To say that
Calgary Expo was a success would be an understatement. Two Gargoyles Comics broke its previous year’s sales record, and the comics and art were well-received.
Standing out amongst the books was
Twilight Detective Agency #1, still going strong as our top seller. Haven’t read it yet?
You can order it here, for print or download!
Jeremy Thew’s art prints were a hit; he had such luminous images as
Rogue, Wonder Woman, and the
White Queen on offer. I’m encouraging him to set up his own site so they can be made available outside of conventions– stay tuned for more on that! He was also sketching like a madman at the table, coming up with ideas for future cons so stay tuned!
The
Thunder Graphic Novel tied neck-and-neck with
Diaperman for sales; I’m thinking now that there needs to be a convention special crossover comic! The Titan vs. the Toddler! Because YOU demanded it! Okay, you didn’t, but you were sooooooo thinking about it. Admit it. Just admit it.
In terms of merch, much was made of the
Krampuspresso Mugs, as modeled here by Jennie, a very satisfied customer (and coffee connoisseur)!
Shout-outs to
Ningen Headwear, Crafty Geeks, and the talented Lucas and Carol-Anne of
Hermit Sherpa for being great convention people, table neighbours (the former) and awesome drop-by friends (the latter).
Thanks also to the amazing con staff at the Calgary Expo! They continue to bring their “A” game every year. This expo is a “must attend” every year if you are at all interested in anything pop culture oriented!
Now comes the rest, planning, and brainstorming for next year– but within 30 days I’ll have a table at the
Panel One Creator’s Festival, here in Calgary, and as it’s the first year for such an awesome creator-driven, creator-focussed one-day festival I’m really looking forward to being blown away. The event has a
Facebook page here if you want more awesome details!
Oh, and didn’t I mention that it’s
THUNDER THURSDAY?? Issue 3 of
Thunder is now completely posted online, you can now
read the entire first three issues for free here on the site!
Hope you all had a fantastic weekend if you weren’t at the Expo, because if you were, then I already know you DID!
Best,
–Michael
Code Monkey Christmas
I shared a table with Kyle Burles at the Annual Calgary Horror-Con this past weekend! Although it’s a niche convention, I found the attendance and traffic very pleasing as a vendor, despite competition with the Red Deer Expo on the same weekend. On Saturday, Kyle and I were doing sales– he, VERY much so– before we’d even finished fully setting up our table. It was amazing! The first two hours were like a buying frenzy. Sunday was a slog, being almost dead for the first three hours with sporadic, intermittent sales. Things didn’t really pick up for me until about three in the afternoon.
I like this con because the audience is so targeted, but even within that there is diversity and variations on theme that allow someone like me– whose inventory includes but is not geared towards horror– to enjoy sales as well as those more devoted to the genre. For example, one of my top sellers was a shirtless picture of my Mage character, Mr. Punch– beefcake sells anywhere, I guess! My next best product was the “Krampuspresso” stickers and mugs– People enjoy parody, and feeling subversive, I think.
While I wouldn’t get my own table at this con, sharing one with Kyle makes it fun, attracts “sideshow” sales from his more genre-specific stuff and allows me to defray costs enough to create a decent profit. It is a smaller con than anything with “expo” in its name, but the audience is loyal, and strong.
This weekend, a family bought Twilight Detective Agency to read. And their seven year old boy DEVOURED it. I was told he was entranced, that he and his Dad read the comic together (and he read some to his Dad, and vice-versa) and he took the comic and put it in his special spot for his treasures afterwards. Man, you cannot buy a feeling like that. A seven-year-old just gave me the highest praise you can pretty much get from a kid who reads. Many thanks to Deanna Chalack Jones for this amazing story.
Keep an eye out this week for a smashing reveal of new comics! 
“Twogargs” is an independent publisher of comic titles, including the genres of superheroes, comedy, horror, and urban fantasy… with more to come.
You can read all about each title and individual issue on this site using the main menu above. You can purchase digital copies of these comics right here on the site, and print copies at Indyplanet, or at DriveThruComics.
Two Gargoyles Comics is based in Alberta, Canada, and appears live at conventions in Western Canada and wherever else the winds take us!
