Larking around in Dublin

"So, you've been writing Doctor Who..."
Daredevil artist Michael Lark to me in the Park Inn Hotel bar, Dublin. He'd mistaken me for Paul Cornell (I think).

I attended the Dublin City Comic Con over the weekend and had a ridiculously enjoyable time. I'd carried 100 comics over with me on the plane and sold over 90 of them. All 50 copies of Tim Skinner: Total Scumbag went and the book received a hugely encouraging response from punters and professionals alike.

Indeed, Dec and I did a panel with Jonathan Hickman (The Nightly News, Pax Romana, Secret Warriors) and he told us he thought the book was "fucking hilarious" and that we should submit it to Image pronto.

The Dublin Con isn't the biggest comics-related event I've ever been to nor the busiest but the fans that turned up seemed very keen to get their hands on stuff they hadn't seen before. This was perfect for me as a first-time exhibitor and selling my stuff at a little bit less than usual to encourage sales worked wonders. British small pressers and indie publishers really should think about giving Dublin a go next year, especially as Bristol is downsizing for 2009.

Of course, the other crucial part of any con worth its salt is the social aspect and Dublin didn't disappoint there either. In fact, I preferred the cosy, intimate atmosphere in the Park Inn Hotel bar after the con each day to the chaos and noise of the Ramada at Bristol. I met some great people too, among them IDW artists Stephens Mooney and Thompson and their partners, Dec's hilarious mate John Skelton, writer/artist Paddy Brown and colourist extraordinaire Matt Hollingsworth.

My favourite moment of the whole show, though, was when an elderly chap who'd been propping up the hotel bar for most of the weekend accosted Dec for an autograph after being told he was the writer of Spider-Man. The look on Dec's face as the guy continued to pester him even after Dec had told him he had nothing to do with Spidey was absolutely priceless! Dec eventually gave him an autograph, too.

All in all, I really can't recommend the Dublin con enough - the organisers always pull together an impressive guest-list (Jim Lee, Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch in previous years; Michael Lark, Dan Slott and Tommy Lee Edwards this time), the atmosphere is friendly and fun, and, if you're a self-publisher, chances are you'll do decent business.

I'll probably pop back here later in the week to talk about a few of the Irish comics I bought over the weekend...