I had a blast at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival this weekend! So many great comics, creators, publishers and friends. Here's a quick little bullet point recap.
Friday
- Arrive at 3pm after some clusterfuckery at the airport. Thanks to good pal Phil for letting me crash in his hotel with him. Great catching up with him as well.
- Everyone is in the same hotel, so ran down to Becky Cloonan and Andy Belanger's room to hang a bit. Off to a good start!
- Poutine. Had to go get some.
- Dinner with the Self Made Hero crew consisting of Emma Hayley, Sam Humphrey, Glyn Dillon and Judith Vanistandael. Judith is great and told an awesome story about her chickens. Apparently, a hen will act like a rooster if there isn't a rooster around. CHICKENS ROLEPLAY!!!
- Party at the Pilot bar after. Lots of pals around. And good buddy Paul Pope had a proof copy of Battling Boy to show around. Hung w/ loads including Marc Ellerby, Adam Cadwell, Paul, Andy, Becky, etc.
- Around midnight, Emma of Self Made Hero asks me to moderate a panel next day w/ Judith. Yikes! Not prepared! But, they are good friends and Judith's graphic novel When David Lost His Voice is fantastic. Plus, if there is a dull moment I can just bring up her chickens.
- Much drinking. Home waaaaaaaaaay late.
Saturday
- Did some research to prep for spotlight w/ Judith for her panel which went willingly. And yes, I mentioned the chickens. (The audience loved it).
- Stopped by old pal Monica Gallagher's table and caught up with her. And I interviewed her too!
- Ran into many a local pal including Katie Beaton, Willow Dawson, Agnes Garbowska, Tory Woollcott, etc. So great to see them all!
- Didn't purchase may comics but got given free comics from many including Willow, Adam, Becky, Jonathan Baylis, etc. Thanks to all!
- Dinner at haunted steakhouse, Keg Manor (Mansion?) w/ huge group including Marc, Adam, Becky, Andy, Clark, Agnes, Jamie McKelvie (who was trying to fly under the radar unsuccessfully), Molly, etc. Alas, no ghosts. I was hoping for a ghost steak.
- Again, another party at the Pilot bar. Lotsa good hanging with pals and much more drinking. MUCH MORE.
- Molly and I escaped the clutches of the Sarlaac Pit. I don't think Boba did though.
Sunday
- Stayed in a bit to do research for many a planned interview.
- Lotsa interviews. Jess Fink, Agnes Garbowska, Lucy Knisley, Patrick McKeown, Frederick Peeters, Alice Quinn, Renee Nault, Faith Erin Hicks. Alas, missed David B.
- Bought a few comics. Full disclaimer. I didn't buy as many as I normally did but certainly wanted to. To be fair, many publishers are generous and have given me some in advance so I already had them. Still, I did buy some cool ones!
- The show ends and what the hell...IT'S HAILING! Alas, I didn't get super powers.
- I conducted one of my popular podcast dinners which Becky Cloonan has dubbed a "Dinterview" (dinner+interview=dinterview!). Attending were Becky Cloonan, Paul Pope, Glyn Dillon and Monica Gallagher. We were there about 2 1/2 hours and it was sooooooo much fun. I recorded 2 hours of it and it is gold! (Available later this week).
- Late to the party at Lee's Palace but people were still there rocking it. Fun hanging with Monica, Marc, Adam, Paul and others.
- Karaoke happened with Paul, Becky, Andy, and others. OH DID IT HAPPEN. Another late and fun night.
Monday
- Slept late and checked out at 12pm. Took the subway (very easy to figure out in Toronto...come on, NYC!) to meet up with Marc Ellerby and Adam Cadwell for lunch and to record the podcast. As I was standing on the corner at the stop closest to where they were staying, up comes my bud Paul Pope. He was off to lunch by himself so I asked him to join us. After Marc and Adam stopped shrieking like girls, we all went off and bonded over burgers, poutine and comics. Super fun!
- Recorded the podcast with Marc and Adam. Just a TCAF recap (so, basically...everything you see written here including what they observed). Of course, we had some laughs along with the commentary.
- Off to grab my bag at the hotel. Then on the subway to a shuttle to the airport. Gotta say, the past 2 times I flew into Toronto, I took Porter air and they fly into a different/nicer airport. Pearson airport gave me some issues both at arrival and departure. Will def be flying Porter next time I go.
- Thanks for the great time, Toronto! Hope to see you soon!
Me and Becky Cloonan
Me and Monica Gallagher
Me and Jess Fink
Me and Lucy Knisley
Me and Patrick McEown
Me and Frederick Peeters
Me and Agnes Garbowska
Me and Alice Quinn
Adam Cadwell, me, Marc Ellerby
See above
Me and Faith Erin Hicks
Paul Pope, Adam Cadwell, Marc Ellerby post-last day lunch with them.
Dinterview with Paul Pope, Monica Gallagher, Becky Cloonan, Glynn Dillon and me!
Marc Ellerby and Adam Cadwell at their table
The first floor. Comic goodness!
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