First off, thanks to everyone who came by my table this weekend. Thanks to those who bought things, who sold me things, who traded with me and who just came to look.
This year's show marked the first time I ever exhibited by myself (above is my table with all my stuff spread out).
I totally missed my Sundays and One Percent buddies, but I was kept in good company by my table neighbors Gabby Schultz on one side and Greg Means and Alec Longstreth on the other. Really, Indie Island has become very much a comfortable, familial place to be for creators like me who might not totally fit in at a show where superheroes are the main theme.
Tom Spurgeon has a good, quick set of notes on the show and they, for the most part, reflect how I feel:
"One thing that was different this time around is that, as expected, some of the cartoonists that have been there a few years in a row are developing repeat customers. Another thing that someone said about the Charlotte customers is that they were in a lot of cases engaged with the work more than at big shows, like this was their chance to buy indie stuff the same way that cons worked for a lot of alt-comics customers in the old days. That's not to say any of that translated into big sales across the board, but I didn't hear near as many bottom-line complaints as last time. It's getting better in that department."
Above, Alec Longstreth casually chatting with his life-long hero Don Rosa. A heartwarming way to kick off the show. There's really nothing better than getting to meet someone you look up to.
Like for me, getting to meet Richard Thompson (on the right), one of my favorite cartoonists, and spend a good chunk of time talking shop with him was the highlight of the show. He was nice and funny and generous with his time. He showed me his case of nibs (in the photo), pointed out his favorites and explained why he liked them, and then he gave me one! I wanted to do a backflip. Or a triple kick.
Part of my crazy-talented table neighborhood, right to left: David Mack, Drew Weing, Joey Weiser, Greg Means (foreground, holding the book), and Some Jerk
Above, in the supermarket, after the first day.
One of my favorite things about convention is doing sketches. I don't charge for them, despite Dharbin's chastisements, because I love doing them so much. Here are a couple of sketches for a couple of buddies featuring a couple of my favorite themes of the weekend: ladies and doggies, probably because I missed my lady and my doggy so much.
Both sketches were done with Brush Pen, Microns, and Watercolors
Drawing is fun. I love it,
Gabby Schultz (Ken Dahl) loves it
and little girls love watching it,
He was SO uncomfortable.
After-hours in the room with Sammy Harkham and Kate Beaton. In this photo (stolen from Dharbs) it looks like there's some kind of explosion behind me. Or like I'm trying to reenact the Smells Like Teen Spirit lighting.
On the left: my travel buddy, and CCS second-year student, Pat Barrett. On the right: Alec, STARVING, about to munch on some Rasl. If his beard doesn't get in the way.
Dustin Harbin, when he's not reading some quality comics he's taking care of all of us. He's the convention-father we never knew we had, or knew we wanted.
Speaking of family: remember how I said Indy Island had that comfortable, family vibe?
I'll see you guys at the next show.
love,
Joe
