PR from the Stumptown Comics Fest, in Portland, OR shows that local indie-friendly shows appear to be alive and well, with all 120 tables sold out. Dark Horse, Oni, Fantagraphics and Top Shelf will all be exhibiting; Aaron Renier did the poster.

This year’s Stumptown Comics Fest, taking place on October 27th & 28th in Portland, Oregon, is pleased to announce that their 120-table exhibitor space is completely sold out, nearly two weeks before the official deadine for exhibitor registrations.

Exhibitors who still hope to get on the waiting list are encouraged to send in their forms before the official deadline, however the increasing popularity of the Comics Fest makes it unlikely that any tables will become available. The creator-focused convention, the only one of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, has grown significantly from the modest beginnings of its first event, which saw nearly 40 cartoonists and self-publishers sharing a scant 22 tables just two years ago. Much of that growth is attributed to extremely positive word-of-mouth promotion within the communities of cartoonists that populate the west coast.

The Stumptown Comics Fest has a history of showcasing local talent such as Shannon Wheeler, Paul Guinan, and Jeff Parker continues this year with appearances by “Banana Sunday” artist Colleen Coover and Mike Allred, known for his creator-owned works “Madman Comics” and “The Atomics”. We also welcome Paul Chadwick, who celebrates the 20th anniversary of his Eisner-award winning creation “Concrete”, which helped launch Dark Horse Comics’ flagship title “Dark Horse Presents” in 1986. Also joining us this year are “Flight” anthology editor Kazu Kibuishi, Long-running alternative comics artist Keith Knight, and Steve Rolston, artist for Oni Press’ “Queen & Country” and Dark Horse Comics’ “The Escapists”.

This year, exhibitors are venturing from all over the country to spend the Halloween weekend in Portland. Cartoonists from Seattle, San Diego, and Los Angeles join locals from Portland, Salem, and Wood Village, Oregon, while others are travelling from as far as Poland, Maine to Hamtramck, Michigan, to Vancouver BC and Boulder, Colorado, and all points in-between. More than 40 of the 200+ creators and exhibitors appearing at this year’s Fest had such a good time at last year’s Fest that they decided to come back.

This year also marks the first appearance of such iconic Northwest publishers as Dark Horse Comics and Fantagraphics Books, as well as repeat appearances by Portland-based independent favorites Top Shelf Comics and Oni Press.

Admission for this year’s Fest will be $5 per day. Attendees also have the option on Friday to purchase a Weekend package for $10, which includes admission both days, as well as an official poster and pin featuring artwork by “Spiral Bound” author Aaron Renier, while supplies last. More information on the Stumptown Comics Fest can be found at the official website, http://www.stumptowncomics.com.