Knowing that this cultural exile is somewhat self-imposed, I’m trying to make more of an effort to not let myself miss out on the things that make this life worthwhile.

On Friday night, I took it upon myself to break out of my malaise and travel to Philly to check out the Devil’s Carnival.

If you’ve not heard of the Devil’s Carnival, it’s a 55 minute film from the creators of Repo: The Genetic Opera that’s currently making its way across the country on a 31 city tour, playing in art houses and small theaters.

I first learned of the DC from an article on Ain’t It Cool News, but then soon started seeing mention of it pop up in various friends and acquaintances’ facebook/twitter feeds.

Accompanying the film, are the creators Daren Bousman and Terrance Zdunich along with a small troupe of burlesque/cosplay/sideshow performers lending to the hellish circus atmosphere.

Anyone who knows me or follows me on twitter, knows that I am something of a film obsessive, so the prospect of seeing a film under these circumstances was pretty much an easy sell.

For the most part, the experience was fantastic.

The film is a wonderfully bizarre mix of morality tale, horror movie and Broadway musical.

In short, its tailor made to attain its cult status, but I found that despite being a well-aimed arrow directed at its target audience, it was also a very well-crafted arrow.

Unfortunately, the Philly show was plagued by technical difficulties and this did make the viewing experience less than ideal. It was watchable, but I definitely look forward to seeing this one again on my own system.

Despite the problematic viewing, I think it was an easy film to get lost in. The music really does most of the work, and while not every song is a break out winner, there’s easily four standouts which made the soundtrack a must buy.

The best of which is no doubt, In All My Dreams I Drown.

Others, such as the haunting Grief, and zydrate-like Grace for Sale, will appeal to those who know the Repo soundtrack by heart, and in some ways remind me of Elfman’s Nightmare Before Christmas work.

In the Q&A afterwards, we learned that the film is the first “episode” in what the creators hope is a trilogy, with the future episodes dependent upon the success of this first film and sales of the soundtrack.

I for one hope we get to see more of the Devil’s Carnival, so if you have the chance I encourage you to check it out. Even if this might not on the surface seem like your “kind of thing” at the very least it’s an experience that one rarely has the opportunity to witness in these days of home video and multiplex movies and is worth seeking out.

When I was approached with the spec for this project I immediately knew what I wanted to do. The novel features some classic noir elements in addition to the more modern paranormal romance aspects so I thought it would be fun to kind of pull those elements together in a classic Hollywood style film poster.

Normally, I only provide the cover illustration but for this piece I was also asked to do the copy and layout for the cover, so I was able to really execute the idea from start to finish.

I’m really happy with the way this one turned out. I think the poses and color splashes pay homage to the vintage look I was going for while still retaining a fresh modern appeal.

In honor of this master painter’s birthday, I thought it would be appropriate to explore a couple of his images which have captivated me and set me on my current path.

The Magic Circle (1886)

The Magic Circle is an image that I conceptually loved from the moment I first saw it. It’s impossible to view this image and not hear Black Sabbath’s Lady Evil (from Heaven and Hell 1980) ringing in my ears.

The wealth of symbolism contained within this frame is just amazing and it’s these details which fill your imagination and pull you in. Look closely and you’ll see a cave sheltered beneath the ruins of an ancient city, a raven perched upon a forgotten skull, what look to be ancient warriors depicted on the material of her dress and the ultimate accessory, a snake for a necklace!

Now at first blush, the painting may seem a little flat, but I suspect this has a lot to do with the reproduction. I confess it wasn’t until I saw the actual painting during my trip to London that it became one of my favorites. The images you’re likely to see online really cast the blue of her dress in more of a gray hue, which is unfortunate because it really pulls you in when viewing the actual painting.

I also find this painting a little unique among Waterhouse’s images because of his choice of model. She isn’t the typical Waterhouse girl we see in so many of his other works, but rather, she appears to be kind of harsh and unattractive. Perhaps this is the result of her diabolical dealings?

There’s a place just south of Witches’ Valley
Where they say the wind don’t blow
And they only speak in whispers of her name…

(Songwriters: RONNIE JAMES DIO, TERENCE BUTLER, ANTHONY IOMMI, WILLIAM WARD)

Hylas and the Nymphs (1896)

One of Waterhouse’s most famous works, perhaps second only to The Lady of Shallot (1888), Hylas has long fascinated me with those enchanting nymphs. I’ve spent countless hours trying to determine if he employed more than one model. I believe there are two distinct faces among the mythological creatures, but I’m never sure. (And yes, I suppose I could look it up, but where’s the fun in that?)

What is so striking about this painting is the luminescent glow of the nymphs skin against that dark turgid water. It’s as if they are simply formed of pure magic, radiating a life energy that poor Hylas would never be able to resist.

It’s this kind of subtle magical realism of which I’ve often been accused of in my own work and something I’m quite fond of. One look at this scene and you can’t help but be carried away to another time and place. While in essence a figure study, Hylas and the Nymphs, transcends simple form and awakens a deeper longing for an idealistic age.

For further reading about John William Waterhouse, I recommend J.W. Waterhouse by Peter Trippi, and a visit to http://www.jwwaterhouse.com/

Model: Sarah H. 

Being my first time at this show, I wasn’t really sure what to expect but I came away with a pretty positive reaction. The show seemed well attended on Saturday and things ran pretty smothly all weekend.

There were three personal highlights for me.

First, I was sought out to participate in an art jam that was being created for someone who couldn’t attend the show. The gentleman who approached me on this was commissioning this piece for his friend who lived in Australia. He told me that his friend had provided him with a list of attending artists who he wanted to be included and I was on the list. The focus of the work was the old character Omaha the Cat Dancer, which I was only vaugely familiar with. With included references though, I think I was able to add a decent contribution. Maybe anthro-art is my missed calling?

Second, a fan attending the show brought copies of all five Twilight Crusade comics for me to sign the covers. I was pretty sure no one had ever heard of those, let alone know I provided the cover art. It was a nice surprise.

Lastly, a woman bought a print for one of her co-workers who couldn’t attend the show. When she called her to let her know, it turns out her friend, Judy, was a fan and owned a copy of the Archeon Tarot. I was then asked if I would say hi to her on the phone, so of course I was happy to chat with her for a few minutes. That was definitely a show first.

The rest of time was spent meeting new people and hanging out with friends. As always it was great to hang out with Eric Adams, Byron Winton, Jay Fife, Terry Huddleston and Lydia Burris. Special thanks to Chris for being my show lackey on this trip, even though he did refuse to wear the booth babe outfit

Mid-Ohio was the last stop on what was a very busy 2011 tour schedule. Now it’s time to bunker down for the winter and get to work on new things to show off next year. I anticipate I’ll be doing fewer shows in 2012, but wherever I end up, I look forward to seeing you there!

-Timothy

I’ll be on hand both days, set up in artist alley at table # 940.

I’ll have plenty of prints, books, CDs, postcards and tarot for sale, and even some new pieces, including some sneak peeks at recently finished work that hasn’t been posted anywhere yet.

As this will be my last show for a while, I’m really looking forward to getting to see all my fellow artists, old friends and new faces.

If you’re in the area, I hope to see you there!

-Timothy

For the most part, I just assumed this was a case of me being old and seeing a remake of a favorite film that I first saw when I was in high school was making me be overly critical. However, the more I tried to narrow down why I felt the original was better I kept coming back to one key difference which is really disturbing.

If you’ve not seen either film, the plot basically revolves around a typical teenage boy who discovers that a vampire has moved in next door. It’s a little like a hip version of Hitchcock’s Rear Window.

In the original, the main character of Charley Brewster, played by William Ragsdale, is a sympathetic geek child of the 80’s. He is passionate about his fandoms, spends his nights watching old B&W horror movies on a late night TV show called Fright Night, which is hosted by a former star of these films, Peter Vincent, played by the awesome Roddy McDowell.

This version of Charley is loyal to his friends and a good kid, who just happens to love the old school horror films like the Universal Monster series or many of the selections from Hammer Films. It’s because of his interest in these old films though, that when he tells people there’s a real monster living next door, no one believes him.

In the new film, Charley, as played by Anton Yelchin, is kind of a douche. He’s the kind of person who gives up his friends and his interests, all to get a hot girlfriend. Now, I’m all for having a hot girlfriend, but what we’re really being sold here is the idea that women will only be interested in you if you’re a shallow idiot, and anything that isn’t partying “Dude”-like behavior is somehow childish and should be abandoned if you want to “grow up.”

Now this isn’t a new message by any means, there’s a long history of the media promoting the idea that in order to become an adult it’s time to put away the toys, get a job. Live. Work. Die.

What is surprising is that this antiquated thinking would be at the heart of a movie targeted to an audience who has spent the last decade basically proving this old notion wrong every day for the last decade.

At one point in the new film, they try to give us a moment where Charley revisits his past and maybe feels some regret about giving up on his friends, but ultimately that just re-enforces how much I dislike him. It’s made even worse at the end when the hot girlfriend confesses that she knew all along he used to be a geek and that it’s what made him different and why she finds him attractive. It’s almost patronizing. She may has well have said, “you were so cute when you were a kid, but I’m glad you don’t read comics anymore.”

It’s been mentioned by many and in much better ways than I can articulate, that we are currently living in the age of the geek. It’s finally ok to be interested and passionate about fandoms. Superheroes and sci-fi rule the box office and have become a staple of television.  Being told to pack away your toys these days sounds like an old man yelling at you to turn the music down. Perhaps “if it’s too loud, you’re too old” should now be “if you’re still hiding your Boba Fett action figure in a box in your mom’s basement, you’re too old.”

The original Charley stands as one of the great classic inspirational characters which helped bring about this cultural revolution we’re experiencing today. He was just like us, a kid who loved monster movies and through him, we could see ourselves up there on the screen.

The new Charley is not one of us.

-Timothy

Gone, Gone O' Form of Man

I may try to make this a weekly feature, if time allows.

Like everyone, I had always planned on getting back in shape, eating better and exercising, but ultimately fell short. I have managed to keep off the weight I lost a few years ago, but old habits and lethargy were once again settling in and I could see the downward slope from the crest of the hill.

It was time to act.

If there was one form of exercise that I ever really could say I honestly enjoyed, it was riding my bike. As a kid, and on through my teenage years, I lived to ride. Hell, it was nothing to ride my bike twenty miles, just to see an afternoon movie. Of course, a driver’s license put an end to that.

About ten years ago, I did have the idea to start riding again and bought a bike. But the neighborhood being what it was, and life happening around me, I never really got started and the bike ended up in storage pretty much unused.

This all changed about two months ago.

At the end of May, I retrieved the bike from storage and had it serviced. The next day I started riding. Now, without any real exercise on my part for the better part of two years, I needed to ease back into it. My last great attempt at getting in shape was taking up running and I followed the couch to 5K plan, which seemed like a good way to acclimate yourself to anything if you followed a similar structure.

So, I began my own “training” plan, setting distance goals and upping the distance each week until I reached my goal.

At first, I began with just a two mile ride, down the road and back. Living on something of a hill, this was harder than it seemed, but after riding it every day for the better part of two weeks, I managed to first do it without stopping in the middle, and then improve my time with each ride.

Now, my bike isn’t really a road bike, more of a hybrid with mountain bike tires, and I’ve never been comfortable sharing the road with motorized vehicles to begin with, so I figured it was time to take it off road. This turned out to be the best decision ever.

Not far from my house is the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, so I threw my bike in the back of my car and drove over there to check it out. It’s a nice ten mile stretch between Shippensburg and Newville, and a perfect place to ride with some great scenery and gentle variations in elevation. Exactly the kind of track I was looking for.

I quickly began adding to my daily distances, 4, 6, 8 and now 10 mile rides. I’ve been averaging about 4 days a week, and in about a month and a half, I passed the 100 mile mark.

Since, my progress has kind of reached a high point. The week before I left for vacation a rode 43 miles in four days, and seem to be on target for reaching my next goal of averaging 50 miles per week.

There’s just one problem. I’ve outgrown my bike. When I bought this bike all those years ago, I had no idea what I was doing. It’s simply too small for someone of my size, and now that I’m starting to ride longer distances, it’s really beginning to hold me back. Add to this all of the innovations of the last decade and it’s clear that it’s time to upgrade, so I’ve started shopping around, with an eye to buy in the next week or two.

Now, as I’ve been riding there have been a few things which have absolutely contributed to my rediscovering a love for cycling.

Chief among these is my iPhone and the Cyclemeter app. I don’t know what I expected when I got my iPhone, having had a Blackberry prior, I just assumed it would be similar, but wow has it really changed how I do a lot of things. Cyclemeter is just awesome; it tracks routes, times, keeps records of your rides, and integrates with social media sites. Hands down, if you are even thinking of riding, you should get this app.

Now, of course having an iPhone with you on your ride can be a little unwieldy, so the next thing I needed was a way to mount the phone on the bike. I looked at lot of solutions for this, but ultimately settled on thinkBIOLOGIC’s bike mount for iPhone 4. I really liked the fact that its waterproof, having read many reviews of other mounts where people got caught in the rain and their phone was ruined, and it seemed to have a good shock resistant case that would protect it if it fell. It can be a little hard to see the screen though in bright sunlight, especially if you are wearing sunglasses and have a screen protector on your phone, but I feel the other tradeoffs are worth this little inconvenience.

Lastly, it occurred to me after about a month that my iPhone was also an iPod, and hey, I can listen to music when I ride. Having wired headphones plugged into the phone mounted on the handlebars was ridiculous however, so another solution was needed. To address this, I ended up buying Plantronics BackBeat 906 stereo Bluetooth headphones. These work great, initially I had some trouble making them work when I was carrying the phone in a belt clip holster on my ride, but once I started mounting the phone in the thinkBIOLOGIC case the performance has been flawless. (I think it was the magnet in the belt clip that was causing my phone to go into sleep mode if the phone was shaken too much.)

Now, would I have been as motivated to stick with it without these accessories? Maybe, but having the Cyclemeter data has been invaluable. I think everyone at heart likes to see improvement or have some tangible record of their efforts and this app has really motivated me to keep going.

In other news, I just returned from a week’s vacation in Jamaica.

Having waited until the last minute to make travel plans, we decided to forego our usual urban exploration type of getaway and just spend a few days relaxing in the sun on a beach somewhere. Earlier this year, I had listened to the audiobook of Ian Flemming’s Dr. No, and I guess that implanted the seed that we should go to Jamaica.

Turned out to be a fantastic idea, and I think it’s definitely a place I’d like to visit again. Perfect weather, perfect water and some of the nicest people I’ve ever encountered really made for a fantastic trip.

Now, I know this is not the usual content you’re probably expecting to see on this site, so for those who’ve managed to stick with me this long, here’s an update on what I’m currently working on.

Presently, I’m finishing up a couple of cover projects and starting the illustration for the sequel to Hard Spell.

I’m also pulling together stuff for the Chicago Comicon and the rest of my convention stops this fall. Hopefully, I’ll have a few things which I haven’t previously offered at these shows so stay tuned.

Lastly, because I’ve had a few inquiries, I’ve been exploring options for bringing my print store back online, and hope to have some things available on the website by the end of summer.

-Timothy

It was my first time back in Philly after having missed the previous two years due to scheduling conflicts and I was excited to return to what had always been a really good show for me.

By all accounts I had a good time. I shared the travel with my good friend and fellow artist Byron Winton and it was great having someone to converse with all weekend.

There seemed to be a good amount of attendance, at least on Saturday and early on Sunday. Friday was a typical show Friday, with light crowds moving toward moderate traffic as people filed in after work.

I also managed to spend some money on things for myself this time around, which is something I haven’t done much of in the past few years. I picked up a bunch of DVDs from Brian, who I hadn’t seen in a while, and also all five volumes of the DC Archives Doom Patrol.

Still, with all of the positives of the weekend, I just can’t shake the feeling that this show was something of a letdown.

Now, to be honest, this feeling has been growing since the beginning of the year. Philly was my fourth show of 2011, and thus far I’m beginning to see a trend which has me contemplating cancelling my trips to Chicago and Mid-Ohio.

When I started attending the Cons in 2005, there must have been something in the air. Many of the shows were bringing in larger crowds than ever before and not just the die-hard fanboys. There was a real diversity to the people in attendance. No doubt this contributed heavily to the success I was experiencing as my work does tend to skirt the edges somewhat in these shows.

Since about 2009, I think this has started to revert somewhat. The crowds have become smaller, though not always significantly, but noticeably.  There also seem to be fewer people interested in things outside of DC, MARVEL or the major franchises. (Star Wars, etc.)

My sales in Philly and New York seem to reflect this.  For the first time ever, I sold out of prints of Kolchak and HR Puffinstuff, two of my lesser known IP images, while my typical bestselling images have gone over looked.

I’m sure there are many reasons contributing to this decline in diversity among attendees, not the least of which the poor economy of the past few years, but so far 2011 has not shown any indication of this trend reversing anytime soon.

I have always felt welcome at the comic cons, and have made many great friends over the years, but this year I’m starting to feel a little out of place. The solution it seems would be either, start doing some more IP influenced work or find alternative venues. Neither of which, are ideal.

Due to schedule conflicts, I’ve missed the last two Philly shows, so I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend.

I’ll be set up at table 3029, which looks to be in the back of the hall.

I’ll have some new prints, a healthy sample of older work, tarot, comics and more, so stop by and say hello.

Hope to see you there!

-Timothy

The simple cost of attendance is a formidable obstacle to setting up at any show in NYC, especially for artists who travel from out of state.

While I did have something of a break on this, thanks to the fine folks at Wizard, who made this trip possible in the first place, it was still going to be a challenge to turn a profit, or at the very least minimize my expenses.

When I attend a show, I generally prefer to stay in a hotel near the convention location so I can take advantage of any after show hour events which may be going on, whether that be an after party, show scheduled programming or just hanging with friends at the bar.

Two nights in NYC anywhere close to the show was going to run a staggering $800, which is ridiculous. So that meant staying across the river in Jersey. Not a deal breaker, but certainly that does tend to put an additional obstacle in any plans you might want to make.

On top of that, there’s the issue of parking. Now, NYC certainly isn’t the only place where this is an issue, and the cost of parking sucks in pretty much every city, but when you need to transport your show goods into the city, it’s an added expense that’s pretty much unavoidable.

This leads me to the first major disappointment of the show. We were supposed to be able to set up on Friday, so I had planned on doing that. I drove into the city thinking I’d be able to unload and do my set up, then drive my car back to the hotel in Jersey. The plan was that we would then just take the bus in to the city for some fun Friday night and to attend the show on Saturday.

Only, when I arrived at the show location, I couldn’t find anyone from the show staff and the hotel staff eventually told me that I wasn’t going to be able to set up until Saturday morning due to new carpet being installed in the show area.

That meant I had to pay for parking all day Saturday, since I had no other option.

This at first didn’t seem too bad as Wizard had provided us with parking coupons in the pre-show material, but upon closer examination the discount was a joke. Valid after 5pm, as long as you moved your car out of the garage by 5am, you could park for $12. How is that useful? It’s the exact opposite of the show hours when you would actually need to be parked.

For all of that however, I knew this was going to be an expensive venture, so I didn’t really let it sour my trip at all, but it should be noted for anyone else considering setting up at the show.

By far the bigger disappointment was the actual show venue. I don’t think I’ve ever set up in a show so cramped for space and with such low ceilings. It was like being on a submarine, complete with vast sections of poorly lighted floor space. I tried to make the best of my little corner, but it was really gloomy, which made for a depressing atmosphere all weekend.

This clearly affected sales, and not just for me. I saw many people simply pass by artist tables without really seeing what was being offered, especially if there was already someone at the table as the view from the traffic lanes was completely blocked.

It was also really difficult to get a sense of the overall attendance because of the layout. The aisles seemed full the majority of the weekend, but by the end of the day you were seeing many of the same faces for the third or fourth time.

Now, before I give the impression that the show was a total loss, let me tell you about all of the great things that the show had to offer.

First, I really can’t stress just how great the volunteers for this show were. I personally interacted with three who went out of their way to see that I had what I needed and provided me assistance throughout the weekend. They all seemed to bring a really positive attitude to the show and should be applauded for their efforts.

The make or break for any show is always the people in attendance, and here the Big Apple Con really shined. I felt truly engaged and spent a lot of time talking with knowledgeable folks about all aspects of art and the process of creating. I honestly don’t remember the last time I was asked so many insightful questions. I only hope I was able to provide some adequate responses.

Lastly, I need to thank all my neighboring artists for keeping me entertained all weekend. I look forward to seeing all of you at future shows.

I did have one person ask me if I would be back next year, and honestly I just don’t know. I’m inclined to say no simply because there are so many other places I’ve yet to visit, and my sales weren’t quite what I had hoped. Still, I wouldn’t rule it out either.

I think the show does have a lot to offer, and if I could find a way to further reduce my expenses, it would certainly be a welcome addition to my tour schedule.

-Timothy

I’ve been to NYC a few times before, but this will be my first show as a professional illustrator.

I’ll be set up at table number 674, so if you’re in the city stop by and say hello.

I’m bringing a lot of new prints to this show in addition to the tarot and postcard set, so there will be a lot of things to see even if you’ve stopped by my table at a previous show.

The past few years, I’ve gotten a lot of requests from people wanting me to visit NYC, so hopefully I’ll be able to connect with some of you this trip. I don’t think I’ll have an opportunity to do any shoots this weekend, but if enough people express an interest, I’ll come back solely for this purpose.

The best way to make this happen though is to come to the show and talk to me. I respond much better in person than through e-mail

Hope to see you this weekend!
-Timothy

belle variabilis pulchra by Timothy Lantz

I see this as a continuation of the series that began with Dryad, and is the second image to result from my collaboration with the talented and beautiful Roxana Hire.

The name, belle variabilis pulchra, is in Latin and roughly translates as “pretty to beautiful you are constantly changing.” While my Latin skills are poor, I like the flow of the words even if they are not wholly acurate.

-Timothy

That always seems to be the case at this show, and it’s no doubt thanks to all of the great friends I have.

I’m a little on the fence about returning next year, because there’s so many new shows I want to go to, but I did get a sense this show was maybe starting to turn around after a few off years. Hopefully, it will bounce back and regain a little more of what made it special in the past.

I’ll certainly be keeping an eye on it as I plan next year’s schedule.

Thanks to everyone who came out and stopped by the table. I really enjoyed meeting you all and look forward to seeing you at future shows!

-Timothy

There wasn’t much of a comic or art scene in my home town, so it was worth the two plus hour drive just to spend the day surrounded by so many things I was interested in. I’d usually drag along a friend or two, (Bill being the usual suspect) and we’d walk the aisles, searching through all of the old comics, toys and gaming books to find that rare gem or two.

We never went home unhappy, or empty handed, and usually discovered something we didn’t even know existed. (I can, without a doubt, trace my love of asian cinema to all of the wonderful titles I was exposed to at this show.)

The Pittsburgh Comicon has changed a lot over the years, and maybe not always for the better, but I think there’s one thing that still makes Pittsburgh a special show, and that’s the people.

These days it’s easy to find that Acroyer Micronaut figure you always wanted thanks to the internet, and chat rooms, forums and blogs keep us up to date on all things geek, but there’s nothing that can replace the opportunity to hang out with friends or meet the people who’s work you’ve admired.

I know sometimes the emphasis of these shows seems to be all about sell, sell, sell, but really, it’s about celebrating all of the things we love.

My advice is to participate in all of the convention, not just the dealer room. Check out the panels, play some games, or watch some of the films being shown. Who knows? You may even make some new friends.

I know I’ve met a lot of great people over the years, many of whom have become close friends, and that’s the real reason I’m returning again this year.

So, if you’ve never been to a Comicon before, or are on the fence about attending this year, I encourage you to come on out. Make the most of this show and enjoy yourself.

I’ll be hanging out in the small press area all weekend, with a small army of talented people. I hope to see you there!
-Timothy

Waterhouse’s work has been a favorite of mine for a long time and I think you can definitely see his influence in what I’ve tried to accomplish in my own work over the last decade.

Two summers ago, I was vacationing in London. While I was there, I was fortunate enough to see a retrospective gallery show featuring nearly all of this great master’s work. While you can find reproductions of his paintings nearly everywhere, they simply can’t compare to the originals.

I came away from that show energized and it was one of the best experiences of my life.

Below is one of my favorites, The Magic Circle. I had never seen this piece before that show and the jpg doesn’t really do it justice. The blue of her dress is much more vibrant in the original.

-Timothy

Similar to the H.R. Puffnstuff image I recently completed, I opted to go without photo reference and just do it all by hand. Here’s my progress so far.

I hope to have this done in time for the Pittsburgh Comicon in a few weeks.

Once, it’s finished I’ll repost a larger version along with some initial sketches and earlier stage images.

-Timothy

S.P.A.C.E. is a very well run show catering to the indy crowd with a focus on web comics and self published books. I think it’s fair to compare this show to SPX, which I attended a few years ago, but there are some differences.

Looking around the room (and there was a lot of time for that, which I’ll address below) it was plain to see that there are many talented individuals who share a love for comics.

There was quite a bit of diversity in the offerings and projects ranged from highly-produced, slick designed graphic novels to hand-drawn strips run off on a xerox machine. (Does anyone still use the term xerox machine? Did I just date myself again?)

The best aspect of the show, as I saw it, was probably the sense of community present among the exhibitors. Everyone seemed to get along really well and even newcomers, such as myself, were welcomed and shown a degree of interest by those in attendance. In my immediate area, two other artists making their first appearance at S.P.A.C.E. seemed to echo that sentiment, and we we all remarked on the positive atmosphere surrounding the show floor. Unfortunately, it seems this energy just didn’t reach the outside community.

The biggest negative of S.P.A.C.E. was a killer. There didn’t seem to be much in the way of attendance this year and the distinct lack of people made for an awkward show. I was told that the 2010 show had record attendance, but I’m sure that was not the case this year. While I haven’t seen any official numbers, I can tell you that on both days there were stretches of over an hour where the only people who walked down our aisle were wearing exhibitor badges. In fact, Sunday was so poorly attended I packed up and left the show three hours early. This is something I NEVER do, but facing a six hour drive and not having talked to a single patron between 11am and 2pm sealed the deal.

So, was it worth the trip? Yes and no.

While I don’t know if there’s a particular reason why attendance was down this year, I’m not sure that even a good crowd would be enough to get me to return again next year. Two comments I received, one from a friend and one from a total stranger, seem to sum up my appearance at S.P.A.C.E.:

“You’re too polished to be considered indy anymore”
“You are like, famous, what are you doing here?”

While I would argue both of these points as being overly ridiculous, still, there may be a kernel of truth wedged in there. I certainly do not see myself as being famous, but looking at the projects I’ve worked on and my accomplishments over the last five or six years, it’s clear that I’m not as comfortable in this kind of scene as I am in the larger more industry driven shows like Wizard World.

Of course, in those shows, I’m nothing more than the smallest fish in the sea, but it’s at least the right sea. Plus, I’ll admit it. I just love the spectacle of the bigger shows too. So, while I’m there to promote my work, I’m also there to have a good time, and the bigger shows tend to offer more of what interests me.

I am grateful for the opportunity to experience S.P.A.C.E. and seeing all my friends who I missed out on hanging out with last year totally made the trip worthwhile.

I’m also thankful for having the chance to meet a few new people, who I look forward to seeing at other shows in the future, especially Erin Ash and Terence E. Hanley who kept me from going stir crazy all weekend.

See you next month at the Pittsburgh Comicon!

-Timothy