Swan Con Brings Comics to the South Shore on August 26th

The Swansea Public Library hosts a Mini Comic-Con on Saturday, August 26, 2017 from noon till 4:00 PM. Admittance is free, but bring some cash for the various tables. You might find something cool!

What is a Comic-Con? Comic book conventions are events that put people from all aspects of comic book and superhero culture under one roof. Fans can come in costume, get to talk with comic book writers and artists, and check out vendors selling comic book related merchandise. It’s a one stop!

Comic-Cons are also great places to meet other comic fans. Hang out and debate over who’s the better Batman villain, or take pictures with people in costumes. It’s a fun atmosphere to meet fans and comic book folk alike!

Artists/Creators:

• Craig Rousseau (Kyrra: Alien Jungle Girl, The Perhapanauts, Batman Beyond)
• Zack Giallongo (Broxo, Star Wars Doodles, Star Wars: Ewoks)
• Breanne St. Germain
• Amelia Onorato
• Nolan Taylor
• Brian Rose
• Sam Gafford
• Andy Driscoll
• Andrea Rodriguez
• Drew Kelly

Cosplay Guests & Vendors:

• 501st Legion Star Wars costume troop
• Witchcrafted: Stitched Gifts
• Odo Kai Creations
• Klassic Komics
• Legendary Kingdoms of Attera Book Series

RSVP on Facebook!

Swansea Public Library
260 Ocean Grove Ave., Swansea, MA 02777
(508) 674-9609

MI – A2CAF Signings

Vault of Midnight is very pleased to host the following creators for signings throughout the A2CAF weekend:

Saturday, June 18, 2016

12:00-1:00 Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet, Copper)

1:00-2:00 Cece Bell (El Deafo, Sock Monkey) & Tom Angleberger (Origami Yoda, Rocket & Groot)

2:00-3:00 Nathan Hale (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales)

3:00-4:00 Ben Hatke (Nobody Likes a Goblin, Zita the Spacegirl) & Zack Giallongo (Star Wars: Ewoks, Broxo)

Sunday, June 19, 2016

1:30-2:30 Nathan Hale

4:00-5:00 Kazu Kibuishi

Vault of Midnight
219 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-998-1413

Maine Comics Arts Festival Returns June 4th

Press Release:

The Maine Comics Arts Festival will be held in Portland on Saturday, June 4th, 2016 at the Main Branch of the Portland Public Library. The event is free and open to the public. Featuring over 100 comics writers, artists and publishers, this will be a celebration of the comics art form.

The exhibitors will be in various locations throughout the library. There will be maps and guides to help anyone attending. Here is the exhibitor and guest list and their locations.

Atrium:
Amanda Kahl
Barry Corbett
Brenna Killeen
Brian Codagnone
Charles Brubaker
Chris Watkins
Fulton Beal
Jack Turnbull
John Lechner
Michael Mitchell

Fiction/ Music area:
Alabaster
Allison Bannister
Declan McCarthy
Ellen Crenshaw
Lindsay Moore
Matt Smith
Michael Rapa
Neil Johnson
Olivia Li
Patt Kelley
Reilly Hadden
Stephanie Zuppo
Tom O’Brien
Tom Pappalardo

Children’s Area:
Andrew Hunter
AndrÈs Vera MartÌnez
Bob Flynn
Dan Moynihan
George O’Connor
Jay Piscopo
Kelly Fernandez
Maris Wicks

Lewis Gallery:
Amanda Boucher
Andjelko Napijalo
Anne Thalheimer
Bridget Comeau
Jackie Musto
James Quigley
Jeff Kline
Joe St. Pierre
Joey Han
John Rioux
Lenwood Brown III
Maarta Laiho
Tyson Pease

Rines Auditorium:
Andrew MacLean
Becca Case
Ben Wright-Heuman
Bruce Worden
Carol Burrell
Christian DiBari
Christina Savino
Christopher Peary
Clayton McCormack
Cody Pickrodt
Colleen AF Venable
Corin Howell
Crispin Wood
Dan Mazur
Eric Boeker
George O’Connor
Greg Marathas
Hugh Tims
Jennifer McKeon
John Jennison
John Loren
Kori Handwerker
Kristilyn Stevenson
Lauren Pettapiece
Lucy Bellwood
Mitra Farmand
Nicholas Kole
Rebecca Mock
Scarecrowoven
Sequoia Bostick
Stephen Bissette
Steve Mardo
Steve Peters
Zack Giallongo

RSVP on Facebook!

Portland Public Library
5 Monument Sq, Portland, Maine 04101
(207) 871-1700

MICE 2015 Announces Panel Schedule

MICE will feature two full days of comics programming with workshops and demonstrations by professional artists, along with panel discussions on topics central to comics. All of our panels and workshops are appropriate for all-ages, but look for the Kid-Friendly tag for activities geared toward families and young readers. MICE Panels are located in the Lecture Hall and Workshops take place in the Lower Level of University Hall, 1815 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Comics For Life! Cartooning Workshop (Kid-friendly Workshop)
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Get ready to draw your life in comics! MICE 2015 special guest Lucy Knisley, author of Relish: My Life In the Kitchen and many other graphic memoirs, will give you pointers on caricature, and how to illustrate your experiences and tell the story that only you can tell.

Black Independent Comics and Cartoonists Panel
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Five accomplished black independent cartoonists discuss their work and careers, as well as issues of racial identity in comics, and specifically in the alternative and independent comics world.
Moderator: Tony Davis Panelists: John Jennings, Micheline Hess, Ben Passmore, Whit Taylor, Joel Gill

Storyboarding Workshop (Kid-friendly Workshop)
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Discover where comics and animation collide: the storyboard! We’ll work from existing scripts to develop your skills in sketching, pacing, and movement. Bob Flynn, art director at Fablevision Studios and storyboard artist for Spongebob Squarepants: Sponge Out of Water, will show you how easy and fun the process can be!
Instructor: Bob Flynn

Iron Cartoonist (Kid-friendly Panel)
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
MICE pits top cartoonists against each other in a live drawing event. Utilizing themed “ingredients,” three artists will compete for the title of ultimate cartoonist and earn prizes for the audience.
Host: Zack Giallongo Contestants: Mike Holmes, Cara Bean, Dan Moynihan Judges: Carey Pietsch, John Green, Braden Lamb

Comics Lettering and Layout Workshop
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Join cartoonist (Diary Comics, Behold! The Dinosaurs!) and occasional letterer (Casanova, Seconds) Dustin Harbin for a hands-on workshop exploring the role of lettering in comics page layout. Lettering is a lot more than just legible handwriting: it’s often the clearest sign to a reader of what’s happening on a page, who’s speaking and when, and in what order everything should be read. Participants will work through laying out lettering for a page of comics from start to finish, with plenty of room for Q’s and A’s along the way.

Writing About Comics 
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
In the midst of our review culture, how is comics criticism evolving alongside this exciting, growing art form? A panel of comics journalists, educators, and scholars examine how to write about a medium that includes both visual and literary storytelling. Moderator Brigid Alverson writes about comics at Robot 6 and School Library Journal. Our panelists write for a variety of online comics blogs including: Janelle Asselin (Comics Alliance), James Kaplan (Panel Patter), Zach Clemente (The Comics Beat), and Juliet Kahn (Comics Alliance).

First Aid for Drawing Injuries Workshop
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Drawing can be fun, but it can also be a pain! Explore safe and effective techniques for caring for minor musculoskeletal injuries that can occur while drawing. Kriota Willberg, creator of the minicomic First Aid for Drawing Injuries (Or, Pain is Your Frenemy!) helps you to discover strategies for reducing pain while you draw and the differences between treating pain and treating injuries.

Kriota Willberg makes comics and art about body-oriented sciences. As a cartoonist she is best known for (NO) PAIN! A Guide to Injury Prevention for Cartoonists. An educator and massage therapist specializing in the treatment of orthopedic injury, she has also studied fitness and exercise. Kriota has taught injury prevention and anatomy for drawers at the Center for Cartoon Studies, the Society of Illustrators, and MoCCA.

What’s My Style? Panel
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Stylistic chameleon Robert Sikoryak sits down with four outstanding independent comics creators to explore the development of personal style. How has experimentation with graphic and storytelling techniques, media, format or other aspects of drawing comics challenged and shaped their visual styles? What breakthroughs, revelations, influences or inspirations have led to artistic growth? Moderator: R. Sikoryak Panelists: Luke Howard, Sophie Goldstein, Sophie Yanow, Jason Little

Comic Life Drawing (Kid-friendly Workshop)
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
This introduction to figure drawing gives cartoonists of all skill levels an opportunity to draw from a live model! Explore the basics of dynamic movement, weight, and human anatomy. Easels, paper, and charcoal will be supplied. Zack Giallongo is the illustrator of Broxo, Ewoks: Shadows of Endor, and The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents series.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Fable Comics Workshop (Kid-friendly Workshop)
11:30AM – 12:30 PM
Presented by The Eliot School

Looking for your next great comic idea? You can start with one of the oldest stories you know – fables! Chris Duffy, editor of the Fable Comics Anthology, along with artists George O’Connor (The Olympians) and Shelli Paroline (Adventure Time) will give you some pointers in drawing your own comic from well-known fables.

Art of the Mini-Comic (Kid-friendly Panel)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
The humble mini-comic is one of the basic forms of expression for independent cartoonists, and it ranges from simple fold and staple photocopies, to exquisite handmade artists’ books. Jon Chad (Leo Geo, Bikeman) explores the form, and talks to some of the most creative mini-comic makers at MICE.

Jon Chad has been producing handmade mini-comics and zines since 2006. Jon has illustrated books for clients including the Atlanta Braves, the FBI, and has been commissioned to make minicomics for Cartoon Network’s Regular Show and Adventure Time. Jon Chad’s books Leo Geo and his Miraculous Journey through the Center of the Earth and the sequel, Leo Geo and the Cosmic Crisis are published by Roaring Brook Press. Jon lives in Northampton, MA and teaches book-making and screen-printing at the Center for Cartoon Studies.

Unexpected Cartoons (Kid-friendly Workshop)
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Presented by The Eliot School

A playful workshop for kids and all ages. Participants are led into various drawing exercises that would encourage improvisation and strengthen creative ability. We will approach drawing from new angles and discover unexpected results. All you need is a sheet of paper, pencil, eraser, and an open mind.

Cara Bean is an artist and Educator in Lexington, MA. Cara excels in both poetic self introspection, and silly storytelling. Her Gorilla Year series has received critical praise for tackling autobiographical issues in an innovative form.

Comic Life Drawing (Kid-friendly Workshop)
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
This introduction to figure drawing gives cartoonists of all skill levels an opportunity to draw from a live model! Explore the basics of dynamic movement, weight, and human anatomy. Easels, paper, and charcoal will be supplied. Instructor: Zack Giallongo

Spotlight on Ryan North and Gene Luen Yang Panel
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese, Boxers and Saints) and Ryan North (Dinosaur Comics, Adventure Time) have each made major contributions to defining contemporary forms like webcomics and young adult graphic novels, as well as crossing over into the “mainstream” world: North has brought his absurdist wit to Marvel’s Squirrel Girl, while Yang is currently writing Superman for DC. MICE is proud to present these two original, category-defying creators in conversation with writer and educator Alexander Danner.

Mini-Comic Workshop (Kid-friendly Workshop)
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Sometimes the best ideas come out of play, improvisation, and collaboration. In this workshop, you’ll participate in a few fun, collaborative, drawing games and create some wildly unexpected characters and stories with your fellow attendees.

Dan Moynihan lives in Brookline, Massachusetts where he draws and writes comics. His work has appeared in Nickelodeon Magazine and various anthologies. His first picture book, Hiding Dinosaurs, is out this year.

Parenthood and Comics Panel
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Cartoonists who have taken the daring leap into parenthood — or parents who have taken the daring leap into cartooning — discuss how having children affects their work. How have they dealt with the challenges of maintaining a creative work schedule with the demands of parenthood? How has being a parent influenced the content of their work?

Moderator: Dan Mazur Panelists: Jennifer Hayden, Jason Little, Glynnis Fawkes, Charles Snow, Sage Stossel

MICE will be held at Lesley University’s University Hall at 1815 Massachusetts Avenue in Porter Square. The hours of the show are Saturday, October 17th, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, and Sunday, October 18th, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. Admission is FREE. Special Guests include: Gene Luen Yang, Lucy Knisley, Dustin Harbin, Ryan North, and Jennifer Hayden! Click their website for more information: www.micexpo.org

MA – Swansea Library Mini-Con

Craig Rousseau, Zack Giallongo, and Alex Harris appear at Swansea Public Library on Saturday, August 29, 2015 from 1:00 till 6:00 PM for a mini comic-con!

RSVP on Facebook!

Swansea Public Library
260 Ocean Grove Ave., Swansea, MA 02777
(508) 674-9609

MI – Kids Read Comics 2015 Signings

The Vault of Midnight is proud to host some amazing artists as part of the Kids Read Comics festival!

SATURDAY JUNE 20th

12-1pm: Signing with Faith Erin Hicks (Adventures of Superhero Girl, Friends with Boys), and Raina Telgemeier (Smile, Sisters, Drama)

1-2pm: Signing with Rafael Rosado (Giants Beware! Dragons Beware!)

2-3pm: Signing with Ruth McNally Barshaw (Ellie McDoodle Diaries)

3-4pm: Signing with Zack Giallongo (Star Wars Doodles, Broxo, Stratford Zoo series)

4-5pm: Signing with Zac Gorman (Costume Quest, Rick and Morty)

5-6pm: Signing with Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy), and Chris Duffy (Nursery Rhyme Comics, Spongebob Comics)

SUNDAY JUNE 21st

12-1pm: Signing with Zac Gorman (Costume Quest, Rick and Morty)

1-2pm: Signing with Faith Erin Hicks (Adventures of Superhero Girl, Friends with Boys), and Raina Telgemeier (Smile, Sisters, Drama)

3:30-4:30pm: Signing with Kean Soo (Jellaby, March Grand Prix) and Tory Woollcott (Mirror Mind)

4:30-5:30pm: Signing with Chris Giarruso (G-Man, G-Man Super Journal)

For more information, please visit the link…

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The Kids Read Comics Celebration is a totally free event that unites kids, teens, parents, teachers and librarians with professional artists and writers from the comics and animation fields. Our goal is to introduce kids to worlds of imagination while unlocking their creative impulses, and to serve that goal, the convention features:

– hands-on workshops
– panels and presentations for kids, families, and educators
– a chance for kids to meet and chat with comics and animation professionals
– the opportunity for kids to have their own art portfolios reviewed

Our celebration will be held at the Ann Arbor District Library in downtown Ann Arbor, which will host an artist alley and tons of hands-on workshops!
We hope to see you there!

RSVP on Facebook!

Vault of Midnight
219 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-998-1413

MA – Free Comic Book Day 2015

Shelli Paroline & Braden Lamb (Artist team on Adventure Time the comic book), Rob Stull (Comic book inker known for his work with Marvel, DC, Image, Aspen, Top Cow, etc.), Zack Giallongo (Known for his work in the Adventure Time comic book, Star Wars: Ewoks – Shadows of Endor, Broxo, and others), and Eric Merced (Has worked for major comic and gaming companies, such as Marvel, DC, IDW, Archie, Fantome, and more) appear at That’s Entertainment on Saturday May 2nd for Free Comic Book Day!

RSVP on Facebook!

That’s Entertainment
244 Park Ave, Worcester, MA 01609
(508) 755-4207

MA – Odyssey Kids Comic Con 2014

Zack Giallongo and Ben Hatke appear at Odyssey Bookshop on Saturday October 11th at 2:00 pm!

Zack Giallongo is a professional cartoonist, cheese enthusiast, and amateur banjo-ist. His first solo graphic novel, Broxo, is about teenage barbarians and was published in 2012. He presents his new book: Stratford Zoo Presents Macbeth.

The Stratford Zoo looks like a normal zoo… until the gates shut at night. That’s when the animals come out of their cages to stage elaborate performances of Shakespeare’s greatest works. They might not be the most accomplished thespians, but they’ve got what counts: heart. Also fangs, feathers, scales, and tails, in The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Macbeth.

Ian Lendler’s hilarious tale of after-hours animal stagecraft is perfectly paired with the adorable, accessible artwork of Zack Giallongo (Broxo, Ewoks). And with Romeo and Juliet coming in book two, this is a promising new series of graphic novels for young readers.

Ben Hatke has published comic stories in the Flight series as well as Flight Explorer. In addition to writing and drawing comics, he also paints in the naturalist tradition and, occasionally, performs one-man fire shows. He lives and works in the Shenandoah Valley with his wife and a boisterous pack of daughters. He is thr author of the Zita The Spacegirl Series.

Zita The Spacegirl
Zita’s life took a cosmic left turn in the blink of an eye.
When her best friend is abducted by an alien doomsday cult, Zita leaps to the rescue and finds herself a stranger on a strange planet. Humanoid chickens and neurotic robots are shocking enough as new experiences go, but Zita is even more surprised to find herself taking on the role of intergalactic hero. Before long, aliens in all shapes and sizes don’t even phase her. Neither do ancient prophecies, doomed planets, or even a friendly con man who takes a mysterious interest in Zita’s quest.

Zita the Spacegirl is a fun, captivating tale of friendship and redemption from Flight veteran Ben Hatke. It also has more whimsical, eye-catching, Miyazaki-esque monsters than you can shake a stick at.

RSVP on Facebook!

Odyssey Bookshop
9 College Street, South Hadley, MA 01075
(413) 534-7307

MA – Broxo/Primates Signing

 

Maris Wicks (Primates) and Zack Giallongo (Broxo) talk about their graphic novels on Wednesday July 30, 2014 at 7:00 PM! Both will appear on August 8-10th at Boston Comic Con at tables C321 (Wicks) and D423 (Giallongo)!

RSVP on Facebook!

Barnes & Noble
1 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA 01701
508-628-5567

MeCAF 2014 Announces Programming Schedule

The Maine Comics Arts Festival (MeCAF) has released their programming schedule for the 2014 show to be held on Sunday May 18th:

10:00 – 1:00: Book signing with Big Nate creator Lincoln Peirce (in the main hall)

10:30 – Unusual comics! Choose your own adventure! with Jon Chad
How does your comic become a book? If you thought that a book is just made up of a cover, back cover, and all the business in-between, think again! Explore a variety of folding and book construction techniques and make your own unfolding, choose-your-own-adventure minicomic!

11:30 – DRAW ON YOUR CREATIVITY:
Comic book artist Jay Piscopo invites students to try their hand at cartoon art and demonstrates how anyone can learn to draw and create comics. Using simple geometric shapes, Jay teaches kids how to build anatomy and perspective to create art that tells a story. Stand by for adventure with this interactive workshop! Watch a short video clip at the link…

12:30 – Ben Hatke: The Three Secrets of Comics:
Discussing images in a narrative, gesture, and drawing from life, Ben Hatke (Zita the Spacegirl) talks about three secrets behind making amazing comics.

1:30 – Iron Cartoonist:
This competition will determine the MeCAF Iron Cartoonist Champion! Watch as three talented cartoonists draw against the clock, with suggestions from the audience. Special guest judges will determine the winner.

2:30 – A conversation with Jimmy Gownley and Kazu Kibuishi:
Join us as we discuss comics with Jimmy Gownley (The Dumbest Idea Ever, Amelia Rules) and Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet, Flight).

3:30 – Panel discussion about gender and race issues in current comics, with artists Melanie Gillman, Kori Handwerker and others.

RSVP on Facebook!

The Maine Comics Arts Festival will be held in Portland, ME on Sunday, May 18, 2014. Featuring over 100 comics writers, artists and publishers, this will be a celebration of the comics art form. This year’s show will be at the Portland Company Complex (58 Fore Street, Portland, Maine 04101)! There will be everyone from mini comics publishers to seasoned professionals. There will be comic book writers and artists, gag cartoonists, newspaper cartoonists, web comics creators and more. The guests will have their own work available for sale. Some people will be doing sketches and selling original artwork. Others will have t-shirts, buttons and posters. All of them have one thing in common… a love of comics. Featured guests include: Kazu Kibuishi, Sean Murphy, Jimmy Gownley, Ben Hatke, James Sturm, Shelli Paroline, Braden Lamb, Joe Quinones, Zack Giallongo, Maris Wicks, and many more!

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