Comics in the Circle is a local meetup started in 2020 for anyone interested in making comics. The group’s mission is twofold:

1. To bring local comic makers together for some fun.

2. To exchange comics knowledge within this new community. 

The co-founders, Katie and Matt, are two aspiring cartoonists that are also CWRU alumni and have wanted to see a group like this get together for a while. They have collected small group exercises that they’d like to do in a casual setting.

So! If you’re also inspired by the awesome power of comics, manga, zines, graphic novels, and other forms of sequential visual narrative, and you want to make your own, come to a meeting! Recommended supplies include a pencil, a favorite pen, notecards, and printer paper.

The exercises are adapted from the following books: 

• Making Comics by Scott McCloud

• Making Comics by Lynda Barry 

• The Silver Way: Techniques, Tips, and Tutorials for Effective Character Design by Stephen Silver

• Cartooning: Philosophy and Practice by Ivan Brunetti 

Whether you are a student, a long time Cleveland local, a comics novice, or a seasoned professional, please join us! Let's make some comics together!

(Updated December 2025)

Regular meetings

We meet in person every 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7 pm EST.  Meet us at Superscript for in-person meetings (13361 Madison Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107). In-person meetings are on 2nd and 4th Thursdays as of January 2025. Consult this CALENDAR for current meeting types, events, etc, but please note that our calendar may be out of date. When in doubt, ask on Discord!

Discord link:  

https://discord.gg/Dsckppd8J3 

Special events

We also attend comics-related events including Free Comic Book Day (at Superscript), Genghis Con CLE, Lake Erie Ink Kids Comic Con, etc! Check out the calendar to see where we'll be and make some comics with us!

(Updated December 2025)

**Discord is the best way to contact us. Instagram is not monitored as often, so messages to may go unanswered. **

E-MAIL

Our email is comicsinthecircle@gmail.com, however please ask questions on the Discord, as our email is not actively monitored.

Discord

If you would like to contact us on Discord, please join us at the link: https://discord.gg/Dsckppd8J3 . You must be an adult to join the Discord. Thanks!

Updated 2/26/2025

I. Vision and Mission

A. Vision: A vibrant local community of people who make comics regardless of their technical skill or whether they’re doing so professionally. 

B. Mission: The mission of Comics in the Circle is to bring people with ties to Northeast Ohio together to make comics together and to exchange comics knowledge. We are an unincorporated open collective of people who like to make comics. 

II. Membership

A. Members must agree to mission and vision.

B. Members must be 18 years of age or older.

C. Members must have their name and one piece of contact info in the membership list.

D. Members have voting privileges and have access to the Discord.

III. Decisions

A. Decisions happen at Boring Business Meetings using Robert’s Rules of Order. This meeting is for all members, and when quorum is established, this group is considered the General Body of Comics in the Circle. 

B. Boring Business Meetings have a quorum of three members.

C. Boring Business Meeting date, time, and location are set by the President.

D. Boring Business Meeting notes are coordinated and published by the Secretary to be accessible to membership. The secretary may delegate note taking responsibilities to any member.

E. The General Body at the Boring Business Meeting is the highest decision-making body in the organization. Officers and other members must comply with decisions made by the General Body.

IV. Officers

A. President

1. The President sets the date, time, and location of the Boring Business Meeting. 

2. The President represents Comics in the Circle to the best of their ability in external communications (e.g. with Superscript Comics and Games).

B. Secretary

1. The Secretary is responsible for note taking at Boring Business meetings. They may delegate this responsibility. 

2. The Secretary is responsible for keeping the Membership List up to date.

C. Discord Moderators

1. Discord Moderators shall have the role of Moderator in our Comics in the Circle Discord. They shall moderate the Discord according to any policy set by the General Body.

D. Meeting Coordinator

1. The Meeting Coordinator shall ensure there is at least one member tasked with running every Comics in the Circle in person meeting.

E. Calendar Keeper

1. The Calendar Keeper shall keep the Google Calendar up to date.

V. Elections

A. An election of officers shall be held by the General Body, the format of which shall be decided by the General Body during Boring Business Meetings in January, every February of the year. Elections may be carried out in any way the General Body chooses (e.g. by an online secret ballot system over the course of multiple days, or at a Boring Business meeting).

B. Officers shall be elected by receiving a simple majority.

1. Options for voting shall be all candidates running and "none."

2. The winning result will be determined using ranked choice voting. 

3. If "none" wins, a new election shall be initiated for a later date following the format for replacing an officer. 

VI. Changing the Bylaws

A. Members shall have the power to propose and approve changes to the Bylaws. Amendments to the Bylaws shall be announced to the members one Boring Business Meeting in advance of any vote. Changes may be adopted by a vote of two-thirds of the members present.

Updated 4/12/2026

Statement on Harassment

In the following statement, any time that "participants” are referenced, this statement also includes Comics in the Circle volunteers, members, event attendees, etc. A participant is anyone participating in any capacity in a Comics in the Circle space, either online or in-person.

Comics in the Circle has adopted this policy to create a harassment-free and inclusive experience for everyone. Therefore, we do not tolerate harassment of our participants or by our participants in any form, regardless of venue. Please familiarize yourself with our definition of harassment, and what we expect of everyone who attends a Comics in the Circle event or participates in a Comics in the Circle program.

Harassment includes offensive verbal comments including, but not limited to: biological sex, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, or gender identity; sexual images portrayed in artwork, marketing materials, clothing, or in any other way in public spaces without consent; deliberate intimidation; stalking, following, or other repeated unwelcome contact; harassing photography or recording; inappropriate physical contact (including involving mobility aids); and unwelcome sexual attention. 

How to Report Harassment

If you feel harassed while in a Comics in the Circle space, you may choose to inform the offender to stop the harassing behavior. If you are not comfortable doing this, contact a Comics in the Circle event organizer who will address the concern. If you feel that someone else is being harassed, you may notify a Comics in the Circle event organizer who will address the concern first with the person being harassed, then with the harasser. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. 

In-Person Comics in the Circle Events

To report harassment at any in-person event, find the nearest Comics in the Circle event organizer. Comics in the Circle event organizers will listen to and record your report, and will work with you to determine appropriate action. Protecting the victims of harassment is paramount and Comics in the Circle will do everything to ensure the privacy and safety of those reporting harassment. 

If you are unable to locate a Comics in the Circle event organizer or do not feel comfortable addressing the issue with the person on site, email comicsinthecircle@gmail.com.

Online Events and All Other Reports

For any reports of harassment occurring on the Discord server, contact one of the Discord Moderators.

Recording Procedure 

When Comics in the Circle event organizers, Officers, or Discord Moderators are are approached with a harassment report, they are expected to record the following: 

1. Date and time of the incident

2. Name of the organizer, Officer, or Discord Moderator taking the report

3. Brief description of the type of incident, removing identifying details of the reporter

4. Organizer/Officer/Discord Moderator immediate steps taken in response

5. Planned follow up steps, if any

The recorded report shall be submitted to the Secretary, and the Secretary shall file the report in a Harassment Reports online folder available only to the Secretary and other Officers. 

Anonymity

Comics in the Circle considers your report anonymous and will not share it with anyone without your permission, unless we think there is a violation of the law. Outside of law enforcement, we will never share reports with outside parties without your permission. In order to create a safe environment, participants need to feel free to report without fear of reprisals. 

Code of Conduct Violations

If you are asked to stop behaving in a way that is interpreted as harassment, you are expected to comply immediately. Arguing about the situation or trying to convince someone that your behavior is not harassment in the moment is not an acceptable response. 

All participants are asked to respect the decisions of Comics in the Circle event organizers regarding removal and raise any concerns AFTER the event to comicsinthecircle@gmail.com to reach the Comics in the Circle Officers. Comics in the Circle event organizers have the authority to address harassment and other violations of code of conduct at their sole discretion. This may include warning the offender, expulsion from the singular event (with no refund, if applicable), or a ban from all Comics in the Circle spaces. 

We expect Comics in the Circle participants to follow these rules at all times. Failure to adhere to the Comics in the Circle code of conduct in any space may result in banning from all Comics in the Circle events and programs based on an investigation and decision from the Comics in the Circle Officers. Decisions by the Comics in the Circle Officers are final and may not be appealed. The Comics in the Circle Officers may revisit its decision after what it feels is an appropriate amount of time, taking into account the actions of the banned participant after the decision. 

If the Comics in the Circle Officers receive reports of code of conduct violations for a Comics in the Circle participant at other similar events or conferences, they will factor in those violations and may also choose to ban a participant from all Comics in the Circle spaces as a result. If the participant believes that there were other motivating factors for the issue at another event, especially if they believe it was due to being a member of a protected class, they may reach out to the Comics in the Circle Officers for consideration.

When Comics in the Circle partners with another entity to host an event within another’s space, the Comics in the Circle President will ensure, either directly or through delegation, that the hosting entity respects Comics in the Circle’s right to refuse entry to those who violate its code of conduct.