UK conventions are also a great time to find great small press comics.  I hear about all these great comics I want to try, but rarely do because of all the hassle in getting them over here.  Plus, it gives me a chance to see some great comics I might not have heard of before and would not see because their creators don’t come to America, so that’s always fun.  I picked up a ton of books from the Markosia table – including but not limited to the new releases White Knuckle and Bayou Arcana – the amazingly cool Rainbow Orchid, the first issue of Halcyon and Tenderfoot, and the graphic novel Unseen Shadows: Tales of the Fallen, a spinoff of author Barry Nugent’s novel Fallen Heroes.

I also want to give a shoutout to Dan, Jim, and Kris, the team behind the sci-fi comedy comic Lou Scannon.  We shared accommodations for a few nights, and they’re pretty funny guys who are cool to hang out with.  Until then I had never met anyone who loved Red Dwarf more than me, so the fact that there are three of them makes it even more momentous.  Seriously, though, check out Lou Scannon.  It’s good stuff.

Prior to the convention I spent a few days walking around the city itself.  Bristol is amazing.  From Clifton Downs to the City Centre to all the waterfront areas, it is just a beautiful city to view.  I covered so much of the city but barely hit a fraction of all there is to see.  I know because I’ve already started making a list of everything I want to check out the next time I go.  Seriously, if I could live anywhere in the UK, it would be Bristol.

Before I finish this up, I want to give a very special thank you to Dani Abram, my gracious host for the week.  Dani very generously opened her home to me for a week and went out of her way to make my stay as comfortable and fun as possible.  It’s a special kind of person who gets up at stupid o’clock on a work night to walk to the bus station to meet a guy just so he gets to his final destination without a hitch, and Dani’s that person.  I am very, very lucky to count her as one of my friends.  So do her and yourself a favor and check out her art blog.  She’s talented as all get out, and you won’t regret it.

So yeah, that was Bristol.  Or at least the surface of it.  Honestly, it was such a whirlwind of activity and energy that I don’t think I could cover it all if I spent all night writing.  But there could be more to come.  What could it possibly be about?  I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Ooh, mysterious.

Well, you could stop by Collectibles, Etc., in Lexington, KY.  The super-fun Beaucoup Pop podcast will be hanging out there, and podcast members Justin Stewart and Tressa Bowling will be creating some works of art.

Also at Collectibles, Etc., will be Action Lab Entertainment President Shawn Pryor and “Jetta” artist/cocreator Martheus Wade, and they’ll have plenty of Action Lab goodies, comics, and swag for sale (yes, I totally lifted that from their web site).  Also representing Action Lab will be “Fracture” artist Chad Cicconi at Pittsburgh Comics in McMurray, PA, and “Princeless” creator Jeremy Whitley at Big Planet Comics in Vienna, VA, and College Park, MD.  And if that’s not enough, Action Lab will be releasing a free 200-PAGE digital sampler on their web site.  Yeah, this crew is pulling out all the stops.

Can’t make it out at all?  Well, BW Media Spotlight has you covered.  You’ll get Twitter reviews of the FCBD releases, and maybe even some video, too.  So yeah, plenty of options for all.  I hope you find something good for you!

And this just a TINY fraction of all the awesomeness you’ll see tomorrow (note to self: start compiling a list like this more than 36 hours before the event).  If you want to find some FCBD fun near you, go to the Free Comic Book Day web site!