The Ragbox is a comic I wrote, illustrated by a number of different artists. Over the next few months, I’ll be publishing every page of the first volume online, enticing you beyond hope until you must own your own copy. I’ll also be writing posts about how I wrote the book, found the artists, and navigated the icy waters of self-publishing.

Five boxes of the book finally arrived today at UPS. After a long, long time, I was really nervous I wouldn’t like them. But I love them.

Brenner Printing did a great job. On time, on budget, and extremely well-packed. I appreciate that they shrink wrapped them in bundles of 15. It’s a big help with transporting them.

Oh, happy day.

The Ladies, it seems, had already left.

Some might argue I’m actually here for a cousin’s wedding, but that’s a glass half empty view.

The photo below is proof that the airport knew I was coming, but I couldn’t find the rest of my “distinct” compatriots.

Love and concern for your well-being make family members an easy mark for your book sales, god bless ’em. The same puppydog look has rocketed my career in chance drive tickets, car washes, mowed lawns, and items from the Tom-Wat Showcase. I’m sitting on a stack of hand-carved wooden goose statuettes if anyone wants to get in on the ground floor.

The squid and the whale, the Antheneans and the Peloponnesians, me the Paypal. All struggles eventually have their victor. You can order The Ragbox here, along with all the comics anthologies from the Boston Comics Roundtable.

The Ragbox is making its way into local bookstores. The first stop was, of course, Million Year Picnic in Harvard Square. If it’s not the oldest comic book shop in the US, it’s definitely one of the coolest. Tony, the owner, has been a huge supporter local talent.

The next stop was the Harvard Book Store, the celebrated locally-owned book store that’s won every possible award a book store can win (the “Bookies”?). I love the staff, the selection, and the used collection dowstairs.

Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA

Porter Square Books in (you guessed it) Porter Square have copies of The Ragbox. Thank you, Jane

Of course, Hub Comics in Union Square is well-stocked. If you’ve never been there, make the trip. It’s a big, beautiful space with hardwood floors, comfortable chairs, and none of the creepy comic shop vibe.

Comicazi in Davis Square, Somerville, MA

Comicazi is the only comic shop in Davis Square – an amazing fact considering the hipster per square foot density. Micheal Burke runs the shop. He’s a really nice guy and he clearly has a devoted clientle. Comicazi has more mainstream appeal than Million Year Picnic or Comicopia, but the Boston Comics Roundtable books have always done really well here, thanks to Micheal’s support.

In December ’08, Comicazi staged a small comics show for the first time, right in Davis Square. I’m hoping it becomes an annual event.

The Adidas Store, Mass Ave, Harvard Square.

I had a strange experience the other day. On my way to drop my books off at New England Comics in Harvard Square, I stopped in the Adidas store to look at sneakers. A clerk saw the stack of books in my hand and asked to see them. To my amazement, and with no provocation on my part, he asked if I wanted to leave a copy at the front counter.

“Uh… yeah. Sure,” was the best I manger to reply. Why was a sneaker store so eager to feature a comic book on their counter?

There are two answers. The first is “who cares?” If they want it, they should absolutely have it. This is the cheapest, easiest marketing opportunity I’ve ever been presented. Secondly, and more to the point, I’d overlooked an important fact. Customers for my book exist well outside of comic shops and book stores. The Adidas store is actually perfect, in a way. They present an ultra-cool image – cool shoes, cool clothes, even a live DJ on the weekends. And for the time being, comics are cool, too.

There were a few details that required some finessing. The Adidas store would not agree to actually sell the book, but I could add a little sign that pointed interested parties toward the Harvard Book Store immediately next door. So I scrawled a little note that said as much until I could get home to make a proper sign.

Well, of course, I got busy and put off making the sign for a few days. Nearly a week later when I returned, the manager had shoved my book on a drawer. The clerk explained in a friendly but honest way, “it looked a little ghetto.” It was true. That hand-written sign looked like crap. I replaced it with a much sleeker looking band that wrapped around the cover (printed on plain paper straight out of my printer after two minutes in Adobe Illustrator). Adidas was happy, I was happy, and maybe I’ll sell some books.

Lesson I learned: Opportunities abound, but sometimes you need to get off your ass to make sure they work out.

Wild Ink Promo Poster by David Marshall (http://www.illdave.com/comicbooks/)

My organization, the Boston Comics Roundtable, is holding a fundraiser on August 20th at PA’s Lounge in Somerville, MA. This promises to be a very, very fun time. We’re planning a lot of unusual events that we hope will kepp the crowd entertained and engaged. On the docket: “World’s Fastest Artist” contest, a huge audience-generated comic book, and a gallery of artists for live “speciality” sketches. The original press release is below:

WILD INK: Live Comics, Live Music Event – August 20, 2009

“Wild Ink,” a live arts and music event, will be held at P.A.’s Lounge on Thursday, August 20th. “Wild Ink” is a fundraiser for the Boston Comics Roundtable, and will include amazing live comics creation, artistic head-to-head showdowns, the world’s most unusual live sketch gallery, big raffle prizes, and live music from Rotary.

Created in 2006, the Boston Comics Roundtable is a collective of comics creators in the Greater Boston area. Its mission: to network, teach, workshop, encourage, and publish the best and brightest artists and writers in the creation of comics. All proceeds will benefit the upcoming publication of Inbound #4, A Comics Anthology, featuring local artists taking on the strange but true history of Boston.

The event begins at 9 p.m. (doors at 8 p.m.) at P.A.’s Lounge in Somerville, MA (345 Somerville Ave., 617-776-1557). This is an 18+ show. Tickets are $12, paid at the door.

For more details, and to learn more about the Boston Comics Roundtable, visit www.bostoncomicsroundtable.com.