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How Paris Comics Expo Is Becoming A Little More… American, In November

Published Sun, 22 Jun 2014 10:00:40 -0500

France does comic conventions a little differently. One tradition occurs around how comic creators create are at said shows. And how the Paris Comics Expo is going to change things and make them a little more… American.

I remember in the UK when it was traditional for comic book artists to appear at shows and sketch for people for free. Usually quick affairs, they might take more deliberate pieces as commissions but it was the way things were done – something I recall Jim Lee falling foul of when he turned up and started demanding money for sketches. It was a foreign concept.

But like calling television series "seasons" and calling trainers "sneakers" it began to creep in to the UK sensibility and now it is expected for British creators to charge for sketches at shows.

France however has remained independent of that. Its system has often seen creators create one or two elaborate pieces of art at shows and raffle them off. But things are changing. And a letter to attendees has gone out, that reads, in English no less,

Starting this year, we have decided to change an important aspect of our convention—the artist alley. We've spent a long time looking at how to improve the way we run artist alley to ensure that artists are treated fairly and that as many fans as possible are satisfied.

Sadly, the "French system" in place in many conventions, where artists come to draw gorgeous pieces that are given away to either a small handful of lucky winners or to the very courageous who wake up at 2AM to be the first in line, seems old fashioned, out of date, and pretty unfair to, well, mostly everyone.

What fan has never been angry when someone who won a sketch from a lottery system knew nothing about the artist who drew it. Who hasn't been frustrated when a free sketch is immediately sold on famous auction websites without any retribution going to the artist?

We sincerely believe it's time to change this incredibly unfair and outdated system.

Beginning with our third annual "Paris Comics Expo" at the end of this November, we will let the guests and artists take control of their tables in artist alley. This means that every guest, not only the actors, will decide the conditions and costs of sketches and signings. Additionally, every guest will also be present for one hour in their French editor's booth (the whole schedule will be available on the website).

We'd like to reiterate that the purpose of these changes is really to be able to satisfy as many fans as possible instead of catering to the same "sketch chasers" who come to every single convention. Requiring attendees to pay artists for elaborate and time-consuming sketches (do we need to be reminded once again that it is the artists' job and not just their hobby) will probably generate lots of outraged comments, but we are convinced that most reactions will be positive and enthusiastic and that these changes are going in a good direction. Just to be clear, fans and artists will communicate directly about these conditions—we will not be involved and certainly will not receive a commission from these transactions.

We will try to communicate everyone's decisions as soon as possible so you can plan to have a great weekend at our show.

The present editors will decide and announce the artists and the conditions for signings and sketches that take place in their booths.

It is a difficult time for comic book artists, and we sincerely hope that this new system will make them more available for their true fans while creating a fairer system for everyone.

The Paris Comics Expo Team

Will the French warm to this change as they did Jerry Lewis? Or will they reject it as they did… everything else. Only November will tell…

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