JULY 2004
Before the comic came out, I had done some prep work, to try to generate interest in the upcoming release. I had gone around to all the local shops, and showed them my comic in Diamond Comics’ Previews Catalogue. I dropped off 11″x14″ promo posters I’d printed, and showed them copies of all the pin-ups I’d gotten for the books so far. Everyone seemed pretty impressed and supportive.
Every year, A-1 Comics in Sacramento had an “alternative press day” where local self-publishers could shop their wares, and they were so supportive of my efforts. They invited me to participate, so naturally I agreed. I knew my home town of Davis was pretty supportive of the arts as well, so I wanted to get set up for a signing in town.
At about that same time, Elizabeth had gone into Sacramento’s Empire Comics, and they asked if I could do a signing for Free Comic Book Day, so we agreed to that one too.
Later we learned alternative press day’s signing and Free Comic Book Day were on the same day, and voila, I had two signings to do in one day. July 3rd, 2004. My first signing, and only a month after the first issue was slated to hit the shelves.
I went into my hometown’s comics shop, Bizarro World in Davis CA, and asked if they would let me do a signing there. Dan, the owner, was very generous and agreed. I decided to set the date for this signing a little later on, July 14th, because I wanted my signings to be a little staggered.
Now that I had three signings scheduled, I contacted the Davis Enterprise and the Sacramento Bee – the local newspapers – to tell them about “local Davis grad publishes comic — Come to the signing.” I naively thought locals might be interested to support a local, even if he was just doing comic books.
On 6/30/04, Christina Taylor from the Enterprise contacted me to do an interview for “an informal piece.” She emailed me maybe a dozen questions, and I spent hours and hours, pages and pages on each question, certainly going into way more detail than she or anyone would want. When the article was finally published, it featured another comic besides mine, and had maybe four quotes from my multiple-page responses. I remember feeling the few quotes she used didn’t really capture what I had been trying to say. The quotes she used were often my least favorites of all the innumerable, endless things I talked about. Fascinating how that works, even when you’re quoted word for word, if it’s pulled out of context. This was my first experience of how things you say can change meaning, albeit in a subtle way. I’ve come to realize I really like doing interviews that I can take my time with and shape, and know the final draft.
I had also contacted the Sacramento Bee and told them about my comic. I mentioned Free Comic Book Day and alternative press day, hoping that would drum up more interest.
One of their writers got in touch with me, but I was at work, and by the time I called back, the small space they needed to fill in their paper had been filled, so they wound up not having anyplace to mention my signing or Free Comic Book Day. Bigger city, harder to get in their news, I guess.
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Free Comic Book Day Roseville, A-1 Comics Roseville, CA, July 3rd, 2004
It was my first signing. I went to the shop with a box full of comics (250 books), a box full of t-shirts I’d had printed (maybe a hundred shirts?), and a box full of posters. There were maybe a dozen artists there, shopping their books. We had a bunch of tables set out for us, and at the end were all the free comics which the store would be giving away. I was seated near all the free comics. Because the tables were in a U-shape, and I was in the “V” corner between tables, there wasn’t really anywhere for me to sit, so I pushed my chair out of the way and stood up.
I laid out copies of my book, my two t-shirt designs, and my promo posters. Things started to get underway, and people, mostly kids, started pouring into the store, heading for their free comics and Heroclix. Most of them didn’t even look at me. Some looked because they assumed my comics were free, and I had to explain that the free comics were over there.
A mother saw me sitting there, and had her kid come over. She talked about wanting to be supportive of the arts, and had her son buy one of my books. It was really kind. As they left, I wondered if I should have warned her my comic had swearing and talking about getting your clit pierced and things like that. Well, the cover has a dismembered arm, so hopefully she could tell it was an adult-audiences book.
Another woman heard me mention that I had a werewolf story in the issue, and she came over to check it out. It turned out she REALLY liked werewolves, and bought, read, watched, or wore anything she could find with a werewolf. REAAALLY liked werewolves. But even so, that wasn’t enough for her to have any interest in Dr. DeBunko debunking a town’s beliefs in werewolves.
My wife Elizabeth’s family was up for the July 4th weekend. I was truly overwhelmed by their support. They all came out, in groups or alone, and bought copies of the books, and lots of t-shirts. Even Elizabeth’s dad, an ordained Baptist minister and definite conservative, went so far as to buy a Dr. DeBunko t-shirt. As I say, it truly touched me that they would help me and encourage me so kindly for my first big signing. Other than all of the family purchases, I didn’t really sell anything.
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Empire Comics, Free Comic Book Day, Sacramento, CA, July 3, 2004
Two signings in one day, so I had to leave A-1 early to make it to Empire. I packed and drove straight over. I sat next to Timothy Green II, and enjoyed his company. Really nice line work. Very Moebius-like. This is the signing most of my friends showed up at, to give their support. Between the two signings, I had a wad of cash in my pocket, and was anxious for my next signing. For some reason it didn’t really occur to me that all the money except for a very small portion was from friends and family.
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Bizarro World Signing, July 14th, 2004
We did the Davis signing. What shocked me was how few locals showed up, other than my local friends, who were kind enough to buy books or t-shirts. A few kids who pop into the comic shop every week kindly bought copies. Other than that, I was just now beginning to realize, Thank God for friends and family, or I would just be sitting here alone with nothing to do. And I certainly wouldn’t have made any money. However, this early in the game, my interpretation was, “I guess Davis is too small a town, and not as supportive as I would have liked. But signings at the right stores, or at conventions, should be much better.” So this signing was primarily a nice chance to visit with friends. However, with hindsight I now see, this was my first taste of what I would later learn to expect of comic shop signings.