Comic-Con International in San Diego is an event where comic book, comic strip, science fiction, gaming, and movie people and fans mingle. I am not there -- although it sounds like fun. For The Cancer Blog readers, I can tell you someone who is there -- Brian Fies creator of the comic Mom's Cancer. He appeared as a Comic-Con featured guest panel speaker.
In 2004, Brian Fies mother was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer. Fies created a serialized web comic strip called Mom's Cancer, as a way to express and come to terms with the emotional issues of watching his mother struggle with the challenges of facing life and death with cancer. He made the comic freely available for reading by anyone interested. Mom's Cancer wasn't advertised, but when it comes to the internet, if it's good, it creates its own buzz.
That is what happened to Mom's Cancer. It created enough buzz that it gained a large readership following and won the 2005 Eisner Award for Best Digital Comic. Mom's Cancer went on to become a book published by Abrams Books for those who like to hold a hard copy of a publication in their hands. Fies blogs about all-things related to Mom's Cancer and his daily life -- and he did mention in his blog that he is attending Comic-Con, however, he does not appear to be blogging Comic-Con live. But Fies promises to blog photos and stories about his Comic-Con experience when he returns home ... a vicarious way for us to attend this year's 2006 Comic-Con.
