Armageddon Expo 2011 (Auckland, New Zealand)

Myself and my awesome helper Renee

Again awesome Renee here with my other awesome helper fellow comic book creator, Susan Rugg.

I had been planning to launch our Online Comic Store at the Expo, which has been running now for a number of years. I had placed it in the top priority slot as its the biggest in Australasia. Numbers can usually vary around 18,000 and up - but this year it crossed 40,000!

This year was the third time I had attended but the first time I was there as a retailer myself. Being a retailer you get to see the amount of work that goes into putting in a such a huge effort into the smooth running of the events. I had a couple of very amazing young ladies help me out over the three days that we were there. The event itself was four days long. But I realised on Day 2 that it wouldn't be possible for me to stay the fourth day, so by the end of Day 3 we had packed up and left the venue, elated with the turnout and the response to us being there.

As a retailer or stall-holder you get to talk business with other retailers as well as discuss what they expected from the event as a retailer. Often when you are a fan attending such an event you just see the glitches and glamour of the event. Meeting Celebrities, talking to other fans and creators. Getting Signatures and photos of your favorite actors. I did all of that and then some.

Day 1 which was Friday 28th, not many attended, which was okay with me as there was only myself and Renee looking after our stall and being newbies I was a little nervous, but my mind was set at ease by the encouragement of our neighbor stall holders who were old hats at the Expo and so, the two of us settled in for the day a little less apprehensive

I was in two-minds about taking my large TV screen to showcase our new website, but Renee said it would have more impact, and it did. I had been taking photos of the Cos-Players and Renee came up with the idea to have them set as a screensaver on the TV screen. We took about 70 or so photos on my mobile phone, as the batteries in the digital camera were useless, and so once these were on the screen attendees would stop to look at theirs and other attendees photos. Much to my amazement we were the only ones who were doing this.

Friday being the slow attendance day meant that either of us could get around and see what the other stalls were offering and also do a bit of browsing for stuff we were after. There were a lot of items of offer. I hobbled over to the Pop Culture stall and grabbed a small 'Hit-Girl' bobble head toy for my niece which on second thoughts I decided to refrain from giving it to her as it meant I would get my but kicked for giving my 7yrs old niece a toy representing a foul-mouthed character from Kick Ass. Next was a set Doctor Who mini Cyber-men for my nephew who loves Legos. Gifts out of the way I headed straight for Gotham Comics, a comic store from which I get all my main stream singles issues from.

Seeing Frank Cho was in attendance I haggled with Jeremy the Manager of Gotham Comics over a comic with Cho art, having been shown a very risque cover of Jungle Girl. They pair of us happy with the price I set about meeting Rob Gulliory Artist on Chew.  He was a nice guy. As I hadn't been following the series I discussed with him about it. I bought a couple comics to be signed. All the comics for signing were placed below cost by Jeremy for the event.  After having the Jungle Girl cover signed, I moved on to take a look around

The place itself is spread across a several areas at the venue and covering it all was impossible, so I decided to see a little each day. I got around to the New Zealand Comics stall which had a couple well known New Zealand writers and creators who I had got to know well through Facebook. I met up with Ant Sang, Dylan Horrocks and Adrian who is a very well-known NZ Comic Book blogger and a comic creator himself. I had interviewed both Ant and Dylan for Comic Addicts. After a short stop I made my way around to seeing what the other stall holders were up to.

It didn't take long before I was buying more comics and bartering with another retailer for the graphic novels I had imported and a pile he had himself, which he was eager to offload. So, ended Day 1.

Day 2 was the same as Day 1, but 4 times more busy. Being the only comic book store selling mainly unknown graphic novels and comics, as far as I could tell, we had to do a  lot of explaining about the books I had imported for the Expo.

Got around to seeing all the other stalls and was pleasantly surprised by a local group who had set-up an original Star Trek USS Enterprise command deck as well as a Borg sleeping station. I think that's what they are called. I sat down to have my picture taken in the Captain's Chair. There were others who were part of the stall seated, dressed in uniform awaiting my orders. I was so excited I forgot all about the captain's instructions to the flight crew. I received help from the crew as well as encouragement.

Next I placed myself in the Borg station and had my picture taken. Believe me for a Trekkie this was paradise.

I then wandered around to look at the other stalls elated with the Star Trek one. There were folks who dressed up in fantasy characters promoting the local Fantasy Games, where they dressed up and carried out war games, just like in the movie, Role Models. I wish I lived in Auckland. I would so be into it.

A life-sized R2D2 from Star Wars was moving around controlled by remote. I had my picture taken with him and also with a life-sized Dalek.

An American Comic Collector was selling some valuable back issues. One I was very much interested in and should have bought was Amazing Spider-Man #129, the first appearance of The Punisher. He had 2 copies one at NZ$250, and another at NZ$500 due to grading. I have his contact details so who knows when I get a bit of spare cash, I might see if he still has them.

I watched a new acquaintance I would later make illustrating on a new Wacom Cintiq. Being a Wacom InTous4 user myself I was asking a lot of questions. Especially a Wacom for my 7yr old niece. One of the staff for Wacom had been brought in from Australia. He was excellent to talk to.

By the end of Day 2, I was really feeling the stress on my already bad health and so decided after discussion with my helper, Renee that we should call it quits after Day 3, even though the show was on for 4 days.

 Day 3, I knew I had to get everything done that needed to be done, such as see all the other stalls that I had missed and also get some more stock for my online comic store. So, with that in mind I spent as much time discussing with customers about the graphic novels I was carrying and also about the site and my own collaborations and works online.

I also met with Sarah, a local artist and colorists who is working on coloring the cover of a graphic novel I have written which is being illustrated by a Filipino artist, Armando De la Cruz. The two of us had a long discussion as we both have chronic pain and issues related to ill health.

Later, I had decided to get a photo with an actor I admire, who also happens to act along side an Indian hottie on a USA TV Series called Sanctuary. If you haven't seen any of the episodes from the 4 seasons I recommend you do.

After waiting in the very long line I gave and received a hug from Amanda Tapping, who is the lead actor on the show. I was too excited to talk and she actually asked me my name after we hugged and got then the photo was taken. Me still blissful after the experience remarked to her that she is awesome in Sanctuary. She responded with "thank you", and I hobbled away on my walking stick. A moment I am of course going to remember for a long time.

I ended up at another comic stall and roved through their comic book long boxes for something of interest and found to my delight a bunch of The Boys comics and also the 8 out 9 issues of the first run of Garth Ennis's, The Crossed. I was disappointed I didn't have the missing one but was only too happy to have the rest.

Student from Freelance

 Animation School 

Also picked up, Bomb Queen: WMD graphic novel. Bomb Queen along with the others I got are all Mature Reader's comic series. Bomb Queen is an awesome fun read. It features a villain who runs a city in the middle of America who kills anyone who stands in her way. Its not for the faint hearted but also isn't as hardcore as Crossed. And after buying some backing boards and bags from Jeremy I was done with shopping and resources for my own store and headed back to packing up the stall after collecting my much loved enlarged photo of Amanda Tapping and myself.

With Renee and I packed and cleaned up we headed home. I called my brother-in-law to come and help unload as both of us was exhausted.

Later as I went about unpacking I found I had left both the laptops at the Expo. So after a night and half a day of worrying it had been handed into the security desk by the wonderful staff and I arranged for my father to collect it and later in the week my brother couriered it to me.And so that was my first time experience at a comic book convention as a stall holder and seller.

All photos ©2011 Comic Trade Ltd, NZ

(ARU), Aruneshwar has just finished his Bachelors Degree in Digital Media -Digital Film-making. He took a semester of Multimedia earlier this year which kind of set him up for comictrade.co.nz, a New Zealand  online comic store. On the creative side, Aru is writing and illustrating a graphic novel about the 30yrs of Institutionalised Slavery ofIndians in Fiji from 1885 -1915. He is a prolific script writer and writes in all comicbook genres which include several graphic novels for his own company,Rising Sun Comics. He is also written a graphic novel called Templeton's Rise and Fall, which is being illustrated currently by a Filipino artist, Amando De La Cruz. Aru also uploads a digital comic series on Facebook called, Zero. 

NZ artist Ryan Green whose doodles

seen here was sent toWacom HQ in

Tokya by the Wacom staff same day.