Nick Marino

I skateboarded to the show this morning. It was both a good and bad idea... Good because the streets were practically empty and it felt great to be out in the cool-but-not-cold air. Bad because Pittsburgh roads are in awful condition. Even the quality of the blacktop sucks!

But I digress. Let's talk about the Pittsburgh Indy Comics Expo itself. It was a solid day. I'd say my sales were probably about the same as they were yesterday. Honestly, I don't keep super close track of my sales anymore. I don't sell enough to warrant thinking about it very much. I'm sure I made back my table, and probably a few bucks on top of that.

(Photo by Seth Fronzoli)

This was a small show, and that meant there were fantastic opportunities to make new friends and learn from professionals. For example, the one panel of the day was a great discussion about networking, building comics communities, reaching out to other creators, and finding a publisher.

The panelists were Bill Boichel, Jason Little, Tom Scioli, John Porcellino, Jim Rugg, and Ed Piskor. Even though I see most of them on a regular basis and we sometimes talk about this type of stuff, it was great to hear them address the topics head on.

Like yesterday, I gave away a ton of books. Friends, acquaintances, other creators... I'm sure I gave away more books than I ever have before at a show.

I couldn't even tell you what my top seller was today. It's a blur. However, I do remember selling two of my AudioShocker Comics Archives v1 digital comic cards, which warms my heart because that product is a true labor of love for me. I see a future in selling downloads and digital content, and this is my effort to push forward that vision.

I enjoyed this year's show more than 2010, and I'll definitely be back in 2012 (health and my location permitting, of course). You can check out more of my thoughts about PIX 2011 on Tuesday's AudioShocker Podcast and on the next episode of Sequential Underground (sometime on or after the 19th).

It was a slow day for sales (as in I didn't make a hundred dollars by noon), but I sold way more than I did last year on Saturday!

I enjoyed the crowd (for example, those two people above... who I don't even know them!). In particular, I talked to a lot of really interesting Carnegie Mellon students.

Also, I gave away a ton of books. I couldn't help myself! I've got all these new ones and I'm excited to get them out there. The top seller was Justique's Tales for a New Gen zine, and my top giveaway was Two Twisted Tales.

EDIT: Day 2 recap.

This weekend I'll be at the Pittsburgh Indy Comics Expo in the Strip District from 10-5 Saturday and Sunday selling my self-published comics and having a kickass time!

Here's the mighty list of comics I'll have with me (new items in bold):

TIME LOG
- Time Log one-shot
- The New Time Log (1 of 3)
- The New Time Log (2 of 3)

SUPER HATERS
- Super Haters v1
- Super Haters v2
- 6 Super Haters minicomics:
-- Kids (#58-72)
-- Guess Who's Cumming To Dinner? (#82-96)
-- Eye to Eye (#110-124)
-- Vacation (most of #167-187)
-- Is It Lust Or Is It Love? (#195-209)
-- Alternate Surreality (#215-229)

STICK CATS
- Stick Cats #1: Act I
- Stick Cats #3: Act III

OTHER COMICS
- AudioShocker Comics Archives v1 digital comic card
- Zombie Palin (third edition)
- Passage
- XLK: Extreme Lost Kisses #1
- Bushido Revolver
- Two Twisted Tales

ZINES
- Poetree
- NoPants Zine Anthology
- Tales for a New Gen

I'm sure there's something I left off the list. Anyway, point is, I'm gonna have a ton of new material with me this year, not to mention that nearly everything listed above is new since last year's PIX.

AND... if you stop by my table this weekend and mention the special phrase, you'll get a $2 discount off of your purchase (or, if the item you're buying is $2 or less, you'll get a free minicomic). The special phrase is: BALLS DEEP (and don't forget to mention this blog post to jog my memory).

I'll be at:

- FanExpo Canada in Toronto, this weekend, August 27-29 at Artists Alley table A80 (CORNER TABLE!). I'll have the brand spanking new Project Basement ashcans, as well as copies of the first ever digital Super Haters Special Edition (which should be a pretty cool little package for only $3!), as well as copies of the Time Log one-shot, Zombie Palin ashcans, and ashcans of the first two Super Haters collections. And Justique will be there too!

- Pittsburgh's Small Press Festival on the city's North Side at AIR on September 25-26. I helped organize the comics end of this show, so I'm proud to set up and sell my stuff surrounded by comics friends and (hopefully soon-to-be-made) zine and small press lit friends.

- PIX: The Pittsburgh Indie Comics Expo in the Strip on October 16-17, a show that's a joint effort between the awesome Copacetic Comics Company and the Toonseum.

- I will soon lock down my plans for Mid-Ohio-Con in early November. While my attendance could change, chances are I'll be at the show.

- Not comics (but still an event), I'll be at Pittsburgh Podcamp on September 18-19, sharing about social media and hopefully learning a few new tricks for the AudioShocker.

- In the far-flung future, I'll be at SPACE in 2011. Don't let weddings, funerals, births, or serious accidents stop you from being there -- MARK YOUR MUTHER!@#$ING CALENDARS RIGHT NOW.