TCAF & those Crazy Trade-Ins!

For a couple of years I've been hearing more and more good things about the Toronto Comics Art Festival aka TCAF.

Everything I'd heard was true and more.

What a great weekend it was.
I got to meet a whole passel of creative people for the first time including: Eric Orchard, Jason Turner, Abby Denson, Jim Zubkavich and many others.

Got to say hello to old friends like Dan Clowes, Jim Woodring, Evan Dorkin, Dave Roman, Raina Telgemeier, Spike, and Charles Vess.

But I really didn't have a chance to have an in-depth conversation with any one of them due to the fast pace of the show. Fortunately the Great Northern Nexus Mark Asquith and I did have a chance for a lengthy chat towards the end of the show.

And had a chance to meet and chat with Bob Heer of Gunk'l'dunk who also brought me the raw beans needed for FREE Beanworld Action Figures. Thanks so much, Bob.

I greatly enjoyed giving my "The Leguminous History of Larry Marder & The Beanworld" talk.
It's changed over the years and it's now includes a lot more discussion about my influences. I'll be giving some version of it at Comic-Con this July. The Q & A was particularly lively and vivid, talking about Art and Science and everything in between. I believe a good time was had by all.

I sat at my table the entire run of show drawing and talking and drawing some more.
A lot of good sketches and drawings went to good homes!

As always there were Crazy Trade-Ins.
Pics of them start here.
A few pics of the artists and such starting here.

Thanks to all connected to both the TCAF & Beguiling crews particularly Christopher Butcher, Peter Birkemoe, and Gina Gagliano. Gina got me hooked up early with their techie guy, Parrish, making sure the PowerPoint presentation was pre-loaded and ready to go.

TCAF is such a well run show. Very dedicated & attentive staffers & volunteers. Highest possible recommendation!


And last, but hardly least, a hearty Hoo-Hoo-HA & A Hoka-Hoka-HEY to Natalia Lopez who was drafted by the amazingly efficient Gina into watching my table when I was upstairs giving my panel.


I'm pretty sure Natalia didn't quite know what she was getting herself into...but she got to witness first hand what it is happens when kids & grown-ups are snagged by the FREE Beanworld Action Figures display and the light bulb of recognition goes off over their heads.
Thanks, Natalia. You were a life-saver!

Larry Marder at TCAF this Saturday & Sunday!

WHO: Larry Marder & many, many more
WHAT: Toronto Comic Artys Festival
WHEN: Saturday May 8th, 9am-5pm & Sunday May 9th, 11am-5pm
WHERE: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St., Toronto, Canada, 416-533-9168
WHY: Because admission to TCAF is Free

I'll be perched at table 115.

The Leguminous History of Larry Marder & The Beanworld
Saturday, May 8th, 2:15 – 3:15pm - Novella Room

Learn how beans have been part of Larry Marder’s life since the day he was born! The rich visual presentation covers the entire history of his peculiar fantasy dimension including discussion about Marder’s many influences. This is your opportunity to discover why Beanworld has captivated readers from grade school to grad school since its first publication as a series of comic books in the 1980s. Now Beanworld is at Dark Horse Comics entertaining an entire new generation of fans. Be the first to get a glimpse into Marder’s next original Beanworld graphic novel Something More!


Don't forget this if you want to trade drawings
And whatever you do...don't forget this either!

Also....according to the Nantional Post it seems that a few folks wouln't mind having dinner with me like: Jason Turner and Tara Tallan.

TCAF: Help!

As I was driving to Comics Unlimited for Free Comic Book Day last Saturday I realized I was in a jam and in need of some help from any of the Leguminati attending TCAF this Saturday.

I don't think it would be a very good idea to transport FREE Beanworld Action Figures over the border. Even if it is okay to bring uncooked vegetable matter into Canada...I wouldn't relish trying to explain to a customs agent what exactly a FREE Beanworld Action Figure is!


So here is my clarion call for assistance: will someone be able to go to the market and get me a bag of large lima beans like the one seen above?


Please let me know.

Tomorrow, I'll post more about the show but the schedule just went up and on Saturday I'll be dpoing a solo panel:


The Leguminous History of Larry Marder & The Beanworld
Saturday, May 8th, 2:15 – 3:15pm,
Novella Room


Learn how beans have been part of Larry Marder’s life since the day he was born! The rich visual presentation covers the entire history of his peculiar fantasy dimension including discussion about Marder’s many influences. This is your opportunity to discover why Beanworld has captivated readers from grade school to grad school since its first publication as a series of comic books in the 1980s. Now Beanworld is at Dark Horse Comics entertaining an entire new generation of fans. Be the first to get a glimpse into Marder’s next original Beanworld graphic novel Something More!

C2E2: Dark Horse Signing Friday!

SIGN & DRAW!
Friday, April 13
3-4 pm
DARK HORSE booth #458

Collectible FREE sketches on TFAW cards.

Folks have been asking about what other programming I might be doing.
Although I lobbied for some and so did others on my behalf--Beanworld came up empty.
(No Sprout -Butt today!)

I don't think the New York-centric programming board
really quite understood what Beanworld is and
that Chicago is THE Beanworld town in so many, many ways.
(C'est la guerre!)

On a more up-beat note:
I WILL be presenting the new and improved
"The Leguminous History of Larry Marder & the Beanworld!"
at TCAF for those of you that will be attending that con.

And San Diego too, I'm sure.

As far as Chicago goes...oh, well...maybe next time!

Busy, busy Beanworld!

Next weekend:
WONDERCON
April 2-4

2 weeks after that:
C2E2
April 16-18


First weekend in May:
TCAF
May 8-9