The MoCCA Art Festival is this weekend in NYC. MoCCA=Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art. It's a big show about the little guys. The indie comics scene. Admittedly, I only dabble in the indie scene, but have started to take more notice as of late. So many great works out there. It's the type of comic I always tell non-comic book readers about. The comic book without capes and tights and disproportionate anatomy. Well, usually. That Alison Bechdel just loves to draw huge boobies. (For those in the know, you KNOW I'm kidding on that one!)
I wanted to check it out yesterday, but couldn't stay long since I had to bartend at 3:30. My boy, Paul Pope, was doing a signing for the debut of his new book, PulpHope. If you can find a copy, get it. It's a compilation of his art from his early days up until present times. And, he ain't fucking around with this one, kids! It's pure and unapologetic and will rock your socks off!
I just realized, I haven't even talked about the show yet. As you may have surmised by my clever post title, I was not present at the show for very long. I made a cameo for about an hour.
I met Pauly for a quick lunch and drink around 1:30. He had to do his "pre-game warm-up" and wanted to just chill for a hot minute before heading in. We arrive a few minutes late after 2 and immediately head in and rush over to the AdHouse Books table.
Pope sits down and jumps right into the signing. And for reals...a line formed almost instantaneously. Fucking rock star. Paul and I joked that I should just stand next to him during the signing and talk to the fans for him. "Do not look The Pope directly in the eyes! Do not address The Pope unless he addresses you. Under no circumstances should you touch The Pope!"
I say hi to the very cool Chris Pitzer (AdHouse Books publisher) whom I had previously hung out with last weekend at Heroes Con. And Jamie Tanner (The Aviary) was there doing a signing as well. Chatted with him for a few. And, got to meet Fred Chao. I'm totally digging his new book, Johnny Hiro!
After chatting with the AdHouse kids, I bounce around as I only have til 3 until I have to head back to midtown for work. I literally rush around the main floor and barely had a moment to stop. Got to say hi to Chris Staros from Top Shelf. Also had chatted and interviewed him up at Heroes Con. Ran into my boys, Charlito and Mr. Phil, of Indie Spinner Rack fame. They are the podcast about the indie comics scene and were madly doing interviews left and right. Saw a few of the Comic Geek Speak guys. Bryan, Jamie and Peter. Ran upstairs to see more. We all laughed at the idea that Wizard magazine had a table at an indie show. We pictured this gang of indie fans running them out of the building with torches. I ran around a bit more, told Pope I'd see him later....and that was that.
Nothing like my Heroes Con recap, eh kids? Sorry about that. I really wish I had gotten there earlier and had a chance to talk to people and pick up some books. But, just didn't make the time. It was a very crowded show. I wasn't sure what to expect at first, but was very happy to see the place packed.
I did get a chance to meet up with some of the crew after work. Cass and I met up with Pope and some of his peoples for a few. And I popped into the Top Shelf party that still had some late stragglers.
Next year, I promise. I'll hang out and explore more. Though, I think just showing up gives me some indie cred. No? Do I really have to read Blankets for that? I mean, I have Lost Girls...does that count?
Fine. I'll start buying more indie.
I swear on a stack of American Splendors!
That's me as "Indio" in West Side Story back in '99. No, I didn't have short hair back then. It's a wig. Yep. They cast me with my long hair and decided to wig me. Guess they wanted me pretty badly, eh? Or they were just short on real ethnic types. Seriously, out of the Shark gang, there were maybe 4 of us that could pass. Me and 3 guys whom were actually of Latino descent. The rest were 3 Jewish guys and our "Bernardo" looked like Fred Flintstone. No lie. 
My poor costuming girls. It took 2 of them 20 minutes each show to braid my hair into about 8 parts. Tie those parts up. And then pin the shit out of it all when applying the wig. But, let me tell you, they were good at their job. At times, I felt like they got lazy and just staple gunned the wig to me. I still have trouble with cognitive thinking sometimes. I think. Maybe. And if you don't know, WSS is a very physical show with all of the dance numbers and the big fight. All of the flips and turns and pratfalls and climbing and jumping...the wig stayed on. 
Just to prove that it's just not me playing dress up, here are a couple of shots of the "America" number. Yep. that's me over there!
One night, after the final scene and the lights go down. The 20 ft. center set piece falls down missing me and my friend by feet.
