Thousands of comic fans and creators are gearing up for the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, happening May 11-12 at the Toronto Reference Library.
The free for all-ages event will feature more than 300 exhibitors selling comics and merchandise as well as panel discussions, workshops, readings, signing booths, portfolio reviews, development classes and kid-friendly programming.
Since TCAF’s inception in 2003, which drew about 600 people, it has become one of the world’s largest fests dedicated to the promotion and appreciation of comic arts, with organizers expecting approximately 30,000 attendees this year.
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From the start, one of TCAF’s missions has been to raise awareness about the literary and artistic merits of comics in all its forms, from newspaper strips and classic kids’ comics to graphic novels, indie releases and mainstream titles.
Miles Baker, executive director of TCAF, says the accessibility of comics to a wide range of readers and learners is one reason they are such a powerful and important medium.
“It allows for unique storytelling and has this extra wonderful media literacy part,” Baker explained. “You have the written word portion of it, but it comes with a visual element. So much of our world is visual and understanding what an image means is increasingly important.”
Capturing the imaginations of past generations and modern-day ones, comics can feel both nostalgic and contemporary, merging a long, rich history with compelling new voices. But one obvious change throughout the years is how comics are perceived.
“Comics have changed so much, especially in the past 20 years with breakthroughs in libraries and in education that have made them less of a taboo medium,” said Baker. “When I was a kid in elementary school, my teacher never would’ve allowed me to do a book report on comic books. That just never would’ve happened … whereas now you can bring Smile (the fiction graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier) to your book report or, if you’re a bit older, the works of the Tamaki cousins (Canadian cousins Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki have collaborated on several graphic novels together), and it’s as deep as anything else you’re reading in elementary and high school.”
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ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
The exhibition showcases artists from all over the world. Big names on the artistic bill this year include Adam De Souza, Adrian Tomine, Maurice Vellekoop, Stephanie Cooke, Keith Knight and real-life couple and collaborators, Lawrence Lindell and Breena Nuñez. Also, a comic contingent from Britain will be presenting, selling and signing their works.
TCAF, however, isn’t only for comic enthusiasts, but also for those who enjoy video or board games, visual arts, indie and alternative works or simply the lively buzz of fan conventions.
Despite its ever-growing popularity, TCAF prides itself on being accessible.
“We want to lower the barrier of entry for comics,” Baker said. “A lot of the big comic conventions are expensive to go to these days. Free admission means that when you do spend money, you’re not spending it on coming to the festival, you’re spending it on the authors who come. We want them to make as much money as possible.”
Unable to attend in person? No problem. Fans can shop the digital marketplace from May 3 to May 24. Additionally, a variety of virtual programming will be available a week before the exhibition.
To learn more visit torontocomics.com or find TCAF on social media by searching @torontocomics.
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