Portland Comics Expo 2014 Report

Rick Lowell of Portland, Maine’s Casablanca Comics is no stranger to putting on conventions. He’s had 6 straight years of a successful spring indie comics show called MeCAF. So with those experiences at his back, he launched this year a more mainstream show called Portland Comics Expo. With convention season wrapping up and a whole half a year separated from MeCAF, the timing seemed pretty good for one last hurrah for comics in Portland before the long, cold winter sets in. Unfortunately for us vendors/artists and Rick, the public interest in the show did not seem to match our enthusiasm. Let’s discuss why that might be!

Unlike the abject failure that was RockCon earlier in the year, I place no blame on the organizers of the show for it being a slow day. Rick is a great host and everything about the set up and organization of the program went as smoothly as any MeCAF I’ve been to. He kept his advertising focus on the artists attending, and unlike GraniteCon there was no extreme distraction in the form of a bunch of b-list TV show actors from a popular show. So why was it so slow?

I think this boils down to two factors: Convention fatigue and the mysterious x-factor. There are a LOT of conventions out there, more every year. I’m beginning to suspect that con-goers have too many options right now and their time and money are being spread a bit thin. The other factor, is an unknown quantity. Vermont ComicCon, which took place the same weekend as Portland Comic Con, and run by the organizers of the failed RockCon was an enormous success, according to other cartoonist friends of mine who tabled there. What was the difference? Why was that show successful while the Portland show was mostly flat? There are far too many factors that could effect the answer to that question, and it’s just the nature of business in a given year to have ups and downs.

All that said, I did make back my cost of tabling, but not much else. I did still have a great time and I also met some amazing new cartoonists. I’ll take some time now to talk about them!

Amanda Kahl is the self publishing power behind a fine fantasy epic called Age of Night.

After a brief 70’s dance-off with my table-mate Matt Young I wandered over to join the conversation and discover what this SCAD grad’s work was all about. The art style is definitely very well fit for the genre, a tight mix of realistic character designs, attention to details in textures and dense, dark contrasts to set a good mood for a bar fight!

I’m a few chapters in already and love the ramshackle group of adventurers she has coming together, full of witty con artists, innocent mages and failed attempts at debauchery! I’m excited to see where the story and this rag-tag crew goes!

Andrew R MacLean is a Mass-based cartoonist who’s Head Lopper was the most interesting comic premise I saw at the show. A tongue-in-cheek adventure about swords and monsters…and a talking severed head. Very cool, very bold, sharply illustrated with tight character designs and crisp, simple, well placed lines that express to the n’th degree! Definitely a fun romp of a comic and very polished work! Check out his blog too, he’s been doing some great Alien related sketching this month!

Caught up briefly with Christina Siravo who is a staple at MeCAF. She approaches fantasy art with a child-like wonder and beauty. Her designs are flush with vibrant color and subtle lines. She’s always got a smile on her face and one of the nicest tables you’ll happen across at any show!

I love visiting Portland, it’s a fantastic city with a lot of great comics fans. I definitely hope MeCAF continues to be a successful show and perhaps next year Portland Comic Expo, with a little tweaking, can be just as great!

-RD

Sketch Card – Super Sonic

Re-upload of a Super Sonic sketch card from the Vermont Small Press and Comics Expo! I don’t do enough Sonic drawings anymore….

-RD

Microns and Prismacolors on card stock.
Original Art is ©2012 Randall Drew

MICE 2012 Report

MICE: the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo was held last Saturday the 29th of September at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. It was the show’s third year and by far it’s best! Here’s my short but quick review!

Note: I actually didn’t get any of my own photos this year outside of my sketch card commissions I did at the table, so I’ll be using photos taken by my co-tablers!

Here’s Chris “Radical” Warren, Matt Young and I at our table…Oh My God WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY FAAAAACE?! The cameraman unfortunately caught me stuffing said face.

The event this year was held in the same location as last years space, with almost an identical layout. One long hallway of tables and three adjoining rooms of various sizes. We happened to be in the very end, and smallest, room. At first one would think this would be detrimental to any one placed in that location, but it turned out to be a bit of a blessing as the small space tended to create traffic jams, trapping potential customers to salivate at your wares, and eventually cave to buying.


THIS face was made a lot at MICE! Smiles courtesy Colleen AF Venable and Stephanie Yue!

Sales were brisk when the crowds were thick, slowed significantly when people managed to find their way out. I sold a ton of sketch cards, no comics. My table mate Jesse DuRona on the other hand sold several copies of his Despondent MegaMan comic! Financially, this show was a success for us both! I heard similar tales from the few other cartoonists I had time to chat with. The attendance was a nice mixture of kids, teens and adults of all generations. Boston really came out to support it’s local creators and I’m very glad to have been a part of it yet again!

The after party went something like this:

Yes, that’s Deadpool at the end of the bar. Photo by Roho!

Despite losing my phone at Charlie’s Kitchen in Harvard Square, the Art School Fraud crew had a great time recording, losing, then re-recording a podcast whilst merrily drinking and eating with our fellow toonies. We also got a visit from our convention floor neighbor “Rampage” Warren! Her comics are hilarious, by the way! Oh, my phone did return to me, thanks to Chris’s Mother in law Margaret! Thanks Margaret! The only mar on the after party was the fact that the space was too small and several groups did end up finding another venue to get their drink on. The search for the perfect post-MICE party space continues!

-RD

NOTE: Now that my site is up and running again in some capacity, I’ll be re-uploading my sketch cards, two a week again, starting from scratch. Don’t worry though, I’ll start with my most recent additions from MICE! Then I’ll fill in the back-log as I go until we’re completely caught up some time in 2013! Every time I do a show however, I’ll break the chain and upload the newest ones right away so you all can stay current!