The Graphic Novels Guy

Comic Con and Miami Book Fair International
And one more surf analogy, for now

One last Note on BEA…
Before I get into this next edition of The Graphic Novels Guy, there's one more note to hit on Book Expo in Los Angeles.  I've been talking with a few people who attended the show and aside from our excitement with all the graphic novel programming they are asking: Where were all the big books?  There weren't any really big titles announced.  Sure we were all talking about the situation at Borders, but there wasn't any talk of books.  Shortly after BEA, the former press secretary for the Bush White House drops a major bombshell with his book.  There have been a few others since then and yet no one had a major book announcement. Whose fault is that? The publishers.  BEA will return to New York City next year. You should plan ahead and make the best of the big stage.

Heading out to San Diego and Comic Con International
If there were ever a place where you could be overwhelmed with major publishing announcements it has to be Comic Con.  I can’t think of a publisher from the graphic novels and comics publishing world who hasn’t made this statement, "Yeah, and we're gonna do a big launch at Comic Con."  Really?  The place is so huge and there are so many 'big launches' that it becomes a competition to see who can do the biggest and best release event.  Not that I'm complaining, mind you.  I think it's incredible.  With all the stuff that happens at Comic Con, you almost have to be George Lucas to really be noticed above the din. 

Thanks to the success Lucas has had with that little Star Wars franchise, which he launched long, long ago at Comic Con. The movie industry since then has seen fit to use San Diego as a bit of a petrie dish. It is more like a farm system really.   Movies are premiered, trailers are teased and the scouts are all out studying the landscape to see where the next Hollywood script is coming from.  With the smashing successes of movies like: Iron Man, Hellboy II and the latest Batman movie, you can’t really blame them for coming back.

If you have seen any of the recent coverage for Comic Con you will notice a recurring theme: maxed out crowd capacity, tickets selling out before any programs are even announced and traditional publishing house placed on a waiting list for booth space.  They need more space and there's no way in the world anyone should ever consider moving the event to another city.  It should never be allowed. That's the same as asking the Green Bay Packers to move....it is against the laws of all things good and wonderful.

Now Time for the Surf Moment
Growing up in Southern California as surfers (I know that sounds improbable, but we did grow up) we always talked about going to the North Shore and hitting the biggest ride-able waves known to man.  It was taken for granted that the island of Oahu was thee only place to find waves 30 feet and taller.  It became the Mecca for surfers around the globe.  When the swells of the winter seasons hit Waimea and Pipeline that is where you make your name.   

Jeff Garcia knew better.  For almost 15 years he surfed a break in Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco where the waves regularly hit 20 feet and when the swells would hit just right, the waves would explode to 40 even 50 feet or more.   He tried to tell others about it and they just kind of looked at him as if he were crazy.  “No way man-nothin's bigger than the North Shore!”

For 15 years it was Jeff, the dolphins, seals and great white sharks hitting Maverick's, until finally he convinced a couple of friends from Santa Cruz to paddle out with him.   After that, word spread like wild fire.  Today, there is a big wave contest that goes off with a 24 hour notice sent around the globe.  The surfer who scores the biggest wave can take home a prize of $50,000.   

Miami Book Fair International: The Mavericks Surf Break of Book Festivals
I've been talking with quite a few graphic novel publishers who are working on getting to Miami for the Book Fair, but there are still a few who look at me a little skeptically.  Sure they have hundreds of thousands of people going to the book show, but really?  “You want us to bring graphic novels?” While others ask say “It's not San Diego, are you sure it’s going to be worth the trip?”

Just the other day, I got an email from Brad Meltzer who is thrilled that Miami is setting up a graphic novels pavilion. "I've been waiting for this for a long time."  Art Spiegelman(he created this year's poster artwork), Jordan Mechner(PPrince of Persia), Frank Beddor(The Looking Glass Wars) and Chip Kidd will be there and the list is rapidly growing. We're already planning for 2009.

How will graphic novels go over at the Miami Book Fair?  Come see for yourself my friend.  Paddle out. The water is warm and the waves are big.

NEXT Time on The Graphic Novels Guy:
A Shift In Graphic Novel Publishing

John Shableski works for Diamond Book Distributors as a sales manager with a focus on the independent bookstore market, public and school libraries.  He's been a moderator and panelist at Book Expo, a moderator for library panels at the New York Comic Con, a guest speaker at library events, regional book shows and a symposium coordinator. He is currently collaborating on several graphic novel symposiums across the country.  He can be reached via email at [email protected].  You can learn more about graphic novels at www.diamondbookshelf.com

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