November in Seattle means grayer skies, shorter days, and Short Run Comix Festival, the gathering of indie comics and illustrators now in it's 20th year. I enjoyed seeing the work of the featured local and regional creators–and many are women.
I picked up Kiku Hughes' "Dead Men's Tales," a mystery at sea on a Cousteau-like research boat. Great use of color and nice "draftman-ship."
Koreangry is the name used by LA-based Korean-American artist Eunsoo Jeong. Her display included the whimsical armatured figures and sets she uses to create fumetti-style photo comics, dealing with issues of ethnicity, immigration, and social justice. Imagine "Wallace and Grommet" with a social conscience: angry and adorable.
Chelsea Akpan is a freelance cartoonist with a MFA in Comics. I like her animation-inspired visual style and wild colors. Her fluid and exaggerated character design reminds me of the emotional expression of Ren & Stimpy—but through female eyes.
(And if you'll allow this bit of knepotism) Seattle's own Laura Knetzger tabled with a selection of her books, zines and merch. Both adults and families with kids were attracted to her Eisner-winning "Bigfoot and Nessy" and popular "Bug Boys" books. It's nice to have some "all ages" comix in the mix!
(Eagle-eyed Seattle comix fans will spot Fantagraphic Bookstore curator Larry Reid chatting with festival executive director Kelly Froh.)
