Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: Comic Arts Brooklyn

Why You Should Go to Comic Arts Brooklyn Saturday – Paul Auster, Jeff Smith, and Lots More

Published Fri, 08 Nov 2013 12:00:00 -0600

Comic Arts Brooklyn is the return under some of the same leadership as the former Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival, which had a very successful 4 year run, and is presented by Desert Island. The event runs for one day, Saturday the 9th, and is comprised of two levels of tabling from self-publishers and small press in a large church hall with panel events down the street at the Knitting Factory during the day and satellite exhibits happening nearby, not to mention an afterparty. Turn up early for panel events–they can get pretty crowded, though last year there was audio piped into the outer bar space.

What has always made this event a little different from MoCCA Fest is that it's a grass-roots show that carries with it some of the 'zine culture feel and the laid back atmosphere is very attractive for creators. Big names tend to turn up and wander around.

Last year I nearly collided with Matt Groening who had a goofy smile on his face since he was having so much fun. There are also a large number of debuts regularly at the event from creators and small presses, as well as plenty of related illustrative art and silk-screened posters and the like. The event website currently has plenty of images of debut books, so have a gander to get a feel for what you'll see at the show.

It's free to the public, which makes it a great community building event and a way to engage and draw in new readers and artists who are considering cartooning. In short, if there's any way you can make it, you should drop by. You're bound to find things you never seen before and hear insights that you won't find anywhere else. Every comic show has its own personality, and this one is unique for its fairly kick-ass attitude. See you there?

Here's the Event Schedule for Tonight, Friday the 8^th and through the weekend:

Screening: Dash Shaw and Limited Animation

Spectacle Theater, 124 S. 3rd St., Friday November 8th, 8 pm, $5

Cartoonist and animator Dash Shaw (New School) presents an evening of "limited" aka "low budget" animation. He'll show and discuss some of his own work, like the Sigur Ros video and Sundance selection Seraph, the "fast slideshow" Blind Date 4, and others, plus a bonus cartoon that's inspired him: the "best episode" of the anime Robotech! Come watch some cartoons on a Friday night. This is not to be missed!

Event: Comic Arts Brooklyn

Book sales and signings, 11 AM to 7 PM

Mt. Carmel church, 275 N 8th St

Discussion: City of Glass: It Was A Phone Call That Started It

The Knitting Factory, 361 Metropolitan Avenue, Saturday November 9th, 11 AM , free

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the comics adaptation of Paul Auster's novel City of Glass, Paul Auster, Paul Karasik (The New Yorker), David Mazzucchelli (Asterios Polyp), and Art Spiegelman (Maus) will come together for the first time ever to discuss the genesis of the adaptation of the book into illustrated form. The panel will be moderated by Bill Kartalopoulos.

With 20 foreign editions, this graphic novel has been cited by The Comics Journal as one of the "Top 100 Comics of the 20th Century." The story of how it came to be is filled with odd coincidences and connections not unlike a novel by Paul Auster, himself. Secrets about the book's translation into comics will be deconstructed and revealed.

Discussion: The New Generation: What We Like

The Knitting Factory, 361 Metropolitan Avenue, Saturday November 9th, 12:30 PM, free

Moderated by Columbia University's librarian for ancient and medieval history and comics Karen Green, four upcoming artists—Michael DeForge, Lisa Hanawalt, Joe Lambert & Katie Skelly—discuss specific works that inspired them to become cartoonists.

Interview:Jeff Smith: Pulled Apart

The Knitting Factory, 361 Metropolitan Avenue, Saturday November 9th, 2 PM, free

Jeff Smith, whose graphic novel Bone set the world-wide gold-standard for all-ages comics, deconstructs his comics to explain and illustrate his working process—from script to sketch, to breakdowns to pencils to finished ink work. Examples will include original pages from Bone, RASL, and a never-before seen premiere page from his mysterious new project: Tuki Save the Humans!

Jeff will also give a live old-school style inking demonstration. This drawing will then be auctioned-off on the spot as a fundraiser for the Comic Book Defense League, of which Jeff is a board member.

Exhibition: Heather Benjamin

Mishka Store, 350 Broadway, Saturday November 9th, 7 – 10 PM, free

Benjamin's work is rooted in the darker recesses of your mind — and it shines a light on that darkness. Mishka is celebrating her work with an exhibition and exclusive shirt.

Event: CAB Official After Party

Union Pool, 484 Union Ave, Saturday November 9th, 9 PM, $5

Blow off some steam after the show with live music by Jeff Lewis, The Marcellus Hall Band, and the mellow rockabilly sounds of the Susquhanna Industrial Tool and Die Co.

Hannah Means-Shannon is Senior New York Correspondent at Bleeding Cool, writes and blogs about comics for TRIP CITY and Sequart.org, and is currently working on books about Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore for Sequart. She is @hannahmenzies on Twitter and hannahmenziesblog on WordPress. Find her bio here.

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