SPX Splendor

Posted: Wednesday, September 14, 2005
By: Darren Schroeder

SPX 2004

The Small Press Expo (SPX) is proud to announce Harvey Pekar as its guest of honor at its eleventh annual expo to be held September 23-24, 2005 at the Holiday Inn in Bethesda, just one mile from the Nation's Capital. The SPX is the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comic books, alternative political cartoonists and discovery of new creative talent that attracts thousands every year.

Harvey Pekar enjoys a prominent position in contemporary literary culture. His graphic novel series American Splendor, was made into a hit movie starring Paul Giamatti, with Mr. Pekar also making an appearance. Mr. Pekar’s other books include American Splendor: Our Cancer Year, Our Movie Year and 2 volumes of American Splendor stories. He also writes music and book critiques, and has been a long time personality on WKSU radio in Kent, Ohio. Mr. Pekar has a new graphic novel coming out in late October, The Quitter, from the VERTIGO imprint of DC Comics. More information on Mr. Pekar, including his blog, is available at his website http://www.harveypekar.com .

SPX brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, political cartoon books and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. A series of panel discussions will also be held of interest to readers, academicians and creators of graphic novels and political cartoons .

The Expo will be open to the public from 2 pm – 8 pm Friday, September 23 and 10am - 7 pm Saturday, September 24. Admission is $8 for a single day and $15 for both days.

The Expo culminates with the presentation of the ninth annual Ignatz Awards for outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. The Ignatz is the first Festival Prize in the US comic book industry, with winners chosen by balloting during the SPX.

For more information, visit the SPX 2005 web site at http://www.spxpo.com.

As in previous years, all profits from the SPX will go to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), protecting the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals. For more information on the CBLDF, go to their website at http://www.cbldf.org/.



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