Open Discussion: International Comic-Cons

Well, I was going to say Angouleme since I'm planning to go there next year... I don't get the alleged prejudice over strips like yours. It's not like you handle a comic full of All-American dudes in tights saving the world while everything blows up. Why anyone would have issues with Sheldon (or Peanuts, for that matter), I don't know :)

If it were up to me and had mountains of cash, I'd just commit myself to organize a local con in my little corner of the world (Costa Rica) where you could be part of the guests of honor. Nature tours included. But in the meantime, I hope you get better suggestions down this thread.

(I'm going to SPX later this year though. Pity you don't seem to attend)

If you wanted to come to Germany, I'd suggest the Erlangen Comic Salon 2010. It's the biggest comic convention in Germany (Wiki says in the whole German speaking world) and takes place every second year.

Unfortunately they don't seem to have an ofical English website, which is pretty lame for a convention of their size.
I found one website in English though:
http://www.paulgravett.com/articles/139_germany/13 9_germany.htm

Not sure about most of your questions, but I could help you send an email to them to ask if they do "Guests of the House" invites. I know Art Spiegelman was there in 2007, not sure if he paid for the trip himself or was invited.

Also not sure about Sheldonistas in the area, though with Germany being a fairly small country, it should be within reach for quite a lot of German fans (anyone from the Frankfurt or Munich area could drive up for the day, fans from Northern parts would have to book a hotel room though).

And why on earth does this forum put a space in URLs randomly?! Remove the space between 13 and 9.

Erlangen I hadn't heard of, previously, but it sounds fantastic! Please do drop them a line, I'm intrigued. (And Sheldon has a pretty large German following, so that's a plus!)

London webcomix thing!
http://www.ukwebcomixthing.co.uk/index.php

This is very good timing, as the Toronto Comics Art Festival just announced that it will be running in 2010 (it used to take place once every two years, but looks to be going annual now)

T.C.A.F. [torontocomics.com]

Canadians love themselves some Sheldon!

I've gotta agree with ertman here. Calgary for sure.

TEXAS. Because we're practically our own country and whatnot. At least you seem to think so, because you've never shown up here :(

I'm sure a lot of us don't have the scratch to travel, which is why I'd suggest something in Montréal. Plus, Ryan Sohmer and Karl Kerschl live here, so there's a comics presence for sure. I'm sure there are other comics people I didn't even know about. Plus, it's a great city to visit. It's apparently among the most European cities in North America, but I don't really think of it that way.

Sadly, I don't know about any real big cons here. There's the Montréal Comic Con (http://www.montrealcomiccon.com), which actually has more than one occurrence a year. Honestly, I've never gone, largely because I never heard of it until recently.

If I was in the right position, I'd love to set up a talk at my university, Concordia. I'll bet the student union or even the top brass wouldn't be upset by inviting a guest with several graduate degrees.

Since Ottawa's probably not viable, how about

Montréal, Québec

or

Toronto, Ontario?

Two cities I could travel to. PLEASE?

oo! I'd say Australia! Specifically Western Australia. I think we have one convention a year Supernova - which happens Sydney and Perth around this time of year i believe. I'm in Perth so i'd have to insist you go to that one...

As for the expense...weeeellll...yeah, you got me on that one..

No question, has to be Toronto!

Five million potential fans, a world-class city, and a currency that is still somehow below that of the U.S. dollar. You can't miss!

Having said that, if you're concerned about cost, you can stay at our place. But you gotta look after the baby in the middle of the night!

IS there even prejudice against this type of comics in Europe, I wonder? I've visited a few other countries here besides my own (the Netherlands) and they ALL have Garfield (I tend to put your comic in the same category, mostly since I enjoy it at LEAST as much), Calvin & Hobbes, we used to have Peanuts and stuff too.

I'm not very knowledgeable on comics, actually, but I'm not entirely certain there is prejudice.

Anyway, I'm not one to be going to cons myself, but I know there's plenty Sheldon readers in Holland. We're... pretty internet-comics-y.

Oh! Please come to London Web Comix Thing! Meredith Gran came along to that this year and I believe she had a great (and profitable) time!

http://www.ukwebcomixthing.co.uk/

Sadly I can't find any info on the Bristol or Brighton Comic Expos and so I have to presume they aren't happening anymore :(

I have to confess that I don't actually have any of your books, mainly because of international shipping costs... but if you came over I for one would definitely buy all of them, all artist editions. I'd definitely have a browse through the archives before you came as well, to see if there was any original art I wanted that's still available!

Hope you can make it...

Another Vote for Calgary! It's a 7 hour drive, so if the convention falls on a half-decent weekend, I'd probably make the effort.

Gotta chime in on the behalf of the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo as well.

Not only am I a rabid fan of Sheldon, but I'm on the organizing team so I can provide any info you might like. Feel free to email me about it.

Sorry, I don't know much about other comic conventions, but come to London, Dave. I'll definitely come to see you. Wouldn't you like to re-visit Old Blighty?

Oh pleasepleaseplease let it be Toronto! Pleeeeeeeease? :D

Maybe with some of the suggestions, make a poll about it, and then pick Toronto anyways.

CALGARY! That would be awesome. I'm not sure who you'd need to contact, but you could gladly stay in our guest room and be chauffeured around in Toyota Matrix Luxury.

TCAF would be a pretty good choice. Had a great web comics presence this year. (Dave, you could travel with Malki from Wondermark if he decides to return again next year.) Also Toronto Fan Expo is in August and has a pretty good web comics presence.

I may be a little late to the party, but I second the Comic Salon in Erlangen. Definitely a good place to be, and I say this despite being few hundred kilometres further north. :) Also don't forget the American military folks stationed not too far from there -- might be some Sheldonistas among them.