SPX huddles together for warmth + PHOTOS

THE SPIRIT OF INDIE COMICS as an avid fan struggles to keep a copy of KRAMERS ERGOT upright for reading purposes

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You can read my “official” report on SPX at PW Comics Week, but there were some more rambly thoughts I wanted to share. I think Brian Heater (one of my traveling companions and roommates for the trip) nailed something very important in his writeup:

Remember the old location? It was great, so much closer to downtown. The restaurants were much better—and closer—than those around the North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center. Remember when the show was held on Friday and Saturday, so everyone could play softball and picnic on Sunday?

I don’t. I only began driving down to the Small Press Expo three years ago—not quite enough time, I think, to have developed a glimmering sense of nostalgia for those long gone good old days—you know, when the show actually meant something. Three years, however, is certainly long enough to have fallen in love with SPX, and it’s more than enough time to have designated the early autumn weekend as three of my favorite days of the year.

This is, ironically echoed in the report by ANOTHER one of my travellng companion, Josh Neufeld:

But there were so many ol’ pals missing: Dean Haspiel, Nick Bertozzi, Alex Robinson, Tony Consiglio, David Lasky, Mike Dawson, Chris Radtke, Joan Reilly, Jason Little, Gabrielle Bell, Jon Lewis, and Karen Sneider, just off the top of my head. I guess what with book deals, kids, and of course the continuing allure of MoCCA, the drive down to D.C. is losing its appeal for those folks. (I have to confess I stayed away from SPX the last few years because I didn’t have anything new to hawk until this year.)

However, despite my sadness at missing so many folks, I have to admit that SPX is alive and well! The great funky/DIY/artsy tradition is still very much in evidence, and the comix tribe is rejuvenated with lots of new blood. That included my tablemates this year, fresh-faced 2009 Xeric winners J.T. Yost and Sophia Wiedeman. I was under strict luggage (and economic) constraints, so I only picked up a few things, but everywhere I looked there were young cartoonists offering tempting delights. I couldn’t resist some purchases, of course, and came away with Yost’s Old Man Winter, Wiederman’s The Deformity, Jeffrey Brown‘s Funny Misshapen Body, Liz Baillie‘s My Brain Hurts, Picture Box’s crazy oversize Real Deal #1, and a decrepit Robin T-shirt by fellow SPX returning veteran Tom Galambos.

Between these two opposite yet complimentary views we have some idea of the overall purpose of SPX: as befits the “SMALL” press, it’s a place for creators to emerge, grow, find an audience and, hopefully, evolve, just like the show.

In its 15 years SPX has evolved from the showcase for drawing board warriors like Dave SIm, Jeff Smith, Batton Lash, David Lapham and Colleen Doran, people committed to the comics periodical format and getting their books out on a very regular basis and building a parallel audience to the superhero mainstream. When SPX began, the ascendance of the graphic novel was just an ideal, not something that was expected to occur.

The generation Neufeld is missing is far more indy in its origins — they’re all more Clowes-Warian in their sensibilities and aspirations — and most of them flirted, at least at one point, with the periodical. (Other folks in this generation: Matt Madden and Jessica Abel, Dylan Horrocks, Sam Henderson, Tom Hart, Steven Weissman, Kochalka, Brown, et al.) Aside from getting older and starting families, this generation has become far more established in the publishing world — most of them have had book deals at one points, and — in varying degrees — achieved the dream of being a professional cartoonist. (Reminder: when these folks came to SPX, they used the internet for email and not much else back then.)

SPX (and MoCCA, but I haven’t been to APE or TCAF so I can’t say what the sitch is there) is now the province of the very young and aspirational, and their work is even more personal. As CCS, SVA, MCAD, SCAD, and other art schools turn out class after class of highly competent and well-informed art students, it’s become a bit more of a pageant, in some ways. Young cartoonists get their Xeric, put out a perfect book, spend a season or two as the deb of the year and then…some will go on, some will just become memories in the shoe box.

Technorati Tags: huge massive posts, SPX

And there’s nothing wrong with that. As Neufeld alludes to, recent SPXers take justifiable pride in their craft and their community. Several conversations I had suggested that being an indie cartoonist is the new version of being in an indie band — not a new metaphor, but one with serious implications. The comics are the CDs, shows like SPX and APE are the concerts. But it’s not exactly something you expect to make a living at right away. Cartoonists and musicians all have their day jobs along with their followings. I wish I’d had the opportunity to explore this comparison more with Zak Sally, someone with experience in both camps. He mentioned it a bit on the debut cartoonist panel (more on that anon) and he seems to be happier in the comics camp.

But as Heater suggests, hijinks and comraderie are a constant at SPX. After all, this was a show where women wore lumberjack beards and the main planned social event was a karaoke caravan.

Just to impress that last point a little, the Ignatz Awards are the only comics award I can think of where just about everyone sticks around. People get there early so they can get seats. Ponder that for a moment. It’s a real contrast to other awards (which *I* enjoy) where even nominees have to be dragged kicking and screaming. Part of that is, doubtless the famed brevity of the Ignatzes — with only 8 awards, it’s not a major time commitment. Part of it is due to the bountiful drink tickets afterwards and yes, the sweet rivers of molten chocolate. But primarily, attendees feel connected to the Ignatzes. They or their friends are nominated and people want to show support. It doesn’t hurt that the nominees are usually books that the community feels proud of. It’s a proud moment for all concerned.

Aside from the continued socializing, the other note that pinged my radar at SPX 09 was the ascendance of web cartoonists. Before I get too much into that, though, I would like to give Bill Kartolopoulos a shout out for the excellent job he’s been doing with the programming. The whole SPX crew — Karon Fage, Warren Bernard, Jeff Alexander, Greg McElhatton– knows how to run a smooth show, but Bill K. has managed to take a room full of smart, opinionated, interesting creators and get them up on panels talking. I honestly could have spent the whole show doing nothing but panels, but wanted to sample the comics on sale, so I missed a lot of stuff. I did manage to hit the first two panels on Saturday, Debut Cartoonists and Comic Strips: Online and In Print, a juxtaaposition that couldn’t have been more stark.

Debut Cartoonists consisted of Ken Dahl (Gabby Shwartz), Eleanor Davis, Hans Rickheit and Zak Sally, four creators of unique, strong visions and undeniable talent. As the first panel of the day, it wasn’t super well attended although the room was maybe 1/3 full, which isn’t bad. Moderated by Rob Clough, the panel quickly strayed into “The Cartoonists Struggle” territory. Even Davis, whose ebullient kids’ books have landed at major publishers — Toon Books, Bloomsbury — revealed that the long, hard slog of drawing Secret Science Alliance had taken a toll. All four had a lot to say about how hard it is going to a room and drawing all day, every day, day after day, Selective quotes I jotted down:

Dahl: “Cartoonists need to be self indulgent because you spend a lot of time with yourself, doing comics.”

Sally: “As a cartoonist you have to operate in a world where you just have to believe in what you’re doing.”

Davis: “I like spending time with organic farmers. Having a part time job is better than spending all my time on comics.”

At the end of the panel, I asked the four what they would define as success:

Dahl: “Health care.”
Davis: “Being happy.”
Rickheit: “Just putting my clothes on in the morning.” (He did add that drawing comics for a living would be something that would be a goal.”
Sally: “Doing what you love isn’t always the answer. Really weird things happen when what you love becomes your day job.”

It was a bit discouraging to hear four such talented people sounding so miserable about what they do. Dahl told me later that he felt they had played up the negatives a bit, but it did seem like a bitch session in some ways.

By contrast, the room filled up for the web cartoonists panel, and R. Stevens, Kate Beaton, Erika Moen and Julia Wertz instantly started giving out advice on production marketing, and how to deal with the avalanche of comments they get on the web. The ever quip-ready Stevens said “I meet a lot of nice people on the internet. Maybe I’m on a different internet. They smell so much better on the internet.” Although Wertz, who considers herself a print cartoonist who puts herself on the web, injected a bit of cartoonerly mopiness, the mood was pragmatic and upbeat. Different worlds.

Aside: there was also a pretty funny moment when the web cartoonists talked about the recent Hi and Lois strip that chided web comickers for making most of their money from merchandising. “The #1 rule of the internet is that people don’t want to pay you, so you have to work around that to make money in different ways,” said Beaton. “Why is that a problem to Hi and Lois?”

The divide between career aspirations in the print and web worlds is a stark one. In a later conversation with Stevens, I brought up the panel. “We’re not tortured!” he admitted of the different world views. He also pointed out that Batman makes more money from selling underwear than he does from selling comics, so the merchandising stigma is a mostly false one, at least from something as mainstream as Hi and Lois.

Despite the different viewpoints, everyone gets along very well at SPX. And, to veer into the sociological, this unity was tested by other activities going on at the hotel. Saturday, there was some kind of ministry charity get together going on, and old white dudes in minister’s collars were seen roaming around. At night, a fancy charity ball with a coat check and expensive cocktail hour took place, and a curtain and rope were erected to keep grungy cartoonists from mingling or nabbing a gin martini. It was quite hilarious to see SPXers wandering by the milling society mavens — older gentlemen in expensive suits, and their wives in extensive sates of botox poisoning.

But the next day would bring an even better contrast — SPX vs The Miss Teen Maryland pageant! (WHO WILL REMIX?????) Vendors had set up in the hall — a tanning booth, a beauty salon and a table selling high heels, push up bras and long dangly crystal chandelier earrings of the kind a real beauty contestant would wear! Walking by the table with Brian Heater and Charlito from Indie Spinner Rack I, completely innocently said “Look at those breasts!” pointing at a pile of foam inserts. The boys thought I meant something else entirely.

The biggest effect of the pageant, however, was climatic. Evidently, melting make-up is the dire enemy of beauty pageants, and the AC was cranked up to a level only Shackleton could have endured. (I had only a thin 50% wool sweater to keep myself warm, having neglected to bring a coat on the trip at all. At one point I lost the sweater, and I swear, I nearly cried because I was so cold.)

The polar bear weather was a stark contrast to MoCCA’s Death Valley Days, and led some comparisons. Scorching heat, freezing cold — what would cartoonists be forced to survive next? “Well, APE is coming up,” someone said. “Maybe an earthquake?” God forbid.

As great as SPX is, I have one problem with it, and that is LACK OF FOOD. This year it was a real problem! Unless you eat in the hotel bar (which is a fine place) you aren’t going to eat much. I was sick on Friday, and my precarious stomach–and a tight schedule — meant all I had for dinner was a small tomato/mozzarella sandwich hastily scarfed at a bar. Saturday I was running around all day and didn’t really have a lunch program structured into my day.

I was really looking forward to dinner on Saturday — for the last three years, because of my Ignatz hosting duties, I spent Saturday night by myself holed up in my room, eating room service and writing jokes. Thus, this time I was looking forward to a nice relaxing meal with cool people. The second part of the equation was easily achieved: Will Dinski, Brian, and Chris Duffy were certainly as pleasant dinner companions as you could ask. But ONCE AGAIN the Ignatz curse struck! It was pouring rain so even though we had a car, a trip to the marvels of Bethesda proper wasn’t in the cards. We decided to go to the Italian place at the mall, but there was a 30 minute wait, and the Ignatzes were only an hour away. There was no way we’d make it back in time. So, to the mall food court we went, and no offense to White Flint, whatever that is, but their food court is horrible. Oh well, at least the company was good.

Sunday night I finally got my wish of a hot meal, when we went back for the Italian before the ride back to NYC. Hardly gourmet, but by then comfort food was the goal. Anyway, next time I go to SPX, I am definitely charting out a better plan for eating in general. And I don’t mean PUFFED SNACK BITES.

Before we get to a few pictures, a few other notes. SPX is certainly a place to have great conversations, and some of those who graciously took the time to hang: Paul Karasik, R. SIkoryak, Chris Duffy, the Oni crew, the Comics Bakery gang, Frank Cammuso (And his adorable new baby!!) Jason T. Miles, Dan and Katie from Breen Brain, Kevin Huizenga, Lisa Hanawalt, Jerry Moriarty, Carol Tyler, Carol Burrell, Denise Sudell, Kim Thompson. Gary Groth, Randy Renaldo, Alvin Buenaventura….and SO MANY MORE. Know I’m forgetting someone. Good times.

Inside Atomic Books

OUTSIDE Atomic Books!

The incredible cake for Julia Wertz/Emily Flake. THe insides had about five layers and four different substances.

During the Nerdlingers. L-R Enrico, Baillie, Reed

Debuting Cartoonists panel. L_R CLough, Zally, Rickheit, Davis, Dahl

Jen Vaughn, whose strap on uterus and menstruation comics are defining a whole category to themselves.

Gahan WIlson and Hans Rickheit

A good look at the “modesty curtain” that was erected to keep ministers and cartooners from mingling.

This picture didn’t come out BUT IF IT HAD, you would see a scraggly tooner walking by very well dressed people behind a rope. HAVES/HAVE NOTS. But it was all for charity so let us not put down the spirit of GIVING.

Two bloggers + one room = LOTS OF EQUIPMENT.

The food court at the White Flint Mall. It’s like waiting for Space Mountain except without am exciting, turbulent ride at the end. Seriously, this place took Amusement Park Waiting Area Decor to a new level of perfection.

Kim Thompson, Carol Tyler, and Jerry Moriarty chill before the Ignatzes,

MK Reed and Hellen Jo

C. Spike Trotman and her giant wad of cash. You’re buyin’!

John Porcellino at the D&Q booth

Erika Moen, who confessed that she had been greatly influenced in her comics career by reading Disney Adventures as a kid. God, I feel old.

Liza Hanawalt, Kevin Huizenga and Jerry Moriarty. About the time this photo was taken, the room had entered the new Ice Age and survival tactics were called for.

Chris Schweitzer, Ray Fawkes and Matt Loux huddle together for warmth. Notice Fawkes is wearing his outside toque.

Jon Rosenberg and R. Stevens, who tragically lost some fingers to frostbite.

Tom Neely, Zak Sally and Jason T. Miles huddle together for warmth.

Seriously, huddling together for warmth is a good metaphor for SPX. People would probably cuddle even if it wasn’t so cold.