In the beginning there was light, then a lot of history took place, then there were comics!
OK I know technically they're Comic Books and comics are considered
what some people read in the Sunday papers. But in the Industry they are called either comics or just books, rarely both. Such as, did you see the books he picked up, or that was a tight book. Or are you still doing comics, or just
Manga?
The goal here is to record some finer moments in my ramblings, talk about
what's going on in the industry, and when occasion allows, report on shows (Comic Conventions) that I have recently attended.
Only recently have I re-submerged myself into the wonderful world of the Comic Industry after a three year hiatus. Although I did do some dabbling in comics during those three years, mostly behind closed doors, and an ebay name. On my return I was greeted with everything from surprise to indifference, and I felt oddly the same.
My first major realization was that after three years, very few of the faces had changed, everyone just seemed older. The conclusion was that no new blood, at least on the dealers side of the table, had entered the market. My guess is that the idea of packing up ones inventory, traveling and setting up at a show is almost unthinkable to the younger generation. In the same vain as why go out and play tennis, when I can play it at home on my Wii. Although this does
make a lot of sense, it just isn't the same thing.
Comic Books are a very tangible part of history, from the art, stories and even the adverts for Sea Monkeys on the back covers. Collectors seem to like
the aspect of collecting, of touching, or rummaging through tens of thousands of books, and finding the few precious gems that they need to fill in their holes. Whomever decided to number comics in the first place was a genius,
no set can possible be complete unless all the issues are there.
Another aspect of the collecting of comics is the fact that they can and in most cases are usually read. With the collecting of so many other items, there is only the element of completion, but with comics you get the added bonus of reading the books you've been searching for, for oh so long. The wonderful elements of our daring hero, surely at dooms door with no possible way out, fills us with all types of emotions, and a need to see how it all turns out. The inevitable cliff hanger. I like to say that comics started this, but alas as far back as Mark Twain, you had stories told by way of installations. What better way of making sure your readers came back to read the next part than taking your story just so far, and leaving them begging for more.
That's enough for today, I will try and write a new blog every few days as time allows. I had a booth set up at Adventure Con in Knoxville, Tn. last weekend, and will be set up at the, Heroes Aren't Hard to Find Convention, in Charlotte North Carolina this upcoming weekend. June 19th-21st. Hope to see you there!
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AuthorBorn just outside of Manhattan, I started reading comics at the late age of 12, way back in 1978. Six years later I was setting up at shows in the New York Area. Since then I have set up at every Major Comic Convention in the country, and many of the minor ones. I had a small press publishing company in the 1990's, Dark Fantasy Productions, and hope to revive it in film form over the next year or two. Look here for further details! ArchivesCategories |