Alternative Press Expo
Encyclopedia
The Alternative Press Expo or APE, as it is more commonly known, is a comics
convention
. It was founded in 1994 by Dan Vado
as an event for self-publishers
, independent publishers and alternative
cartoonists to showcase their books. It was originally held in San Jose, California
. Comic-Con International
took over responsibility for the event in 1995. APE is currently held in San Francisco.
The event moved to San Francisco in 2000, originally at Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason
, before moving to its current location, the Concourse Exhibition Center in 2003. APE began life as a one day event, but was expanded to cover two days in 1998. However, the first event held in San Francisco was a one day event, with all subsequent events two day affairs. The programming available at the event has also grown, with APE 2005 offering panels, seminars, exhibitions and special guests. APE was moved to the fall beginning in 2008.
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
convention
Fan convention
A fan convention, or con , is an event in which fans of a particular film, television series, comic book, actor, or an entire genre of entertainment such as science fiction or anime and manga, gather to participate and hold programs and other events, and to meet experts, famous personalities, and...
. It was founded in 1994 by Dan Vado
Dan Vado
Dan Vado is a comic book publisher and writer, and a fixture of the independent comics community. Vado is the owner, president, and publisher of Slave Labor Graphics.-Biography:...
as an event for self-publishers
Self-publishing
Self-publishing is the publication of any book or other media by the author of the work, without the involvement of an established third-party publisher. The author is responsible and in control of entire process including design , formats, price, distribution, marketing & PR...
, independent publishers and alternative
Alternative comics
Alternative comics defines a range of American comics that have appeared since the 1980s, following the underground comix movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Alternative comics present an alternative to "mainstream" superhero comics which in the past have dominated the US comic book industry...
cartoonists to showcase their books. It was originally held in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. Comic-Con International
Comic-Con International
San Diego Comic-Con International, also known as Comic-Con International: San Diego , and commonly known as Comic-Con or the San Diego Comic-Con, was founded as the Golden State Comic Book Convention and later the San Diego Comic Book Convention in 1970 by Shel Dorf and a group of San Diegans...
took over responsibility for the event in 1995. APE is currently held in San Francisco.
The event moved to San Francisco in 2000, originally at Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason
Fort Mason
Fort Mason, once known as San Francisco Port of Embarkation, US Army, in San Francisco, California, is a former United States Army post located in the northern Marina District, alongside San Francisco Bay. Fort Mason served as an Army post for more than 100 years, initially as a coastal defense...
, before moving to its current location, the Concourse Exhibition Center in 2003. APE began life as a one day event, but was expanded to cover two days in 1998. However, the first event held in San Francisco was a one day event, with all subsequent events two day affairs. The programming available at the event has also grown, with APE 2005 offering panels, seminars, exhibitions and special guests. APE was moved to the fall beginning in 2008.
Event dates and locations
- 1994: June 4 - Parkside Hall San Jose
- 1995: May 19 - San Jose
- 1996: March 23 - San Jose
- 1997: February 2 - San Jose
- 1998: February 21-22 - San Jose
- 1999: February 27-28 - San Jose
- 2000: February 5 - Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason, San Francisco
- 2001: February 17-18 - Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason, San Francisco
- 2002: February 9-10 - Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason, San Francisco
- 2003: February 1-2 - Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco
- 2004: February 21-22 - Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco
- 2005: April 9-10 - Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco
- 2006: April 8-9 - Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco
- 2007: April 21-22 - Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco
- 2008: November 1-2 - Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco