Microcon at That's Entertainment 11/24/2026

Me at Free  Comic Book Day at That's E circa 2009

I've been going to That's Entertainment in Worcester Massachusetts back when it was still on Chandler Street. Their Park Avenue location has become something else over the years. I've been doing shows and appearances at the store since maybe around 2006 or 2009. 

I'll be tabling at their upcoming Microcon on Saturday October 24th. I'm looking forward to it. I always have a great time at That's E. The staff have always been great to me. 

If you're looking for something to do, why not come on out. The event runs from 11AM till 5PM. Go to their website for more info:

That's Entertainment Worcester MA

 

Thoughts on Indie Comics Creator Con 2026

 

This is like the third convention I've done in sports complex. I'm actually not sure why a lot of conventions are holding them in this type of venue. I'm wondering if the complex is a bit more affordable than the usual hotel or convention center. Not sure of that though. 

But I braved the alleged raindrops and made it down there to set up for Indie Comics Creator Con. It's actually raining more this morning than it was yesterday. 

Because of the potential storm, both sales and attendance were down considerably.  Needless to say, I didn't do great. But I definitely did better than I thought I'd do. 

As always, I offered commissions throughout the entire event. Nobody was interested so I sketched the entire day. If anything else, I'll have work ready for the next weekends convention up in St. Albans... again in a sports complex.

Actually, there might be something in this. I could call it my "complex tour". Ha ha!! Maybe not...

This one I DID manage to sell seconds after I completed it.

But my thoughts on the show. The first and foremost what impressed me was the caliber of guests. They had indie artists flying all the way in from California to attend. And if you go on the Indie Comics Creator Con website you can see this past Saturdays guest list.

The other thing I touched upon in a previous blog post. I saw a lot of creators selling their own comics and 'zines. This cheered me considerably. I still saw some of the usual fan art prints, stickers and key chains a lot of young creators seem to be selling more and more. But they still had either a comic or a 'zine for sale as well.

I'm not sure if there are people who look down their nose at them (you never know) but 'zines are fine. It's an attempt to tell a story and get it out their for people to read.

I don't honestly care if they're printing them out at home or going down to Staples to do the job. They're telling stories. That's all that matters.

I do print on demand. And even that is probably frowned upon or seen as "you're not a professional".

Still, I'd rather be seen as that and doing new work rather than doing nothing at all.

I also ran into my friend Dave Gordon at the show.

Its always good to see Dave and his friend Ken at the events. Ken had been Dave's copilot (of sorts) as he has been navigating the convention circuit for the first time in the past few years promoting what he has described as his graphic novel situation comedy Being Gordy. 

Definitely check his work out if you haven't. It's a lot of fun and really SHOULD BE a situation comedy on Netflix or one of the streaming platforms. 

The three of us ended up opted out of going to the after party (we're autumn roosters and not spring chickens anymore) and went to the Shannon View Inn instead for dinner after we left the show. I had missed the drink and draw Indie Creator Con hosted the night before and Dave really liked the ambiance and suggested it. I can see why he liked it. I thought it was pretty nice too.

We ended up chatting about our experiences with conventions as well as our mutual friend Andy Fish and toasted him. Dave had gone to high school with Andy.

After that Dave and Ken headed back to the hotel they were staying at and I made the 1 hour trip back up to Massachusetts to sleep in my own bed.

Well, another conversation in the books. Now it's onto Rail City Fanfest. 

Rail City Fanfest

 Next weekend I'm heading up to Vermont for Rail City Fanfest. For more information about the event, go to their website. 

Rail City Fanfest

It's a bit like Plastic City Comic Con where there's no real artist alley or vendor area. It's all sort of mixed together. AND they did a really nice job feeding us to boot!!

Hope to see you there!!

Indie Comics Creator Con 2026

I'm really hoping to make it down to this event in Warwick RI tomorrow. Depending if the weather behaves itself. Because this event looks like a lot of fun.

As of right now it's 12noon till 8PM at Teamworks Warwick, 170 Jefferson Blvd, Warwick, RI. But the times could change with the impending storm of doom.

Everybody Has A Story To Tell...

 I saw this on someone's Bluesky profile. But I promise this won't be angry old man yelling at cloud type blog post complaining about the rise of fan art at shows.

Picture of me taken just last week...

I started doing the convention circuit again regularly in 2022 or 2023. And the one thing I have noticed especially at comic conventions is young creators doing fan art prints, stickers, key chains and charms more and more and publishing their own original comic book stories less and less.

Again, this isn't a call to get rid of these creators who have dedicated themselves to selling fan art. But as someone who went to college for comic art and spent most of my career creating my own comics, part of me is sad to see less creators putting out their own stories. 

But I would much rather see a balance at the show rather than it being overpopulated by one or another. 

I do my share of pen and ink sketches and prints based off pop culture characters. But I also sell my own original books. 

The other thing I've been seeing in the areas that are supposed to be designed for Artist Alley is tables selling 3D printed figures, scented candles and vendors selling used comics and licensed merch.

But some of that I wonder is due to less of the comic professionals doing the shows so the events are trying fill the spaces somehow with whoever signs up.

So, back in 2024, I signed up for Savannah Comic Con. I hadn't stepped foot in Savannah Georgia since I graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design. 

It was definitely one of those bittersweet "you can't go home again" experience. It was nice to see the city again after over 30+ years. However, all the people I knew while I was there had all moved on. So, it was kind of a lonely feeling as I ate a late lunch at the Six Pence Pub. Which sadly turned out just as disappointing as I remembered it. Beer was good though. 

And the convention itself turned out to be a disappointment saleswise. Which happens. But driving 15 hours and barely making gas money does sting.

However, the highlight of my trip was I got a chance to meet Dame Darcy. A comic artist whose work I admire greatly. 

During the convention a young creator came up to my table and marveled at all the books I had on display. Which, to be honest, wasn't as many as I usually have. However...

They told me they would love to make their own comic but they don't think anyone would read it.

So I said to them that everybody has a story to tell and everybody has an audience for their story. I told them it doesn't have to be a superhero story. It could be a comic about their life. Find what interests them and write about it.

I did a small convention on the Cape (Cape Cod for those of you not from Massachusetts) and I saw a lot of young people putting out 'zines. Which as far as I'm concerned is great because they're telling their story. And it's an inexpensive way to do so and I encourage it.

I've wondered if the reason young creators have been leaning more towards fan art prints and merch more and more because print on demand can be pricey. Or they're complacent making a living just doing the convention circuit selling prints and inexpensive merch.

And some of that might be how many comic cons have been rebranded as fan expos and fan fest over time. The people attending may not necessarily read comics. So they're going for their audience. Many more willing to toss their money at an inexpensive sticker, key chain or charm rather than someone's graphic novel or comic book. 

Just the nature of the beast.

But honestly. The whole point of doing the convention circuit is so you don't have to do the convention circuit as much. You either make connections or find your audience so people then search you out online to buy your work.

But you havd to do the leg work to get that audience. 

Again, I don’t want to see these fan creators go away or get run out. But I would like to see a balance it's fair for both fan artists and people putting out original comics and artwork.

Consider Subscribing To My Patreon

I'm currently working on a new short Doctor Who comic just in time for Chicago TARDIS. I had just completed another for Long Island Doctor Who the previous month. Since 13th Doctor Jodie Whittaker is going to be the special guest at this years ChicagoTARDIS, I decided to do a 13th Doctor story in time for the convention. 

But not only that, I decided to make it a multi-Doctor story AND bring back an old friend of the Doctor.

But just WHO is this mysterious other incarnation of the Doctor 13's teaming up with and WHO is the old friend?

Well!! To find out before it goes to print, consider becoming a member of my Patreon page. Subscriptions start as low as $3. And since I'm not connected to a major publisher, what i make on Patreon really does help out immensely with the out of pocket printing costs for my books when I'm selling at conventions.

With the $3 subscription you get an early look at the projects I'm working on. The $10 subscription gets you a copy of the book when it goes to print. 

Click on the link to check it all out. 👇

House of Hasenpatt

Diary of the Black Widow Turns 20!!

It might not mean anything to some of you but it means something to me. 

20 years ago my very first full length comic work Diary of the Black Widow was published!! First as a three parter and then as a graphic novel. And then much later collected with it's sequel The Spaghetti Strand Murder.

Enjoyed by some. Reviled by some others. Love it or hate it, it was a graphic novel. 

And I'm planning on releasing a 20th Anniversary edition. So stay tuned!!