Every year in October board game fans from all over the world descent on Essen in Germany. 30 years ago the international gaming days were first held. It is the largest gaming fair in the world and in recent years well over 100.000 people come to Essen.
I first went there in 2002, and have been there nearly every year. In 2003 Alex and I first saw WARMACHINE at the fair and spontaneously bought two starter sets. In 2004 and 2005 we helped out at the booth of Privateer Press.
Essen is a yearly fixture on my calendar, even if I skipped a couple of them. This year I actually planned my visit a little more. In recent years I started to read a few comics, either on recommendation or because I got them as gifts. So I had a look before the fair to decide which comics I wanted to pursue. Parallel to the gaming fair ComicAction is held. Comic book authors and artists are there as well as a bunch of stores selling all kinds of comics.
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to procure the top items on my list – namely the second volume of Kevin Smith’s run of Green Hornet and the second volume of The Shadow in Trade Paperback. Yet I still managed to haul about 120€ worth of comics away from the fair.
This is my haul:
