Talkin' 'bout the Things we used to do…

I didn't make it to the model trains at the Peoples' Palace, but I did make it to mini comics at, er, the Peoples' Palace. How many Peoples' Palaces are there in London anyway?

Anyway, nomenclature aside, it was a good event, by all accounts. I deliberately arrived late, as past events have seen me run out of money and have hours to hang around doing nothing until everyone packs up to go to the pub. On arrival, I (typically) got distracted from looking at the tables by catching up with friends, including running into some stray Lithers, which was a pleasant surprise. I didn't seem to come away with huge amounts of comics, but I still spent about £30 (including a couple of things that didn't end up in the photograph at the top of the post). I'm not sure how good everyone's sales were, but the event was pretty crowded right up until closing time, which seemed like a good sign.

I must be getting O-L-D though, because I left the pub early, which is something I've been doing a lot of late. Me, who always stays until closing time. Not anymore, it seems. I'm not sure if it's a good thing, or not, as I never seem to get to bed any earlier than if I'd stayed out all night… Instead, I found myself getting a few strange looks on the tube, because reading through my haul of mini comics was making me giggle. Comics that are actually comical, who'da thunk it? Although I was a little disturbed that two comics out of the ten featured villains made of sentient facial hair! (That would be Airship by Sarah McIntyre & David O'Connell, and Francesca Cassavetti's Striptacular Comics Revue.)

There are a few things I regret, though. There were a couple of times when I got distracted by friends just as I was considering a purchase and then never went back to buy, which I feel a bit bad about. And I wish I'd thought to take a photo of Ellen Lindner's glamorous outfit (apparently it was her second choice and she wasn't sure about it, but let's be honest; she always looks great). I did, however, manage to grab the last copy of her brand new collected edition of Undertow, which I've been awaiting the conclusion of since I read the first chapter in her self-published comic Blonde on Blonde in, ooh, 2003 or 2004. Undertow was updated regularly on Webcomics Nation, but it was one I much preferred to read in paper format, so I'm delighted to now have a copy of my own. You should go and buy yours, too, although in my opinion, nothing beats the drama and linework of the last two pages of the opening chapter. Which is not to say that the rest ain't good, 'cos it is!

Also recommended:

• Chloe Noonan – new thing from Marc Ellerby, which is sardonically fun, though I'd love to see the whole thing done in colour. I know, I know, too expensive, but the colours on the front cover are so pretty. Watch Marc's LJ for details on how to get yours.
• Mugwump The Great – pocket-sized lunacy from Roger Langridge; ace as always.
• A Nice Cup of Tea and a Deadline – fans of Sarah McIntyre's blog will already know about this, a collection of some of the cute and funny illustrations and comic strips Sarah posts daily (with a lovely titular headnod to A Nice Cup of Tea and a Sit Down), but you should buy a copy because the selected strips sit really nicely together. Except, I don't know how you can get one 'cos Sarah doesn't have a shop on her site¹. But, you can read her report on the Thing.
• The Everyday – simple, autobiographical strips by Adam Cadwell, with nice low-key observations about the small pleasures in life, illustrated with a lovely, elegant line. I didn't actually buy a copy 'cos of low funds, but I made Fimb buy one, and now I'm pointing you lot in Adam's direction, too.
• Whores of Mensa – I bought the latest issue last year, but now's your chance to buy up all the copies under this particular title, as Ellen informed me that they've just received a Cease-and-Desist from Mensa so they'll have to change the title, and may have to destroy existing issues.
• Tequila Monkey – not comics, but these handmade sugar skull brooches were doing a roaring trade, hardly surprising, as they're cute and affordable (although I'm considering commandeering mine for use as a pin-cushion, is that wrong? It's just that it's perfect!)

¹psst, Sarah, Folksy is a good place to set up an online shop!