Date: Mon, 14 Oct 1996 06:46:40 -0500 (CDT) To: [c--m--x] at [facteur.std.com] From: "Denise L. Voskuil" <[d--sk--l] at [mcs.com]> Subject: A long report on a short ICE visit OK, so I was only there for around 3 1/2 hours, and couldn't even go out afterwards due to having to visit friends out of state (*sigh* maybe some other time, folks), but it'll seem like it was longer after you're done reading this. :) Just some general observations, plus impressions of some of the comics I bought. A bit about the setup first: Booths were in four rooms, with comics booths and zine booths mixed, and popular creators were spread around so that you basically had to walk through the whole thing to be sure that you didn't miss anyone. Quite the difference from the ghettoization at San Diego (and Chicago?). Two large rooms were directly in front of the check-in area, but they were lit mostly with sunlight, and so weren't ideal that way; it was somewhat dim, especially if you weren't right next to the windows. As it got later in the day, a rather bright light was turned on, which was somewhat blinding if you faced towards it. The other two rooms, to the side of the check-in area and thus perhaps easier to miss, were smaller but well-lit artificially and from windows. I'd say there were more comics creators there this year than last, though I can't be definite about it. I didn't get an attendance report or perceptions from our own Glenn-the-many-named, but it seemed to have a pretty steady flow of visitors when I was there (10:40-3:15, minus a bit over an hour for lunch). I picked up an ashcan of something that Glenn's writing and inking, called Happy Jack - a rather dark 'fairy' tale of a demon wagering with humans. I think I'll keep an eye out for the finished project, as it definitely got my interest. One thing I was sad about was that for many of the people whose work I like, I _have_ everything of theirs (or at least they didn't have anything I didn't have). I didn't really want to just walk up, say how much I like their stuff, and not buy anything (I don't think I really have the confidence to do that, even though I'm sure at least some creators might appreciate it anyway). I saw Matt Feazell wandering among tables, but missed his own table somehow, so I guess I'll have to order Ert! instead. Good experiences abounded, however. I met comix-listers Scott Gilbert (True Artist Tales) and Chris Howard (minis Chrispy Bacon and Dressed for Success). I spent some time around Scott's table plugging TAT to people I was with, and picked up an issue of American Splendor - it was my first exposure to the work, and liked it with Scott's art on it, at least. Time to check out more, I think. Oh yeah, get TAT if you haven't already - it's only $5 and is packed full of excellent work in autobio, dreams, poetry, and more. (Website: http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~gilbert/) I was delighted to meet Chris as well, as I'd heard his work praised before, but hadn't had the opportunity to actually see any of it. He was extremely outgoing, leading me to wonder how much caffeine he'd consumed before the con. :) What the heck, this helped pull me in to the table - I saw his display from a few tables down, and decided to see what it was about. He actually 'recognized' _me_ before I recognized him as being on this list as well; how embarrassing. :) (I blame it on so many Chris's being here.) I ended up buying the collected TPB of his first 13 issues of Dressed for Success (done with Jeff Wasson), and he was kind enough to give me the first two issues of Chrispy Bacon. Folks, this is good stuff. From what I've read of them, Dressed for Success is sci-fi fun/parody with two well-fleshed-out main characters, and Chrispy Bacon is a charming autobio work. Sign me up for more, Chris; I really got drawn into DFS, and was depressed I didn't have more of both titles. (Website: http://www.finearts.yorku.ca/7stories/egesta/) I picked up Copybook Tales (by J. Torres and Tim Levins), and think I like this one. It certainly got the nostalgia going, and a friend absolutely loved it. Think of flashing back to pre-teen fanboy days by 20-something aspiring comics creators today, and that's a start. I haven't seen the minis, but it's definitely a good start for the full-sized comic. I talked a bit with Joe Chiappetta of Silly Daddy (and hopefully didn't babble too badly) - he said he's not _too_ worried about the future for him, since he has the magazine distributor deal too. I got the pretty darned funny Deceased Corpse, previously mentioned here by at least one person, which is a deal at $2. (Where are those book club membership cards when you want them? I'll pay $1 plus postage for Narrative Corpse, but their cover price is a _bit_ much.) (Website: http://www.redweb.com/sillydaddy/) Greg Hyland of Lethargic Comics/Lethargic Lad was drawing a Lethargic Land theme park, with gigantic water sprinkler for visitors to run through. (I suggested a big yellow slip-n-slide that wasn't _quite_ long enough - weren't they all that way?) After reading LL #2 previously, I was also careful to buy something from him after browsing. :) (Considering the reaction it's gotten from friends I've shown it to, perhaps I should've bought the whole run of Lethargic Comics. Knew I should've brought more money.) (Website: http://www.nebula.on.ca/lethargic/) Steve Darnall, writer of Empty Love Stories, was next to him, and was fun to chat with as well. If you'd like a mix of the old horror comics with the old romance comics, you'll probably find his work funny. I picked up Negative Burn #31, containing a work by him - this one was a parody on vegetarianism vs. the stereotypical American diet. (Being a 'veg' myself, I was really amused by this one.) No website - yet. Our own Master of Kung Fu, Mark, was usually found working his way down the tables, moving from creator to creator, looking at just about everything and engaging people in conversation. And here I get tongue-tied and babble even when I'm buying something from people whose work I know... (Mark: Don't forget to announce your next visit to Chicagoland in advance - we can hopefully set up a decent net.together this time.) I bet _he_ didn't miss Matt Feazell's table. :/ Mike Chary made a delightful lunch for myself and one of the lurkers on this list (yoo hoo! Come out, come out, wherever you are!). If you were one of the people at the Motor City Con who flinched at the idea of him making a meal for you - you've made a grievous error. I especially recommend his zucchini and eggplant quiche as being fabulous. Many, many thanks, Mike. Overall, I had a good time, and was terribly sad to go so soon - I truly did want to go out afterwards with people, but couldn't break my plans. (I should've. *grumble*) At least I met some very nice people, got some great comics, and now have even more opportunities to spend money on comics in the future. :) - Denise -- Denise Voskuil - [d--sk--l] at [mcs.com]/@eden.com - http://www.mcs.net/~dvoskuil/ Hepcats= http://www.mcs.net/~dvoskuil/hepcats/ or http://www.eden.com/hepcats/ "Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon." - Susan Ertz _________________________________________________________________ To leave this mailing list, send mail to [m--r--o] at [world.std.com] with the message UNSUBSCRIBE COMIX