NYC Wrap Party Report

Just got home from a truly magical weekend in New York. Robyn and I flew in on Wednesday, dropped our luggage off at the hotel, bought tickets to Spamalot that night, went to the show, laughed a lot and finished off the evening with a late night pizza. Thursday we set up at BEA, I signed loads of prints and books for CBLDF and that night we went over early to David’s Pourhouse for the wrap party. I was signing books for the party when a fan walked up and gave me a new guitar as their way of saying thank you for SiP. I was speechless – literally – and overwhelmed by the generosity of the gift. The picture below says it all, that is pure joy on my face. You can see Chris Staros outside the window… when he comes in to the club he’ll be happy too. The guitar is a Gibson J45, the same model the Beatles used to play and many singer/songwriters play now.. I’ve wanted one for years. I promise to write many songs on it.

After that beginning I was on cloud nine the rest of the night. The club quickly filled to the max with friends and fans and everybody had a great time. The list of people there was like a Who’s Who of comics. My camera managed to capture a few.

Kristy and Brian Miller (SiP colorist) of Hi-Fi Design with Jane’s World cartoonist Paige Braddock. Three of my favorite people in one spot. Cool.

Here Robyn, my agent, has just asked DC’s Bob Wayne and Dan Didio for a nine-figure contract.

Long-time pal Billy Tucci and webmistress/uber-woman Maida. It’s not a party without Billy. And without Maida I’d still be trying to figure out my email.

Karen Shaffer, Michelle Gorman and Chris Staros. Karen made a special overnight trip to come to the party and return home the next morning in time for hubby Charles Vess’ gallery opening. Michelle is soon to be appointed Head Librarian of the United States, and Chris, well, besides publishing some of the best books anywhere, Chris is just plain cool.

Robyn, me and Karen. How lucky am I to be standing between these two great women?

Chatting with Patty Jeres. Patty was with DC Comics in 1992 when I showed her my first issue of SiP in xerox form. Her encouragement gave me the momentum I needed and to this day I consider her the Scarecrow on my journey to Oz, that is, my first friend and ally in comics, and always a special person to me. She’s tired of hearing that though, so she’s reaching into her purse to get a club to bonk me on the head. I really need to start tucking my shirts in.

Bill Barnes, Unshelved cartoonist, sips on a glass of tepid NYC tap water. Mmmm, pure, untainted nectar of life… tastes like chicken.

Paige with Kathy and Don Wimmer (Rose is Rose cartoonist). Robyn and I wish the Wimmers lived in our neighborhood. Kathy is a sweetheart and Don sits around drawing cartoons all day while chugging colas. My kind of people.

I turned around and there was my dear friends Jeff Smith and Vijaya. Jeff gave me a hug and congratulated me on finishing the series. Good times.

World-travelers Jeff and Vijaya with our buddy Tom Gaadt, who works with both Cartoon Books and Abstract Studio at shows and conventions.

Here CBLDF’s Greg Thompson says a few words to the crowd while former DC editor Bob Kahn watches me sweat and thinks “Hmm, he really should start tucking in his shirts.”

There are many more pictures circulating around, but that’s all from my camera. Clayburn Moore, Heidi McDonald, Paul Pope, Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Connor… I can’t even remember everyone I saw but I was so glad people came and had a good time. Heidi lists more attendees and a very cool moment the two of us shared in her report at The Beat. We were talking about the party feeling like the official end of the self-publishing movement, I made a turn-out-the-light gesture and a few seconds later the light of the club turned way down. Heidi and I looked at each other and laughed – it was too perfect.

So, all in all, a fantastic party thrown by the CBLDF. A lot of money was raised for the charity and a good time was had by all. It doesn’t get any better than that. My sincere thanks to Charles Brownstein, Elizabeth, Greg and Jennifer at the CBLDF, and to all who came out to share in the fun. And to Bob Chapman of Graphitti Design who made up the very cool and VERY limited t-shirts for the event – so limited in fact they are numbered. That’s gotta be a first. And everybody who attended got a copy of the bonus cover issue of 90, two weeks before anybody else will read it. The bonus covers are also very limited and most will probably go straight to eBay, but what the hell, they look cool.

The next day I bought a Dr Pepper at Hudson News in the lobby of the Javitz Center and received a 1953 silver quarter in my change. That’s the kind of weekend I had. *sigh* Life is good.