Category Archives: St. Paul

City Pages Annual Comix Issue: CALL FOR ENTRIES!

Minneapolis, St. Paul

From the Big Time Attic blog:


It’s that time of year again: City Pages is gearing up for its third annual City Pages Comix Issue and is looking for submissions. City Pages has a readership of over 50,000 discerning eyes, and is thus a great showcase for any cartoonist. And even if your cartoon isn’t picked for the print edition, it will be published online. Don’t forget, last year the Comix Issue won a prestigious AltWeekly Award!

Please read all of following information very carefully (a few things have changed since last year):

From Nick Vlcek, City Pages Art Editor:

This year’s theme: “MINNESOTA NICE”

Deadline is Wednesday, August 5th. That’s when we’ll close the space and figure out what we have to run. If there’s any changes that need to be made or if a work is not finished, we have one more week, but we’re not any more slots past the 5th.

What we learned from last time:

There is a finite amount of space for the print edition. DO NOT FEEL LIKE YOU WERE PASSED OVER BECAUSE YOUR STUFF DIDN’T MAKE IT IN TO PRINT. We’ll put everything we get up online.

Regarding above, everyone should work in a horizontal, quarter page size:

9.75″ wide by 2.5″ tall

[ Click to download a Photoshop template ]

If you want/need to do something larger, contact me first, otherwise don’t necessarily expect it will run in print! (half page is 9.75″ wide by 5.4″ tall; full page is 9.75″ wide by 11.25″ tall).

Black and white JPEGS, 300dpi actual size, or larger (fit to scale).

All email should be addressed to:

nvlcek [at] citypages.com

Subject should read: CP Comics Issue

Every email needs to have the title of the piece and the credit (how you’d like your name to appear in print). We will also need a W-9 (click to download) filled out and attached to the email with your real name and address if you want to be paid. Those who sent in a W-9 last year and got paid will not have to send one if their address hasn’t changed.

Payments are $25 to all, another $25 if your panel makes it into print. That is the same rate no matter what size it ends up being.

Thanks for all!

Cartoonist Conspiracy @ The Loring Corners Bazaar (6/27 + 6/28)

event, Minneapolis, St. Paul

The Cartoonist Conspiracy Cells of the Twin Cities are getting in on the ground floor of something that could be potentially great! With Pride Weekend in full swing in the Twin Cities, three lone Conspirators Bud Burgy, Ryan Dow, and Daniel Olson learned of an opportunity to push comic materials to the mostly non-comic reading public! How? A bazaar in the Historic Loring Corners community!

Plans are still in their infancy, but with the proper nurturing, this thing could really take off! From what we understand, the bazaar will have various vendors crafting curious things (fashionable wears, paintings, framed album covers, comics, etc.) and associating with the general public. The bazaar is slated to be open during the Basilica Block Party and Loring Art Festival this year too! If all goes as planned and it becomes a success, more weekends could be added!

So, why am I telling you? Well, you should show up! You should say hello! Bud, Ryan, and Daniel may be bored to tears or could quite possibly having the time of their lives! Either way, we need your support! Plus, if you have any books that you’d like us to push for you contact us and we will make arangements for either this event or others in the future!

St. Paul Cartoonist Conspiracy Jam! This Thursday, June 18th, 2009!

jam, St. Paul

Join the St. Paul Cartoonist Conspiracy Cell and create a jam comic! It’s easy and fun! Just bring some drawing utensils, an idea for the jam, and a few bucks to get a tasty beverage — the baristas really do appreciate that.

The jam will start promptly at 6:30 and run until…whenever.

The meetings are open to anyone who wants to draw with us, and the results are posted here sooner rather than later.

To join us come to:
Cosmic’s Coffee Shoppe
189 Snelling Ave N.
St. Paul, MN 55104
(Northwest corner of Snelling and Selby)

More not than often we head on over to grab a brew at:
O’Gara’s Bar and Grill
164 Snelling Ave N
St. Paul, MN 55104
(Southeast corner of Snelling and Selby)

Bus info here.

Hope to see you there!

Yearbooks – A 2D Cloud Book Launch!

Events, Minneapolis, St. Paul

Yearbooks – A 2D Cloud Book Launch | Sunday, June 21 | 8 PM | ARISE! Books | Minneapolis, MN

What are you doing this coming Sunday? Spending time with dad? Well, after you’ve said your hellos and ate enough potato salad, stop on by Arise! Books @ 2441 Lyndale Ave. S. Minneapolis around 8 PM. 2D Cloud will be having book launch for Yearbooks — a full colour comic book, which also is a part of ARISE! books Summer Series. Best of all, it’s a free event! Afterwards, sometime around duskish I imagine, there will be a showing of Frank Henelotter’s film ‘Basket Case.’ Hope to see you there!

St. Paul Cartoonist Conspiracy Jams – April and May 2009

Jam Comics, St. Paul

I failed to scan in last month’s St. Paul Cartoonist Conspiracy Jam in a timely manner, so you will get double your pleasure this month! Beware that each jam is a PDF that weighs in at a respectable 4 MB. The theme for the April 2009 jam was “The Fury of Facebook and Lost in the Wilderness.” May’s jam is entitled “Wolverine On Ice and Off Broadway Batman: The Superheroes Take to the Stage.”

Enjoy!

JAM THIS THURSDAY IN MINNEAPOLIS

event, Events, jam, Jam Comics, Minneapolis, mn, St. Paul

This month we are not beholden to a particular theme since the Altered Esthetics theme of the month is RESIDENT ARTISTS. 

So, basically we have to do the best work we can. 

Or we can use the ultra-classy idea Kriske came up for when describing the cosplayers at the recent Microcon:   “UNDERGROUND F**K SOCIETY OF SUPER NERDS”

The Minneapolis Cartoonist Conspiracy meets at 6:30 until 10:00 the first Thursday of every month at Diamond’s Coffee Shoppe in Northeast.

Generally, we draw collaborative “jam” comics, socialize and drink caffeinated beverages. Afterwords, we often have uncaffeinated beverages somewhere else.

The meetings are open to anyone who wants to draw with us, and the results are posted here sooner or later (and sometimes even printed).

Diamond’s Coffee Shoppe
1618 Central Avenue Northeast
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Bus info here.

Please spend some money at Diamond’s while you’re there, even if it is just a cuppa coffee… they are excellent hosts, and we wanna stay welcome there.

Big Time Attic

Big Time Attic hosts our monthly jam meetings at Diamond’s… they will be supplying us with a big old plate of pastries or something. Thanks fellas!

MICROCON This Sunday!!! (April 26th) Have a Blast and Help Len Wein!

conventions, event, Events, Microcon, Midwest Comic Book Association, Minneapolis, mn, show, St. Paul

MICROCON is this Sunday! Our good friends at the Midwest Comic Book Association always put on a great show, and are wonderful hosts to creators… as is true every year, you won’t want to miss it! Read more about MICROCON here.

Here is a banner you can put on your website or social networking page to help promote the event… and remember to tell your friends!

MCBA MICROCON COMIC BOOK PARTY
SUNDAY APRIL 26, 2009 – 10AM TO 4PM

THE PROGRESS CENTER – ON THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIRGROUNDS!

1621 Randall Avenue – Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108

One of the oldest and by far, coolest buildings on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds!

Directions: Enter the Fairgrounds via the Snelling entrance (Eastside) go straight for two blocks and make a right (North) and proceed to the Progress Center.

Parking: Free Parking abounds! Just make sure to pay attention to the street signs!
Handicapped parking is available!

Hello Everyone,

The 2009 MicroCon Comic Book Party is this Sunday!

The staff and the volunteers of the Midwest Comic Book Association are happy to announce all systems are go for this weekends MCBA Comic Book Party! Things are looking great and you’ll be happy to know that there have been some very cool last minute Guest Creator additions (like Mike Grell – www.mikegrell.com), a few dealer changes and the number of prizes and surprises continues to grow!

While at MicroCon, please make sure that you get entered into this years MicroCon Prize Drawings! We’ve had some terrific prize donations!It’s free and you need not be present to win. Also, keep in mind that the first 500 attendess get a free MCBA Grab bag!

You, your family & friends are invited to join us, our family & friends at the MicroCon Comic Book Party! It’s going to be a blast!

Finally, we’ve update some of the information listed below. We hope you get a chance to look it over!

Thanks for your time and we look forward to seeing you this weekend!

The MCBA Comic Book Geek Squad – The “Original” Geek Squad!

PS. We received a last minute appeal to come to the aid of a comic book industry legend. (Please see immediately below). Let’s step up and show him what we can do!

A PLEA FOR HELP – AN INDUSTRY LEGEND NEEDS US!
WeinAs many of you already know, the home of comics creator Len Wein (Swamp Thing, X-Men, etc.) was destroyed in a fire on April 6th, 2009. He, his wife Chris, and his son Michael were unharmed, but their beloved dog Sheba and Len’s extensive comics collection both perished.

There is now an effort to restore Len’s comics collection, particularly the books he worked on. If you’ve ever gotten pleasure From reading his books, or if you simply have some of these titles in your collection, please consider donating them to this cause. Insurance covers many things, but the comics weren’t under that umbrella.

Here’s how you can help:
* Please check the .pdf document listed below.
* Search your comics collection for items you can contribute.
* E-mail comix4len@povonline.com with the items you intend to donate
(so they can update the list).
* Bring them to the MCBA Spring Show, and hand them to either Christopher Jones or Melissa Kaercher. They will both have table space at the show.
* We will take it from there!

Other things you want to know:
Mark Evanier (POVOnline) is coordinating the effort. Please check this page on his site for updates: http://www.povonline.com/weinproject.htm

The .pdf document of comics can be found on that page, but this is the direct link. It will be updated frequently: http://www.povonline.com/Len%20Wein%20checklist.pdf

If you have questions, you can contact any of the following people:
Melissa Kaercher chebutykin at visi.com Christopher Jones christopherjonesart at gmail.com
Mark Evanier comix4len at povonline.com

We thank you for your help! Melissa Kaercher & Christopher Jones

St. Paul Cartoonist Conspiracy Jam! This Thursday, April 16th, 2009!

Jam Comics, Minneapolis, St. Paul

Join the St. Paul Cartoonist Conspiracy Cell and create a jam comic! It’s easy and fun! Just bring some drawing utensils, an idea for the jam, and a few bucks to get a tasty beverage — the baristas really do appreciate that.

The jam will start promptly at 6:30 and run until…whenever.

The meetings are open to anyone who wants to draw with us, and the results are posted here sooner rather than later.

To join us come to:
Cosmic’s Coffee Shoppe
189 Snelling Ave N.
St. Paul, MN 55104
(Northwest corner of Snelling and Selby)

More not than often we head on over to grab a brew at:
O’Gara’s Bar and Grill
164 Snelling Ave N
St. Paul, MN 55104
(Southeast corner of Snelling and Selby)

Bus info here.

Any questions? Ideas for the jam? Please discuss on our message board.

We hope to see you!

MICROCON 2009 Coming Up Fast (April 26th)

conventions, event, Events, Microcon, Midwest Comic Book Association, Minneapolis, mn, show, St. Paul

MICROCON is coming up very soon. Our good friends at the Midwest Comic Book Association always put on a great show, and are wonderful hosts to creators… as is true every year, you won’t want to miss it! Read more about MICROCON here.

Here is a banner you can put on your website or social networking page to help promote the event… and remember to tell your friends!

Hello Everyone,

It’s hard to believe that the 2009 MicroCon Comic Book Party is just a few weeks away!

During our never ending Winter, the staff and volunteers of the Midwest Comic Book Association, an all volunteer, not-for-profit, group have been happily working away and getting ready for the launch of the super spectacular MicroCon 2009!

Look for some changes in this years event! Every year MicroCon grows and evolves and this year is no exception! The Guest Creator list is bigger, the Dealer list is more diverse, the layout of MicroCon is different (so make sure you get a chance to look around the whole place!), and we’ve added some unusual goings on!

And while change and growth is good, somethings at MicroCon are staying the same! As always, look for friendly staff, easy Guest Creator access, hundreds of prizes & grab bags, a terrific 55,000 square foot marketplace, a world of surprises and much more!

What we’re really trying to say is that we’re inviting you and your family/friends join us at the MicroCon Comic Book Party! The only thing cooler than doing something fun, is sharing the fun with someone else or with your community and we love being part of that community!

MicroCon is a Comic Book Party where everyone is welcome and there’s something for everyone!

Finally, as promised, here’s some new information about the “One Day Wonder!” and a couple of other related factoids laced with comic book shenanigans!

Thanks for your time and we look forward to seeing you soon!

The MCBA Comic Book Geek Squad – The “Original” Geek Squad!

MCBA MICROCON COMIC BOOK PARTY
SUNDAY APRIL 26, 2009 – 10AM TO 4PM

THE PROGRESS CENTER – ON THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIRGROUNDS!

1621 Randall Avenue – Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108

One of the oldest and by far, coolest buildings on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds!

Directions: Enter the Fairgrounds via the Snelling entrance (Eastside) go straight for two blocks and make a right (North) and proceed to the Progress Center.

Parking: Free Parking abounds! Just make sure to pay attention to the street signs!
Handicapped parking is available!

Ghost Comics Release Party (May 23rd)

anthologies, event, Events, Grants, Local Hero Kevin Cannon, Minneapolis, mn, St. Paul

I’m going to steal this post entirely from local hero Kevin Cannon at the Big Time Attic blog… I didn’t know you could get a Xeric grant for anthologies… everyone please make note of that!!!

Ed Choy Moorman is throwing a book release party for his Xeric-winning anthology, GHOST COMICS, and you’re invited.

I’ve got a four page story called The Architecturons inside, and other contributors include Zak Sally, Will Dinski, Sarah Morean, Jeffrey Brown, John Hankiewicz, John Porcellino, Reynold Kissling… and too many more to name. Actually, the complete list is here.

Ghost Comics Book Release Party
Sat. May 23, 4 PM
(Signing / event begins)
5 PM bands start
8:30 PM movie screening (bring a blanket!)
Arise! Bookstore backyard
2441 Lyndale Ave. S., MPLS MN
All Ages & FREE!

The Xeric Award-winning Ghost Comics: A Benefit Anthology for RS Eden will be unveiled.

Artist signing 4-5 PM, bands at 5, movie at 8:30 (bring a blanket!)

All proceeds from Ghost Comics benefit local substance abuse treatment facility RS Eden.

Featuring music by:
Bla Bla Blacksheep
Lambs of God
the Ex-Lovers
Teenage Moods