Conventions

February 21 & 22, 1998

Report: CBLDF Goes A.P.E.!

Thanks to a generous donation of booth space, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was able to attend the fifth annual Alternative Press Expo on February 21st and 22nd in San Jose, CA. A.P.E. is run by its founder, Dan Vado, publisher of Slave Labor Graphics, and is a production of Comicon International. This year's line-up was extraordinary, including well-known creators Mike Allred, Johnen Vasquez, Terry Moore, Batton Lash, Shannon Wheeler, Jill Thompson, and over a hundred more.

This was the first two-day APE, and also the first show for our new Executive Director, Christopher Oarr. "I can't think of a better place to start things out," Oarr said. "I've been running the Small Press Expo for three years now, so obviously I enjoy alternative comics. Dan Vado and Comicon put on an outstanding show. The people I met at San Jose were extremely friendly and supportive of the Fund. And there was so much great talent packed in the convention hall that not even El Nino could slow things down!"

The Fund raised more than $1400, nearly double what we brought in last year. There was a special art auction which benefited the CBLDF, including original pieces donated by Jeff Smith (Bone), Eddie Campbell (From Hell), Pete Bagge (Hate), Donna Barr (Desert Peach), Ed Brubaker (Detour), and Steve Weissman (Yikes!). Dozens of "indy" artists also donated art, raising $600 for the Fund. Many thanks to everyone who helped out.

Special thanks go to Paul Pope, who donated an original portrait of Suzi Biggs, the lead character from his forthcoming full-length novel, By the Balls. Pope's art was raffled off at the Comic Relief booth. Jim Pascoe, who co-wrote the comic with Tom Fassbender, said "we're very excited to be working with Paul Pope, and we wanted to share that excitement with the fans at A.P.E." And they did! At $1 a ticket, the raffle raised nearly $100 for the Fund.

"Altogether, it was an extremely up-beat show," Oarr said. "It's gratifying to see so many different approaches to the medium under one roof. I'm optimistic about the future of comics, and A.P.E. V confirmed my outlook completely."

Asked if he "Swung Like an APE" at Saturday's theme party, Oarr refused comment. "I have nothing to say, and anyway you can't prove a thing."

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1986 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights for members of the comics community. Donations and inquiries should be directed to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

For additional information, call 413-268-7776 or e-mail the CBLDF staff.

271 Madison Avenue, Suite 1400
New York, NY 10016
800-99-CBLDF
info@cbldf.org

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