Canadian comic book creators talk U.S. travel in tumultuous times

Canada and U.S. flags fly at the Douglas-Peace Arch border crossing, in Surrey, B.C., on March 16, 2020. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Much can change in a year.

Last April, with talk south of the border about 51st states, tariffs and the like really only starting to ramp up, Canadian comic book artist Tom Grummett (Superboy, Robin) was “thinking very carefully” about attending U.S. trade shows.

The Canadian artist had just finished a comic book cover poking fun at the situation.

Now, he’s steering clear of the country that’s home to many of the comic book properties he’s worked on.

“We’re staying strictly in Canada this year and likely next year,” he said.

It’s not a small stance to take.

The biggest shows on the comic book convention circuit are in the U.S.

But Grummett says there’s too much confusion around travel.

“We have no idea how to approach the border. We checked into what sort of paperwork we needed and (got) multiple, different answers,” he said.

“They can deny you entry for up to four or five years, I hear, so why risk that?

“We’re quite happy to stay closer to home.”

Canadian comic book writer Jim Zub (Conan the Barbarian) says he’s still doing U.S. shows, but fewer of them these days.

He says he knows of “a bunch” of his colleagues who won’t go at all.

He says there’s a bit of “bracing yourself” before travelling south.

“No matter how many times I cross the border, I’ve got Trusted Traveller and it’s relatively straightforward, but you always have that little tense moment,” he said.

“What if this time it’s different?”

Canadian comic book artist Ken Lashley (Absolute Batman, X-Men) says he’s enjoying his time staying away from the U.S.

He calls it “doing the Canadian tour.”

He says it was probably long overdue.

“I don’t think I’ve been to Edmonton yet (and) I’ve been to Calgary twice. I’ve been to Vancouver maybe two or three times,” he said.

“But I’ve been to New York 15 (times), and I’ve been to San Diego 30 times.”

American show organizers are still reaching out about making appearances, and Lashley says he finds he has to explain his choice to keep it Canadian over and over again.

“They’ll kind of talk to me as if nothing’s going on, like nothing’s happening in their country,” he said.

“They’ll say, ‘Hey, are you going to come to Memphis?’ And I’m like, ‘No, I’m not coming to Memphis.’”

‘It’s regrettable’

Travelling the convention circuit can be crucial for comic book creators.

It’s additional income for many, through autographs, original art and the like.

For some creators, it might be a main source of income.

And it’s a means of networking, for all.

Grummett says that last bit’s the most important one to him.

“We have lots of friends (in the U.S.), and I miss seeing them,” he said.

“And the fans—there are fans down there that we’ve gotten to know over the years.

“It’s regrettable, and hopefully it gets better soon.”

Lashley says it’s “the way the world is right now,” and while he hopes it “rectifies itself,” if it doesn’t, he’s “OK with that.”

“There are still a lot of places in Canada I haven’t been to that I would love to go to,” he said.

“You shouldn’t be more familiar with getting around Chicago than you are with getting around, say, Calgary.”