BLOG: The Last Comic Con
Hello friends. As I type this part, it is 4am on Sunday, July 12th. Otherwise known as the last day of CapCityCon… which I have declared is my last “Comic Con” show.
I make it sound like a big deal, but really it isn’t. Just means my approach to my art/creativity is evolving. I am focusing less on the money aspect and more into the creation, cause I tend to do everything in life out of order. But let’s talk about the show so far.
I get up Friday and set up the table around noon for the doors to open at 3pm. I didn’t bring my entire setup. No book racks, no scrolly backdrop, no racks across the table. Just piecemeal like I always do. I never ever got my booth to look sleek and uniform. It’s always been a casserole of nonsense because I do so many things. Prints, cards, comics… nothing sleek or sexy about my displays at all. It’s just me. Organized chaos.
The big seller again this year is the Gollum Nirvana print (upper left part on my booth there). Prints and cards of course were what sold. I think I sold one book all weekend so far and it was a smut book! I get more excited about that one book sale than I do anything else.
I don’t take too many photos at cons but I am taking this one in as I go. There were some interesting costumes this time around.
I saw a bunch of old friends and made a few new ones, which is what its all about. I also did some doodling in my sketchbook when I was bored…
Did a couple commission cards. One of Ace Frehley which unfortunately I didn’t get a pic of. And this Venom/Carnage two-fer.
I didn’t do much shopping, really. Maybe today I will. Today I am up super early cause my sleep is all jacked up. Been tired all weekend, especially with the load in. I’m feeling more old and out of shape than ever… and I am down 28 pounds! My body has had enough of the lugging around the things I think. I was too exhausted to do any drink or draw charity event. Rather I hung with people, had dinner with a close friend and then passed out to bed early like a lame ass. Gone are the days where I’d be up late drinking and chatting with fellow artists. The game and the years have changed me so much.
I’ve been reflecting a lot about all these things recently. My first show I exhibited at was Motor City Con 2002. And now here it is, Cap City Con, 2026. A hell of a 24 year run of going to Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Chicago, San Diego, Columbus… so many places. So many shows and friends I’ve made along the way. I never made good money and I never “hit big” at the game, but I never really cared about that, ultimately. I did it for the ride. As Captain Kirk would say, “It was… fun!”
2002-2026:
(Doesn’t the guy on the right look old and tired?) He certainly feels that way.
BUT, he is ready for what is next. If I do any more live appearances it will be at things like ‘zine fests or small press/library/book shows. No more pop culture events. No more cards, prints, etc. Just my books. My words. My art. My characters. My stories. Me. It’s really what I wanted to do all along and now am in a place where I am comfortable enough that I can do the best work I can do. It took me all these years to chisel myself into being “ready” and now I am middle age. A total late bloomer! I am immensely proud of my three new Graphic novels (Pleasant Life and Starslam 5-6) and I am ready for what is next. I got two novels coming up, a bunch of painting ideas, and other comic stuff I want to do.
As I wrap up the final sales on Pleasant Life and finish up Starslam and close up the patreon for good, the evolution is ongoing. I’m not even sure its the “right” thing to do for me, but it is just where I want to go. I would rather fly under the radar and do the purest form of my creation than doing what I have been doing. I knew all along I wasn’t confident in my own work to let it stand on its own without the crutch of selling pop culture characters that were not mine. I made pretty good scratch at it, but I was never happy doing it. I wanted to tell stories. But while I got my work where I wanted it to be, I had to stay afloat somehow. Doing your own thing is a very hard road to walk, but its what I want to do now with the limited time I have left.
Other things factor in, such as prices increasing. The consumer interest is more into tchotchkes and costuming than actual comics. And that is awesome if people are digging it. I’m a fan of things too, I get it. But it sometimes reaches levels that even I don’t comprehend. But it makes people happy and in such odd and dark times, that is a very welcome thing.
As old and out of date as I feel at the moment, I know I am ending my larva stage and will emerge from the cocoon with what I’ve always wanted to be and do. It’s cliche to say “it’s not an end but a beginning,” but it truly feels that way. I am anxious for this to be over and to move on to the new stuff! The next phase. The final evolution. I’m ready to bust the door wide open and get it all going. I’ve never been more excited and nervous all at once. The burnout fades and gives away to a new ride that I am so ready to take. Its unfamiliar and uncomfortable… which is the most fertile ground for growth and improvement.
BUT - Today is Sunday, the last day. I have been most looking forward to this day because I am bringing my youngest son with me. None of my kids really ever got to see what dad does or maybe why he does it. They don’t know from that world or that part of me. But now one of them will get to see a bit of it in person. I did bring Scotty to shows when he was wee but he was far too young to take it in and now I am sure it would be overwhelming for him, cause it certainly can be for me! But I get to show my kid my world and what it all means for me. I’m gonna give him some of the scratch I made this weekend so maybe he can score himself some stuff at the show and enjoy it too as a fan for once.
I look forward to being on that other side of the table and just being a fan at these things, all the while finally being exactly where I want to be. I’ll report later on the events of this last day. Thanks for reading! -T