By Victor Van Scoit
The San Francisco Bay Area has some fantastic comic book shops, with each having its own take for hosting creator events. One such store known for their intimate signings and creative shindigs is The Isotope. They’re hosting two upcoming events this November that, should you live anywhere in Northern California, are worth checking out.
First up is a pair of long time creators who are forerunners in progressive characters and storytelling—Roberta Gregory and Donna Barr.
The comics industry in 2015 is going through some amazingly positive mutations and here at the Isotope we can think of no better time to celebrate two legends of independent comics who altered the landscape of free expression in comics and paved the way for the world of comics as we know it today. As far back as the mid 70s Gregory and Barr lit that all-important spark at the forefront of today’s revolution in feminist, LGBT*, autobio, gender politics, anthrofluidity, and genre mashup fiction comics. We followers of the art form’s evolution are forever in debt to these true comix legends!
Roberta Gregory is the multiple award winning writer/artist best known for NAUGHTY BITS STARRING BITCHY BITCH, as well as DYNAMITE DAMSELS, WINGING IT, SHEILA AND THE UNICORN, ARTISTIC LICENTIOUSNESS, the popular LIFE’S A BITCH collection and also BITCHY BUTCH: WORLD’S ANGRIEST DYKE.
Donna Barr is a fellow multiple award winning writer/artist behind THE DESERT PEACH, and also the gorgeous STINZ series, HADER AND THE COLONEL, BOSOM ENEMIES, ZELL, SWORDDANCER, THE BARR GIRLS, the AFTERDEAD collections and also BOSOM ENEMIES.
Some of their books can be hard to find now but don’t fear. The Isotope and creators worked closely together and have you covered.
Roberta and Donna are going to be shipping us a number of their rare books that are of the long-lost variety, as well as their print-on-demand books, and comics that we haven’t seen at a distributor in far too long. We invite you to come meet them, get some signatures and sketches, and be as inspired by them as we are!
Roberta Gregory & Donna Barr @ Isotope
Saturday, November 7th, 2015
3pm – 6pm, All Ages
Eisner Award winning JH Williams III is known for rocking amazing visuals and continued to do so working with Neil Gaiman on Sandman Overture. With the release of the Sandman Overture hardcover The Isotope is looking to celebrate in grand fashion with both a signing and an after party.
SANDMAN OVERTURE SIGNING w/ JH WILLIAMS III
2pm – 6pm, Saturday November 14th
This intimate all-ages autographing session is completely free of charge and open to all. We want to ensure you have a completely unique and personal experience with Jim so we’re specifically tailoring this event to let you have a real moment to sit down with him. Jim will sign your SANDMAN OVERTURE hardcovers, PROMETHEA omnibii, BATWOMAN paperbacks, vintage CHASE comics, BLONDIE and THE SWORD albums, and anything else he’s ever worked on. As always, we don’t even mind if you’ve bought them elsewhere, this isn’t about us, it’s about you and Jim getting to say “Hi.” As this is sure to be a popular signing and we definitely want everyone to get time to actually talk with Jim so we kindly ask that you bring no more than 5 items for him to sign. On behalf of every one of us, thank you so much.SANDMAN OVERTURE AFTER PARTY w/ JH WILLIAMS III
8pm – Midnight, Saturday November 14th
An after party as only the Isotope can do! If you’ve been to a late night event at the Isotope before you know the great atmosphere and amazing crowd that will be turning out for this. This event has a casual backstage-after-the-show vibe and gives you all an opportunity to actually hang out and get to know Jim… the way we think an in-store appearance should truly be!
After parties at The Isotope are a unique way to share time with creators and fellow fans, with dancing known to break out—not to mention the limited goodies (so pretty) you get with your ticket. Visit The Isotope’s event site to purchase your tickets.
Featuring the exclusive JH Williams III SANDMAN OVERTURE Print, an ultra-limited art print on acid-free/pH neutral 100% cotton rag Fabriano Watercolor Paper, lovingly printed using Epson’s archival UltraChrome inks with a lightfastness rating of over 200 years. Available nowhere else on the planet! This hand-numbered print is suitable for framing and can be proudly hung on the wall of your swank pad…or you can choose to upgrade your SANDMAN OVERTURE: DELUXE EDITION from the vanilla cover version other places carry by using this print as an exclusive dust jacket. And your bookshelf can experience the true glory and magnificence that is the THE SANDMAN OVERTURE ISOTOPE EDITION!