Montréal Comic Arts Festival | May 26-28, 2023
Come join me and over 200 other creators at the Festival BD de Montréal | Montréal Comic Arts Festival! I may be biased, but I think that the Festival is one of the top events in the world of comics, a huge, FREE event that takes over over a mile of Saint Denis Street, creating a pedestrian-friendly street fair with a vibrant and unique atmosphere.
Officially bilingual, this event should definitely be on the radar of anglophone comics readers… Think of it as a North American Angoulême, but maybe even better! Some of the many publishers present include Drawn & Quarterly, Oni Press, Pow Pow Press, Floating World Comics, Uncivilized Books, La Pastèque, and so many more. Guests this year include Gabriel Ba and Fábio Moon, Nick Drnaso, Aisha Franz, Sarah Anderson, Sourya, Manuele Fior, Dorothée de Monfreid, and so many more!
My MCAF Signing Schedule
Delighted to welcome my frequent American publisher Oni Press to MCAF for the first time!
Friday, May 26
Saturday, May 27
- 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm : Kiosque D25 Oni Press
Sunday, May 28
My MCAF Activities
Once again I’m moderating a few different events at the Festival:
ANIMATION : COMIC IMPROVISATION
Friday, May 26 | 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm | SKETCH
Comics and improv is a winning combo! Two artists will draw a live comic strip before your astonished eyes. From the initial idea to the final result, follow along as the creators craft an original story in just a few panels. With a little help from the audience of course!
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PANEL : DRAWING INSPIRATION
Saturday, May 27 | 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm | HUB
No artist is an island: Whenever a comic creator puts pen to paper (or stylus to tablet for that matter) they are is drawing upon a wide range of influences and inspirations, from comics and paintings to diverse cultural traditions, and of course the occasional bit of pop culture that imprinted on them when they were young and impressionable!
During this freewheeling and illuminating discussion, creators Fábio Moon, Sara Alfageeh and Cole Pauls will reveal the sometimes surprising inspirations from the world of comics and beyond that inform their art and creative process.
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Panel : Sympathy for the Devil: Creating Challenging (Yet Captivating) Characters
Saturday, May 27 | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | HUB
Bad behaviour, suspect motivations, problematic attitudes, and cringe-worthy moments: Graphic novels and comics have a long and proud history of showcasing characters who push way beyond the narrow confines of the “likeable protagonist.” Cartoonists know that flawed, exasperating, and even straight-up monstrous characters are not only a lot of fun to write, but also can serve as a dark mirror for examining both individual failings and societal dysfunctions writ large. What are the challenges and opportunities in creating characters that readers will love despite (or perhaps because of) their flaws?
Come listen in as creators Aisha Franz (Work-Life Balance) Walter Scott (Wendy: Master of Art) and Joe Ollmann (Fictional Father) discuss the ways they bring their challenging and captivating characters to life on the page.
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