APE: Comic-Con's Alternative Sister

Last weekend was 2007's Alternative Press Expo, or APE for short. Held in San Francisco, APE is a comic convention, but on a smaller, far more personal scale. I started going about two years ago, and I've tried to go ever since.

I had preconceived notions about APE that made me hesitant to check it out for quite a while. I always figured it would consist a few card tables stocked with badly-drawn, arty-farty 'zines. While this is partially true, there's a lot more to APE than that.

The overall scale is much less intimidating than Comic-Con, and the vibe is good-natured and friendly. It's clear, too, that everyone loves what they're doing, and wants to share that. Sure, money's changing hands, but APE comes across more like a gallery show, craft fair or flea market than a trade show.

By contrast, there's an air of desperation that's permeating Comic-Con these days - I don't feel as much love for the craft there. Everyone's smelling that Batman/Spider-Man/Superman/X-Men/300 money, and a lot of folks want to be the next big thing. Blaring sound systems and huge video displays compete for attention. Please, the air seems to throb, Please make my comic into a movie. Please make our movie into a hit.

Don't get me wrong - I still love both conventions, like the way I like to go to see both Spider-Man 3 and The Queen. They're both satisfying in very different ways.

While APE doesn't feature the high-profile guests that Comic-Con does, indie luminaries can certainly be found there. Two of my favorites: Keith Knight of The K Chronicles is a fixture, as well as Troubletown's Lloyd Dangle. Now that Comic-Con is an APE sponsor, I'm assuming that they used their clout and contacts to feature Art Spiegelman on both days this year. Nice!

This year, I also went to support my comic-making friends. My pals Scott Morse, Ricky Nierva, Don Shank, Nate Wragg, and Lou Romano (above) just finished their first book together, The Ancient Book Of Myth And War. I'd already bought a copy at work, but I dropped by to say hello. They were all busy doing illustrated autographs in purchased copies, but took a little time out for a picture. Pick up a copy at Amazon! You won't regret it - these guys are awesome!

Ben Catmull was also there selling copies of his eerily funny Monster Parade. He'd already generously given me a copy, but I stopped by to say hi. Andrice Arp was selling MOME anthologies featuring her latest short story, based on a dream that she'd had. She had paintings for sale, too!

Derek Kirk Kim caught my eye this year with a funny poster (you can see a little of it in the picture). It's decorated with thirty or so chibi-styled pop-culture characters. If you could guess all of them, you got it for free! I got all of them but four, and he supressed his disgust at my wasted life and complimented me. I bought it for Anita and I, as there's Red Dwarf characters on it - a rarity, even at conventions. Derek's a great comic artist and storyteller - pick up a copy of his graphic novella and see what I mean!

My buddy Jamie Baker also has a new book - an illustrated collection of news articles and limericks, all about elephants, that he co-wrote with his father. Appropriately, it's called Elephants In The News. It's not available at Amazon yet, but I'm sure you can get a copy from James himself if you ask him nicely. And pay him money.

Steve Purcell was also there, promoting the new Sam & Max video game, as well as some prints and T-shirts. Steve totally knows how to work it -there's always a line at his booth!

I also got to catch up with Marc Crisafulli, who came to APE for the first time with his girlfriend, Karen Davison. They both had great artwork to sell, and I picked up one of Marc's drawings. He generously added some pencils of a strip I was fond of for free. Karen had wonderful printed work, but I'm holding out for an original. Check out her spot illustration in last week's The New Yorker. Wow!

I went out to lunch with Marc at the Metreon, which of course meant a quick stop at Things From Another World. Series seven of Mezco's Family Guy line was out, so I picked up the only figures that I wanted, Performance Artist and Neil Goldman (dusts off hands). Marc and I caught up on what we'd both been up to - we've been keeping in touch off and on since the Mighty Mouse days!

I also ran into Elizabeth Ito! I've admired her design work from afar, and exchanged e-mails with her a few times, but it was a nice to finally have a live face to connect to the online avatar! Here she is with Kevin Dart, artist and printmaker extraordinaire. You can get a lot of his awesome work at Fleet Street Scandal, the website he shares with the also awesome Chris Turnham.

Matt Bernier was selling his nicely drawn comic Potato Autopsy. He's got it (and another book Out Of Water) for sale at his website as well. I couldn't tell if he was friends with the luchador mask guy, or if he had good coping skills (L.M. guy seemed fine to me).

My friends Rob Thompson and Jeanne Applegate celebrated their (I think) first 'zine, Plate Lunch. Rob contributed cute robot gags, while Jeanne featured her art pieces made with purchase receipts. Cool!

D.J. Bryant is an impressive draughtsmen, his darkly beautiful work featured in two books, Snar-Fled and the Clowese-esque Steelcharge Horsecap. I wish I could've picked up original art from him, but I was on a small budget. Gotta save up to finish paying for my vinyl toy!

Speaking of vinyl, I did get a toy at APE as well - the oil version of the Zliks vinyl toy. I'd seen this at conventions before, but the thing that pushed the 'spend' button this time was a new-to-me wrinkle - the eyes were separate pieces, and could be 'posed' into different facial expressions. Neat! I lucked out and got mine for $35 and no shipping.

Here's the other thing to keep in mind about APE - if you're single, and in your twenties, there's a lot of cute girls at APE - more than any other convention that I've been to. I lucked out and found a nerd-woman on my own, but if you're a nerd with, you know, dating trouble... you might want to check out APE. I'm just saying.

See you next year!