Beginning in 2003, the Toronto Comics Arts Festival (TCAF) is a way for smaller publishers and creators to sell their works and promote themselves and alt. comics. I’m a huge comic fan myself, but living in Ireland made getting anything outside Marvel or DC difficult. Hellboy was surprisingly popular, though. This was my chance to find something different. Not to say that the Big Two don’t produce good stuff, they do, but comics have always been a bit more out there and slightly taboo. The best comics are often produced by people who are outside the norm.

So, off to TCAF. I’ve only ever attended two conventions prior to this, one in Birmingham, England and Fanexpo 2011. The two were worlds apart, in terms of scale, mentality, and products for sale. TCAF struck me as much closer to Birmingham and European art festivals in general, with the same scale and focus on the creator, but with a North American passion. The focus is not on events like Superior Spider-Man or the Nu-52, but the creators. It’s much more personable, you can sit down and have a talk with a few creators about anything from H.P. Lovecraft to Bill Hicks.

Many times, I hear people say that kids don’t read comics, and ask what will the future of comics be? How do we get children to read comics? TCAF was full of kids. Kids who were excited to be there. Kids complaining that their favourite comic was sold out and that they’d have to come back Sunday. I didn’t see a single comic that had been adapted into a movie starring Robert Downey Jr. Clearly there is a market for children’s comics, which Little Island Comics is trying to tap, but there could easily be more done. If children aren’t reading comics today, they won’t be reading comics in twenty years time, and their children probably won’t be either. I sat in on a few of the kids events and they were having a great time, having art contests, talking about their favourite comics and trading them. It was good to see.

From queer comics to funny animals to sci-fi, it was heartening to see so much energy and imagination on display. This is a great snapshot of the potential future of comics. Many, like Alan Moore, like to talk about how comics are doomed, but this shows the opposite, showing what Canadian, American, French, Finnish and Japanese creators are doing with the form now. Not what they hope to do in ten years time or when the market improves, but right now. Shambling zombies, lost owls, two guys tipping over a portable toilet, this is what’s being produced now and what more people should be talking about. Many cartoonists and comic creators got by with alternative comics before the internet, now there’s so much potential for more. From sites like tumblr for beginners to kickstarter for more professional creators, it’s easier than ever to get your creation out there.