Birmingham comic expo

Back from the Birmingham comic expo and I’m pooped. It was like Christmas eve the night before I travelled down, all excited with me being awake every hour on the hour, and what with sharing a bunk at my hostel, on the Saturday night, with a phlegmy lawnmower, I didn’t get much sleep there either. It was good though, but these things are always a struggle to get noticed. It’s mainly superhero stuff and its poor small press imitations. There were a handful of interesting looking stalls…no tell a lie, there was probably three at best but no less than I was expecting. I love these things though. There’s something very satisfying about a room full of eager creative types with their wares spread across trestle tables. Nothing made me want to put my hand in my pocket, which was a shame, but I also didn’t make any pity buys. Our table did well on the first day with me selling fourteen, which I was happy with. The place stank though. It’s a stereotype, but it’s a stereotype for a reason. There were some serious body odour issues going on. Passing by the queue for whoever draws Hellboy was like being punched in the face. It was very bad. Resisting the urge to splurge on an Infinity Gauntlet book, numerous Judge Dredd items and some original Buster art, I took my winnings and went for a curry with Banal Pig et al. Not having slept well the previous night though, I made my excuse and headed back to my hostel. Everyone else had booked into hotels but I was eager to save money, so I’d booked a £16 bed in a six-bed dorm. I don’t mind these places though as I’m used to backpacking. After watching the second half of the rugby and the first half of Con Air, I took myself to bed and spent the next eight hours listening to the guy snore under me and the cars making donuts outside. This lack of sleep kind of ruined the second day for me, as I was cream crackered. I left the hostel early on after deciding not to indulge the racist owner and went for an early morning wonder around Birmingham’s train tracks, which was great and I got some good pictures of some brummie cruising graffiti. Back at the expo my bags grew bigger with every person who passed by without buying. Our table was in an awkward position without as much passing traffic as the others. Two over priced bake potatoes and a few beers later and I was ready to go. I sold two copies on the Sunday. I did have a ball though and am looking forward to this one I’m doing at the ICA in a few weeks. Banal Pig’s done more of these things than me and he assures me that the Mini Comic and Web Thing in London in march is more small press friendly so I’ll give that one a shot next year. If you had told me I’d sell sixteen books before I went I’d have been well happy. So yeah, that was good. How was your weekend?