Toronto Con: Sketches by Don MacPherson The annual Canadian National Comic Book Expo was held in Toronto from Aug.23-25, and I was in town, enjoying a well-deserved vacation. I had my sketchbook with me, and several industry pros were kind enough to contribute. The thing with my sketchbook, though, is that there's a theme. The theme: "Ouch, That's Gotta Hurt." Just for fun. Keep that in mind when perusing these images. I also had a digital camera with me, and if you want to see some of the sights of the con, click HERE. I'll start with the last sketch I got at the con, because it's got the best story. I'd been waiting to get close to Ty Templeton throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday, and it wasn't until late on Sunday that the throng finally started to thin out in front of his table. I stepped up and asked if he was doing sketches and he said he'd be happy to oblige. He started drawing what I later found out was a scene from his recently released Bigg Time graphic novel: the main character pissing on the third rail of a subway. I thought it was eerie, since I hadn't mentioned my name or the site at that point. My Fourth Rail sketchbook would have a Third Rail sketch. I mentioned to Ty how uncanny it was that he chose to draw that scene, since I had a website that it suited. Turns out, Ty's a fan of the site. Upon learning that half of the Fourth Rail team was Canadian, he insisted on a high five. Easily my time at the con. Mike Norton provided a look at Chiron from Jason & the Argobots in the midst of a short-circuit or electrocution, in keeping with the theme. I love the look of the giant robot from the book. It combines a classic look with a high-tech one quite well. Troy (Chiaroscuro) Little offered this image of his Meanwhile Studios mascot amid a painful activity. It was the first sketch of the con for me, and just about every time I would ask someone else to contribute, they'd flip through the sketchbook quickly and inevitably stop on this one. Ty Templeton laughed out loud. Xeno's Arrow artist Greg Beettam provided a fun sketch that captured two of the title's characters perfectly in a single moment. Even for a quickie sketch, Beettam's a perfectionist. He started and erased and started again several times. What a guy. J. Bone tells me that this was the first time that anyone had requested a Gobukan sketch. Gobukan is an alien accountant, a character he created for the online Sunday Comics series on www.onipress.com. Gobukan is clinging by a thread to the sketchbook theme, saying, "Hairy pencil line... That's gotta hurt!" Here's something you're never going to see in the regular Catwoman series: a nosedive/faceplant on Selina's part, courtesy of Darwyn Cooke. Darwyn was the artist on the first issues, and wrote and drew a great Catwoman hardcover graphic novel this summer: Selina's Big Score. Green Lantern artist Dale Eaglesham enjoyed the "Ouch" theme as he thumbed through prior sketches (both from this con and those I got in San Diego in 2000). Here, Batman (whom Dale tackled on a monthly basis as the original artist on Batman: Gotham Knights) forgets that batarangs come back. Perhaps the most unusual sketch I got at this con, Call of Duty and Aphrodite IX artist David Finch thinks it would hurt to be sat upon by a fat guy. Makes sense to me. Udon artist Alvin Lee, who handled the Gail Simone stint on Deadpool and now on Agent X, puts Deadpool through the wringer. Got something in your eye there, dude. I hope you can make this out. It's a blue-pencil drawing from Iceman artist Karl Kerschl of a disturbingly serene scene. "Hm, I've been shot with an arrow." I think he was inspired in part by Alvin Lee's sketch. Most folks were asking Tim Levins for Batman sketches. Makes sense, since he's the regular artist on Gotham Adventures. But I'm a Copybook Tales fan, and Tim provided a look at the book's main character, being bombarded by one of his pals. Jay Stephens was one of the most "up" folks at the con. He just seemed ecstatic to be there, meeting fans and introducing new folks to his work. Among that body of work is Jetcat Clubhouse, and the title character finds herself in a tight spot in this sketch. I didn't sketches from everyone I hoped to, but there's no way to be disappointed with the array found above. I'm sure you'll agree. Click HERE to go to the photo gallery from the con. Email Don MacPherson comments about this column, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.