Lawless Comic Con
There I am, in the small press room at Lawless Comic Con. The main attractions of the event are drawing the crowds so it’s fairly quiet, but the steady trickle of folks coming by my table seem genuinely interested. Real comic fans looking for new comics. Marvellous.
Lawless is my second con and I feel a bit more relaxed. I’m able to have some real conversations with people, instead of trying to immediately sell them something.
An older gentleman walks up to my table and comments on one of the sketches I’ve got for sale. He compliments my art and asks a few questions, then he points at a Krazy Kat sketch and says he recognises it. “That’s an old one isn’t it?”, Oh boy, if you want to get me chatting about comics then here we go! I’ve just read the biography, “Krazy” about the creator George Herriman. As I’m getting warmed up on the topic, I notice a hush has gone around our little room and attention seems to have focused on my table. As I’m talking, I take in the gentleman’s lanyard which only exhibitors and guests at the show have on. He’s holding it subtly turned away so his name is not visible, and I realise that this is probably one of the big name guests – who I should know, yet am entirely ignorant of. The gentleman seems also to have noticed the change in vibe around the room, we exchange nice to have met you’s, and he moves on. As he approaches another table I hear someone say “Hi, Brian”, and my hunch is confirmed that I did in fact just meet Brian Bolland, whose name I’m aware of, but clearly not as aware as everyone else in this building. Brian WAS the main attraction drawing all the crowds which I mentioned earlier. People were queing for hours to meet him. Thoroughly nice chap, and anytime you’d like to continue a discussion of Krazy Kat Mr.Bolland, I’d be most happy.
Coming from an animation background – and not being a huge 2000AD fan – it was a weekend of admitting my ignorance to people. That moment was the coup de grâce.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by the table either to chat or purchase something. It’s always lovely to meet some new folks and hopefully some of you will find your way here to see what else I have going on.
I’m off to read Batman: The Killing Joke and ease my ignorance for the next Lawless Comic Con.
See you at the next con in September.
Warped Comic – Ice
On the topic of Ice, I will be attending the ICE comic convention in Birmingham in September. Looks like it will be a fun show held at Edgbaston Cricket Stadium. Put it in your calendar. Get your tickets. I will see you there!
Warped Comic – Molecules
I’m going to be in Bristol this weekend at Lawless Comic Con. If you’re there come by and say hello. I will have Jack Astro books, Prints and Sketches.
Warped Comic – Mosquito
Warped is a spin-off from my Jack Astro Comic. It’s a completely stand-alone comic strip so no prior knowledge of Jack Astro is neccesary but it does broaden the canon in my mind and links to the book 😀
There is an idea in that story where an infinite number of Jack’s are sent to an infinite number of galaxies in splinter dimensions via the aptly named, Infinity Drive. Warped explores what happened to all of these alternate Jack’s. Each episode the characters explore strange new worlds and get themselves into mischief.
Warped comic has been recently featured in the Phoenix magazine.
The Beatles, Get Back: Deadlines
I’ve been watching the new Peter Jackson Beatles documentary, Get Back. Aside from feeling like you are actually there whilst they make the album which is pretty special, it’s also a tremendous opportunity to sit and watch their creative process at work.
Both as individuals and as a group I think there are lessons to be found that stretch beyond music and apply to any creative endeavour.
The first lesson that struck me was SET YOURSELF DEADLINES.
The whole documentary only covers about 21 days and when the group ‘come together’ at the start they have a handful of fairly vague song ideas and yet they confidently plan to record an album and perform a live concert of 14 brand new songs in about 2 and a half weeks time.
Obviously they are veterans at this point and they know what they are capable of, but it still feels like this is quite a stretch and I feel like the deadline is the only thing that forces creative decisions to be made.
In my own experience a deadline fires synapses in the brain that would otherwise lie dormant. I can have half formed ideas in a notepad that go nowhere until I give myself a deadline and then suddenly I’m able to connect the dots to complete the picture.
Gallivant Comic – Teach Your Children Well
I’m gonna bail out of this storyline here but maybe we’ll come back to Lil’ Kit at some point. If you’re enjoying reading this comic let me know in the comments. I’m going to take a little break from posting for now and will be back with more exciting stuff soon. In the meantime if you want to show your support please share the comic with like-minded folk and visit the store for books and sketches.
