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| Getting to know Dr. Evil |
Ever been to a Comic Con? I attended and worked at my first one recently, and I have to say it’s not what I expected. Diehard fans swim through the aisles, wearing costumes of their favorite super hero or from their favorite video game or movie. And it’s scary. These fans are true-blue, focused, and know what they’re looking for when they come to spend their hard-earned money. While I was working the aisle with my boss, Justine from Mirror World Publishing, I made some mental notes and came up with three ideal ways that may help authors connect better when showing their wares at a Comic Con.
Make your name (brand) known.This is part of your author brand, so have a banner along the table or a poster looming behind you that explains who you are, what you’re selling, and what you’re all about. Signage is so important at Comic Cons and any event you attend as an author. So show’em what you got!
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| Sharing my wares! |
Work the floor. I bought a costume specifically for this! I dressed up as Robin Hood (one of the characters in Book #1 of The Last Timekeepers series) and handed out chocolate gold coins or wrapped red licorice to people passing by. When working the floor at any Comic Con or event, you should use the three ‘Ses’. Stand. Smile. Small talk. Be approachable (hence the costume) and for goodness sake, create a connection so that people will remember you!
Give away promotional material.This is a no-brainer. People LOVE freebies! That’s why I like giving candy away at author events. Stock up on postcards with your book covers on the front and info about the book and you on the back. Don’t forget to sign them either! Bookmarks are also a favorite among giveaways for authors, and my publisher had plenty on hand that offered 15% off if you buy directly from their website. What a deal! Be creative with your giveaways, you never know when you’ve made a fan for life!
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| Boss lady ready for business! |
One last thing. It helps if you’re an active member of your graphic novel/comic community. Your networking is solid and your foot is already in the door. People buy from authors they know and trust. The fan base is the meat and potatoes of a Comic Con. Create your own fan base by connecting with people at events such as Comic Cons, continuing to build your author brand, and being authentic in the way you treat and help others. Trust me, this goes a long way with people, and may just get you noticed!
Have you attended any Comic Cons in the past? If so, which ones? Did you attend as a fan or vendor? Would love to read your comments! Cheers and thank you for reading my blog!
The Improbable Theory of Ana & Zak by Brian KatcherThe first chapter is Zak's. We meet his stepfather, Roger, and we find out that Zak is NOT into sports. He's not into school so much. He's into games, and comics, and stuff like that. And he misses his Dad.
Then, in the next chapter we meet Ana. Here's what we learn about Ana. She does a lot of stuff and she does it all well and she does it ALL because it will look good on her college applications. And she doesn't have time for fun. Her sister was the fun one. "I don't have a sister anymore."
If these two characters were a Venn diagram, their edges would barely touch. That touch would be the fact that they go to the same school. That is ALL they have in common. Oh, and they are both smart.
So, Zak lifts his health essay straight from Wikipedia. And his flustered-seeming health teacher catches it. And his punishment is to serve as the alternate at the Quiz Team - of which Ana is captain - tournament. This is a HUGE punishment because the tournament is on the very same weekend as the Annual Washingcon - the comic con event that Zak has not missed in 5 years.
Then Ana's younger brother - also on the Quiz team - goes AWOL from the hotel. And Ana - whose parents are kind of scary - has to find him. And Zak helps because he knows that Younger Brother, Clayton, has run off to Washingcon. So, Zak gets to go after all. And there are a lot of people in costumes and some mayhem, and a wedding and a battle and an altercation with an underworld figure of the criminal persuasion - not of the supernatural sort. And Clayton is Super at eluding capture. And Zak is a Washingcon celebrity of sorts and Ana learns a LOT. And, oh wookies! Are they in a bunch of trouble!
Also, some parental drama occurs in which things get dealt with. 'Nuff said.
The parent in me wants to add: Do NOT try this at home. But if you do and you find a lost valuable item, leave it where it is, ok? Just report it to the front desk and go your merry way.
Cons look like fun. For younger people. I'll just don my Chrestomanci bathrobe and pour another mug of coffee, right here, at home.
The Valentines State’s first comic con of the year wrapped up over the romantic weekend. Jimmy Jay, Amazing Arizona Comic Con organizer, didn’t let a hallmark holiday get in the way of putting on his three-day annual comic book convention on Friday, Feb. 13 through Sunday, Feb. 15. The event kicked off with an intimate panel with Spawn Creator Todd McFarlane and the New York Times best selling Batman artist, Greg Capullo. They signed someone’s baby.
Capullo was a selfie machine and gave the fans what they wanted. God bless him.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to attend the event until the last day because I was under the weather. Sunday was not uneventful to say the least. The line of eager con goers to buy their tickets around noon on the last day is always a good sign. The con was located at the south Phoenix Convention Center building.
Flash, Superman, and Captain Marvel. Photo by Henry Barajas.
The event hosted approximately 89 exhibitors and 144 creatives in artist alley. Jay expects that he beat last year’s attendance record of 25,000, but didn’t have the final numbers.There was a laundry list of legends like Steve McNiven, George Perez, Adam Kubert, Mark Bagley, Kevin Eastman, Herb Trimpe, and Steve Epting. Sadly, there weren’t any female guests of honor except Nei Raffino. I hope there’s a little more diversity in next year’s line-up. All the guests seemed to have done well and appreciated the hospitality. One of the guests said he was amazed by the talent that were invited, and the response from the fans was overwhelming. The only “Hollywood” characters that had a big presence were the Power Ranger actors, but they seemed like real sweethearts and approachable folks. None of them seemed like cold-blooded-killers.
Deadpool aka Rob Liefeld Panel. Photo by Henry Barajas.
With recent Deadpool news, you could have nicknamed his con “Deadpool Con” with all the prints and cosplayers at AACC. Deadpool creator, Rob Liefeld, was on cloud nine and loving all the support from the fans. His Sunday panel was standing room only. Liefeld jumped off the stage, broke the fourth wall, and started taking questions from the audience by handing them the microphone individually. This is Rob’s fifth AACC appearance and doesn’t intend on missing a single show as long as it doesn’t land on a government holiday.
Wasp. Photo by Henry Barajas.
Some of the lower level, lesser known comic book creators might have been a little overshadowed, according to some of the folks behind their booths. A majority of the unknown creators I spoke with didn’t make the profit they were hoping for, but networking with some of their favorite creators made up for the loss. Some of the creators that exhibited at the Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest that that took place in December were glad they did both shows. It seems that Fan Fest was strategically planned to compete with the AACC, but Jay says it didn’t affect him. There’s a silent con war going on and both sides are pretty classy about it.
Another complaint that I heard from the artists was how loud the announcements were echoing through the intercom. It was hard to have a conversation while panel reminders were being announced.
Harley Quinn. Photo by Henry Barajas.
Still, there were a few bumps at the event. I have never had a negative experience at this show until now. Mike Olivares, Tucson Comic –Con director, was assisting Travis Hanson at his booth, so I went over to talk to Olivares about the upcoming Tucson Con and small press expo he’s organizing in the spring. While we were discussing the good old days, I noticed a large canvas with Bruce Timm’s artwork on it; obviously, it was not an original, and there was a $200 price tag.
Bruce Timm art printed on a canvas with a $200 price tag.
I couldn’t believe my eyes. Instead of going the traditional route, take some pictures and post it on Bleeding Cool, I decided to question the people at the booth about this canvas. There were four guys sitting at the table selling prints that featured everyone’s favorite super heroes (Batman, Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain America, ect.) by various artists in the Philippines, according to Aaron Luevanos. The table was labeled HeroicFineArt.com #816. I asked them if that Timm piece was an original. One of them said no. The next logical question was: Does Bruce Timm know you’re printing his art on a canvas and charging $200? Luevanos and the group said that it was taken from a Timm original (apparently, they owned the original art) that was back in Texas. I asked how does that give them the right to print his art on a canvas and sell it for $200 just because they have the original. I couldn’t get a clear answer, so I had to walk away because I didn’t want to cause a scene.
Here’s some fan art that was for sale at the HeroicFineArt.com #816 booth.
Eventually, I came back (after letting off some steam) to get some names. Luevanos handed me his phone so I can talk to his attorney, Cesar Garcia, read on the iPhone screen, about the matter. The counselor asked me what was going on so I told him I was merely asking his client why is he selling art at his table that isn’t his, the lawyer said he had nothing to say, so I handed the phone back to Luevanos.
Yes. The same Aaron Luevanos that owns Capital City Comic Con. The same Capital City Comic Con that had that “Everything’s bigger in Austin!” Powergirl campaign everyone loved so much. Not.
Luevanos said he wasn’t selling the piece and it was his friend, Mark William. William took the blame and said he owned the art. Apparently, Luevanos had no idea it was there because he left his booth for five hours. I was baffled because I now know this guy runs a con and he was all of a sudden unaware the piece was at HIS booth. Some spectators said I was too hard on the guy and I was being a “hard ass.” I disagreed and pointed out that an artist the next row over caught a colorist that swiped his art and was selling the piece —recolored— in the same row when the con started, according to Olivares and Jay. Luevanos decided to remove Timm’s artwork from display to shut me up, and to avoid getting his lawyer involved.
We shook hands, eventually.
I left to thank Jay for the press pass and explain what happened. Jay asked one of his managers to escort me to the booth and point out where this happened so they can take care of it. Luevanos was more upset at this point and said I was harassing him. But I was just trying to make sure I did my due diligence so this wasn’t a complete shock to Jay and his con staff. I couldn’t take much more of Luevanos, so I left the con and headed back to Tucson. I’m confident that Jay and his staff resolved the matter, and I’m sure I’ll be hearing from Luevanos’ “legal counsel.”
I won’t let this altercation define my AACC experience. Phoenix is a big city and could use the con war/competition. Gives everyone another reason to cosplay visit Phoenix in the winter. The high was 85 degrees for crying out loud.
BY JEN VAUGHN – Boston is home to a lot of things like baked beans, awful one-way streets, MIT and occasional leaf-based riots. This weekend marks the second annual MICE comic convention in Boston at University Hall of Lesley University (yes, that’s right). MICE boasts among many things, a smattering of local artists and cartoonists as well as some that come a-running down the mountain from Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and even New York and Pittsburgh.
With panels ranging from Smart Comics for Kids, Project: Rooftop (studying the redesign of a character) and Digital Comics with the infamous Box Brown and Kevin Church, there is something for everyone. The Project: Rooftop panel will prove interesting after yesterday’s article by Comics Alliance Editor, Laura Hudson. I hope the panelists consider the sexiness of characters when speaking about their successful redesigns.
A new book from team Braden Lamb and Shelli Paroline
Is one day of comics just not enough for you? Come out and show your support for the show. Maybe it will one day extend into a full weekend con! All I know is I’m definitely going to check out a comic caled Superwizards comics featuring Stardust, (of Fletcher Hanks origin) and Broken Lines by Tom Poppalardo.
A family friendly event with comics for all ages we look forward to see you and your fat wallet come in with you and your arms full of comics on the way out. The show is from 10am-6pm and free to the public. See you there!
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Cartoonist Jen Vaughn is just excited to finally have illustrated a book appropriate for children:
If someone says ‘off the record’ you should not quote them, even if you leave off their name. off the record means… off the record, as in NOT TO BE IN THE ARTICLE. Poorly written.
JS: Using the “according to an unnamed source” is way better. This link discusses what off the record is.
The real problem: Henry became part of the story…
http://www.prnewswire.com/blog/what-does-off-the-record-really-mean-7093.html
Wayne thank you for the link, as a person who is often interviewed by Press this is my understanding when I tell them off the record (straight from the article you linked!):
Shirley Skeel, a journalist for more than 20 years who reported finance news for papers such as the Daily Mail and The Telegraph in London, explains how this term was similarly understood by journalists in London. “’Off the record’ meant you could not use the information given to you in print,” she said. “However, it might lead you to other sources or a better understanding.”
Yeah this ‘article’ feels much more like a personal blog post, while the story is interesting it really isnt written as a news blog just a personal story.
The Wasp cosplayer featured in this article is Sara Moni, https://www.facebook.com/SaraMoniCosplay
The Harley Quinn Cosplay featured in this article is Icy, https://www.facebook.com/IcyPrincessCosplay
js ….shaddap
I don’t understand what is the big deal of reprinting art and selling it. I mean we pirate movies and television shows. I say it’s the same thing. Those artist just work for those blood sucking corporations. Forget those losers they already got there stinking money.
[…] Amazing Arizona Con 2015: Deadpool ruled & art crooks were called out The Valentines State's first comic con of the year wrapped up over the romantic weekend. Jimmy Jay, Amazing Arizona Comic Con organizer, didn't let a hallmark holiday get in the way of putting on his three-day annual comic book convention on Friday, Feb. Read more on Comics Beat […]
Jerry Marks – so you feel its ok to profit off someone else because you pirate movies and music?
Something you had no involvement in, something that you didn’t create and, if anything, copied if not completely reprinted… just ‘cus they “made their money”? No, they didn’t. If you pirate a movie, you didn’t pay for it which means they didn’t make that money.
SOME “of us” pirate. I also feel this is just a troll comment you make to spark this kind of response.
Maybe the artist in the article painted that piece with his/her own brushes and paints, but it’s clearly Bruce Timm which means, although probably referenced, the “artist” didn’t do anything more than “trace” and color-match the original just to make an easy $200. Although he may or may not “own the original” or a print, that doesn’t give him the right, or a transfer of copyright, without Bruce Timm’s permission.
This “artist” would need a signed document, from Timm, saying he can use the piece as he would like, including selling or reproducing.
But, I’m probably wasting my time ‘cus you feel it’s all fair game.
I am not surprised to read about Luevanos on this article. He was quite a rude person to us at his con when we had a table there last year. He was making excuses to not give contest winners their prize money after winning the kevin eastman art contest. He was absolutely unprofessional and rude to his staff and volunteers right in front us, yelling and cussing them out over something he himself had done. We said we’d never go back to his show…but art thievery did surprise me. And people commenting that its ok to steal someone else’s work to sell it is even worse to me.buying an art piece is just that..buying an art piece. To sell it you must have a signed document where the original artist has signed and agreed that it can be used for reprint and disbursement…if no document is available then it is illegal to sell in any reprinted manor. You can only sell ,if it is the owner of the pieces choice, the original piece bought.
[…] Conventions | Henry Barajas files a thorough report on the Amazing Arizona Comic Con, with lots of photos and an account of his encounters with a dealer who was apparently selling unauthorized reproductions. [The Beat] […]
I must say that I don’t ‘get’ how someone can think it’s okay to reproduce someone else’s art and sell it. Nor can I get how someone can sell prints of their sketches of Batman or other characters at cons. Is there a ‘turn a blind eye’ clause?
Dear Henry,
I just want to make it perfectly clear the MY company (HEROIC FINE ART) was NOT IN ATTENDANCE at this convention. I am the owner and the only one authorized to speak for the company. I think you did a great job at naming the individuals involved in selling this type of unlicensed product. I just want to make sure that everyone knows that I wasn’t in attendance and I don’t even know these people!
I was originally going to try to do this show, but my health (recent knee surgery) prevented me from attending. Apparently these guys took my booth space and didn’t bother to take MY company name down. I have been in business since 1999 and have always taken pride in selling amazing licensed products, as well as working DIRECTLY with amazing artists.
I would like my website name taken off at your convenience, or add a note stating that it was NOT me or my company present, so people don’t associate my reputable business with these jerk-offs.
Thank you for your consideration, and for your work exposing these losers.
Best,
James Fletcher
[email protected]
Kudos to Henry Barajas for writing this. Swipers should be exposed. Piracy is wrong, illegal, and unethical. Additionally, Luevanos sounds uncooperative and unethical as well. I respect other fellow content creators. I’ll proudly put my money into products and providers that I believe in. Thieves and freeloaders ruin the market for everyone. Artists don’t need a corporation to distribute private commissions at cons or wherever. You are taking opportunities directly from these artists when you overpay for pirated work.