CalendarDates and times of the show:
The 2013 Stumptown Comics Fest takes place April 27 & 28, 2013.
10am to 6pm on Saturday, the 27th.
12pm to 6pm on Sunday, the 28th.
Festival location:
The Oregon Convention Center on 777 NE ML King Blvd. Portland, OR 97232 - Click for location map.
Cost of entry:
$10 a day or $15 for a weekend pass.
Students with valid student high school or college ID - $7 a day or $12 for a weekend pass.
Children 12 and under are Free (when accompanied by ticket-buying parent or guardian).
Is there a show hotel? Do you have hotels that offer a festival discount?
The Jupiter Hotel is the official hotel of the Stumptown Comics Fest. Attendees can make their reservations at the Jupiter Hotel by clicking HERE. However, there are many local hotels near the Oregon Convention Center. Rates are based on availability and time of booking, please check with the individual hotel. Click this LINK for an official list.
How many exhibitors can attendees expect?
We have 45 booths and 124 tables that will be filled with a variety of creators, publishers, and retailers. Many of our exhibitors are sharing booth or table space so it's hard to give a definite count, but rest assured we've packed the exhibition hall with as much creativity as we could fit.
Can I expect major publishers and comic book creators?
You bet! The Stumptown Comics Fest has always focused on compelling creators and comics as a storytelling medium of all genres. We're proud to bring you publishers like Dark Horse Comics, Oni Press, Top Shelf Comix, and other well-respected comic book publishers. Being the 10th anniversary of the festival, we're proud to host the largest number of guests in the festival's history. Guests include Fables creator Bill Willingham, Eisner award winning artist Becky Cloonan, multiple award winning writer Greg Rucka, as well as some of the countries premiere comic book studios like Periscope Studio and Tranquility Base. With over 25 special guests you can be certain you'll have a great time. Check out this LINK for the full list.
Can I bring in items for guests to sign at the festival?
While we highly encourage you purchase items from our many exhibitors to help support their work, you are still more than welcome to bring in items. However, each guest may have personal preferences in what they are willing to sign and how many products. All we ask is that you maintain respect in your request, for both the creator as well as your fellow attendees.
Are guest always available to sign things or is there a signing schedule?
We don't have a traditional signing schedule as you find at many conventions. Guests that are willing to sign will simply sign your items when they're sitting at their table. One of the highlights of the Stumptown Comics Fest is the accessibility between creator and fan, the best way to learn when and where a guest can sign your item and talk about their work is to simply walk up and ask. However, we will make all attempts to let attendees know when a guest is at an official panel or event.
Do vendors take credit cards?
The ticket counter for the Stumptown Comics Fest will accept credit and debit card payments. While exhibitors determine their own form of payment, most will accept credit cards. Food vendors connected with the Oregon Convention Center also accept credits cards.
What's the room capacity for panels?
The average room capacity for panels is approximately 80 people.
Where do I go if I lose my wallet / keys / kid?
We will have a centrally located attendee services kiosk within the festival floor where Stumptown volunteers will help you with a lost item or misplaced child.
Since the Stumptown Comics Fest is an all-ages event, will exhibitors only show items considered safe for all-ages?
While the Stumptown Comics Fest is highly focused on hosting an all-ages environment, we understand that every parent or guardian has a varied view on what they consider all-ages. With that in mind, we are compiling a list of exhibitors in our festival program that may produce material of an adult or mature nature. With that in mind, we can't estimate what everyone considers all-ages and ask that you review our list of exhibitors before letting younger kids walk the convention floor. We will also ask our exhibitors to be mindful of their own work when in the presence of younger attendees.
Where can you get food near the convention center?
The Oregon Convention Center has multiple food vendors located within the facility. There are also many restaurants and cafes within walking distance of the festival. Also, being located on the MAX line as well as major bus routes, all of Portland's wonderful collection of culinary offerings are just a transit ticket away.
Are there places to sit and rest near the vendors?
There are many locations throughout the Oregon Convention Center where tired attendees can rest their feet.
Reports are filtering in from all corners of the web this week:
- Portland Mercury - Blogtown, PDX
- Tom Spurgeon's report at The Comics Reporter
- Comics Reporter: Stumptown 2008 Collective Memory
- Steve Duin, part 1
- Steve Duin, part 2
- Sara Ryan
- Liz Baillie
- Lex Fajardo
- User Frank Castle's report from The ComicGeekSpeak Forums
So, Stumptown Comics Fest 2008 is already a simple memory, but what a memory it is! The show has never been so bustling, so vibrant, and so constant, near as I can recall.
I want to thank our tremendous corps of volunteers, who were tireless in making sure all the little things ran smoothly. The Fest simply could not have gone off as well without them. Or at least, my mental state wouldn't be so relaxed right now! Our planning committee likewise did an excellent job arranging everything for this year's Fest, and with a shorter timeline than we ever have before. We'll definitely have more time next year.
Also, thanks to all of the fantastic exhibitors and guests who were able to join us for the weekend. Especially to Mike Richardson, whose professionalism took center-stage as he left my nervously-prepared interview topics in the dust and delivered an inspiring talk on the philosophies that drive Dark Horse Comics. Nearly all of our panels for the weekend were filled to capacity, aside from the slowness of early Sunday morning - something to note for next year.
And lastly, thanks to all the folks who made the journey to the Doubletree to check out our not-so-little-anymore Comics Fest. Some came from the other side of town, some came from the other side of the country. Some crossed international borders! Attendance was up by leaps and bounds over last year, and I think we just about filled every square inch of the floor with people. Without all of you the Fest would just have been another room filled with cartoonists. And I think we all know how boring that can be.
So thanks again to everyone who joined us for Stumptown Comics Fest 2008. Keep watching this space for updates, recaps, photo-blogs, and newsbits, as we begin planning for SCF 2009! And if you attended Stumptown this weekend, to hear your impressions of the Fest, both good and bad, to help us plan for next year. Thanks!
- Started with a nice, easy morning - with an actual line of people queued up outside, waiting to come in. nice.
- All the panels and most of the workshops that I attended were standing room only - even the big room, which was a last-minute addition to the Fest.
- Craig Thompson's admiring throng disrupted traffic for part of the day. Sadly he won't be returning Sunday. Sorry!
- From the looks of things, we're continuing our pattern of selling more admissions on the first day of the Fest than we did the entire previous year - nearly 1200 folks showed up today! Thank you, Portland weather!
- I'm off now to Cosmic Monkey Comics for the Trophy Awards ceremony and the Art Battle! See you there!
And if not, I'll see you at the Fest tomorrow at 10!
-indy
Hey, all, as we gear up for this weekend's fantastic Fifth Stumptown Comics Fest, we've been noticing quite a bit of press, both local and online, talking about the event. Here's a more-or-less full rundown:
- THE OREGONIAN Devoted a two-page comic and an arts-section cover to Stumptown.
- Full feature (at Webcomics Nation)
- Full feature (3-page PDF)
- PORTLAND MERCURY
- A full-page color comic by Dylan Meconis and Bill Mudron.
- Meconis's post on the matter
- WILLAMETTE WEEK
Interviews Stumptown guest Brian Michael Bendis.
- PORTLAND TRIBUNE
Profiles Stumptown while discussing the recent 24-hour "Drawpocalypse" hosted by Cosmic Monkey Comics.
- INKSTUDS
- Stumptown podcast, featuring guests Larry Marder, Dave Roman, Tara McPherson, and Stumptown founder Indigo Kelleigh
- Podcast featuring Stumptown exhibitor Sarah Oleksyk
- Podcast featuring Stumptown exhibitor and Sparkplug Comics distributor Dylan Williams
- COMIC GEEK SPEAK
- Stumptown podcast featuring Guests Tara McPherson and Raina Telgemeier
If you know of any we've missed, let us know!
Got this note from Scott Allie, editor of the site:
April 26 and 27 at the Stumptown Comics Fest in Portland (stumptowncomics.com), Dark Horse editor Scott Allie be reviewing portfolios specifically to fill the "newbie" slot for the next two months in Myspace Dark Horse Presents.Every month MDHP features the professional debut of a creator whose work was found on MySpace.com. For the last three years Portland's Stumptown Comics Fest has been a great place for new creators to show off their work in one of the greatest comic book cities in the nation. If novice artists and writers think they have what it takes to join the ranks of Ezra Claytan Daniels, Brian Churilla, Katie Cook, Matt Brenier, Rebecca Sugar, Ilias Kyriazis, Jeff Wamester, and Jason Graham—all of whom made their paid, professional comics debut on MDHP— they are encuraged to show up with a stapled, 8 1/2 x 11 copy of their work and a print out of their MySpace homepage. A print-out of the candidates MySpace homepage is mandatory! Eligibility requires that the participant has examples of their work currently displayed on MySpace, and that they have never had comics released by a professional publisher or through Diamond Distribution, through a major comics website, or one that charges a fee. Ashcans and free, self-run websites do not disqualify, and ultimately eligibility is left to the discretion of the MySpace Dark Horse Presents editors. At the end of the weekend, Scott Allie will select two cartoonists to create original strips to appear on MDHP later this year, alongside the likes of Joss Whedon, Steve Niles, Mike Mignola, Tony Millionaire, and Stan Sakai. Scott will have a table at the show, but review of portfolios for MDHP will be limited to one block of time per day, in the Dark Horse booth—see below. Visit the Stumptown website (https://stumptowncomics.com) and the MySpace Dark Horse Presents (http://www.myspace.com/darkhorsepresents) page for more information.
Schedule/Location:
Dark Horse Booth—Table #39
Saturday 1pm-3pm
Sunday 2pm-4pm
An exciting opportunity for all exhibitors and attendees at this year's Comics Fest!
Three quick last-minute announcements about this year's Trophy Awards...
First, due to great interest from e-comics folks, the Trophy Awards committee has decided to add a brand-spankin'-new category for Webcomics! If you'd like to nominate your webcomic for an award, be sure to include the url for your site in the Additional Notes field!
Second, since there are a number of talented people who didn't snag a table before they all sold out, ALL FEST ATTENDEES are now eligible to enter. You still have to be present at the Awards Ceremony, though, otherwise we WILL trash-talk you if you win.
And finally, the deadline for entries has been extended to April 24th! That's right, we're pushing it to the limit, to give you all as much time as possible to get your books into our hands. All the info you need is at stumptowncomics.com/awards.
Hey, I had the privilege of taking part in a group interview for the Inkstuds radio show yesterday, and now you can listen to it via podcast! Larry Marder, Dave Roman, and Tara McPherson carried the interview, thankfully, and we all talked a bit about why we got into comics in the first place.
Howdy! This is a simple update to cover three pretty big topics!
- First, our Events page has been updated with the full schedule of panels, talks, presentations, screenings and workshops that will be taking place across three rooms alongside the Comics Fest on the 26th and 27th. We've never had a schedule so packed with pure comics goodness before, and you'd do well to take advantage of it while you can.
- Second, table numbers have been assigned to all of our exhibitors for this year, and you can find them all on the Exhibitors List. While you're there, download a handy map of the table arrangement so you can plan your attack as you storm our castle of comics creativity.
- and Finally, where would the Stumptown Comics Fest be without its fantastic volunteers? And if you'd like to sign up to be a volunteer at the Fest this year, now's the time to let us know! Simply fill out our online Volunteers Form and Zeo, our Volunteers coordinator, will be in touch to help you join in the fun of helping make the Fest run smooooooooth.
See you in 22 days, 3 hours, 57 minutes...!
Holy cow, people!
So today was supposed to be the Early Bird Deadline, after which table prices were to go up to their regular rates. However, the demand has been so amazingly high for tables for our upcoming Fest this April that we're going to have to actually close ALL exhibitor registrations at this point!
There has been a tremendous and unexpected surge of support from our exhibitor community in the last week, and I've been registering an average of about 8 tables per day all week. Eleven forms arrived in the mail today, and I still need to go through those, but I am positive that by the time I'm done I'll need to start a waiting list. I'm frankly flabbergasted. In our four years of putting on the Stumptown Comics Fest, we've never had to close the registrations before the Early Bird Deadline had passed, let alone selling out all our available tables within two months of opening registrations! This is truly a first.
I know a bunch of you probably mailed yours out in the last couple days, and so I haven't received them yet. Rest assured you'll automatically go on the waiting list, and as soon as something becomes available I'll let you know via email or phone.
For those of you who still hadn't gotten around to mailing your registrations in yet, don't be afraid to do so, just understand that you're not guaranteed a table. I'd even recommend not including payment with your form - if something opens up we'll work out an arrangement to collect the registration fee.
First thing Monday I'll contact the Doubletree Hotel and see if there's any space we might be able to expand into.
The lesson I take from this is that we must be doing something right.
UPDATE: I just finished going through today's registrations, and did indeed begin a waiting list. I've updated the Exhibitors Page with the latest names, so if you're not on that list I'm afraid you either do not have a table, or you asked that your name not be publicized. My apologies if you're not on the list, and as I say, I'll see if I can find some more exhibitor space at the hotel. Keep an eye out for updates!
Hey, potential exhibitors!
The Early-Bird Deadline for exhibitors is coming up this Friday, February 29th. Spaces are going like hotcakes, and are currently available for the discounted price of $70 for a half and $110 for a full eight-foot table. (The former includes one show badge, and the latter includes two.) In March, regular rates go into effect—$90 for half and $150 for full—and registration closes March 31st, so act now! Registration forms are available on the Registration page.
Also, this little tidbit is excellent news for exhibitors and attendees alike:
Portland is a treasure trove of big industry names, and the cream of the crop will be doing portfolio reviews during the fest! Our thanks go out to Dave Roman (Nickelodeon Magazine), Diana Schutz (Dark Horse), Brett Warnock (Top Shelf), James Lucas Jones (Oni Press), Eric Reynolds (Fantagraphics), Jim Valentino (Image), and Steve Lieber and Ron Randall (Periscope Studio) for donating their time and significant expertise. These individuals will evaluate art portfolios and give advice, but will not look at pitches or submissions. Specific times to be announced on our Events Schedule before the Fest.
Finally, we’re cooking up something both awesome and secret for the entire month of April. It’ll be big, so keep your eyes on the ol’ blog!
I just got the final artwork for our 2008 poster yesterday, and I'm really excited to share it:
The drawing is by our special guest Craig Thompson, with famed local rock-concert-poster- and album-cover designer Mike King graciously handling art direction for us. The final poster measures 18"x24", and we'll have these available for sale at the Fest for a scant $5, though one will very likely come free when you arrive with your Weekend Pass!
Want a Trophy? Enter Now and Join the Party!
The Stumptown Comics Trophy Awards shall answer the immortal question of "Who deserves a trophy?" on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at the Fifth Annual Stumptown Comics Fest's awards party. The event will take place at Cosmic Monkey Comics, located in Portland's historic Hollywood district, and will feature the infamous Comic Arts Battle--where professional wresting meets Pictionary(R).
Nominations open at noon on January 29th at the Stumptown Comics Fest website, stumptowncomics.com, and close at Midnight on April 20th. There is an administrative fee of $5 per category entered, mostly to keep out the riffraff and to furnish the awards ceremony with luscious
libations. You may nominate yourself, your friends, or a work you respect, as long as they will be at the fest. Non-attending or non-represented winners will be subject to mockery based on their absenteeism. Don't be one of those people--come and celebrate with us!
The six awards categories are:
• DIY: For self-published works showing exemplary spunk, energy, and ingenuity.
• DESIGN: Examines the quality of production. How a book looks, feels,
and smells.
• DEBUT: For works freshly released at the fest. Come on out, little books.
• WRITING: You know, the words.
• ART: You know, the pictures.
• MYSTERY: Not the genre, but the award itself! A secret panel of judges will recognize a book, website, person, project, or event with this enigmatic award. This is the only category that applicants cannot specifically enter, though all are eligible.
Window of eligibility: Works must be released between 10/1/2007 and
4/26/2008. Submissions guidelines and a running list of nominees are
available at the Awards page. Mail your entries to:
Stumptown Trophy Awards '08
1435 SE 30th Ave
Portland, OR 97214, and
make your checks out to The Stumptown Comics Foundation.
Awards Ceremony at Cosmic Monkey Comics: 5335 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland OR, 97213
Hey, all:
Just wanted to point out that the Exhibitor Registration Forms for the April, 2008 Comics Fest are available for download on our Registration page!
Exhibitors registering before February 28th can get their tables for the discounted price of $70 for a half-table, and $110 for a full table. After February 28th, regular rates are $90 for a half table and $150 for a full 8-foot table. Full table registration includes 2 badges, and half-table registration includes 1 badge.
The Stumptown Comics Fest is moving to Spring! Hot on the heels of our successful 2007 show, the Stumptown Comics Fest organizers are moving the 2008 show to the early spring months. The date for this Fifth Annual Stumptown Comics Fest is set for April 26th & 27th, and we will be returning to the Lloyd Center Doubletree Hotel for our second year.
We are also pleased to announce several Special Guests for the 2008 Fest, including:
Nicholas Gurewitch, The Perry Bible Fellowship
Larry Marder, Tales of the Beanworld
Craig Thompson, Blankets, Good-bye Chunky Rice
Raina Telgemeier, The Babysitters Club
Dave Roman, Astronaut Elementary, Agnes Quill
Derek Kirk Kim, Good As Lily
Additional Guests will be announced in the coming weeks, and registration forms for exhibitors will be posted by January first. We'll also be posting links to other comics-related events going on in Portland leading up to the 2008 Fest, including parties and gallery shows around town.
See you all in April!
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