Small Press Expo
Encyclopedia
The Small Press Expo is an alternative comics
convention
that takes place every September or October in Bethesda, Maryland
. It rivals the Alternative Press Expo
as the premiere convention for alternative comics creators and fans. SPX is the home of the Ignatz Awards
, which have been presented there annually since 1997. As one of the few festival awards rewarded in comics, they are voted on by attendees.
SPX publishes an annual anthology as a companion to the convention. The first edition (1997) was in standard comic format, while all subsequent editions have been in digest format
. Contributors have included Alex Robinson
, Frank Cho
, Marc Hempel
, Brian Ralph
and many others.
SPX is closely associated with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
(CBLDF). All profits from SPX including the proceeds from the anthology and other fund raising activities that take place during the convention weekend, go to the CBLDF.
The SPX was founded in 1994 by a group of Washington
-Baltimore
area retailers to promote diversity in the comics marketplace. It also coincided with Dave Sim
's "Spirits of Independence" tour. Attendees of the early years often speak of the close-knit community that was attained during the convention, citing offbeat occurrences such as James Kochalka
's nude musical performance in 1998 and the annual pig roast/picnic.
SPX has been held in conjunction with the International Comics and Animation Festival
(ICAF) many times beginning in 1997. Both ICAF and the Expo were cancelled in 2001 due to creators' travel difficulties related to the September 11, 2001 attacks
.
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...
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...
that takes place every September or October in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
. It rivals the Alternative Press Expo
Alternative Press Expo
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...
as the premiere convention for alternative comics creators and fans. SPX is the home of the Ignatz Awards
Ignatz Awards
The Ignatz Awards are intended to recognize outstanding achievements in comics and cartooning by small press creators or creator-owned projects published by larger publishers. They have been awarded each year since 1997, but skipped a year in 2001 due to the show's cancellation after the September...
, which have been presented there annually since 1997. As one of the few festival awards rewarded in comics, they are voted on by attendees.
SPX publishes an annual anthology as a companion to the convention. The first edition (1997) was in standard comic format, while all subsequent editions have been in digest format
Digest size
Digest size is a magazine size, smaller than a conventional or "journal size" magazine but larger than a standard paperback book, approximately 5½ x 8¼ inches, but can also be 5⅜ x 8⅜ inches and 5½ x 7½ inches. These sizes have evolved from the printing press operation end...
. Contributors have included Alex Robinson
Alex Robinson
Alex Robinson is an award-winning American comic book writer and artist.-Early life:Alex Robinson grew up in Yorktown Heights, New York, and graduated from Yorktown High School in 1987...
, Frank Cho
Frank Cho
Frank Cho, born Duk Hyun Cho, is a Korean-American comic strip and comic book writer and illustrator, known for his series Liberty Meadows, as well as for books such as Shanna the She-Devil, Mighty Avengers and Hulk for Marvel Comics, and Jungle Girl for Dynamite Entertainment...
, Marc Hempel
Marc Hempel
Marc Hempel is an American cartoonist/comics artist best known for his work on The Sandman with Neil Gaiman.-Biography:...
, Brian Ralph
Brian Ralph
Brian Ralph is a U.S. alternative cartoonist. His illustrations have appeared in Wired and the New York Post. His debut graphic novel Cave-In was nominated for three Harvey Awards, one Eisner Award, and listed as one of the Comics Journals "five best comics of 1999". His second graphic novel...
and many others.
SPX is closely associated with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a United States non-profit organization created in 1986 to protect the First Amendment rights of comics creators, publishers, and retailers covering legal expenses....
(CBLDF). All profits from SPX including the proceeds from the anthology and other fund raising activities that take place during the convention weekend, go to the CBLDF.
The SPX was founded in 1994 by a group of Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
-Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
area retailers to promote diversity in the comics marketplace. It also coincided with Dave Sim
Dave Sim
David Victor Sim is an award-winning Canadian comic book writer and artist.A pioneer of self-published comics and creators' rights, Sim is best known as the creator of Cerebus the Aardvark, a comic book published from 1977 to 2004, which chronicles its main character in a 6,000-page self-contained...
's "Spirits of Independence" tour. Attendees of the early years often speak of the close-knit community that was attained during the convention, citing offbeat occurrences such as James Kochalka
James Kochalka
James Kochalka is an American comic book artist and writer, and rock musician. His comics are noted for their blending of the real and the surreal...
's nude musical performance in 1998 and the annual pig roast/picnic.
SPX has been held in conjunction with the International Comics and Animation Festival
International Comics and Animation Festival
The International Comics and Animation Festival is an academic conference and international comic convention held every autumn in Washington, D.C.. It was founded in 1995 by Georgetown University's Department of French. Beginning in 1997, it has been held in conjunction many times with the Small...
(ICAF) many times beginning in 1997. Both ICAF and the Expo were cancelled in 2001 due to creators' travel difficulties related to the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
.