Book Expo America kicks off tomorrow, Friday, yet another reason we’re so cranky and overworked. This week’s Comics Week had a full listing of comics themed programming, of which there is a LOT. Alison Bechdel, Robert Kirkman, Kyle Baker, Colleen Doran and doubtless other ‘tooner types will be on hand. We’re interviewing Laurell K. Hamilton on Friday about her Marvel comics series. And Drawn & Quarterly has some signings, according to this PR:

This weekend from Friday, June 1st through Sunday June 3rd, Drawn & Quarterly will be at Book Expo America. You can find us in booth #3628, which is in our distributor’s aisle – Farrar, Straus & Giroux/Holtzbrink.

“Optic Nerve” cartoonist Adrian Tomine will be signing twice at the show on behalf of his Fall 2007 graphic novel “Shortcomings”: Friday, June 1st, 2-4:00 PM at the D+Q booth # 3628 and Saturday, June 2nd, 2:30-3:00 PM in the Autograph Area, table 19. He will be signing “Shortcomings” galleys, posters, and more. The Village Voice has described the upcoming book and Tomine as “one of the most masterful cartoonists of his generation. [Shortcomings] is equal parts poignant, hilarious and sad.”

D+Q EIC Chris Oliveros will be on the “Graphic Novel Buzz” panel Friday afternoon at 2:30-3:30 PM in room 1E03 at Javits and which will be moderated by Calvin Reid of Publishers Weekly.

D+Q will be handing out at a variety of “Shortcomings” promotional items (postcards, galleys, brochures, posters) at our booth and at Adrian’s signings. We will also be handing out Lynda Barry’s critically acclaimed FCBD issue “Activity Book” (which is an excerpt from her 2008 book “What It Is”), other D+Q galleys, and postcards for our 2007 list including Tove Jansson’s “Moomin,” Chris Ware’s “Acme Novelty Datebook,” Joe Matt’s “Spent,” Rutu Modan’s “Exit Wounds” and “James Sturm’s American: God, Gold and Golems.”D&Q at BEA