Greetings to one and all as we return from this year’s Animecentral. Time to update with our annual convention report. 2025 has taken a stressful start but the convention itself went remarkably smooth this year.
First, we brought out our Apprentice Volume 4 which collects individual issues 13-16 as well as issue 17, illustrated by the fabulous Ranefea. Volume 4 came in the week before and we had our issue 17 done by the time we left work on Thursday. Setup was smooth as silk, and we enjoyed our now traditional pre-convention Giordano’s meal. Graduation was happening during Acen this year again, so after opening up on Friday morning, Fuu was obligated to excuse herself and return to work to run what turned out to be a cursed graduation. Alysia and Bon held down the fort as all our regulars managed to find us and pick up the newest wares. After a major power outage at the graduation caused by a dust storm the likes of which haven’t been seen in the Chicagoland area since 1940 (see, cursed!), Fuu returned to the hotel that night frazzled but grateful that the whole thing was over.
Saturday, we returned to the table for more sales and some therapy shopping for those who needed it. Sales continued to do well, and a trend was soon pointed out by a few people that we appeared to be one of maybe only a half dozen small pressers in the alley. A quick survey did show that the small indie publications people were not as well represented as in past years. So, in light of that, we wanted to so a shout out to our other small pressers that we ourselves found. Hey ho to:
Blaze Manga – https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/iridescentmanga/iridescent-volume-2
Brion Foulke – flipsidecomics.com
Labbyart – labbyart.com
Lavi HQ – https://www.instagram.com/lavi_hq/
Please check out the works of these talented people!
Sunday, sales continued well and by the end of con we had actually hit a small sales record for Animecentral and have nearly sold out of the Apprentice 10th Anniversary glasses! We also had a record time pack out followed by a quick dinner before the drive home. Thanks to everyone who stopped by the booth including Doc and his Cliff Bars, Robert, Sydney, the kitties from Pawsonify and their mommy, Jessica, Lando, Brian B., Addy and Annie, and all of our regulars. Our constant readers are a big part of what brings us back every year. We love seeing you and hope to bring big things for the future as The Apprentice nears the finish line and we start preparing new and old wayward projects to bring to the forefront.
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