See also these links for sorties on the 2003 Montreal Expozine
The Concordia Online:
"Small press fair is a hit for self-publishers"
Montreal Mirror
"Zine scene swarm >> Indie publishers converge as Expozine turns two"

I arrived at 11am on a rainy Saturday morning…



The main hall was bright and cool, there were already browsers and the spots had almost all been taken. After wondering around for a few minutes I took up a gap next to Sherwin Tjia who had set out a nice black tablecloth. The grey stone Relais Montreal monastery building was a huge improvement on the cramped space of La Salla Rossa.




Gradually things started picking up, with more and more wet Montrealers in autumn ware filed into the grand hall. Mostly till 1 or 2 they just browsed and the pace allowed exhibiters to walk around and say hi to one another.





Ethan Rilly and some of his buddies set up a table together just behind me. Hip Hop squeaked out some portable speakers and the tall guy in the middle here would brake dance on command! That's Billy Mavreas on the right checking out there stuff. And the Girl on the left made felt anime heads that sold like gold nuggets, she was cleaned out by noon or something.



'Beirut McKinnon' [pen name-on the right bellow talking to Sherwin] showed up with some of his zines. Hadn't seen him for a while, apparently he was in South America doing some research for a story. Told me a bit about it, sounds interesting...
Christina Manolescu [PRINCE CHAMELEON PRESS ] [seen with the camera below] and the Invisible Cities crew were there, they had a big table up front with Louis Rastelli from Fish Piss. Christina did a write up on the event for The Concordia Online:"Small press fair is a hit for self-publishers" [shot of the Invisible Cities table care of Christina]



Andy Brown of Conundrum Press & Matrix [which launched a new issue at the expo] buzzed around the room all day, checking in on the exhibitors and gaffing extension cords for the snack bar. Yep, they set up a snack bar! Should have taken some shots of that, rats. Samosa, cookies, muffins, fruit, drinks and coffee. All very cheep. A little over to the right there was a grill and they made what looked like waffles.

Things got really crowded! above in the foreground is Benoît Chaput, publisher of L'Oie de Cravan, and in the background in the flaming Red shirt is Jimmy Beaulieu from MG...


Above here is Frédérik Langlois, from F52, & one of my CBDM/MCC comrades.

Jacques Boivin was there with his books, nice to see him again.


James Kochalka and Tom Devlin Play Innocent pretending they don't notice they are being photographed, while Eric Thériault checks their wares.

By 2 it's not only packed but the body heat and warm fall cloths are steaming up the place, started to feel like ripping off my cloths so sweat could do it's job, but shame prevents. Instead I stew and feel stinky.
Below here is Lorenz Peter with his companion, and beyond them Kurt Beaulieu, Jane Tremblé, Francis Hervieux, and the Conundrum Press tables.


Above is Marc Tessier and his wife, below Olivier Charbonneau, organizer & librarian at Concordia, and also a fellow CBDM/MCC member. He's currently involved with Frédérik in setting up an interesting event at the upcoming Salon du livre on November 13th


Above is Richard Gagnon [artist] and Marr [writer], two of the contributors to What the F***?, a periodical Jam zine featuring a lot of the MMCJ regulars. Many of the pages are started at the MMCJ and then finished off latter buy the artists in privet or when the get together outside of the monthly jams. They launched their 6th issue at the Expo this year, featuring Rick and Marr, as well as Jeff Leblanc, Jack Ruttan, Tim Moerman, Eric Thériault, Steve Requin, Jimmy Beaulieu, Jai Granofsky & Shane Simmons.

Below is your truly, Max Douglas aka Salgood Sam, hocking the MMCJ QUARTERLY zine. We too had a new issue, Vol#5, to show off. At 69 pages it Feature: Dr NEFARIO, the MAN in the ILL-FITTING SUIT & more!; 21 pages of Comix by Tim Moerman +The first part of a paper/article on Sequential Narrative Art by Max Douglas; Toes on the Brain by David Abu Bacha & Francine Grant; The Evil Empress: The Baba Wawa special by Jane Tremblé; The Birds and the Bees by Abu and BEM, A tribute to The Great Antonio by the jam gang + 32 pages of Comix from the MMCJ [shot of me care of Christina]



Happily A.J. showed up to help in the afternoon. She's the best! I still felt sweaty though...

Above Salvador Dallaire of Zine Zag chats with Eric Thériault at his table. Below Sherwin chats with borrowers/friends .


It's amazing that someone wasn't doing an Expo like this before Ferrier, David, Andy, Billy & Louis thought to. I suspect it will grow exponentially at this rate. Every one I talked to was well chuffed by the event, many having sold out or at least moved an unexpected amount of books. The buzz and afterglow at the going away part latter that night for Tim Moerman [off to the east coast for a new job] was palatable.



As you can see there were a lot of exhibitors, I only had time to note a few here, at the bottom of the page you'll find the official list. By 6 things wound down we packed up to go. Still even then, at 7pm or so people were still browsing and stragglers were still showing up. Excellent show all round I'd say, next time I'll wear something lighter...

~ FIN ~

©Words and photos By Max Douglas except where indicated otherwise.