Imagine you’re in an artist alley at a large convention. Now take all of the self-published creators making comics that don’t look like anything else being sold on the con floor. This is the fringe. This is CAKE.
FCBD at Challengers Comics + Conversation
Challengers Comics + Conversation is known for its family friendly atmosphere and creator signings year-round, so FCBD is like a normal Saturday for the store in many respects. That is except for the free comics, cosplayers, and non-stop stream of people coming through the door from open to close. Owners Pat Brower and W. Dal Bush…
Top 10 Tearjerker Comics
If you’ve never sobbed into the pages of a newly purchased comic, give it time; you probably just haven’t been reading them for long enough. In the immortal words of Jack Kirby, “comics will break your heart.” Here are ten books that will put you on the road to heartache… Note: We have avoided spoilers…
Noelle Stevenson Signing at Challengers Comics
Lumberjanes, the highly anticipated new mini series from Boom! Studios, made its debut this past Wednesday. Co-writer Noelle Stevenson stopped by Challengers Comics + Conversation in Chicago, IL for a flannel filled signing. On our way to Challengers for the Noelle Stevenson signing, I began to suspiciously eye each person on the bus wearing flannel….
Kickstarter of the Week: Girls Night Out
If you are not already familiar with Amy Chu, she needs to be on your radar of up and coming comic book creators. Chu is a regular on self-publishing panels at cons and it is easy to see why. In two and a half years, she has self published four comics, contributed to several anthologies,…
Nerd Wedding Roundtable
The decline of marriage has been a hot topic in media lately, but one area of matrimony that is on the rise: nerd weddings. As more folks marry for love and mutual interests (historically, reasons lower on the list of marriage requirements), new traditions are being forged along the way.
Comic Shops and Safe Spaces: Why Retailers Are The Real Gatekeepers
Noelle Stevenson’s recent comic about her decision to stop shopping at brick and mortar comic stores has garnered many different reactions from fans. Exasperation that these negative experiences still happen, empathy from those with limited retail choices, and of course those eager to point out that their girlfriend / sister / wives had never been treated…
Black Widow Tops Amazon’s Best Seller List
Marvel’s recent announcement to move forward with a Black Widow solo film has spurred interest in the character’s comic book history as fans speculate about what story will be adapted for the big screen.
JKR Regrets Ron/Hermione: The Roundtable
On Sunday, J.K. Rowling “admitted” that she married off the wrong characters in her still monstrously popular Harry Potter series. Ron/Hermione, she said, was wish fulfillment and literary bad form. Alas, alas, it was cliche. Instead, she should have changed direction mid-series, and hooked up Harry and Hermione instead. Our writers had a few things…
Strumpet Issue 3: A Matter Of Taste
Strumpet, Issue 3 Edited by Ellen Lindner and Kripa Joshi Cover Art by Kripa Joshi The transatlantic anthology Strumpet, a black and white comic featuring all women creators, sees its third volume take on the topic of taste. So what is the verdict? We’d be going back for seconds if we weren’t so full! Plenty of…
New Year’s Resolutions And Other Promises From WWAC
Indeed much like the cyclical nature of comic book storytelling, tradition trumps necessity as we reflect on the past year and undertake the dubious task of creating New Year’s resolutions. Gym memberships have lapsed about as many times as Earth’s Green Lanterns, manuscripts have been started and left unfinished like the many deaths of Jean…
Top Ten Holiday Movies
Ok, we lied. We’re counting down our Top 12 Holiday Movies, because we couldn’t stop at just ten. So you’ve unwrapped your gifts, had your breakfast of cookies and ‘nog, and now you’re settling in for the time-honoured tradition of avoiding your family until turkey. Have we got some distractions for you! 12. Hogfather It’s Hogswatchnight, when…