The Midnight Library: 2016 Clallam Bay Comicon Con Report

Fun Days climb-inside salmon (Leanne Franson)

First of all, Dara Korrati beat me to a con report, and my only excuse is I escorted our special guest creator, Leanne Franson, and her son Tautau back to Port Angeles before returning on the bus. Here's her report, and it's a fun one, with great photos of the con and the area - and links to her concert and recordings at the show!

Me, Anna and Dara at the
Fun Days Parade
(Leanne Franson)

As usual, this is mostly a photo blog, so enjoy! Some of these photos are mine, some Leanne's.

Leanne gets paid! (Dan Barr)

First of all, even though the campaign ended with the convention, we'd like to thank everybody who got involved with the GoFundMe campaign to help defray Leanne's expenses. You came through like champs! Here's Leanne getting her checks in front of the garden in my back yard.

Friday night, we showed "Bezango, Washington," with the permission of the directors. The film consists of interviews with Pacific Northwest cartoonists, and Northwest cartooning history. There were only a couple of local people, but one of them said she'd had no idea how huge the comics community was - especially in the Pacific Northwest.

Roberta Gregory adding to Leanne's drawing
(Leanne Franson)

The con itself started with the Fun Days parade. We're changing the con starting time to noon, because everybody goes to the parade first. Didn't matter if it was raining, we had a great time anyway. We're not made of sugar, we won't melt (thanks, Mom).

Leanne Franson, our Canadian guest, was interviewed and filmed by Jason Roberts, who came down from Neah Bay specifically to promote this comicon. He really added to the show.

Rod Espinosa, who couldn't attend, instead sent us a box containing his "Adventure Castle" game. I've never really gamed, although I've worked as a gaming illustrator.

AC turned into a crowd-pleaser, drawing in adults as well as children. We played it whenever things got slow - which wasn't very often. Tautau Franson, our guest artist's son, was a very helpful game master. We've decided that "Adventure Castle" is the official convention game, and will feature at our show from now on.

Me at Leanne's table (Leanne Franson)

Last year, one of our librarians painted a Be-A-Superhero standup for their comicon. Her name is Pam Force, which we thought appropriate. We all had fun posing with it.

Every year, somebody's table goes hot, and they make all the money and get all the attention. This year it was Dara Korrati's table, mostly because she had such a fascinating recording demo. Congratulations, Dara! Now run over and watch her singing her version of YMCA as "USSR," karaoke style, and hear us all joining into the chorus.

Me, TauTau, my books
(Leanne Franson)

We're thinking, perhaps, instead of having individual demos or panels, we have everybody bring something cool they can show the attendees and other artists how to do. The tables are six feet long, so there should be plenty of room for books and CD's and the demo, too. It certainly seems to help with sales.

Social report:

I brought a box of spam musubi, which I'd learned to make in Hawai'i, and when I'd microwaved my own piece, everybody wanted one. So now I have a potluck food people like!

The Canadians invade! (Leanne Franson)

Of course, after the first day's show, we headed down to the Clallam Bay Inn, where Cara - our favorite cook and barkeep - was waiting with the best fish and chips on the planet, and good booze. She wanted to know why there weren't more of us. We'll have to bring the fans too, next time.

Adventure Castle!
(Leanne Franson)

Afterwards it was off to the beach for the Fun Days fireworks in Sekiu. It was cold and cloudy, so the blasts got smoked over too quickly, but the beach fireworks made it all worthwhile.

Me, TauTau, our official
con game
(Leanne Franson)

Most of the convention artists are local, and so could drive back home after the show, but Leanne and TauTau stuck around for the Dead Dog party at the Sunsets West Co-Op.

I'd never eaten there, and was amazed by the fresh, innovative food and low prices. I had a burger "snack" that was really huge, and cheap - and Leanne and Tautau plowed through two helpings of bean stew, fried eggs and tomato salad. Not only is the food good, but you can step over to the store and choose chips, bread and drinks to add to your meal. And if you love the condiments, including locally-made hot sauces, or my sea salt, you can buy them in the store, too.

Dara's concert
(Leanne Franson)

The whole town sees us as adding to the local economy. We're welcomed and anticipated, now. No, the show will never be big - but it brings joy to the townsfolk, none of whom see anything wrong with nerds any more. So if we haven't done anything else, we've done that.

Dara and Anna at
the Clallam Bay Inn
(Leanne Franson)

But - Leanne has hinted she might even be back in coming years. If nothing else, she's discovered how easy it is to get to Seattle, so perhaps she might add to some of our Seattle comics and other book and art events.

David Lasky has hinted he might do a "giant comics jam in Clallam Bay." I'm gonna help if he means it. He comes up to teach at the libraries - so maybe we can get him too!