Apologies for the wait. A LOT has happened over the past month, including a hospital stay. So, finally, here it is:
Oz Comic Con has finally made its way back to Adelaide. After 5 years, Oz Comic Con has returned to Adelaide, with new management, and a new format: more homegrown Aussie authors, artists, and creators. And – of course – costumes!
I must admit I liked the Homegrown version. Having social anxiety doesn’t mesh well with larger events and venturing out after Covid has complicated things further. I’ve done a few smaller events (Steampunk Festival last year, and Adelaide Comic & Toy Fair). This was the first of my scheduled larger events.
At the last few conventions (pre-Covid) people tended to glide through the Artist Alley on their way to the guest area. I’m not sure if it was due to the ‘less big international’ names’, people wanting to get out post-Covid, or slightly different crowd but there were more people stopping, chatting in the Artist Alley (and buying books) this time round.
In past events, a common comment was attendees had spent their budget on high-fee guest pics and autographs. This time, though there were less people through the door, there were more (in my end of Artist Alley at least) than pre-Covid events. There were also more things happening on stage Two (the fan stage with talks and workshops) and more non-purchasing things to do this time round. (perhaps because the new owners usually do corporate events?)
I had a lot of fun at this year’s Oz Comic Con. I met new (to me) readers, and caught up with some regulars. I’m still buzzing about the reader who made a beeline to my table to buy my book because it was recommended on Booktok! I now have a new con buddy (Stephanie Dawn/Angels and Fire Books); we had a blast chatting and dancing the weekend away… oh, and selling books too.
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