On April 9th 2011 I was returned to my people. It had been 9 years since I appeared at a comic convention. It was in some ways everything I’d hoped it would be: the art, the fans, the camaraderie, making new friends, the pasion for the medium, and all those wonderful comics. But the best part about MoCCA Fest, was I got to spend the weekend with my old pal Jon B. Cooke. Will Eisner documentary producer and publisher of the award winning Comic Book Artist Magazine, J.B. and his brother Andy Cooke (director of Will Eisner: A Sequential Artist) kept me in stitches with equal parts of  chop-busting and comic book references.

Cliff Galbraith, publisher Jon B. Cooke and Director Andrew Cooke

When not outright laughing, I found myself smiling, for no particular reason, other than the fact that I was incredibly happy, and forunate to be making comics once again. While at MoCCA Fest, I ran into another old friend, Alex Simmons, who invited me to his Kids Comic Con in the Bronx. While the Bronx isn’t the most convenient place to reach from Red Bank, NJ, I nonetheless drove into northern NYC to visit with old friends and make new ones. I’m not sure what artist Rick Parker asked of us as he took this shot, but Jack Morelli (master comic letter for Marvel and Archie comics), me, Torsten Adaire (Comics Beat contributor) and Jim Salscrup (editor extraordinaire) are  enjoying the con as much as any kid at Kids Comic Con. Well worth the drive.