Every year there is a comic book convention. Some even call it a graphic novels convention. Whatever, the case may be, the convention usually brings together a wide variety of people from different occupations, regions, and heritage. The average age of the attendee is probably closer to thirty.
The style of comics that are presented for sale or display can vary tremendously. The common type of comic book one thinks of is the super hero comic. However, there are also more sinister and darker stories told with pictures. A graphic novel, such as it is called, means a novel told with graphics or pictures. This does not necessarily imply adult themed or erotic comics.
The convention presenters have a lot of different means at their disposal to show off their work. Many, often, enlarge certain photo images to give a glimpse into their work and style. Still others might even let the public handle some of their lesser prized books. Technology has also made its way into the comic book circles. Many, in fact, use LED backlight screens, to display their images. These screens allow for greater breadth and depth of colors to be displayed.
The convention also brings together an entertainment aspect. For instance, many larger publishers would hire and arrange for a person to dress up as one their major characters. The person would then walk about the floor to engage and garner the attention of the attendees. Obviously, there are many ways to grab people’s attention. In general, most of the story lines that sell involve some type of violence and a sexy heroine or woman in distress. This is a bit clich’, but true.
There was one artist that stood out this year. He had gone as far as to hire a band to play’s his story’s theme song. The band was composed of a drummer, a takamine acoustic guitar player, and a singer. Dancers were positioned on either side of the band for effect. Hopefully, the artist was able to generate enough sales revenue to offset his expense. The expense of some of these displays can be staggering.
As a convention attendee I usually have fun and also find some inspiration. The stories are generally about the triumph of good versus evil. Other story plots can be more diabolical or even serve a fetish. There are some that can be likened to a soap opera and others are more intense in nature, including gore and nudity. The more recent comics tend to have more contemporary story lines as opposed to being placed in the distant past or future.
The experience is definitely unique and puts on display the talents of some of the newer and up and coming artists. Breaking into the comic book industry is a tough challenge. One not only needs a great story, but an engaging character. Then the story has to be displayed artistically. The competition can be fierce.
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