6/3-6/29: The Comic Book Theater Festival Issue #2 in Brooklyn, NY
Comic books take the stage in the second Comic Book Theater Festival, with shows running from June 3 through 29 at the Brick Theater in Brooklyn, New York. The festival explores the intersection of comics and theatre and features a number of new and exciting shows including the Comic Strip Club (June 13), a live reading of Ron WImberly's DMC comic (June 21), "King Kirby" – about the life of Jack Kirby (June 20–29), R. Sikoryak's Masterpiece Comics Theater (June 14, 17, 21), and "Out of Frame: Dance+Comics" (June 24–29). Tickets are $18 unless otherwise noted. The Brick Theater is located at 579 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211.
6/5-6/8: Phoenix Comicon in Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix Comicon, the "signature pop culture experience of the southwest," kicks off Thursday, June 5 and runs to Sunday, June 8 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. As one of the world's biggest conventions, Phoenix Comicon is loaded with comics, creators, and enthusiasm, with special events such as the Villain's Aftermath Party, Avengers Bootcamp, and a Zombie Obstacle Course. Programming includes panels and workshops such as "30 Years and Counting: Comics Classics in the Modern Age," "All Ages Does Not Mean Watered Down," "Comics and Graphic Narratives," "Drawing Expressive Creatures," Marvel Vs. DC," "Social Media and the Comic Book Industry," and more (click here for a full schedule). Comics guests include Stan Lee, Todd McFarlane, Alex de Campi, Andy Kubert, Billy Tucci, Camilla d'Errico, Chris Claremont, Tony Moore, Chris Roberson, David Petersen, Ed Piskor, Herb Trimpe, James O'Barr, John Layman, Mike Grell, Wendy & Richard Pini, and many more. Single day memberships are $15–40, full event memberships are $70, and children under 12 get in free. The Phoenix Convention Center is located at 100 N 3rd St., Phoenix, AZ 85004.
6/7: Grand Comics Festival in Brooklyn, NY
Get up close and personal with local and independent cartoonists at the Grand Comics Festival, taking place on Saturday, June 7 from 11am–7pm at Bird River Studio in Brooklyn, New York. Attendees include Nick Bertozzi, Gregory Benton, Dean Haspiel, Sam Henderson, Sara Varon, Joan Reilly. This event is free to the public. Bird River Studio is located at 343 Grand St., Brooklyn, NY 11211.
6/7: Olympia Comics Festival in Olympia, WA
Celebrate comics and comic art at the Olympia Comics Festival on Saturday, June 7 at multiple locations Olympia, Washington. The festival consists of three parts: The Comix Stage-show at the Capitol Theater (11am–1pm), Cartoonists Expo at the Olympia Center (1:30–6:30pm), and a signing at Danger Room Comics (6-8pm). Guests of Honor are Charles Burns, Simon Roy, and Jesse Reklaw. Tickets to the Comix Stage-show are $6; the expo and signing events are free to the public. The Capitol Theater is located at 206 E. 5th Ave.; the Olympia Center is located at 222 Columbia St. NW; Danger Room Comics is located at 201 W. 4th St., Olympia, WA 98501.
6/8: Queer Comics Expo in San Francisco, CA
Organized by the National Queer Arts Festival as part of Pride month, San Francisco's Cartoon Art Museum is hosting the first annual Queer Comic Expo on Saturday, June 8 from 11am–5pm. The show spotlights LGBTQ creators, publishers and comics and encourages attendees to demonstrate, converse, and learn about the community. Guests include Ed Luce, Jett Atwood, Alex Woolfson, and Tyler Cohen. Tickets are $8. The Cartoon Art Museum is located at 655 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94105.
