ELAYNE RIGGS: The Golden Age of ComicFest

Elayne Riggs

Elayne Riggs is the creator of the popular blog Pen-Elayne on the Web. She was a founding member of Friends of Lulu, an organization dedicated to increasing the involvement of girls and women in comics, as readers and creators. She is married to inker Robin Riggs, with whom she shares two cats, and has odd love/hate relationship with Hillary Clinton.

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3 Responses

  1. Steve Chaput says:

    I have my own memories of ComicFest, both good and bad, which I really should put down sometime (probably in my own blog). Basically, the experience was incredible and I had folks telling me how much they enjoyed the event for several years.I'll always be grateful to Vinnie for letting me take part. I do miss those days sometimes.

  2. John McCarthy says:

    This is one of my favorite columns of yours to date. It struck a chord with me on a few key levels. The "simpler" time (that never truly existed). Missing your dad, (mine passed two years ago). Frustration at the "speculeeches" (a pox on them and on the industry for catering to them). . . Also, I love that sense of community that you can still find — if you look in the right places. :) The Internet has helped people meet and/or keep in contact with one another and in the best scenarios has added to our community.I'm also enjoying THIS AGE, whatever metal one ascribes to it. There's a lot of great comics out there and the medium has gotten a lot more respect out in "The World." In a state of flux while trying to find a new direction in a digital world, comics are evolving. But it's always been thus. The world may be not be changing faster, but if it isn't, it sure seems that way. In the digital age, news, rumors and changes travel quickly, affecting change or giving the appearance of it. Only the past is "safe" because it is fixed. Which is a big reason why the Golden Age is set at or around 12 years old. At 12, most of us felt safe in our parent's house, were on the verge of becoming adults, and were really enjoying something that was truly ours: comics. Lastly, I can sympathize about the Day Job. I'm the Art Director at a financial publisher (not my ideal situation). I've got a mortgage, a wonderful wife and beautiful daughter. And the Day Job certainly helps pay our way. But at times it can squeeze the hell out of you. Hand in glove with this existence, is the daily commute, chores around the house, familial obligations, etc., etc. In and around all this I volunteer as much time as I can for MoCCA (The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in NYC). So, yeah, I'm familiar with swamped.But we do these things because we have to. Either out of necessity, or out of love. The Day Job is my job. MoCCA is my cause.;-)

  3. Elayne Riggs says:

    Wow, thanks John! I'm glad you got all the right things I wanted to convey with the column. Back to the grindstone now (yeah, after 5 PM and no sign of departure yet)…