Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF) 2011 Report

TCAF!

The 2011 Toronto Comic Arts Festival took place this past weekend (May 7th and 8th). Once again, it was a great show! I came out with more sketches, some reading material (I bought books this year!), and a cactus with a mustache!

The guest list did contain several familiar names that I always enjoy seeing, several familiar names that I wanted to see before, and a few new names that I wanted to meet.

Many of you know that Darwyn Cooke is one of my favourite comic creators (along with Jim Lee, and the late, Michael Turner), so it was nice to see Darwyn.

I am forever grateful for the sketches by Darwyn, as well. Just seemed wrong to have a "Catwoman" sketch collection, without one by the man that designed the current costume.

Darwyn also made mention of an upcoming cover he did, that he knew I would be interested to hear about. I won't reveal it, because I don't think I can, but I already know that I'll be picking up a copy of that issue!

Another creator that I wanted to see again, Jamie McKelvie. Love the sketches that he does. I decided to get two from him this year. Both came out awesome!

Little fact, it was Jamie McKelvie's birthday on Sunday May 8th, so Happy belated Birthday to him!

Here are a couple more sketches, from creators I have seen before, but just enjoy their works (and sketches), so I wanted sketches from them again.

The Catwoman is by Becky Cloonan. I also picked up her new self-published book, Wolves. Great read! Quick, but enjoyable!

The Black Cat is by Danielle Corsetto. I ended up buying the McPedro plush. These plush are very well made. Not sure what I'm going to do with a cactus plush, but it was a fun purchase.

The Zatanna collection grew some more, at this show. Some of which, I thought I wouldn't get, but ended up getting.

(L-R): Zatanna by Caanan Grall, Marian Churchland, and Marley Zarcone


(L-R): Zatanna by Joy Ang, Paul Pope, and Kate Beaton

I was considering getting a sketch from Caanan Grall (Celadore), back at Fan Expo Canada (I believe), but based on my overspending there, I cut him off my list then. From what I heard, his sketches were a little cheaper, back then, than now. I still went for it, and I am quite happy with how the Zatanna turned out.

I was pretty happy, when I saw that Marian Churchland was coming to Toronto, for TCAF. She was one name, that I found out about, during my time with the Joe Shuster Awards. I've picked up some of the books she's worked on, and enjoy her artwork. I have yet to pick up her graphic novel, Beast (I made the mistake of not buying it from her, at the show). I was hoping to get a sketch from her, and am very happy to have received one.

Marley Zarcone is another name that caught my eye. She has done some work on House of Mystery, and Madame Xanadu. If I'm not mistaken, she is also a Canadian resident (these things kinda stick out for me, after being with the Joe Shuster Awards). Marley also remarked the interior of the copy of Forgetless, that I bought off of her.

The one by Joy Ang, was something I was hoping to get last year. Last year, it just didn't seem like she was sketching, and didn't really look like she had anything to draw with, so I didn't bother asking (I did buy one of her prints, last year). Again, this year, it didn't seem like she was sketching, so I didn't bother asking... until Ryan went ahead, and asked if she was. So I waited until she was done with his sketch, before getting one for myself.

I wasn't really planning on seeing Paul Pope at this show, as I didn't really have anything significant, that I wanted to get signed. But, with my plans on attending TCAF on the Sunday, I figured I'd go and see him again. Thought it would be cool to get a Zatanna, by the "Jim Morrison of Comics."

The one by Kate Beaton, is another one, that I was hoping to get last year. She had an insanely long line, pretty much throughout the weekend, last year. The lines for her were long as well, but became non-existent, when she sold out of all the books and prints she had for sale. Figured I'd ask, and am thankful to get a Zatanna sketch from her, to add to my collection.

I was hoping to get a Zatanna from Jillian Tamaki, but was unsuccessful at that. She was willing to sketch a "superhero" that she made up, inside of a copy of "Inside Voice." Little bummed by being unsuccessful, but it was a gamble for me. Oh well.

The main reason why I went back to TCAF on Sunday, was to get a commission by Agnes Garbowska. I had the characters in mind, but I didn't know as to what pose or parody to do, so I didn't get on her commission list on Saturday. Still wanting the commission, I got on the list on Sunday, and just left it up to her, as to the pose.

My last purchase of the show, was a book that I've been meaning to get a little while back (okay, over a year ago). Lola: A Ghost Story, by J. Torres and Elbert Or (not in attendance).


With the exception of Wolves by Becky Cloonan, these are my purchases for the weekend.

I ended up staying for the bulk of the Sunday. I had originally planned on staying for a few hours, but did have to wait for the commission by Agnes Garbowska, to be complete (my fault, for getting on the list late).

TCAF was once again, a great show. Laid back, after the self-imposed initial rush (I did too much, too quickly, at the start of the show).

Kudos to Chris Butcher, and the TCAF crew & volunteers, on a job well done! Great show!