Hey Chicago friends, looking for something to do on this dreary day? Well check out the Chicago Alternative Comic Expo (CAKE) happening thing weekend. Cake is an event created to celebrate independent comics, while building community and dialogue among independent artists, small presses, publishers and readers. The event runs all weekend-long and features comics for sale, workshops, exhibitions, and panel discussions. Some of this year’s special guest include: Chris Ware, Melissa Mendes, Phoebe Gloeckner, Kim Detich, Michael DeForge, Jason Shiga, and Charles Forsman.

designed by Chicago’s own, Jo Dery (http://jodery.com)
The event takes place at Center on Halstead (3656 N Halsted, Chicago IL), and kicks off today from 11 am till 6 pm and continues on tomorrow. Oh Yeah, this event is absolutely FREE!!! So you have no reason not go… Unless you’re one of those crazy people that don’t like free stuff; which is kind of sad in my book.
And like last year I’ll be floating around volunteering at the event so feel free to say hello.
Here’s a listing of some the programming happening this weekend.
Saturday
12pm-1pm Chris Ware in Conversation with Roctober’s Jake Austen
1:30pm-2:30pm Innovative Forms with Jason Shiga, Deb Sokolow, Aaron Renier and Nate Beaty, moderated by Caroline Picard
3pm-4:30pm Eyeworks: Parallel Lines, an hour-long screening of experimental animation with a Q&A with Kim Deitch, Leif Goldberg, and Kevin Eskew
Sunday
12:30pm-1:30pm Mega-Solutions to Micro-Publishing:Oily Comics with Michael DeForge, Chuck Forsman, Anna Haifisch, and Melissa Mendes, monderated by Max Morris
2pm-3pm Kim Deitch in conversation with Caitlin McGurk
3:30pm-4:30pm Intimate Anxiety with Heather Benjamin, Phoebe Gloeckner, and Julia Gfrörer, moderated by Caroline Paquita
I’m waiting in for the Felicia Day panel line, and talking with a new friend about cosplaying. And the boyfriends that don’t come to cons. So far my day has been all about DC Comics, in which I have gained plenty of info for my marketing project on DC. I have to admit I am having serious regret not cosplaying this year. I have so much respect admiration for those who put in so much time into these amazing costumes. Felicia Day just got on stage, and since I’m bad at live blogging I’ll go now.
There is a great documentary making its rounds called Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines that traces the evolution and legacy of Wonder Woman. The film covers the birth of the comic book superheroine to the blockbuster television series, while looking at how popular representation of powerful women often reflects society’s own anxieties about women’s liberation. The film was recently apart of the documentary series Independent Lens and you can still watch the film on PBS website for free. However if you want some post film discussion in the comfort of your own bed or couch , you can head over to ITVS OVEE on April 24 where they will be doing a free screening of Wonder Women! . I highly suggest you watch this film anyway that you can. Even you aren’t a comic book or Wonder Woman film it’s an intriguing film to watch.
Upcoming Screenings
Asterisks denotes that the filmmaker will be in attendance for Q&A after screening
SPARK San Francisco, San Francisco, California, May 16, 6 p.m.**
Temescal Street Cinema, Oakland, California, June 13 8 p.m. at 49th Street @ Telegraph Ave
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, June 14, 5:30 p.m.
I guess it takes a break-up and eating tons of vegan cupcakes, to make you realize that maybe you pour energy into bringing you blog back from the dead blog grave. So I’ve stop wearing my faded two holes away from being useless hoodie*. And instead started plotting Her Comics return. If you have a comic book or zine that you want reviewed, or event coming up and would like me to cover it, email at hercomics at gmail dot com.
As for now I’m going back to plotting my C2E2 schedule .
* My computer for some reason knows “foodie” but not “hoodie”.
If you haven’t marked June 15 and 16th on calendar then you should. Those are the dates for Chicago Alternative Comics Expo also known as CAKE. Special guest this year include Phoebe Gloeckner and Melissa Mendes to name a few. The event will take place at Center on Halsted and best of all it’s FREE, so you have no excuse not go. So consider yourself warned!
designed by Chicago’s own, Jo Dery (http://jodery.com).
It’s pretty hard for me to contain my excitement with C2E2 coming up this weekend. I have panel schedules picked out and am excited about all the amazing people I’m going to meet. I will try my hand at live-blogging to keep you up to speed with all the fun I’m having. If you’re going to C2E2 this weekend, make sure to check out the Chicago Comics table where there will be a Jhonen Vasquez signing.
Speaking of Chicago Comics, you might remember that I did a review of Jason Poland’s Robbie and Bobby Mini-Comic last year. Well, now you can get the full Robbie and Bobby comic at Chicago Comics as well as its awesome sister store, Quimby’s.
And finally, sunday night I attended the Comic Art Battle Fundraiser at The Hideout, which benefited Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE). A fun time was had by all and I won two drawings from the battle that were up for auction.
Looking for something FREE and cool to do? Then check out the Chicago Zine Fest happening this weekend on the 9th and 10th. Chicago Zine Fest will highlight many talented self-published artists, and give artist a chance to interact with each other. Zine Fest will feature tons of informative workshops that are sure to appeal to everyone. And for you early risers I’ll be working at the info table. So make sure you stop by and say hello.
Chicago Zine Fest
March 9 & 10, 2012
Friday:
1 – 3pm Gender, Race & Sexuality, a Discussion with Women in Self-Publishing at Columbia College
6 – 9pm Zine Readings at 826CHI
9:30pm – 12am Zine Olympics at Quimby’s Bookstore
Saturday:
11am – 6pm Zine Exhibition at Columbia College
more details at http://www.chicagozinefest.org
This year’s event is sponsored by the awesome people at: Quimby’s Bookstore, 826Chi, Silver Tongue, DIYCHI, and Renegade Handmade + Renegade Craft Fair.