The COMP Magazine C.A.K.E.: Chicago Alternative Comics Expo 2019

C.A.K.E.: Chicago Alternative Comics Expo 2019
Center on Halsted
3656 N. Hasted Street
Chicago, Illinois, 60613
June 1-2, 2019
C.A.K.E. – http://www.cakechicago.com

C.A.K.E. is that comics experience where there’s a bit more experimentation and weirdness. There’s an approach to comic creation that tosses the focus on the $$$ to the bin. The works are often personal, opaque, address sexual orientation, and, at times, become true works of art. One of the highlights this past weekend was meeting Eddie Campbell. He’s a true talent, worked with Alan Moore on From Hell (1989-1998), lives in the city, and has made a number of consistent bodies of work (Alec, Bacchus) over a sustained time.

Eddie Campbell, CAKE: Chicago Alternative Comics Expo, 2019 by Chester Alamo-Costello — Eddie Campbell
C.A.K.E.: Chicago Alternative Comics Expo, 2019

Held in the gym at the Center on Hasted, nearly 200 creators gathered from around the country and abroad. C.A.K.E. regularly offers surprises. Due to the nature of this event, new entries cycle through the annually, offering a taste of unknown quantities. This year there appeared to be less local creators. This observation should not be seen as a bad thing. Here, the emphasis is ‘newness” and to adhere to this, there is a need to regularly change up the line-up.

John F. Malta and Siobhán Gallagher, C.A.K.E.: Chicago Alternative Comics Expo, 2019

There were panels on The Occult in Comics and Kramer’s Ergot. Two spotlights were center stage: Ezra Clayton Daniels (Upgrade Soul) and Anders Nilsen (Big Questions). Both artist have produced books that I have reread and used in my comics seminar on more than one occasion. Upgrade Soul is one of the best books, comics, prose, or otherwise, I have read in the past 5 years. It’s special. If you are interested in graphic narratives you MUST read. The dialogue, pacing, and visual systems Daniels employs are genuinely compelling.

CAKE: Chicago Alternative Comics Expo, Chicago, Illinois, 2019 by Chester Alamo-Costello — C.A.K.E.: Chicago Alternative Comics Expo, Center on Halsted, 2019

Once again I spent more $$$ than I should have. These creators deserve my bucks…they take risk, provide new voice to the medium and often tell stories that are truly unfamiliar. If around the city early June next year, I suggest taking a look. There’s certain to be books and stories that you will find interest in. For now, here’s a few pics!