Sunday, December 6, 2020 at 4:30 – 6:00 PM EST

Join us for a free virtual comics workshop with Andi Santagata. Sponsored by MICE, Priya’s Shakti, Baturu Festival. Workshop is in English streaming on YouTube Live.

About the Workshop
Translating Nonfiction into (Genre) Fiction: Writing True Experiences into Fantastical Situations – Genre fiction in comics provides a rich toolset for expressing nonfictional ideas, from the literal allegory to the expansive, fine-tuned deep-dive. Focusing on the supernatural, sci-fi, and fantasy genres, we’ll explore how to translate your own emotional experiences and journeys into fully formed synopses for genre fiction comics. Using character design, setting, and messing with genre tropes, we’ll build a strong plot core to express your innermost loudest thought(s), then see what that might look like in three different genres, using worldbuilding and character design to create three unique synopses – hopefully untangling some of our own questions about our experiences along the way, too.

Register with Eventbrite
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It’s the last week of the Month of MICE and your last chance to join us for some live, free independent comics programming! Week 4 is jam-packed with insightful panels, hands-on workshops, and an exhilarating live drawing competition finale (don’t miss out on Round 2 of Iron Cartoonist this Saturday at 7:00 PM EDT). Read on to hear about everything this week of MICE has in store for you.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22

7:00 – 8:00 PM EDT: Remembering John Lewis through MARCH

Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis worked closely with writer Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell on March, his award-winning and groundbreaking graphic novel trilogy about the movement he helped shape. Join Andrew and Nate in a live conversation with cartoonist and historian Joel Christian Gill and moderator WBUR’s Quincy Walters as they discuss the current relevance of the themes explored in March, talk about the ways Lewis impacted them, and share memories of working with the icon who would become their friend. Co-presented by WBUR CitySpace. Register now!

We are barely halfway through the Month of MICE! Can you even believe it?! There are still 2 more weeks of comics programming left. This coming week has loads in store, including artist talks, live drawing competitions (did somebody say Iron Cartoonist?!), and panels and workshops galore. JUST ANNOUNCED: Remembering John Lewis, a conversation with Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell, and Joel Christian Gill. Read on to learn about everything week 3 has to offer.

MICE’s mission has always been to bring independent comics creators and readers together, and this year is no different. Our Creator Showcase is MICE’s version of a virtual exhibit floor. Between panels, MICE will air short video spots by dozens of independent comic creators, showing off their latest work. These amazing artists and writers will include the 32 winners of this year’s $100 Mini-Grants. It’s a special opportunity, bringing self-published and small-press creators together with readers in a way that usually only happens in person.

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MICE is thrilled to introduce THE SQUEAK: a podcast about MICE. 

How can you have a whole podcast about a comics festival? Well, a podcast about MICE is a podcast about independent comics. Our goal is for The Squeak to act as an extension of MICE; we will bring you lively conversations about comics and resources for making them from a diversity of voices and perspectives. 

The first episode of our show is out today! We hope you’ll give it a listen wherever you listen to podcasts:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RadioPublic 

Stitcher

Please find a full transcript at https://bit.ly/2HXflRy.

Did you enjoy the first weekend of Month of MICE programming? Well, buckle up because we have 3 more weeks of comics goodness for your virtual entertainment!

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7

We’re launching a podcast! Introducing THE SQUEAK, a podcast of stories from MICE. Our first episode airs on Wednesday, October 7th, but you can listen to the trailer and subscribe now!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8

7:00 – 8:00 PM EDT: Fully Funded: A Kickstarter Q&A

This week’s programming kicks off with a conversation between Oriana Leckert, Kickstarter’s Senior Outreach Lead for Publishing and Comics, and Olivia Li, a cartoonist and veteran Kickstarter creator. They’ll share tips, tricks, and pitfalls to avoid when building your campaign. Register now!

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9

8:00 – 9:00 PM EDT: Twitter Chat about Comics Careers with the Graphic Artists Guild

Join in on Twitter to discuss the state of the comics industry, how we create and promote our work, and how to advocate for ourselves and others. @MassMICE @GaGuild Please use hashtag #GuildMICE.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10

2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT: Democracy, How? Civics in Comics

Join us for a discussion moderated by R. Sikoryak with panelists Ally Shwed, Chris Lanier, Dan Nott, and Silvia Hidalgo, creators who have used the comics form to explore, explain, and illustrate histories and processes that are vital to the understanding of our institutions and the performance of our civic duties. Sponsored by The Center for Cartoon Studies. Register now!

MICE is proud to announce the 32 winners of the 2020 MICE Mini-Grants! In order to support the comics community, The Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo awards MICE Mini-Grants to a few outstanding new mini-comics each year in order to help offset their print and production costs. While our show might look a little different this year, we’re still committed to celebrating the best in mini-comics and have expanded the awards to 32 grants of $100 each. 

The Month of MICE kicks off this weekend! All Month of MICE programs are free and open to the public (with registration required!). Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s schedule.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3

2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT: What’s New in Graphic Memoir

This panel moderated by A. David Lewis will explore how panelists Joel Christian Gill, Sophie Yanow, and Georgia Webber shape lived experience – including trauma, illness, and other important passages – into engaging graphic narratives. Co-presented with the Boston Book Festival. Register now!

3:00 – 4:00 PM EDT: MICE Creator Showcase

Tune in between panels and check out the MICE Creator Showcase, our version of a virtual exhibit floor. Enjoy this collection of short video spots by dozens of independent comic creators, showing off their latest work.

Are you ready for the Month of MICE this October?! The first two weeks of the schedule for our month-long virtual independent comics festival are now live! Stay tuned as we’ll be releasing even more programming very soon.

Join us on weekends (and a few Thursdays as well!) in October for free online comics-focused programming for all ages, including panel discussions, creative workshops, and entertaining drawing competitions. Read On

While MICE might look pretty different this October as a virtual festival, it wouldn’t be the same without the unique stories and voices found in mini-comics. In 2020, The Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo will award 30 MICE Mini-Grants of $100 each! Creators from New England and beyond are encouraged to submit previously unpublished print mini-comics for consideration through August 1st.

The expanded Mini-Grant program is made possible thanks to a matching financial contribution from PrintNinja. We are also excited to announce our partnership with Radiator Comics, which offers winning entries an open opportunity for retail and online distribution.

See our full Application Guidelines and start your pencils.

To ensure the safety of our exhibitors, attendees, and staff during the ongoing pandemic, we are no longer planning MICE 2020 as a physical event. Instead we will be transforming MICE 2020 into a virtual festival. Our mission has always been to provide a platform for independent comics creators to sell their comics as well as to encourage people of all ages to read comics and learn how to make them. To fulfill that mission, we’re planning the following:

• Expanded MICE Mini-Grants: In 2020 we will award 30 MICE Mini-Grants of $100 each! Creators from New England and beyond are encouraged to submit previously unpublished print mini-comics for consideration through August 1st. Read our full Application Guidelines.
• “Month of MICE” programming: During the month of October, MICE will host multiple live online programs with panels, special guest interviews, drawing games, and cartooning workshops.

It’s not easy to virtually recreate what makes MICE so special. But we will bring you something that is as welcoming and fun while supporting our independent cartoonists. Join our mailing list to stay informed and we’ll see you in October.

While safely social distancing in our respective homes, we can think of no better comfort than that of a good comic. We’re very lucky here in the Greater Boston area to have some truly phenomenal independent comic shops and bookstores. With everything that’s going on, these businesses are being adversely affected, and they need our help! Consider supporting our community of local independent comic shops and bookstores by placing an order or purchasing gift certificates. Read on for all the ways you can help!
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