Past Events
- International Comic Arts Forum (ICAF) November 13, 2014 - November 15, 2014
Art by Hanneriina Moisseinen.
The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum is very pleased to serve as the venue for the International Comic Arts Forum’s 17th annual academic conference from November 13-15, 2014.
“ICAF is looking forward to collaborating with the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum to showcase scholarship that complements OSU’s holdings and affirms the library’s commitment to engaging regional, national, and international comics communities.”
Since 1995, the International Comic Arts Forum has been dedicated to promoting the scholarly study and appreciation of comic art, including comic strips, comic books, comics albums and graphic novels, magazine and newspaper cartooning, caricature, and comics in electronic media. The forum provides a supportive, collegial environment to showcase innovative comics scholarship and comic art for critics, historians, teachers, and comics professionals from around the world.
As part of the three day event, we will be visited by a wide range of creators and writers:
Justin Green, author of Binky Brown Meets the Holy Virgin Mary, the first work of extended graphic autobiography in the U.S.
Carol Tyler, author of Late Bloomer and the autobiographical trilogy You’ll Never Know
Phoebe Gloeckner, author of A Child’s Life and Other Stories
Hanneriina Moisseinen, a brilliant cartoonist from Finland and the artist for the ICAF poster
Dash Shaw, cartoonist and animator and author of New School and Bottomless Bellybutton
Jeff Smith, author of Bone and RASL in conversation with Tom Spurgeon, comics historian and journalist
Bart Beaty, author of Comics vs. Art will deliver the academic keynote
Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell (the creators of the graphic novel memoir series March), with special musical guests Sweet Honey in the Rock
In addition, the conference will feature a wide range of exciting academic papers on international and historical topics (see Schedule of Events) which are free and open to the public. For more information visit the International Comic Arts Forum website.
Most of the conference events will be held at the Ohio Union in rooms located on the third floor, with a few events at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum in Sullivant Hall (see Schedule of Events for details). Parking during the day is available in the Ohio Union South garage.
Co-sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, Popular Culture Studies, Department of English, Film Studies Program, Department of Germanic Languages & Literatures, Department of French & Italian, and Department of Comparative Studies, and the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum and University Libraries.
- Will Eisner: Life and Legacy|Presentation by Cartoonist Jeff Smith October 30, 2014
Image: Will Eisner Collection, The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. THE SPIRIT and WILL EISNER are Registered Trademarks of Will Eisner Studios, Inc. Reprinted with permission.
Exhibit Reception from 6:00-7:30 pm | Lecture at 7:30 pm
In celebration of the current exhibition, Will Eisner: 75 Years of Graphic Storytelling, the public is invited to a free presentation by Columbus cartoonist Jeff Smith, creator of the bestselling graphic novel Bone and friend of Will Eisner, on October 30 at 7:30 pm. Smith will discuss the legacy and impact of Will Eisner’s life and career. Prior to the talk, there will be an exhibition reception from 6:00-7:30 pm where you can view the current exhibits and enjoy light refreshments. The talk takes place in the Jean and Charles Schulz Lecture Hall (room 220) on the second floor.
- Rare Manga Collection Open House | October 27, 2014 October 27, 2014
Come explore the rare treasures of one of the largest university manga collections in the world, right here at OSU! The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum holds over 20,000 manga materials spanning its history, genres, and formats. This event is a special opportunity to view these works up-close with specialists on hand to provide the context.
Items on display will include early Japanese newspaper comics of the 1920s (Jiji manga), original art by Osamu Tezuka, Sugoroku (Japanese board games), original sketches by Sugamo Prison inmates, contemporary mangaka portfolios, and more.
From 5:00-5:30 pm there will be a brief presentation on the history of the collection and how to access it for classes or your own pleasure from the Cartoon library & Museum’s reading room.
This event is free and open to the public and takes place in the Will Eisner Seminar Room (room 205).
- Root Hog or Die : A King-Cat Documentary Screening September 26, 2014
Please join us in the Jean and Charles Schulz Lecture Hall (room 220) on Friday, September 26, 2014 at 7:00 PM for a free, evening screening of the new documentary, Root Hog or Die, about ground breaking cartoonist John Porcellino and his 25+ years running the self-published series King-Cat. John Porcellino will introduce the film, and a book signing will be held after the screening.
- An Evening with Tony Millionaire September 4, 2014
image © Tony Millionaire
Please join us Thursday, September 4, 2014 at 7:00 PM as Mr. Tony Millionaire graces the stage at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum’s Jean and Charles Schulz Lecture Hall (room 220,2nd floor) for a conversation with Caitlin McGurk about his eccentric life and cartooning legacy. There will also be a book signing following his presentation. This event is free and open to the public.
Tony Millionaire is the mad genius behind the long-running and frequently mispronounced syndicated comic strip Maakies, which began in 1994 in the New York Press. He is also the creator of a long list of all-ages graphic novels, including Billy Hazelnuts and the Sock Monkey series, which revolves around the beloved character Uncle Gabby and his adventures in an old seaside Victorian house with his stuffed compatriot Mr. Crow. Millionaire also created the Cartoon Network animated Adult Swim series, “The Drinky Crow Show,” based off his Maakies comic strips. Combining all of the mystery and beauty of the work of Johnny Gruelle (Raggedy Ann and Andy) with the macabre style of the 19th century penny dreadfuls, Millionaire has produced a prolific body of work that is as grotesque at times as it is poignant and romantic.
Tony Millionaire’s appearance is made possible by the generous help of the 2014 Cincinnati ComicCon, Northern Kentucky Convention Center, September 5-7, 2014.