Events

ECCC kicks off today in Seattle and while we can't be there in person (alas, longing for those Puget oysters), we have a few folks walking the floor and sending back reports. This is a full service con with 140 panels and a great guest line-up including Robert Kirkman, Marc Silvestri, Bryan Lee O'Malley, Scott Kurtz, Kelly Sue DeConnick and more.

Hero Initiative is the non-profit organization that aids comic creators in medical and financial need—and if you've been reading the Beat lately you know that they are more needed than ever. Tonight, as part of the Emerald City Comicon, they are having a bowling fundraiser which sounds like a great time for a great cause, as they say. Although spots have already been auctioned off, you can still go watch the fun:

Okay this is the very latest event listing ever but how could I NOT post this amazing piece of art by Jim Rugg on The Beat?

This is the last one before Beaton moves back to Canada. Guests are DAVE HILL, VICTOR VARNADO, DOMITILLE COLLARDEY, JIM TOROK, and COREY PANDOLPH.

Will I ever get tired of this piece of art?

For more information.

If you were around comics in New York in 2008, you know that that was the Year of the Symposium, with Post Bang, SPLAT, and probably something else that wasn't named after a sound effect. Since that epic year, when comics were discussed and analyzed by panels of every type, there have been a few scattered symposia, but nothing that big. Until the announcement of Comic New York: A Symposium, to be held Saturday and Sunday March 24-25 at Columbia University.

If you happen to be near DeKalb, IL next week, you may enjoy this newPaul Karasik-curated comics art exhibition called Graphic Novel Realism: Backstage at the Comics which runs from Tuesday, March 20, through Friday, May 25, in the Altgeld Galleries at Northern Illinois Unversity.

More info here.

Author Blake Bell discusses his book on Bill Everett at the Beguiling. More info.

With his gorgeous GOLIATH out from D&Q, Tom Gauld is embarking on a two-continent tour. UK dates are above; here's his US schedule.

Comedy and comics at the Lucca Lounge. FREE. More info