The Small Press Expo (SPX) is the premier showcase for independent comics, graphic novels and alternative cartooning. If you have not attended before, you owe it to yourself to make the trip to Maryland this weekend. This year’s festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday, September 16-17 in Bethesda, Maryland. SPX 2017 will have over 650 creators, 280 exhibitor tables in addition to 22 programming slots to cater to anyone’s tastes.
What is the Small Press Expo
Created in 1994 to promote artists and publishers of independent comics; SPX provides a forum for artists, writers and publishers of comic art in its various forms to present to the public comic art not accessible through normal commercial channels.
A festival prize of SPX that recognizes outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning, the Ignatz Award. The Ignatz recognizes exceptional work that challenges popular notions of what comics can achieve; both as an art form and as a means of personal expression. SPX 2017’s nominees can be seen here.
The annual indie convention is the best place to get up close interaction with some of the best and brightest creators working in independent comics today. SPX is a great opportunity to catch up smaller books you may have missed out on in addition to getting a first look on new books released at the show. If that wasn’t cool enough, many artists do on the spot commissions at their tables!
Special Guests
This years expo also features an impressive lineup of special guests. The special guests this year are Jillian Tamaki (Skim), Elanor Davis (How To Be Happy), Tille Walden (debuting Spinning), Emil Ferris (My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, which we listed as one of our best this year), Michael Deforge (Sticks Angelica, Folk Hero), Hannah K. Lee (debuting Language Barrier), Gilbert Hernandez (Love and Rockets), Gene Yang (American Born Chinese), and a ton more.
SPX 2017 is a great place to support independent art and comics. It is a great place to enjoy lesser known comics and meet some amazingly talented creators. If you do decide to drop by let us know; we will be there and we can offer up some great recommendations you won’t regret it.
