When it comes to the indie comics scene, no convention does it better than Rose City Comic Con.
I had the privilege of attending Rose City Comic Con last weekend as a journalist for Fanbase Press, and seeing as I’m just a short flight away (based in Los Angeles) and always looking for an excuse to visit Portland, I journeyed across the greater part of California upwards into the verdant forests of Oregon and into the heart of America’s indie comics capital. The city has always boasted an extensive and robust history with comics, but nothing exemplifies this fact more than the town’s titular convention, bringing together a slew of comic creators ranging from burgeoning neophytes to industry professionals.
For starters, I have to acknowledge the Oregon Convention Center volunteers for being quick and helpful with their management of the lines. I arrived fifteen minutes before the doors opened, but as soon as it struck ten o’clock, the line began moving at a steady pace, and I was within the convention in a matter of minutes (if even that). From there, I was politely ushered into another line for badge pickup, which also took no more than a couple of minutes. I was astonished by the efficient streamlining of everything, and it stands out as a glowing moment amongst the con. And with all that being said, it was time to pay a visit to the exhibit hall.
Lemme tell you—it was a literal breath of fresh air as I waltzed onto the floor without so much as a nudge or shoulder bump from other attendees. Anyone who’s been to San Diego Comic-Con knows what it feels like to be packed together like a can of sweaty summertime sardines, and I ran into no issue whatsoever here. There was plenty of ample aisle room, allowing me to freely roam amongst the indie creators—of whom I was very pleased to see were situated right near the entrance of the exhibit hall.
In Portland, independent creators reign as a majority rather than an afterthought, and what a boon it was to the overall quality of the convention. I strolled past such a beautiful myriad of creative expression, ranging from D&D soap bars shaped as dragon eggs and major arcana cards to gourmet fudge flavors inspired by pop culture TV shows, games, and anime. I was happy to see that this indie representation even extended to the food trucks, which were conveniently located within the exhibit hall, rather than outside of the convention, making for easy access to local grub.
I was curious to see what other exhibitors were most looking forward to, and when asked, this is what Teala from Espresso Vampire Art had to say: “I’m just excited to be with my fellow nerds!”
Dan Tappan, a local Portlander and horror enthusiast, was also most interested in developing connections with his fellow creators: “…I’m really excited to connect with the Portland art community…And I’ve met plenty of people that I’ve known online, but I can now put a face to the name, which has been amazing.” And nothing speaks more to the heart of the Portland comics scene than the idea of community, of gathering together to make something cool that others get the opportunity to read and fall in love with.
Speaking of community, my personal favorite event of the entire weekend was easily the Drink & Draw, which took place at the Spirit of 77 Sports Bar across from the convention center. The event was hosted by a pantheon of legendary comic creators such as Cullen Bunn, Jordan Blum, Tom Raney, Patton Oswalt, and Brian Michael Bendis. The concept was simple in theory: We partake in drinks as we speed-draw to the ticking of a timer set at fifteen minutes, given fun prompts such as illustrating “your favorite monster doing your first job” and “your childhood crush.” But in practice, this task proved more and more difficult as time went on and reminded me of just how much I suck at drawing. But no matter, because the event doubled as a charity auction for the Hero Initiative – a non-profit organization aimed at providing career, medical, and financial aid for members of the community.
And I was honored enough to spend the event with some members of the comics world I’d like to highlight, like Haleigh Mooney—a recent resident of Rose City, a wonderful friend, and a killer artist. Another is Annie Sexton, a local Portlander and founder of Webcomic Studio, an online hub created for the purpose of helping indie comic creators foster their own communities by providing them with a free space to host their webcomics. And last but not least, Clayton Rozman, a brilliant writer/letterer, whom I must thank for his undying camaraderie in times of great despair and doubt (like only selling one comic at a convention).
But much like Rose City Comic Con, all things must end, and that sadly includes this article. I could gush forever about this experience, but if you’ve made it to the end of this feature, I’m sure you already know the extent to which I adored this convention. So, I’ll instead leave you with a request: Start making that comic you’ve been dreaming about, the one that tugs at you endlessly, because you have a whole community of creators (me included) right behind you and ready to support you. I’ll be waiting in the front row at your panel, eager to hear your story.
