Life at Table E8

By Randy Gentile

How do I sum up my NY Comic Con '08 experience?

Well, sure it was a fun-filled time for all but at the same time it's a bit overwhelming. I mean I'm a letterer selling hand-stapled autobiographical mini-comix at a place where Grant Morrison is signing copies of All Star Superman. One table to my right is Greg Horn selling full-color prints of Marvel covers featuring scantily clad female superheroes.

Do I have an inferiority complex at these kinds of conventions? Possibly. But I'm still proud of the work I'm putting out there and I believe it's worth checking out, especially in a place where a corporate bomb of pop entertainment explodes every minute for 3 straight days.

So I blogged it old-school at my table all weekend. With Pen and paper. Here's a recap of what it was like at table E8.

SATURDAY

11:44am Settled into my seat next to Dan Parent, Archie Comics artist who is sketching like a madman. I'm fighting that urge to ask myself why I hit conventions like this with hand-stapled mini-comix. If I go too long without selling a book I feel inferior. But then I tell myself that at least I'm "doing my own thing."

11:59am Still nothing except a free sketch request from an old Italian man from Naples.

12:02pm First sale of the day. Randall and NYComix #2. Free bag worked. (Note: I had NYComix drawstring bags printed up and you got one free if you bought a copy of NYComix. See what you missed out on?)

1:17pm Walked around a bit. Went to see the Comic Geek Speak guys. On my way back I had to work my way around this insanely huge line. A line this big better be for an Angelina Jolie kissing booth. Instead it was for Lou Ferrigno.

3:00pm Selling a bit more. It's amazing to see how a little exposure via Comic Geek Speak or the Bendis Board can bring in readers. I need to get my camera out and start taking pics.

3:19pm Ralph Cirrella, the most hated Howard Stern show personality just walked by my booth.

3:39pm Sold a copy of NYComix #1 to a guy who said he could tell I went to Pratt Institute because my art has an "edginess to it". Best compliment I got all day.

4:46pm How do mainstream comics not sell more than they do? This place is wall-to-wall people.

5:30pm Got a guy to flip through NYComix after reading Brian K. Vaughan's quote about the book. No sale though. (Oh, and here's that quote in case yer interested. Shameless plug.)

"Who knew that one of comics' best letterers was also a kickass cartoonist?
This book perfectly captures one of the greatest adventures a young American
can live through, moving from a small town to the capital of the whole damn
world. BUY IT!"
—Brian K. Vaughan
Eisner Award-winning writer of Ex Machina and Y: The Last Man and ABC's Lost.

6.28pm Selling books has picked up again. I just had a guy pick up NYComix #1. Read the ENTIRE issue. Laugh at it and then put it down and walk away. The balls on some people. God forbid you drop a whole dollar on my book.

SUNDAY

11:25am Settled in. Got in an hour late Saturday and Sunday. It's ok though as it's very slow right now. Last night I hit the Comic Geek Speak Podcast After party. Met some great folks who said they'd come by and pick up my books.

12:45pm Nothing. Nada. There's barely anyone here. I hope it picks up. Maybe it's Pope related.

12:54pm First sale of the day. An issue of Randall. She was from England and said my style reminded her of Viz Comics. I'll have to Google them. The trend of women buying my books more than males continues.

12:59pm Seems to be picking up now. Earlier I dropped off NYComix #1 & 2 to the Fantagraphics booth. He said it looked good and asked if he could have the copies to take home and read. The cynic in me wonders if he only said that to get me away from him.

1:26pm The amount of people has picked up but not sales. Getting hungry. Might go outside for a hot dog and pretzel. It's way cheaper. (Note for you future NY Comic Con attendees, right outside the front doors are hot dog vendors selling the same stuff for way cheaper. Inside the con, a pretzel is $4.75, outside I bought a pretzel and a hot dog for $5.00)

2:25pm Picked up a sale of all 3 of my books. Dan Goldman is selling his book Shooting War a few tabled to my left. I love his work on Ac-Ti-Vate. Maybe I'll go over and talk to him.

3:27pm Getting tired of being here. Plus now I'm tempted to walk around and buy comics. Dealers cut prices on Sunday afternoons in hopes of lightening their load on the way home.

3:39pm Saw a guy selling "Fuck Lucas" and "I love all 3 Star Wars movies" T-Shirts. What's more annoying than a bitter fanboy?

4:14pm Winding down now. No sales in what seems like ages. Quite a few flip through people but no bites. Guess my $1 price tag is too high. Either that or they think I suck.

4:52pm About ready to wrap it up. Today didn't go too well. I'll have to take a step back and see how this weekend really went. Right now my low sales today are weighing heavily on me.

So that was my little minute-by-minute blog. Looking back I still feel the same way. I don't think the NY Comic Con the place for my kind of work. As of right now, I'm skipping next year and hitting up MOCCA instead. (Hopefully) I have to start thinking of my target audience. My target audience ain't a dude wearing a Michael Turner Iron Man shirt.

Until next year... maybe.

Font You!
—Randy