The Crooked Little World: Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF) 2007 Report

In short, if you want to skip the report and just get my feel of this event, it was AWESOME! WICKED! FANTASTIC! MAGNIFICENT! You get the idea...

Those that choose to read on, well... read on.

Saturday, my brother and I made the trip to Old Victoria College for the 2007 Toronto Comic Arts Festival.

The original plan, leave home at 9:15am-9:30am. That didn't happen. We left home around 9:50am. Didn't get out of Tim Horton's until 10:15am. Got down the Bloor and Avenue around 10:35am. Parked and started walking towards Old Victoria... then my bro reminded me about the camera I left in the car. Made the walk back to the car, then back towards Old Vic. Stepped inside of Old Victoria College just before 11am. Finally, TCAF!

The first room I went to see was the RAID Room. I had to check out their set-up, which was really nice. I didn't stay too long, because I wanted to check out everything else. Walking out of the RAID Room, I notice Milo and Kathryn coming down from the second floor, so I had to go see them. Edward also appeared. I found out the 411 at that present time.

First person I went to see was James Jean. Much like my brother, James Jean was one of the people I had stuff for signing, that was weighing me down, so he was one of the first people to see on my list.

I also got an amazing Snow White sketch from him.

Next, I went back to the RAID Room, and there was Milo and Kathryn again, chillin'. I also saw Kevin Boyd in the room, sporting his new pimp-stick! Look at what he pimped out to me! (Thanks again for picking this up for me, Kevin! If this paragraph sounds wrong in any way, please let me know, and I'll change it).

I decided now was a good time to check out the upstairs of the Old Vic. Steady crowd in the foyer. I got to the end to see Adrian Alphona was there. I got in line, in hopes of picking up his new sketchbook, Sweet Bizarre, and getting a sketch. I was able to get both. I got a sketch of Captain America on a Fallen Son Blank Cover. Mine is the "Happy" Captain America... since my bro got a "Sad" Captain America on his copy of the Fallen Son Blank Cover, a little while before me.

I went down to the Signing room, to get in line for Darwyn Cooke. Walking into the room, the line for Paul Pope was twice the size (Allison was first in that line). My priority was Darwyn, in hopes of getting another sketch from him, to add to my collection. Unfortunately, due to the line, the signing time, and the panels he had, he wasn't able to do any (detailed) sketches. He said to try again on Sunday. If that doesn't happen, then I'll just have to try again the next time he's in town.

While in the line, Allison pointed out the Darwyn Cooke's mock-up of Paul Pope's Eye Weekly cover. If anyone knows, was it Steve Manale that made the mock-up?

Paul Pope's Eye Weekly (L), Darwyn Cooke's Mock-up (R)

After getting some books signed by Darwyn and J. Bone, I jumped into the ever growing, Paul Pope line. I got a couple of books signed, as well as a sketch of The Thing.

At this point, I got to explore the rest of TCAF, wanting to see what were in the other rooms. It was a very different set up this year, compared to the last TCAF (held in the back parking area between Honest Ed's and The Beguiling).

I went back upstairs to see Bryan Lee O'Malley. I picked up Lost At Sea and the Annotated Scott Pilgrim from him. I haven't read Lost At Sea, so it was something to get for myself. I also got the kick-ass sketch on the right, of Scott Pilgrim with Captain America's Shield! Defending Toronto, after The Wrecking Crew and Omega Flight helped destroy it!

All of a sudden, the entire second floor foyer was packed, and it was a struggle to try to even move from my spot infront of Mal's table. I wanted to look through the original pages for sale, but wasn't able to, so I ended up squeezing my way out of the second floor.

I ended up doing some more roaming, and eventually made my way back to the car to drop off some stuff. I also went to grab lunch at Subway Sandwiches. I ended up eating it outside of the Old Vic, watching Paul Pope chatting with Mark Askwith and Natasha Eloi.

I went back in to see Dave Sim, since I realized, he did a cover in the Ultimate Spider-Man 100 Project, and wanted to get it signed, since he was only there on Saturday. He was quite surprised to see that book, since he didn't know they released a collection of it (same goes for J. Bone and Cameron Stewart, when I brought the book to them to get signed).

I was also able to get a quick sketch of Cerebus from Dave (he was busy at the last two Paradise Toronto Comicons, for me to get one back then).

Also in the room, after their signing time ended, were Joe Matt, Seth, and Chester Brown. They were still signing and sketching for everyone who lined up. I only went to see Seth, since I really enjoyed Wimbledon Green, when I read it over a year ago, when I was on the nominating committee for the Joe Shuster Awards. Fantastic book, which everyone should read, if you haven't already. I got a sketch of the title character, Wimbledon Green.

I went back upstairs to check out who wasn't too busy, since earlier, it was pretty hectic upstairs, and I didn't want to fight the crowd (again). Evan Dorkin was one of the people I wanted to meet. He was chatting with other fans. I wanted to check out the artwork he had for sale, but due to my positioning at the table, I could only see a few pages in his portfolio. I was able to get a quick sketch from him, of Milk & Cheese.

While chilling in the stairwell, with Milo and Iby (of Digital Kontent), Salgood Sam walked by and notice me. I'll be honest, I never met him before, so I didn't know what he looked like (sorry Max). He did recognize me, from the reference photos of me, used for a character in Therefore Repent!. You can see me as Simon, the variety store owner, who is "Left Below" (sorry, The Simpsons reference), after the Rapture. (NOTE - This was the only book I read after getting home on Saturday. I really enjoyed this book. If you get the chance to get a copy, do so).

After, I went to see Becky Cloonan after, who just got out of a panel she was part of. I wanted a sketch, but didn't know of who, so I asked for her favourite superhero growing up. She sketched up Namor for me. I also picked up East Coast Rising, which I hope to be reading soon.

At this point, it was just I was pretty much done for the day. I just went around looking around at the tables, chatting with many local guests, getting stuff signed, and picking up some books items that I didn't mention yet (The Annotated Northwest Passage, and Diesel Sweeties Pocket Book Volume One). My brother and I called it a day, after 6pm, and went to get some Pho, close to home (at one of the plazas outside of Vaughan Mills).

Sunday more for me to try to get the copies of Comics Festival! signed by the guests that I haven't gotten to sign them yet, and to see Jose Villarrubia.

Upon walking in, I saw Kathryn walking around near the foyer. See told me that Milo and Iby were getting charicatures done by Joe Bluhm (who seemed to be busy throughout the day, and popular amongst the guests, many of which, got their charicatures done). I passed on it, though, I'll admit, I kind of regret not getting one done.

I went up to see Bryan Lee O'Malley again, since it was less hectic on the second floor, than it was the day before. I got to look through the original art pages, and I ended up getting on from the "Free Scott Pilgrim: Free Comic Book Day Edition" issue.

I went back down to the RAID Room, to see Ramon Perez, re-organizing his table space. I got a sketch of Jay Garrick (Golden Age Flash), and picked up one of his pre-done pieces, of Black Cat.

I also place a bid down for the RAID Jam Piece silent auction, which ridiculously cheap at the time (and within the price range I could afford). And who would be the one to raise of the price right after me? Doug Simpson (of Paradise Comics). For those that are unaware of the relivance, he did the same thing to me at Paradise Toronto Comicon 2007. *Shaking Fist*.

Nah, I knew it wasn't gonna end at the price I put down, but it was some wishful thinking on my part. I didn't get to see the finish piece, or find out who won, and for how much, but it was looking pretty good the last time I saw it during the day.

I went roaming, and found Milo, Kathryn, Iby, and Big Saif around James Jean's table. His table sign said he'll be showing up around noon, so I figured I'd wait too, though I waited outside of the room, to put away some stuff in my bag. I went back in, when I saw James Jean walking into the room, and I got in line, for another sketch.

I got a sketch of Death, which was in the exact same pose at my brother's Rose Red (and probably many of the other sketches during the weekend, by James Jean).

My bro and I went to get some lunch, and dropped off some stuff at the car.

I really didn't have anything to do, since I was mainly waiting for Jose Villarrubia to start his signing at 3pm. He started a little earlier for a couple of people, but then came back to the room just after 3pm. Since my bro took in the Darwyn Cooke workshop, I got his books signed by Jose Villarrubia, as well as mine. I also go the sketch on the right, of Superman.

From this point on, it was just getting sketches.

Mega Man by Jim Zubkavich; Jayne (The P.L.A.I.N. Janes) by Jim Rugg; Spider-Man by Adrian Alphona

I miss playing Mega Man on the classic, Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The memories of this game, just seeing Jim Zubkavich's print of Mega Man.

Jim Rugg had some really nice pages of American Virgin for sale, but I was pretty tapped out of funds by then.

Adrian Alphona's sketchbook, Sweet Bizarre, seems to have sold really well. If you haven't picked one up there, he should be selling them at Fan Expo Canada, this coming weekend. Or, check out Adrian's Website.

By 4pm, my brother and I called it a day, and went home.

In the end, the location was really great, though tight on the second floor foyer at times. I wish those with tables, had name plates/cards, or something infront or on the tables with their names, because it was tough finding some of the guests.

Everything I brought for signing, was signed, except for a couple of people on the Comics Festival issues, since I couldn't find them. I got great books to read. I got some kick-ass sketches. I got a page of original art from Bryan Lee O'Malley.

As I said at the beginning of this post, TCAF was AWESOME! WICKED! FANTASTIC! MAGNIFICENT!

Now here are some photos.

Around the RAID Room: