2010 Emerald City Comic Con
I haven't been to Seattle's Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC) for several years. What drew me last weekend was the chance for my daughter to meet her idol Leonard Nimoy (NSFW) and secure his autograph. I've never been to the big San Diego show, but Saturday at Emerald City felt like a mini version of what I imagine Comic-Con International is like. As we stood in line to purchase Nimoy's autograph Stan Lee suddenly appeared and the two entertainment icons exchanged greetings for a brief moment before Nimoy returned to his signing duties. A star-studded moment!
Maybe my comix predilection dominates my perception, but it seems to me ECCC was 90% (or more) mainstream comics and their offspring. I was happy to see comix publishers like Fantagraphics and Top Shelf Productions there. I spent most of my time at their tables and searching out the self-publishers, who were just a small part of things.
Michael D. Hall was there selling an 80-page book called Mux Adapter for $6 a copy. I believe Michael said it was kind of a prologue to his new series Sweet Time. Anyway, Sweet Time is a cosmic five-issue series featuring characters named Reum and Fehus. If you enjoy spaced-out science fiction comix check out Michael's MySpace page for Capstan Media for info on Sweet Time and his other comix. Or send email to Michael D. Hall.
Wade Busby was on hand with copies of his series Mr. Emergency. Set in an alternate/slightly futuristic realm where corporations rule and hostile takeovers always involve military action, the series bears no resemblance to today's reality. Mr. Emergency is a jack-of-all-trades mercenary-for-hire who bumbles his way through contract employment. I picked up issue #3. which Wade published early in 2009 and a new mini comic called Minky. Mr. Emergency #3 features a cover by Scott McClung and back cover by Terry Pavlet. The interior story is co-plotted by Wade with Ron McCain, penciled by Wade with inks by Allen Freeman. Wade has referred to himself as "Chat Post Monkey" (aka Chat Transcript Manager) at Dime Store Productions. The title inspired Liz Ortiz and Shawnti Therrien to present him with a stuffed animal, who has then dubbed Minky (Inspector Clouseau's version of "monkey"). Minky #1 is an all-ages, 20-page mini comic by Wade, that goes for $1 a copy. Contact Wade at Archetype Media to order copies of Minky and Mr. Emergency.
Indigo Kelleigh, who draws the webcomic Ellie Connelly has published a 20-page preview of the Eye of the Vortex adventure currently in progress. The preview book's pages are packed with panels, making it a good value at $3 a copy. It's a great way to read the opening segments of the adventure. You can read it online in full color at Ellie Connelly or buy the sampler and other Kelleigh creations at his Lunar Bistro store.
I don't believe Reid Psaltis was tabling at ECCC but someone, who was away from their post when I was making the rounds, had copies of The Malaise Trap for sale. The 8-page comic by Reid and Jack Bracken is also part of the second issue of The Matter.
Finally, several members of the Cloudscape Comic Collective were in attendance with their new anthology Exploded View. I chatted with one of its editors, Jeffrey Ellis, who contributed a 15-page story called Breakdowns to the 236-page, perfect bound book. I was happy to read on the collective's website that they sold out their stock for the show. But no worries, you can order the $10.95 volume from the Cloudscape Comics shop or if you live in the Pacific NW, at the Stumptown Comics Fest this April.
