Yep, three months into 2022, this is my first blog since last July. This is because, of course, I had very little still going on outside of remote work and my Damn Tourists issue six comic project, which I will elaborate on later. Through the continuous ups and downs up this pandemic with two more variants between July 2021 and March 2022, I was still wary of exhibiting at the few conventions that were returning (my only convention experience since the Co-Vid was attending LA Comic Con back in December as a professional). I didn’t have the best timing with the first two conventions I had booked for earlier this year (January and February) back in October, as the latest variant hit us hard, and I wound up cancelling my tables at those shows, while the shows themselves went on. Now in a March virus lull for now (fingers crossed), I have booked three more shows, and hopefully I am comfortable at exhibiting for all of them. I will discuss the first one so far, Wondercon Anaheim, that opens in less than two weeks. Also worth mentioning is my completion of Damn Tourists issue six in another month, and my decision to end Cosmic Force.
WONDERCON 2022: Hard to believe that the last Wondercon convention was in the spring of 2019. While they are definitely back for 2022, there are some changes and questions regarding the show. As of this writing, masks and vaccination proof/negative Co-Vid test proof are required (and will hopefully remain in place come showtime). Also, from an individual vendor’s standpoint, crowd interaction and table arrangement become big questions now. Aside from me just having my books, portfolio, and retractable banner at the booth, how do I keep my table as sanitized as possible, when the point of the show is for customers to touch items? Do I sanitize them immediately after a person leaves the table? Do I touch and hold items myself for customers to look at? Is it a mix of those two? Will I be understood in a large, noisy convention hall wearing a mask? Most, if not all of these questions may not be answered until day 1 of the show. On the flip side, it will be beyond fantastic to display my work in public again, as well as see vendor friends——most of which I have either not seen in person, or at all in almost three years.
DAMN TOURISTS ISSUE SIX: I am happy to announce that I am entering the home-stretch of my latest comic project: “Damn Tourists issue six: Dee-Cee!” What was once going to be a 36 page book has now been reduced to 33 pages, with all illustrations inked and ready to be colored. Dialogue will be the final step of course, before launching my first kickstarter to fund the printing costs. I was originally set to launch the campaign next month on April 1 (first day of Wondercon), but later decided to wait another month as I need more time to finish the book. Set in Washington DC, our clueless travelers in this issue are dealing with the threat of rain for the first time possibly ruining their visit, though it never goes beyond a few big raindrops. The rest of our nation’s capitol, full aware of what Florida put up with, decides to avoid dealing with the tourists as much as possible by selectively closing any attraction they approach. They also meet two younger “Damn Tourists” in training so to speak on the way and while in DC. They even try the Metro train system and rideshare for the first time (which they of course mistake for a cab). And I should not forget to mention their side quest to visit the commander-in-chief’s residence. All this and more oblivious and annoying behavior in “Dee-Cee,” available online and at conventions this June.
THE END OF COSMIC FORCE: I had been thinking about doing this for awhile, but was always swayed by the off convention or small indie comic event where I would get slightly more sales for this series, but the combination of selling out Damn Tourists at the Oahu convention in 2020 and focusing entirely on Damn Tourists issue six during the last eight months drove me to the ultimate decision to end Cosmic Force in the next two issues (an 8-issue series total), instead of the 12 issue series I was originally planning. I had to come to the realization that Damn Tourists is my stand-out series, getting reactions from convention passer-bys and if I mention it to people outside of cons. My customers, most of whom are new or lapsed older comic fans, are intrigued by such a unique idea for a book. Cosmic Force is a tough sell in a crowded market of science fiction and superhero team books, with just a niche audience. I’m actually going to put this to the test at Wondercon next month, and only take my Damn Tourist series. It is time I re-evaluate and streamline my Carter Comics operations, focusing on what my most successful series is to save time and energy since I am a one-man show after all.
Well, that is all for now. I will be back late next month to cover my first two shows back (Wondercon and San Diego Comic Fest), and talk about not only how they went sales-wise, but also how I felt working with Co-vid precautions (masking, heavy sanitizing, etc.) Until late April fans!