Highs Below Zero

Looking Back: The St. John’s Comics Arts Festival 2025

A Soft Rock Report

The St. John’s Comics Arts Fest is dead. Long live the St. John’s Comic Arts Festival!

I come not to bury the festival coordinators, but to praise them. I had a great time, despite my own neuroses.

This year, MUN hosted the first-ever Newfoundland-based festival dedicated to the art, craft, and independent spirit of comics. Or comix. Sequential art, graphic novels, cartoons, doodles, zines, image macros, memes, whatever you call it when you marry pictures and words together to tell stories.

I previously wrote about my fears leading up to the festival, seeing as it was my first foray into the wide world of SELLING MERCHANDISE. Barf. Anyway, it went well and I guess I’m gonna be doing more of that because I need money to live

I could not have asked for a better place to start. The other table vendors I was sat with — Paul Tucker (Hollow Heart, Stringer), Mollie Cronin (The Future is Fat), and Eleanor Hannon (City Mouse) were friendly and supportive. They had more experience than me and were happy to answer my questions. I learned a lot from watching them interact with their customers. It’s a whole wide world I didn’t really appreciate until I was on the other side of it.

We had vendors from across Canada and it was wonderful to network with people and see all the cool art. I’m not sure I technically made money because I bought so much stuff from other people.

The festival staff and volunteers were on the go the entire day, making sure everyone had what they needed – including snacks! We had a decent crowd turn out as well – I was not expecting that many people. It wasn’t usually packed, but it was steady most of the two days (some lulls on Sunday).

There were other events at the festival I didn’t get to attend, like workshops and lectures. There as also a new award – the Captain Newfoundland Award to an emerging NL comics-artist. This first-ever recipient was Delilah Ball, who drew Wolf Crimes (pictured above).

To me, as a first-time vendor, the fest was a success. I went in with a simple goal – make back what I put in – and I exceeded my expectations! Mostly, it was an excuse to kick my butt into gear and do something I’ve been procrastinating on for literally decades. I’m excited for next year.