Post Comic-Con 2009 Report
July 29, 2009, filed under: News, by LexWell, I survived another Comic-con and thought I’d add to the cacophony of “post-con reports.” Overall, the show was good–I sold a bunch of books, met a lot of great people and had a good time. Yet five, straight, ten-hour days manning a table by yourself can be pretty exhausting, by the time the convention ended I was a wreck and just wanted to go back home and get some shut-eye. Sales were good but not quite as good as last year (when I sold out of books), I think that’s partly due to the economy and partly due to the fact that I didn’t have a new book out this year.
Several folks who picked up Blood-Bound Oath last year came looking for Song of Roland, and though I didn’t have that book to sell, I did have it to show, so I plunked all 250 pages of the proof in their hands and assured them it was on its way. Perhaps the best part of the show were those attendees who bought my book and then came back the very next day to tell me how much they liked it; these fine readers ranged in age and size but each one came back a Kid B. devotee–and that’s the best kind of feedback an author can get. Here are some other highlights…
Comics podcaster Tom Racine interviewed me for his most excellent show, Tall Tale Radio. Tom is that rare podcaster who actually produces a well done and extremely listenable show, with insightful questions and great guests. TTR is one of those podcasts I look forward to hearing when I pencil pages, so it was fun to be on his show. His Comic-con show also broadcasts a terrific panel by Stephan (Pearls Before Swine) Pastis, which is also a lot of fun to listen to.
Speaking of Stephan Pastis, few know this but he is a huge fan of all things BEOWULF. Last year he did some fan art for me (posted above) and this year he was a special guest at the con, though you wouldn’t know it since he spent most of his time at my table?! At first I was flattered, Pearls is a great strip and Stephan is a fun guy, but after the third day it got a little creepy. He’s also easily distracted…
The Cartoon Art Museum held their annual Comic-Con sketch-a-thon fundraiser in which dozens of top-talent artists did sketches for attendees. I did a sketch of Snoopy as the Flying Ace which was bought by this gentleman here! Sweet.
Comic-con is the place to catch up with old friends and I was happy to see my old cartooning comrade in arms Poopy Lickles. Much like the Pumonkey, Poopy is an enigmatic creature who is rarely seen and assuaged only by wine, women and song.
The best part of Comic-con is discovering new artists and making new comic pals and Small Press is the place to do it. My row was filled with other Bay Area cartoonists, including the uber-talented Debbie Huey of Bumberboy and creators of Islands In The Sky Joseph Wong and Genevieve Tsai. Here’s Genevieve after she finished doing an elaborate and killer commission piece:
Next door was another terrific artist Vince Riley selling prints of his work, of which IÂ immediately fell in love with his “Gear-Head Girl.” You can see more of Vince’s work on his Deviant Art page.
But the highlight of the show was the Sunday panel I shared with the likes of one of my cartooning idols Jeff (BONE) Smith. The topic was All-Ages Comics and Graphic Novels, other panelists included David (Mouseguard) Petersen, Jimmy (Amelia Rules) Gownley and Kazu (Amulet) Kibuishi. I recorded the panel and will let you know when that goes live for your listening pleasure!
All in all Comic-Con this year was good and I’m starting to feel like a con veteran as I wrap up my sixth year exhibiting. I’m excited about the direction Kid Beowulf is going and the good vibes I got from Comic-con only reinforce it. With Kid Beowulf and the Song of Roland on it’s way and Kid Beowulf vs. El Cid on the horizon, Comic-Con 2010 will be another stellar show.
Comic-Con 2009
July 21, 2009, filed under: News, by LexSan Diego’s Comic-Con International is this week and I’ll be heading down to man my table in Small Press for the big show. This is my sixth year at the convention and each year gets better and better.
I’ll have Kid Beowulf and the Blood-Bound Oath on hand to sell and a few remaining copies of the preview edition of Kid Beowulf and the Song of Roland–I am also bringing the proof copy (all 250 pages) of Roland so folks can get a taste of all the goodness that is book two. Limited Edition Resin Sculpts of Beowulf and Hama will also be on display and for sale at the table.
For those of you with nifty Iphones, check out the super-cool Comic-con app you can download for free. It’s the entire program guide in the palm of your hand and includes maps so you will never get lost on the Comic-con floor (although, frankly, that’s part of the fun).
And finally for you panel-goers out there be sure to check out my panel on Sunday:
1:30-2:30 Comics and Graphic Novels for All Ages— It’s true! There’s a wealth of great comic books series and graphic novels out there for comics-loving kids of all ages—so much so, that Comic-Con presents its second big panel of the day on the topic! Moderator Randy Duncan (co-chair of the Comics Arts Conference) talks with Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules!), Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Eric Jones and Landry Walker (Supergirl, Little Gloomy), Jeff Smith (Bone), and Alexis Fajardo (Kid Beowulf) about comics for everyone! Room 3
I’m jazzed to be on the same panel with the likes of these guys and am looking forward to it. Sunday is traditionally kids day and you can’t get a better line-up of creators than that! It’s gonna be a good show and I’ll try and post some updates as they happen. See you there!
Song of Roland: Cover
July 14, 2009, filed under: Roland, by LexIn honor of Bastille Day I thought I’d reveal the cover art for Kid Beowulf and the Song Of Roland. This is a full wrap-around cover (including French flaps!) and depicts every major character in the book. The story is big swashbuckling adventure so I wanted to convey that right from the start. Below are the pencils, inks and then the terrific full color version done by my colorist Brian Kolm. Click to enlarge:
Elephant Chase!
July 8, 2009, filed under: Roland, by LexHere’s another glimpse of Kid Beowulf & the Song of Roland: a chase scene involving Beowulf, Grendel, and the great elephant, Abul-Abaz. They’re trying to get Charlemagne to safety but are being tailed by some Saracen goons. Hama, and the warrior maiden, Bradamante, are also lending a hand. Choreographing the chase took some time, but I’m happy with the result. (click images for larger view)
