Comix Gab Interview

Cartoonist Dre Grigoropol of "Comix Gab" interviewed me and other zinesters at the Philly Zine Fest!  A fun and informative look into the world of zine festivals and comic/zine making.

Chronological Timeline

1:00 Dre and Ken are at the Philly Zine Fest 2014!

2:30 Interview with the writer of the comic book called Comicverse: Bianca Alu-Marr

5:40 Interview with DC Zine Fest organizer Ariana Stone.

10:30 Interview with indie cartoonist Mindy Indy.

18:00 Interview with author Homos in Herstory and organizer of NYC Feminist Zine Fest: Elvis B.

23:00 First Date At The Arcade song by the Comix Gab’s house band The Yucky Nerds.

See more about Dre's post on the Comix Gab site.

This is what happened on my first adventure to Burlington Coat Factory.  One of my room mates really likes it, so I was curious, and looks like you can find some good deals if you hunt... but it's a little below the bar of TJ Maxx and Marshall's - everything strewn about.  You'd think they'd have more glove selection, because it's fall/winter and gloves go with coats (more so than hats or scarves in my opinion) but their glove selection was pretty small, and there were many single gloves with no partner.  Said the associate: "People steal stuff."  Who would steal just one glove??  Luckily I did find a pretty good pair for $10.

Philly Zine Fest was Phenominal!

My day trip to Philly for The Philly Zine Fest was awesome!  Only 2 hours by bus from NYC (very short compared to Boston, Baltimore, or DC!).  Everyone was friendly and it was great to see what other zinesters are up to!  There were some political zines, feminist zines, mini comics, and lots more!  I shared a table with Werdy Girl who made both comics and zines and was really nice!

The Rotunda venue was really cool with murals near the ceiling, and was a cozy space.  The size was in-between Pete's Mini Zine Fest and Brooklyn Zine Fest.  I sold some of my mini comics and a few prints.  I didn't do any drawings like at comic conventions, but it was nice to focus on the mini comics for a change, and to see people really liking them and talking about them.  Because even though at the larger shows I make $ mostly from "drawing anything," I only sell a few mini comics because they're not the main focus.  And the table cost at PZF was only $6, which took the pressure off and made everything more laid back. 

Dre Grigoropol (right) and her mural outside Locust Moon Comics, with Mindy Indy.

Afterwards, I went to get a Philly cheese steak with fellow cartoonist Dre Grigoropol and friends!  DELISH!  Then some of us went by a mural Dre had painted in the windows outside Locust Moon Comics!

Another part of Dre's mural, featuring her character "Dee" from her comic "Dee's Dream" (which is awesome!)  Dee has the same hairstyle as me!  Hey, she's even left-handed too!

Locust Moon is the coolest comic store I've ever been to!  Artsy murals cover most walls, they have a big gallery space (featuring their new "Little Nemo" exhibit), even a couch in the front for a reading area, a big tv in the back (playing Family Guy at the time), an aquarium, a porch outside, and they had indie stuff in the front rather than the back.  Not to mention the whole store is huge!  Sometimes getting out of NYC is a good thing... reminds me how life is in other places that actually have space.

Then back to NYC on a late bus - so tired!  Great trip, but I need to go back to see all the other cool historic Philly stuff!  Oh and I didn't make it to Jersey for Super Heroes for Hospice Saturday because I didn't feel well, but luckily it cleared up in time for the Philly trip.