It’s Good to be the Crane

EVERYONE’S BEEN SAYING how great BCGF was, but at the risk of sounding like an echo chamber up in here: What a great show.

We were pre-gaming with Edie Fake at Cinders Gallery in Williamsburg the Thursday beforehand. He signed books, pinned Gaylord buttons and sprinkled gay love powder on all comers – and that stuff works. Big ups to everyone at Cinders and all of you that dropped by, said hi and got all homoerotically cudly with your very own Gaylord Phoenix.

And then there was the Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival (aka BACKFAT – h/t to D&Q). It was full-throttle from the get until a dinnertime lull before taking it to another level of remorseless consumerism. It was tight, in both senses; here a comics luminary, there a comics luminary, everywhere a comics luminary. Lynda Barry, Matt Groening, Charles Burns. Renee French, Brian Chippendale, Anders Nilsen, Kate Beaton. Blah, blah, blah. Listing is futile – who wasn’t at BCGF? Well, to answer that not completely rhetorical question:

While voices have been raised in the aftermath of the show about curation at cons, it’s hard to argue when space is at a premium and the results are all killer, no filler. Admittedly, not getting the nod sucks, but if you think it’s show friends, not show business, just look at the guest list. Putting those folks in one BCGF-sized room doesn’t leave much space left over. We were honored to make the cut. With Stumptown joining the curated likes of TCAF and BCGF, ranks might be closing a little, yes. There is still a scene for everyone.

Having Gaylord Phoenix debut at our table with Edie Fake and Ken Dahl tricking out their books and making nice-nice with the customers kept sales blisteringly brisk, but the absolute best part of the day was hearing mad respected cartoonists and industry folks praise the Acres. Jim Rugg, Kevin Huzienga, Karen Green, Anne Koyama and loads of other amazing heroes came by to pet us. That kind of encouragement puts the love back in the labor of love that is making comics. We are humbled.

However, you cannot imagine what it’s like being Jordan Crane. Unless, of course, you are Jordan Crane. We all got a chance to intern as sales associates at his neighboring table. He let us handle the prints and collect the monies while he snuck out for Asia Dogs and panels (Fool!). Having dozens of strangers walk up to you and call you a genius and deploy the L word every thirty seconds is just like taking a bath in the sun. Even if they have no idea that they’re talking to the wrong guy. If ever you have the opportunity, be the Crane.

Speaking of the panels, we tried to sit in on a few, but the Asia Dog munchers were louder than the PA system (our lone organizational criticism) so we just stared blankly at the pretty comics people on the stage, moving their pretty mouths and pointing at the presentations.

Thank you Gabe, Dan and Bill for organizing and hosting such a tremendous comics show and afterparty. For us, it was beyond gratifying to participate, and it ended (a pretty rough, at times) 2010 on the best possible note.

Also! You know how we know it’s Christmas? Fantagraphics gave us the best present ever when it posted this image of Zak Sally, which went direct deposit in the Acres spankbank. Like a Dog, indeed. Can we make this a tradition please? At the very least there should be a Zak Sally (plus dog) advent calendar.

So that’s it for this update. Sorry for the delay in BCGF spin, but we’ve been awful busy making sure all the good girls and boys get their Acres stuffs for the holidays. We’ll have one big, fat year-end wrap up post shortly, but there’s a couple Best of 2010 lists (here and here) for you to peruse. Major props to John Brodowski and Edie Fake for getting that ball rolling so fast. Upon our return, we’re going to spill the beans on 2011 – and we will have an exciting announcement to make. Till then, keep your panties on. It’s friggin’ cold!

Your Pals,

Barry and Leon

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