Recall: Cebu Comic Con 2011 (3 of 3)

I draw.  It is hot.

Artist alley is situated right in the middle of the UP Cebu Soccer Field.  While it’s great for drawing the big crowds, it’s a little bit warmer than a bunch of us would like.  The heat has reduced my vocabulary to a crude system of single-syllable words and polite smiles.  To my right is Vinzon “Bleedman” Ngo, and to my left is colorist Ianar.  More importantly, under our table is a half dozen Gatorades to keep us sane.

There are two lines leading up to where I’m seated — one for people who want to dig through the pile of old comics I’m selling, and another for the guys and gals who want free sketches or copies of Urban Animal.  A secret avenue right behind where I’m sitting is informally used by family and close friends.  Let’s call it the express lane.

As I work through the sketch request list, a young man with a big smile hands me an 11×17 sheet of dauntingly bare paper.  I shudder, expecting him to ask me to fill the page with a “quick” sketch.  He divides the sheet into six and asks me to draw Spawn in one of the divisions.  When I ask for his name to put on my list I recognize him as one of the first ever patrons of my Urban Animal work, and he proceeds to purchase a copy of #2, bless his soul.

There’s nothing quite like seeing people line up to spend hard-earned money to read a story you want to tell.  I mean sure, having them come up to you to ask you to draw their favorite character is fun and all, but when they buy your story the appreciation just feels that much more real.  And I wouldn’t trade that feeling for anything in the world.

That said, Tom and Rey are gleeful when they find out we’ve sold out at the two booths UA was available.

The day ends with reaching and groping in the dark as the peeps in the alley try our very bestest to pack all our shit sans a light source.  Urban Animal 1 and 2 are in people’s hands.  Less than half of the comics I was selling remain.  And I used up an entire HB stick on sketches that are now in the care of Cebuano art lovers.  All in all, not a bad day to be a comic creator in Cebu.

Friends and I reconvene at the pizza place for well-earned beers.

There will be dreams tonight.