I wanted a puppet to take down to San Diego with me for the con. Anyone who has been can tell you that it is crazy crowded, and hot as all get out!

I came up with a geek related solution. I made a chomp chain puppet from Mario Brothers that will attach at my shoulder with a magnet. Here's info on the original : http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Chain-Chomp

and here's my little guy:

He still needs a few tweaks, but he should be ready to go by tomorrow.

Is anyone else going to be at the con?

Please take pictures and post them... I'd love to see how it comes out... Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the con... I have to settle for the Baltimore comi-con!


Spoon

What an awesome puppet! Love the idea. I'm in CA and have friends that have been to Comic-Con. I have yet to go myself though. But hope you have fun!

I love your little fellow!

Brilliant concept and execution! Is the chain fabric covered foam rod?

Thanks everyone! He's "CHOMPING" at the bit to get down to San Diego. (Ba-dum-bum...)

Shawn - It's pieces of scrap reticulated covered in fleece.

Very cute...would love to check out one of those comic-con conventions.

StiqPuppets

I have to say, it's been really strange! I'm carrying him on my shoulder, and people keep reaching out to touch/pet him, but very few of them actually say anything to me. SO WEIRD! The friend walking around with me yesterday said that now she knows what pregnant women feel like when people reach out to touch their stomachs uninvited.

I've had a couple of people take pictures, but the response I've gotten most is, "Where did you buy that?"

The best was the guy at the table next to us at dinner last night, who asked if he could look at it up close, and kept marking RAWR noises. He was probably 40+ SO AWESOME!

Oh, and the waiter at lunch kept walking by and staring at it like it was going to bite him. LOL

Oh, and the waiter at lunch kept walking by and staring at it like it was going to bite him. LOL

You should of had a roll of contact or ordering info stickers coming from his mouth LOL.

Classic... Keep updating us... the stories are fantastic!!!

Sounds like great fun! How crazy would it have been if you had a mechanism to make him chomp? People's responses to puppets always fascinate me. Even when the puppeteer is in plain sight, we tend to filter the human out of our perception and focus on the puppet.

Okay, so I HATE pictures of myself. Having said that, here are a couple from the con...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rattmice/7594660526/#in/photostream I don't know how to pop a flicker pic in here, so I'm posting the URL. He was sitting on the ground when he took this, so I was slightly bent over. He didn't tell me he was including me in the frame until AFTER he had taken the pic. *sigh* This was the end of the day, so I look haggard, and I hate that double chin. BLARG. At least the puppet looks nice. (LOL)

Here's a pic of me out in the hall with a gentleman with an Audrey puppet. We only had about 10 seconds to post and take the pic (the crowds are crazy) so poor posture and double chin again. Double Blarg. He was super nice, and I gave him my card. He isn't on any of the boards, so I told him he could email me, and I would direct him here.

Best story from the con...

While I was walking the floor, I saw a little girl (about 4 or so) watching me interact with a little boy. Her eyebrows were furrowed, so I didn't want to go over and scare her. I just waved (no response) and moved on.

I went back to the hotel, and she was there with her dad, waiting for the elevator with her dad. I looked down and smiled, then looked back up again.

"Hey!"

I waited for a second.

"Hello! Hey!"

I looked down and saw it was her. I said "Hello."

She promptly put her hands on her hips and said, "No, not you. HIM!" and pointed to the puppet I had draped back around my neck. I probably should have put him on and talked to her, but my hand/wrist were killing me (hence the lack of updates).

Instead I said, "Oh, him? He's sleeping right now."

"No, he's not! His eyes are open!"

Touche'.

Me: "He sleeps with his eyes open. It's because he doesn't have eyelids".

Her: "Nuh-uh!"

Me: "Uh-huh. Lean in and I'll prove it."

So I bend the head (my shoulder) down and she leans in close. I make "snoring noises" and she whips around and says to her father, "DADDY! DADDY! He snores just like you!"

Best. Reaction. Ever.

Great pictures.  Love the story of your encounter with the 4 year old.

Great picture