For the first time in my life I visited a comic exhibition, in Valkenswaard in The Netherlands.  It wasn't that far for me, Valkenswaard is just across the Dutch border, about an hour and a half driving from where I live, but I decided to spend 2 days there, I didn't feel like driving home after having spent a whole day on my feet.

I heard about this exhibition through a forum I frequent, and it was fun to see some faces that usually hide behind the avatars.  Belgian publisher Bonte and Dutch comic-shop owner Ave had to endure my company, and many other forum-members finally had a face to me.  Kristof Spaey was even so kind to make a nice drawing in my copy of his book.  So did a living legend: Eddy Paape gave me the honour of drawing in one of my Luc Orient books.  The man is 84, he looks very fragile and he doesn't hear too well, but his hands are still 25.

And Jean-Claude Servais, Jan Bosschaert, Michel Weyland and Christian Denayer have drawn nice things in some of my books too.  I was a very happy man!  For some the drawings was their reason to be there - with more than a handful of artists all taking their time it took them more than a handful of time to go everywhere.

So that gave me plenty of time and opportunity to browse various things I hadn't seen before, and admire some amazing drawings.

As you can see I was not the only one happy with what I got.  Plus, I managed to complete some series for a remarkably low price!  I think they'll see me again there next year :-)