How often do you get the chance to sit about in a posh gallery in London and feel like an artist?!

[Lee Christien]

Hi,
Thought I'd do a quick blog about the Comica/London Underground Comics Event(http://www.paulgravett.com/comica/comica08/comica08.htm) which was held at the ICA in London this saturday gone.
Being fairly new to attending Small Press events I woke on saturday pretty excited, pulled on some clothes grabed my comics (that I would hopefully be selling loads of) and skipped to the train station. 'Toot toot'!! went the train to Victoria as it pulled into the platform, whoa!!! My step dads driving it! awesome (he's a train driver) I ran passed the crowded platform to the front of the train and had a giggle and a quick wink and tip of the hat to my stepdad, then all aboard!

The event itself was a hive of Exhibitor activity when I arrived, I spied Paul Gravett, who promptly gave me a handshake and a place to pitch up. (The guy's a Gent!) I was super happy as I was Sharing a table with Jay Eales and Selina Lock of the superb and long running Girly comic. They are two of the nicest and dedicated comic people I have met and you should defo check out their website and get their comic! They have just reprinted a collected edition of the first issues of the Girly comic and its great. (http://www.factorfictionpress.co.uk/girly/)

The London Underground Comics people were there too, check them out, they rule. (http://londonundergroundcomics.com/?p=302)

Atlantic press had a lovely collection of interesting and varied titles on their table. I love it when people take the idea of small press publishing and make some really beautiful stuff. DIY doesn't have to mean rubbish!
http://www.atlanticpressbooks.com/

Actual people other than 'Small press' creators (ie an audience!) were very thin on the ground and there were no small publications really outside of 'Comics' in attendance. I was suprised with the absense of anyone/
members of the public/people buying stuff. All in all for me personally it was quite a dull day!My thanks to Selina who kept an eye on my stuff while I doted about round the tables/to the bar/to the loo/tohave yet another cigarette/to look at the gallery etcetcetc, basicly anything other than sat a table looking at other people sat at tables!I don't think I'm cut out to be a shop keeper even for an hour, especially as no one even looked at my stuff or got anywhere close to do anything as absurd like buying one!I am hereby retiring from days like these :) phew!


Best bit of the day by far was heading back to brighty reading the New issue of the Whores of Mensa (http://www.whoresofmensa.com/). Some great stories and again lovingly produced! Check them out you won't regret it! Charming and hip