It is that time of year again, time for the annual comic book convention. In this day and age, some have begun to call it the graphic novels convention. Which ever way it is phrased comic book conventions tend to gather people from all social stratas. The ages also vary, however, an average age of an attendee can be placed at around thirty years of age.
The style of comics that are presented for sale or display can vary tremendously. The common type of comic book one thinks of is the super hero comic. However, there are also more sinister and darker stories told with pictures. A graphic novel, such as it is called, means a novel told with graphics or pictures. This does not necessarily imply adult themed or erotic comics.
The presenters use different means to display their art. Some have photo images copied and enlarged to show the caliber of workmanship. Others might allow low grade editions to be carefully perused. Still some use technology to their benefit and display the books on LED backlight screens which provide for a more enhanced color display.
The presenters also incorporate different entertainment ploys. For example, some more prominent publishers would arrange for someone to dress up as a character and engage the crowds. This character would prance about the floor and lure in viewers. There are other ways to solicit attention, as well. Most graphic based stories involve some type of tragedy or violence. There is also the occasional sexy heroine or female in distress. As cliche as it may sound, it happens.
There was one artist that stood out this year. He had gone as far as to hire a band to play's his story's theme song. The band was composed of a drummer, a takamine acoustic guitar player, and a singer. Dancers were positioned on either side of the band for effect. Hopefully, the artist was able to generate enough sales revenue to offset his expense. The expense of some of these displays can be staggering.
As a convention attendee I usually have fun and also find some inspiration. The stories are generally about the triumph of good versus evil. Other story plots can be more diabolical or even serve a fetish. There are some that can be likened to a soap opera and others are more intense in nature, including gore and nudity. The more recent comics tend to have more contemporary story lines as opposed to being placed in the distant past or future.
The overall experience is very unique and highly engaging. The convention puts on display the work of many talented artists. The industry is a tough one to break into. For an artist to be successful, he or she generally needs a great story line and an engrossing character. Then this has to be artistically rendered. The competition is fierce.
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