Kansas City Comic Con 2003 November 15-16

I was privileged to attend the Kansas City Comic Convention as a guest this time around, as a member of the Kansas City Comic Creators Network. The KCCCN table featured many of the talented mainstream and independent comic creators who participate in the group, including B. Clay Moore (Hawaiian Dick), Jeff Blascyk (Silencer), Duane Cunningham, Mark Stinson, Mad Hawkins, Shawn Geabhart, Josh Cotter, Jason  Arnett, Shaun Gray, Parrish Baker, Arie Monroe, Michelle Kelley, Greg Gildersleeve and several others. (Members Kerry (Halo and Sprocket) Callen and Anthony (Amigoman) Oropeza also had tables of their own.)

The KCCCN table showcased numerous independent comics created by the members, as well as the group's first Show & Tell anthology trade paperback (recently accepted for national distribution). The show also debuted the new 24 Hour Comic paperback featuring stories created by members in a single day-long marathon, each copy made unique by gold-stenciled spraypaint designs applied individually at a group event! (The convention badge pictured above was designed by pro artist Steve Lightle, one of the show's special guests.)

The convention was held at the Shawnee Civic Center under the auspices of the Kansas City Comic Book Club. The group meets monthly (first Sunday, except holiday weekends when the meet the second Sunday) at the 1,000,000 Comics store at 95th and Nall, where they discuss comics and plan their group activities.

The shot of the south end of the convention center at right shows my long-time friend Bob Beerbohm's display at lower right. Bob and I grew up about a hundred miles apart in Nebraska; he lived (and lives) in Fremont, and I grew up in Hastings. We've known each other since high school days. In addition to his activities as a dealer in comics, Bob has distinguished himself by becoming a respected scholar and author on the subject of the pre-history of comic books. His recent studies have publicized the groundbreaking work of Swiss cartoonist Rodolphe Toeppfer, thus pushing the recognized history of the comic book back more than half a century earlier than had previously been believed.

I spent the Friday night before the convention in nearby Lawrence, Kansas with my sister Lisa, her husband Jim, and my new little nephew Jack, then drove into the Kansas City metro area early Saturday morning. I picked up my credentials and ventured down onto the floor, where I greeted Bob and his assistant Mark. Left a photocopy of the comics story I'm currently working on with Bob, who instantly recognized the first section for what it is: a paraphrasing of the closing pages of Dr. Wertham's book Seduction of the Innocent.

I did a quick once-around on the convention floor, checking out the dealers and artists. Then it was off to find the Kansas City Comic Creators Network setup and fulfill my commitment to spend some time working the table.

I originally met some of the KCCCN folks at the Planet Comicon in Kansas City at the end of March, and then again at the Des Moines convention this summer. In September I drove down to participate in the Release Party for the Show & Tell book. From these contacts I had already met several members, including Shawn Geabhart, Mark Stinson, Joyce Kelley and Duane Cunningham. But sitting at the convention table gave me chance to meet several others whom I'd only known through their postings on the KCCN message board  -- and through their work -- like Jeff Blascyk and Anthony Oropeza (who were set up at a table across the aisle), Arie Monroe and others.

I put copies I'd made up of some of my older mini-comics out on the table for public consumption, and picked up copies for myself of comics done by others, including the 24 Hour Comic, Josh Cotter's excellent Skyscrapers of the Midwest, and Jason Arnett's I Make Believe, a useful collection of his essays on mini-comics publishing.

Lunchtime passed unnoticed as I alternated sitting at the table with trips around the dealer's displays and Artist's Alley. Early afternoon brought the much-anticipated KCCCN panel discussion. (Photo below courtesy Jeff Blascyk.)

The panel shared their histories, and frankly discussed the rewards and pitfalls of working in independent comics and self-publishing.

Below are photos of some of the convention's special guests. I spoke to them all, and was lucky enough to buy nice, affordable pages from Norm Breyfogle and Casey Jones. (I already own pages by Willingham and Lightle.)

The convention wound up it's Saturday schedule at 5 p.m., and I adjourned with Bob Beerbohm to find dinner in Kansas City -- a task made especially urgent by my lack of lunch! A group -- eventually including Bob and me, his assistant Mark, Dean Phillips from Krypton Comics in Omaha and his associate Bob, Jamie Graham from Chicago's Graham Crackers chain and his partner, and Planet Comicon organizer Chris Jackson -- ended up going to a most excellent Italian buffet restaurant called Cinzetti's. It was honestly one of the best meals I've ever enjoyed -- small portions made up from scratch at dozens of serving stations, leading to fresh-tasting and well-presented food in an amazing variety. I'd highly recommend Cinzetti's to anyone in the KC area, but call ahead -- they were very busy, and they deserved to be.

After dinner, it was back to Lawrence and my family and a good night's sleep. Sunday noon I was treated to another excellent meal, this time at an Indian buffet restaurant in downtown Lawrence. Then, filled with lentils, tandoor bread and curry, it was back to Shawnee for the convention's second day.

It turned out that scheduling conflicts were going to bring the convention of a mid-afternoon finish. But there was still time to place second in Bud Bortner's comic book trivia contest -- finishing just ahead of the entertainment writer from the Kansas City newspaper by winning a tie-breaker based on the Beverly Hillbillies! (I passed my prize on to a little girl contestant, since I was a guest of the convention.)

Downstairs, I added a small drawing to a jam page that the KCCCN was contributing to the auction. When the page was finished, I took it upstairs and added it to the art and other items that were being offered. I stayed to participate, though I was outbid on most of the art -- including, sadly, the jam piece, which I'd hoped to own -- and usually by my fellow Comicart-l list member Greg Huneryager, one of the convention organizers. I did come away with some nice trade paperbacks cheap, and with a sketch of Sprocket by my friend Kerry Callen.

One last time around the convention floor, picking up some Fox & Crow and Sugar & Spike comics I'd had my eye on -- then good-byes to my friends in the group, and it was time to hit the road for the four-hour drive back home to Nebraska.

I'll plan to be back both for the Planet Comicon in the spring, and for the next Kansas City Comicon in June. Scheduled guests for the June show include writer Steve Gerber, artists P. Craig Russell, Kevin Nowlan and Alan Weiss, and DC art director Mark Chiarello -- which ought to make for an excellent show! Details can be found on the Kansas City Comicon website.

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