APE 2011: A Day at Alternative Press Expo
by Iris Mori, Reporter
Whether or not you’re an aspiring comic artist, writer, or publisher, or if you just want to see something new, APE is an amazing journey 
into the New, in a very low-key setting. This approach encourages anyone to expand their horizons, be it new prints, copies of comics you’ve never seen before, or for new approaches to your craft.
into the New, in a very low-key setting. This approach encourages anyone to expand their horizons, be it new prints, copies of comics you’ve never seen before, or for new approaches to your craft. For two days in San Francisco, the early morning fog lifted to make way for a warm Indian summer weekend at the Concourse Exhibition Center, where over 6000 attendees looked for The Next Best Thing. It’s a good thing APE wasn’t at the Moscone, because a Moscone Convention Center-full of indie comics options would be like putting this reporter into the Jelly Belly Factory with a no-limit credit card…
A short, convenient shuttle from Downtown San Francisco to the site brought attendees to the Concourse. In addition to the familiar faces, Drawn and Quarterly, Bob the Angry Flower, et al, there was heavy representation from local artists, which reflected the sheer diversity of the Bay Area–steampunk, LGBT, anime, slice of life–whatever your interest is, it was sure to be there, in print form.
Or other formats, such as this large-scale mural by Ray Sumser…can you find your favorite characters in this photo?
Or for people with a weakness for felt cuteness, there were plenty of options, like these two-good-to-eat creations from JAKC Designs:
Some aspired to the the Next Best Thing themselves. The intimate venue encouraged conversation with exhibitors and guests alike, and in fact made for very approachable, friendly dialogue. Artists graced every exhibitor table, sketching their creative fancies on notebook paper. I caught Russ Manning, creator of “The Adventures of the 19XX” in action at his booth:
And for those who didn’t have their own creations to take to the next step via the Comic Creator Connection, a kind of speed-dating 
service that matches writers and artists, or workshops running the gamut from bookbinding to worldbuilding, there were other activities to be had–as expected, there were only a few “Stick Figure Theater” attempts–most sketches were high-quality stuff.
service that matches writers and artists, or workshops running the gamut from bookbinding to worldbuilding, there were other activities to be had–as expected, there were only a few “Stick Figure Theater” attempts–most sketches were high-quality stuff.Even if you were there strictly as an observer (only stick figures ever came out of my sketchpads), there were other amusements to be had–Storm gave me a reading using his X-men card deck, integrating traditional Tarot themes with the X-men mythos and storylines. His reading were a fascinating look into my Past, Present…and Future (which included embracing my inner Jubilee back before she got all crazy).
Discovery. That’s the one-word description of the Alternative Press Expo. It just might be that this gem of a convention flew under just about everyone’s radar, but if you missed it this year, if you’re in town for APE next year, it’s definitely something to mark on your calendar– it’s not something that should be missed.
Keep wandering the exhibit halls toward ComicsOnline.com, for more event coverage and everything geek pop culture!
