Isotope, 326 Fell Street in San Francisco, is hosting a double signing on September 14. The Hayes Valley comic shop presents Jason Aaron (Southern Bastards, Thor, Star Wars, Doctor Strange) and Dennis Hopeless (Lovestruck, All New X-Men, Avengers Arena) between 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Isotope will close briefly and reopen at 8 p.m. for a classic Isotope comics mixer. The event will feature cocktails specific to titles worked on by the two creators.
One of the many wonderful things about being a comic book reader in the Bay Area is we have a steady stream of creators passing through the region. Another one of the many wonderful things about the Bay Area is that our 6900 square feet in all likelihood contain more local comic shops than any other 6900 square feet in these United States. These two wonderful aspects of the Bay Area occasionally combine to create a delightful phenomenon of multiple opportunities in a single day to meet a creator.
Although I’m consistently inconsistent about updating this website when I do update it I think I do a reasonable job of capturing all of the appearances a creator might be making in the Bay Area. However, due to this being more of a casual side project I occasionally make mistakes. I made one of those mistakes on Monday when I posted Zack Kaplan’s appearance at Cape and Cowl in Oakland but overlooked his appearance at Fantastic Comics in Berkeley. So it goes. I revise.
Kaplan will make at the least two appearances on the East bay Comic Book Trail tomorrow. The first stop will be at Cape and Cowl, 1601 Clay Street in Oakland, between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Kaplan will follow that appearance with a visit to Fantastic Comics, 2026 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Both of these appearances will celebrate the release of Kaplan’s Top Cow and Image project Eclipse. Bleeding Cool has more on the title plus a sneak peek at the comic featuring the brightly haunting artwork of Giovani Timpano.
What if the Earth’s sun became a life extinguishing force?
Writer Zack Kaplan and artist Giovanni P. Timpano will explore that dystopian question when Eclipse hits comic store shelves on September 7. According to an Image press release:
Not long from now, Earth will be a very different place. The sun won’t be a source of life and warmth—instead, it will be the deadliest killer the world has ever known. Following an electro-magnetic solar flare cataclysm that alters our sun forever, most of the world’s population will be dead. Exposure to the sun’s immolating rays threatens to instantly kill the rest. The only choice for humanity’s survival is to adapt, living in nocturnal societies.
“We’ve all thought about droughts or food shortages, but consider what would happen if we lost a precious environmental companion like the sun,” said Kaplan. “ECLIPSE explores that catastrophic possibility, and whether we as people can survive with hope or succumb to our darker nature.”
In ECLIPSE’s recovered New York City, solar engineer David “Bax” Baxter ekes out a disillusioned existence. But the world gets even darker when the daughter of a solar industrialist is targeted by a mysterious killer, one who burns his victims in the sunlight while he walks away unscathed. When Bax agrees to protect this girl, he’s forced to confront a past he’s spent years trying to hide from.
Bleeding Cool has a sneak peek at the title and an interview with Kaplan.
Kaplan will be celebrating the launch of his new title at Oakland’s Cape and Cowl, 1601 Clay Street, on September 7 between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Links:
Zack Kaplan
Twitter: @zackkaps
Website: zackkaps.com
Giovani Timpano
Twitter: GioTimpano
Website: giovannitimpano.blogspot.it
Cape and Cowl
Twitter: @capeandcowlcomics
Website: www.capeandcowlcomics.com
Facebook: CapeCowlComics
Fantastic Comics, 2026 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, has lassoed the creative team behind DC’s rebirthed Wonder Woman series. The DC trinity of Greg Rucka, Nicola Scott, and Liam Sharp will join forces for a wonderful signing event from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. on August 14.
Women may return to Fantastic Comics at 8 p.m. for an exclusive Q&A with Rucka and Scott. The discussion will focus on the duo’s Image title Black Magick. It’s a follow-up to the Fantastic Ladies Comics Club discussion of the trade paperback which will take place one week prior.
One of the most anticipated announcements to come out of Image Expo 2015 was Marjorie Liu teaming up with Sana Takeda on a new creator-owned series called Monstress. 
When Monstress hit shelves later that year the comic more than met expectations. It received high praise and sold out going straight to a second printing (and quickly to a third). The extensive world-building and breath-taking illustrations establish Monstress as a rare beast in modern comics. Not only is it well-written and visually-striking but it deftly tackles complex issues like struggles with inner demons, social stratification, and gender inequality, and racial discrimination. At first glance, it might look like a pretty fairytale but the story is dark and brutal at the core.
It should win all of the awards.
Bay Area fans of Liu and Takeda are in for a rare treat thanks to Comix Experience at 305 Divisadero in San Francisco. The comic book store is hosting a joint signing with the Monstress team on July 27 starting at 5 p.m. The signing will run until 7:30 p.m. when it will become an exclusive meet-and-greet with members of the Comix Experience Graphic Novel Club. Members of the club will additionally receive a signed bookplate (see below). If you’re not familiar with the club you can read about it and the numerous benefits here.
Writers Matthew Rosenberg (4 Kids Walk Into A Bank) and Frank Barbiere (The Revisionist) will take part in a Bay Area mini-tour on July 16. They’ll make at least two stops on the West Bay Comics Trail and two stops on the East Bay Comics Trail.
At each stop, they’ll host 30-minute lighting signings.
Below is the itinerary I’ve been able to piece together by scouring Facebook event listings. I apologize if I missed any shops.
1 p.m.
Escapist Comics
3090 Claremont Avenue
Berkeley, CA
2:30 p.m.
Cape and Cowl Comics
1601 Clay Street
Oakland, CA
4:30 p.m.
Mission: Comics and Art
2250 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA
6 p.m.
Comix Experience Outpost
2381 Ocean Avenue
San Francisco, CA
Matthew Rosenberg writes the phenomenal Black Mask Studios titles 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank and You Can Never Go Home. I don’t have a top ten current title list but if I did 4 Kids would definitely be on it. Maybe I should start a list. Let’s arbitrarily slot it in at number 3 on my new list. He’s also the writer on Civil War II: Kingpin which I didn’t know until I started writing this post but based on those other two books it’s likely one of the best things being printed by Marvel. I should go buy it.
In 2013, Frank Barbiere was kind enough to give the world the brilliant Image published title Five Ghosts. He’s also written Howling Commandos of SHIELD for Marvel, Solar: Man of the Atom for Dynamite, Lobo for DC, and many other books. Last month Barbiere dropped the first issue of his most recent creator-owned work The Revisionist on AfterShock Comics. The first issue was a thrilling ride and, much like Rosenberg’s 4 Kids, was highly praised by critics. The second issue, which hits shelves this coming Wednesday, will determine if it enters my newly established top 10.
DC fans are chomping at the bit to see how the company’s characters will fare following “rebirth.” However, perhaps none more so than Wonder Woman who saw significant changes made to her origin story during the New 52 initiative. Anticipation was high but after the title dropped this past Wednesday it appears writer Greg Rucka landed the invisible jet to the satisfaction of the critical flight tower. Helping Rucka to lasso the character in this first issue were artists Matthew Clark and Liam Sharp. Sharp will continue, along with Nicola Scott, as a regular artist on the title. If I understand the alternating issue system the even issues will feature Scott as the artist helping Rucka tell a “year one” story. The odd numbered issues feature the pencils of Sharp telling a modern Wonder Woman tale. Right? I know someone will correct me if I’m wrong. Comics are confusing.
Sharp will be at The Escapist Comics, 3090 Claremont Street in Berkeley, on July 2 starting at 3 p.m.
The artist has a long history in the comics industry having worked on iconic characters such as Judge Dredd, The X-Men, Batman, Superman, Spider-Man and others. In recent years, his become an industry innovator as one of the founders of Berkeley-based Madefire. The company has a unique publishing model. It takes advantage of opportunities created by handheld devices to turn creator-owned and licensed publications into motion comics. Madefire has produced motion comics for a number of publications including DC, Dark Horse, and IDW.
This month Dark Horse Comics is releasing the hardcover edition TPB of Chuck Palahniuk’s sequel to Fight Club. This edition collects all 10-issues of Fight Club 2.
Screening: Fans of the film and the comic can celebrate this weekend with a screening of the original film at the New Parkway. Tickets for the screening are only $8. A special ticket provided by Oakland’s Cape and Cowl will get attendees the hardcover edition of Fight Club 2, a ticket to the film, and the opportunity to win items signed by Palahniuk. Details below:
What: Fight Club and Fight Club 2 release party
When: June 19, 9 p.m.
Where: New Parkway
474 24th Street
Oakland, CA 94612
Tickets: $40 tickets in advance at Cape and Cowl (or at the door)
$8 tickets on New Parkway’s website (or at the door)
Signing: Palahniuk is hosting a short signing tour with one stop in the Bay Area. On June 30 he’ll be at The Booksmith, 1644 Haight Street in San Francisco, to sign copies of the comic (and two other items). Tickets are required if you want a place in line. Details below:
Thursday, June 30 – San Francisco
4:00pm – The Booksmith
SIGNING ONLY
1644 Haight Street
San Francisco, CA 94117
Store phone: 415-863-8688
http://www.booksmith.com/event/chuckp2016
Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2546444
A last minute signing announcement from Isotope: The Comic Book Lounge at 326 Fell Street in San Francisco. Ken Pontac will be in attendance from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. today (June 8) signing copies of Wacky Raceland. In addition to this new spin on Hanna-Barbera’s Wacky Races, Pontac is known for his work on Happy Tree Friends, Bump in the Night, and ¡Mucha Lucha! (and much more).
From DC:
The world has ended, but the race has just begun! Penelope Pitstop, Peter Perfect and the rest of the Wacky Racers vie for the finish line in a contest where the winner takes all and second place is death. Today’s trial: the shattered maze of freeways known as the Überpass, where they’re beset by giant sand beasts, mutated insects, and worst of all, Dick Dastardly’s murderously poor sportsmanship. The last thing they need after surviving the race is a brutal bar fight in a local dive, but that’s just what they get!
Cape and Cowl, 1601 Clay Street in Oakland, celebrated the release of the first issue of Image+ with a well-attended event on Wednesday. In addition to introducing comic readers to the new Image preview magazine the comic shop featured signings with Nick Dragotta (East of West, HowToons), Jimmie Robinson (Power Lines, Five Weapons, Bomb Queen), Justin Greenwood (The Fuse, Stumptown), and Brad Simpson (Sex).
From left to right: Comic and Cowl owner Eitan Manhoff, Jimmie Robinson, Justin Greenwood, Brad Simpson, and Nick Dragotta
Cape and Cowl is the highlighted shop in this first issue of Image+. The magazine also features interviews with Marjorie Liu, Nick Dragotta, Jordie Belaire, and others. Readers will see sneak peeks into forthcoming releases from the Berkley-based comic company including Bryan Lee O’Malley and Leslie Hung’s Snotgirl, Steven Sanders and Caitlin Kittredge’s Throwaways, and Scott Snyder and Jeff Lemire’s A.D. After Death.
