To Con or Not to Con?

[Lew Stringer]

But yeah, conventions aren't about comics any more, they're about the character properties that the media bandwagons can make them into.

Hence my previous assertation. Let's not call them comic conventions anymore, because they are plainly not and haven't been since the late nineties, when the comic industry decided to eat itself.
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A few of us have pointed out several times on this thread that there are many comic cons up and down the country that are not multimedia events, and are all about the comics, but if you're not prepared to believe the evidence and experiences we're offering there's no point in wasting any more time on it.

[johnfreeman96]

... conventions aren't about comics any more, they're about the character properties that the media bandwagons can make them into.

Hence my previous assertation. Let's not call them comic conventions anymore, because they are plainly not and haven't been since the late nineties, when the comic industry decided to eat itself.

I miss walking around a convention amd being gutted that I didn't have enough money to buy all the cool stuff I wanted. All the UK comic stuff I wanted.

Once again, scroll up and you'll see several people have posted links to events that are all about comics. No one is disagreeing that some events are indeed incorrectly called "Comic Cons", but that doesn't apply to every event.

I'm glad you're at least going to ICE, which is one of the comic-oriented events myself, Marc Jackson or Lew Stringer have suggested. I hope you enjoy yourself.

Perhaps you'll even decloak and identify yourself to Lew at ICE. Which would be nice.

[Lew Stringer]

Its been bemoaned that if some comics creators stopped messing about with comic cons and put their all into 'storming new ground' in the UK comics industry, we could again see comics on the UK news stands.

On reflection, I would say that sometimes you have to take things where you can get them. Comics are still being produced across a fantastic spectrum in the UK, from straight-from-the-heart kitchen-sink slice-of-life autobiogs, to political agitation, to otherworldly superhero celestial wars and far more besides. Some get better exposure than others, but that's always be the case anyway.

Plus with the net, you now have far better access to a far wider range of material than ever before from all across the world, the UK is but a proverbial drop in the ocean, though if British material remains your thing, there's still more new stuff there than you could probably read in a life time.

I think what many of us are really trying to hold onto is not so much the exciting and unique storytelling offered by some comics, but rather the cozy glow we got as children when the world was seemingly more simple and less threatening place, and tragedy and mortality seemed abstract to the point of inconsequence.

The British news stand was once such place where there seemed - perhaps even more in hindsight- to be a sort of Mr Benn/Aladdin's Cave atmosphere with its spinner racks or display stands, and many other bygone confections.

Those days may be gone, but there a plenty of great people you can reminisce with at cons, or just on forums or blogs such as these, if it takes your fancy. In many ways, we have it too good (First World Problems, after all), and the overload of the social media age makes things almost too accessible, to the point where it can all seem like overload and white noise, our options for entertainment (not just comics but movies, TV, Netflix, music, You Tube) so far-reaching, so limitless than we just want to retreat to when just about any kind casual entertainment seemed a real treat.

The truth is, comics, TV and whatever weren't 'better' in the 'good old days', just different, because we were different also- more optimistic, wide-eyed, impressionable, naive, dependent - all of the good and bad that comes from being a child. Vintage comics are wonderful gateway back to that world, and cons are a great way to share in that enthusiasm, as well as to explore new possibilities for the medium. If it takes over you whole life, that can be a problem for some, for others, not so much. I recall Zammo's 'I thought I could handle it...!' Well, maybe it wasn't Zammo, but...

In regard to cons specifically, especially the large ones, I think their rising popularity with some and waning appeal to others can be attributed mainly to three things: the exploding presence of ancillary merchandise; the ubiquity of cos players hogging all the attention (a fun gawp for some; for others, pained over-proximity to apparent male narcissists / confused and frustrated arousal amidst the increasingly more scantily-clad yet supposedly proportionally more unapproachable females); and the (to some) overpriced opportunities to meet TV and movie celebs. But let's face it, the latter do need to make a living, and the acting income from average career of most of them aren't going to pay the rent forever.

What can I say, cons have never been for everyone, nor will ever be- but if you go with a good heart and a spring in your step, you'll meet plenty of others with the same disposition. You'll meet plenty of pains in the neck also, but these shows aren't generally meant to be monasteries. Not any more, at least!

I'd be interested to hear if others here have their own take on the purported modern commericalization of the 'themes' of comics in the UK, at the possible expense of the medium itself?

Forgive me for quoting Michael's opening comments in full but I think we became distracted from the points he was making so perhaps this will bring things on track.

I've been attending conventions since 1979, Michael, and love 'em. I briefly met Steranko at the first one I went to, which was a great way to start!

You're right that the social aspect of conventions is a big plus. I've met people at cons who have become very good friends of mine over the years. As with any social group there are a few bad apples but you tend to find out who they are quickly. The large majority are sound, and of course it's always good to mix with people with a shared interest.

Meeting comic creators was the big attraction at cons, and now I'm happy to be on the other side as it were, meeting enthusiastic readers, from those who read my strips in the 1980s to young kids buying The Beano today. Plus there are always fellow guests at cons who are new acquaintances. Sitting next to current Spider-Man writer Dan Slott for the weekend at the Cardiff con was one highlight this year. He was good company.

It's also great to see all the new UK indie comics on sale, and the breadth of creative talent around. Too many comics to support every one, and the appeal of each one is down to personal taste, but it's good to see people getting their comics out there, getting feedback, and developing their work. That's how a lot of us started.

As for your question about commercialisation, the large multimedia shows can be just as rewarding as the smaller, comics-focused ones. I've met people at the multimedia shows who wouldn't normally attend a comics only event, but stop by my table because they've become intrigued when they notice I'm a Beano artist, or that I drew comics they read as children.

I think it's good to have the balance and choice we have these days: big, multimedia cons, and still many smaller comics-focused events too. My only concern is that there are so many cons now, at least one every weekend so many of them clash, that it'll reach saturation point and the smaller comics-dedicated ones might lose out if exhibitors favour the larger events.

[johnfreeman96]

As for your question about commercialisation, the large multimedia shows can be just as rewarding as the smaller, comics-focused ones. I've met people at the multimedia shows who wouldn't normally attend a comics only event, but stop by my table because they've become intrigued when they notice I'm a Beano artist, or that I drew comics they read as children.

I think it's good to have the balance and choice we have these days: big, multimedia cons, and still many smaller comics-focused events too. My only concern is that there are so many cons now, at least one every weekend so many of them clash, that it'll reach saturation point and the smaller comics-dedicated ones might lose out if exhibitors favour the larger events.

Some good points, Lew - I know several comic creators (and indie publishers) who will have a stand at the "media" events because it puts their line in front of a larger audience. I'm not sure if TimeBomb Comics Steve Tanner is on this forum, but he's told me in the past that MCM has helped boost awareness of the books he puts out. There is of course a danger that you'll get "drowned out" at larger events, but it was clearly a risk he was happy to take.

The first Lakes International Comic Art Festival (www.comicartfestival.com) was interesting because, talking to the many people who had never been to anything like it before, I think for the main they were pleasantly surprised to discover just how many comics were "out there" and, with the greatest of respect to yourself and other creators who work on them, its wasn't just about The Beano, Batman or Spider-Man.


As for the number of events - yep, it's getting pretty crowded, isn't it? But in the main the smaller events are likely to appeal to a local audience, and they won't be aware of any competing comic activities on the same weekend. I think the major problem we had for Lancaster Comics Day this year, for example, was that the weather was the best of the year so far and folk headed out to the countryside or Morecambe for the day rather than be indoors. But the Library, where the event was held, were really pleased and it raised a huge amount of money for new equipment thanks to people coming along to see your good self, Andy Diggle, Tim Quinn, Sean Phillips and many more. So thank you.