Returning to Five Points Fest – A Different Experience

After years away, I finally made it back to Five Points Fest 2024—an event that once played a huge role in shaping my creative journey. From meeting Bryan Lee O’Malley in 2017 to collaborating with Sno Comics in 2018, Five Points Fest was where I found inspiration and connections that helped push me forward.

But with each passing year, the convention changed. The venue moved around Brooklyn, and the focus shifted—designer toys became the core of the event, while the presence of comics and independent creators steadily declined. By 2024, only one artist fit the kind of work I originally sought out at Five Points, making it a bittersweet return.

Still, coming back was a chance to reflect on where I started and how much I’ve grown since my early visits. While Five Points Fest isn’t the event it once was for me, it’s a reminder of the evolving indie scene and how creators have to constantly adapt.

This year’s visit may not have reignited the same excitement, but it did solidify my commitment to fostering spaces where independent comics and creators can thrive—whether at conventions or through Mushroom World Comics itself.