FAN EXPO CANADA 2010–Sunday August 29

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday. oh boy.

Ty and I took the kids on Sunday. Luckily, they’re of an age we can let them run loose without much supervision. Unfortunately, they were so overwhelmed by the crowds that it took some time before they felt comfortable running around. ‘Cept our youngest son who promptly took off looking for a video game (found one, too. Both boys report that they can not wait for Halo Reach to be released next month).

The Kids

Jason Edmiston, Cobra Wants You. My son scored this and LOVES it. Check Jason's site for other prints

While the kids were settling in, Ty actually wandered off and didn’t return for an hour so I watched his space and chatted people up. With it being the last day, everyone knew that it was their last chance to talk to editors, buy that poster they really wanted, etc. so it wasn’t just watching Ty’s space…when David Cutler

David Cutler, "Bucky and Dead Eye"--the is the print I bought for my son. Check David's blog for others...

would go off, Jason Edmiston’s wife would watch his stuff. If she was busy, I would happily jump in to sell his stuff. The partners of the various artists would wander back and forth between spaces making sure all was well!

Gibson Quarter had his daughter there for some of the day, helping

Gibson Quarter's Wolverine vs. Venom print, check his site for others

to sell his stuff. When she left, my daughter was willing to jump in and see what she could do (although she’s a bit shy so, in fact, her brother sold some stuff for Gib, while Kate stood by–but she’s learning!). All in all, nice to have a little community spirit going!

Lots of people came by to talk to Ty, including one of his oldest friends in the world, which he quite enjoyed (we especially enjoyed seeing the teenaged son in his Arthur costume, with towel over one shoulder).

So, all in all, a busy, productive con…

Venom

(the kids liked this costume)

and this one…

Music Meister

And this is the print I got from Jason last year–one of my favourite things on my walls!

Jason Edmiston, Hibernation

Keiren

FAN EXPO CANADA 2010–Saturday August 28

So, Ty’s still tired, and I have more photos!

Saturday–

Saturday is often my favourite day of a con–I get to go (unless it’s a boring-ass con, then I stay home.  Luckily, this wasn’t one of the boring-ass ones). My sister took my kids and Ty and I headed in (very slowly thanks to Toronto traffic) to the con. The drive took two hours instead of the usual thirty minutes, so I dropped Ty off while I went to park. By the time I got in, and found him over in Artists’ Alley, he had to go off to the Toronto Cartoonists Workshop booth to do a signing with Gibson Quarter.

Gibson Quarter and Ty Templeton at the TCW booth

I got to hang out with Gibson’s daughter, and David Cutler. David and I have been known to get caught up in an argument or two on Facebook, so it was fun to

David Cutler sketching

hang out in person (more than a few people pointed out that they’d never actually been in a room with me before, or for mere minutes years ago. Facebook is amazing for someone like me who gets stuck at home all the time–an actual social network!). I got to buy one of his Bucky O’Hare prints (allegedly for my eldest son), and when he would wander off on breaks, I managed to sell a few more for him ( he was doing pretty well for himself between his prints and commissions).

Artists’ Alley was pretty busy, so long in-depth conversations weren’t possible.  Sometimes, it wasn’t possible to manage much more than a wave–I’m not sure that I said more than two words to Dave Ross or Dan Parent who were just down from Ty. I snuck away for a couple of minutes to get some quick photos of Ty and Gibson (Ty hates having photos taken. I explained, “The blog is visual! Get over it!” ).

Things picked up when Ty returned…he’s pretty easy to spot and he has regulars who come to get a sketch from him at all the Toronto cons.  There were some who would look hesitantly at the name signs trying to figure out which one of the guys would be Ty–which is why he puts out big piles of his work to aid in the identification program.

Ty's space in Artists' Alley--note the big pile of books

When I’d been all on my lonesome minding his work, parents had come by with their three small boys, all dressed in Marvel costumes. The boys had flipped through Ty’s art work ooh-ing and ahh-ing and identifying–correctly–every single character I pointed at. Even in this piece,

and then this,

So I explained to the boys that if they came back after 4pm, that Ty would be able to do sketches for them. They returned later, Mom and Dad in tow who were very excited because they’d waited in line to see Stan Lee. Mom explained that, normally, the boys are bigger fans of DC Comics characters but that they had worn Marvel costumes in Stan’s honour!

A mini-debate raged as to which character each boy should get and Ty (father of three boys himself and no stranger to how long these debates can go) announced that he was doing each a picture of the character they were dressed as. Hulk was first and he was just big-eyed the entire time. When Spidey was next, Ty finished the quickie sketch with grey marker squiggles around the head.  The boys aahed in unison and quietly announced, “Spidey sense!” I think they were the highlight of the afternoon for me.

The son at work

I left to get my kids to their next babysitting relative. Ran into my eldest child on the way out at work at The Silver Snail booth.

Ty stayed for three more hours (the show time was extended as the waiting time outside was soooooooooooooooooooooo long for sooooooooooooooooooooo many. As I left, the story going around was that 1000 people had to leave in order for any to be admitted. Don’t know if that was true, but the staff member at the exit had a clicker in her hand).

I met up with Ty later, and we went out to dinner with a bunch from the Toronto Cartoonists Workshop. That was a lovely end to a busy, hectic day.

Fan Expo Canada 2010–Friday August 27

Ty is in post-con mode–tired, exhausted, fatigued…but with lots of work that he couldn’t do over the last three days. So, as he catches up with deadlines on oh-so-many exciting projects, he’s asked me to quickly “throw something on the blog”.

So, to be frank, I posted something to my own blog…but I’ll try my best here. Nothing fancy–a few pics, and maybe a comment or two!

Friday–

Ty at TCW booth (photo Rachael Wells)

I was home with the younger kids while Ty and the teenager were free and easy, men about town, wandering the Convention Centre, checking it out. Okay, in reality, the boy hung out at Dad’s place in Artists’ Alley, or he wandered around looking for loot (I think his favourite moment was the three? six minutes? of Halo Reach demo after the hour wait in line). Dad was off at the Toronto Cartoonists Workshop booth chatting with students past, present, and potentially future.

Members of the Fit-to-Print course were on a schedule, for the weekend, to do signings at the booth; talk to people about the Holmes Inc. comic and course, and about TCW itself. For some of them, it was their first time at a comic convention on the other side of the table.

Kathleen Gallagher/writer and Eden Bachelder/artist for "Night Clubbing" from Holmes Inc. (Photo Rachael Wells)

Some members of Holmes Inc. actually had tables as well. I spotted Christopher Yao there with a table for his own work (with maybe one of the best names for a company going, Yaoza Graphics). And I spoke briefly with Adam Gorham who was hanging out with Big Sexy Comics, for which he draws Teuton.

Christopher Yao at his booth

Gibson Quarter sketching

In Artists Alley, Ty was seated beside Gibson Quarter who drew Flight Plan for

Gibson Quarter sketching in Artists’ Alley

Holmes Inc.  On Gibson’s other side was the one and only Leonard Kirk, who is teaching a course with TCW this fall.  To the right of Ty was seated David J. Cutler who is the penciller for Northern Guard, the Johnny Canuck mini-series Ty wrote for Moonstone Books (due out beginning in Novermber). By luck (or intentionally?) on David’s other side was Jason Edmiston, who is the incredible artist behind the cover for Hoverboy #1, and the same upcoming Northern Guard mini-series (as well as many, many other projects…check out his gallery of work).

Leoanrd Kirk wondering why the heck I was taking a picture of him.

So, Ty came back pretty happy to have been able to spend time with his students, to show off the finished Holmes Inc. comic, and to see everyone in Artists’ Alley.

And I totally forgot (’cause, you know that whole “I wasn’t there” thing)–Ty did a mini version of a Comic Book Bootcamp lecture. Was thrilled with it–said it was one of the biggest groupws he’d had for one, and thought everyone was very receptive to it.

Keiren

The KEVIN FAN. Saturday Morning Toons!

Try to escape the power of the Bun Toon! It's hopeless! You're all trapped!

I’m off at the FanExpo convention all weekend, pushing the Holmes Inc. book and sketching for the comics peeps.  But I’ve saved a True-Life Adventure to share with you from a convention from years past.  Another factual story pulled from a sketchbook, every word of this is verbatim from the original conversation.  Read on…if you DARE!

Of course, darn near everyone I’ve ever met at a convention was the nicest person evah!  This story is from many years ago, precisely because it’s been so long since I came across someone this rude.  But we all get ’em sometimes, and it’s best to laugh, or there’d be too many arrests.

See you at the convention!  ( Remember that I’m at P66A in Artists’ Alley, or from 2-4pm at the Toronto Cartoonists Workshop booth #4009.) Or see you online!

Go here for the epic Hulk vs. Buddha fight!! And here for Superman vs. Jesus!

TY THE GUY OUT!

Here now, your comic book convention moment of zen.

ZERO, ZERO, ZERO!!!

YOU HEARD ME!

ZERO!

ZERO!

ZERO!!!!!

That’s how many days left until you can get a copy of HOLMES INCORPORATED in your hot little hands! Sidle up to the Toronto Cartoonists Workshop booth (#4009) with your money in hand–$5.95! SO CHEAP! We’re practically GIVING it away! FIFTY-TWO PAGES!  The STARS of TOMORROW working TODAY!

Why are you still here? Unless you’re reading this on your iPhone, leave the computer immediately and head on down to Fan Expo Canada 2010!

See ya there!

Ty the Guy!!