Comic Con Revolution Ontario 2025: Convention Tips, a Kickstarter Win, and Meeting John Romita Jr!
An indie comics creator's honest breakdown of what worked, what didn't, and one very memorable Sunday morning.
Hello there!
This past weekend I tabled at my first convention of the year, Comic Con Revolution Ontario. It was one of the bigger conventions I did in 2025, and since it was a positive experience (you can read my post about it below), I signed up for this year’s table as soon as last year’s con ended.
Since this would be my first return visit to a con as an exhibitor, I was eager to compare the two experiences, especially because this year, I had more experience behind the table, had new things to sell, and had a few tips and tricks I’d heard from other people that I wanted to try out.
1. “Wear a Band T-shirt”
I don’t remember where I heard this piece of advice (possibly from someone at last year’s con), but in a nutshell it recommended wearing a band t-shirt as a conversation starter. Conventions like this one, with a more pop culture focus, attract a lot of folks who aren’t there for the comics, so music may bridge the gap and get people talking to you. I was fortunate enough to see Duran Duran in concert earlier this year, and even though I’m not usually a “concert t-shirt” type of guy, I bought the tour shirt for the express purpose of testing this theory.
It worked great - except in the opposite direction!
Instead of potential customers seeing the shirt and stopping to talk about it at my table, the only effect it had was a couple of other exhibitors calling out to me from their tables as I walked past! It was basically the reverse of what I was hoping for!
2. “Commute Back and Forth Each Day” vs “Book A Hotel”
This convention is just over an hour’s drive away from where I live, so last year, since it was my first two-day convention and I had no idea what to expect, I booked a hotel, a block away from the convention, for the Saturday night. Of course, this added a lot to my expenses for the convention, so I wanted to see if I could avoid the hotel fee for this year.
I was pretty sure I’d be able to just commute back and forth without too much hassle, and I was correct! The Traffic Gods were on our side and it was no problem at all. Despite California’s record-high gasoline prices at the moment, the tank of gas was still cheaper than a hotel room (driving a hybrid helped, I’m sure).
3. “Sell Simpsons Fan Art”
Based on the interaction I described in the post I linked to, above, I’ve now been selling a small selection of Simpsons fan art prints at every convention I’ve done since then, and so it was interesting to take stock of that practice a year later.
The prints were not hugely popular at this convention, but I did sell a few each day, and every little bit helps to defray the cost of the table. Looking at my records from last year, I actually made less in sales this year, even with the prints! So I was glad I had them, for the sales boost! The profit margin on a print is WAY more than on a printed comic, so I’m definitely going to keep selling them, but my main focus when tabling is always going to be selling my comics. One thing I really need to do is MAKE and PRINT MORE COMICS to sell!
Comic Con Revolution is quickly becoming one of my favorite comic conventions in Southern California. It is SO well organized and run, it puts San Diego Comic-Con to shame (I haven’t table there but have attended since 1996)! I had a great time this year. I even had a few fans whom I first met last year return to my table this year to say hi, which was really lovely!
OH - And I met one of my Art Heroes, John Romita Jr!!!
John Romita Jr was also tabling in Artists’ Alley, about 30 feet away from my table. On Sunday morning, when we were all still setting up, I took the opportunity to introduce myself and tell him how inspiring his work was to me when I was a kid wanting to draw comics, which led me to an art career.
“Oh, you’re an artist?”
“Yeah, I’m actually tabling just over there,” I said, pointing back over my shoulder. Opening the box of comics I had under my arm (I literally was in the middle of setting my table up when I decided to approach him), I handed him a copy of Steamroller Man #1. “This is my comic.”
He opened it to the first page and said “Jesus Christ! You drew this?!”
“Yeah - drew it, wrote it, lettered it - it’s all me.”
“Wrote AND drew it? What’s next for you, curing cancer?!”
I told him I wanted him to have the copy, and he asked me to sign it! Pretty cool! Mr Romita was as warm, friendly and gracious as I’d always heard he was!
The experience of meeting him and having him be impressed by my work? Unforgettable!
Kickstarter Update!
After a false start due to a website technical error, the campaign for Steamroller Man #2 has had an absolutely SMASHING first week! If you’ve already backed the campaign, please accept my sincere and profound gratitude!
We hit the goal within ten minutes of launching, and received the coveted “Project We Love” designation from Kickstarter HQ!!
I just revealed the first of three, weekly Hidden Variant Covers - a new strategy I’m trying out for the first time with this campaign. This one is the 3D cover that I talked about in a previous Substack post!
You can now get your own copy of this cover (with free 3D glasses included) - but don’t delay! I’m only printing 50 of these! Click the graphic below to visit the campaign page and get yours NOW!
That was an insanely packed update for an insanely packed week! I hope you enjoyed it! See you next time!
Keep Rolling!
Matt