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June 21, 2008
Templar: Wait, y'mean it's not over?
Nope, I've just been busy. But no more! Here we go, more comics. And about time, too.
So, a couple of weeks ago, i was at MoCCA. I saw a few of you there, thanks for stopping by. And I can say, without exaggeration, it was the best con I ever went to.
If anyone who read this dumb blog with any regularity has a webcomic and is considering hitting MoCCA, but hesitant about the kind of networking/attention a two-day small press show can bring in, drop your inhibitions. My books sold out halfway through Sunday (I NEVER do that), the crowd was super-receptive and friendly, all the pros there were chatty and had loads of advice for the asking, and I had such a great time that I shelled out for my 2009 MoCCA table the second the con was officially over. But for the curious, it might pay to remember tables are kinda notoriously hard to score at MoCCA. I pretty much lucked into mine, newcomers might have trouble if they want one. all I can say is, register early. As early as you can. And don't lose hope if you're stuck on the waiting list.
Jason Shiga couldn't get a table, but that didn't stop him from flying out from California and setting up on the sidewalk outside the con. The humidity in new York that weekend was unreal, I felt genuinely sorry for him sitting out there all day in that heat. But he was probably the only guy who was lovin' it when someone pulled the fire alarm and the whole con was evacuated... directly in front of his set-up.
Speaking of which, the MoCCA staff were great. When everyone was sweltering out on the sidewalk, waiting for the firemen called in to give an all-clear, they actually handed out free bottles of cold water to the crowd. See, that is some thoughtful shit right there.
Lynda Barry, Art Speigelman, Ryan North, Neil Swaab and Evan Dorkin were there, and we got to talk a little. I am still all starstruck around these people. It's kind of crazy to meet some of the cartoonists that got me back into comics after I stopped reading Excalibur in the 90s. (Shut up, Nightcrawler was rad.)
The con was held in the Puck Building, and from there it's a short walk to New York's Chinatown and really good, really affordable after-con dinners. A lot of the attending organizations and groups held parties, too, although I usually wound up leaving those with a few other people before too long to find a quieter place where we could talk. I got my raspy, scratchy, two-pack-a-day con-voice earlier than ever before.
The con was so good even my train home being seven-and-a-half hours late didn't ruin my mood.
If you have the time and the inclination, go.
More comics later!
Posted by Spike at June 21, 2008 09:19 PM
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