Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: 2012, Andy Kuhn, bar, bernie wrightson, comic con, comiccon, comicon, Comics, Craig Thompson, creators, David Mack, Doug TenNapel, Fabio Moon, greg rucka, Greg Ruth, Jill Thompson, jim mahfood, kirby krackle, Laura Allred, Marc Andreyko, mike allred, Mike Huddleston, mike mignola, paul pope, san diego, Scott Morse, sdcc, Skottie Young, steve niles, Steve Purcell, trickster

Tr!ckster, The Creator Owned Comic Bar For San Diego Comic Con

Published Mon, 16 May 2011 08:00:02 -0500

by Rich Johnston

Last updated Mon, 16 May 2011 12:04:19 -0500

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There has been criticism of late over the San Diego Comic Con, reflected in The Cleveland Show last night, that it has become less about comic books and more about Hollywood's marketing machine.

It's an attitude that I've generally dismissed

I believe that San Diego Comic Con is what you make it, there is so much available that you can easily create your experience, full to the brim of what you love, dismissing everything you don't. But even I am aware that the marketing can impinge upon that, painting comic books as being of lesser importance.

Well Scott Morse, Ted Mathot and a group of well known comics creators will be making their own very special stand during Comic Con week. With Tr!ckster.

The San Diego Wine And Culinary Center wine bar directly across the road (and the tram tracks) from San Diego Comic Con will be transformed for one week into Tr!ckster, a 4,500 square foot area for comic creators to launch books or sell limited runs of new books or items with gallery space for display and a symposium spot as well.

There will be ticketed events throughout the week, focusing on the process of comic creation, about technique, about history, about the ins and outs of storytelling and art making. But there will be no booths… it's more of a gathering atmosphere. With alcohol.

Steve Niles and Scott Morse will conduct a two hour "Crime And Terror" session, creating an original comic crime story there and then. More and Skottie Young will run a SkottieScott live session discussing character design and development. Brian McDonald will talk about story structure. Bernie Wrightson, Steve Niles, Scott Morse and Craig Yoe dissecting Frankenstein and horror in general. Building a creator owned creative team.

And workshops running through the week from qualified, dedicated individuals, from lawyers to printers, to distributors. There will be screenings from Cartoon Brew, with representatives from printers and promoters that will help fund the operation.

The space will open on Tuesday evening and run through until Sunday night. Expect to see work, and a prescence from Mike Mignola, Craig Thompson, Mike and Laura Allred, Paul Pope, Bernie Wrightson, Steve Niles, Greg Rucka, Jill Thompson, Skottie Young, Jim Mahfood, Mike Huddleston, Marc Andreyko, Fabio Moon, Andy Kuhn, Steve Purcell, Doug TenNapel, David Mack, Greg Ruth and more… all without publishers.

There's a full liquor license, a huge patio, a music permit, and Mike Allred's Gear and Kirby Krackle amongst those lined up to perform, as well as Pen'N'Drink sessions where you get creators to sketch in return for alcohol, and a special drink each night called The High Five that comes with a limited edition print and custom glass.

I'm noticing a theme. But c'mon, who wouldn't want to be here sipping a mojito on a warm night?

This shouldn't be any threat to San Diego Comic Con. Indeed, it's a progression of the show becoming more like Angouleme, extending into other influenced events through the town. As the outside events that cluster around San Diego Comic Con grow year on year, this loks like a very interesting way to inject comics into their mix.

And there's alcohol.

The first item on sale is the Tr!ckster hardcover volume, the cover of which is at the top of this article. And juct check the credits…

There's been a move to get comic creators out of the Hyatt bars of late, due to accusations of homophobia towards the hotel's owner. I get the feeling that Tr!ckster may be best placed to do just that.

Where to find it? Here you go… and here's the website.