Epic FailSomeone tweeted about this and I thought it was simply Made of Win. Yes, I’m talking about the TIKI DALEK. In this creation two completely disparate things have been brought together to create poetry in motion. The materials fit the structure so perfectly that one could believe Daleks were MEANT to be made out of cane, coconuts and raffia.
I went to Caption Comics Convention at the weekend, which is based in the city I live, Oxford. Considering I’ve been here for the past 7 years I should probably have attended it before now, especially since last years theme was ‘Away with the Fairies’ of all things. I love faeries! And I missed it! But in my defense I’ve never seen it advertised anywhere locally.
But this year I made it and it’s totally unlike any other comics convention. I mean, at most of them the exhibitors rent their table and sit behind it all day gradually getting a numb-bum. Not so here. Comics are checked-in at the beginning to be sold at a big table by the organisers and then everyone is free to enjoy the show, fans and creators alike. It’s much more of a social, rather than commercial, place. It’s about meeting new people and sharing art. Boy, do I know a lot more people in the UK comics community now!
I went to the UK Web & Mini Comix Thing this Saturday (March 27th). I visited it last year and it was a lot of fun but this is the first time I have exhibited a comic anywhere. It was quieter this year (I suspect because of the constant rain) but traffic picked up around lunch-time and there was a steady flow of people thereafter. Quite a lot of my online friends turned up and said hi, amongst them prestwick creator of Hard Graft and fellow member of the Webcomic Planet Collective. It was great to meeting people in the real world.
There were also a lot of people who read Epic Fail online, which suprised me, because my UK readership is comparatively small. Still I guess a lot of my readers are comics lovers and just the sort of person who would go to a comics convention! So many thanks to all the readers who came and visited my table, it was extremely gratifying. At only one year old Epic Fail is doing extremely well and that’s down to you guys.
Everyone was extremely complimentary about Epic Fail and my artwork in general (I was selling prints and hand-made jewelry as well as the comics). The comic book is very beautifully printed and has a gloss effect which made it the shiniest comic at the Thing! Several people asked me where I got it printed and it was from Pulse Print.
Now I hate travelling in London, but thankfully JJ (aka Martin in real-life) was there to guide me through the Underground and helped me at my table throughout the day. I shared my table with Rob Cureton of Orful Comics who is an awesome guy and had cake which he used to spell out the name of his comic. Later these started to get eaten which lead them turning into ‘U ROLO SCUM!’ I couldn’t get away from my table much to meet the other exhibitors, so I made my flyers into paper aeroplanes and delivered them to everyone within range.
Overall a really fun day and I hope to be back next year.
Waiting for the Coach on my way home a lady asked my why I was wearing the pointed ears and face paint. I said I had been to my first ever Comics Convention and wanted to stand out. She told me I was very brave and she didn’t know how anyone could stand in front of a whole bunch of people and tell jokes like that.
Next weekend, Saturday the 27th of March, Epic Fail will be exhibiting at the UK web & mini Comix Thing 2010. You’ll be able to get your hands on copies of Epic Fail #1 so hot of the press they’re on fire! I also hope to be selling my mini-comic Breakfast Surreal, a collection of random and hopefully amusing cartoons by yours truely. Aside from that there will be hand-made jewelry and original artwork!
I will be sharing table 26 with Rob Cureton of Orful Comics and appearing on a discussion panel on ‘Latest Technology and Webcomics’ at 11am (on the stage area at the back of the hall). I’ve also contributed 2 pages to the Thing’s Anthology the theme of which is ‘Dinosaurs.’ What will Clodin and Amuletts get up too?
It would be wonderful not to mention suprising if someone who actually read my comic turned up! This is a really fun convention with lots of talented artists plus me. So if you’re free on the 27th come along. Hell, if you’re not free cancel your plans and come along anyway! It’s totally worth it.
And right after the con I’ll be back to updating. Huzzah!
On the 27th of March this year I will be taking Epic Fail to The UK web & mini Comix Thing. It will be my first time as an exhibitor so I am both excited and nervous. And, of course, if I’m going to show at a Comics Convention I will need some comics! That’s where you can help out. By pre-ordering your copy now, in advance, it will help pay for the printing costs. In addition to the 32-page full-colour comic book everyone who pre-orders will also get a unique, signed sketch, free, as a thank you. If I raise enough to make buttons, etc. I’ll be throwing them in as well!
I’m working on improving the pages for print – shading them all, fixing spelling mistakes, continuity errors and generally making them pretty. Oh! And I have to make a cover, a proper cover, not just a bit of interior artwork stuck on the front! There will be 30 pages of story and 2 of bonus content. I’m hoping they’ll be off to the printers sometime in February.
Come along loyal readers – Epic Fail needs you! Pre-Order your copy today! (please?)
The Thing is a web & mini comics convention that happens every year in the UK – and it’s on tomorrow, Saturday the 28th of March at 10am – 5pm in London.
You are going right? This will be my first ever comics convention and I’m really excited!
I know a few of the people attending from online but nothing beats meeting someone face-to-face. I haven’t got a booth – to be honest I wouldn’t know what to do with one – so I’ll be the person floating around with a sketchbook randomly molesting artists. To make myself recognisable to anyone specifically seeking me out I will be wearing fairy wings. Got that? Yes, it’s random and not related to Epic Fail in the least, but they are really easy to spot! So no excuses for not saying hello!
I’m going to set up twitter on my phone and send updates of what I’m doing throughout the day. I’m hoping to have lots of fun!