Category Archives: Conventions

Free Comic Book Day returns May 2, 2026 and expands to Friendly Local Game Stores!

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Free Comic Book Day 2026

After lots of doubt about it’s future, Free Comic Book Day returns in 2026 on May 2 but gets juiced with even more!

The best day of comics so far features releases from Archie Comics, DC Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, Image Comics, Mad Cave Studios, Oni Press, Titan Comics, Udon Entertainment, and Vault Comics!

Those publishers are all handled by Universal Distribution and Lunar. What’s missing is Penguin Random House’s exclusive publishers like Marvel, BOOM! Studios, IDW Publishing, Ignition Press, DSTLRY and more. There’s rumblings of their own event also on May 2.

But, it’s expanding to friendly local game stores!

So far, Upper Deck and Wizards of the Coast are supporting the event and the goal is to appeal to fans of tabletop board games, RPGs, and trading cards, on top of comic book fans! Traditionally, game stores have had their own days like Free RPG Day and International Tabletop Day.

Universal Distribution, which purchased some of Diamond’s assets, will be handling the event. Universal, while mainly has been focused on distribution in Canada for comics and games, has been teasing an expansion into the United States and more of a marriage between comics and games for distribution.

The Lake Como Comic Art Festival Returns with a Spectacular Line Up of 2026 Guests

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Lake Como Comic Art Festival

The annual Lake Como Comic Art Festival returns to the magnificent Villa Erba with new and exciting additions in 2026. This year the festival offers four ticket tiers including an all-new VIP Ticket Package for 2026 which features a one-of-a-kind exclusive art print portfolio by Liam Sharp, spotlighting Conan the Barbarian. Each print portfolio includes an original hand-drawn remarque and signature from Liam—not a reproduction, but original art!

The celebrated art festival offers attendees an exclusive experience like no other. The intimate atmosphere offers enthusiastic fans and collectors the opportunity to engage in conversation and purchase original art from world renowned comic book artists in a stunning location. The three-day event begins Friday, April 24th, with an opening reception overlooking the breathtaking lake and gardens of the historic Villa Erba in Cernobbio, Lake Como, Italy, and will run for two full days, Saturday, April 25th and Sunday, April 26th.

The Lake Como Comic Art Festival is a unique event, with a focus solely on the art of comics, crafted by the organizers of the Big Wow Comic Fest in California and the Paris Comic Expo. The curated guest list showcases the artwork of the world’s top artists in the industry. This year’s guest list includes: Alan Davis, Alex Maleev, Alvaro Martinez Bueno, Andy Belanger, Brian Bolland, Carmen Carnero, Dani, David Mack, Dustin Nguyen, Enrique Breccia, Enrico Marini, Esad Ribic, Frank Cho, Gabriele Dell’Otto, Gary Frank, J Scott Campbell, Joe Chiodo, Jordi Bernet, Joshua Cassara, Juanjo Guarnido, Liam Sharp, Mahmud Asrar, Monte Michael Moore, Olivier Vatine, Patrick McDonnell, Pepe Larraz, Riccardo Federici, Rick Leonardi, Sanjulian, Sara Pichelli, Scott Hampton, Stanley Artgerm Lau, Sylvain Repos, Tanya Lehoux, and Terry Dodson.

The Lake Como Comic Art Festival offers multiple ticketing levels: an All-Access Pass, a 2 Day Pass, a Single Day Pass, and for those looking for something extra special there is the all-new VIP Ticket Package for Lake Como 2026. The All-Access Pass for the 2026 Festival is available for purchase, with the 2-Day and Single Day options going on sale in 2026.

The All-Access Pass—On Sale Today, December 9, 2025

  • Includes Opening Night Reception: Friday, April 24
  • Everything in the 2-Day Pass
  • 2026 Lake Como Fine Art Portfolio & Swag Bag

The 2-Day Festival Pass—Goes On Sale January 2026

  • 2-Day Ticket: April 25-26, 2026
  • Entry to All Workshops & Panels
  • 2026 Lake Como Fine Art Portfolio & Swag Bag

The Single Day Pass—Goes On Sale February 2026

  • Choose Saturday, April 24 or Sunday, April 26 one Day Pass
  • Access to the Artist’s Hall, Workshops & Panels

The 2026 VIP Pass Includes:

  • Conan Art Portfolio by Liam Sharp with original remarque
  • Access to the Opening Night Reception: Friday, April 24
  • Special 2026 Variant Covers (full list announced soon)
  • Guaranteed access to limited-run items before the general public
  • 2026 Lake Como Fine Art Portfolio & Swag Bag

Programming and more highlights will be announced in the coming weeks.

Celebrate 5 Years of Dissident Publishing with Street Noise at the NYPL!

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Street Noise Books 5 Years of Dissident Publishing New York Public Library

Join Street Noise Books this Friday, December 12 at 6pm! Dissidence and activism are core foundations of Street Noise Book’s graphic novel publishing program. Dedicated to raising up the stories and voices of BIPOC, queer, neurodivergent, and disabled people, the publisher celebrates its fifth anniversary this year. Street Noise Books is celebrating its 5-year anniversary with a panel featuring some of its top creators! 

This event will take place in person at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library, 455 Fifth Avenue, NYC in room 7C on the 7th Floor.

This roundtable with Street Noise publisher Liz Frances and authors Makee (Call Me Emma), Jesse Mechanic (The Last Time We Spoke), Bishakh Som (Spellbound), and Tracy White (Unaccompanied) with Badiucao and Melissa Chan (You Must Take Part in Revolution) joining remotely from Australia and Berlin, and Mohammad Sabaaneh (Power Born of Dreams and Eyes on Gaza) joining remotely from the West Bank, will feature a discussion on what it means to be an activist publisher and author today — and how we all work to change the world for the better on local and global fronts. 

There will be books and stickers and buttons given away.

Solis Game Studio announces a Massive-Verse Fighting Card Game Tournament on Board Game Arena

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Solis Game Studio is celebrating the beta launch of the Massive-Verse Fighting Card Game on Board Game Arena with two tournaments next week (Standard on 12/19 and Legacy on 12/20)! The tournaments will start at 4:30pm PST each day. 

The tournament winners will receive a custom playmat with their winning character (or team of characters)! 

Sign up by 3pm PST on 12/19 and find out all the details! 

Binc Offers Double the Scholarships to ComicsPRO Industry Meeting

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BINC

The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation will provide four scholarships for comic store owners and their employees to attend the ComicsPRO industry meeting in Glendale, CA, February 18-21, 2026. The funds, up to $1,500 per scholarship, may be used for travel, lodging, and meals; ComicsPRO will cover the registration fee for the meeting. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, at 5 p.m. EST. 

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • The applicant’s store must be in the U.S. or U.S. territories and be either a retail bricks-and-mortar store owned by an entity, a substantial portion of whose revenue is derived from the bricks-and-mortar sale of books/comics, or mobile or pop-up store with an ongoing overhead investment that is open to the general public and maintains an annual average of 30 hours per week with an employee present.
  • The applicant must be a regular part-time or full-time employee or owner of a comic shop.
  • Applicants must be currently employed and have 90 days of continuous employment with the comic shop.
  • Applicants must discuss application and potential selection as scholarship recipient with store owner/manager prior to applying for the scholarship.

MUTTS Creator Patrick McDonnell’s National Gift of Everything Tour continues this December!

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The Gift of Everything

Award-winning MUTTS creator Patrick McDonnell has entertained readers around the world with his beloved syndicated comic strip which has appeared in over 700 newspapers across 20 countries for 30 years. The prolific creator has been hitting the road to celebrate the release of his new children’s book The Gift of Everything and the 20th anniversary edition of the bestselling children’s classic The Gift of Nothing. McDonnell began the tour with an appearance at Doylestown Bookshop in Doylestown, PA and a signing at New York Comic Con, the national tour also includes celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Peanuts at The Charles Schulz Museum. 

In The Gift of Everything, Mooch the cat is searching for the perfect gift for his best friend, Earl the dog. But what, wonders Mooch, is perfect? Mooch soon discovers the answer: Everyone… Everywhere… Everything! As he sees the world around him with new eyes and a fresh feeling of gratitude, Mooch is delighted that he has just the right person to share it all with! In this joyful rhyming companion to The Gift of Nothing, the stars of the beloved comic strip MUTTS discover and celebrate the precious gift of being alive.

McDonnell has produced over a dozen picture books, including New York Times bestsellers The Gift of Nothing and Me . . . Jane (a Caldecott Honor biography of Jane Goodall). Both were adapted as musicals for the Kennedy Center. He has collaborated on books with author Eckhart Tolle (Guardians of Being), poet Daniel Ladinsky (Darling, I Love You), and His Holiness the Dalai Lama (Heart to Heart). This year will see the West Coast premier of The Gift of Nothing – A Musical for Children of All Ages at the Marin Theater in Mill Valley, California. This production originally debuted at the Kennedy Center.

The Marin Theater event is the  West Coast Premiere of The Gift of Nothing, a heartwarming new musical for children of all ages and their families based on the book of the same name by Patrick McDonnell featuring his beloved Mutts comic strip characters, Mooch and Earl. This special production marks only the second time this musical has ever been staged and coincides with the 20th anniversary celebration of the original book—just in time for the holiday season.

With Gift of Nothing Day coming up on December 15, it’s the perfect time to celebrate McDonnell’s amazing books. 

2025 Upcoming Tour Dates

Past Dates

Thank you to everyone who joined and helped to make these events so wonderful!

Fans can learn more about McDonnell’s tour here. The Gift of Everything and The Gift of Nothing Anniversary Edition are both be available from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

The 2026 Edition of the Angoulême Comics Festival Officially Cancelled

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After threats of boycotts, a pulling of funding, and general distrust of the organizers, the 2026 edition of the Angoulême Comics Festival has been cancelled.

The issue the lead to this is over claims of toxic management and the dismissal of a staff member who had lodged a rape complaint. She was fired after going to the police to report the rape during the 2024 festival. The public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the complaint and she has taken her case to the Paris industrial tribunal to contest her dismissal.

Cultural minister Rachida Dati withdrew €200,000 (£176,000, $231,000) of public funds from the festival and had invited those boycotting it to a meeting.

The festival, first held in 1974, has been managed by 9eArt+ since 2007 even though it is a non-profit. Franck Bondoux the most recent director of 9eArt announced he would step down last week. 9eArt’s contract was recently renewed only inflaming tensions further.

Hundreds said they would “girlcott” the festival in support of the staffer fired along with numerous high profile publishers. Nine organizations and unions representing authors and illustrators stated they would not attend January’s event if it were held. They want the festival to no longer be managed by 9eArt+ with a refocus on rebuilding its values.

With the cancelation it could lead to an economic catastrophe for the local area it is held. The festival attracts over 200,000 visitors each year. The  festival would have taken place January 29 to February 1, 2026. 

Baltimore Comic-Con 2026 Tickets are On Sale!

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Baltimore Comic Con 2026

Next year’s Baltimore Comic-Con will take place at the Inner Harbor’s Baltimore Convention Center on September 25-27, 2026. In advance of the holiday season (and in response to numerous inquiries from fans!), tickets for the show are now on sale. Get that special someone a unique gift this holiday season.

Tickets currently available include:

  • VIP*
  • Weekend Pass
  • Friday only
  • Saturday only
  • Sunday only

As always, children 10 and under are free with a paid adult admission!

VIP ticket holders receive the following package items and benefits:

  • Exclusive early admission to all 3 days of the show
  • 2026 Baltimore Comic-Con Exclusive Convention T-Shirt (size subject to availability)
  • 2026 Baltimore Comic-Con Yearbook with a VIP Exclusive Cover
  • Show-exclusive lithograph

This year’s confirmed guests for the show include: Jason Aaron (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Gene Ha (Mae), Tony Harris (The Whistling Skull), Dan Jurgens (Action Comics), Jae Lee (Inhumans), Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise), Kevin Nowlan (Batman: Sword of Azrael), Ryan Ottley (Invincible), Matthew Dow Smith (DC’s Misfits of Magic), and Scott Snyder (DC K.O.),

Joseph Illidge’s Illuminous workshop comes to Everyone Comics in Long Island City

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Everyone Comics and Illuminous

Breaking into comics isn’t just about talent; it’s about clarity, strategy, and knowing how to build ideas that can survive the industry’s churn. On Saturday, December 6th, comics creator Joseph Illidge and his company Illuminous will bring a high-impact crash course in story architecture, IP development, and industry navigation to Everyone Comics (41-26 27th St, LIC). The shop, famous for bringing “culture to a high-class, fast-growing neighborhood”, has become a haven for new voices and ambitious creators fighting to break in on their own terms. 

The one-day workshop is built for creators ready to develop original IP, pitch with confidence, and move their projects forward. Illidge’s career spans DC Comics, Image Comics, Heavy Metal, Simon & Schuster, and Todd McFarlane Productions, with credits including New History of the DC Universe: The Dakota Incident, The Shadow Cabinet, Bloodletter, and a newly announced film franchise deal with 50 Cent’s G-Unit Film & Television based on XERO. A longtime architect of the modern comics landscape—shaping Batman, Batgirl, Catwoman, and major creator-driven lines, he has distilled decades of experience into a practical, laser-focused methodology for building ideas that last.

Attendees will learn how to identify the true engine of their story, strengthen it for long-term viability, and prepare it for expansion across mediums: comics, animation, film, games, and beyond.

For writers, artists, indie creators, and anyone trying to break into comics with an original idea, this workshop offers the kind of clarity most people spend years chasing.

The Illuminous Workshop takes place Saturday, December 6th, 5-7 PM, at Everyone Comics & Collectibles, 41-26 27th St, Long Island City, NY 11101. Seats are limited, sign up today!

PAX Unplugged Will Return to Philadelphia December 4 – 6, 2026

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PAX Unplugged

PAX Unplugged 2026, the East Coast’s most-attended tabletop gaming event, will return to the Pennsylvania Convention Center Friday, December 4, 2026, through Sunday, December 6, 2026, as revealed at the end of this year’s show. 

Show organizers ReedPop and Penny Arcade welcomed tens of thousands attendees from all over the world, with even more fans taking part in the festivities through Twitch, YouTube, and other online platforms.

Highlights from the weekend include a storytime keynote with Isaac Childres, the Co-Founder of Cephalofair Games and designer of their award-winning RPG Gloomhaven. Several panels took place including from the UK-based publisher Modiphius on their upcoming release Fallout: The Roleplaying Game – Royal Flush, along with developer Darrington Press on what comes next for their popular RPG, Daggerheart. 

The show featured more than 300 exhibitors ranging from the industry’s biggest names to indie developers and Philly-based companies. Beyond the showfloor, attendees had the opportunity to check out competitive gaming tournaments, tabletop freeplay areas, and more.

For fans who can’t wait until PAX Unplugged returns next year, PAX East 2026, the East Coast’s most-attended gaming event featuring tabletop, gaming, and pop culture, returns to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center from Thursday, March 26, through Sunday, March 29, 2026, with badges on sale now.

PAX West 2026, the West Coast’s most-attended gaming event, returns to the Seattle Convention Center next Labor Day weekend from Friday, Sept. 4, through Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, with badges going on sale in the coming months. 

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