Welcome to the Callous Blog!My Komikon 2011 Report: WOW!
Posted by Carlo Jose San Juan, MD on Sunday, November 20, 2011 Under: News, Announcements, Events
Nothing. Nothing could have prepared me for the visceral Komikon crowd. Even after going through the insanity that was Komikon 2010 as an attendee, I was absolutely astounded by the awesomeness of Komikon 2011 from behind the table!
Still early. People setting up their tables.
I arrived in my usual early time for the ingress. I was already quite excited due to my fond memories of Summer Komikon 2011. Once I had my table all set up, I roamed around the convention hall before the event opened its doors knowing it would be the only time I would have the chance to do so.
I spotted Sir Gerry Alanguilan already going through boxes of comics at the Comic Odyssey tables. I went over to his table a bit later to have my copy of the Elmer trade paperback signed, which he was more than happy to do.
I said hi to my longtime friends, Dre and Janlo Cui, at the Electromagnetic Tentacle booth. I checked out the brand new Trese T-shirts and loved them, based on the comic by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo. (I later on bought that shirt)
With Jonah Hex co-creator Tony DeZuniga.
Still early. People setting up their tables.
I arrived in my usual early time for the ingress. I was already quite excited due to my fond memories of Summer Komikon 2011. Once I had my table all set up, I roamed around the convention hall before the event opened its doors knowing it would be the only time I would have the chance to do so.
I spotted Sir Gerry Alanguilan already going through boxes of comics at the Comic Odyssey tables. I went over to his table a bit later to have my copy of the Elmer trade paperback signed, which he was more than happy to do.
I said hi to my longtime friends, Dre and Janlo Cui, at the Electromagnetic Tentacle booth. I checked out the brand new Trese T-shirts and loved them, based on the comic by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo. (I later on bought that shirt)
With Jonah Hex co-creator Tony DeZuniga.
Then the gates were opened. I was once again happy to introduce Callous Comics to new readers. However, I was thrilled to find fans who had read the first book coming back to buy the next two! Several said they couldn't stop reading Chocolate Chip Wishes and Caffeine Dreams, which sent me over the moon! That included a little girl whose mom told me how much her daughter loved reading my comics. To that shy little lady and her mom, you two truly made my day. :)
The Callous Comics table at Komikon 2011!
By noon I checked my inventory and realized I had come close to already equaling my sales from full days in previous comic cons! I was like, what?! The crowd had died down a bit during lunchtime but my tablemate, Boy Bakal creator Carlo Valenzuela, and I just couldn't leave our tables because there would always be that person who would walk by and get attracted to our displays. We were both solo creators, so we didn't have the option of a partner to explain our comics to people while we were gone. We were getting hungry and tired but the prospect of new readers kept us going.
With the Cal Duck plushie from GTMACCON 2011, Rommel "Omeng" Estanisao's Callous Comics figures, and a gift print of his fan art for "Callous Comics - On Lighter Dreams" from Ernest John Daryll Fiestan!
The afternoon rush of people in Komikon was close to overwhelming! As happy as I was to talk about my comic to people, I sure wish I could have chosen a more self-explanatory title! My voice was starting to crack and my back and hamstrings were beginning to ache from leaning over the table to talk to people while trying to overcome the loudspeakers in the hall. Nevertheless, I was having an awesome time!
Webcomics: What's Cooking? did well too! If anyone stood out, it would be the guy who cried "YES!" to the heavens after finding it on my table. Apparently, he and his sister were Jefbot fans and were thrilled to find it in the cookbook.
As much as I like talking about myself and the comic, I also appreciated chitchat about other stuff!
There were a lot of requests for a printed edition of the On Lighter Dreams storyline, which surprised me. I guess I'll have a new fantasy-based book next year! :)
Normally, around 6PM or so the crowd would have died down and no one would be buying my stuff anymore. I had planned on packing up early so that I could have the chance to go around and buy comics and whatnot for myself, but more and more fans kept coming to my table, which thrilled me even more!
It was great to hear that other indie titles did very well too. The support for independent comics here in the Philippines is phenomenal!
While I didn't get to see other tables as much as I had planned to, the love I got for Callous Comics was fantastic and more than made up for it! Furthermore, I got to be the first to try Tepai Pascual's chocolate cake, "Chocobo the Third", which was gloriously yummy and a fitting end to a wonderful Komikon 2011.
But wait, there's more!
Be sure to read Gerry Alanguilan's take on Komikon 2011, with video and loads of great photos!
The Callous Comics table at Komikon 2011!
By noon I checked my inventory and realized I had come close to already equaling my sales from full days in previous comic cons! I was like, what?! The crowd had died down a bit during lunchtime but my tablemate, Boy Bakal creator Carlo Valenzuela, and I just couldn't leave our tables because there would always be that person who would walk by and get attracted to our displays. We were both solo creators, so we didn't have the option of a partner to explain our comics to people while we were gone. We were getting hungry and tired but the prospect of new readers kept us going.
With the Cal Duck plushie from GTMACCON 2011, Rommel "Omeng" Estanisao's Callous Comics figures, and a gift print of his fan art for "Callous Comics - On Lighter Dreams" from Ernest John Daryll Fiestan!
The afternoon rush of people in Komikon was close to overwhelming! As happy as I was to talk about my comic to people, I sure wish I could have chosen a more self-explanatory title! My voice was starting to crack and my back and hamstrings were beginning to ache from leaning over the table to talk to people while trying to overcome the loudspeakers in the hall. Nevertheless, I was having an awesome time!
Webcomics: What's Cooking? did well too! If anyone stood out, it would be the guy who cried "YES!" to the heavens after finding it on my table. Apparently, he and his sister were Jefbot fans and were thrilled to find it in the cookbook.
As much as I like talking about myself and the comic, I also appreciated chitchat about other stuff!
There were a lot of requests for a printed edition of the On Lighter Dreams storyline, which surprised me. I guess I'll have a new fantasy-based book next year! :)
Normally, around 6PM or so the crowd would have died down and no one would be buying my stuff anymore. I had planned on packing up early so that I could have the chance to go around and buy comics and whatnot for myself, but more and more fans kept coming to my table, which thrilled me even more!
It was great to hear that other indie titles did very well too. The support for independent comics here in the Philippines is phenomenal!
While I didn't get to see other tables as much as I had planned to, the love I got for Callous Comics was fantastic and more than made up for it! Furthermore, I got to be the first to try Tepai Pascual's chocolate cake, "Chocobo the Third", which was gloriously yummy and a fitting end to a wonderful Komikon 2011.
But wait, there's more!
Be sure to read Gerry Alanguilan's take on Komikon 2011, with video and loads of great photos!
In : News, Announcements, Events
Tags: komikon 2011 komikon 2011 comic convention comic con
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Caz is a practicing licensed physician, professional voice actor/talent, writer, and cartoonist. He has been working on the Callous comic strip since 1996, winning several of The LaSallian's Silver Quill awards for his work. He has written several published short stories.
He currently lives in the Philippines with his wife and two children.