Embedded Files
DIVE INTO A WEEK OF IN-PERSON + VIRTUAL EVENTS FOCUSED ON COMICS AND PUBLISHING.
FIND OUT ALL THE DETAILS + REGISTER FOR EVENTS BELOW
MONDAY
Portfolio Reviews (In-Person), 12:30 - 4:30pm
Perfectly Acceptable Press with Matt Davis
Join us for an Industry Week: Comics rendition of CAPX Talks (Company Presentation)! Jacq Cohen, Executive Director of Communications & Publicity, will be joining us to talk about the lifecycle of a book from a publisher’s perspective. Jacq works for Fantagraphics, a comic and graphic novel publishing company that has pushed the boundaries of this medium for over 40 years!
Jacq Cohen is the Executive Director of Communications & Publicity at Fantagraphics. She started with Fantagraphics in 2009. Before that she served a 3 year stint as Publicity Coordinator for Dark Horse Comics, and spent 2 years as the publicist for Top Shelf Comix. Cohen began her comics career as a sales clerk at Atlantis Fantasy World comic shop in Santa Cruz, CA while she was earning her bachelor's degree in from UC Santa Cruz. Jacq lives in Los Angeles, CA with her spouse (cartoonist Simon Hanselmann), daughter, and pet rabbit.
Matt Davis runs Perfectly Acceptable Press, founded in 2013(ish) and located in Chicago. Through Perfectly Acceptable, he publishes short-run narrative artist books ("comics") by cartoonists and illustrators from around the world, as well as offers for-hire Risograph printing services. Perfectly Acceptable's stated goal is to create objects that push the boundaries of 'zine' or 'art book' without sacrificing accessibility; synergizing content, craft, and form.
From 2020 to 2022, Perfectly Acceptable also ran Pumpkin's Remote Residency, an annual residency giving lesser-known artists from around the world an opportunity to work with Perfectly Acceptable on producing a Risograph comic, to be published by Perfectly Acceptable, from the comfort/safety of their homes.
Alongside Perfectly Acceptable, Matt also co-directs (with George Wietor of Issue Press) the North American Risograph Conference, a biennial meeting of Risographers in Chicago; co-administers (with George, again) the 'Risography' Discord, a chatroom & support forum for all things Risograph and publishing; and co-hosts Zine Not Dead (with Brad Rohloff of Bred Press), a quarterly experimental comics reading series. This June, Zine Not Dead will host the inagural Zine Not Dead Fest, a one-day comics and small press fair, bringing together artists and publishers to sell their wares and attend talks and workshops.
Xerox Candy Bar Prom + Distribution
Neiman Center, 1st floor 3:30 - 7:00pm
Come to Xerox Candy Bar’s Prom! We’re celebrating SAIC’s comics community with music, pizza, and the release of our latest anthology: Monochrome Mischief!
Xerox Candy Bar was initially founded in order to give students in the SAIC comics community a place to publish their work alongside other passionate student contributors. The publication has always been run by students, for students.
TUESDAY
Expert Exchange (Virtual), 11:15am - 12:15pm
Mike Freiheit, Cartoonist, and his Agent, Victoria Wells Arms at HG Literary
For the first time ever, we will be hosting an Expert Exchange with two experts working together in comics publishing but from two very different vantage points: the cartoonist and the cartoonist's agent! Please come and ask Mike Freiheit all about his experience obtaining and working with his agent while alongside him, Victoria Wells Arms, Mike's a literary agent at HG Literary, can answer any and all questions about what it's like to an agent, how you can connect to one, what exactly does an agent do, pathways for ullustrators to get into trade publishing, and more!
Victoria Wells Arms started her publishing career as an editor at Dial Books for Young Readers, eventually became the founding editorial director of Bloomsbury USA children’s list, publishing bestsellers and award-winning books for children of all ages. Victoria switched sides of the desk in 2013 when she became an agent for authors and illustrators covering the full range of children’s books, some adult fiction, and food–related titles. In 2018 she joined Hannigan Getzler Literary, a full-service boutique literary agency based in New York City. In 2019 she received her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. When she’s not reading or writing, Victoria can be found in the kitchen, cooking with her kids and tossing cheese bits to her rescued terrier, Felix. Instagram.
Mike Freiheit is a cartoonist, illustrator, and teaching artist residing in Chicago. Mike’s volume of work includes WOODS, a horror story based on real-life events, Monkey Chef: A Love Story, a memoir about his time in South Africa volunteering at a primate sanctuary, and Go Fuck Myself! (2021) an irreverent time travel story that ponders the absurdities of modern living and that Ryan Carey in Four Color Apocalypse called "pitch perfect." When not at home singing improvised songs about his cat Artie with his wife, you’ll find him teaching comics and advising students at SAIC.
Join us for another amazing Industry Week: Comics rendition of CAPX Talks (Company Presentation)! Learn about the life cycle of a book through an EDITOR’s perspective with Robyn Chapman, editor and cartoonist from First Second Publishing, a publishing company that truly spans a massive range of audiences in age and content.
Robyn Chapman was born and raised in Alaska and has both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in comic books. For the past twenty years she has been very active in the small press comics scene as an artist, self-publisher, and collector (she owns over two thousand zines). She previously worked at the Center for Cartoon Studies as a teacher and program coordinator. She started her career in publishing at Graphic Universe, the graphic novel imprint of Lerner. Robyn is now an editor at First Second, having joined the team in 2016.
Come hear about printing and making books from the experts that make them! This workshop and talk will cover a lot of basics that are need to know when heading into self-publishing, especially for first-timers. Learn the tips and tricks for making the most out of self-publishing, setting up files, and more in this workshop dubbed 'Hot to Bleed.'
Jeff Zwirek is the Director of Operations for PrintNinja and has been self-publishing his comics and working in the print industry for 20 years. His comics work has been distributed nationally and his comics work has appeared on Slate.com, Topshelfcomix.com, and The Chicago Reader. His graphic novel, Burning Building Comix was released to universal acclaim, and his work has been nominated for an Ignatz award, a SPACE prize, and has been named a "notable comic" multiple times in the Best American Comics anthology.
Hot to Bleed Workshop
(Self-Publishing + Printing)
Neiman Center, 1st floor, 3:30 - 5:00pm
Jeff Zwirek with Print Ninja
WEDNESDAY
CAPX Talks (Virtual), 11:15am - 12:15pm
David Saylor, founder of Scholastic Graphix
Join us for an incredible CAPX Talk (Company Presentation) with THE founder of Scholastic Graphix, David Saylor. Davis is joining us with almost 3 decades of experience working in Scholastic publishing and being the founder of the graphic novel imprint of Scholastic called Graphix. You will not want to miss hearing from the legendary David Saylor.
David Saylor is a VP and Creative Director in the Scholastic Trade Publishing Group and is the Publisher and founder of Scholastic’s groundbreaking graphic novel imprint, GRAPHIX. David is also the art director for all American editions of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books. Throughout his career, David has done a mix of art direction, design, and editing on picture books, illustrated novels, and graphic novels—and has been lucky to work with some of most well-known artists and writers in children’s books. In 2019, David was named a Carle Honors Mentor Honoree for contributions to the field of children’s literature.
Panel Discussion:
Published SAIC Comics Faculty
Neiman Center, 1st floor
3:15 - 4:45pm
Anya Davidson, Moderator
Jeffrey Brown, Panelist
Marnie Galloway, Panelist
Johnny Sampson, Panelist
Conor Stechschulte, Panelist
Sara Varon, Panelist
Anya Davidson is the author of three graphic novels, including Night and Dana (2023) from Lerner Books, which was included on the Young Adult Library Services Association 2024 Great Graphic Novels for Teens List.
Jeffrey Brown began his comics career drawing critically acclaimed autobiographical graphic memoirs such as Clumsy and Unlikely; humorous works such as Incredible Change-Bots; and observational books like Cat Getting Out of a Bag and Kids Are Weird. Jeffrey combined his personal style and deep fan knowledge of Star Wars into the New York Times bestsellers Darth Vader and Son and the middle grade series Jedi Academy, before exploring prehistoric cave-kid life with Lucy & Andy Neanderthal and galactic exploration with Space-Time! He has drawn the DC universe with the middle grade graphic novel Batman and Robin and Howard, and the Marvel universe with Thor and Loki: Midgard Family Mayhem. Most recently Jeffrey returned to Star Wars with The Mandalorian and Child and tackled another beloved sci fi series with The eXtra Files. Jeffrey sometimes teaches comics at SAIC, where he earned his MFA in 2002.
Marnie Galloway is a cartoonist and artist best known for her Xeric Award winning wordless graphic novel In the Sounds and Seas, as well as the comics Burrow, Particle/Wave, and Slightly Plural. Her comics have appeared in Best American Comics, The New York Times, PEN America, Mutha Magazine, Saveur Magazine, and Ask Magazine, where she worked as staff cartoonist for 9 years. She formerly served as an organizer of the Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE), and currently teaching comics at the SAIC and working on her next graphic novel. https://www.marnie-galloway.com
Johnny Sampson is an award-winning cartoonist living in Glen Ellyn, IL with his wife, two kids, and dog. A longtime freelance illustrator with clients such as Abrams, Chronicle Books, HarperCollins, The Reader, The Stranger, and many more, he has truly found his calling as one of the “Usual Gang of Idiots” at MAD Magazine– for which, with Al Jaffee’s blessing, he has taken on the mantle of writer and artist of the famed MAD Fold-In. In addition to various client work, he teaches a comics class at SAIC, and–when he can find the time–self-publishes his own comics and zines. He has been a proud member of the National Cartoonists Society since 2018 and currently serves as its National Representative as well as the Chicago Chapter Chair (hit him up if you're curious).
Website: www.johnnysampson.com Instagram: @johnnysampson
Conor Stechschulte is a cartoonist and screenwriter whose work investigates the outlines of human identity, the malleability of memory and the unstable nature of our perceptions. He is the author most recently of the graphic novel Ultrasound, published by Fantagraphics, along with dozens of self-published comics. He has exhibited his work internationally and published with Breakdown Press in London, Colorama Press in Berlin and Coconino Press in Rome, among others.
Sara Varon is a graphic novelist and children's book author/illustrator. Her books include New Shoes, Odd Duck, Bake Sale, Robot Dreams, Sweaterweather, My Pencil & Me, and Hold Hands. They have received many accolades - among others, Odd Duck was selected by Kirkus Reviews as one of the Best Children's Books of 2013, Bake Sale was named a YALSA Great Graphic Novel for 2012, and Robot Dreams was on Oprah's Kids' Reading List in 2008 and selected by Publisher's Weekly as one of the 150 Best Books of 2008. She was a recipient of the 2013 Maurice Sendak Fellowship and an Eisner nominee in 2014. Recently, Robot Dreams was made into a feature film by the Spanish director Pablo Berger. The film premiered at Cannes in 2023, and has gone on to win several awards, including “Best Animated Feature” at the European Film Awards and an Oscar nomination for “Best Animated Feature”.
THURSDAY
Expert Exchange (In-Person), 11:15am - 12:15pm
Avi Ehrlich, Founder + Publisher at Silver Sprocket
Come speak with Avi Ehrlich of Silver Sprocket, an independent publisher championing socially conscious and independently produced comic books, graphic novels, and related arts. Originally a punk music label, Silver Sprocket transitioned to publishing comics in 2016. Since then, they have built a home for original, artist-owned work, including Your Black Friend and Other Strangers by Ben Passmore, Catboy by Benji Nate, Be Kind, My Neighbor by Yugo Limbo, and American Cult edited by Robyn Chapman.
Avi will be talking all about the indie side of publishing, working with artists, running a business, and more!
Avi Ehrlich (they/them) is the publisher and founder of Silver Sprocket, an independent comic book publisher and retailer from San Francisco.
Portfolio Reviews (In-Person), 1:00 - 5:00pm
Liz Mason from Quimby's and Zine Club
Portfolio Reviews (In-Person), 3:00 - 5:00pm
Daniel Warren Johnson, Artist
Liz Mason has been self-publishing for over twenty years. Recent works include Caboose #14 My Canadian Boyfriend, Awesome Things #4, Cul-de-sac #9 and The Most Unwanted Zine. Her work has also been published in such publications as The Chicago Tribune, Broken Pencil, Punk Planet, The Zine Yearbook, Third Coast Review and more. Currently, she is the manager of Quimby’s Bookstore, home of wild and weird reading material in Chicago, where she has worked since 2001. Find her at lizmasonisawesome.com or on social media at @caboosezine.
Daniel Warren Johnson is a Chicago-based comic book writer, artist and illustrator, having worked with the likes of Image, DC, Marvel, Wizards of the Coast, and many others. Daniel’s work includes titles such as EXTREMITY, BETA RAY BILL, THE GHOST FLEET, MURDER FALCON, SPACE-MULLET, WONDER WOMAN: DEAD EARTH, the Eisner Award- winning DO A POWERBOMB, and his current project: TRANSFORMERS.
FRIDAY
Portfolio Reviews (In-Person), 11:00am - 2:30pm
Aneeka Kalia from Penguin Random House
Aneeka Kalia is an Editor at Viking Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, where she primarily focuses on picture books and graphic novels for all ages. Aneeka also acquires middle grade and YA fiction, as well as select narrative nonfiction. Aneeka has worked with creators like Nidhi Chanani, Anoosha Syed, and Bianca Xunise. She looks for contemporary/realistic, humorous, character-driven stories across all ages and formats. Aneeka is a native New Englander, graduate of Connecticut College, Tennis and Soccer player, traveler, aspiring yogi, and amateur chef.
Portfolio Reviews (Virtual), 1:00 - 3:00pm
Megan Peace and Phil Falco from Scholastic Graphix
Megan began her publishing career at Scholastic as an editorial assistant and has remained at the company ever since. Before entering publishing, she studied English and creative writing at the University of Iowa, received her publishing certificate from New York University, and then earned her MFA in writing for children and young adults from the New School. The thing she enjoys most about her job is story development. For her, there’s nothing quite as thrilling as collaborating with creators to craft memorable, compelling books! When she's not reading for work or pleasure, she enjoys collecting stamps in her National Park passport, exploring new places by way of sweet treats, and rewatching Gilmore Girls (over and over again).
Phil Falco is an art director at Scholastic where he oversees the graphic novel imprint, Graphix, in addition to hardcover novels. His specialty is book design, but also enjoys challenges that are not perfect bound.
Cartoonists and their Publishers: Panel Discussion and Book Signing
3:30 - 5:30pm
Neiman Center, 1st floor
Moderator:
Beth Hetland
Panelists:
Caroline Cash, Cartoonist
Avi Erlich, Publisher and Founder of Silver Sprocket
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Bianca Xunise, Cartoonist
Aneeka Kalia, Editor at Penguin Random House
For the culminating event of SAIC's first ever Industry Week: Comics, we bring you an incredible panel discussion moderated by SAIC's very own, comics extraordinaire and faculty, Beth Hetland. Beth will be joined by cartoonist, Caroline Cash, and her Silver Sprocket publisher, Avi Ehrlich as well as cartoonist, Bianca Xunise, and their Penguin Random House Editor, Aneeka Kalia.
Beth Hetland is an award winning educator and critically acclaimed cartoonist. She teaches several comics and comics-adjacent classes at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She created a variety of solo works and works made with her BFF and collaborator, Kyle O'Connell. Her most recent book, Tender (Fantagraphics), is a psychological thriller and body horror about a woman obsessed with her vision for a picture-perfect life.
Caroline Cash is a cartoonist from the south. Her work has appeared in VICE, the Nib, and The Chicago Reader. She is currently working on her Ignatz Award winning comic series PeePeePooPoo with Silver Sprocket, as well as an Untitled graphic novel for D+Q.
Avi Ehrlich (they/them) is the publisher and founder of Silver Sprocket, an independent comic book publisher and retailer from San Francisco.
Bianca Xunise is a cartoonist based in Chicago, Illinois. In 2017, Xunise earned an Ignatz Award for Promising New Talent for their comic Say Her Name, an autobiographical story of police brutality and social justice. In 2020, Xunise earned their second Ignatz Award for their contribution to Be Gay, Do Comics published by IDW. Xunise has collaborated with Vogue, Washington Post, The Nib, and Believer Magazine. They are also a contributor to the book How We Fight Supremacy: A Field Guide to Black Resistance along with Ta-Nehisi Coates, Tarana Burk, and Harry Belafonte. Bianca became the first nationally syndicated, non-binary cartoonist when they joined the comic strip Six Chix in 2020 as their first Black creator.
Aneeka Kalia is an Editor at Viking Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, where she primarily focuses on picture books and graphic novels for all ages. Aneeka also acquires middle grade and YA fiction, as well as select narrative nonfiction. Aneeka has worked with creators like Nidhi Chanani, Anoosha Syed, and Bianca Xunise. She looks for contemporary/realistic, humorous, character-driven stories across all ages and formats. Aneeka is a native New Englander, graduate of Connecticut College, Tennis and Soccer player, traveler, aspiring yogi, and amateur chef.
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