, we hit dinner, and since he couldn’t carry his wallet, I held onto it.
Halfway through the meal, I get a call from our hotel’s front desk. They ask if I can authorize a key for “a man in a rhino costume” trying to access my room.
Now, instead of just saying yes, I decided to have a little fun. I told the manager:
“That man’s been following me since Boston. Do not let him into my room.”
Silence. Then, the manager deadpans:
“Sir, this is no time to joke.”
I nearly fell out of my chair laughing. Meanwhile, Jose — who can be a bit of a hothead — is arguing with the staff. When they asked if he had any ID, I could hear him yelling from the phone:
“DOES IT LOOK LIKE I HAVE ANY POCKETS?!”
Classic. Easy pick for Washington.
TJ: The Flash Kid
Now for the most wholesome moment ever.
We were at a show when an 11-year-old kid in a Flash shirt walked up to the booth with his mom. He was new to collecting but already knew more about Flash than most grown collectors.
We pulled out some Silver Age Flash issues from our half-off box and made a deal. Then I grabbed a freshly picked-up Showcase #4 from the wall.
The kid nearly fell over. He politely asked if he could hold it and take a picture. Of course, I said yes — and you better believe I wasn’t going to be the guy who made an 11-year-old cry.
We let him take the photo right there in the booth. It was a moment I’ll never forget — pure joy and comic book magic.
T.R.: Scribbly Scorcher
This one’s got some bite to it.
I was working a show in NYC when a woman walked up and asked if we had any Scribbly Comics — a title I had never heard of.
I was in the middle of talking with another customer, so I half-answered,
“I think that might be a little too modern for us.”
Big mistake.
She looked me up and down and snapped:
“Well aren’t you a cocky little shit.”
I was speechless — as was the customer I was talking to.
Turns out Scribbly is very much a Golden Age title. So yes… I was absolutely wrong. And I’ve never forgotten that lesson.
LINCOLN: The Phone Search Debacle
Lastly, a recent gem from Heroes Con this year.
Our buddy Ethan was hanging out at the booth with my dad and me. At one point, we realized he lost his phone, so he went to retrace his steps to the last booth he visited — which was clear across the hall.
Meanwhile, we could hear the phone ringing at our booth, but we just couldn’t find it. We're digging through boxes and bags when I ask my dad:
“Do you hear that?”
He just glares at me and says:
“Of course I do. That’s why we’re looking for it.”
Eventually, we find the phone. I tell my dad to answer it in a girl voice just to mess with Ethan. He gives it his best high-pitched squeak and tells the caller — another dealer named Bill — that “she” is holding the phone at the Robopicto booth.
With every line, he’s struggling not to laugh. We’re cracking up behind the table. Eventually, he breaks character and gives the real info.
Just a classic con moment.
Why We Do It
We do these shows to buy and sell amazing books — no doubt about that.
But it’s these ridiculous, heartwarming, and hilarious moments that remind us why we love the con circuit.
Stay tuned — we’ve got more Mount Rushmore Lists coming soon:
Best Road Trip Moments
Load-In/Load-Out Chaos
Wildest Trade Deals
… and more.
