Spitting out the demons

I've been pretty uncreative over past few weeks even though I've got plenty to be getting on with. Too many distractions and not enough discipline. Must try harder if I'm to have all my current projects out for early next year.

Got myself a new sketchbook the other day (last one had horrid paper that I couldn't bare to draw on, I'm pretty snobbish when it comes to the quality of my paper) and I've been filling that up rapidly. Helps when I'm not in a drawing mood to break myself in using the sketchbook. I only seem to be able to draw these days when I'm not at home at my desk. It's at the pub or Camden stall I get the urge. When I'm out n about.

Camden Stall's getting lots of attention which is good. Nice little interview with Oli here for anyone who's not read it yet. Comic Village is a new UK indie-related site, they seem to be popping up more and more these days which is also a good thing. I've always wondered how many actual comic book readers compared to comic book creators actually read these sites, all the interviews and features. Do these sites just sit there waiting to be found, or are they being advertised and linked to from other comic and non-comic related places?

Anyways, here I present a cool little Spider-Man sketch by David Baillie which he did at the Camden stall a couple of weeks back. I love Spider-Man and I love David Baillie. Good times. Note also his little TFTF testimonial in the bottom corner. 'Tis the truth!

Be sure to check out his "Belly Button Bubble Chronicles" which are a little slice of genius every week, the current episode 11 is my favorite so far. I'd love to try something similar, to vent all my little insecurities and worries. Existential webcomic therapy.

Here also is a TFTF pin-up from Jake Harold (doesn't it look like Oliver's trying to do a shit on Laurence?) Putting it up here since I'm not sure when it'll see print. Wanted to put up his "Tales From The Fat" pin-up which depicts the TFTF characters as overweight slobs but I'll save that little gem for another time.

Leeeeds

The Leeds Thought Bubble comic festival thingy took place on Saturday at Leeds town hall this weekend. Definitely the most successful first time convention I've been to. Great, steady crowd made up of young and old, great guests and we were very well looked after by the organisers. Gorgeous girls offering cakes n cookies (and making documentaries about the con) to the stall holders should be mandatory at all conventions. A welcome change from the usual kick in the shins and "get on with it" that precedes certain comic conventions.

It was obviously well publicised also as there seemed to be a a fine mix of comic-heads and "normal" people off the street.

Conventions are becoming quite the talking point for small pressers (the ones I hangout with anyways). Prices are soaring. The Web n Mini Comix Thing next year has gone up by a tenner making it 50quid which has ruffled some feathers. And next year's Birmingham Con (or "Show") has gone up also (to be fair, Shane's been offering old priced tables to those who book early, an offer we failed to take up in time). The Web n Mini Comix Thing doesn't have any special guests which probably costs most cons a fair bit of cash but he does print up a 200-page anthology featuring stories from all the exhibitors and sells it on for only 50p, so I imagine that sets him back a bit. The argument is of course that this then undermines the actual exhibitors who are selling twenty-something page mini comics for around £2.50.

A small handful of creators I know are actually giving the Thing a miss next year in favour of manning the Camden Stall instead and coming down to Mile End for post-con drinks in the evening. I'm not one to kick up a fuss though and booked our "Thing" table as soon as they became available.

Next year will most likely see the rise of creator run conventions. "Pub-Con" is something we've been discussing at the Camden Stall. Watch this space.

In unrelated news, I've noticed that old school chums who I've not seen for about 19 years and who've been added on Facebook are now one of three things: Married, Engaged or utterly beautiful. Or gay. Or all of 'em.

Back

It's been a busy month. Had the Birmingham convention a few weeks back (a vast improvement over last year's) followed up by a London Manga Expo at the Docklands Excel centre.

The highlight of the Brum Con for me was the moment where someone (unintentionally) nicked one of Oli Smith's comics. He gave her his usual "Comics International voted it their top comic of last year over Spider-Man" shpiel (not gonna sound so impressive in about nine weeks time) and she seemed mighty interested, looked like Oli was about to make another sale. But in a moment of lapsed concentration, she was off, with Oli's comic in her hand. By the time it hit Oli, it was too late, he couldn't go after her now. I watched in glee as he crumpled before me, falling to his knees, his mighty ego shattered and crying like the big girly-girl-girl we all know he is.

That said, I'm probably drawing his next comic, so be sure to pick it up. If Comics International want to vote it their top comic of 2008, fine by me.

London Expo was also good fun, though not the massive success of last year's. It was the convention debut of our TFTF Collected Edition as well as the first issue of Jake Harold's Tards. Tards did particularly well and outsold the hell out of TFTF on the Sunday. Jake's a relentless selling machine and I'm never sharing a table with him again. Until Leeds on Saturday.

At the end of the second day I was verbally abused by a young lady from the UK Manga collective known as Sweatdrop Studios. After the hall was empty I was looking over the Manga art left behind by revellers for a competition. However, it turned out the people standing next to me were infact the judges and didn't take kindly to me snoopin' around. Perhaps they thought I was a spy for one of the artists, there to find out who the favorites were and perhaps sway their minds. Either way, I was snapped at like a child who just shat behind a sofa and basically told to fuck off. And die. It left me sad and confused all the way home and I've decided to definitely set her and her crappy Manga romance comics on fire at the next expo thing we go to (It's in May. Come along).

Anybody that's anybody should now be aware that myself and a group of fellow small pressers have started London Underground Comics, a new UK indie comics stall at Camden Lock market. We did pretty damn well the first week and made an absolute killing the second. With Christmas fast approaching and convention prices rising this is one of the best and cheapest new ways to get your comics out there. And to "normal" people too. Not just the ones who go to comic cons and shops.

Lastly. Today I attended the first Comica "Comiket". Comica is a month-long comics and graphic novels festival held at the ICA in London. It's organised by Paul Gravett and includes screenings and talks as well as 24 hour comics day and a Comica Club Night (wish I wish I'd gone to but was penniless). The Comiket was a small market type thing held in one of the top rooms at the ICA, there were only a small amount of tables, most of us sharing but was a really great experience. Nice and relaxed with a good flow of customers (occasionally the room would empty when a talk was going on) it was good to see familiar faces as well as meet new ones. I was especially happy to sit next to Daniel Baker who writes and draws one of my favorite small press comics, Donkey Head.
Picked up great comics by Francesca Cassavetti (actually, her son swapped me a load of her books in exchange for a TFTF Collected Edition), her 24-hour comic "A Very Nasty Solitary Habit" is great but especially good is her pregnancy-tale epic, "The Most Natural Thing In The World". Will make anyone want to have a baby. Also loving "The Myopians" by Dave West and probably "Strange Times" too which I'm gona read in bed tonight. Apologies to Dave actually, because I kept calling his partner in crime, Colin, Dave. Right in front of him. What a twat I am.
All in all, a great day. Only paid 20quid for half a table, sold a load of comics and made a lil beer profit. Also a special thanks to Sean Azzopardi for his words of wisdom and encouragement. You're a gent.

Check out the Modern Monstrosity interview over at Indie Review. It was conducted over MSN so is a little messy in places, but congratulations to Hassan for cleaning it up as much as he has.

Oh, and if you live in Leeds I'll be at the Thought Bubble comic festival thing on Saturday. Come say hello and give me your money. In exchange for comics.