Hello friend,

Two newsletters in a week?! I’m sure you must be trembling with shock.

As hinted at in my previous post announcing my appearance at SaskAssemble, I’m thrilled to announce I’ll be appearing At Sask Expo Regina at the end of September, at Viterra International Trade Centre.  This show will be the Regina debut of my newest book, Does Your Mother Know: A Comic Book Confessional, so I’m really excited to share this uniquely Saskatchewan story with readers from my home province, having debuted the book at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, and later VanCAF. 

As I’ve said many times on this blog and elsewhere, Sask Expo Regina remains my favourite show to do.  Right from the Fan Expo Regina days, the Regina community has come out full force, and treated me so well when I visit.  Since the Sask Expo team took over the show, the experience has only gotten better for me as a vendor and artist.  Not to knock the larger, corporation-owned comic shows, but there’s just something magical about a locally owned event. It’s like stepping into a space that’s built out of pure passion—a shared love for creativity and comics culture that hits differently than the big, commercialized conventions. The atmosphere is more intimate, more personal, and you can feel the care and dedication in every corner of the room. The artists and vendors are often your neighbors, people who have a genuine stake in the community. You’re not just a fan there to consume; you’re part of a creative ecosystem that feeds off each other’s energy.

It’s that sense of connection and community that makes local shows special. You’re not just rubbing shoulders with fans—you’re having real conversations with creators who poured their hearts into their work. Every artist’s table has a story behind it, and they’re eager to share it with you, not just sell it. You get to see up-and-coming talent right alongside seasoned pros, and there’s this unspoken encouragement to keep pushing your own creative boundaries. It’s a space where passion shines, and you feel good knowing that you’re helping support the very people who make these shows happen.

So while the big shows have their place, with their flash and spectacle, there’s a certain magic to supporting something local. It feels like you’re part of something real, something that matters on a deeper level.

That’s always been true for me in Regina, so I look forward to this show perhaps more than any other on my schedule, because it’s not just a chance to sell my work, but honestly to catch up with people I consider friends. As if that weren’t enough, Regina boasts two of the best steakhouses at which I’ve ever eaten!

I realize as write this, I realize I never posted a wrap-up from last year’s Regina show—and what a fantastic event it was. The people of Regina always show such generosity and warmth, and there’s nothing I love more than creating live commissions, catching up with the perennial friends I get to see when I visit, and introducing folks to my work.

But the 2023 show also stood out for a very special reason: it featured none other than Amy Jo Johnson, the talented musician and star of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers and one of my all-time favorite series, Felicity.

Every once in a while, a comic show brings someone into your orbit who has had a major impact on your life, and I’ve been fortunate enough to meet many of my heroes over the years. With few exceptions, they’ve all been kind and wonderful people. Amy Jo Johnson, who I’ll admit was an early crush of my teenage years, definitely falls into that category. Meeting someone like that can be nerve-wracking because there’s always the chance that if the encounter goes poorly, it could tarnish your love for something that shaped you. Thankfully, my meeting with Amy Jo went about as well as I could have hoped, and I walked away still a fan of both her acting and her music.

Here’s a snapshot of that fun moment—me with Amy Jo, holding the portrait I drew of her to help promote the event.

My sister and eldest child came with me for the 2023 show, so it was extra special seeing the show through their eyes and enjoying the city with them. 

And since no post is complete without some artwork, here’s a drawing of a kaiju-sized version of me, running into Regina for the 2024 show. 

I’ve put out some feelers for media appearances while I’m out there, and I’ll announce more of those as they come, but I’m scheduled to appear in studio in Regina on CTV Morning Live on September 27th to chat about the show, and my new book, so I’ll get an extra day to enjoy my province’s capital.  So set your PVRs!

With terrific guests like Matt Ryan (Constantine, Assassin’s Creed), Ethan Suplee, (My Name is Earl, Mallrats, American History X) and Jim Cummings (No less than Winnie the Pooh!) plus big league comic artists like the legendary Tom Grummett, Charlene Clark, and Cam Hayden, AND a terrific sales floor (with vendors like me!) there really is something for everyone. 

Post-COVID, many Saskatchewan events have been slow to bounce back, making it more crucial than ever to support our local community gatherings. If we don’t show up, the truth is, we could lose these shows entirely—and I, for one, don’t want to be driving 6-8 hours just to attend a big-league comic convention. Plus, I know firsthand the incredible effort the show owners, organizers, and volunteers pour into making these weekends a reality. It’s all for the love of comics, and I want to do everything I can to support that. So, I hope you’ll consider joining me at Sask Expo Regina on September 28 and 29, 2024.

That’s it from me for now. I hope to have some more posts soon recapping the other incredible trips I’ve been on in 2024, and some new projects as well.

Thanks for reading, I love you.