SPX returns to the Bethesda North Marriott, and announces Jeff Smith as the first guest.

The Small Press Expo (SPX), a non-profit organization, is proud to announce the 13th annual expo to be held October 12 and 13 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.

SPX is proud to announce as its first major guest, Jeff Smith. Jeff is the author/writer of the groundbreaking and multiple award winning series “Bone”. This February will see the release of his adaptation of the Golden Age Captain Marvel story “The Monster Society of Evil”, to be published by DC Comics.

In the following weeks, additional guests and other SPX news will be issued in forthcoming press releases.

For more information, visit the SPX 2006 web site at http://www.spxpo.com

The SPX is the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comic books, alternative political cartoonists and discovery of new creative talent that attracts thousands every year. SPX brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, political cartoon books and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. A series of panel discussions will also be held of interest to readers,
academicians and creators of graphic novels and political cartoons.

The Expo will be open to the public from 2 pm – 8 pm Friday, October 12 and 10am – 7 pm Saturday, October 13. Admission is $8 for a single day and $15 for both days. The Expo culminates with the presentation of the 11th Annual Ignatz Awards for outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. The Ignatz is the first Festival Prize in the US comic book industry, with winners chosen by balloting during the SPX. As in previous years, all profits from the SPX will go to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
(CBLDF), dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights for members of the comics community.. For more information on the CBLDF, go to their website at http://www.cbldf.org/.