So now that it’s all over, I thought the Sequential team could gather around the corpse and read the entrails of the 2011 Toronto Comic Arts Festival.

Joining me in this TCAF anatomy lesson (it’s an art metaphor and a comics metaphor!) are publisher Salgood Sam and Sequential regulars Robert Pincombe, Dalton Sharp and David Hains.

–Bryan Munn

Bryan: My own memories of TCAF are kind of hazy. I have a few blurry photos and a giant pile of comics as evidence I was there, but not much else. My impression is I did everything by halves. I missed Saturday and so only wandered the show for half the weekend. I arrived late for the Wright Awards and basically saw half the show, even though I was one of organizers. The free Sequential print edition was erroneously printed at half-size. And I only saw half the people and books I wanted to. Not to mention capping the weekend off with a bout of food poisoning that essentially cut my little Toronto holiday in half. I’m trying to not let this colour my view of the event as I generally have good feeling about parts of the weekend (including the Sequential team dinner on Sunday night where we were all together for the first time) but it’s a struggle.

I wonder, how did everyone else feel about the show. How did it compare to previous TCAFs?

Salgood: Well, busy! Was promising to be a bigger sales event than past for me, not sure if it did, probably more like a tie – slowed down half way though day 2. Got lots of good feedback and attention for my work, saw lots of people i only get to see at shows as usual, didn’t make it to panels or as many of the parties as I’d like.

Robert: I didn’t experience this year’s TCAF to the extent I did last year’s event. This time out I only had one Sunday afternoon and evening available.

I think Chris Butcher and Peter Birkemoe learned from last year’s success and adapted really well. The flow of people seemed much more organized than previous years. Saturday’s packed house seems to be a clear indication of rising attendance.

I am also impressed with so many complimentary events being held in conjunction with the regular TCAF offerings. Kudos to the National Post for their extensive coverage. But where were the rest of the dailies on this? This is a huge event and they had nothing. A real lost opportunity for them.

David: As the reviews for TCAF have been rolling in, they’ve been overwhelmingly positive, and deservedly so. It’s a large festival that brings in some great talent, highlights new individuals and provides various social outlets for cartoonists and fans alike. As a lifelong resident of the city, I’m always interested in vistors’ perceptions of the city, and they seemed pretty positive too– the great weather probably helped. Any recommendations of a festival as well-run and appreciated as TCAF is an exercise in nit-picking, so apologies in advance but I do think it’s a great festival and will continue to be so.

The only major concern with TCAF is whether it will become a victim of its own success. In Tom Spurgeon’s review, he noted that the crowds on Saturday were “two clicks of the dial below ‘uncomfortable-crazy'” and Kevin Boyd opined on Twitter that TCAF has outgrown the library space. I tend to agree with Spurgeon more than Boyd on this count as I never felt too rushed at any particular table and lines weren’t particularly long aside from the crush of people lining up for Chester Brown and Chris Ware. But being two notches below uncomfortable is a fine line, and I’m sure festival organizer Chris Butcher and the rest of the TCAF organizing committee recognize this. Luckily, there should be room to grow within that site. The library is currently undergoing renovations which may have limited flexibility with space, but I’m sure that with a growing and popular festival and five stories to a 400,000 square foot space, there’s enough to make it work for everyone. For instance, the under construction TD Gallery would be a great site for a curated comic exhibit during the festival.

Bryan: What went right and what went wrong? Should TCAF do anything differently to improve the show?

Salgood: Don’t know of any major TCAF bloopers, I hear the panels were a bit dry? Wanted to get out to a few but kind of got settled in and hid out at my table most of it. And it’s getting so they might have to get more space already, maybe take over more of the 2nd floor around the main area?

Bryan: Yeah I heard that some of the panels were flops or just represented poorly-matched panelists (ie, the freelancer panel with Tomine, Martz, Green, Seth, and Venable) but some of them sounded really awesome.

Robert Wrong? Really, not much that I could see. An event like is impossible to make everything perfect. But since I am a curmudgeon…

The Children’s Room is my favourite place at all TCAF – A chance to empower kids to draw and experiment. The simple fact that there is an awesome room where kids can find comics and inspiration and draw is awesome and should forever remain a part of this festival.

I do think with more focus the room could be an even bigger success. The tutorials should be aimed at specific age groups to help parents plan around them. The lessons I saw were clearly aimed at an older crowd that went over the heads of the much younger crowd in attendance.

Younger kids only need to have an artist wow them with some cool drawing at the front to establish their “superstar with a marker” credentials and then have the artist go from table to table offering tips and encouragement. I have worked with kids in the past and write for them every day, and a one age fits all approach is limiting the success of the room.

This year, I found the panels I attended to be surprisingly dry and insular. Few of the topics captured the fun element of comics that the artist tables throughout the event embraced. Also, none of the panels I attended opened things up to questions either so audience participation was out. It seemed to be more about artists congratulating each other than exploring a topic and our presence felt like an afterthought. Since I’m grousing, I will also mention the sound had to compete with the buzz from the main library event.

I know we want to add some intellectual rigor to some of the panels but the Festival was a created around a real joy and love for comics. I’d love to see the panels to embrace that more and have some more fun. As Darwyn Cooke kidded, “Crack a joke once in a while, guys.”

I think the Doug Wright Awards would be better served if it were held closer to the main event area. Having performed at the Pilot Tavern in the past, I think that would be an awesome place for the awards next year.

Dalton: I would just quickly say that perhaps it would make sense to put all the kid friendly vendors in one area. It was a bit of a challenge for parents to have to figure out the appropriateness of every single table.

Salgood: What went right? Turnout I’d guess, looks like they really got the word out well.

Mostly I think it’s evolving well. From the perspective of our site it would have been nice to know about events and schedules a little sooner. There were almost too many volunteers asking if I wanted a coffee break or a garbage bag – not really a complaint but it makes me think they had an embarrassment of manpower on hand, maybe it could have been wrangled for more tasks but off the top of my head don’t know what. It was great to know I was covered if I had to leave my spot for a bit though.

Robert: What went right? Attendance! That place was packed!

Saturday apparently it was extremely difficult to even move but the volunteers and organizers still did a great job of keeping people flowing. And Sunday was particularly smooth. I groused about the panels but I have heard events at the Pilot Tavern across the street were more lively, perhaps due being able to order a beverage. I suspect those ones had more of a spirit of camaraderie and fun.

I always take great joy in seeing “civilian” families at the show, watching kids get blown away by comics, comics, comics! This is a real celebration of the comics in all its forms. Every creator there seemed to be having a wonderful time connecting with people.

The comics. Even a broke dude like me found lots of wonderful comics to salivate over. And everyone was very approachable and filled with enthusiasm. I always leave jazzed about comics and creativity.

The event was extremely well organized. I can’t say enough for the efforts of Chris and Peter and their staff in organizing an event so embraced by the city. This is the most inspiring, exhilarating comic event in North America. It ain’t about the commercialism, it’s about the love, baby.

Dalton: I’m grateful for, and in awe of the efforts to bring in farther-flung masters like Tatsumi, Mattotti, etc. And just a personal wish for the next one: a performance and poster by Shary Boyle and/or Daniel Barrow!

David: TCAF has proven they can make adjustments and improvements to how the site can be best used. This year, gone was having people table in the Beeton room which seemed difficult for some people to find last year (it was used for panels this year). Also a positive was using the centre of the room for the Webcomics Pavillion in the Bluma Appel Salon, which was a big void of space last year occasionally occupied by people sitting in the centre and playing cards.

Another possibility would be to spread the flow of people to a couple of sites for panels. Starting last year, TCAF started using the nearby Pilot Lounge in Yorkville which has the effect of increasing the number of panels, decreasing traffic on the main floor and providing people a breather while still getting their comics fix. I’m not sure which other sites would be most suitable mind you.

With that said, almost everything I heard was positive. Close to everyone seemed to make their table cost back or more (Scott Chantler sold almost 50 copies of Two Generals on Saturday alone, Faith Erin Hicks, Jess Fink and the Team Society League guys also quickly sold out of their new books). Of course, some people wound up being sick, but I suppose that’s the nature of late nights and glad handing with many comic buyers. Also, there was the unfortunate seizure of comic books at the border, Blaise Larmee’s excellent book Young Lions and the Black Eye anthology which I have not read but am now more likely to. The Comic Book Legal Defense League has a good interview on the process with Tom Neely and Dylan Williams.

Additionally, and it’s easy to take for granted, everyone at the festival seemed to be having a good time. Patrons, volunteers, organizers and cartoonists alike all seemed satisfied and there was essentially no griping about the event. It’s pretty tough to please everyone, and so that’s a testament to all the people involved.

I hope this summary doesn’t come across as negative, because it was a really great time and kudos to Butcher and Miles Baker for all of their effort into making a difficult task look easy and making it work.

Bryan: It was great to have most of the main Sequential contributors together for a post-festival dinner Sunday night. Definitely one of my show highlights to talk over sushi with the gang about comics, TCAF, and more. Maybe we could talk about “The Sequential Experience”?

Salgood: Ahem, diminished. Will have to resolve a more streamlined printing solution for Sequential Pulp next time and think, while it’ll take more sponsors to cover it, it’s getting to be worth going to a web offset newspaper run.

David: I finally met Sequential’s Bryan Munn at dinner. We spoke about the formative influence of Tarzan and other early comics on the perception of sexual understanding for kids coming of age in that era. Then we wondered why we don’t get invited to more dinners.

Bryan: No comment.

Robert I am new to Sequential and have not really contributed enough to make my mark here yet.

But this was the first time everyone was in the same room together, perhaps ever! So it was great to finally connect to everyone and see all the dedicated, opinionated and unique personalities that are transforming sequential from an important resource into a must-read website filled with unique viewpoints. I hope I can add to that when I get my column up and running.

That’s my insider Sequential take. My outsider Sequential take revolves around the print edition.

Despite a mix-up in printing sizes resulting in some tiny print, I found this year’s issue to be a marvelous mix of interviews, reviews, comics and art. I discovered a broad range of art styles, storytelling approaches and wonderful, thoughtful creators. Kudos to the contributors and editor Salgood Sam for my favourite read of the Fest!

Salgood: Thanks Robert, and to the rest of the crew for filling it with so much good stuff, sorry it didn’t have more room to be shown off. :)

Bryan: For me, the memorable image of TCAF was the never-ending line of people waiting to have Chester Brown sign Paying For It. Or maybe it was the giant John Porcellino mural on the side of the NFB building that we stumbled upon on our way back from the Wright Awards party. Was there a single defining image of TCAF for you?

Salgood: Not defining, but first thing that comes to mind: sightings of cos-players.

Robert: Hmmm, I think seeing such an open public space like the Reference Library filled with comic lovers and admirers is always my biggest takeaway image.

The space is close to perfect for TCAF in terms of being open to the public, accessible and connected to the city. That will only get better as they complete the Library’s new, roomier look in few years. This feels more like a vibrant cultural festival than a comic convention restricted to fans.

Bryan: The books that I was most looking forward to at the show were Rebecca Kraatz’s Snaps and the new Comics Journal. Wasn’t surprised that Michael DeForge had a new minicomic but was delighted to buy it nonetheless. Bought some wonderful-looking anthologies of work I was unfamiliar with (Sparkplug’s Gay Genius and the Baltic comics magazine S! #7 aka kuš) but was disappointed that Ryan Sands’ boner-inducing Thickness anthology sold-out before I could get a copy. Also sad that I missed Jesse Jacobs and his new book! How did that happen! Didn’t really have anyone come up to me and rave about an unknown “must-see” book or cartoonist, with the exception of Ludovic Debeurme’s Lucille. Inkstud’s Robin McConnell showed me the Debeurme sketch he scored and I was quite impressed.

Was there a breakout book or artist at the show? What was your favourite book or other purchase? What else did I miss?

Salgood: Don’t know, reading my haul now but few of them were breakout names.

‘Duncan the Wonder Dog’, have not read it yet but most excited about it. Working my way through the footnotes of ‘Paying For It’ now, that was good, a lot dryer than I expected.

Robert: Something that really impressed me this year was the stellar line-up of top flight talent. No one book or artist struck me as the breakout this year – there were a whole bunch of them!

I hear David Boswell was a delight at the Doug Wright Awards. Chester Brown’s Paying For It seemed to be on everyone’s list. I was very interested in the launch of The Next Day illustrated by John Procellino. He is one of those rare artists capable of making the potentially downbeat topic of attempted suicide into a human, life affirming comic. Usamaru Furuya and the debut appearance of Natsume Ono anywhere ( I think) were exciting additions.

Favourite book? I definitely enjoyed the print edition of Sequential this year. But I was also pretty excited by issue 9 of Dave Roman’s Teen Boat, Tory Woolcott and Kean Soo’s new mini “Toronto To Tuscanny”, discovering the Bento Comics collective and getting the chance to thank Stuart and Kathryn Immonen for recent inspiration and Dave Kellet for his inspiring and helpful book “How To Make Webcomics”.

I was more delighted than bummed to see books I planned to buy like the Superhero Girl collection sold out by the end of the first day! That is an amazing success for artists.

David: I spoke with Jesse Jacobs at the TCAF launch party for a good 5-10 minutes before either of us realized that we were speaking with the same person we were in an interview with a couple of days before. He had thought I was Robert Haines of the Dragon and Joe Shusters, but alas, I am not. Jacobs’ glasses fooled me.

Bryan: As with previous TCAFs, the best part of the show for me is often the brief interactions with favourite creators. This year it was having drinks with David Boswell at the Wright Awards afterparty, meeting Jimmy Beaulieu (who I interviewed via email for a piece in the first Sequential print edition a few years ago) and having him sign the last copy of his new book with a gorgeous sexy illustration, and watching James Stokoe sketch and sign a copy of ‘Orc Stain’ with his very unique , claw-like drawing grip. As well, meeting comics journos like Bill K, Robin McConnell, Dan Nadel, and Tom Spurgeon for the first time was also a highlight.

What was your favourite moment of TCAF 2011?

Salgood: The funny awkward look on Matt Kindt’s face when I teased him about stealing my backwards R for his book Revolver for Vertigo. All of it, and sushi. Though next time we need a round table.

David: Vicki Nerino and Britt Wilson were raffling off pieces of original art at $1 a ticket, which was a great idea to draw people to their table and provide a way for people who wouldn’t ordinarily get original art to have a shot. Of course, they also had their lovingly disgusting minis on hand. Rebecca Kraatz came in to sign for two hours on Saturday at the Conundrum table and promptly sold 20 copies of Snaps. The crazy thing? She had flown in to Toronto that morning at 8:30 and was leaving that evening at 8:30 or so. She and her husband Joel are adopting a 3-year-old boy and she had to get back to Nova Scotia. Best wishes to their family. At a panel with Chris Ware and Tom Spurgeon, Ware revealed that he and actor Jack Black had pitched an animated show to HBO that they surprisingly greenlit. The financial crisis ensued and since the project was considered risky it was axed. Still, crazy stuff. I went to the Carousel reading led by R. Sikoryak on Sunday and was struck by how performance-based each of the individuals were (Sikoryak, Jess Fink, Jason Little, Kate Beaton and Jeffrey Lewis) and how well they executed the timing and energy of a good joke. Also, I think I learned more in one of Lewis’ history songs/comics than in a month of high school history, and I really liked my high school history teacher.

Robert Um.. I wish I could say something cool and pithy. But truthfully, my favourite moment was mid-afternoon on Sunday where I escaped the crowds and sat on a planter in the sun across the street from the Reference Library entrance. I was just eating a homemade sandwich checking out the sample comics in the TCAF handout while watching Darwyn Cooke and another comic creator chatting over a friendly smoke.

All seemed right with the world that for one weekend, loved comics not as a marginalized fanboy activity, but for the art form itself.