SPX 2022 was again – what number of “[blank] is back!” tales have I written this yr – however I imply it was actually again.
Taking the bus down, I fretted a bit over whether or not there could be so much of adjustments to the resort or the setting however I truthfully shouldn’t have fearful. The large adjustments have been in 2019, when the resort switched from Aughts golden tones to charcoal grey partitions and a neo-industrial look.
But all of the necessary issues have been there:
- 400+ exhibitors and cartoonists who have been there to like comics and one another
- 1000+ attendees who have been there to purchase these comics
- The outdoors patio the place everybody frolicked for joyful hours simply being round our tribe.. New books, new jobs, newly revealed genders – a lot to atone for! (Friday I stood up for 5 hours straight, and my ft harm,)
- Nearby eating places and low that made meal planning a snap – and lots of many extra only a brief automobile drive away.
That’s the highlights. Before I drill down a bit, some information bites, from a dialog with showrunner Warren Bernard on Sunday afternoon.
- Attendance was regular all weekend however down from 2019 – however absolutely that was to be anticipated. Although the gang was smaller, gross sales have been excessive.
- Dates for the present are locked in for years and Bernard said in no unsure phrases that “SPX is staying in its current location.” Some rumors of a transfer had circulated throughout the darkish years, however Bernard factors out that there’s actually no different facility within the space that may deal with the occasion. The North Bethesda Marriott gives simply the right combination of area, facilities, and entry to transportation. It actually is a perfect venue and although it caps the scale of the present, ensuing within the excessive stakes exhibitor lottery, enlargement isn’t actually within the playing cards within the speedy put up pandemic* years.
- One information be aware that IS occurring: subsequent yr SPX and the Baltimore Comic Con will happen on the identical dates. SPX needed to transfer per week earlier to keep away from a battle with Rosh Hashanah, and shall be held Sept. 9-10 – dates that coincide precisely with BCC. As Bernard identified, as SPX is the biggest occasion held at this Marriott, they will assure dates. BCC has no such luxurious with the Baltimore Convention Center, and it strikes round varied dates in September and October. Practically talking, I doubt that it will trigger an excessive amount of downside as just a few folks go to each. At greatest it can imply one fewer practice journey – I think about I’ll go down for Baltimore Thursday and Friday and SPX Saturday and Sunday. Problem solved!
Now to drill down a bit.
As I famous at TCAF, the loopy factor about 2022’s indie reveals is that you’re seeing THREE YEARS price of superb books – and it’s overwhelming. You need all of them. I may have simply spent $1-2K simply getting all of the cool issues I missed. Since I don’t have area for all of them, digital copies could must suffice. I did get a modest haul, although. (Reviews to come back.)
The publishing line up modified a bit. Fantagraphics was there in nice type. Top Shelf was celebrating 25 years the place all of it started. Adhouse was celebrating the tip of the path with one final look – and a inform all panel. Secret Acres and Uncivilized have been hanging in there.
But additionally new publishers – Fieldmouse Press, Living the Line, Bulgilhan.
Not there: Drawn & Quarterly. Some folks had gone anticipating to choose up Ducks, the most important debut of the week, however shock! It was to not be discovered. The purpose is just not laborious emotions, D&Q is simply switching to organising at e book reveals, library reveals, and touring authors – Ducks’ Beaton is occurring a ten cease tour, and Tom Gauld is on the market as properly. D&Q continues to help authors – Rumi Hara was at SPX – however with journey, transport and printing prices all mounting, it’s a sound enterprise determination for them.
Also lacking: the massive CBLDF sales space. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has switched from organising and promoting books to a distinct format, and performing head Jeff Trexler has been busy successful landmark authorized actions on behalf of Maia Kobabe and Gender Queer, a much more necessary exercise than simply promoting books. Trexler was readily available to speak concerning the case and take some properly deserved kudos for the Virginia determination.
The e book of the present? There have been dozens, though I ought to name out The Abolition of Man, revealed by Living the Line, although Brigid Alverson snagged the one copy. It’s billed as the primary AI comedian, with writer Carson Grubaugh feeding strains from the C.S. Lewis e book into an AI artwork generator and squishing the outcomes into panels. The object is disturbing as hell; I’ve the sensation that AI generated artwork could also be what NFTs pretended to be – a recreation changer that impacts all the things in its path.
As for different developments – properly, Halloween is within the air, and there have been so many comics about witches, and so many individuals dressed as witches, and actually tons and plenty of queer fantasy, queer horror, vampires, werewolves and the like.
I’m positive editors, publishers and cartoonists are rolling their eyes at my “revelation,” however SPX was the queerest comics present lengthy earlier than it was all the fashion, and it stays queer and trans AF and what higher to characterize change and transformation than magical women, magical boys, and magical enby. Identifying with “monsters” and discovering out they aren’t so unhealthy is a large theme of at present’s comics – together with youngsters and YA.
And different adjustments – I used to be initially going to name this piece “From Adventure Time to Adventure Zone” to mirror the shift in focus. In olden days SPX was a job truthful for Adventure Time and different magical journey cartoons. With streaming in shambles, that pipeline appears to have dried up. Lockdowns led to pastimes which led to gaming and D&D and everyone seems to be setting off into the forest with a celebration now.
Also, the Risograph Era could also be over. I discussed this to a couple folks and one of them confirmed that his Riso was damaged and he can’t get components – the know-how was already out of date and the machines can’t be serviced. Also, everybody begins out working digitally now, and digital printing is affordable and delightful.
The Ignatzes have been simply as fantastic as ever, though with fewer winners in attendance, maybe partly as a result of of the change from in particular person to on-line voting. This led to many extra votes – greater than 2000 – but in addition some surprising winners, together with comics revealed by Boom! (The Many Deaths of Laila Starr) and TKO (Djeliya by Juni Ba, one of the yr’s greatest books for positive.) Other winners have been SPX favorites, although, like Beatrix Urkowitz and Reimena Yee. And look, given the youth of indie comics, there isn’t a method a e book known as “Pee Pee Poo Poo” was not going to win, simply so everybody may say “pee pee poo poo” all evening.
Other than that, the realm across the convention heart has constructed up in first rate methods within the 15 years since SPX moved there. The Pike and Rose mall, just a few blocks away homes a number of good eating places – North Bethesda is a wealthy suburb and folks demand first rate meals. I used to be particularly proud of South Block, which offered glorious açai bowls and smoothies, a strong breakfast choice after an evening of yakking and standing.The little strip mall proper across the nook from the resort has a Vietnamese place, and simply earlier than I boarded the bus for the 5 hour experience house I received an excellent banh mi and possibly the perfect mango slushie I ever had. All good!
And an space of garden behind the parking storage has been changed into a “park” with picnic tables and a bit of bandstand. Coming again from dinner on Friday, a reside salsa lesson and dance occasion was underway, and it was tempting to remain.
Other than that…the reunion was on. I had a beautiful time, connecting with roomies Brigid Alverson and Johanna Draper Carlson, and a Saturday banquet of them, artist Janet Lee, raconteur Carla Speed McNeil and Living the Line writer Sean Michael Robinson was the mannequin of the con dinner. Just sufficient folks for good dialog, a limpid late summer season night outdoors, and a large sushi boat. Good, good occasions.
You can hearken to Brigid, Johanna, Carla and I speaking concerning the present right here:
Three years is a major quantity of time. But the cartoonists at SPX 22 drew from each period from unique exhibitors like Carla Speed McNeil, on to returning favorites (Megan Kelso, Tom Hart, Ariel Bordeaux) latest multimedia stars (Dash Shaw, Ron Wimberly), The New Guard (Tommi Parrish, Bianca Xunise) and even newer guards (your title right here.) The message I heard from everybody was the identical – pleasure to be with the group once more, thrilled to see all of the comics. SPX has all the time been inspiring, and everybody left all fired as much as go and make extra comics. We made it.
* I do know the pandemic isn’t actually over, however it’s by no means going to be over. Covid is right here to remain, and upkeep is studying to reside with it.
And some images:
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