PR: The CBLDF At SPX 2011!

SPX 2011 Is Here!

The 2011 Small Press Expo  kicks off on Saturday and the CBLDF will be there with an extremely limited advance premiere edition of Craig Thompson's Habibi, the launch of Sara Varon's Bake Sale, a special benefit appearance by Roz Chast, and an incredible auction featuring original art by Charles Vess, Tony Millionaire, Roger Langridge, Dean Haspiel, Jessica Abel and many more.  Read on for all the details!

Craig Thompson Launches Habibi At SPX
With 100 Copy Limited Preview Edition
Auction for Lunch with Craig & #1/100 Habibi Ends Tonight!

CBLDF is delighted to launch Craig Thompson's highly anticipated new graphic novel, Habibi, during SPX 2011. You can get one of 100 signed and numbered advance copies of this gorgeous book during the show! CBLDF is also auctioning an exclusive lunch with Thompson.  Bid on the lunch & book now - bidding ends tonight! 

SPX 11: Jeff Alexander Memorial Auction Preview

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and the organizers of SPX are proud to honor the memory of Jeff Alexander by launching an annual benefit auction in his name at this year's convention. Jeff Alexander was a friend to the small press community, both as a cartoonist and an organizer of SPX and the Ignatz Awards. He passed away earlier this year.

The first annual Jeff Alexander Memorial Benefit Auction includes pieces from Jeff's collection that he donated to the CBLDF, including original art by Charles Vess & Jeff Smith, Tony Millionaire, and Roger Langridge. The auction also includes contributions from the SPX community, including Keith Knight, Raina Telgemeier, Jeffrey Brown and many more.

Below is a full listing of items that will be available in the auction, which will happen this Saturday at 4:30 at SPX.  Internet bids will be received by emailing charles.brownstein@cbldf.org by Saturday afternoon at 1 PM ET.

Charles Vess - Bone Prequel: Rose page signed by Charles Vess and Jeff Smith
Tony Millionaire - Billy Hazelnuts page
Hannibal King - Eyes Only
Pete Sickman Garner - Hey Mister page
Roger Langridge - The Pest in the Vest . Homage to Dr Suess
Billy Tucci - Shi: Heaven and Earth, issue 4, page 25
Jeffrey Brown - CBLDF Year In Review page
Molly Crabapple Mermaid
Chynna Clugston Flores pin-up
Jonathan Ames & Dean Haspiel - Portrait of Ames screen print 5/5
Peter Bagge - Pizza Scholar pencil drawing
Camilla D'Errico - Caverns pin-up
Bill Morrison - Simpsons & Terry Moore pin-up
Jeffrey Brown - Emerald City Comic-Con ad original art
Ray Fawkes Painting
Roger Langridge - Gump Beach
Jim Mahfood & David Mack painting
Matt Madden - Shirin & Morgan playing pinball (Odds Off study) India ink and watercolor on sketchbook paper (11" x 8 1/2")
Jessica Abel - Clay, Nate Krusher, Junko, and Azteka reading comics, from Drawing Words & Writing Pictures, Chapter 1, India ink on bristol board (~8" x 8")
Roger Langridge - Knuckles The Malevolent Nun #1 Original art
Lisa Hanawalt - Genital Kicks -- fully painted sneakers

Events at SPX to benefit Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

Roz Chast original cartoons

New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast, known for her single-panel cartoons, illustration work and children's books, will draw and sell original cartoons at the SPX signing table. Proceeds will be divided equally between SPX's new Graphic Novel Gift Program and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Pen and ink drawings will be $25 and watercolor drawings $50; Ms. Chast will be drawing on Saturday, 1:30-3:30PM and 5:00-6:30PM, and on Sunday from Noon-1:30PM. Additionally, books will be available for purchase at the signing table from our good friends at Politics & Prose.

Sara Varon Bake Sale Premiere!

Sara Varon will be signing at the CBLDF's table signing her new book Bake Sale on Saturday from 3 PM to 5 PM!

Sara Varon returns with an ageless tale as dreamy and evocative as her break-out hit graphic novel Robot Dreams. At once deeply metaphorical and hilariously literal, Bake Sale is a story for anyone who's ever looked for an easy answer to life's intractable difficulties. It's also a cookbook: Varon includes seven delicious recipes, from classic cupcakes to sugared flower petals to marzipan.

SPX 2011 happens Saturday Sep 10 and Sunday Sep 11 at the Bethesda North Marriott Convention Center, 5701 Marinelli Road, Bethesda, MD 20852.  For more info visit http://www.spxpo.com