My very first big comic convention was the big New York Comicon at the Javitz Center in January of 1993. I was 20 yrs old (and a very young 20, I probably looked 15). I had only attended a few conventions as a professional, and this was by far the largest convention for me.
(Btw, I was in a night class at university the night before, when a friend called me at the dial up phone at the school and said they had a tiny spot in the back of their car, if I wanted to join them for the 12 hour drive to New York to attend this comic show, that very night. I immediately left straight from class to crouch into their car for the all night drive. It was my very first trip to New York, and I went there with the clothes on my back and $20 in my pocket).
I had done a few small projects for Caliber Comics, and the publisher let me sit at the Caliber table to sign my books for readers, and to do drawings for them and sell my art. They had already registered me as a guest for the show, with my own name tag, in hopes that I could come, but I thought I did not have a ride there, until I was invited the night before.
As luck would have it, I happened to be seated right next to Jon J. Muth. (and Colleen Doran was seated right across from me. This is where I met them both).
Jon was signing to promote this very book above, the new NBM Hardcover version of it. And he was very kind to me as we sat next to each other throughout the entire convention.
His publisher, NBM was kind to me too, and they were offering a raffle to win an edition of Jon’s new book, the book that you see images of right here. Signed by Jon. They encouraged me to enter the raffle for their promotion of the book. I did.
And guess what? I won the raffle of the book, the book imaged above. Jon kindly signed it for me, and I took it as a very auspicious turn of events.
It was quite a formative experience for 20 year old me that weekend, meeting so many interesting creators, and being so inspired from the energy of the large convention. And though I went to New York with $20 in my pocket, I left with $150 in my pocket from the drawings I did for people.
Most importantly, I met so many inspiring creators who I am still friends with to this day.
On the all night drive home from that New York convention, I created the rough ideas for KABUKI. I began drawing and writing it the following week. January of 1993.
romaincrisis
tangentwithtanner
jbbartram-illu
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