This year’s Boston Comic Con was something of a year of firsts, and it brought with it the end of a few things as well. A transition con, if you will. Perhaps that’s being a bit dramatic, but it’s not without a sliver of truth. This year I sold out of my stock of a few prints I’ve been looking to move off of the table in order to make room for new prints and even books (something I’d like to focus on more going forward). Plus a few changes were made to the con this year, and I myself learned and tried out a few new things as well.

To begin with, the name has changed (which I didn’t even realise until I arrived). Gone is the Boston Comic Con and now we have the Boston Fan Expo. With the new name came a new venue: the Boston Convention Center (rather than the Seaport World Trade Center). Honestly, I liked being on the waterfront, and the loading dock was more convenient at the SWTC, but overall it was much easier to get in and out of the Convention Center, especially without all of the traffic found in the World Trade Center area, so that was a welcome change. (And I did make a trip over to the waterfront on Saturday night to have a lobster roll at the No Name Restaurant—I highly recommend the place).

On my end, I decided to drive up on the first day of the convention rather than the night before (at the recommendation of fellow artist Chris Campana to save on hotel costs). Although I was exhausted from waking up an hour earlier than my already early, regular five-o’clock rising time, it was nice to watch the sunrise as I drove up and miss most of the Connecticut traffic (which I admittedly loathe).

Of course, little did I pay attention to the change in start time for the show (two in the afternoon), so I was quite a bit earlier in arriving than I needed to be. (For reference, it’s about a three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half hour drive; I left at five and arrived around nine in the morning.) But we had a good laugh about it.

Also, with the sold prints, I began considering some new ideas for my display which included some recommendations from my fellow near-by artists. So, while I’m not certain as to the exact changes I wish to make, expect some evolution in the appearance of my convention table over the next few shows.

As for my fellow exhibitors, aside from Chris Campana, it was good to see the other J. M.—not DeMatteis, Dragunas—as I haven’t spoken with him in a couple of years, writer Amy Chu, and the ever prolific Jackie Musto. And though writer Erik Radvon was neither my neighbor or even present this year (he was great company last year), my neighbors were a fun and fantastic bunch: specifically, author M. E. Lysette (who had kind words to say about Gentleman Cthulhu and gifted me a copy of her book Convalescence & Amity—thank you; can’t wait to read it), fellow watercolourist Alexander Lee, and directly next to me, pin-up artist Reiq (whose work I’ve been familiar with for years now). And though I didn’t get the chance to meet Drew Struzan (not for lack of trying), I had a great time talking with, meeting and catching up with everyone this year that I don’t consider it a complete loss (even though Mr. Struzan is one of my long-time favourite artists and inspirations).

That said, I’ve already booked my table for next year, so if you missed me this year, you’ll have the opportunity next year (and by then, there should be a number of new things to see from and by me). In the meanwhile, check out my Patreon page (patreon.com/jmdesantis) as this is the month to get your name into both my upcoming 2017 sketchbook collection and the second volume of Gentleman Cthulhu.

And if you’re in the area, next week I’ll be appearing at Inbeon Con in Long Island, NY and then next month at the Baltimore Comic-Con in Baltimore, MD.

Hope to see you there. Cheers!