SATURDAY PROGRAMMING
Button and Sticker Making
Who doesn’t love custom buttons and stickers? All attendees are welcome to create their own with Oscar Arriola of The Stick Up! Chicago and Busy Beaver Buttons. Workshop sponsored by Busy Beaver Button Co.
WORKSHOP ROOM, 11:00am - 12:30pm
Creating Space for Making Comics with Matt Allison
Get valuable insight on how to create a healthy space for making art from Special Guest Matt Allison (Cankor). Whether it’s limiting distractions, time management, or setting up your workspace, we’ll help you find ways to stay positive while creating. Moderated by Ed Witt.
PANEL ROOM, 12:00pm - 1:00PM
Make Your Own 6 Page Comic with Joy San
Learn how to make your own 6 page comic with Special Guest Joy San (Sugar and other stories). Bring your ideas and Joy will guide you through the ins and outs of creating a sequential story. Introduction by Kevin Budnik.
WORKSHOP ROOM, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Researching Non-Fiction Comics with Derf Backderf
Non-fiction comics are the fastest growing comics genre of the past decade. Join Derf Backderf for a seminar on how to make them. Derf will use his books “My Friend Dahmer” (winner of an Angoulême Prize) and “Kent State” (Eisner Award for best non-fiction GN) to demonstrate the ins and outs of researching and writing about real events. Introduced by Tyrell Cannon.
PANEL ROOM, 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Self-publishing and Print Comics
Print will never die! Explore the endless possibilities of self-publishing and print comics with valuable insights from Jeff Zwirek of PrintNinja and cartoonist Beth Hetland (Half Asleep). In this hands-on workshop, you'll come away with tips, tricks, and totally rad minicomic bindings! Workshop sponsored by Print Ninja.
WORKSHOP ROOM, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Developing Time Under Tension with MS Harkness
Take a deep dive into the process of creating a comic book for publication with Special Guest MS Harkness for her upcoming book Time Under Tension. Moderated by Tyrell Cannon.
PANEL ROOM, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
SUNDAY PROGRAMMING
Spotlight on Cupcake Award Winners
Experience the comics of current Cupcake Award winners Anne Marie Rogers and Bread Tarleton in a discussion with Isabella Rotman (This Might Hurt) and Jim Terry (Come Home Indio). Moderated by Tyrell Cannon
WORKSHOP ROOM, 11:30pm-12:30pm
Pathways to Success in Modern Publishing
Zach Clemente of Bulgilhan Press and Bryce Gold of Pyrite Press discuss the modern publishing landscape and pathways to success in comics publishing. Introduced by Tyrell Cannon.
PANEL ROOM, 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Comics for Kids!
Join Creators Leigh Luna (Clementine Fox), Dave Scheidt (Mayor Goodboy) and Meggie the Ramm (Batcat) for a discussion about their work and how they make comics for young comic fans! Moderated by Kevin Budnik.
WORKSHOP ROOM, 1:00pm-2:00pm
Let’s Get Mushy! Romance Comics Explored
Join us for a discussion exploring different perspectives on romance comics, featuring Special Guests Molly Mendoza (Stray) and Mari Naomi (I Thought You Loved me) along with Wendy Xu (The Infinity Particle), and Grace Allison Perkins (Tender Stories). Moderated by Sage Coffey.
PANEL ROOM, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
The Art of the Fold-In
Unlock the secrets of the classic Al Jaffee MAD Magazine Fold-In with Special Guest Johnny Sampson. Follow along as Johnny walks you through his creative process from start to finish.
Introduction by Tyrell Cannon
WORKSHOP ROOM, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
SCREENINGS
Corrupted Frames Animation Screenings
Chicago comics creators and animators Bridget Bilbo, Sofia Diaz and Elisa Petersen present Corrupted frames, a screening of short animated films.
PANEL ROOM
Saturday, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Saturday, 4:30pm - 5:00pm
Sunday, 11:30am - 12:00pm