There are heaps of comics-related events across North America this week.

With Toronto’s International Festival of Artists in full swing, Chicago debuting a major comics survey exhibition AND hosting two very different comics conventions, Art Spiegelman continuing his US tour and political cartoonists making the rounds as the election season goes into a frenzy, plus New York and San Francisco venues continuing their regular slate of excellent events, it’s a very full week! With everything going on, we’ve probably managed to miss a few things, so if you see something missing, go ahead and point it out in the comments section. Now without further ado, your comics-related events for the week…


Monday, October 20

Princeton, NJ, 5:30 PMDavid Rees at Labyrinth Books

war01.gif

David Rees will discuss his book, GET YOUR WAR ON: THE DEFINITIVE ACCOUNT OF THE WAR ON TERROR, and give a 30-minute history of the war on terrorism at Labyrinth Books. Admission is free and open to the public.


Monday, October 20

Washington, DC, 6:00 PM to lateNO FORMULA release party at the Science Club

NoFormula-party.jpg

To celebrate the release of NO FORMULA, the debut anthology from comics collective The Chemistry Set, editor Jim Dougan (SAM & LILAH) and other surprise guests will be partying it up at the appropriately-named Science Club. There will be copies of the book available to purchase, happy hour drink specials all night, and a DJ spinning starting at 8:30 PM.


Monday, October 20

New York, NY, 7:00 PMArt Spiegelman at Tribeca Barnes & Noble

jackandthebox.jpg

Legendary cartoonist Art Speigelman continues his national tour and returns the East Coast to promote two new books: the retrospective anthology BREAKDOWNS, which collects his seminal ’70s work along with brand new material, and the all-new JACK AND THE BOX, aimed at young readers. This week’s first stop is Tribeca’s Barnes & Noble. He will discuss his work, take questions and sign books.



Tuesday, October 21

Columbus, OH, 7:00 PMNicole Hollander at Ohio State University

navsyl.gif

Nicole Hollander, creator of the comic strip SYLVIA, which appears in over 80 newspapers across the country, will read from her 2007 book Tales of Graceful Aging from the Planet Denial at OSU’s Wexner Center for the Arts. A signing will follow.


Tuesday, October 21

New York, NY, 8:00 PMTim Leong & Laura Hudson at Comic Book Club

cf-issue4cover.jpg

Comic Book Club, the weekly comics talk show at the People’s Improv Theatre, features Comic Foundry editors Tim Leong & Laura Hudson as this week’s special guests. Admission is $5 and includes a free issue of Comic Foundry this week.


Wednesday, October 22

Madison Heights, MI, 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM – Rob Worley at Comics & More

revenant.jpg

To celebrate the release of the new collection of Rob Worley and Mat Santolouco‘s horror-pulp comic The Revenant, writer Worley will be signing at Madison Heights retailer Comics & More.


Wednesday, October 22

New York, NY, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM – Chemistry Set signing at Jim Hanley’s Universe

chemset.jpg

Members of The Chemistry Set will be out in force at famed NY retailer Jim Hanley’s Universe to celebrate the release of the NO FORMULA anthology. Contributors signing and selling books will include Jim Dougan, Elizabeth Genco, Michel Fiffe, Rami Efal, Vito Delsante and Kevin Colden.


Wednesday, October 22

New York, NY, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PMArt Spiegelman at the Strand Bookstore

art-spiegelman-header.jpg

Art Speigelman‘s second stop in New York this week will be at the massive Strand Bookstore. Video of his talk will be streamed live and then archived at their website, which is especially cool for those of us who don’t live in one of the dozen-or-so cities Speigelman is touring through this autumn.


Wednesday, October 22

San Francisco, CA, 7:30 PMSpain Rodriguez at Modern Times Bookstore

che.jpg

Spain Rodriguez, one of the stalwarts of ’60s underground comix, will discuss his new book, CHE: A GRAPHIC BIOGRAPHY, at Modern Times Bookstore. Admission is free and open to the public.


Thursday, October 23

Boston, MA, 6:00 PMArt Spiegelman at the Brattle Theatre

breakdowns.jpg

Art Speigelman will discuss his new book, BREAKDOWNS, at a talk presented by the Harvard Book Store. Tickets are $30 and will be redeemable for one copy of BREAKDOWNS at the talk. Tickets are available at the Harvard Book Store, or by calling 617-661-1515.


Thursday, October 23

San Francisco, CA, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PMAn Evening with Hilary Price

Rhymes-with-Orange.jpg

Hilary Price, creator of the syndicated comic strip RHYMES WITH ORANGE, will give a talk and sign books at The Cartoon Art Museum. Admission is $5 for the general public and free to museum members.


Friday, October 24

Amherst, MA, 7:00 PMArt Spiegelman at Hampshire College

spiegelman_art2.jpg

Odyssey Bookshop co-hosts this reading and signing with Art Speigelman at Hampshire College‘s Main Lecture Hall. Free and open to the public. Early arrival is recommended, as a large audience is anticipated.


Friday, October 24

Champaign, IL, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PMOut of Sequence: Underrepresented Voices in American Comics opening reception

dawudName.jpg

A new comics exhibition titled Out of Sequence kicks off with an opening reception this Friday at the Krannert Art Museum at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The exhibition seeks to expand the canon of American comics by including the work of women and minority artists and small press and webcomics creators. It was curated by John Jennings and Damian Duffy with R.C. Harvey serving as historical consultant, and will run through January 4. A scan of the artist checklist reveals what looks to be a widely-focused and thought-provoking collection. Hat tip to Brian Moore, who has a piece in the exhibition. (Image above by Dawud Anyabwile.)


Friday, October 24 – Saturday, October 25

Champaign, IL, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM“The Next Panel” Independent Comics Expo

illinoisnxp1024to1025.jpg

Running Friday and Saturday In conjunction with the Out of Sequence exhibition is “The Next Panel” Independent Comics Expo, aka NXP. There isn’t a lot of publicity out there for NXP, but hopefully it will be a nice addition to the more formal exhibition and a good showcase for local artists.


Saturday, October 25

Chicago, IL, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PMWindy City Comicon

windycitycomicon.jpg

The first annual Windy City Comicon will be held at The Center on Halsted St. Special guests at this one-day con include Skottie Young, Mike Norton, Tim Seeley, Hilary Barta, Gene Ha, Jeffrey Brown and others. Tickets are $5 for the day and can be purchased online.


Saturday, October 25

Carol Stream, IL, 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM“Writing Comics” with Russell Lissau

batmanstrikes.jpg

DC Comics writer Russell Lissau (THE BATMAN STRIKES) will discuss his approach to writing super hero comics and how he balances it with his day job as a newspaper reporter at Chicago’s Daily Herald at the Carol Stream Public Library. This program is aimed at middle school students and teens.


Saturday, October 25

Toronto, ON, 3:00 PMInternational Festival of Authors Presents Lynda Barry

whatitis.jpg

Lynda Barry will discuss her new graphic novel WHAT IT IS in an interview with Peter Birkemoe, co-owner of Toronto comics shop The Beguiling. At the Harbourfront Centre’s Studio Theatre. Admission is $15.


Saturday, October 25

San Francisco, CA, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PMHow to Draw with Your Kid/How to Draw with Your Grownup

selfportrait.gif

The Cartoon Art Museum hosts a workshop with Betsy Streeter, cartoonist of the syndicated strip BRAINWAVES. The workshop aims to teach kids and adults to draw and cartoon together. Kids (aged seven and up) and grownups should attend the class together. Cost is $10 per person. To register e-mail “education at cartoonart dot org” before October 25.


Saturday, October 25

Toronto, ON, 5:00 PMInternational Festival of Authors Presents Chip Kidd

batmanga.jpg

Chip Kidd, the doyen of book-jacket design, talks BAT-MANGA with The Beguiling manager Christopher Butcher. At the Harbourfront Centre’s Studio Theatre. Admission is $15.


Saturday, October 25

New York City, NY, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PMGoddess, Mouse and Man

mice.jpg

The 92Y in New York City is opening a new arts space in Tribeca and are christening it with a show of work by Lauren Weinstein (THE GODDES OF WAR), Tom Hart (HUTCH OWEN) and Matthew Thurber (1-800-MICE), who all teach cartooning at 92Y. Their work has been on display during regular gallery hours of 9 PM – midnight since last Saturday, but the gallery will open two hours early this Saturday for the opening reception. Free and open to the public. (Above image by Thurber.)


Saturday, October 25

Bethesda, MD, 7:30 PMMatt Wuerker, Richard Thompson and Kevin Kallaugher on Political Cartooning

palin-web.jpg

With the presidential election mere weeks away, three of the nation’s most distinguished political cartoonists — Matt Wuerker (The Politico), Richard Thompson (CUL-DE-SAC), and Kevin Kallaugher (Baltimore Sun and The Economist) — will discuss the art of political cartooning at Bethesda’s Writer’s Center. (Above image by Kallaugher.)


Sunday, October 27

Portland, OR, Noon to 6:00 PM;

Flemington, NJ, Noon to 5:00 PMWonder Woman Day III

Wonder-Woman.jpg

Comic Fusion in Flemington, New Jersey joins Excalibur Comics in Portland, Oregon to make this third annual celebration of the star-spangled Amazon a bi-costal event. Each store will host signings, raffles, costume contests and an auction of Wonder Woman art to benefit domestic violence centers. Adam Hughes, Allison Sohn, Gail Simone, and others will be appearing at the Portland benefit, while Neil Vokes, James Fiorentino, Rob Kramer, and Chris Muller will be in NJ.


Sunday, October 27

Toronto, ON, 1:00 PM“Judging a Book by its Cover”

barry_l_100demons.jpg

Bill Douglas talks to Chip Kidd and Lynda Barry and turns the old adage on its head. At the Harbourfront Centre’s Brigantine Room. Admission is $15.


Sunday, October 27

San Francisco, CA 3:00 PM to 5:00 PMMarc Tyler Nobleman at the Cartoon Art Museum

boysofsteel.jpg

Marc Tyler Nobleman will discuss his new book Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman, the first all-ages illustrated biography of Cleveland, Ohio natives Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Following the lecture, he will sign copies of the book and meet with Cartoon Art Museum visitors. Free with paid admission to the museum.


Sunday, October 27

New York, NY, 8:00 PMDavid Rees at Bowery Poetry Club

GYWO.png

GET YOUR WAR ON cartoonist David Rees will appear with his Rolling Stone colleague journalist Matt Taibbi at the Bowery Poetry Club to promote the new GYWO collection. Admission is $8.

Posted by Aaron Humphrey.

1 COMMENT

  1. Members of The Chemistry Set will be out in force at famed NY retailer Jim Hanley’s Universe to celebrate the release of the NO FORMULA anthology. Contributors signing and selling books will include Jim Dougan, Elizabeth Genco, Michel Fiffe, Rami Efal , and Kevin Colden.

    Uh, you forgot me

  2. Champaign isn’t close enough to Chicago to call it the same. It’s sort of like calling a show in Albany an NYC con–which is unfortunate for me, because the Champaign events look more interesting than the Chicago one.