Going APE! DC did it many years ago. Marvel’s doing it now. And PRISM COMICS is doing it on November 1 and 2 at the Alternative Press Expo in San Francisco. APE is the baby brother to Comic-Con featuring independent and small press comics and creators. It’s a very friendly, low-key Con that brings together a wonderful community of LBGT and LGBT-friendly creators and fans. The Expo takes place at:

The Concourse

620 7th Street

San Francisco, CA 94103

Saturday, November 1 – 11 am – 7 pm

Sunday, November 2 – 11 am – 6 pm

http://www.comic-con.org/ape

http://www.comic-con.org/ape/ape_direct.shtml

It’s Halloween Weekend in San Francisco so APE should be very festive. Prism will be right up front at Table 338 selling LGBT comics and the Prism Guide and featuring appearances by LGBT creators. Other queer creators will be out in force with their own tables (see below). Justin Hall (Hard To Swallow, Glamazonia, True Travel Tales) has put together his fabulous annual QUEER CARTOONISTS PANEL. And we’re proud to see Paige Braddock being honored as a Special Guest of APE 2008 with a SPOTLIGHT ON PAIGE BRADDOCK panel.

The Con is inexpensive - $10 for 1 day/$15 for both days. And best yet - Comic-Con International Attendees get in for FREE when they present their 2008 Comic-Con badge!

Here’s a list of LGBT activities at APE:

PRISM COMICS TABLE 338

CREATOR SIGNING SCHEDULE (as of this posting):

11 am - 12 pm Mark Padilla and Dick Wolf (Gravity Faggot)

12 – 1 pm Jeff Krell (Jayson)

1 - 2 pm Charles "Zan" Christensen (The Mark of Aeacus)

2 - 3 pm Tristan Crane (How Loathsome)

3 - 4 pm Sam Saturday (Load World)

4-5 pm Tommy Roddy (Pride High)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2

11 am – 12 pm Jeff Krell

12 - 1 pm Zan Christensen

1 - 2 pm Sam Saturday

3 - 4 pm Tommy Roddy

5 – 6 pm Mark Padilla and Dick Wolf

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1 – 3:00 – 4:00 pm

THE ANNUAL QUEER CARTOONISTS PANEL

The annual Queer Cartoonists Panel once again offers up a stellar group of LGBT creators who will discuss issues of identity and sexuality in their art, being queer in the comic book world, and their sources of inspiration. This is the fifth running year of the panel, one of the most popular and lively at APE! The panel includes:

Jennifer Camper (Juicy Mother, subGIRLZ)

Ed Luce (Wuvable Oaf)

Joan Hilty (Bitter Girl)

Erika Moen (DAR: A Super Girly Top Secret Comic Diary)

Tommy Roddy (Pride High)

Joey Alison Sayers (Thingpart)

Moderator: Justin Hall (Hard To Swallow, Glamazonia, True Travel Tales) will be focusing on several themes this year, starting with diversity within queer, artistic communities.

"In the past, queer cartooning just meant a simple, straight-forward, gay and lesbian focus, but we're seeing more diversity now, with trans creators, bisexuals, queers of color, and even bears bringing in different kinds of thematic and artistic voices," Hall said. "Queerness is being recognized as a more sophisticated and complex identity now than it was in the past, and you can see that in our comics."

Another theme that Hall wants to address is one that has been a source of interest throughout the five years he's been organizing and moderating the panel. "I'm fascinated with how queer cartoonists get their work out there to a receptive audience. In the past, LGBT cartoonists used the gay papers and bookstores, but as these traditional markets have been drying up, we've been looking to other models such as the internet, mainstream bookstores, and even comic book stores that are now more open to queer material than they have ever been," said Hall. The panel will also focus on the pros and cons of these various markets for queer comics. Attendees can look forward to lively discussion, insightful questions, and audience participation at this annual fan favorite.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2 - 1:30-2:30 pm

SPOTLIGHT ON PAIGE BRADDOCK

APE Special Guest, Paige Braddock, talks about future life on Mars, Jane's World, self-publishing, the decline of journalism, and her "day job" as creative director of Charles Schulz's studio. Moderated by the clever and witty Jason McNamara, who collaborated with Braddock on the newest release from Girl Twirl Comics, The Martian Confederacy.

LGBT AND LGBT-FRIENDLY CREATOR TABLES

Here is a list of LGBT/LGBT-friendly creators who will be exhibiting at APE:

Prism Comics – Table 338

Brian Andersen ((So Super Duper) and Rick Worley (A Waste of Time) - Table – 557

Paige Braddock (Jane’s World) – Table 339

Justin Hall and Dave Davenport (Hard to Swallow)– Table 516

Andy Hartzell (Fox Bunny Funny, Global Hobo/Break Comics) – Table 287

Robert Kirby (Boy Trouble) and Jennifer Camper (Juicy Mother) – Table 558

Steve McIsaac (Shirtlifter) and Ed Luce (Wuvable Oaf)– Table 515

Sean Seamus McWhinny (Diary of a Catering Whore) – Table 409

Mari Naomi (Estrus Comics) – Table 207

Brad Rader (Harry and Dickless Tom) – Table 556

Plus many indie publishers offer LGBT material. Check the schedule and website for additional info.