s I’ve said many times before, the irony of blogging is that if you’re doing something worth blogging about, you don’t have time to blog. Kyle Cassidy gets around this essential truth somehow—probably with wizardry—but I remained shackled to it. Things have been awesome to bursting, and I haven’t had the time to say so.
Two weeks ago or so, JR and I spent a weekend being nuts. The total of events was, if I remember correctly, do a frightening number of panels at PhilCon, host the Phildelphia Sketch Club’s 150th steampunk-themed Anniversary Gala (as well as arrange vendors of steampunk gear for the party), celebrate two birthdays, and spend some quality time with Laura Burns, Tee Morris and Pip Ballantine, all visiting from out of town. Did I mention this was right after I had all four wisdom teeth removed? Because it was.
Luckily, with the help of our good friends Steve Walke, Holly Johnson, Liza James, and Bunny Greene, it all went off without a hitch. Further evidence that I have the coolest friends in the universe.
Philcon was a mixed bag. It is every year, but JR has zeroed in on the problems better than I ever could. I won’t deny that Philcon this year was not what it has been in the past, but there was some great moments. My steampunk panel with Steve, Jeff Mach, Victoria Janssen and Bernie Mojzes contained some of the most articulate, intelligent conversations about the genre I’ve had…ever, I think. And the “Breaking Into Comics†panel yielded this conversation with industry veteran Tony DiGerolamo:
“You can’t get a graphic novel deal without credits,†Tony said, addressing the realities of working in the industry.
“I did,†I said.
“You did,†Tony said, a little confused. But then, a smile lit up on his face. “But did your artist have credits?â€
“Not really. The book he was working on hadn’t come out yet.†I could see the look of utter bafflement on his face. How could anyone get a graphic novel deal without industry credits? “It’s a very good story,†I said.
“It must be,†Tony said.
There you go. You can get a book deal without previous industry credits. You just have to have a very good story.
If nothing else, it’s quite clear that the comics industry is changing, just like it always has, and I don’t imagine it will ever stop. I’m sure at some point in the future, I will be utterly baffled about how some youngster got a book deal. Hopefully, she will be less smug about it than I was.
Saturday was spent wandering from panel to panel to panel, and getting lost on the way to lunch. We went the wrong way looking for the Silver Diner, but ended up a barbeque joint and lunch was had just the same. On the plus side, I was riding with Tee, so I got a have a nice long chat with a man I don’t see near enough. On, the other, due to NJ’s fear of left turns, it took awhile before we actually got to eat.
The Sketch Club Gala was a fantastic event, thanks to the help of…everyone I thanked already. Bunny and Liza brought their fantastic wares, Holly got us in contact with her fantastic friend Andrea, of Custom Adornments. Steve helped me set up and fantastically charmed the crowd. Laura looked amazing in her fantastic corset. And JR was, well, fantastic. The evening drove home how uttery lost I would be without her; she really pulled everything together while I fretted and made a hat.
Though, too be fair, it is a fantastic hat:
That’s me, as (natch) Professor Fantastick, in my Time Topper. Next to me is JR, being hilarious as Dr. Snodgrass, skeptic.
The weekend ended with one more tour around the dealer’s room, and picking up boxed set of The Arrival, by Shaun Tan, which included his design sketches and notes. It’s a fantastic piece, a steal at twice the price I got it for. Lunch at the Silver Diner was finally had, with Laura and our good pals Kate and Ben. Then JR, Laura joined even more good pals at Russell Collin’s birthday party (did I mention is was Laura’s birthday on Friday? Because it was) where we watched DOCTOR WHO and ate delicious cake. Russell and Jenn can always be counted on for delicious cake. They’re good pals that way.
It was a weekend of good pals. Good pals and silly outfits and serious discussions about fantasies. Which is a fine way to spend a weekend.
