BIG ARSE #2

Forget the big comic conventions. If you're selling your comic at these big cons (which is an apt name), you end up paying $220+ for a small table (and $200+ insurance on top of THAT!), and you don't even break even on your costs... AAAND you have to slog through the whole weekend for your troubles. (Not to mention the $25(min) cover-charge that punters have to pay to get into the venue.)... it's all too much.

The BIG ARSE Booklaunch (Held early each year in Melbourne) is different. If you are a creator, then it's THE place to launch your new comic book or graphic novel. It's free for the public to enter, and if you're selling a comic book on the day, it costs you almost nothing to have your book on the tables. It's a no-brainer.

Well, anyway... the big day arrived yesterday... BIG ARSE #2 was officially on.

Before the book launch, however, a few of us decided to meet up down the road at a small bar a few hours before the event.




Frank Candiloro.

I stuck a few microphones under our noses while we looked forward to the day ahead. Be a fly on the wall and have a listen for yourself:



Not too long after, it was time to head on down to SENTIDO FUNF for the big event.


Set up at SENTIDO FUNF: 1.00pm


Sticking up posters and having a laugh before the event.


Peter Foster taking notes and preparing.


Darren Close.


Matt Emery.


The place slowly started to fill up shortly after.








Most of the SQUISHFACE STUDIO mob... and others.


While processing the photos on my computer screen afterwards, I noticed that Ben Hutchings was posing for this photo from way back behind the tabels... somehow he just knew it was a Squishface photo... what a switched-on comedy genius.


Troy (left)... one of the owners of ALL STAR COMICS in Melbourne (and sponsor of this event) with me.
[ - ] Photo taken by the steady and lubricated hands of THE Ben Michael Byrne.


Larry Boxshall (who wrote the funny intro to my new book NO MAP, BUT NOT LOST), from the famous NonCanonical podcast.




Kane from NonCanonical.


Colin Wilson.


Tim Molloy (centre) and Scarlette Baccini (right)


James Andre (Head of MILK SHADOW BOOKS).


Darren Close.




Steve Sparke, from FEC Comics (left).


After buying some great comics, people sat down in the luxurious beer-garden and read.


Tim Molloy and James Andre.


Ben Hutchings.


Our books were selling hand over fist. (Thanks to Matilda, Ben Hutchings and others who did most of the counter-time that day.)




Ben Michael Byrne (Writer/Artist of KRANBURN)... sending me a message... and reminding me why I think of the 'sexy stud' in Clerks II every time I see him.








Chew Chan... who flew down from Sydney just to be here. What a great guy.


Bruce Mutard (left) and Paul Bedford (right).


Chew Chan and Bernard Caleo.




Peter Foster.


An intro by Bruce Mutard.


Bernard Caleo.. who did a predictably awesome job of MC'ing the event. Thanks, Bernard.


Professional comic book writer, Tom Taylor (right).




Ben Michael Byrne meticulously sketching for a fan.




David Blumenstein (middle)


Brendan Halyday.


Matt Emery (left-centre) talking to Larry Boxshall (right-centre), with Joey Morris (foreground-right).


Kane.


Jason Franks... with his hat. (As requested).

What an awesome event!

Given the phenomenal success of last year's BIG ARSE Book Launch, we anticipated (and crossed our fingers) for a similar turnout... but it ended up being even better. The comics culture in Melbourne is a MONSTER!

THANKS TO:

• All Star Comics Melbourne for their sponsorship
• Jeffries Printing Services for their life-saving help
• My fellow creators
• Bernard Caleo for MC'ing (again)
• All the fans, buyers and public who came down on a wet day and made it a HUGE success. (Most thanks to you).

Lets do it again next year!

- Bobby.N
www.bobbyn.com

It's almost here...

James Andre (Milk Shadow Books) and I had lunch on Friday, and he handed me a final proof of my new book: NO MAP, BUT NOT LOST.


Ah, the satisfaction of holding your own finished book. There's nothing like it. The book itself feels like one of Charles Bukowski's... Soft, yet solid. I love it.


It's packed full of all my old self-published comics. Many embarrassing ones. Some unfinished. Some you've seen. With sketches and notes after each comic telling you a little about what was going on in my head at the time of the particular comic's creation. I really like the way the book has turned out. It has a slight touch of yellow on the interior paper stock, with a semi-gloss matt cover.

I can't wait to see a stack of these piled up at this weekend's BIG ARSE Comics Launch #2... Catch you all there!

- Bobby.N
www.bobbyn.com