NYCC 2023 — Interacting With ‘Halestorm: Hyde Manor’ Cover Artist Alison Sampson

For me, conventions have always been more about the people and connections than the spectacle and panels and exclusives. I can order most things off the internet, and all of the news that breaks in panels will be written up in a dozen outlets by the end of the day. The important thing for me is that many of my favorite people are all in one place at one time. That’s enough for me to justify the airfare and lodging and expense to go out to New York for a week in the middle of October every year. 

This year, I was ecstatic to find that Alison Sampson would be in attendance at New York Comic Con. Back in 2017, Alison was working on Winnebago Graveyard with Steve Niles. When the trade paperback was being promoted, Alison and Steve promoted the book with a campaign where they offered comic shops custom bookplates designed by Alison, that the pair both signed, to be sold with the books. 

I saw Alison posting on socials about the program. My family does a lot of fundraising for The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, in honor of my youngest, who has the condition. I took a shot and sent her a message asking if she would be willing to create a bookplate for the CFF for us to use in one of our online comics auctions. She IMMEDIATELY agreed, and we printed up about a dozen bookplates.

Those little 4×6” cards made their way from Bakersfield, halfway around the world to Alison in the UK, and then to Steve, before finally making their way back to me in Bako. Steve also threw in some rare signed comic books from his personal collection.

We used the bookplates in no fewer than six fundraising events, to great success. I cannot express how grateful I am to both Alison and Steve for their generosity. 

That was six years ago. Flash forward to this last weekend, where I made a point to approach Alison’s booth to finally meet her face-to-face and thank her properly. I also wanted a piece of original Winnebago Graveyard art for my collection, because, my god, have you SEEN that book? It’s gorgeous. 

As soon as I introduced myself, Alison’s face lit up. “I have something for you!” she exclaimed. She presented me with a print of the cover she did for Halestorm: Hyde Manor, from Z2 Comics. “I’m signing with the band upstairs at 5,” she told me. “Bring this up to the booth and I’ll get them all to sign it for you to use as another auction item for your charity.” I had been planning to leave the Javits around three that day, but how can you say no to an offer like that? 

And that’s how I ended up with this signed print of Alison Sampson’s Halestorm: Hyde Manor cover to use in our next fundraiser. This is one of my favorite interactions on the weekend. Alison is a genuine and caring person, who is also wicked talented. I count myself fortunate to know her. 

While at her booth the next day, I purchased the original art from Winnebago Graveyard #1, page 11. This handsome piece will be custom mounted and framed to hang in my bar. If you aren’t lucky enough to catch Alison at a show, her originals are available for purchase online from Cadence Comic Art, at this link.