You don’t have to sit at home alone reading to get into comic books and graphic novels. There are always great events going on that celebrate the vitality and creativity of comics. Just here in Los Angeles, there are more events I can ever make. But I try, and so should you. You never know what you’ll discover.
Here are some local Los Angeles events coming up that celebrate the sequential art form.
This week:
Wednesday, November 17: NEW COMICS DAY! Find your local comics specialty shop.
Wednesday, November 17, 8:30 PM: The Meltdown (weekly comedy show) with stand-up comics David Koechner, Jen Kirkman, Nick Thune, TJ Miller, with videos by Kumail Nanjiani and Jonah Ray, at Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90046. Tickets: $8.
Wednesday, November 17, 9 PM: Top Cow Productions’ publisher Filip Sablik, president Matt Hawkins and writer Jeff Katz are guests for this week’s live podcast of Bagged & Boarded with Matt Cohen, at SModcastle, 6468 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles 90038. Tickets: $10.
Thursday, November 18, 7 PM: Kazu Kibuishi gives an author presentation on his new release Amulet Book Three: The Cloud Searchers, followed by a book signing, at the Glendale Central Library, 222 East Harvard Street, Glendale 91205. Tickets: $0.
Friday, November 19, 12 noon: Artists Tim Sale (The Amazon), Humberto Ramos (Amazing Spider-Man), Eric Canete (New Avengers: Luke Cage), Sean Galloway (Wednesday Comics), Francisco Herrera (Soulfire: New World Order), and other artists are official guests of the CTN Animation Expo, running throughout the weekend, at the Burbank Convention Center, 2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank 91505. This is more of an animation/cartoon-focused event, but plenty of comics artists work in both industries. Tickets: $70 (1-day)/$140 (3-day).
Saturday, November 20, 11 AM: Mark Waid (writer Kingdom Come, Captain America: Man Out of Time) signing for Free Comic Book Day II anniversary sale at Geoffrey’s Comics, 15900 Crenshaw Blvd., Suite B, Gardena 90250. Tickets: $0.
Saturday, November 20, 2 PM: Writer Michael Aushenker and artist Rafael Navarro (Gumby’s Gang Starring Pokey) of Cartoon Flophouse sign copies of their books, with special appearances by Gumby and Pokey, at Hi De Ho Comics, 1431 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica 90401. Great event for kids! Tickets: $0.
Saturday, November 20, 7 PM: Brian Chippendale and C.F. appear for slideshows and book signings in support of their respective new books If ‘n Oof and Powr Mastrs 3 at Family, 436 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles 90036. Tickets: $0.
Saturday, November 20, 8 PM: Moebius (aka Jean Giraud; renounced French writer/artist Blueberry, The Incal) makes a rare US appearance for a moderated 75-minute discussion and Q&A with artwork examples, as part of the CTN Animation Expo at CTN-X Animation Theater, Burbank Convention Center, 2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank 91505. Tickets: $75.
The future:
Saturday, December 4, 2 PM: Writer Michael Aushenker and artist Rafael Navarro (Gumby’s Gang Starring Pokey) of Cartoon Flophouse sign copies of their books, with special appearances by Gumby and Pokey, at Hi De Ho Comics, 350 Broadway Street, Laguna Beach 92651. Great event for kids! Tickets: $0.
Friday, December 10, 7 PM: Trivia Meltdown 2 – Teams of five can compete in a variety 0f geek-centric categories (Music, TV, Film and Comic Books) in a city-wide tournament, plus enjoy live music, comedy, food trucks and free beer, at Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90046. Tickets: $5 to watch / $12 for individual contestant / $50 for 5-personal team.
Saturday & Sunday, December 11 & 12, 10 AM – 6 PM: Scott McCloud (writer/artist Understanding Comics, Making Comics) presents a 2-day hands-on workshop and visual lecture on the art of making comics at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, 16926 Saticoy Street, Van Nuys 91406. Admission: $450.
Sunday, December 12, 10 AM: Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Center, 700 West 32nd Street, Los Angeles. Tickets: $8 / $0 for kids 5 and under.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011: Stan Lee (co-creator of Spider-Man, et al.) will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. More details to come. Tickets: $0.
Have an upcoming comics-related event in the LA area? Know of one? Email me.
