TCAF - Toronto Comic Arts Festival 2007

IN REVIEW: Toronto Comic Arts Festival - TCAF 2007

Yesterday, I hopped on the ol' Go-Train and went to TCAF 2007 (a.k.a. "The Toronto Comic Arts Festival"), which is currently being held at Old Victoria College on the University of Toronto Campus.

Overall, it was a really fun experience and a great place to meet cartoonists of all types. Whether you're into comic books, comic strips, webcomics, graphic novels, or even animation, this is definitely an event you don't want to miss!

Snapshot inside TCAF (Victoria College, University of Toronto).

The old university building in which the festival is held offers a neat "nostalgic" atmosphere ... Although, at times, I felt like I was walking through a labyrinth with more and more cartoonists lurking around every corner.

Along the way, I had the pleasure of chatting with several talented folks, including: Matthew Forsythe (2005, 2006 Eisner Award Nominee), John Martz (Chair of the Canadian chapter of the National Cartoonists Society), Rina Piccolo (Tina's Groove), and Brendan Burford (Syncopated Comics / King Features Syndicate).

In addition to the many talented cartoonists that were promoting their wares, the festival offers a variety of different workshop panels. I sat in on the "Digital Comics and Digital Media Workshop" which featured artists including: Attila Adorjany, Bobby Chu, James Jean, José Villarrubia, and Jim Zubkavich. Each one offered some very creative (and sometimes even funny!) tips on how they work digitally.

For those with young families, the festival also offers some fun stuff for the kids too ... Just outside the building, you'll find the OWLKIDS Family Tent where the young ones can collect the signatures of some of the great illustrators from OWL and CHICKADEE magazines, as well as participate in some "How to Draw" sessions.

Congrats to festival's organizers on a job well done!

For more details about the Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF), I encourage you to visit their website at: http://www.torontocomics.com/tcaf

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope

"Kid Brother" Gag Cartoon in NEW Chicken Soup for the Soul Book

Funnies and Favorites About Growing Up and Being Grown Up.

I'm happy to announce that one of my gag cartoons is published in the new Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrating Brothers & Sisters book. My complimentary copy recently arrived and I've been thoroughly enjoying it from cover-to-cover. The credited authors include: Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Dahlynn McKowen, and Ken McKowen.

This is my first cartoon to appear in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book. Personally, I find it a little ironic because I grew up with two sisters who really enjoy the series, so this seems like a fitting inaugural title to be published in. My cartoon can be found on Page 180 (Chapter 6: Through Our Eyes) . . .

"Kid Brother" in Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrating Brothers & Sisters (2007)

You can click the above image to see the full cartoon ... Better yet, you can purchase your own copy of the book at many popular booksellers, including:

CAD	US

I'd like to finish by extending a special tip-of-the-pen to fellow cartoonist, Dee Adams, creator of the popular Minnie Pauz.

A while back, Dee kindly announced on a cartoonist discussion board we frequent that the Chicken Soup folks were looking for cartoons for this book. I just happened to check-in at the right place and time ... and had a few cartoons ready for submission. Thanks again , Dee!

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope

"Go Easy" Gag Cartoon in Reader's Digest Canada Magazine (August 2007)

The August 2007 issue of Reader's Digest Canada Magazine is now available at bookstores and newsstands.

This month, one of my gag cartoons is published in the As Kids See It department on Page 69 ... If you're not a subscriber, I highly encourage you to pickup a copy of the magazine!

The following gag was inspired by all my video-gaming relatives -- most especially my dad! From those pixelated Commodore 64 and Atari 800 games to PC gaming, and now, the Nintendo Wii ... we've challenged, conquered, and defended our high scores. I only hope that I'm such a worthy opponent for my own kids one day ...

"Go Easy" in Reader's Digest Canada Magazine (August 2007).

Click the above image to see the full cartoon.

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope