• In case it wasn’t entirely obvious, SDCC is not cheap. A small press table costs $400 (next year it will be $500) and flights to San Diego from the UK typically cost around £800 to £1,100. Then you have to think about accommodation (your best bet is to try AirBnB or a campground), transport (get somewhere within 15 minutes walk to reduce expenditure – it’s California, so generally people drive everywhere, meaning hotel and parking prices drop dramatically even within walking distance), printing and shipping costs etc.

• In relation to the above, if you come to SDCC looking for mega sales, then dial back those expectations unless you want to go home brutally demoralised. Virtually everyone we spoke to said last year’s sales were higher than this year’s, even though the days were almost equally busy (even the usually timid Sunday was full of people). The sad fact is, most of the attendees are coming to SDCC to see their favourite movie/TV stars in Hall H or buy exclusive toys/comics. Small press is incidental, and we’d hazard a guess that around less than 5% of the 130,000+ attending fans are even slightly interested in seeing anything which they’re not already aware of. In short, SDCC is a money-pit.

• So why should small press attend? Simply put: audience reach, contacts and networking. There’s a reason why the small press area is among the friendliest places in the show (along with Artists’ Alley), as creators swap contact details, help each other out and generally widen each other’s pool of resources, as well as form friendships. Further to that, press and professionals – in both the movies/TV and comic book sphere – are very welcoming to the small press whenever they get time to engage with them. You get the chance to meet and talk with retailers, journalists and creators who you may not ordinarily catch at another convention, and in turn there’s a greater chance of you selling to people you may not otherwise reach. On top of that, everyone is aware of Comic-Con and respects it, even if they don’t necessarily have a deep interest in attending. Using that brand recognition when selling your books during the year is remarkably effective. 
  

• Unlike last year, where MTV’s Teen Wolf hosted free, if unreliable, Wi-Fi, this year there was a noticeable absence of anyone willing to provide such a service. Which only left the official convention Wi-Fi as your main option. $80 for the day, sound good? What about $150 for a few days? No? Nope.  

• For all the talk as to whether a female Thor is a good thing or not, there was a wonderful number of cosplayers dressing as this new thunder god. Taking in mind that in previous cons we’ve rarely seen female Thors (Lokis, the occasional Sif and Valkyrie were more likely), it shows that – on a surface level at least – it was a savvy and well received move by Marvel. 
  

• The idea of being drawn into a comic book remains a great pull, as we discovered with Vampire Boogie (we offered the chance to become a character in the mini-series if you purchased a physical copy). However, it didn’t come without its own irony. The first person to buy a copy was sold on the pitch of a youthful vampire using social media to save her undead life, however she admitted she didn’t own a Facebook account or actually like social media. Go figure.

• The steampunk community is growing at a fantastic pace, with many more ‘steamers’ dressing the part. In turn, our steampunk series Clockwork Watch was very well received, even to a point where a young grandmother ditched her husband at the end of Sunday to come back in and buy a virtually sold out copy of Tick Tock IPA #2. Bless her.  

• Despite the launch of a blockbuster movie there were surprisingly few Guardians of the Galaxy cosplayers, barring the odd (but exceptional) Rocket Raccoons. If we’re not flooded with Star Lords, Gamoras and Draxs this time next year, we’ll eat our toy Groot.
  

• Jimmy Aquino is both a scholar and a gentleman, being wonderfully helpful on many fronts.  And he carries good bourbon in his hip flask. Very good bourbon.  

• Line producer and talented photographer Nicci Freeman made a few stops by our table, dressed as a magnificent steampunk style Mad Hatter-White Rabbit. Among the many great stories she told us, a standout was how she observed a couple engaging in a full-blown argument outside the convention centre. Upon seeing the couple, a man dressed as a demon wandered up to them and suddenly burst into a stirring verse of Let It Go, the lead song from Disney’s Frozen. Naturally, the couple were too stunned to continue their fight. Comic-Con summed up in one, mad moment, ladies and gentlemen.

• There are few things as rewarding as saying hi to someone who was going to walk by your table, and then one 60-second pitch later they buy a copy of your book. 
  

• Conversely, there are few things as crushing as someone coming to your table of their own accord, you giving them a 5 minute pitch/question and answer session and them not saying a single word to you in response.

• No one can ever deny Hall H attendees aren’t dedicated. After we staggered out of a hotel from a post 2.30am drink up, we were stunned to see a massive queue of sleeping people wrapping around a quarter of the convention centre. Tents, sleeping bags, foil wraps… these people came prepared. 
  

• We may complain that not enough kids read or are interested comics, but the large number of families all cosplaying together or just attending the convention with their wide-eyed, kids was heart-warming.

First up, Clockwork Watch creator Yomi Ayeni and I were interviewed a couple times, to talk about our projects, Vampire Boogie, Clockwork Watch and Magic of Myths.

– Comic News Insider interview:
 http://www.jimmyaquino.typepad.com/comicnewsinsider/2014/08/episode-562-yet-even-more-sdcc-w-lucy-knisley-yomi-ayenicorey-brotherson.html

 – Geek Speak Videos interview:

Enjoy!

The vampires are coming to town… soon…

– Magic of Myths was chosen as a highlight book for the Comics should be good blog for its Month of African-American Comics. (Yes, we’re aware it’s a mild misnomer given neither Sergio nor I are African American, but the column stated that black people from across the globe were eligible, and the mirror didn’t hold any surprises for me the last time I looked in it, barring a few more grey hairs, so…)

Naturally we’re delighted to have been picked among the many, many entries and the columnist, Brian Cronin, had lots of kind things to say about the series:

“In this series, Brotherson does a strong job with the concept of myths, especially modern myths, like the ones that we make up about ourselves and our lives. Are they any less powerful than the ancient myths? I suppose we will find out as the series continues. 

“Calvet’s work evokes a nice Kirby-esque feel to it that lends the comic a good deal of charm. (…) This is an engaging series with charming artwork from the main artist. I hope to see more of Eve’s heroic journey in the future.”

So we’re happy bunnies indeed. Read more here: http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2014/02/11/month-of-african-american-comics-magic-of-myths-seasons-1-2/ 

– We’ve also announced a new Magic of Myths book, called Magic of Myths: Faerie. This is to help fill the gap of Magic of Myths: season three‘s delay (sorry). The story will be revealed in due time, but it involves William Shakespeare‘s A Midsummer Night’s Dream… 
 
An artwork preview fresh from Sergio’s drawing table? Sure, why not:

– After January’s (seemingly successful) guest teaching slot at a Birmingham junior school, I’ve just been asked to do another in a secondary school, this time on creating comic books. Very cool. Also, scary. But mostly cool. Should be a lot of fun.

– A secret project I’m currently putting together is progressing. After a friend and very well respected creator/editor made a few edits/suggestions, it’s time for a re-write. Which is exciting – it frames the story in a new, refreshing way. Hoping to have something to actually *give* – yes, give – to you come San Diego Comic-Con…

– Oh, yes, San Diego Comic-Con. We (myself and Clockwork Watch creator Yomi Ayeni) have been accepted once again to grace their wonderful, busy halls. Which is bloody amazing as it seems even those who have attended a couple times haven’t got in this year. We may even get a panel. We’re super grateful. Hopefully we can drag our super talented artist friend, Jennie Gyllblad, along with us.

– Zombie anthology Dead Roots is on the verge of release [which includes my story ‘Black, White and Red (All Over)‘ – drawn and lettered by the talented Andy W Clift and Mike Stock, respectively] , with a launch party set for 22nd March at the Coach and Horses on Great Marlborough Street. Come on down for book signings and drinks! 

That’s it for now. More to come soon. Promise.

http://geeksyndicate.co.uk/2013/07/19/adventures-at-sdcc-2013-with-corey-brotherson-and-the-steampunk-syndicate-day-2/

http://geeksyndicate.co.uk/2013/07/23/adventures-at-sdcc-2013-with-corey-brotherson-and-the-steampunk-syndicate-day-34-and-5/

http://geeksyndicate.co.uk/2013/07/18/adventures-at-sdcc-2013-with-corey-brotherson-and-the-steampunk-syndicate-day-1/

http://geeksyndicate.co.uk/2013/07/17/adventures-at-sdcc-2013-with-corey-brotherson-day-0/

More to come! 

Yomi will be putting together reports from the show floor for Steampunk Chronicle and I’ll be writing reports for Geek Syndicate, so keep reading here and both of those places for updates!

Sergio and I are on the verge of launching Magic of Myths: season two, which will get its debut at San Diego Comic-Con next week. We took pre-orders for the special edition all through July and the regular edition will launch fully on 26th July 2013.

We’re also launching the Magic of Myths combo book, which is both seasons one and two rolled into one edition – perfect for newcomers to the growing series:

If you’re interested in getting a copy, just get in touch – the books are coming back from the printers right about… now.

Also, you couldn’t have failed to have noticed that glowering blue bear at the top of this post. That is a plush version of Byron, the homicidal demon bear from Magic of Myths, hand stitched from scratch by the wonderfully talented Sara Dunkerton. Take a look:

You can see the rest and Sara’s detailed process of how she created Byron, here: saradunkerton.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/magic-of-myths-byron-plush-bear-pt-1.html.

Let’s start with Clockwork Watch.

Since the launch of the first book (The Arrival) in 2012, we’ve managed to push the concept across the globe, launched a second event (Clockwork Underworld) and now two more books, Breakaway and Tick Tock IPA.

Oliver Facey’s Photographs from Clockwork Underworld

Oliver Facey’s photographs
Farrukh Hayder’s photographs 

You can buy Breakaway  – which is our The Empire Strikes Back to the shiny, clean optimism of The Arrival‘s Star Wars: A New Hope – here: www.comicsy.co.uk/clockworkwatch/store/

Tick Tock IPA launches at San Diego Comic-Con next week, but you’ll be able to get your hands on it soon after…