This past weekend I was privileged to visit the Gem City Comic Con in Dayton Ohio; and what a successful venture it was for fans and creators alike. This is only the 8th year of the con, but the first that it has ever been held at the Ervin J. Nutter Center. Prior to this year, the GCCC was held at the Wright State University campus; and after last years convention, it was prevalent that they needed much more room due to its ever growing popularity. Who could blame them though, getting big name guests such as "Kingdom Come" author Mark Waid, "Usagi Yojimbo" creator Stan Sakai, and comic artist Sean Forney are all guaranteed seat sellers; but the heart of the convention lies within the local community.The real purpose of the GCCC is to inspire, promote, and encourage the underdogs of the industry. Being one of those underdogs myself, I can think of no better way of promoting my own writing than the convention scene. Meeting like minded creators, sharing stories, and even offering positive criticism once the convention is over, makes this one of the friendliest conventions around. New additions to this years con included a costume contests (both adult and childrens), an increase in celebrity panels, and a much larger Magic the Gathering tournament sponsored by local comic and game shop, Bell Book and Comic.
Over the next few weeks I hope to review some of the local Indy comics I had managed to pick up over the two day event. Not many people understand how hard it can be for local artists and writers to afford all the trips back and forth to the conventions to promote their work. I was happy to see the return of some of the smaller publications, such as Twilight Star Studios and Vantage Inhouse Productions, and the follow ups to the titles I had picked up last year. What is so great about the smaller companies is that you can build some strong friendships with their creators; and to come back the following year, its like seeing an old friend. I highly recommend for anyone interested in getting recognition for their work to check out the smaller tables at any convention first. Don't get me wrong, I think it is perfectly okay to show off your work to people who have had success in the industry, but with an understanding that you are not going to be an overnight success, it is worth it to make friends when and where you can. And always keep in mind that it is perfectly okay to take a chance at buying a four dollar comic from a local vendor; branch out from what you know, and come to realize that the Justice League and Avengers are not the only characters out there. I have found that most of the unknown work is very fruitful and rich with uniqueness; I know what I am getting when I pick up my monthly Batman title at my comic book store, but sometimes your pallet changes and you need to find sustenance elsewhere. Not to mention that when you purchase a comic from a local vendor you are making an impact in that person's life. Selling your work can be an uphill climb and each dollar becomes a foothold to reach a higher plane. I love it when people review my work and I love it even more when they tell me I am doing something wrong; and its the same with these smaller publications, they want your feedback too. So stay tuned for more updates as I go through some of these wonderful local publications over the next couple of weeks.
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