Sun Jun 3, 2007 — by Elayne Riggs

BEA Day 2 pictorial

Books everywhere one looks!

I'm getting way too old for this.  Nonetheless, had I the energy to walk around and the time to have planned ahead (a must!), I would have loved Book Expo America even more.  It's been at least 15 years since I've been to this trade show (the last time I attended it wasn't even called BEA), and it's as exhilarating as ever.  Whoever believes nobody has any interest in books any more needs to be dragged to this show.

The ComicMix contingent was out in force for this one.  Pictured here are Mellifluous Mike Raub, Head Honcho Mike Gold, and Spin Queen Martha Thomases.  Not pictured are Kai Connolly and Glenn Hauman.  Expect any info from these folks to be far more valuable than my meager photos, as they got info and interviews galore.

More than ever before, comics and particularly graphic novels are firmly ensconced in the pantheon of publishing, and enthusiastically accepted by show attendees.  Lots of emphasis was put this year on graphic novels for kids, and Harold Buchholz and Jane Fisher were doing their part to expand that -- do check out their Kids Love Comics website!  I also had my photo taken a bit later with Harold and Colleen Doran, who warns me it'll be up on her site when she gets home.  It was terrific to see so many Team Comics people at this show!

Here's the CMX display at the DC booth, which was fairly large although much more muted than its presence at comic conventions.  I picked up two or three freebies.  The coolest thing about BEA is the free books.  Once you get the hang of it (most books stacked on the floor in quantity are free, most books shown singly on tables are for display only) you can pick up tons of reading material.  Between my physical limitations and the fact that I haven't had time to read many books recently, I restrained myself.

While Marvel's display consisted mostly of ads and teasers for their graphic novel collections, DC had its collections in prominent view.  I was very pleased with the layout, and if you look more closely you'll see why:

Yeah, it's difficult not to like a display where the book right out front features your spouse's name prominently.  Ahd, oh yeah, non-exploitive art, which probably appealed to the attendees.  Don't know official figures but I'd say slightly more women than men, in a space easily the size of the San Diego con if not bigger.  Queues at all the ladies' rooms, SRO at all the panels I tried to get into, organized bus routes to and from hotels, fans lining up to get autographs from guest celebs, people blocking the aisles while taking spontaneous meetings -- it all reminded me very much of San Diego only with a lot more people who look like me and a lot more freebies (including free candy at dozens of booths).

Look, there's a celeb now!  Apparently Russell Simmons has written a book.  Just about any famous person who fancies themselves an author of late was at this convention.  I can hardly wait to hear some of the cool interviews that Mike and Kai snagged!

It just wouldn't be a proper montage without a photo of Kyle Baker looking bewildered and overwhelmed.

BEA concludes today.  Heidi has coverage as well, but my absolute favorite pictorials so far have been from Bully (who Has A Posse, by the way).  Here's Day 0, Day 1 and Day 2.  My biggest regret is not pre-planning to meet Bully, I would have loved to go around the show with him!

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