Free Comic Book Day 2012
The Cottonstar crew at Free Comic Book Day 2012
This past week was a mad scramble to get our comics printed, sketched and to make sure everything else is ready for the Free Comic Book Day event which was held on Saturday (05/05/2012). Held annually on the first Saturday in May, FCBD has become rather a big deal to local comics- and illustrated arts fanatics. It was fantastic to see the crowd this one pulled! The Cape Town event (the one we attended) was hosted by the Reader’s Den comic shop (link in our “people we like” section) in Stadium-on-Main. We got there at 07:30 to set up, and the queues were already getting long. The event officially opens at 9, and by that time, the place was packed.
WHEW, what a day. There were several new comics being launched, at tables which Reader’s Den so generously offered to us FOR FREE, such as Parklife and Li’l Five by TheyDidThis:, Juvies by Jarred Kramer, Nagapie by Willem Samuel, The Passengers by Marc Day and Anthony Hodge, Apocalypse Chef by Chris Beukes and of course, the ever-increasingly awesome Velocity Graphic Anthology (winter 2012 issue) published by Neville Howard and Moray Rhoda, and all their contibuting artists, which include the talents of Pete Woo, Daniël Hugo, Lynton Levengood, Paul Loubser and many more.
There are plenty of photos available on our Facebook page!
We met so many cool new people and also spent some time with familiar faces. The energy among the artists and writers was great. But most of all, it was just so fantastic to see the amount of enthusiasm and excitement with which the local productions were greeted. This kind of enthusiasm is unprecedented in my experience and it can only bode well for local artists and writers! The quality of the publications was also very high, which is pretty awesome.
It was so much fun. Hard work, but fun! Watch this space, I think the South African comics scene is about to explode.
To everyone who came by to buy a comic, chat with us, exchange business cards, and/or pull generally encouraging faces, THANK YOU. You are helping us make our dreams a reality.
love
Ben & Danelle
