VanCaf reflections Part 1 of 6: Julian Lawrence and Drippy the Newsboy

Fabulous afternoon at VanCaf Day 1- the Vancouver Comic Arts Festival!

Such an incredible treat to take it all in- immersed in the work of great artists. I was struck by their insatiable drive to create and share and the realization that I have finally found “my people.” And today really lit fire under my ass to work towards standing at my own booth at VanCaf next year!

I have broken down some highlights from today into 6 blog posts:

1. Julian Lawrence, Drippy the Newsboy, Conundrum Press

2. Kat Verhoeven, Towerkind, Conundrum Press

3. Emily Cowan, Boundary Comic

4. Jasmine Schuett, Spaceclub Comic

5. Inspector Pancakes

6. Erica Moen, Boumeries and VanCaf takeaways/notes

1. Julian Lawrence, Drippy the Newsboy, Conundrum Press

I was initially too shy to approach, but luckily my daughter pushed me to talk to Julian Lawrence at the Conundrum Press booth. I ended up having a wonderful conversation with him (and was delighted to hear his positive and insightful feedback about the publisher).

Julian just launched his TinTin-esque book: The Adventures of Drippy the Newsboy Volume 1.

In this first volume of a trilogy based on the writings of Stephen Crane, Vancouver artist and animator Julian Lawrence brings his iconic Drippy the Newsboy to life! Here the naive Drippy gets pulled into the world of the Forbidden Zone by Harry and his alchoholic pals. His papers do not get delivered and his mother is concerned. But after his darling mother grows ill Drippy sees the error of his ways. Lawrence is known in Vancouver’s underground press as a co-creator and editor of the free monthly Drippy Gazette and publisher of numerous Drippytown comic anthology spin offs, but here his cartooning chops are on full display. The Adventures of Drippy the Newsboy harkens back to adventure serials like Tintin, complete with nostalgia and epic storytelling, but with much more drinking, gags, and carrying on. Will those papers ever be delivered on time? [source]