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New Yorkers who are are still in withdrawal from the amazing SPX just concluded, rejoice—this weekend’s Brooklyn Book Festival features a full line-up of comics programming, and some comics-focused programs during the week that will keep you in comics nirvana. The festival takes place all day Sunday, September 23rd, but there are satellite events listed below.

Cartoonists participating include

Gilbert & Jaime Hernandez, Adrian Tomine, Carla Speed McNeil, Gabrielle Bell, Derek Kirk Kim, Peter Kuper, Becky Cloonan, Mark Siegel, Leela Corman, Molly Crabapple, Bob Fingerman, James Romberger, Colleen Doran, Spike, Jamie Tanner, Mr. Fish, Fly, Ron Wimberly, Michael Kupperman, Julia Wertz, Bob Sikoryak, Lauren Weinstein, Charise Mericle Harper, Tracy White, Jerry Craft, Sean Howe, Lisa Hanawalt, Aaron Diaz, Jerey Lewis, and the Graphic Canon anthology editor/contributors



It’s by far the biggest slate of comics related programming that the BBF has ever had, and yet another sign of how mainstream comics are becoming. In addition, one of the best parts of the Festival is that comics authors are not segregated, but appear with prose authors to discuss literary themes and genres. In short…it’s all good. See you there!

Comics and Graphic Novel Programming has more than doubled in 2012, with major headliners like the Hernandez Bros and recent LA Times Book Prize award­winner Carla Speed McNeil. The Festival’s unique programming approach integrates comics artists on panels with authors and journalists, recognizing and advocating for comics as literature that crosses genres. These pairings offer fresh takes from the usual con fare­­and give readers of traditional prose insight into the appeal and power of graphic narratives. In addition, fans will also have a full­day of panels just focused on comics to choose from. There’s something for everyone­­from Comics Quick Draw on the Youth Stoop to the all­star cartoonist line­up in Worlds Built Over Time in the St. Francis auditorium. See full listings attached.

All Festival events on Sunday, September 23, are free and—for the first time this year—there will be “Clix not Tix,” meaning no more tickets or ticket lines. Additionally, for the first time ever, the expanded “Bookend” literary­themed events comprise a full week of more than 50 happenings at venues that includeclubs, bookstores, theaters and libraries across the borough from September 17 – 23. Most Bookend Events are free (a few charge a modest admission). Comics Book End events include a celebration of the landmark Graphic Canon publication; Adrian Tomine’s gallery opening for New York Stories; a live comics reading with favorites like Michael Kupperman and Julia Wertz, and a Comics Rock event with the Hernandez Bros at The Rock Shop. See full listings attached.


BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012
10am­6pm
Brooklyn Borough Hall and Plaza
209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
Comics and Related Programming at the 2012 Brooklyn Book Festival
ST. FRANCIS AUDITORIUM (180 Remsen Street)

2:00 P.M. Worlds Built over Time.
This all­star panel brings together the narrative geniuses of Jaime
Hernandez (Love and Rockets), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), Adrian Tomine (New York Stories) and
Gabrielle Bell (The Voyeurs) to discuss how they’ve developed characters, stories, and imagined
worlds over serial publications. Moderated by Bill Kartalopoulos, co­organizer, Brooklyn Comics and
Graphics Festival. Featuring screen projection.

3:00 P.M. The Sex Panel: Taboo in Pictures.
Gilbert Hernandez (Love and Rockets), Leela Corman
(Unterzakhn), Molly Crabapple (Devil in the Details) and Bob Fingerman (From the Ashes) talk about
sex and taboo in comics. What inspires and informs their work and drives their characters (and readers)?
From obscenity to art, and the delicious in­between….Featuring screen projection, with viewer discretion
advised! Moderated by Heidi MacDonald, the Beat and Publishers Weekly Comics World.
ST. FRANCIS SCREENING ROOM (180 Remsen Street)

10:00 A.M. Home Is Not A Place.
Four authors read and discuss their books whose protagonists are
challenged to create and negotiate their identity in a new homeland­­a journey fraught with confusion,
rebellion and uncertain outcomes. Graphic novelist Leela Corman (Unterzakhn), and authors Patricia
Engel (Vida), Luis Alberto Urrea (Into the Beautiful North) and Jose Prieto Manuel (Nocturnal Butterflies of
the Russian Empire). Moderated by Tiphanie Yanique (How to Escape from a Leper Colony). Featuring
screen projection.

11:00 A.M. Comics by the People: Crowd­funding, Kickstarter, and the Future of Fan­supported
Art.
Self­publishing in indie comics has a strong tradition and now Kickstarter has been called the #2
comics publisher in the US. What is the future of comics publishing? What are the benefits and
challenges of directly fan­funded models? Molly Crabapple (Week in Hell), Spike (Poorcraft) and Jamie
Tanner (The Black Well) discuss what works, what hasn’t and what’s to come. Moderated by Meaghan
O’Connell, Kickstarter. Featuring screen projection.

12:00 P.M. Rabble­Rousers: Activist Comics.
An unabashedly lefty panel of activist artists discuss the
relevance and impact of political cartoons as we enter election season: Peter Kuper, editor and
co­founder of World War III Illustrated (Diario de Oaxaca); Mr. Fish (Go Fish) and Fly (Peops).
Moderated by scholar Jonathan Gray. Featuring screen projection.

1:00 P.M. Make Believe: Genre Comics for the Next Generation.
Derek Kirk Kim (Tune: Vanishing
Point), Becky Cloonan (Dracula) and Mark Siegel (Sailor Twain)­­three very different and equally
fabulous cartoonists showcase their new work and talk about what makes genre comics so fun to write,
draw, and read. Moderated by fantasy author Ellen Kushner. Featuring screen projection.

3:00 P.M. NYC Inked.
Peter Kuper (Drawn to New York) shares a diary portrait of 34 years in NYC;
James Romberger (Seven Miles a Second) captures the gritty beauty from the LES to uptown, adapting
the late David Wojnarowicz haunting memoir; Colleen Doran (Gone to Amerikay) tells the Irish
immigrant’s story across three centuries; and newcomer Ron Wimberly (Prince of Cats) rewrites Romeo
& Juliet in a Blade­Runner­esque landscape. Moderated by Calvin Reid, Publishers Weekly Comics
World. Featuring screen projection.

4:00 P.M. Reality Denied.
Science Fiction authors Carla Speed McNeil (Finder: Voice), Lev Grossman
(The Magician King) and Terry Bisson (Fire on the Mountain) read and discuss their books which are
part­medieval, part­magical, part­historical, and all reality bending! Moderated by literary agent Seth
Fishman. Featuring screen projection.

5:00 P.M. Enduring Unlikable Women.
Elissa Schappell (Blue Print), Gilbert Hernandez (Love and
Rockets) and Dana Spiotta (Stone Arabia) write difficult, complex female characters. Join these authors
in a reading and discussion that looks at the bad boy and the unlikable woman in literature and how theyare reviled or celebrated by their audience and creators. Moderated by Meredith Walters, Brooklyn
Public Library. Featuring screen projection.
ST. FRANCIS MCARDLE (180 Remsen St)

11:00 A.M. Ink and Pressure: The Delicate Art, History, and Future of Publishing.
Three authors
look atthe nuts and bolts construction of a comic book empire, the intricacies of what it takes to make
magazines, and what journalism means today. Victor Navasky (co­ed., The Art of Making Magazines),
and Sean Howe (Marvel Comics: The Untold Story). Moderated by Catherine Chung (Forgotten
Country)
YOUTH STOOP (Outdoors)

11:00 A.M. Comics Quick Draw!
Three cartoonists face off in this fast­paced contest. Drawing (literally)
from the audience suggestions, reader favorites Derek Kirk Kim, Mark Siegel, and Charise Mericle
Harper will battle with pen and pad. And, everybody wins; finished art will be gifted to some of the lucky
young people in attendance. Moderated by Calvin Reid, editor of Publishers Weekly Comics World.
TARGET CHILDREN’S AREA (Outdoors)

11:00 A.M. Draw­Off ­
A fast­paced drawing competition by illustrators Dan Yaccarino, Frank Viva and
cartoonist Jerry Craft.
BROOKLYN BOROUGH HALL CONFERENCE ROOM

3:00 P.M. Creating Comics from Life.
A comics workshop led by Tracy White. Using a short writing
exercise, teens will compose a four panel comic based on an incident from their past. Ages 12 and up.

BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL BOOKEND EVENTS
SEPTEMBER 17­23, 2012
The Brooklyn Book Festival Bookend events are literary themed events taking place in
clubs, parks, bookstores, theatres and libraries culminating with the festival. The Bookends
kick­off a long literary weekend with film screenings, parties, literary games and author
appearances.

Comics and Related Programming

Thursday, September 20New York Drawings by Adrian Tomine
Visit the powerHouse Arena for an exciting gallery exhibition, reception and book signing,
featuring Adrian Tomine, the popular comic book artist and author of New York Drawings,
in conversation with The New Yorker’s art director, Jordan Awan. The exhibition is in
conjunction with the publication of New York Drawings along with rare NY­inspired images
and sketches.
Location: powerHouse Arena, 37 Main Street (at Water Street)
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Price: Free
Website: www.powerhousearena.com

Friday, September 21
Comics Rock Double Bill: The Hernandez Brothers (Love and Rockets Northeast
Tour) and Jeffrey Lewis (solo acoustic)
Come enjoy drinks, drawing, and conversation with comics stars The Hernandez
Brothers at 8:00 pm and musician and comic artist Jeffrey Lewis at 9:00 pm.
Location: The Rock Shop, 249 4th Avenue (between President and Carroll Streets)
Time: 7:30 pm
Price: $5
Website: www.thejeffreylewissite.com;www.fantagraphics.com/lr30northeasttour

Saturday, September 22
The Comics Crowd
Comics fans will delight in this graphics­heavy event. Creators read from their work,
accompanied by projections. Participants include Gabrielle Bell(When I’m Old), Julia
Wertz (Drinking at the Movies), Bob Sikoryak(Masterpiece Comics), Lauren Weinstein
(Girl Stories), Lisa Hanawalt (I Want You), Aaron Diaz (The Tomorrow Girl) and
Michael Kupperman(Tales Designed to Thrizzle). Laughter guaranteed!
Location: Bergen Street Comics, 470 Bergen Street (between Flatbush and 5th Avenues)
Time: 8:00 pm
Price: Free
Website: www.bergenstreetcomics.com

6 COMMENTS

  1. Meanwhile, down in Washington, DC, the Library of Congress will be hosting the National Book Festival on the National Mall!

    http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/

    Who’s attending?
    http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/authors/2012

    SciFi Fantasy & Graphic Novels
    Lois McMaster Bujold
    Nalo Hopkinson
    Christopher Paolini
    Raina Telgemeier
    Craig Thompson
    Vernor Vinge

    Plus!
    Hope Larson
    Tom Angleberger
    David Small

    There’s even an official badge!
    http://www.loc.gov/shop/index.php?action=cCatalog.showItem&cid=4&scid=409&iid=4581
    (Hey… why don’t comic cons have that?)

  2. can’t wait for Sean Howe’s book. Hey comic fans: stop by booth #54 for a free, limited ed. “Batman Stolen from Henry Vallely Public Domain Utility Belt Poetry Instrospection” print (with the purchase of a book). Sorry to hijack the comments here for shameless advertising purposes. At least I’m not selling hair products.
    http://brad-ricca.com/?page_id=55

  3. Oh, one little quibble… Who will be selling the graphic novels of the featured creators? Drawn + Quarterly are always there, promoting their wares, and Joseph Koch always has piles of fun stuff, but is there a comics retailer?

    Perhaps the CBLDF could act as an agent for publishers? Or maybe the Strand?

  4. Bookend event:
    Small Demons and The Graphic Canon Double Bill

    Experience the new visual index for books, Small Demons! There are prizes involved! Also join Seven Stories Press as they celebrate the first and second volumes of The Graphic Canon, an anthology of world literature adapted by graphic artists and illustrators.

    Location: The Bell House, 149 7th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues)
    Time: 7:00 pm
    Price: Free
    Website: http://www.thebellhouseny.com; http://www.smalldemons.com; http://www.sevenstories.com; http://www.graphiccanon.com

  5. Hi Torsten,

    The Festival works with local indie booksellers who will stock and sell speakers’ books at signings following each panel, plus should have more copies at their various bookseller booths at the vendor area. Also, CBLDF will in fact have a booth this year, too, so stop by! We’d love to have more comics vendors on the lawn, so spread the word and feel free to contact me at [email protected].

    Meg Lemke
    Chair, Comics & Graphic Novel programming, Brooklyn Book Festival

Comments are closed.