Behind the scenes with creators at Expo
While comic expos are big business for fantasy merchandisers and retailers, they can be a make-orbreak proposition for small-scale, independent artisans.
And when you’re in a last-minute scramble to both finish your product and get it into print, that’s cause for concern, if not downright panic.
“I started putting the book together halfway through January this year, and I finished at the beginning of April. It was a behemoth project and it entirely ate my life for nearly four months,” said Sebastien Ringuette, a Calgary artist with several graphic novels and comics to his name, including the 10-year anniversary collection that he barely got printed in time.
He only learned on April 5 that the online U.S. printer he had used in the past wouldn’t be able to handle the new book. He frantically called around for availability and a price he could afford. He stumbled across Supreme Printing, which would do the job — and at a better price than he’d been paying.
“It felt really good to be able to work with an actual, friendly person who could see that I was in an incredible rush and was able to help me. The guy who runs it … really saved my butt.
“This whole last-minute solution really was a small miracle.”
Ringuette managed to get 200 copies printed to sell at the expo, his seventh and likely last.
There will be hundreds of similar independent artists, illustrators and craftspeople displaying their work in both the Big Four and the BMO Centre this weekend. They are part of a vast array of attractions at the four-day event at Stampede Park. There will be photo ops (the Back to the Future DeLorean time machine and Star Wars’ 501st Legion guards), tabletop gaming, outdoor combat demos, an art book charity auction, a play zone for kids and a kid’s costume showcase (apply at Booth 126). It all kicks off Thursday with what’s known as “shopping night” for those looking for one-time deals on merchandise.
Relocated to the Big Four this year, this is ground zero for artists, both professional and amateur. Check out truly unique comics, drawings, paintings, jewelry and other items on display. Some of the artists will do live sketches on commission. Creator guests, including Jim Lee, Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld and Neal Adams will be joined here by local and regional artists. Inside the alley is another area called Small Press, which is focused on amateur artists and publishers trying to break into the industry. Here you can expect to find one-offs that are not for sale anywhere else in Calgary.
Whether you’re hardcore or just dabbling in it, Calgary Expo features two costume contests. A walk-on cosplay contest is geared to the casual dresser-upper with a $250 prize for the top outfit and $125 for second place. Check out the rules on Calgary Expo’s website under Attractions (calgaryexpo.com).
For those who spend many hours and dollars creating fantastic original costumes, Calgary Expo is hosting the Western Qualifier for FAN EXPO’s first Master of Cosplay Grand Prix. Held in Toronto on Sept. 1, it brings together the “Best in Show” contestants from each qualifying round. The winner pockets $5,000.
Find anything from T-shirts to toys, comics to Quidditch in the BMO Centre. There are more than 750 retailers and artists with a vast array of wares to show and sell. Locals to look for include: MakeFashion, which launched in 2012 by a trio of Calgarians and merges high-tech with high fashion; Geek Chic Creations, which makes jewelry based on books, video games, pop culture; and ZoltanGal’s collectibles, housewares and fashion items. This is also where Ringuette hopes to sell his 200 copies of What Have I Done.