APE

You may know that I like comics. Certainly, I don’t read enough of them, or know too much about the current state of the industry, and am generally disappointed when I finally do cough up $20 for a graphic novel that catches my attention, but still, in general, I like them. However, I have never attended a comic book convention, or any kind of convention, for that matter. ‘Convention’ is the nerd synonym for ‘Festival.’ In theory, it is the nerd’s time to celebrate with those of like mind and interest, a brief respite from a year’s worth of strange looks garnered while reading books with pictures on the train. Since I’m a nerd of some description, and am generally interested in nerds as a cohesive social group, I’ve always wanted to taste the greasy all-toppings smorgasbord that is the Con, and yesterday, the Alternative Press Expo in San Francisco gave me that opportunity.

Truly, it was surreal. Vendors and creators of uncountable little comics no one has ever heard of squeezed in behind little tables, either smiling at you with desperate hope or staring you down with the mortified antipathy that can only come from pandering to disinterested Philistines like me for money. I suspect the former smile grades into the latter stare over the course of several cons. Free comics, free masks, free cards, etc. There were only a few titles and companies I’d heard of, like Bob the Angry Flower and Slave Labor Graphics (who apparently founded and run the whole show). The people ran the gamut from the disaffected teen goths to the middle-aged unshaven, an almost even mix of white and Asian, somewhat more males than females but not as much as I might have expected.

I attended a panel discussion on “The State of the Graphic Novel,” by several creators and a guy from Fantagraphics. They discussed a movement away from the serialized “comic book” form of comics to the graphic novel, the technical and narrative differences between producing the two, the relevancy of the autobiographical mini comics, and then they had to cut. I’ve never actually seen people who actually make comics for a living, and I loved hearing them discuss what they do. People actually think about these things! I wished it could have gone on.

But it couldn’t, because Jhonen Vasquez, creator of Invader Zim and Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, was on. Suddenly the age-level in the room dropped about 5-10 years. Jhonen had sort of a pop-goth look going on, pretty much the way he depicts himself in his comics, and was generally cheerful, somewhat witty, and mildly full of himself. All the awkward alt-teens asked things like, “When you made God a fat baby in JTHM, was that, like, something philosophical?” or “I heard that in the Christmas special a lot was cut, could you tell us what was cut?” or (sheepishly) “Could you give me the finger? I collect people giving me the finger.” And I was simultaneously mortified and enthralled by these former incarnations of myself. Well, sorta. I read Johnny and Squee way back in high school, and apparently people still do and love it. Go figure.

All in all, it was strange to be among others who like comics. A whole exhibition center of them. Every single person there was somehow involved, interested, wanted to make or read great things. It was encouraging. I bought Flight vol. 1 and Daisy Kutter: The Last Train from the Flight table, and got them signed by Kazu Kibuishi. They are both excellent, which is so very rare, and made me want to read comics again.