Yesterday was a great day, and a welcome return to the comics convention scene. We saw Thing 2009 as the much needed stop-gap between last year's BICS and this year's, seeing as Bristol isn't happening for us in 2009.

We set up our table with plenty of time for the 10am opening, our spanking new 'Jack in the Box' (JITB) banners and table cloth being aired for the first time. It all looked very corporate, benefiting from the colours and themes matching the actual produce, so we probably had our best display yet.

The morning started quietly, although we had a number of people looking at the JITB single issues, and had numerous inquiries about whether we were likely to be collecting it as a graphic novel at any stage. We are, and requests like this (and the Essex Libraries' promise to stock it when it's done) makes this all the more urgent for us.

In the relative quiet of the morning I drew a Silver Surfer sketch...yup, I was in doodling mode. ;) Here it is...my first Marvel character sketch in about 4 years:A slight downer in the morning session came after chatting to the very friendly guy next to us who'd just had a batch of comics delivered to him by a printer exhibiting at the event. As he unboxed it he had every right to look happy with the results...it really did look the dog's danglies, as did the graphic novel printed by the same people.

We'd originally contacted this printer hoping to ensure the timely printing and delivery of JITB# 4, and with over 5 weeks until Thing 2009 we thought we'd be okay. We'd planned Thing 2009 to be the (fanfare please!) official JITB launch, so having more issues on show was obviously in our best interests. Although this printer had let us down in the past, with budgets being tight (needing to conserve money for the eventual JITB graphic, with 3 more single issues to go) we decided we should give them a 2nd chance. They assured us that their operation was now up and running smoothly and also apologised for the previous disappointment. We felt happy to proceed.

Nearly a month later, and worryingly there'd still been no communication. So I contacted them, emphasising we'd happily put issues 4, 5 AND 6 through them and even the graphic novel, if satisfied. Two days later the proof arrived. Unfortunately the proof quality was so poor that we felt we had no other choice than to use an alternative printer, but by then we were out of time. Bit of shame, after all the hard work and planning we'd put in, but hey ho!

Happily the afternoon session was really productive. With JITB selling (complete with free poster!) and even a few Chickenheads and Crowman comics. We did just as well as at our last small press event, which admittedly is never likely to be as well as we'll do at biggies like Bristol and Birmingham, but which was good nonetheless. It's at these small pressers that Martin and I have discovered that our stuff is actually alot more mainstream than we'd ever imagined it to be.

I think, based on the JITB related queries we got in the morning and afternoon that a graphic novel will sell alot more steadily at events like this, more so than single issues, especially if the entire set isn't available for purchase yet. We can't wait to have all 120 pages collected in trade paperback form!

All in all a really good day, leaving us in good spirits, and eager to complete the JITB project. We'll certainly be doing it again next year.

Now...onward with the remaining 50% of JITB issue# 5. Yep, I'm already half way there. :)

Martin and I will be at The Thing 2009, Mile End, London, this Saturday.

We're primarily pushing JITB, despite narrowly missing out on having JITB 4 printed and ready for the event. However, it will be ready the following Tuesday, so please check the Jack in the Box website for a glimpse of the new issue in the gallery, and again later next week to buy it if interested!

Still, you can check out the 1st 3 issues, some cover art and sketches, and some of our other titles...oh, and our swish new JITB banners and table cloth :) Here's the banners, just for starters: