Category Archives: mini-comics

The Conspiracy at The Minnesota Center For Book Arts 25th Annivesary Event this Saturday June 26th

event, Events, mini-comics, Minneapolis, mn, Opportunities, St. Paul

Tomorrow from 1PM to 4PM, the Conspiracy will be collaborating with kids to make mini-comics and drawing caricatures on request as part of the Minnesota Center for Book Arts 25th Anniversary event. Cartoonists, feel free to just show up (ideally around 12:50) and participate. We’ll be in the Bindery.

The Minnesota Center for Book Arts has been a wonderful collaborator to the Twin Cities Conspiracy for a number of  years, donating our monthly open studio space, hosting our 24 hour comic days, and inviting us to participate in gallery shows in their space. They are a wonderful organization, and we feel very lucky to have them for friends.

More info here.

1-4pm: Make your own mini-comic with artists from the International Cartoonist Conspiracy, and get a personalized caricature! (for tweens and teens)

little funny series II: Deadline July 22nd

anthologies, deadlines, event, Events, gallery show, little funny, Lutefisk Sushi, mini-comics, Minneapolis, mn, Opportunities, Projects, St. Paul

little funny series II is intended as a prominent “sideshow” to the Lutefisk Sushi Volume D project. little funny is a series of mini-comics sold in an old cigarette vending machine at Altered Esthetics. The first series was compiled in conjunction with the BIG FUNNY show in 2009, and it is almost sold out… it is time to restock the machine.

No entries will be rejected provided they follow the specs (these comics need to be a specific size to fit inside the boxes in the vending machine). You do not have to be a Minnesota artist to participate.

You can view pictures of little funny series I here.

You can see what the vending machine looks like here.

Additionally, we have a limited number of vending slots available for people who would like to vend a non-little funny comics project from the machine. All projects will need to fit in a 3” x 2” x 1” box. Email tonytudisco (at) alteredesthetics.org for more information on this opportunity.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

  1. Email us at webmaster (at) cartoonistconspiracy.com for an issue number. little funny is an ongoing numbered series. Make sure to put your number on your comic. If you choose to do multiple issues, you’ll need a number for each different issue.
  2. Draw your comic. Make sure to sign your work and include your contact info on it.
  3. Make 50 or more copies of your comic. The only requirements for the comic are that it fit in the 3” x 2” x 1” box, and that it have the title little funny and the issue number on the cover. You can get the little funny logo here, if you are inclined to use it. A template is available, but is not required. One double-sided copy of the template makes three copies of a 10-page accordion style micro-comic with two covers (or, alternately, 3 different issues).
  4. We request a minimum of 50 copies of each comic submitted. More is great and much appreciated. You can send us as many as you wish. Drop off or mail your copies here:ALTERED ESTHETICS
    1224 Quincy St NE
    Minneapolis, MN 55413

    In addition to the comics please include your name, address, phone number and email address.


DEADLINE FOR PARTICIPATION IS JULY 22nd.

THINGS TO NOTE:

  • Each participant will receive one vending box of minis… how many minis are included in a box will depend on our level of participation. No box will contain all of the minis. Each participant will be responsible for picking up their box some time during the month of the show, or for making special arrangements if they can not attend.
  • Participants names will also appear on the Lutefisk Sushi Volume D website as being a part of the little funny show.
  • These comics can be by a single artist or be collaborative.
  • You can do as many issues as you wish… if you want to do more than one, just ask us for another number.
  • Comics may be color, or black and white, or on colored paper, or decorated with glitter glue, or painted or whatever the hell you want to do as long as they fit in the box.
  • Two complete sets of all the comics will be kept for the Conspiracy archives.
  • All proceeds from the comics will go to support the gallery, Altered Esthetics, which is a non-profit, community and artist centered gallery. You can read more about AE here.
  • Submissions will not be returned.

Local Comics Week UPDATE AND CHANGES!

artists, Cartooning Projects, cartoonist conspiracy, comics, Conspirators, event, mini-comics, Minneapolis, mn, Opportunities, St. Paul

text

Local Comics Week is a chance to show off local and independent talent.
Other cities besides Minneapolis have organized their own events
nationwide, and have even joined forces to create Indy Comic Week
(http://www.indycomicbookweek.com/index.html) which is aiming to do what we
have all set out to do with our event.

Our event is changing a bit. The Source Comics and Games in Roseville, MN
(http://www.sourcecandg.com/) is participating in Indy Comics Week and
after a few discussions with Nick, the organizer of their event, we have
decided to join forces and allow our event to be folded into Indy Comics
Week.

What does this mean? Quite a lot, actually.

Big Brain Comics is stepping out of the event, and our comics will now be
sold at the Source. Nick is also preparing for a signing event for
participating artists.

So, here is what you need to know:

-I will no longer be collecting the comics that you would like to submit
for the event. Instead, any material (mini comics, zines, trade
paperbacks, graphic novels) must be brought to the Source between December
21 and December 26th. Mind they will likely have shorter hours on
Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas. The nice thing is that the Source
WANTS to purchase your hard worked creations. How much they will purchase
items for, quantity, etc is up to the Source.

Remember, what you bring to the Source does NOT need to be new material!

-The material will be put out on the racks on Sunday December 27th and will
remain there until January 2nd.

-Wednesday, December 30th is the BIG event. The Source will be hosting a
signing for indy cartoonists. Space IS limited. In order to be a guest at
the signing, you MUST email Nick at the Source
http://www.sourcecomicsandgames.com/?page_id=10 with “Attention Nick/Indy
Comis Week in the first line of ‘your message’ to request a spot. The
signing will be 4pm until 8pm.

-You DO NOT have to provide anything to the Source to sell in order to be a
guest at the signing.

-You DO NOT have to be a guest at the Source in order to sell them your
comics.

That’s about it. If there is anything you want to know, please email me (bob(at)uptowngirlcomic.com)

Announcing….LOCAL COMICS WEEK!

cartoonist conspiracy, comics, Conspirators, Local Hero Kevin Cannon, mini-comics, Minneapolis

textDecember 27th – January 2nd will be….LOCAL COMICS WEEK!
Diamond Distribution, the biggest (and pretty much only) comics distributor will be taking a long winter’s nap that week and will not be shipping new comics…leaving comic fans without their weekly fix.
But not to worry, because as with a lot of comics, there are heroes to count on!  Those heroes,  ladies and gentlemen, are  US!
We will create and sell our own comics and provide the city with comic books and save the planet once and for all! 
Here’s the plan:  Big Brain Comics has generously allowed the Conspiracy to take over their New Release racks for the week.  Customers who are looking for their weekly comics will be introduced to the world of  local comics.

Here’s the info: If you want to participate, have 20 copies of a mini comic printed by DECEMBER 3RD.  You can bring your comics to the jam that month or you can arrange to have them mailed to me by contacting me at  bob (at) uptowngirlcomic.com. The mini comic should have a cover price of $3.   Consignment details are still being worked out. 

The comics will be delivered to Big Brain on December 28th
and will go on sale the next day on December 30th (new comic day!)
The comics will be on sale until January 5th.   Any money made will be able to be picked up January’s jam on the 7th. 
 
If you want to participate, please contact me by NOVEMBER 15th. 

Thanks to Kevin Cannon for creating the logo for the event!

Vote For Who Should Be the Featured Artist in Lutefisk Sushi Volume D

anthologies, event, Events, mini-comics, Minneapolis, mn, Projects, St. Paul

PLEASE ONLY VOTE IN THIS POLL IF YOU ARE A MINNESOTA CARTOONIST AND YOU INTEND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LUTEFISK SUSHI VOLUME D PROJECT!

GO HERE TO VOTE

We are in the very early planning stages for the Minnesota Conspiracy’s Lutefisk Sushi Volume D project, which will be opening next Summer at Altered Esthetics gallery.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with our three previous Lutefisk Sushi shows (A B C), they have featured the work of any Minnesota cartoonists who choose to participate (we had 50 last time). The shows are focused around a limited-edition, hand-silkscreened box stuffed full of mini-comics by Minnesota artists.

Each Sushi show has also had a featured artist. We want to figure out who this will be for next year pretty quick so we can feature their work on next year’s Altered Esthetics calendar.

This poll will determine next year’s featured artist. All nominees have been suggested by people intending to participate in the Lutefisk D show … and all have been contacted & expressed willingness to participate (note: if you don’t see your suggested nominee on here, they declined).

Check out the websites of our nominees:

Jesse Gillespie
Danno Klonowski
Bob Lipski
Britt Sabo
Tim Sievert
Mike Toft

PLEASE ONLY VOTE IN THIS POLL IF YOU ARE A MINNESOTA CARTOONIST AND YOU INTEND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LUTEFISK SUSHI VOLUME D PROJECT!

THIS POLL EXPIRES SOME TIME ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER FIRST.

Can’t afford BIG FUNNY? Well, how about some little funny?

anthologies, BIG FUNNY, event, Events, gallery show, little funny, mini-comics, Minneapolis, mn, Projects, show, St. Paul

I just put up a gallery of photos of all the issues in the little funny sideshow, which you can see here.

little funny is an ongoing series of mini-comics boxed and sold out of an old cigarette vending machine.

The little funny set 1 box sets each contain 6 accordion-style mini-comics.

The 6 comics in a set 1 box are randomly selected from the 29 issues in the first set.

Boxes sell for $2 each.

They are only sold out of a vending machine currently housed at Altered Esthetics gallery.

They will make their premiere at the BIG FUNNY show opening this Friday, August 7th, 2009.

Participate in little funny: a BIG FUNNY Sideshow

anthologies, BIG FUNNY, Cartooning Projects, event, Events, gallery show, little funny, mini-comics, Opportunities, Projects
little funny

little funny is intended as a prominent “sideshow” to the upcoming BIG FUNNY project. little funny will be a series of mini-comics sold in an old cigarette vending machine at Altered Esthetics during the month of the BIG FUNNY show. No entries will be rejected provided they follow the specs (these comics need to be a specific size to fit inside the boxes in the vending machine).

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

  1. DOWNLOAD THE TEMPLATE. The template includes a little funny logo on the front and back covers. One double-sided copy makes three copies of a 10-page accordion style micro-comic (or, alternately, 3 different issues).
  2. Email us at webmaster (at) cartoonistconspiracy.com for an issue number. little funny will be a numbered series. Make sure to put your number on your comic. If you choose to do multiple issues, you’ll need a number for each different issue.
  3. Draw your comic. Make sure to sign your work and include your contact info on it if you want to.
  4. Make copies of it. Copy, fold and staple them.
  5. We request a minimum of 18 copies of each comic submitted (which is 6 double sided xeroxes). More is great, and you can send us as many as you wish. Mail your copies to:ALTERED ESTHETICS
    1224 Quincy St NE
    Minneapolis, MN 55413

    In addition to the comics please include your name, address, phone number and email address.

DEADLINE FOR PARTICIPATION IS JULY 20th.

THINGS TO NOTE:

  • Each participant will receive one vending box of minis… how many minis are included in a box will depend on our level of participation. No box will contain all of the minis. Each participant will be responsible for picking up their box some time during the month of the show, or for making special arrangements if they can not attend.
  • Participants names will also appear on the BIG FUNNY website as being a part of the little funny show.
  • These comics can be by a single artist or be collaborative.
  • You can do as many issues as you wish… if you want to do more than one, just ask us for another number.
  • Comics may be color, or black and white, or on colored paper, or decorated with glitter glue, or painted or whatever the hell you want to do as long as you stick with the basic template.
  • Two sets of all the comics will be kept for the Conspiracy archives.
  • All proceeds from the comics will go to support the gallery, Altered Esthetics, which is a non-profit, community and artist centered gallery. You can read more about AE here.
  • Submissions will not be returned.

Submit Your Minis to the 2008 Isotope Award for Excellence in Mini-Comics

awards, mini-comics, Opportunities

PRESS RELEASE
Submissions Open for the 2008 Isotope Award for Excellence in Mini-Comics

SAN FRANCISCO (September 10th, 2008) San Francisco comics retailer James Sime, proprietor of Isotope – the comic book lounge, announced today that submissions for the 2008 Isotope Award for Excellence in Mini-Comics will be accepted until October 24th at midnight. “There is honestly nothing that makes me happier each year than to get the opportunity to help spotlight a creator who is toiling in the underground making something wonderful,” said Sime, “And I know that many of you out there are hand-crafting some mini-comics brilliance, let us help share that work with the world!”

The Isotope Award for Excellence in Mini-Comics has been the first step in launching the careers of previous award-winners including Eisner-nominated Josh Cotter (SKYSCRAPERS OF THE MIDWEST) and Danica Novgorodoff (SLOW STORM), as well as, Daniel Merlin Goodbrey (THE LAST SANE COWBOY), Rob Osborne (1000 STEPS TO WORLD DOMINATION), and Max Riffner (QUICK STEP).

The five judges for the Isotope Award represent various aspects of the comic industry including creators, retailers, and press. This year’s judges are:

Josh Cotter – 2004 winner of the Isotope Award for his mini-comic, SKYSCRAPERS OF THE MIDWEST. This Eisner-nominated series has recently been collected in a beautiful hardcover edition by AdHouse Books.

Jason McNamara – Xeric award winning author of FIRST MOON, CONTINUITY, and the recently-released THE MARTIAN CONFEDERACY.

Johanna Draper Carlson – Publishers Weekly writer, and the brilliant mind behind Comics Worth Reading. Johanna’s open-minded reviews and enthusiastic reporting set the bar for commentary throughout the industry.

Kirsten Baldock – The Isotope’s Special Projects Director. Kirsten is also a librarian, bartender, and the author of the SMOKE AND GUNS graphic novel.

James Sime – Proprietor of Isotope – the comic book lounge in San Francisco.

To enter this competition, send five copies of your mini-comic to Isotope’s address (326 Fell St. San Francisco, CA 94102) before October 24th deadline. The award will be given out at the grand ceremony during APE AFTERMATH at the Isotope in conjunction with San Francisco’s ALTERNATIVE PRESS EXPO. Because of the nature of this award, the winner will be contacted in advance and must be present at the Isotope at 9 PM on Saturday, November 1st for the award presentation ceremony.

For more information contact the Isotope at (415) 621-6543 or at isotopeaward at gmail.com

Above info copied from here.

Lutefisk Sushi for Sale Online

Lutefisk Sushi, mini-comics, Minneapolis, mn, Projects, St. Paul

I’m happy to report that we now have Lutefisk Sushi Bento Boxes volumes B and C available for sale online here (or by clicking the below picture). The Lutefisk Sushi boxes feature an enormous quantity of mini-comics by Minnesota cartoonists… around 40 minis in Volume B and around 50 minis in Volume C. You can buy them online for thirty bucks each, which is one hell of a deal.

Both boxes were limited to 150 copies, and both are getting close to being sold out, so if you want one, order soon. They can never be reprinted, so when they are gone, they are gone for good. All profits from the Sushi boxes go to support Altered Esthetics, a wonderful non-profit Minneapolis gallery that we collaborate with.

Note that in addition to the Sushi boxes, you can buy our 2006 and 2007 collections of 24 Hour Comic mini-comics for $10 each.