Comics’ New Big Weekend

When I was growing up, July 4th was a big weekend for comics. The summer specials and annuals were in full swing, local flea markets like Shipshewana were up and running with longboxes next to display cases of throwing stars and even, at least a few times if I'm remembering correctly, the big comic book convention in Chicago took place that weekend.

Now it's Memorial Day Weekend that surges to the front, with any number of interesting comics events sprinkled throughout the world. The Toronto Comic Art Festival kicks off its second show ever (first one was in '03) with an impressive guest list and the influence of the great shop The Beguiling. The Olympia Comics Festival is also this weekend for those in the Pacific Northwest, and is organized by Frank Hussey at Danger Room Comics. Expect Peter Bagge among other regional favorites. If the greater Phoenix area sinks into the desert this weekend, the bulk of newspaper strip cartooning in America will go with it as the National Cartoonist Society dons tuxes and golf wear for their yearly meeting in Scottsdale, including the prestigious Reuben Awards. Nominees for the "Big Prize" of cartoonist of the year include eight-time finalist Pat Brady. Finally, Saturday marks the beginning of the weeklong Fete De La BD in France, a Ministry of Culture-facilitated promotion that some alternative-minded comics fans already believe focuses entirely too heavily on comics for commerce's sake.
 
posted 4:20 am PST | Permalink
 

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