Dover Comic Con 2022: An Unexpected Delight!!!
Josh B.
On Saturday, June 18th, my family and I took a trip up to Dover, Delaware, to attend a party hosted by my wonderful Aunt and Uncle who live in the area. As luck would have it, that very same day, a local convention was being held right down the street for its second year ever – Dover Comic Con, a festival held for and in celebration of local artists and organizations. I was fortunate enough to experience the convention for a few hours, and in that time, I was able to meet, greet and interview some of the wonderful people out there selling their wares and promoting their art.
The first artist I came upon was Bryce Bullock, and his independent comic studio Pankake Images. I had the pleasure of speaking with him about his original comic series, Daddy Long Legs and The Inchworm.
Joshua Brafman (JB): Hi there! So, what can you tell me about your comic?
Bryce Bullock, creator of Daddy Long Legs and The Inchworm, with his father, Demetrius
Bryce Bullock (BB): Well, it’s about a father and son, Bryce and Demiterius, who get superpowers. Demiterius, Daddy Long Legs, has the ability to extend his legs, and Bryce, The Inchworm, can shrink in size. As they work to understand their powers and maybe find a way to get back to normal, they work together to save the world.
News Feature of Daddy Long Legs and The Inchworm. by WITN Channel 22
JB: When and how did you come up with the idea for Daddy Long Legs and The Inchworm?
BB: I first started drawing and writing the comic back at summer camp in 2018. The characters are inspired by Spider-Man, and by my dad, (Demeterius Bullock) who’s also an artist.
JB: Wow! That’s so cool! A father-son duo saving the world! So how can people find your work?
BB: You can buy all the Daddy Long Legs and The Inchworm issues online at Amazon.com, or directly from me at my website. You can also find Pankake Images on Facebook or YouTube. It was truly heartwarming to find a Dover artist that values family, and who has taken it upon themselves to bring the story they have to the people. It reminds me of when I self-published my first book, and would sell and sign at local events. I wish Mr. Bullock nothing but success and happiness as he continues his creative career in comics.
After meeting Bryce and his father Demeterius, I came upon another independent artist, or rather, a collective of local artists. I had the pleasure of speaking to Kip Pheasant, one of the co-founders of The Sunflower Club, an independent animation studio that has grown quite a lot in a short time.
JB: Hello! So, tell me, how did The Sunflower Club get started?
Kip Pheasant of the Sunflower Club Animation Studio
Kip Pheasant (KP): Well, my partner Jenn Rust and I started things up in 2021 after I graduated from the University of Delaware (UD). It began as a research project for UD, where I was supposed to create an animation pilot for TV.
JB: So how did this go from student project to animation studio?
KP: We recruited globally, everywhere from England to Argentina and Madrid, and all of us came to work together virtually, both due to the pandemic and the huge distance between all of us.
JB: I see, I see. So, what can you tell me about the animation you’ve been producing?
The Figments by The Sunflower Club.
KP: Well, our completed first pilot, The Figments, is aimed at a preteen/teen audience. Our current project, Little Wolf, is aimed at all ages. It’s slated to be released sometime in 2023, so keep an eye out for it!
JB: Will do! So, can you tell me what else The Sunflower Club will be doing, going forward?
KP: Well, our goal right now is more creator-driven series. Things that “The Mouse” won’t accept or handle are the stories we want to tell. We’re especially dedicated to representing all of the creatives and the stories to be told by the LGBTQIA+ community.
JB: Well, I think that’s fantastic! So, where can people find The Sunflower Club and their work, and how can they support you?
KP: You can find all of our work, past, present and future on our YouTube channel. We also have a Twitter and Instagram account. In terms of support, you can buy art from one of our many talented artists at our Ko-Fi Button shop, or donate directly to our Ko-Fi to help crowdfund the production of Little Wolf!
I was completely blown away by the existence of an independent animation studio, and one that elevates voices that the modern animation industry does their best to suppress. Honestly, I wish the group had been around when I had first graduated Rutgers-Camden, perhaps I could have put my own animation know-how to good use. As it stands now though, I am more than happy to cheer on Kip, Jenn and everyone else in The Sunflower Club from the sidelines, as they and others like them shape the future of independent animation.
After interviewing Kipp, I ran into something completely unexpected: an artisan who makes his own lamps. His display was too striking not to check out, so I stopped by and spoke to the man behind Lamps By Andy, Andy Andrews.
JB: Wow! These are some impressive lamps. What made you get into business making them?
Andy Andrews
Andy Andrews (AA): Well, it all started back in 2015. My granddaughter wanted a better lamp, so I made one of Olaf from Frozen. She loved it, and I was pretty proud of my work. Word got around that I’d made the lamp and my coworkers kept asking to see it. So, one day I brought it in and long story short, I sold 8 more! So, that’s how things began.
JB: How exactly do you go about building a lamp? I just can’t conceive of constructing one from scratch!
AA: Well, I design and carve the bases for them myself out of oak, then make the bodies using figures or ceramic items I find. After that I feed the electric bits through and attach everything. The bulbs in there right now are 15 watt, but they’re rated for use with up to 60.
JB: Wow! Sounds like a ton of work, but the results speak for themselves! So, where can people get one of these lamps for themselves?
AA: All these lamps you see and more can be found on my Etsy shop. I’m always making more, so check back every now and again for new designs.
It speaks so much to the spirit of creativity and ingenuity that a man like Mr. Andrews can make a whole storefront from something as simple as wanting to make his granddaughter smile. I admire the craftsmanship of all his lamps, and the instant a Godzilla one goes up for sale, he’s got my money for sure.
The last folks I interviewed were author D.F. Matthews, and his illustrator, Connor Thompson. Matthews and Thompson were one of the several independent novelists and artists who chose to bring their books with them for sale at Dover Comic Con, but I found myself drawn to Matthews’ books thanks to Thompson’s cover art, so I spoke with them.
JB: Hi! So, what are these books about?
D.F. Matthews (DFM): This is the Beyond Here series, it’s about a girl named Ashlee Greene who gets trapped inside her own mind, where her emotions are living, breathing people. Together, she has to work to escape her own mind and come to terms with her own feelings.
DF Matthews (left), author of the Beyond Here series and Connor Thompson, illustrator (right)
JB: Whoa! How did you come up with something like that?
DFM: Well, my friend Connor here, they fell into a coma a while back, and writing this was my way of processing how I was feeling while they were dealing with that.
Connor Thompson (CT): What? I had no idea this was based on that!
JB: Really? Wow! So, if you don’t mind my asking, Connor, how long were you in a coma for?
CT: I was in the coma for a month, and it took a whole other month to recover. I had to re-learn how to walk and everything.
JB: So how did you two come to work with one another? And how do you feel about Mr. Matthews creating a series inspired by this tumultuous time in your life?
CT: Well, we had been friends for a while, and after I recovered, we decided to work together. I’m very proud of the Beyond Here series, taking inspiration from tragedy and turning it into something positive.
JB: Well, thank you both for talking with me! Where can people find your stuff?
DFM: All my books are available on Amazon, and you can find me on Twitter and Instagram, too.
CT: I have my own shop on Etsy for my art, but you can also see me on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter.
D.F. Matthews and Connor Thompson’s own personal journeys and their creative endeavors are truly inspiring. I wish the both of them nothing but health, happiness, and success in their own creative endeavors.
Overall, Dover Comic Con was a terrific experience, even if I only had time to experience a fraction of what it had to offer. The whole convention took place outside, which was a refreshing change of pace from the often times cramped, large warehouse-like interiors comic cons are often associated with. Having the fresh air and the ease of movement made things far more relaxing. Though it should be noted that some persistent wind often made things difficult for exhibitors who had to fight to keep their booths looking nice.
There were so many different local artists, many of whom were proud members of the LGBTQIA+ Community (who don’t often get nearly as much of a presence in more “mainstream” events), it was truly a wonderful sight. There was a whole side of the convention I unfortunately didn’t have time to see – that being the panels various people and local clubs had put together, but I’m sure they were wonderful. I adored my time down at the Dover Comic Con, and I can’t wait to see what else it has in store for me when I return next year!
