Gutters

How we get from one place to the next

Belle County Comic Con wasn’t the biggest success, but it was a great experience. The best part about doing these out-of-town shows is meeting brand new fans and creators that inspire me to keep plugging away.

I only have one last show booked for the year and I’m excited for it. Eastern Rim Comic Con in Baytown, TX is run by Jerry Shafer, one of Houston's greatest comic book ambassadors. His conventions always put creators in the spotlight, and he shows ultimate appreciation for the artform. It’s going to be fantastic.

On a slightly different note, I almost feel like “phase 1” of my comic career is ending. I know - it sounds a bit odd, or dramatic, but it seems as if the stars are aligning in a way that focuses on the future rather than the past. I feel as if I’m a much different creator than I was six years ago. I had certain thoughts on what I wanted my comics to be, or rather, what kind of progression that I wanted to have in comics. As I have read, studied, listened, written, and drawn over the last handful of years, this ever-changing medium has led me to the styles, forms, and genres that I truly connect with, and they are very different from what I envisioned at the beginning. I spoke to an aspiring creator who asked for advice at Bell County Comic Con. I mentioned that a big part of the battle is finding your “voice” in comics. Capes, cartooning, realism, simplicity, slice of life… the list goes on. At this point in my career, I don’t think that I’ve fully defined that yet. Honestly, it will probably be ever evolving. I do think that I’m the closest that I have ever been, and the happiest that I’ve ever been creatively.

With that said, I may need to be more selective in the shows that I do. I’d love to be in the environments that are excited about indie comics and smaller press titles. I’d like to be where the focus is less on recognizable superheroes and more on new stories with distinct styles, and where the audience is seeking these types of comics. Of course, this isn’t to say that I never want to do pop culture focused shows ever again, those shows can truly be fun with a lot of traffic. I just want to be in environments with likeminded, comic book nerds like me who want to read different stuff.

SO, an upcoming opportunity for this is Houston’s Zinefest later this year. Currently, I’m getting some material prepped to apply for the event. I’m really hoping to get in so that I can meet creators and fans that are into this more “underground” form of visual art that encompasses everything from comics, articles, and truly what ever the hell you want to print out on paper. That’s my jam.

Anyways, thanks for listening to me reflect on comics like I’m in some sort of creative crisis. The end is nigh! Believe me, I’m not in apocalypse mode. I’m just super excited for this next “phase” as a writer/artist/cartoonist. I’ll be back next week with more on my process series. Until then, go out and pick up some random comics that you never heard of, or, if you have too many unread comics already (like me), grab one from the lot and make yourself a stiff drink. Post pics or it didn’t happen.

Thanks for your time,

Nico