SPX 2008: A Quick Guide

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The Small Press Expo runs Saturday and Sunday, and Scott A. Rosenberg has compiled a quick guide to recommended books that are really new or debuting at the show, as well as some top picks among the panel discussions and a hat tip to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

CAN'T MISS NEW OR RECENT BOOKS:
» "Essex County Volume 3: The Country Nurse" by Jeff Lemire (Top Shelf)
» "Burma Chronicles" by Guy Delisle (Drawn and Quarterly)
» "Local" by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly (Oni Press)
» "Crogan's Vengeance" by Chris Schweizer (Oni Press)
» "Sulk Vol. 1: Bighead and Friends" by Jeffrey Brown (Top Shelf)
» "Labor Days" by Phil Gelatt and Rick Lacy (Oni Press)
» "Uncle Slam Fights Back" by TJ Kirsch (Oni Press)
» "Too Cool to be Forgotten" by Alex Robinson (Top Shelf)
» "The Lagoon" by Lille Carre (Fantagraphics)
» "Fuzz & Pluck: Splitsville" by Ted Stearn (Fantagraphics)
» "Man of Rock: A Biography of Joe Kubert" by Bill Schelly (Fantagraphics)
» "Petey & Pussy" by John Kerschbaum (Fantagraphics)
» "American Presidents" by David Levine (Fantagraphics)
» "Popeye Volume 3" by E.C. Segar (Fantagraphics)
» "Godspeed, President Meal Ticket: Some Guy With a Website's Final Chance to Cash In On the Bush Administration" by August J. Pollack (self-published)
» "Lil' Bluey" by Chris Pitzer and Sam Millen (AdHouse Books)
» "Spadefoot" by Matt Dembicki and Andrew Cohen (Three Crows Press)
» "Swallow Me Whole" by Nate Powell (Top Shelf)
» "The Night of Your Life" by Jesse Reklaw (Dark Horse Comics)
» "Against Pain" by Ron Rege Jr. (Drawn and Quarterly)
» "Fight or Run" by Kevin Huizenga (Buenaventura Press)

RECOMMENDED PANEL DISCUSSIONS (For schedules check online at spxpo.com. Here are some highlights.)
» Tom Tomorrow Q+A
» "Frontline Cartooning: The Editorial Page" with Ted Rall, Matt Wuerker, Nate Beeler and Frank Cammuso
» "Drawing the Election" with Ruben Bolling, Jen Sorenson, Keith Knight, and Mikhaela Reid.
» Richard Thompson Spotlight
» Joost Swarte Spotlight
» Ben Katchor Spotlight
» Bryan Lee O'Malley Spotlight
» "Critics' Roundtable" with Rob Clough, Gary Groth, Tim Hodler and Joe "Jog" McCulloch
» "Cartooning in Collaboration/Collaboration in Cartooning" with Issac Cates, Mike Wenthe, Becky Cloonan, Mike Dawson, Jim Ottaviani, Frank Santoro, and Dash Shaw
» "Background, Setting and Subject" with Kevin Hizenga, Jason Lutes and Ben Katchor
» "Herge and the Clear Line" with Joost Swarte, Jason Lutes and Kim Thompson

CBLDF AUCTION
If you want to give something back to the comics' community, The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a non-profit organization that helps defend cartoonist first amendment rights, will be hosting a number of auctions the help raise funds. The most awesome is an auction for "The Owly-Caster," a fully function electric guitar designed and painted by "Owly" creator Andy Runton. In addition, the organization will have prints by Joost Swarte and Ben Katchor who will be at the CBLDF's table signing.

» Marriott Bethesda North Hotel, 5701 Marinelli Road, Bethesda; Oct. 4 & 5, Sat. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sun. 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., $8-$15; 301-822-9200. (White Flint)

Images courtesy SPX