Since 2013 we’ve hosted a Holiday Art Show to benefit the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, where local artists create custom comic book covers that are won in a basket raffle system where one dollar gets you one ticket to the cover of your choice. We’re excited to announce that this year’s theme is “Super Heroes in Cleveland!”

Here’s how you participate!

Please stop by the shop and pick up a blank comic cover from us. They are free of charge, and you can do two if you like. Please complete the cover with any medium you choose. (This includes digital. Many people now print their art out on cardstock and glue it to the book’s cover.) Give us your interpretation of the theme, any representation of superheroes (and heroines of course) in Cleveland. This can have a holiday component, or not, that’s all up to you as the artist.

The artwork must be turned in by Sunday, December 14th at 5pm. Please keep artwork to the front of the cover only, we only have the ability to display them this way. When you return your artwork, please have your name and contact info on the back, along with the link to any URL you might have of your artwork. Artwork is displayed from December 17th to the 20th and won through the aforementioned basket raffle system where one dollar gets you one ticket towards the cover(s) of your choice.

Winners will be drawn live at our Holiday Party on the night of December 20th, all are welcome to attend! This is your chance to turn your artistic skills into food for those in need during the holidays. This is you doing something good for your community while being part of a bigger whole. Please share this info with any artist friends you may have. This art show is a big deal to us, people need to have food security during the holidays and all year long. We are incredibly grateful to you all for your support of our endeavors.

Here are a few of last year’s covers for inspiration…

Art by Tim Switalski

Art by Ed Smolko

Art by Brian Kirby

SAVE THE DATE

Save the date for our Holiday Customer Appreciation Party on December 20th! It runs from 8pm to 11pm, and we draw the winners live at 10:30pm. Free refreshments, we brew our own beer, and everyone gets a coupon for 50% off any one item to use at the party. We love our holiday party, it’s us at our best while we’re all working towards a great cause.

The Greater Cleveland Food Bank has the uncanny ability to turn one dollar into three full meals for those in need, last year we set a record, collecting $8717 and helping to create 26,151 meals (!) This brought our lifetime event total up to 185,647 meals. This number is a testament to your creativity, talent and support. We just set the stage.

Please consider helping us out this year if you have the time! We see you and we appreciate you.

NOVEMBER EVENTS

There will be no Late Nite Comics this month; instead, we’re going to double down on Black Friday and give you one of our best sales ever.

We’ve amassed so many back issues this year that we’ll never get around to processing so it’s time for a major purge. We’re allowed to use the foyer next to the shop that weekend, so we plan to have ONE HUNDRED NEW LONG BOXES OF DOLLAR STOCK in there. Stuff that has never been picked through or seen before. (Who knows what’s in there!) We will also have 50% off all back issues, including the wall, so bring those lists! Dollar stock will be a straight dollar a book, no discounts, as again, this is all brand new dollar stock. We’re even going to extend the sale by a day to give you plenty of time to dollar dive. Wednesday, Nov 26th to Sunday, November 30th. (closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving.) This is huge! We’ve been working on freeing up those hundred long boxes for months now.

 November 29th is Small Business Saturday, so in addition to the aforementioned sale, we’ll also have a special guest in conjunction with Genghis Con this year. The amazing NATE POWELL will be joining us for a free open signing from 6pm to 7pm.

Nate’s best known for his work on the original “MARCH” graphic novels, written by Congressman Jon Lewis. He’s won an Eisner, Ignatz, and National Book Awards. He’s got a great punk DIY mentality, and we’re looking forward to meeting him at the shop. You can stop by now and check out some of his books we’ve stocked up on.

Here’s a little more info on Nate from his website and Wikipedia pages:

http://www.seemybrotherdance.org

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nate_Powell

Sunday will be the final day of the sale, and we’ll also be set up at Genghis Con 11am to 5pm.

Cleveland, Ohio’s much-loved Small Press and Independent Comic Convention returns to bring together so many prolific practitioners of independent print media! Cartoonists, zinesters, printmakers, authors, illustrators, small press publishers, educators and advocates converge to exhibit their work, converse about their processes and celebrate the independent print community thriving throughout the greater rust-belt region and beyond!

Genghis Con’s greatest strength has always been our wide spectrum of great exhibitors. From seasoned professionals who have been in the game for decades to fierce rookies exhibiting their first show, we curate our roster to bring together the best possible convention we can for everyone.

You can stop by our table there and pick up a blank cover for the art show. Thanks again for all the support! Access to food has been a hot button item this year we we plan to do our part. Excelsior!