ICAF 2013 Guests & Schedule Announced

The International Comic Arts Forum is an annual academic conference dedicated to promoting the scholarly study and appreciation of comic art, including comic strips, comic books, comics albums and graphic novels, magazine and newspaper cartooning, caricature, and comics in electronic media. This year’s speakers included Gabriel Ba & Fabio Moon, Mike Allred, Matt Fraction, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Greg Rucka, Megan Kelso, Brian Michael Bendis, Diana Schutz, Dmitry Yakovlev, and many more! RSVP on Facebook!

THURSDAY, MAY 23

9:00 AM: Opening Remarks: José Alaniz, ICAF ExCom Chair

9:30 – 10:30 AM: Plenary Speaker: Douglas Wolk

10:30 AM: Coffee Break 

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Panel Session One

1A. THE DEVELOPMENT OF FORM
      Moderator: Toph Marshall

• Robert W. Lovejoy “Amusing Victorians: Nineteenth-Century Print Culture and the Rise of Respectable Comic Journalism.”
• Martha Kennedy, “Cover Art by Women Cartoonists and Illustrators for American Magazines: A Window into Women’s Professional Advancement and Gender Representation.”
• Walter Lai, “The Comic Book as a Work of Art – A Case of David Mack’s Kabuki: The Alchemy.”

1B. GLOBAL COMICS
Moderator: Carl Horn, Dark Horse Comics

• Jeremy Stoll, “Arguing the Auteur in New Delhi.”
• Azisa Noor Koesoema, “Alternative institutions in emerging national comic book industries: The case of Indonesia.”
• Héctor Fernández L’Hoeste, “On Historical Revisionism and The Chilean Experience: The Case of Historia de Chile en comic.”

12:30 PM: Lunch Break

2:00 – 3:30 PM: Panel Discussion: Contemporary Russian Comics. With Dmitry Yakovlev.
Moderated by Jose Alaniz.

3:30 PM: Coffee Break

4:00 – 5:30 PM: Roundtable: On the Theory and Practice of Comics Pedagogy. With Brian Michael Bendis, Diana Schutz, and affiliated teaching faculty within the UO Minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies. Moderated by Ben Saunders.

5:30 PM: Dinner Break

7:30 – 9:00 PM: A Celebration of Finnish Comics at Floating World Comics. With Ville Hänninen and Tommi Musturi at Floating World Comics (400 NW Couch Street). Pre-talk reception at 6:30pm. *Off-site venue*

Abstract: Comics can be defined in many ways. They are art works that create aesthetic experiences for their readers, cultural objects reflecting the time and place where they are produced, and commodities with a value on the market. But they are also social objects. They are made, read, and talked about by people who exist in a relatively stable set of institutions and relationships. This lecture addresses some of the possibilities and problems of a social-scientific approach to comics, placing them in the context not only of the “comics world” but also of a wider social world of geeks, nerds, and fans.

NC – Captain Marvel Signing

Kelly Sue DeConnick appears at Ultimate Comics on Friday May 10th for a signing and writing workshop!

RSVP on Facebook!

Press Release:

Come in this Friday, May 10 for a special event with the writer of Captain Marvel, Avengers Assemble & Ghost, Kelly Sue DeConnick!

Kelly Sue will be in the store signing Friday from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm and hosting a Writing Workshop & Discussion Session starting at 6:00 pm! Now is your chance to sit down with one of the industries most innovative creators! Don’t miss out!

Ultimate Comics
6120-A Farrington Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27517

CA – Hawkeye Signing

Marvel superstar writer MATT FRACTION (Hawkeye, FF, Fantastic Four, etc.) will make his way down to Beach Ball Comics on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 to meet fans and sign books. And he’ll be sitting alongside Marvel superstar-on-the-rise, Kelly Sue DeConnick (Avengers Assemble, Captain Marvel) from 5:00-7:00 pm that evening, so clear those calendars, people!

RSVP on Facebook!

Beach Ball Comics
3024 W Ball Rd Ste G, Anaheim, CA 92804

CA – Captain Marvel Signing

Please welcome Kelly Sue DeConnick, writer of Captain Marvel and Avengers Assemble for Marvel Comics, to Beach Ball Comics on Wednesday, April 24th from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm! Come by, say hi, and maybe ask what’s next for the grounded Captain. See you there!

*JUST ADDED* Marvel superstar writer MATT FRACTION (Hawkeye, FF, Fantastic Four, etc.)

RSVP on Facebook!

Beach Ball Comics
3024 W Ball Rd Ste G, Anaheim, CA 92804

Will Eisner Week Celebrates Graphic Novels

Press Release:

The Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation is proud to announce Will Eisner Week 2013, a ten-day series of events in more than a dozen cities nationwide that celebrates graphic novels, free speech awareness, and the career and legacy of Will Eisner, one of the most innovative figures in the history of comics and graphic novels.

Will Eisner Week’s theme this year is, “Read a Graphic Novel,” which will be the underlying message of all the events. Cities holding celebrations include New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, and Minneapolis.

Will Eisner Week 2013 has added significance, as it marks 35 years since the 1978 publication of Eisner’s groundbreaking graphic novel, “A Contract With God.”

“This year, we will be having Will Eisner Week celebrations in more places than ever before,” said Will Eisner Week Organizing Committee Chair Danny Fingeroth. “The people doing the events are planning some amazing happenings that will spread the word about how cool graphic novels are, and that celebrate Will Eisner’s astonishing body of work done over a career that spanned seven decades.”

Will Eisner Week 2013 events include:

March 1-15, SAVANNAH, GA: Savannah College of Art and Design will hold several events run by Professor David Duncan, including a March 2 screening of “Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist” and various Eisner-themed art sessions.

March 2, 4:00-4:55 PM, SEATTLE, WA: Emerald City Comicon panel: Eisner’s “A Contract With God—Reflections on the 35th Anniversary,” featuring Dennis O’Neil, Batton Lash, Matt Fraction, Jackie Estrada, and Ben Saunders.

March 3-10, PITTSBURGH, PA: Various events at the Toonseum, including a screening of the documentary “Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist” by Andrew & Jon Cooke on March 6.

March 4-8, ARKADELPHIA, AR: The Comics Arts Club of Henderson State University, under the direction of Professor Randy Duncan, will study Eisner’s work in the context of Immigrant Experience Focus Week.

March 6: 7:30 PM, PORTLAND, OR: The Art Institute of Portland: Lecture on Eisner by Dark Horse Editor Diana Schutz.

March 7, 6:30-9:30 PM, NEW YORK, NY: The Society of Illustrators hosts a Will Eisner Sketch Night.

March 7, 7:00-9:00 PM, SAN FRANCISCO, CA: The Cartoon Art Museum. An Evening With Mario Hernandez, including a discussion of Eisner’s influence.

March 7, 7:30 PM, PORTLAND, OR: The Jack London Bar. A reading of Eisner’s “Last Day in Vietnam,” with Brian Bendis, Matt Fraction, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Michael Oeming, and Dylan Meconis.

March 7, 7:00-9:30 PM, BOSTON, MA: Tufts University. Screening of “Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist,” followed by a panel discussion including A. David Lewis, Chuck Henebry, and Stephen Weiner.

March 10, 1:00-4:00 PM, MINNEAPOLIS, MN: Minneapolis College of Art and Design hosts a Graphic Novel Read-In, featuring a screening of “Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist.”

March 11, 7:00-9:00 PM, NEW YORK, NY: Parsons/The New School, Comics & Picture-Story Symposium. Jeremy Dauber and Danny Fingeroth discuss Eisner’s work in the context of Jewish-American literature.

March 12, WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT: Center for Cartoon Studies. Lecture on Eisner by Stephen Bissette. (For CCS students only.)

March 14, 7:30 PM, BURBANK, CA: The Animation Guild will hold a special Comic Art Professional Society meeting devoted to Eisner, hosted by Scott Shaw!.

Celebrations are also being planned for Amherst, MA and Washington, DC. Check www.willeisnerweek.com for updates on all events.

OR – Last Day in Vietnam Reading

Matt Fraction, Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Avon Oeming, Dylan Meconis, and Kelly Sue DeConnick appear at the Jack London Bar on Thursday, March 7th at 8:00 pm!

Press Release:

ON THURSDAY, MARCH 7, Comics Underground is teaming up with Dark Horse Comics for a Very Special Episode of our comics reading series.

In honor of Will Eisner Week, Dark Horse Editor Diana Schutz hand-picked a lineup of some of the best comics creators in the country to share stories from Will Eisner’s Last Day in Vietnam.

Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Michael Avon Oeming, Dylan Meconis, and Kelly Sue DeConnick will be reading, and Erik Nebel will be accompanying a wordless story on violin. Basically, it’s a lineup that shouldn’t be allowed to get on an airplane together, because if that plane crashed, so would like 80 percent of the comics industry.

Here’s a bit more info on the participants. LIKE YOU NEED MORE INFO, C’MON.

• MATT FRACTION, architect of the Marvel Universe, writer of The Invincible Iron Man, and creator of the beloved high-concept spy comic Casanova.

• BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, yet another architect of the Marvel Universe, writer of Ultimate Spider-Man and creator of the beloved superhero noir comic Alias.

• MICHAEL AVON OEMING, a creator and artist on numerous projects including the Eisner-winning series Powers.

• DYLAN MECONIS, creator of the brainy historical graphic novel Family Man and the vampire-themed spoof Bite Me.

• KELLY SUE DECONNICK, writer of a number of Marvel Comics titles, including the well-received Osborn miniseries and Avengers Assemble.

• ERIK NEBEL, creator of War and Peace: The Comic, which is just what it says it is.

It all goes down at 8 pm on Thursday, March 7, at the Jack London (529 SW 4th, Portland, Oregon). Admission’s $3-5. Yes, it’s going to be as good as it sounds. See you there.

OR – Avengers Assemble Signing

Kelly Sue DeConnick and Pete Woods sign at TFAW on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 from 7:00pm until 10:00pm!

RSVP on Facebook!

Press Release:

Superhero fans, assemble! We’re proud to announce a Mighty Marvel signing with Kelly Sue DeConnick (Captain Marvel) and Pete Woods (Superman: New Krypton) for Avengers Assemble #12!

Come to the Portland TFAW February 13 at 2916 NE Broadway from 7 to 10 p.m. to meet these amazing creators and enjoy free food and beer (21+ with valid ID). Plus, check out breathtaking original art by Pete Woods. Copies of Avengers Assemble #12 will be available for purchase for $3.99.

Avengers Assemble #12 is the first of a two-part story arc titled “The Widow’s Ledger”: The sins of Black Widow’s past have resurfaced and threaten the safety of not only the Avengers, but also the entire world! Widow, Spider-Woman, and Hawkeye must travel to Siberia to search for a missing girl with ties to an old Soviet assassination. But the truth behind this girl’s disappearance may be more than the Avengers are prepared to handle!

Kelly Sue DeConnick is one of comics’ rising stars, with her acclaimed work on Osborn, Captain Marvel, and Ghost. Harvey Award-nominated Pete Woods came to prominence in the pages of Deadpool, before a long run at DC Comics on such popular titles as Action Comics, Detective Comics, and Secret Six. Come meet them February 13 at our shop

Things From Another World
2916 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232

WA – Marvel Writers Signing

Writers Matt Fraction and Kelly Sue Deconnick appear at Olympic Cards & Comics for a signing on  Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 1:00pm.

During the signing everyone will be entered to win signed variant copies of Kelly Sue Deconnick’s Captain Marvel #1 and Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye #1. Additional raffle tickets will be given for each can of food or non perishable item.

RSVP on Facebook!

Gabi’s Olympic Cards & Comics
4230 Pacific Ave, Lacey, WA 98503

OR – Ladies Night Drink & Draw

Colleen Coover, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Cat Farris, Alison Hallett, Emi Lenox, Jen Van Meter, and Diana Schutz host a ladies-only Drink & Draw on Saturday, February 4th, 2012 from 7-10pm.

Following the positive response to Drink & Draw Like a Lady: West, hosted with the blessing of original event creators Lucy Knisely and Hope Larson, Things From Another World (TFAW) is proud to announce the debut of Ladies Night on Saturday, February 4. This female-only event will kick off with a Q&A featuring notable local women connected to the comics industry, including Colleen Coover, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Cat Farris, Alison Hallett, Emi Lenox, Jen Van Meter, and Dark Horse Comics Executive Editor Diana Schutz, with a Drink & Draw to follow. Complimentary food and beer/wine (21+ with valid ID) will be provided.

“We had such a great response to Drink & Draw Like a Lady, and personally, I really enjoyed getting to know other women who love comics,” said TFAW Marketing Manager Elisabeth Forsythe. “I’m especially excited about our guest speakers, a group of writers, artists, and editors who are a neat cross-section of the local community.”

Do you make comics, love reading comics, or just want to learn more about comics? Come spend the evening with Periscope Studio artists Colleen Coover (Gingerbread Girl) and Cat Farris (Legend of Larsha 2), writer/artist Emi Lenox (Emitown), comic book writers Kelly Sue DeConnick (Supergirl) and Jen Van Meter (Avengers Solo), Portland Mercury Arts Editor Alison Hallett, and Dark Horse Editor Diana Schutz on February 4.

TFAW is also offering 10% off everything in the store during the event. The Q&A will begin promptly at 7 p.m., followed by a Drink & Draw and socializing!

About Things From Another World:
Founded in 1979, Things From Another World is the premier retailer of comic books, toys, collectibles, and pop-culture geek goodness, both in Portland, Oregon and online at www.TFAW.com.

Things from Another World
4133 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97214

OR – Captured Ghosts Screening

Matt Fraction and Kelly Sue DeConnick host an exclusive screening of the new documentary by Patrick Meaney, WARREN ELLIS: CAPTURED GHOSTS at Floating World Comics on Friday Jan. 6th, 2012 from 7-9pm.

The film features the most extensive interview Ellis has ever given, and spans his life, from his first memory watching the moon landing as a child, to his recent cross-media success with the film adaptation of Red. Along the way, Ellis’s acerbic wit and core belief in humanity comes across like never before.

Complimenting Ellis’s own words are interviews with his artistic collaborators, friends and admirers from across all media, including actress Helen Mirren, Director Joss Whedon (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), comedian Patton Oswalt, Adult Film Star Stoya, Musician Claudio Sanchez (of Coheed and Cambria), comics writers Matt Fraction, Kelly Sue DeConnick, and Antony Johnston, and futurist Jamais Cascio. Ellis’s comics collaborators like Marvel Comics CCO Joe Quesada, artists Darick Robertson, Ben Templesmith and Phil Jimenez also provide insight into Ellis’s mind and creative workings. The film features numerous ambient interludes that spotlight Ellis’s prose and writing from both his online columns and his comics.

Floating World Comics
400 NW Couch Street, Portland, OR 97209

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