6 posts tagged “comic”
Hey there,
I Really should have posted earlier, but I went straight into work on Tues and then had to run the Cloudscape meeting.
I know my last post made things sound pretty bleak, but in the end it all worked out, and then some!
Stumptown 2009 was at the time of writing this, my BEST CON EVER!
Everything worked out just exactly right!
Where to begin? Well we stayed at the super cheesey Jupiter hotel which was an experience. Camilla D'Errico recommended it and was also staying there, so I got to share a burger with her and pick her brain about sales techniques. She's a great role model for marketing and business savy, as well as a great person to share table space with. Cloudscape was right next door, so we got to banter and joke throughout the con.
Once again Cloudscape outdid themselves for set-up and display. I was very happy with our table this year.
I also got to pick up Erika Moens book which had almost not been printed. And grab her super neat collaborative project with Lucy Kinsley. Which was really neat, those are two talented women.
I also got to touch base with all the great Vancouver regulars including the Jobnik crew and Steve Rolston. As well I got to speak with Ed Brisson, and it looks like we will be launching Funday Sunnies alongside his group in May. Expect more details soon.
I also got to meet Jeff Smith and get a nice sketch done. As well as pick up a beautiful limited run print of a new Pop Gun War by Farel Dalrymple.
I also got to get caught up with the one and only, Blue! Musician, Comics activist, and all around awesome girl! Not to mention one of Cloudscapes first fans! She was a huge help, and a great tour guide throughout the trip.
Sales were really good, and I think it helped that I had nominated Historyonics for two Trophy Awards. That night at Cosmic Monkey we even took home an award! I was super thrilled to take the stage, it was definitely a highlight!
Check it out!
At the party I met Brendan, one of the editors at Dark Horse. He was a really nice guy, and he even bought a book from us :)
The following day I met Craig Thompson who is one of my heroes in comics. He blew me away when I was getting my book signed when he said "Oh yeah I know you, you did that Historyonics book, you guys are doing good stuff".
I was reduced to such a jittery fanboy at that point I had to make a hasty retreat. He'd been to table and liked my books! Woo Hoo!
I think those are the broad strokes. I'm sure I am forgetting countless talented artists I rubbed elbows with. I am definitely coming back to Stumptown 2010, and I will probably go to the Portland Zine Symposium this Summer because I am totally in love with the city of Portland.
Life has been motoring along at it's usual break neck pace. I've been musing at how much and how quickly my life has changed. I am now on my second year at DeSerres and living with a roommate.
I'm feeling more comfortable with things so far. The dull ache of being single is becoming easier to handle.
More importantly though, I have a new book coming out!
We will be taking it to Emerald City and Stumptown. And will also most likely be hitting up APE in October.
Not to mention all kinds of venues and events in Vancouver!
check this space for more details soon!
Or visit the site here
I'm getting geared up for Con season and I hope to have some more interesting posts about my adventures.
cheers!
This is the new documentary about Alan Moore that just came out.
http://www.guba.com/watch/3000116383
I watched this last night and it really resonated with me. I particularly like the concept of Magic as "the art" and taking a leap of faith in order to accomplish something of meaning.
It actually got me to thinking I should quit DeSerres. Unfortunately I don't know what to aim for if I were to take such a leap.
Anyways I highly recommend you watch this.
So today was the big show at the JEM! We had our comic pages up on the walls and our books for sale.
Thank you to all who came to the JEM gallery and supported us! It was an overwhelming success and we owe it to all you fantastic guys out there!
If you weren't at the JEM our work will still be up till the 19th and if you haven't already gotten a copy of the book, it will be in all major stores soon. Currently you can nab a copy of Historyonics at "The Comic Shop", Zulu Records, Big Pete's comic shop, Comic Relief, and Garden of Easten.
Or buy from us directly here!
We did better business and had better feedback than we did in two days at APE. This was by far one of our best events! I am so happy to finally unveil the new book in town and look forward to working on the next one.
Think Sunday Funnies.
Well I'm a week late, but here is the run down from APE (Alternative Press Expo) in San Fran.
I had gotten the new books (see last post) and a new banner stand courtesy of Scott and was ready to kick some ass at APE. I also had my costume worked out, but it meant wearing a portion of it on the plane. It was easier to wear my cowboy boots, coat, and hat than pack them away. Not to mention lighter.
I felt a bit silly at the airport, but it was in the interest of a good costume.
Scott, Jack and I travelled together, and would meet the others later. We had to drive to Seattle and then flew into San Fran, which was pretty brutal. Fortunately I'm good at sleeping on planes now.
Once we arrived we checked into the hotel (located on luxurious Ellis street) which was pretty much in the center of "Crackton". Yeah the neighbourhood made the downtown Eastside look alright. Still no one got shot so the area couldn't be that bad.
Anyways after a loooong wait we connected with the rest of the Cloudscape crew. There were seven of us in total, though we didn't see Severine the first night. Of the people staying at the hostel we had Jonathon, Angela, Steve, Scott, Jack and myself. We are then off to the APE preregistration party at the Last Gasp book warehouse. Some of us got into costume including yours truly. Here were some highlights:
My ghost cowboy
Jonathon as the Monkey King
and the greatest costume of all, Scott as Charlie Brown!
It was a good night, however I found my extreme make-up got in the way of networking, as that no one could recognize me. Ah well ive and learn.
All in all it was a good night, I got to catch up with Camilla D'Errico, Keith Knight, and Stephen Notley.
The next day was the first day of APE and I was psyched. We had a slick new book and a great looking table, however there were two things I wasn't counting on.
ONE: San Francisco takes Halloween very seriously and doesn't like to do much the day after.
TWO: The first day of recorded torrential rain for the winter happeneded.
So sadly Saturday was bad sales wise, in fact we got slaughtered, it was pretty nasty. But I did get some nice books. Like the new Acme novelty Library, and Linda Barry's Best American comics.
And we made friends with the Boston Comics Roundtable Cloudscapes Eastcoast American dopplegangers.
It was very rewarding to see the number of comic collectives at the con. I really think this is the future of small press.
Saturday night we missed out on the Comic Art Museum party, but did soak up the free booze and fun at the Isotop comic awards.
Sunday saw the return of the Sun and a rise in sales. I also got to see Chris War talk about his work and even get the mans autograph. I was very nervous to meet him. He creates his comcis much like I created my 24hr. comic. In that he plans his story in advance but then starts immediately on finished art and works from top left to bottom right, allowing the story to evolve as he draws. His comics however end up a lot more polished than my 24 hr. scribbles did.
Still I see some value in applying this thought process to the work. I plan on some more flowing comics in future, maybe a 48 hour comic with sleep breaks is in order.
Chris Ware suggested a 27 hour comic, though possibly this was a plan to eliminate competition ;)
Sunday night Jack and I got to meet up with our old workmate Sasha, and we saw the shrines of "the day of the dead" which looked like even more fun than Halloween.
The next day Jack, Scott and I went to Alcatraz and got to experience the second recorded day of torrential rain in San Francisco. (I think we brought it down from Vancouver)
After we dried out we went to Chinatown for dinner, and the final day was spent at the cartoon art museum before returning home.
Loads of fun.
And on the 16th we do our official Vancouver launch!
Wish me luck!
After many months, sleepless nights, sweat and tears. Cloudscape book 2; Historyonics is finally in my hand!
And in two days I'll be off to the San Francisco Alternative Press Expo to promote it.
Expect a detailed report upon my return!
Wish me luck!
