My First Intervention

Things have finally settled down enough to where I can share my thoughts and experiences on Intervention, held in Rockville, Maryland. This inaugural event was hosted by Onezumi and Harknell, and they did an excellent job managing and running their very first show. The vibe of Intervention among the guests and creators was positive and fun throughout.

I arrived at the Rockville venue late Friday evening, and among the first people I met at the hotel lobby where Philip “Frumph” Hofer, Ben “Reality Amuck” McCormick, and Chris Capes and Babes Flick. Also in the lobby was David Shortpacked Willis, whom I didn’t recognize because I just didn’t know what he looked like. I chatted with several of them and other cartooning folks (who’s name escapes me now) into the wee hours of the morning.

After a 7 hour rest, I made my way down to the con floor to set up my booth. I had the chance to meet Brad “Evil Inc.” and Hawk (AppleGeeks). Throughout the day I had the opportunity to mingle and meet several creators and readers. I also attended two panels, including one with Fred Gallagher. It was my first time meeting many of these folks – most of whom, up until this point, were familiar to me by name only.

The show’s traffic was a bit sparse, owing in large part to the fact that the Small Press Expo was taking place one block away that very same weekend. While sales on the floor were soft compared to other shows I’ve been to, I did sell several books (mostly to new readers). I even met a reader who introduced himself as an Art & Story podcast listener (Hey, Casey!).

Saturday evening, after I closed down my booth, I met up with my good friends Jerzy Drozd, Mark Rudolph, Sara Turner and Kaiki. We attended the SPX after party, where I had a chance to talk with Roger “Hotel Fred” Langridge, Raina Telgemeir and AppleGeeks writer Ananth.

The after-party continued until the wee hours of Sunday morning. By noon on Sunday, Kaiki drove me back to BWI where I caught a return flight home.

All in all, I had a great time. I met several cartoonist pals face-to-face and had a chance to sell my comics to people who were otherwise unfamiliar with my work. Photos to come soon!

-Krishna

Update: I took these photos shortly before the doors opened on Saturday.

Krishna September 14, 2010 InterventionCon 2010