Kagan McLeod signs on Friday September 2nd, 2011 at Revival Bar – Featuring Hop Fu!
Doors open at 8:30 – Presentations start at 9pm!
$5 or free admission with book purchase.
RSVP on Facebook! 

Presented by The Beguilling, Top Shelf Books, and Revival Bar 

THE LONG-AWAITED DEBUT! It’s the official book launch for Kagan McLeod’s INFINITE KUNG FU, a massive 464-page graphic novel by Kagan McLeod. Serialized in comics, serialized on the internet, with short stories in jams across the world, the whole story is now complete and ready for you to put in your hot little hands! 

FEATURING HEADLINERS HOP FU – New York-based scratch champions DJ 1XL and DJ Excess perform as Hop Fu, providing a live remixed score to a screening of the Shaw Brothers classic kung fu film “Super Ninjas.” Must be seen to be believed! 

CHIP ZDARSKY hosts the evening and interviews Kagan about the book!
KAGAN McLEOD signs copies for fans!
TBA DJS keep the evening lively and fun, dance if you wanna!
THE BEGUILING will be on hand selling books and prints 

This will be the biggest book launch of 2011, don’t miss out! 

Schedule:
8:30pm: Doors Open
9:00pm: Q&A with Kagan McLeod, followed by book signing
11:00pm: Hop Fu performance…!

Revival Bar
783 College Street, Toronto, ON

Press Release:

The Beguiling Books & Art is pleased to announce that it will once again be returning to The San Diego Comic-Con to sell a truly outstanding collection of illustrations and original comic book artwork on behalf of its represented artists. The Beguiling’s Peter Birkemoe will be on hand and exhibiting in a small corner of booth #1629, owned by venerable Canadian publisher Drawn & Quarterly, from Preview Night, Wednesday July 11th, through Sunday, July 15th.

The Beguiling represents original art by some of art comics’ greatest names at their online art store, including D&Q cartoonists Kevin Huizenga (Gloriana), Anders Nilsen (Big Questions), and Seth (Palookaville), and comics superstars Jeff Lemire (Essex County), Fabio Moon & Gabriel Ba (Casanova), and Bryan Lee O’Malley (Scott Pilgrim). The Beguiling will have over 400 pieces of original art on hand by 26 different artists at San Diego this year. Previews of most pages available online now at http://www.beguilingoriginalart.com/.

Highlights of this year’s mix of comics art and illustration include: 

- The Beguiling proudly announces that it will begin selling original art work from creators Pascal Girard, Matt Kindt, and Shintaro Kago! Girard is the author of the recently released graphic novel The Reunion from Drawn & Quarterly, and pages from that work and other illustrations will be on hand. Matt Kindt is the author of the graphic novels Super Spy, The Tooth, and 3:Story. His current series is MIND MGMT, an ongoing comic from Dark Horse, and art will be on hand from these and other series’! Kago is a renowned Ero-guro manga artist in Japan, and his work includes truly unique formalist experiments (and some very disturbing imagery), and has been praised by sources as diverse as Scott McCloud and Vice Magazine.

- A selection of pages from recent Drawn & Quarterly graphic novel releases, including pages from Kevin Huizenga’s Gloriana HC and The Wild Kingdom HC, Brian Ralph’s Cave-In, and Anders Nilsen’s Eisner Award nominated graphic novel Big Questions.

- Dozens of new, never-before offered pages by artist Farel Dalrymple. Including new pages from Dalrymple’s work on the series’ Prophet, Fantastic Four, Omega The Unknown, Vice Magazine, and more! So new these aren’t even on our website yet!

- Dozens of new pages by Norwegian artist Jason, from across his many popular graphic novels.

- All of the “new-since-last-Comic-Con” artwork by artists Gabriel Ba, Jeffrey Brown, Sammy Harkham, Jeff Lemire, Kagan McLeod, Fabio Moon, Marco Rudy, Maurice Vellekoop, and Zach Worton. All of these fine cartoonists have provided The Beguiling with new artwork since exhibiting at Comic-Con 2011, from across their many projects. Highlights include Jeff Lemire’s Sweeth Tooth, and the complete artwork (!) for Maurice Vellekoop’s The World of Gloria Badcock.

- A selection of quality originals by Rafael Albuquerque, Becky Cloonan, Jordan Crane, David Heatley, Miriam Katin, Jason Lutes, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Paul Pope, Michel Rabagliati, Seth, Jay Stephens, and Chip Zdarsky. With over 5,000 pieces of original art represented by The Beguiling, a selection of the best and most interesting pieces by these creators will be available for sale in San Diego.

Hate paying for shipping? If you will be at the San Diego Comic-Con and are interested in purchasing a specific piece of art from our website, we will happily bring it to the show for you. If you’d like us to bring a specific piece from our website to take a look at, please contact us at mail at beguiling dot com. Unfortunately we are not “holding” art for people unless they have purchased it outright, but we will try to accommodate all requests.

–

ABOUT:
Celebrating its 25th Anniversary, The Beguiling is a book store and original art dealer in Toronto, Canada. We represent original art sales from over three dozen comics creators and illustrators from around the world. Almost all of the original art that The Beguiling represents is consigned by the artists, ensuring we are able to offer the widest possible selection of material and that the artists get the largest possible chunk of the proceeds. To see our collection of original art, visit us online at http://www.beguilingoriginalart.com/

Press Release:

2014 STAPLE! The Independent Media Expo Marks 10 Years of Weird Special Guests, Exhibitions, Presentations Slated for Annual Weekend Geek-Out

AUSTIN, Texas – STAPLE!, The Independent Media Expo, is coming back to the Marchesa Hall & Theatre for another action-packed burst of fantasy, graphics, DIY culture, and storytelling. Like clockwork, heaps of artists, writers and comic lovers flock to Austin each March to experience the best, the weirdest and the newest in the indie media multiverse. 2014 marks STAPLE!’s tenth anniversary as the premiere indie comics convention in the Southwest, showcasing all that’s fit to self-print: comics, mini-comics, webcomics, zines, art, crafts, games, podcasts, and beyond.

Among the panelists announced today are: Chip Zdarsky, artist of Sex Criminals, Time Magazine’s #1 comic of 2013; New York Times best seller Francesco Francavilla, creator of Black Beetle and artist on Afterlife with Archie; Rob Harrell, creator of Monster on the Hill, listed among the Best Children’s Books of 2013; and Stoic Studios, the indie creators of acclaimed tactical RPG The Banner Saga.

STAPLE! came to fruition in 2005 when founder Chris Nicholas realized there were no tastefully curated get-togethers for underground comic buffs and game wizards. Taking a cue from any good comic protagonist, Nicholas did the impossible and created STAPLE! to showcase “the folks who publish comics and zines, and possible literary masterworks out of their own apartments and homes.” Nicholas continues, “It was a natural step to connect the fans to the artists through a conference like STAPLE!” Ten years later, the event has grown mightily and has hosted indie greats like Tony Millionaire, Jim Mahfood, Kevin Eastman, Dean Haspiel and Stan Sakai.

In addition to the magic and wonder to be found at the tables of over 150 exhibitors, Staplers can attend panels on Comics, Webcomics, and Indie Game Design; listen to exciting tutorials and presentations; discover intriguing new favorites and revisit old classics, all while exploring the fascinating DIY niche of independent print.

More information can be found at www.staple-austin.org. A full roster of panelists, performers, and exhibitors to be released in February 2014.

STAPLE! Comics Panelists

Francesco Francavilla is a NY Times bestselling author, award-winning storyteller, writer, artist and illustrator who has worked on a wide variety of projects, most recently Afterlife with Archie for Archie Comics and his creator-owned pulp hero Black Beetle for Dark Horse Comics.

Chip Zdarsky has quickly become one of the “must know” artists in creator owned comics. His current Image Comics project Sex Criminals (Time Magazine’s #1 Comic of 2013!), with writer Matt Fraction (Casanova, Satellite Sam, Hawkeye, etc.), is among the most talked about debuts of 2013. With massive critical acclaim and sold out print runs, it’s easy to see why: beautifully illustrated, it’s also funny, awkward, strange, haunting and sexy.

Rob Harrell created, wrote and drew the syndicated daily comic strip Big Top from 2002 through 2007. A Big Top collection was published in 2005 by Andrews McMeel Publishing. He currently writes and draws the long-running daily strip Adam@Home, which appears in more than 140 papers worldwide. His all-ages graphic novel, Monster on the Hill, was released by Top Shelf Productions in 2013, to many rave reviews and accolades. Harrell is currently writing and illustrating a series of middle-grade books called Life of Zarf for Penguin Books.

STAPLE! Webcomics Panelists

Jeremy The Artist is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer, preferring the title of “Doodler Extraordinaire.” JTA currently works as host/web comic artist for the spectacular, infamous comic site My Talking Head, where he posts weekly web comics. He also moonlights as a caricaturist for local musical, artistic and special events throughout the year.

Monica Gallagher is an indie creator with over 10 years experience creating comics and illustrations with a positive, feminist spin. She has self-published several mini-comics and books, including the webcomics Bonnie N. Collide, Nine to Five, and Gods & Undergrads. Her first graphic novel, Glitter Kiss, written by Adrianne Ambrose, was published by Oni Press in late 2012 and was nominated for a YALSA award for Great Graphic Novel for Teens.

STAPLE! Indie Game Design Panelists

Moderator Scott Morris, aka “Tox” at CritsHappen.com, focuses on a balanced approach reviewing games from the designer board game industry. Taking a passionate approach to both big name publishers and crowd-funded designers, the focus is on quality, not quantity. Tox previews many Kickstarter projects for board game designers and publishers, and has consulted on several successful game design projects.

Stoic Studio, Creators of The Banner Saga

Alex Thomas immersed himself in the industry early and has done everything from 3D characters and environments, to 2D animation, illustration, screenplay writing, game design and cinematics for games including Star Wars: The Old Republic. His passion for character and environment design is reflected in the look, feel and physics of The Banner Saga.

Arnie Jorgensen began his career working on legendary comics such as Justice League for DC Comics. Eventually he became passionate about creating games, working on Star Wars: Galaxies and The Old Republic as lead concept artist. In his shift to focus on The Banner Saga, his art goes beyond concept and directly into the game.

John Watson has been programming since he was six years old. After doing some work on the Hubble Space Telescope at NASA, he decided to apply his vast abilities to the game industry, eventually bringing his superpowers as lead combat programmer on Star Wars: The Old Republic to Stoic.

Press Release:

Image Comics is pleased to announce the official Image booth signing schedule, panels, and exclusives that will be available at Emerald City Comic Con 2014 on March 28, 29, and 30. Several exciting Image creators including Kelly Sue DeConnick, Chip Zdarsky, Matt Fraction, Scott Snyder, Jason Aaron, and Greg Rucka will be signing at the Image booth (see full schedule below). Convention attendees interested in the indicated ticketed signings can come to the Image booth, #212, to collect their ticket, but arrive early as tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis!

For sale at the booth, in addition to award winning creator-owned Image titles, will be exclusive, numbered, art prints of WYTCHES, SOUTHERN BASTARDS, C.O.W.L., and SHUTTER for signings with Scott Snyder and Jock, Jason Aaron and Jason Latour, Kyle Higgins, and Joe Keatinge and Leila Del Duca. Each convention attendee will receive an exclusive THE WALKING DEAD #1 ECCC color variant—additional copies, as well as the B&W version, will be available to purchase at the Image booth.

Also exclusively for sale at the ECCC will be the hardcover edition of SEX CRIMINALS, VOL. 1—the critically-acclaimed series that has taken the comics world by storm and named best new series of the year by TIME magazine—available for $40 and an exclusive 18″ x 24″ print available for $25, at Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky’s tables, C-10 and C-11. Purchased together, hardcover and art print will be available for $60. The FIVE GHOSTS #10 ECCC variant will also be for sale at Ed Brisson’s table at X-04, and a THE FIELD #1 ECCC variant can be purchased at Frank Barbiere’s table, X-03.

Image Comics is also proud to host several panels this year at ECCC that you won’t want to miss. On Friday check out “Robert Kirkman’s Skybound: On the Rise” and “Image Comics Presents Comedy in Comics.” On Saturday join us for “Image Comics Presents Sex Criminals” and “Image Comics Presents Crime, Adventure, & Fantasy!” On Sunday we’ll explore a popular speculative fiction genre in “Image Comics Presents Building a Better Dystopia.”

IMAGE COMICS, BOOTH #212 SIGNING SCHEDULE:

Friday March 28
12 – 1 p.m. Eric Stephenson & Nate Bellegarde
1 – 2 p.m. Stuart Moore & Gus Storms
2 – 3 p.m. Brandon Graham & Simon Roy [TICKETED]
2 – 3 p.m. Joshua Williamson
3 – 4 p.m. Justin Greenwood & Antony Johnston
3 – 4 p.m. Jason Aaron & Jason Latour [TICKETED]
4 – 5 p.m. Kurtis Wiebe & Roc Upchurch
4 – 5 p.m. Kyle Higgins
5 – 6 p.m. Ken Kristensen
5 – 6 p.m. Joe Keatinge & Leila Del Duca

Saturday March 29
11 – 12 p.m. Jason Aaron & Jason Latour [TICKETED]
11 – 12 p.m. Joshua Williamson
12 – 1 p.m. Sina Grace
12 – 1 p.m. Greg Rucka
1 – 2 p.m. Stuart Moore & Gus Storms
1 – 2 p.m. Michel Gagne
2 – 3 p.m. Dave Stewart & Stefano Gaudiano
2 – 3 p.m. Brian Joines
3 – 4 p.m. Matteo Scalera
3 – 4 p.m. Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky [TICKETED]
4 – 5 p.m. Tim Seeley & Mike Norton
4 – 5 p.m. Frank Barbiere
5 – 6 p.m. Joe Harris

Sunday March 30
11 – 12 p.m. Ed Brisson & Johnnie Christmas
11 – 12 p.m. Greg Rucka
12 – 1 p.m. Joe Harris
12 – 1 p.m. Brandon Graham & Simon Roy [TICKETED]
1 – 2 p.m. Nick Pitarra
1 – 2 p.m. Kelly Sue DeConnick & Jordie Bellaire
2 – 3 p.m. Joshua Williamson
2 – 3 p.m. Scott Snyder & Jock
3 – 4 p.m. Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky [TICKETED]

IMAGE COMICS PANEL SCHEDULE:

Robert Kirkman’s Skybound: On the Rise
There’s no limit on what to expect from Skybound, Robert Kirkman’s imprint at Image Comics. The Walking Dead continues to dominate comics and television, Manifest Destiny is one of 2013′s breakout hits, and new series—like OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA—are on the horizon. Join Skybound’s best writers and artists as they discuss what’s in Skybound’s future.

Program date and time: Friday, March 28, 12:40 p.m. in Hall D (Room 602-603)

Panelists: Joshua Williamson (Ghosted), Paul Azaceta (Outcast), Joe Keatinge (Shutter) & special guests

Image Comics Presents Comedy in Comics
Sometimes the best comics are the funny ones, but getting jokes across in print while simultaneously telling an engaging story can be tough. Luckily, we have a panel of experts who can tell you their secrets, tips, and a few really good jokes.

Program date and time: Friday, March 28, 3:00 p.m. in Room TCC 301

Panelists: Rob Guillory (Chew), Kurtis Wiebe (Rat Queens), Roc Upchurch (Rat Queens), Matt Fraction (Sex Criminals), Chip Zdarsky (Sex Criminals), Jim Zub (Skullkickers), Brandon Graham (Prophet)

Image Comics Presents Sex Criminals
Sex Criminals debuted in 2013 and quickly became the book of the year. Now, a few months into 2014, the same looks to be true! Sit down with creators Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky and bare your soul, fetishes, and anecdotes with the Sex Criminals.

Program date and time: Saturday, March 29, 2:00 p.m. in Room 3AB

Panelists: Matt Fraction (Sex Criminals), Chip Zdarsky (Sex Criminals)

Image Comics Presents Crime, Adventure, & Fantasy!
Gunfights, heists, cowboys, hoodlums, magicians, adventurers, aliens, and more: are you not entertained? Image Comics’ varied publishing line has something for everybody. Settle in and listen to the experts discuss creating entertaining stories.

Program date and time: Saturday, March 29, 5:00 p.m. in TCC 301

Panelists: Kelly Sue DeConnick (Pretty Deadly), Jason Latour (Southern Bastards), Jason Aaron (Southern Bastards), Joe Keatinge (Shutter), Leila Del Duca (Shutter), Frank Barbiere (Five Ghosts), Joshua Williamson (Ghosted)

Image Comics Presents Building A Better Dystopia
No matter how good we have it, a future where we have nothing has its own thrill. These creators know their way around a dystopia, whether it’s due to mad science, economic factors, or nightmarish alternate dimensions.

Program date and time: Sunday, March 30, 3:00 p.m. in Room TCC 301

Panelists: Nick Pitarra (Manhattan Projects), Greg Rucka (Lazarus), Richard Starkings (Elephantmen), Simon Roy (Prophet), Ed Brisson (Sheltered), Johnnie Christmas (Sheltered), Joe Harris (Great Pacific)

Artist Chip Zdarsky signs at The Beguiling on Wednesday April 16th from 6:00 till 9:00 pm! With a special guest appearance by Tiffy Thompson, the real life Suzie!

The Beguiling
601 Markham Street, Toronto, ON M6G 2L7
Phone: 416-533-9168

Chip Zdarsky, the fantastic artist behind Sex Criminals appears at Big B Comics on Wednesday, June 18th from 11am-4pm!

Big B Comics
241 Essa Road, Barrie, ON, Canada
(705) 739-1513

Press Release:

Hero Initiative at San Diego Comic Con

With Overstreet exclusive and CGC Signings plus two great parties: Stone Brewing’s Hop-con and LA Times Hero Complex!

LOS ANGELES, CA (July 16, 2013) – The Hero Initiative, the charitable organization dedicated to helping veteran comic creators in medical or financial need, is travelling into Comic-Con International in San Diego July 23-27 at the San Diego Convention center. We have exclusives, parties and special guests throughout the weekend at booth #5003 that you will not want to miss!

It’s an anniversary for the Hero Initiative and The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide. This year marks the fifth consecutive year Gemstone Publishing and Hero have teamed up to raise money for comic creators in need. Harkening back to the character’s earliest appearances, Wolverine is featured with the Hulk and Wendigo on the cover for The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide #44 Hero Initiative Edition. Returning even further to Wolverine’s roots, the Hero-exclusive cover is illustrated by Herb Trimpe, who teamed with a pair of superstars, inker Tom Palmer and colorist Laura Martin, for the piece. Gemstone Publishing’s Creative Director Mark Huesman designed the logo and trade dress.

This exclusive, 500-copy, limited hardcover edition will go on sale at Comic-Con International: San Diego on Wednesday, July 23, at our booth. An extremely limited number of copies will be available from Hero’s website and through a select group of participating retailers. There will be no softcover edition of this version, and it will retail for $35.

We hope to see you to kick things off Wednesday night—if you already have your ticket for Hop-Con 2.0: The w00tstout Launch Festival! The great event put on by Stone Brewing Co. is sold out, and features an amazing exclusive w00tstout beer with label drawn by the legendary Dave Gibbons! Make sure and get your tickets early for NEXT year!

Fans who like to get their books signed and authenticated by CGC for Signature Series will definitely want to check out Hero’s exclusive signing with 17 top creators! Hero is the exclusive CGC Signature Series facilitator at the con for Amanda Conner, Chuck Dixon, Kevin Eastman, Dave Gibbons, Sina Grace, Brian Haberlin, Dan Jurgens, Andy Lanning, Ken Lashley, David Lloyd, Ron Marz, Danny Miki, Denny O’Neil, Jimmy Palmiotti, Louis Simonson, Walt Simonson and Chip Zdarsky!

Bring your books to the CGC booth, #901, NO later than Friday, July 25 at 5 p.m. Cost is $38 plus return shipping, and you don’t have to wait in lines!

And some great friends of Hero will be appearing at our booth, #5003, as well. Check out Ken Lashley on Thursday from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., and Dan Jurgens on Friday from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. and Denny O’Neil Friday from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

About The Hero Initiative

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book artists and craftsmen in need. Hero Initiative creates a financial safety net for yesterday’s creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.

Since its inception, The Hero Initiative has had the good fortune to grant over $500,000 to the comics veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today. For more information, visit www.HeroInitiative.org or call 626-676-6354.

Writer Jim Zub and cover artists Kalman Andrasofszky, Alina Urusov, Adam Warren, and Chip Zdarsky sign on Wednesday, August 27th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM (presentation at 7:00 PM) at Guu Sakabar. Free to attend (but you are encourage to buy a drink or some food). Bring Cash to buy stuff, rather than cards, please! Presented by The Beguiling.

RSVP on Facebook!

Guu SakaBar
559 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1Y6

Jim Zub and Chip Zdarsky appear at Third Eye Comics on Saturday, September 13th from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM to celebrate the launch of Wayward#1!

RSVP on Facebook!

Third Eye Comics
2027-A West Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 897-0322

Writer Matt Fraction and artist Chip Zdarsky, the Eisner award-winning team behind Time Magazine’s Graphic Novel of the Year, Image Comics’ SEX CRIMINALS, appear at Laughing Ogre Comics for a signing on Saturday October 25, 2014 from 3:30 – 6:30 PM! And be sure to check out Matt and Chip giving a speech at Columbus College of Art & Design on Thursday October 23rd from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm. See link for details.

RSVP on Facebook!

Laughing Ogre Comics
4258 N. High Street Columbus, OH 43214
(614) 267-6473

Ray Fawkes, Chip Zdarsky, and Jim Zub sign at The Beguiling on Wednesday, November 19th from 6:00 -8:00 PM!

Press Release:

The Beguiling is proud to announce that on Wednesday, November 19th, we will be hosting a signing featuring three great Toronto cartoonists being published by Image Comics, and in celebration of the brand new Intersect #1, written and illustrated by Ray Fawkes! Ray will be on hand for the event, and will be joined by his friends and colleagues Chip Zdarsky, artist of Sex Criminals, and Jim Zub, writer of Wayward and Skullkickers.

This will be an in-store event at The Beguiling, beginning at 6pm and going until roughly 8pm. Treats and giveaways for all those who attend!

RSVP on Facebook!

The Beguiling
601 Markham Street, Toronto, ON M6G 2L7
416-533-9168

Chip Zdarsky appears at The Beguiling on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at 6:00 PM!

Press Release:

Just in time for the holidays, Chip Zdarsky and The Beguiling Proudly/Ashamedly team to bring you a book launch for the item that will be on all sexy peoples’ wish lists: Just The Tips: A sexual guide by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky, authors of Sex Criminals.

What is ‘brimping’? Or ‘Dutch microwaving’? And what is sexy (hint: butt stuff)? All of these questions and many more will be answered in a beautiful little hardcover book for just $12.99. Probably a bunch of questions in there you never thought of, and answers you could’ve done without knowing.

RSVP on Facebook!

The Beguiling
601 Markham Street, Toronto, ON M6G 2L7
416-533-9168

Press Release:

Announcing the Toronto Comic Arts Festival 2015! Over 300 cartoonists from Canada and around the world are on their way to Toronto this May, to celebrate the very best in comics, graphic novels, bandes dessinées, and manga! A week-long Festival of readings, launches, and art events culminating in a massive, FREE two-day exhibition centered at Toronto Reference Library, May 10 and 11, 2015!

For more than a decade, The Toronto Comic Arts Festival has showcased the incredible comics art being made here in Canada, and invited the attention of the international cartooning community. The 2015 programme continues to build on those successes, with an increase in programming, and a renewed focus on Canadian cartoonists from coast to coast!

TCAF 2015 will welcome a remarkable array of authors! Highlights from the author guests include:

Charles Burns: Creator of Black Hole, considered to be one of the most important graphic novels in the Western canon, Burns will be at TCAF to celebrate his recently completed new graphic novel series X’ed Out (Pantheon Books). Burns will also illustrated one of the official posters of the 2015 Festival, to be revealed.

Eleanor Davis: An outstanding cartoonist and editorial illustrator (The New Yorker, New York Times), Davis’ recent graphic novel release How To Be Happy (Fantagraphics) was widely lauded as one of the best graphic novels of 2014, and TCAF is thrilled to welcome this her back to Toronto for the 2015 Festival.

Gurihiru: This dynamic cartooning duo (working under one pen name) hails from Tokyo, Japan, and is beloved in North America for their original graphic novels set in the universe of Avatar: The Last Airbender (Dark Horse). They have also created work for Marvel Comics, Disney, and an array of independent illustration work.

Lucy Knisley: A long-time supporter of the Festival, Knisley’s memoirs and travelogues are well-loved across the continent. Knisley attends as a Featured Guest in 2015, in support of her new travelogue/graphic novel Displacement (Fantagraphics).

Scott McCloud: Creator of the essential comics text Understanding Comics, TCAF will welcome McCloud back to Toronto in support of his acclaimed new graphic novel The Sculptor (First Second Books).

Barbara Stok: Hailing from The Netherlands, Stok has an impressive collection of graphic novels to her credit. TCAF is happy to welcome her as a Featured Guest of the Festival in 2015, in conjunction with her debut English-language graphic novel release Vincent (SelfMadeHero), an important and critically-praised biography of Vincent Van Gogh.

Jillian Tamaki: With her cousin Mariko Tamaki, Jillian Tamaki’s 2014 TCAF Debut This One Summer (Groundwood/First Second) took home a Governor General’s Award, a Caldecott Honor, and a Printz Honor. In 2015, Jillian Tamaki will release SuperMutantMagicAcademy (Drawn & Quarterly), her hilarious new graphic novel.

Chip Zdarsky: Hometown favourite and emerging international superstar Zdarsky (a.k.a. Steve Murray) is welcomed as a Featured Guest for 2015! Best-known for his ground-breaking comic series Sex Criminals (with writer Matt Fraction), spring 2015 will see the launch of his new series Kaptara (Image Comics) with fellow Toronto illustrator Kagan McLeod, and a relaunch of Marvel Comics’ Howard The Duck.

And these are just the first nine featured guests among the more than 300 Canadian and International cartoonists participating in the 2015 Festival.

Featured guests will continue to be announced through February and March, with special guests from France, Italy, Germany, Japan, and the U.S. and Canada still to be revealed!

TCAF 2015 will also feature several programming spotlights, including a special tribute to esteemed Canadian graphic novel published Drawn & Quarterly, on the occasion of their 25th Anniversary.

Additional Programs will be announced in February and March, including the CSSC-SCEBD Academic Conference, Library & Educator Day, Word Balloon Academy, Comics Vs. Games 4, Gallery Showings, Screenings, and much more. Visit TCAF online for up-to-the-minute updates:

Website: www.torontocomics.com
Twitter: @Torontocomics
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TorontoComics
Tumblr: torontocomics.tumblr.com

Writer/artist Chip Zdarsky (Sex Criminals, Prison Funnies) appears at Big B Comics on Wednesday March 18th from 2:00 till 7:00 PM to sign the first issue of Marvel’s HOWARD THE DUCK!

Big B Comics
6465 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls, ON L2G 1V4
289-296-2968

Writer/artist Chip Zdarsky (Sex Criminals, Prison Funnies) appears at Big Bang Comics on Monday April 9th at 6:00 PM to sign the first issue of Marvel’s HOWARD THE DUCK!

The Big Bang.
Pembroke District, Dundrum, Dublin Dublin 16

Event Details:

• Category: Comic Book Convention
• Location: Maine
• Date: Sunday, May 17th 2015
• City: Comic Book Convention in Portland
• Event: Maine Comics Arts Festival (MeCAF)
• Address: Portland Company, 58 Fore St.
• Country: United States
• Add to Google Calendar | Download iCal

Chip Zdarsky, writer of Marvel’s best-selling Howard the Duck, artist of the hit Sex Criminals, and one of the funniest men in comics, will be signing books and meeting his fans at Curious Comics in downtown Victoria on Sunday March 29, 2015 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM.

RSVP on Facebook!

Curious Comics
631 Johnson St, Victoria, BC V8W 1M7, Canada
250-384-1656

Press Release:

Orbital Comics is wildly excited to be hosting Applebee’s favourite son, Chip Zdarsky, for a very exclusive UK signing on Saturday, April 11, to celebrate his new HOWARD THE DUCK series, as well as the release of SEX CRIMINALS Volume 2. Chip will be engaging in signings & ‘stuff’ from 4-6pm, then doing a HOWARD THE DUCK Director’s Commentary after-hours from 7pm. The commentary will be ticketed, with tickets available free with a purchase – more details to follow. This is Chip’s first and only appearance in the United Kingdom, so don’t miss out!

RSVP on Facebook!

Orbital Comics
8 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA, United Kingdom
020 7240 0591

Press Release:

Image Comics is pleased to return to Seattle this year for Emerald City Comicon on Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29.

ECCC EXCLUSIVES SOLD AT THE IMAGE BOOTH (#312):

• LOW, VOL. 1 hardcover by Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini, $35
• THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #9 by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, $5 (also available at creator table #II-06)
• DESCENDER #1 by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen, $5 (also available at creator table #Y-05)

ECCC EXCLUSIVES SOLD AT CREATORS’ TABLES:

• SEX CRIMINALS, VOL. 2 hardcover by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky, $40 (Table #II-04)
• WAYWARD, VOL. 1 hardcover by Jim Zub and Steven Cummings, $30 (Table #HH-11)
• DESCENDER #1 by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen, $5 (#Y-05, also available at Image booth #312)
• INVISIBLE REPUBLIC #1 by Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Bechko, $10 (#HH-05)
• WAYWARD #6 variants by Jim Zub and Steven Cummings, starting at $5, blank sketch covers for $10 or $25 with sketch (Table #HH-11)
• THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #9 by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, $5 (also available at Image booth #312)

PANELS HOSTED BY IMAGE COMICS:

Friday 3/27, Image Comics Presents: ART!
3:30 – 4:20 PM, Hall D (TCC 302)

Image Comics is proud to publish some of the best and brightest artists in comics. Join Benjamin Dewey (TOOTH & CLAW), Jamie McKelvie (THE WICKED + THE DIVINE), Leila Del Duca (SHUTTER), Nick Dragotta (EAST OF WEST), Wes Craig (DEADLY CLASS), Dustin Nguyen (DESCENDER), and James Harren (RUMBLE) as they discuss creating, influences, learning, and finding your voice.

Saturday 3/28, Image Comics Presents: Your New Favorite Comics
11 – 11:50 AM, Hall C (TCC 301)

Creator-owned comics work because YOU support them. Frank Barbiere (FIVE GHOSTS), Matt Fraction (SEX CRIMINALS), Kieron Gillen (THE WICKED + THE DIVINE), Brandon Graham (PROPHET), Joshua Williamson (BIRTHRIGHT), Kurtis Wiebe (RAT QUEENS), Rick Remender (BLACK SCIENCE), and Greg Rucka (LAZARUS) create some of your favorite comics. How? Why? There’s only one way to find out.

Sunday 3/29, Image Comics Presents: Something For Everybody
2:30 – 3:20 PM, Hall D (TCC 302)

Whether you like crime, westerns, sci-fi, fantasy, or genre mash-ups, Ivan Brandon (DRIFTER), Kelly Sue DeConnick (BITCH PLANET), Jay Faerber (COPPERHEAD), Megan Levens (MADAME FRANKENSTEIN), Joe Keatinge (SHUTTER), Jeff Lemire (DESCENDER), Kurt Busiek (THE AUTUMNLANDS: TOOTH & CLAW), and Landry Walker (DANGER CLUB) know that genre is just a starting point for endless storytelling possibilities. Come pick their brains.

SIGNINGS HOSTED AT IMAGE COMICS BOOTH (#312):

FRIDAY, MARCH 27
12  – 12: 45 PM: Landry Walker

1 – 1:45 PM: Jeff Lemire & Dustin Nguyen
1 – 1:45 PM: Paul Maybury
1 – 1:45 PM: Matt Fraction

2 – 2:45 PM: Brian Joines
2 – 2:45 PM: Justin Jordan
2 – 2:45 PM: Ryan Ottley

3 – 3:45 PM: Steve Orlando
3 – 3:45 PM: Kyle Higgins
3 – 3:45 PM: Kelly Sue DeConnick

4 – 4:45 PM: Jacob Semahn
4 – 4:45 PM: Megan Levens
4 – 4:45 PM: Joshua Williamson

5 – 5:45 PM: Otis Frampton
5 – 5:45 PM: Ed Brisson & Johnnie Christmas
5 – 5:45 PM: Rick Remender & Matteo Scalera

SATURDAY, MARCH 28
11 – 11:45 AM: Michael Moreci
11 – 11:45 AM: Chris Burnham

12  – 12:45 PM: John Layman
12  – 12:45 PM: Greg Rucka
12  – 12:45 PM: Landry Walker

1 – 1:45 PM: Nick Dragotta & Tom Fowler
1 – 1:45 PM: Anthony Johnston & Justin Greenwood
1 – 1:45 PM: Ryan Ottley

2 – 2:45 PM: Frank Barbiere & Chris Mooneyham
2 – 2:45 PM: Matt Fraction
2 – 2:45 PM: Joe Eisma

3 – 3:45 PM: Joshua Williamson
3 – 3:45 PM: Rick Remender & Wes Craig

4 – 4:45 PM: Joe Keatinge & Leila del Duca
4 – 4:45 PM: Jay Faerber & Brian Joines

5 – 5:45 PM: Jeff Lemire & Dustin Nguyen
5 – 5:45 PM: Corinna Bechko & Gabriel Hardman

6 – 6:45 PM: Ken Kristensen
6 – 6:45 PM: Riley Rossmo

SUNDAY, MARCH 29
11 – 11:45 AM: Kelly Sue DeConnick
11 – 11:45 AM: Landry Walker
11 – 11:45 AM: Joe Keatinge & Leila del Duca

12  – 12:45 PM: Kurtis Wiebe & Tyler Jenkins
12  – 12:45 PM: Brandon Graham & Simon Roy

1 – 1:45 PM: Kurt Busiek & Benjamin Dewey
1 – 1:45 PM: Ivan Brandon
1 – 1:45 PM: Matt Fraction

2 – 2:45 PM: Tim Seeley
2 – 2:45 PM: Stuart Moore & Gus Storms

3 – 3:45 PM: Nick Pitarra

IMAGE CREATORS IN ARTIST ALLEY:
Barbiere, Frank O-09
Bechko, Corinna HH-05
Brandon, Ivan H-05
Brisson, Ed HH-07
Burnham, Chris T-01
Busiek, Kurt HH-02
Canete, Eric Q-12
Christmas, Johnnie P-06
Craig, Wes CC-06
DeConnick, Kelly Sue II-03
Del Duca, Leila DD-11
Dewey, Benjamin 1214
Dodson, Terry C-19
Dragotta, Nick O-06
Eisma, Joe HH-06
Faerber, Jay GG-02
Fawkes, Ray W-06
Fowler, Tom HH-04
Fraction, Matt II-04
Gillen, Kieron II-06
Glass, Bryan J.L. Z-01
Graham, Brandon DD-12
Greenwood, Justin G-14
Hardman, Gabriel HH-05
Harren, James O-07
Jenkins, Tyler P-07
Joines, Brian GG-02
Jordan, Justin Q-09
Keatinge, Joe DD-11
Layman, John GG-01
Lemire, Jeff Y-05
Lenox, Emi Y-06
Levens, Megan E-12
Maybury, Paul A-13
McKelvie, Jamie II-05
McNeil, Carla Speed F-14
Mooneyham, Chris O-08
Moore, Stuart P-11
Moreci, Michael HH-06
Nguyen, Dustin Y-04
Ottley, Ryan Q-08
Pitarra, Nick O-05
Remender, Rick CC-05
Robertson, Darick R-03
Rossmo, Riley O-05
Roy, Simon DD-12
Rucka, Greg F-09
Scalera, Matteo Q-10
Seifert, Brandon II-11
Stewart, Dave A-10
Templesmith, Ben W-07
Wiebe, Kurtis J. P-06
Williamson, Joshua U-09
Wilson, Matt II-07
Zub, Jim HH-11

Press Release:

THE BEGUILING is very proud to present the launch of KAPTARA #1, featuring our good pals Kagan McLeod (he draws it!) and Chip Zdarsky (he writes it!). KAPTARA is the new ongoing Image Comics series by Chip & Kagan, a sci-fi adventure that Chip calls “Like ‘Saga’ but Gay.” (paraphrasing).

Chip and Kagan will join us next-door to the shop at The Central, 603 Markham Street, where they will each have a quick drink, before signing your comics, and entertaining you with stories of its creation, probably!

Kaptara #1 is release to comic stores everywhere on Wednesday April 22nd, but you should probably buy it at The Beguiling Books & Art.

ABOUT KAPTARA:
“A space expedition goes horribly wrong because if it didn’t there would be no story! Reluctant explorer Keith Kanga and his crew crash land on KAPTARA, a world filled with danger and weird danger and dangerous weirdos! And if he can’t survive, then Earth, the place where YOU live, is doomed! Join CHIP ZDARSKY (Sex Criminals the Duck) and KAGAN McLEOD (Infinite Kung Fu) as they put the “fi” back into “sci-fi” and pretty much disregard the “sci” part in this epic story of punching and love!”

RSVP on Facebook!

The Central
603 Markham Street, Toronto, Ontario M6G 2L7
+1 416-913-4586