NYCC 2011 Fancy Photo Comic Part 1

“George Hurt You” shirts are in the store!!!

Part 1 of 3.

Who knew convention life could be so sexy. Or so meaty? This comic stars Lar, Sohmer, Becker (the meats destroyer) and Rich of Blind Ferret plus a few fans, a couple of breasts and a Cloverfield monster given to my by Hasbro at the show in honor of my Groverfield shirt.

I’ve only done a few conventions with Blind Ferret since they took over my merch and advertising earlier this year, and DAMN has it been an eye opener. I never imagined how much less stressful cons would be if I had a skilled support team backing me up. It’s such a relief to get to talk to readers, draw sketches, etc and not have to worry about finding a shirt size, making change or running credit cards. I can walk away from the booth and know that it’s in good hands, we have these amazing backdrops, all the merch is shipped straight to the con… it’s just such a departure from the DIY/hold everything together with cable ties approach I’ve been taking for the past 3 years. I am so grateful to those guys for everything they have done for me. So grateful, that I chose to make fun of them in nearly every panel of this photo comic.

COMMENTERS: Did you go to NYCC? I did! It was super fun times. Any NYCC stories you want to share? How about New York stories in general? There was a cop directing pedestrian traffic to the con who screamed, “IF YOU CAN READ A FREAKIN’ COMIC BOOK, YOU CAN CROSS THE STREET CORRECTLY!” Nerds, amirite? Always walking all over the place.

Indistinguishable From Magic

“George Hurt You” shirts are in the store!!!

All I know is that if you say, “Siri, call me Butt Commander,” it will reply thusly, “From now on, I’ll call you Butt Commander. Ok?” That alone is worth the price of entry.

COMMENTERS: Those of you with the iPhone 4s, are you actually using Siri? Is it a novelty or the beginning of our transition into a Star Trek reality. What would you like to see Siri evolve into (what functionality would you like to see added to the platform?) Have you gotten any surprising answers to your Siri-queries? When we were in New York this weekend, my friend Rob told Siri, “I want to see some boobs,” to which she replied, “Ok, there are 17 strip clubs in your area.”

Otherwise Occupied

“George Hurt You” shirts are in the store!!!

First and foremost, I AM NOT casting judgement. I am merely expressing my confusion at the fandom of teenage to adult males surrounding My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, a cartoon made for little girls. I’ve heard all the arguments. It’s well animated, well voice acted, well written, etc. I agree on all accounts. I still just don’t get it. That said, I have always been of the “Fan and let fan” mindset.

This comic is inspired by (and guest stars) my friend Lar, who I spent last weekend with at New York Comic Con. He was expressing an honest desire to understand the Bronies and what makes them tick (I suspect rainbows and sparkles are involved). Later he tweeted most of what I have portrayed him saying panel 1 and I couldn’t help but think he could have just as easily been talking about Occupy Wallstreet. I think he might have been offering himself as defacto leader if there was no other claim to the throne.

I talked to one of the guys at Hasbro (a Hasbrony?) about the Brony phenomenon. He said their official policy is “we don’t get it, but we love it.” He confirmed my suspicion that they are careful NOT to cater to Bronies with the production of the show or the official merchandise, because it would probably have the opposite effect and drive them away. What they are obsessed with is the show which Hasbro thought it was making for little girls. To alter course now, would likely alienate both core audiences. It was a very enlightening conversation that got me thinking about what happens when you create something and put it out there for mass consumption. The audience you get isn’t always the one you want, but rather the one you deserve.

COMMENTERS: Other than MLP:FiM, are there any shows, movies, or other entertainment products that you’ve enjoyed despite being out of the target demographic (age, gender, etc)? Speaking of Hasbro, when I was a kid I LOVED Jem. I was always too embarrassed to ask for the toys for my birthday. Eventually I got up the nerve and came up with this thing about how I wanted the guy (whatever Jem’s boyfriend’s name was) and I “might as well get the girl to go along with him.” The ruse didn’t work and I remained Jemless.

Guest Comic By Alina Pete of Weregeek

“Winter Is Coming” shirts are now IN THE STORE!!! [based on this comic]

NYCC Guest Week concludes all over your face! Massive impact crater! EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENT!

Thanks to all the Fancy Bastards that came out to NYCC. Since I am writing this the night before I leave for New York, I am assuming that non of you mugged and or murdered me. You know the old saying, “New York: The city so nice, they murdered you twice.” Regular comics of some sort (possibly LoFi or photo-based) will resume sometime tomorrow (Tuesday).

Alina Pete of Weregeek has the honorable distinction of (along with NYCC Guest Week Alumnus Sam Logan) of being one of the 4 or 5 Canadians I know. Unlike Sam, who has perfected a nearly (suspiciously) perfect American accent, save for the occasional stray “aboot,” Alina, being neither a spy or ashamed of her heritage, has a very cute Frost Elf (pardon my racial epithet) way of speaking which I find ADORABLE!

Alina makes a comic about geeks and nerds that play tabletop/roleplaying games along with other geekery, and nerdish leanings. I know that subject matter is very near and dear to many a Fancy Bastard, and I know I am not sufficiently catering to your needs in that area. Occaisionally I will repeat something I heard Wil Wheaton say about “rolling” and “dice bags” and “critical hits” or whatever, and that’s about the extent of my knowledge. Alina is here to SAVE YOU weary traveller! She has jokes that YOU will UNDERSTAND with your BRAINS and HEADS! SHOUTING! Also, one time she drew me in the background of one of her comics, which nearly excuses her putting me in a “David Willis shirt”. WILLLLLLLIIISSSSSSSSS! #nemesis

Funny enough, had I been making comics this week, I probably would have made this one. I find it really arrogant and uninformed that dozens of political cartoonists depicted Steve Jobs getting all buddy buddy with St. Peter. I don’t believe in Heaven or Nirvana (though I really enjoyed “Unplugged In New York”), but I still find it disrespectful to portray Steve Jobs in a religious manor contradictory to his beliefs. Of course I don’t really expect much from “modern” political cartoonists. They literally LABEL EVERYTHING so you fully understand beyond a shadow of a doubt why you aren’t laughing.

COMMENTERS: Using the standard tropes of political cartoons, come up with a better (by which I mean worse) comic to commemorate jobs in the dozens, if not tens of newspapers that are still in circulation. How about Steve Jobs as baby new year in a top hat that says “Steve Jobs,” and the Grim Reaper as the Statue of Liberty standing next to a pig that says “Big Oil” and a business man smoking a cigar that says “Iran” across his chest. A fitting tribute if there ever was one.

Also, how about that fucking panel 3 up there, huh? Jesus H. Chr… I mean, Alan H. Moore, that’s some serious shit. I might be so inclined as to turn that into a mobile wallpaper. First one of you to get that masterpiece tattooed on your back gets a lolly.

Guest Comic By Randal Milholland Of Something*Positive

Wil Wheaton and I got excited and made a thing! Check out our Gallifrey University Fighting Time Lords Shirt which you can purchase now over at Sharksplode.

NYCC Guest Week refuses to submit! Its will is too strong!

I am at New York Comic-Con with Blind Ferret at Booth #1821 right now and all this weekend (10-13 to 10-16). Come say hi. I will talk to you about Doctor Who and Breaking Bad, but I will not talk about Babylon 5 no matter how hard you beg, because I’ve never watched it. Say nice, words with your face, buy nice books and shirts with your cash and bring me cookies and such with your hands. These are simple instructions I’m sure you will do just fine. Going by Starbucks on your way to the booth? I take an iced grande soy latte. I will be giving out free “Sci-Fives” all weekend [the hand gesture, not the t-shirt].

Randy Milholland of Something*Positive is not just one of my favorite webcomicers, he is also one of my favorite people. We have shared many a convention table, many a long walk in an unfamiliar city and many a hotel room. Oh, the nightmare fuel he has bestowed upon me in those hotel rooms. The stories I’ve been told, the things I’ve seen. Boxer shorts to not always fully contain the horrors that lurk within their subtle flaps. And the beard? It goes all the way down. ALL. THE. WAY. DOWN. When the night is black and the wind is bitter cold, some say you can climb it straight down into Hell.

All of that said, in the words of Dumbledore upon the Death of Cedric Diggory, Randy is a fierce friend. Seriously. He will bend over backwards for a friend more often than sanity should allow and the size of his heart is matched only by the size of his beard (which is ironic because, as a parasite organism, his beard is tied directly into his circulatory system. I also expect his heart has it’s own beard).

COMMENTERS: Let’s explore the world of panel 1, where the sea is cats. What are the repercussions of a feline sea? What are these cat-ocean pirates all about? What the hell else is going on in this crazy ass Mar de Los Gatos world? OMG the beach would be so cute. The “tide” would scamper in and scamper out along the coastline. Though skipping stones seems like a bad idea now.