Nashville's Comics Arts
Why you shouldn't sleep on regional small press comics events. Plus, a look at the cool comics we found at the Nashville Comic Arts Festival
Unless you're privileged to live in a major city, comics-related events are limited to weekly visits to your favorite comic shops. But lately, we're seeing more support for smaller events focusing on zines, small press, and indie comics. Lacking major publishers, these events don't draw the same media attention as the big conventions, but if you have been skipping them, you're missing out.
On a warm Saturday in September, I drove to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, where the Nashville Comic Arts Festival (NCAF) was being held on the fourth floor of the campus's central library.
NCAF is now in its third year. I’d never been before, but one exhibitor told me it had expanded from last year. The exhibitor booths (nearly 100 total had spilled out of the main exhibition room and into the library's halls and foyer. Most were from the Middle Tennessee area, though this year's event featured some notable out-of-towners from other Southern states, such as Ben Sears, Hyena Hell, and Steenz.
Unfortunately, the halls outside the main room weren’t nearly as well air-conditioned, but most in attendance seemed in high spirits anyway. Workshops and panels were taking place in downstairs rooms, and the alleys between booths were crowded with attendees eager to see what each artist had to offer.
And they had a lot. I went home with both arms full of comics (and prints, and stickers, etc.) but even so, I wish I could have grabbed more. Practically every artist who attended had something of interest at their table. Alas, I could only carry so much.
But what I brought home with me didn’t disappoint. These are some of the cool comics I picked up at this year's NCAF.
