Last Saturday I put on my World Famous Comics hat and set up a booth at the second annual Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival. It’s a small show, with around 1000 attendees, and this was our first attendance, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Lasting only five hours on Saturday afternoon, the festival is in reality one segment of the larger Vegas Valley Book Festival, a week long event that draws authors such as Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Gaiman.
We brought Spencer Brinkerhoff III.
What, you’ve never heard of Spencer Brinkerhoff III? You think I’m just making that name up? If Spencer could hear you laughing… well, he’d probably laugh too. Spencer is just about one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. He’s been doing licensed illustration for Lucasfilm properties for right around 2 years, and in that short amount of time has made something of a wave. He has a unique animated style of illustration that really sets him out from the crowd.
And did I mention he’s super nice? Like, Norman Rockwell kinda nice. I’ve only rarely seen someone on the exhibitor side of the table willing spend so much time and energy connecting with fans. Spencer is a great addition to the WFC roster.
Given the size of the show I wasn’t really sure what to expect. We were one of maybe twenty exhibitors and vendors, most of whom were set up under rented tents in the courtyard and along the side walk outside a public library. Traffic was sparse in the morning, comprised largely of confused Employment Challenged Individuals. Towards the middle of the afternoon it picked up though, and we had a pretty good time. If you were there and you came by the booth, thanks. If you weren’t, maybe we’ll see you next year.
Have you ever had one of those days where you spend all day running errands, driving back and forth across town, with the nagging thought, deep in the back of your animal brain, that there’s something you’ve forgotten. Some task left uncompleted. You remember, the night before, when you said to yourself, and others, “This is a thing I will forget.” While you can recall the conversation, as well as the prophetic remark, you can not recall the task itself.
I did.
I got an email from one of you around lunch time reminding me that Friday was the day for a new comic, and that one hadn’t been posted. I was no where near a computer, and wouldn’t be for some time, so I made a mental note to make arrangements later in the afternoon. Then I forgot again. Then I went out drinking. Then I fell asleep.
So, better late than never.
The implication that the tool Frank is brandishing was covered in blood. Now we know for certain. But who’s blood? A good question, one that will be addressed. I think a better question is, who is Frank’s hair dresser? This we may never discover.