JoeFest 2024 – The A Real American Book! Convention Report / Part 4 of 4

SUNDAY – – – –

[Note: An earlier version of Part Three had Breakfast with the Sarge on Saturday the 22nd. In fact it was Sunday the 23rd, so I’ve moved those four paragraphs and two photos here. Sorry! No, you’re not crazy, you’re just seeing them again.]

In Parts [One], [Two], and [Three], Tim traveled to JoeFest in Augusta, Georgia, saw people, walked around, ate stuff, and attended a panel. And now, our exciting conclusion!

Once again, I was unable to sleep in. The Marriott bed wasn’t the greatest, and in general I was pretty amped up the whole weekend — in a good way — so it was hard to fully relax. That the convention would only be open from 11am to 3pm on this final day were a real mercy — that’s a late start after so much staying up late, and no early hours. But notably, the show would end “early.” I feel like when I was younger, toy and comics conventions went until 5pm on the last day, but maybe everyone noticed attendance tapering off as people departed and dealers anxious to start the trek home started packing up. With these floor hours in mind, every minute counted. (I’ve certainly found the final hour of some cons at which I have tabled these last few years to be quiet, so maybe this is a post-pandemic thing.)

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JoeFest 2024 – The A Real American Book! Convention Report / Part 3 of 4

In Part One, Tim flew to Augusta and started having a great time at JoeFest ’24. Then, in Part Two, he continued that trend, despite dropping an amazing chocolate ice cream sandwich on the sidewalk! Read on for Part Three…

You may be at a G.I. Joe convention if you see this outside:

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JoeFest 2024 – The A Real American Book! Convention Report / Part 2 of 4

In Part One, Tim flew to Augusta, Georgia for his second JoeFest! There, he checked into the hotel, caught up with friends, and ate a pizza! Read on for Part Two…

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JoeFest 2024 – The A Real American Book! Convention Report / Part 1 of 4

This was my second year in a row at JoeFest, and the city of Augusta, Georgia, is similar to how I described it in last year’s report. With that in mind, I’m skipping all the descriptions — murals and storefronts — but you may wish to read my ’23 intro here to get a taste.

– – – [Jump ahead to Part Two, Part Three, or Part Four] – – –

A little context: There is no longer an official G.I. Joe convention, “JoeCon,” licensed and attended by Hasbro. Whereas JoeCon moved locations each year, JoeFest is always in Augusta, Georgia, and has aptly filled the gap for a major summer Joe show. Last year’s attendance was 7,500. This year’s I’m told topped 10,000. It was in the same space as last year, now just imagine more people. Here’s JoeFest 2024, or two-thirds of it: –[Click all photos to enlarge]–

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Two Months at the Library – Part 2 of 2

In Part One, Tim described his feelings towards libraries, discovered that the Peggy Charren/ACT archive was close to his home, and inspected the Harvard Gutman library’s online index of Charren/ACT papers.

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Two Months at the Library – Part 1 of 2

I love libraries. I don’t often visit them because I own a book store, but the idea that we have built temples to free books and knowledge is lovely.

I wrote a paper or two in school at a big, old, stone library. There was always a feeling of discovery, to walk through the dimly lit stacks, heading towards a hidden away carrel, looking to both sides at all the amazing volumes with tantalizing titles. Some hadn’t been checked out in months or years, and library collections should be pruned, but the idea isn’t that just the most important or popular books are available. Rather, a full variety should be ready for that one time that someone needs a particular book. Libraries are for everyone.

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Sparks/names memo – 1984

You probably come here for art, or maybe my essays, but some of the most interesting discoveries are text-only paperwork. It’s hard to make those exciting if you’re not already invested in them, but maybe I can try anyway.

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Mark D. Bright 1955-2024 (Part One)

I am terribly sad to learn that Mark D. Bright has died. I will have more to say later this year or in 2025, but for now, I’ll send out some positive vibes to his family and friends, and reflect on my favorite artist in or out of comics.

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Larry Hama IDW Limited splash page sketch

Around 2013 and 2014, IDW Publishing reprinted the original Marvel G.I. Joe comics in handsome, oversized hardcovers, a series called The Complete Collection. A limited edition run of these, called “Red Label” (available through your local comic retailer), “Blue Label,” and “Black Label” (available only from a special IDW website) included metaphorical bells and whistles. Only released for the first three volumes of The Complete, these “Label” versions were extremely limited, like quantities of 175 or 25 copies. They featured canvas covers, hand-assembled slipcases, and signature pages signed by the likes of Larry Hama, Herb Trimpe, and Russ Heath. Here are the Red Label editions:

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A Real American Book! 2023 in Review

Annual “year”-end post! My 2023 book-writing year ran not from January through December, but late February ’23 to early February ’24. This is a remnant of using winter break as a final push back when I was in an academic calendar. First up, the non-book things:

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