I'll Be Covering CXC This Week!
I'm a featured guest at the festival, and I'll be doing everything. I'll tell you about it.
I don’t know that anything gets me more excited than Cartoon Crossroads Columbus, now in its tenth year. CXC brings in cartoonists, animators, and writers from around the world. No movie stars promoting their new show, no toys—just comics and creators. I’ve been ever year except for one, and I’ve met a bunch of terrific people there, from Sergio Aragones to Daniel Clowes. I could list dozens more. And it’s free!
This year I am incredibly humbled and a little bit scared to announce that I am a featured guest for this year’s festival, promoting not only Pizza, Pickles, and Apple Pie, but my new book, Checkups, Shots and Robots, which comes out in November.
I will be doing a Talk and Teach on Thursday, a fun activity in the kids’ area on Sunday, and tabling in between. For the first time I get to do everything that the festival has to offer, as well as some special events only for the featured guests.
I always like to read people’s con adventures, so I’ll be posting here every day about CXC. Who I’ve met, what I’ve done, what surprised me, what was sensational. And if you check out the schedule and there’s something or someone that I can’t miss, tell me! I’m always excited to meet people. And if you’re there, stop by and say hi at my table!
So what am I looking forward to this year?
Getting my copy of Maus signed by Art Spiegelman
I’ve met Spiegelman a couple of times, and he’s the guy to go to if you want to have an in-depth conversation about comics. I happened to catch up with him at the tail end of a presentation the first year and chatted with him for a few minutes. However, he is very particular about his signings. If you want a copy of Maus signed, you have to have him sign another of his books as well (I’m bringing my copy of his Plastic Man book).
Plus, he only signs for an hour and then leaves. There have been times that I’ve been stuck behind people that insist on disrespectfully chatting it up with the artist while others are waiting (this usually happens with guys like Mignola) so I’m going to get out there early. I was hoping to see him earlier in the week, but he isn’t getting there until Friday. Here’s a pic of Mignola and Jeff Smith from 2019.
Meeting Ed Steed
I love New Yorker cartoons, and this guy is great. I have no idea what he looks like so I will have to do a bit of hunting or hope that he has a name tag on when I see him. I am also hoping that he has his new book Forces of Nature there to buy before it comes out.
Having a longer conversation with Kate Beaton
Beaton was there the first year, and I was only able to say a few kinds words to her before she went off to her presentation. At the time she and I were kind of doing the same kinds of comics, and by that I mean she was killing it and I was just middling along with no real agenda for what I wanted to make.
I know I have a picture of that panel that she had to dash off to be at, but I can’t find it.
Talking with Jerry Craft
Because who wouldn’t want to meet a Newbery Medal winner?
Becoming a new fan of someone
There haven’t been too many festivals where I haven’t met someone In a talk or presentation and become a fan. It happened a couple of years ago with Tom Gauld, who came all the way from England. I bought a copy of his latest book, and then proceeded to buy every other book he published. And even this cool card game that I may never play or look at more than once, but I had to have it.
So that’s what you have to look forward to starting Wednesday. Subscribe if you don’t want to miss a post!
Your passion for comics and the festival is contagious. How you look forward to meeting artists and fans makes the post both personal and inviting. Seeing your excitement about promoting your latest work alongside such well-known creators is also great.