Comic Con 2010, views of our booth

New Post AUG 14.... In case you've wondered what it takes to get 7 tons of books and fixtures down to comic con to set up our 50 foot long booth, here's a look...

First it takes STEVE... Stuart's brother, who joins us every year at comic con and drives the (ever bigger and bigger) rental truck Stuart picks...This year's truck was a 24-footer. That's a big truck kids...

Now when we get to the convention center w/ our truck, we have a team of friends who help us move the boxes and fixtures from inside the truck onto pallets. Teamsters at the convention center then shrinkwrap and fork-lift the pallets to our booth, where we get to unwrap the shrinkwrap, move everything inside the booth and start the set-up. And the whole operation works in reverse for load-out on Sunday night...

All this labor is provided by team Stuart Ng (Stuart, Mary, Peggy and me)... and our "andy hardy puts on a show" group of bookseller and convention buddies who pitch in to help us. There's a romantic idea of being a bookseller w/ your quiet little store and your smoking jacket...and then there's the reality that books are HEAVY and there's actually a lot of lifting and moving involved in the job. I'm lucky that Stuart buffers me from most of that these days, but I've done my share. But there are times (usually Sunday afternoon at comic con) when I wished we sold feather boas or Styrofoam instead of boxes of books for a living...

So kids, when you think about all the man0power it takes, just remember how hard Stuart works to price the books fairly for an event like this. Our prices are the same if you buy the book at the convention...or from our website. The service we provide you is bringing you the books so you can see them in person and make your choice for which books suit your needs. But just like you had to pay a fee to get into the convention... we have expenses for the cost of the booth space, transportation, lodging... etc....Which is why I like the quote from Liz Ohanesian in her LA Weekly "Best of LA 2009" review of Stuart Ng Books as the Best Comic/Art bookshop: "Stuart Ng Books isn't cheap, but it is reasonable."

My favorite customer comment from the 2010 con.... when he looked at our 50 feet of French comics (the largest inventory of this type of material on the convention floor) and said: "Oh wow you have French comics!..... Is this all you brought."

Below are views of the booth before the show is open to the public, so you can see the size of the space and the variety of the material....

This year, as last, the rare books were on the wooden shelves near the cashiers. We bring all this shelving material with us, and most of the tables that you see in the booth. We also bring and assemble the heavy metal grids and shelves that display the French albums. Our friends Long and Brandon help us build those during set-up. There are pics of them in action in the 2009 comic con posts.

Stuart designs all our display banners. They are quite popular, and we've even been asked if they are for sale...

Here's a good view of the interior of the booth and the grids and tables. We also bring and assemble the rows of flip boxes for the French books....

Comic Con 2010, New Wendling item

Here are views from our Comic Con booth of our brand new Claire Wendling item: a set of 12 postcards of the Chinese Zodiac. These images are unique to this postcard set (published by Stuart Ng Books) and do not appear in any of the Wendling books.

Apres Angouleme...Gearing up for Alice in Wonderland, and our own Wondercon adventure

Time for some reflection....

Angouleme was its ususal adventure...

Sorry for the long haitus. Lots of projects, not having to do with SNB, have kept me away from the blog. Yes, Stuart Ng Books has MOVED to a larger showroom location in Torrance. In addition to the big move, we were away for the annual trip to France.. and now we are gearing up for WonderCon. Stuart BRIEFLY manned a colleagues booth at Angouleme... and we took pictures. I hope this isn't a preview of the future... but who knows :) We have a new shipment en route.... here's hoping it arrives before we depart for the Bay Area. (see last years WonderCon posts... which we WON'T be repeating this year with any luck).

This blog is an excellent record of a "year in the life" of SNB. While the number of posts is still manageable, you are welcome to look back at previous entries. You can see pics of our booths at SDCC and WonderCon, as well as signings and special "behind the scenes" before and after pics.

Meanwhile... check out the terrific ALICE IN WONDERLAND themed items on the SNB website. The Harry Rountree ALICE is amazing.

New CTNX Animation Expo.... who knew, and what's new for 2010

This post updated August 2010....

The SNB booth at CTNX


Mike Mignola gives a demo (large screens allowed everyone in the crowd to see)

Andreas Deja signs his sketchbook (published by Stuart Ng Books)

Peter de Seve signing

Just when you think conventions are only getting worse, here comes a show that reminds us why cons are fun...

It's been almost a year, and we are still appreciating the overflow crowds and overwhelming welcome we all experienced at the new convention.... the very first ever Creative Talent Network Animation Expo (CTNX) held in Burbank in November 2009.

This show delivers what we all miss about the old days of Comic Con. The CTNX show is smaller in scale, but at a first class venue, and the focus is on seeing the artists in person. There really is time and space at this show to see the artists at work during demos and programming. There's also a wonderful emphasis on making personal connections.

Since this was the first year, the show is still finding itself. It will be interesting to see how it evolves.

Organizer Tina Price made the show comfortable and fun for the exhibitors... but I don't think any of us where prepared for the size and enthusiasm of the crowds of attendees. There was a good mix of professionals, instructors and students... this event more than others is really focused on artist appreciation.

When Tina first told us about her plans to start this expo, I was impressed with her courage. It was a leap of faith to launch a convention in this economy.... but she was right. Stuart was right there too, answering her request for his suggestions for guest artists. Tina knows a LOT of people, but she was also eager to reach out to artists that she felt would complement her event. This synergy continues....

The buzz is even better for CTNX 2010 with special guest artist Moebius confirmed to attend.

Find more info about CTNX at http://www.ctnanimationexpo.com/. Stuart Ng Books offers a code with a 10% off your registration fee for this expo. Find the code at http://www.stuartngbooks.com/

Peter de Seve art book in stock now!

The wait is over! Well.. okay almost over... because we have even more PdS goodies coming..

Late Friday night... our exclusive shipment of the Peter de Seve art book "A Sketchy Past" arrived! We are used to jumping through hoops for each import shipment, and this order was no different. Rather than dwell on those frustrations, let's just all celebrate the fact that the books are here in hand now, and in plenty of time for Peter's appearance at CTNX.

Here are the pallets on Saturday morning... we will be opening up the boxes early this week to begin processing the paid pre-orders for this highly anticipated item.

We are also delighted to provide you this added benefit/SNB exclusive with this item: a signed Peter de Seve bookplate w/ a new image not in the book.

Want your book autographed as well ??? Then join us at the upcoming CTNX Animation Expo in Burbank Nov 20th - 21st. Peter will be appearing at this convention all 3 days, and we'll be selling his book at our booth and hosting a signing.

This book is a hefty beauty.... substantial and impressive.... with amazing reproduction of the art in all its process... on lovely paper..... and the bio portions include images from the many artists Peter sites as influences. Everyone who's been waiting for this book is in for a real treat...

Stuart Ng Books at APE in SF Oct 17 & 18

For all our Bay Area friends, Stuart will have a table at APE (Alternative Press Expo). Here's the link for info on this small press con:

www.comic-con.org/ape

We'll be featuring the sketchbooks we've published. Mary will also be at APE, helping Stuart. (No bag check at this show :) Be sure to tell them I sent you when you stop by to say hi :)

Stuart is currently working on a NEW book which we'll debut at the CTNX show in November.

On the 17th, our showroom in Torrance will be open 12-4 as usual. You won't go away empty handed: We still have a FREE in-shrinkwrap copy of Out of Picture vol 1 as a "thank you" for each visitor to our showroom..... Holidays are approaching, and this book makes a great gift.

SNB in LA Weekly "Best of LA" 2009 - updated 10.4.16

We've been getting messages and now I can confirm... it's true!

Stuart Ng Books is featured in the LA Weekly "Best of LA 2009" issue on newsstands now!

We had no idea this was coming....There's a very nice blurb about us on page 28. Check it out!

Update 10.16 -- text from the "Best of" issue .... It has the current SNB address, but the text has the old store hours. The store is open M-Sat. Hours and store photos on the website: http://stuartngbooks.com/visit-our-showroom.html

The first thing you notice at Stuart Ng Books is the wall filled with autographs and sketches from L.A.'s top animators. The South Bay rare book shop is immensely popular within the animation and comic book industries for Ng's impeccable selection of imported graphic novels, out-of-print art books and independently published artist sketchbooks. Open to the public only on Saturday afternoons and by appointment throughout the week, Stuart Ng Books isn't cheap, but it is reasonable. French and Belgian comics, which come in hardcover, glossy editions with exquisitely colored oversized panels, run about $30. The best deals are the artist sketchbooks, which start at $5. These often self-published, zine-styled releases offer a unique insight into the minds of animators and comic book artists. Ng stocks titles from Glen Murakami (Teen Titans), Eric Powell (The Goon) and many others. Check the store's Web site often, as it will list any upcoming promotional items. 22910 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance. (310) 909-1929, stuartngbooks.com.

—Liz Ohanesian