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Two events in Toronto: Adventure Time Wednesday, Underwater Welder Saturday

I’ve got a billion things to write about having just gotten back from vacation, but the two most time-sensitive are events I’m running in conjunction with The Beguiling and Little Island comics on Wednesday and Saturday…!

Adventure Time Signing Spectacular! w/ Meredith Gran, Ryan North, and Michael DeForge
Wednesday July 25th, 2012
@ Little Island Comics, 742 Bathurst Street, 1pm-3pm
@ The Beguiling, 601 Markham Street, 6pm-9pm

Hey everyone! The Beguiling and Little Island Comics are teaming up to throw a kick-butt ADVENTURE TIME event on Wednesday, July 25th, and you’re all invited! There will be signings by the creators of the ADVENTURE TIME comics, costume contests, presentations and more! It’s gonna be mathematical… TO THE MATH! Check out all the details at:

http://thebeguilingat.blogspot.ca/2012/07/wednesday-adventure-time-awesomeness.html

http://www.facebook.com/events/496652623693914/

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The Underwater Welder: Book Launch & Discussion
Featuring author Jeff Lemire
Saturday, July 28th, @ 7pm (Doors @ 6:30pm)
at Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Ave (at St. George, one block south of Bloor St.)
$5 admission or free with book purchase

The Underwater Welder Book Launch and Discussion will take place on Saturday, July 25th at Innis College Town Hall, and will feature a presentation by Lemire from the new work, an on-stage interview with Q&A, and a signing. Admission to this event is $5 for two persons, however, anyone purchasing The Underwater Welder in-store at The Beguiling will receive a free ticket good for two admissions and guaranteed seating. Tickets and The Underwater Welder advance copies on sale now. More info at:

http://thebeguilingat.blogspot.ca/2012/06/announcing-underwater-welder-book.html

http://www.facebook.com/events/288602321238139/

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– Chris

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Glad Day in Toronto – New Owners, Now Hiring

Glad Day Bookshop in Toronto now has the honour of being the longest-lived gay bookstore in the world, and there was news last year that the owner was looking to get out of the business–which has normally meant the end of such endeavours. Luckily a coalition of 20-or-so Torontonians have stepped up to the plate and purchased the business, which means that a new board of directors will oversee the bookstore going forward. Included amongst them is my good friend Scott Robins, who, amongst myriad other responsibilities, also works with me on TCAF. Fun times!

The board of directors is looking for a full-time store manager for the location, to help in revitalizing the business and the space, and they’ve posted the job in various spots. I thought that the least I could do was post it up here, so those of you who might be looking for a great, challenging, rewarding job in the book field might apply.

– Chris

POSITION AVAILABLE
Glad Day Bookshop Store Manager

Glad Day Bookshop is now the oldest LGBTQ bookstore in the world and is under new ownership. We are seeking an individual who meets challenges with a creative mind and a fierce heart – someone who can balance imagination and concrete results.

This position will be a phenomenal amount of work but training will be available and you will have a skilled Board of Directors who are able to support you in every aspect of the job.

POSITION OBJECTIVES
Sales
-Increase revenues and profitability
-Actively market and merchandise to meet sales targets
-Create positive relationships with vendors and suppliers
-Manage online sales including inventory, shipping, etc.
-Track revenues and expenditures and report these to the Board
-Improve daily processes and systems to maximize profitability
-Work to ensure fiscal stability and longevity of the business

Direction
-Revitalize Glad Day as a cultural institution in Toronto and Canada and
as the world’s oldest bookstore dedicated to the LGBTQ community
-Provide the highest level of customer service to the public
-Procure and replenish the most robust selection of queer books and media in Toronto
-Know what’s current in LGBTQ print and media, and respond to trends and market demands
-Develop a roster of event programming and promotions that engages the community and that generates short- and long-term sales
-Embrace new technological opportunities as they become available
-Manage website and social media
-Develop positive relationships with queer authors/artists and organizations
-Foster a sex-positive, anti-racist and anti-oppressive environment
– Other duties as assigned

People
-Recruit, develop and sustain a team capable of doing the work
-Hire, train, and manage the performance of part-time employees
-Work with the Board of Directors to meet organizational priorities
-Work with the Board and staff to facilitate special projects & events
-Meet with the Board and staff regularly

QUALIFICATIONS
– Retail management experience or related experience that prioritizes multi-tasking, delegation and flexibility
– Experience in book retail, or another facet of the book industry
– Demonstrable knowledge of LGBTQ literature
– Microsoft Word, Excel
– Familiarity with internet and internet applications including social media and database-driven applications
– Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English
– Understanding and connection to the LGBTQ community
– Professional or volunteer experience within the LGBTQ community is an asset

CONDITIONS
– Full-Time Salaried Position
– Evening and Weekend Shifts Required
– Salary, Benefits and Bonus options will be discussed with successful applicants

Please reply with a resume and cover letter by 9pm on Wednesday February 15th.

Send resumes and inquiries to: gladdayhiring@gmail.com

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TORONTO TONIGHT: INFINITE KUNG FU

Infinite Kung Fu Launch Party – Featuring Hop Fu!

Friday September 2nd, 2011 @ Revival Bar, 783 College
Doors open at 8:30 – Presentations start at 9pm!
$5 or free admission with book purchase.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=157265297683859

Presented by The Beguiling, Top Shelf Books, and Revival Bar

THE LONG-AWAITED DEBUT! It’s the official book launch for Kagan McLeod’s INFINITE KUNG FU, a massive 464-page graphic novel by Kagan McLeod. Serialized in comics, serialized on the internet, with short stories in jams across the world, the whole story is now complete and ready for you to put in your hot little hands!

FEATURING HEADLINERS HOP FU – New York-based scratch champions DJ 1XL and DJ Excess perform as Hop Fu, providing a live remixed score to a screening of the Shaw Brothers classic kung fu film “Super Ninjas.” Must be seen to be believed!

CHIP ZDARSKY hosts the evening and interviews Kagan about the book!
KAGAN McLEOD signs copies for fans!
DJ ILLSCIENCE keeps the evening lively and fun, dance if you wanna!
THE BEGUILING will be on hand selling books and prints

This will be the biggest book launch of 2011, don’t miss out!

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8:30pm: Doors Open
9:00pm: Q&A with Kagan McLeod, followed by book signing
11:00pm: Hop Fu performance…!

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ARTISTS HELP JAPAN: TORONTO RAISES $20,000

Please feel free to republish this announcement. Thanks! – Chris

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ARTISTS HELP JAPAN: TORONTO RAISES $20,000
Toronto comic artists and DJs band together for Japanese Quake & Tsunami Relief

Artists Help Japan: Toronto is proud to announce that their 12 hour live art/DJ event on April 17th was an extraordinary success, raising $20,000 towards Tsunami and Quake relief in Japan.

Spearheaded by a consortium of Toronto illustration studios, the Artists Help Japan: Toronto event was the local iteration of a charity movement begun by Dice Tsutsumi at Pixar. The Toronto edition featured live art and DJ music, a silent auction and dozens of artists selling commissioned drawings, which raised about $18,000 over the 12 hour event. Event organizers UDON Entertainment have stepped in with an additional $2000 donation to help bring the final total to $20,000, with all proceeds being donated to the Canadian Red Cross.

The organizers of the event would like to thank all of the talented artists, illustrators, and DJs who donated their time and expertise, and the hundreds of Torontonians that came out in support of this event. The organizers will continue their various fundraising efforts over the weeks and months to come, including a series of special auctions featuring artworks donated by artists at the fundraiser! Look for details on these auctions in the next week.

Some words of thanks from the organizers:

Erik Ko, founder of UDON Entertainment: “I have a lot of friends and colleagues in Japan who were affected by this unfortunate event. I felt a real need to try and lend a helping hand to the people there and I really appreciate so many people supporting us! Thank you so much!”

Bobby Chiu, head of Imaginism studio: “People were incredibly generous with their money that day. It was truly touching to see a city come together to support the people of Japan.”

Alvin Lee, comic artist on Street Fighter and Birds of Prey: “It was awe inspiring to see the outpour of support and compassion from Toronto’s Art and Music scene. To give back to a country that has influenced so many of today’s artists, including myself – I felt like it was the least I could do.”

Krystle Tabujara, Library Services Coordinator for The Beguiling: “Having recently travelled to the Pacific Rim with my partner, I felt an obligation to be a part of such a great cause. It was an honour to be working alongside some of Toronto’s most talented artists.”

Jim Zubkavich, writer/creator of Skullkickers from Image Comics: “All of us involved with this event feel a deep connection to Japan and we’re ecstatic that so many people came out to show their support. To the artists, musicians and donators – Thank you everyone!”

Christopher Butcher, manager of The Beguiling and Director of the Toronto Comics Art Festival: “Japan has been an inspiring, near-mythical presence in my life since I was very young, and their culture and traditions have had a huge influence on my writing and career. Coming together with so many like-minded people to give something back has been similarly inspiring, and I’m humbled by the generosity of our volunteers, artists, DJs, and the hundreds of attendees who came to the event. Thanks everyone and please, if at all possible, don’t stop giving.”

The organizers would also like to thank the many volunteers and supporters who helped make the event a success, including: all of the wonderful artists and publishers who donated art and other items for our silent auction; Jeff at Imaginism; Michael, Akiko, Magda, Marc, Andrew, and Shane who helped out on the day-of; Peter Birkemoe and The Beguiling; Joe Saturnino and the entire staff of Revival.

ABOUT:

Artists Help Japan is a charity movement initiated by Dice Tsutsumi, an art director at Pixar Animation Studios, who was also behind 2008 Totoro Forest Project to help preserve Sayama Forest in Japan and Sketchtravel Project, to gather the force of communities of artists and creative minds around the world. We believe artists have special roles to contribute to the society. http://artistshelpjapan.blogspot.com/

Artists Help Japan: Toronto was spearheaded by Imaginism Studios President and illustrator Bobby Chiu, who was contacted by Dice Tsutsumi to run the Toronto event. Working with Illustrator Alvin Lee, UDON Entertainment CEO Erik Ko, writer/artist Jim Zubkavich, and Christopher Butcher of Toronto comic book store The Beguiling and the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, the team brought together Toronto’s diverse and exciting artistic community to engage the public in an unprecedented fundraising endeavour.

Participating artists at Artists Help Japan: Toronto included: Agnes Garbowska, Alex Milne, Alvin Lee, Bobby Chiu, Brian McLachlan, Chip Zdarsky, Dale Keown, Eric Kim, Eric Vedder, Francis Manapul, Jason Bradshaw, Jeff Lemire, Jim Zub, Joe Ng, Julie Faulkner, Kagan Mcleod, Kalman Andrasofszky, Kei Acedera, Ken Lashley, Marcio Takara, Marcus To, Michael Cho, Ramon Perez, Ray Fawkes, Scott Hepburn, Stuart Immonen, Svetlana Chmakova, and a number of other local artists who showed up on the day of the event to offer their support and assistance!

Participating DJs at Artists Help Japan: Toronto included: Riviera [Perfecto,Myth, Kinetika NYC], Felix & Gani [Milk. Audio], Lazy Ray [Nighttrackin’], Gerrence [Nighttrakkin’], Alvaro G [Kings Of Late Night], Roland Gonzales [Studio+], Carlovega [Studio+], Jason Ulrich [Lab.Our Union],Shingo [Hot Sauce], Uncle Matty & Dutty Maus [The Beacs], and Illscience.

All proceeds from Artists Help Japan: Toronto will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross, specifically earmarked to aid in Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief. http://www.redcross.ca/

SPONSORS:

Revival Bar has been entertaining guests, visitors and fans as a premium event space since 2002. Revival generously donated the use of their main space for the Artists Help Japan: Toronto event, and donated $1 from the cost of every drink towards fundraising efforts. http://www.revivalbar.com/

The Beguiling Books and Art is Canada’s premiere source for comics, comix, and high-art funnybooks. Visit us online at http://beguiling.com.

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Toronto Tonight: Skullkickers Launch

If you’re in or around Toronto tonight, we’re throwing a launch party for my buddy Jim’s new graphic novel SKULLKICKERS. It’s from 5-7pm, and we’ll probably go for a drink after and Jim will tell stories about comic books.

Feel free to drop by!

– Chris

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Sunday In Toronto: Dave Cooper interviewed by Robin McConnell!

Hey folks! Just a quick note that The Beguiling will be hosting an awesome event tomorrow, Robin McConnell of the Inkstuds podcast and the eponymous new book will be interviewing Dave Cooper, creator of Ripple, Weasel, Pip & Norton, and the brand new artbook BENT. All of the info is down below, hope to see you there!

INKSTUDS X BENT
Robin McConnell Interviews Dave Cooper
Sunday, November 28th, 3pm-6pm
@ The Central, 603 Markham Street (next to The Beguiling)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=122348711160147
FREE

Presented by The Beguiling, Conundrum Press, and Fantagraphics Books

Toronto! Get ready for a fantastic comics event as Robin McConnell, host of the INKSTUDS podcast and author of the new book of the same name, will interview Canada’s own Dave Cooper, who has recently released his own new artbook BENT! Following the interview will be a moderated Q&A with the audience, and a signing.

The event is going down on Sunday, November 28th, from 3pm-6pm next door to The Beguiling at The Central. Both the INKSTUDS book and Cooper’s BENT (as well as other fine graphic novels) will be available for sale.

This is pretty amazing as the INKSTUDS book is great, and anyone with a deeper interest in comics will get a lot out of it. And Dave Cooper hasn’t been at a comics-related event in Toronto for almost 10 years, at this point, and I’m totally psyched that he’s travelling down from Ottawa. This is going to be really cool, we hope you can make it out.

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– Chris

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I’ll be at Gamercamp this Weekend!

I’m happy to say I’ll be participating in Gamercamp this weekend, November 13-14. Gamercamp is “a celebration of the art, creativity and fun of video games,” hosted annually in Toronto. I have some friends in the gaming/indy gaming community, and if you’ll notice this year at TCAF we included a small–but to my mind important–indy gaming component. I think there’s some real interesting crossover between indy gaming and indy comics, particularly the development of narrative and working outside of the studio/corporate model, and that’s actually the subject of the panel I’m on! Here are the details:

Gamercamp: Developing Narrative in Comics & Gaming
 Sunday, November 14th, 12:30pm-1:30pm
Comic books and video games—these two relatively young media have grown out of their infancy and are taking on complex issues, emotions, and ideas. Join us as we discuss the intersection of these media and what they can learn from each other. We’ll also be showcasing a range of interesting mutations that cross the barrier between media.
With Miguel Sternberd, Benjamin Rivers, and Christopher Butcher

Exciting! I’m definitely going to try to spend as much time as I can there this weekend as well, as the other panels, talks, and exhibitions seem quite cool indeed. Plus there’s two nights of cool events including a concert by Anamanaguchi, and a double-feature screening of The Wizard and The Last Starfighter! Neeeeeat.

Head over to http://gamercamp.ca for all the deets, and hopefully I’ll see you there this weekend.

– Chris
Image is a screenshot of the game “The Depth To Which We Sink” by Bigpants

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Canada Could Read Skim and Essex County… with your help!

Good news everyone! Graphic novelists Jeff Lemire for Essex County and Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki for Skim have made it to the Top 40 for CANADA READS, the CBC’s annual book contest to recommend great Canadian novelists. I think this is the first time that graphic novels have made it into the first voting round of picks, so it’s a great thing even just to be nominated.

But this is the time that they need YOU. Yes, YOU. You see, the public is encouraged to vote from the list of the top 40 nominees, to narrow that down to 10 books. I’d certainly like to think that both books are solid and enjoyable enough to make it to the top 10 entirely on their merits, but I’d also like to send as many people as possible over to go and vote for either of these fantastic graphic novels!

So if you’re reading this, please head to http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/, and vote for either Skim by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki, or Essex County, by Jeff Lemire.

You can only vote once, and you need to vote IMMEDIATELY. I was off travelling and didn’t notice that you can only vote until Sunday at Midnight.

This is a great chance to get some notice and acclaim for graphic novels, and some truly talented and wonderful creators who, incidentally, all happen to be friends. It also generally means good sales and some extra royalties for these guys, and a lot of attention outside of the ‘literary’ community. In short, it’s a good deal all over. Please head over and vote a.s.a.p.

Thanks,

– Christopher

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Toronto This Week: Skullkickers, Bill Everett: Fire & Water, and LEWIS TRONDHEIM!

I feel sliiiiightly guilty that I can only seem to find time to post here when it’s something events/work-related, but that passes fairly quickly when I see how awesome the many (many) events we’re doing actually are.  I have big plans (big plans) about getting back on the blogging horse, but they’re going to have to wait until I’m not doing 2 comics events a week. Or in this case, three. 🙂

Anyway, if you’re out in Toronto this week come check all this out, it’s gonna be awesome!

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Wednesday September 22nd: Skullkickers #1 Launch Party w/ Jim Zubkavich
Saturday September 25th: Bill Everett: Fire and Water Book Launch w/ author Blake Bell and daughter Wendy Everett
Saturday September 25th: Lewis Trondheim!!!

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SKULLKICKERS #1 Book Launch!
With author Jim Zubkavich
Wednesday, September 22nd, 7pm-9pm
@ The Central, 601 Markham Street (right next to The Beguiling)
FREE
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=139761979398502

Jim Zubkavich is the Torontonian author of MAKESHIFT MIRACLE, a fun little graphic novel that we held a launch party for a few years back. Most recently, Jim came in and did an in-store signing for STREET FIGHTER LEGENDS: IBUKI #1 as he also wrote that one. Well Jim’s got his first all-new series in a few years, and it looks great! It’s called SKULLKICKERS, and the first issue is due out September 22nd from Image Comics.

Come join us at The Central on the release day, September 22nd from 7pm-9pm. Jim will be giving a short presentation, signing copies, chatting with folks, and we’ll probably even make him draw for you too! 🙂

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FIRE AND WATER: Bill Everett, the Sub-Mariner & the Birth of Marvel Comics
Book Launch and Discussion with Author Blake Bell, and speech by Bill Everett’s daughter Wendy Everett
Saturday, September 25th, 4:30pm-6pm
Innis College Town Hall, 2 Sussex Avenue (St. George south of Bloor)
FREE
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=150867711602264

For a Preview of this book, click this link: http://beguiling.com/firewater-8p-pre.pdf

UPDATE: We’re pleased to announce that Wendy Everett, the daughter of Bill Everett, will now be attending this book launch and discussion, and will be participating in the discussion of her father’s work. We couldn’t be more excited, and we’d like to thank Ms. Everett for participating!

In 1939, decades before it would become the powerhouse behind such famous super-heroes as Spider-Man, The X-Men, and Iron Man, Marvel Comics launched its comics line with a four-color magazine starring a daring new antihero: The Sub-Mariner, created by the great Bill Everett.

The Sub-Mariner alone, and his status as the original Marvel (anti-)hero, would have insured any cartoonist’s place in comics history. But Everett was a master of many kinds of comics: romance, crime, humor, and the often brutal horror comics genre (before it was defanged by the Comics Code Authority in the 1950s), for which he produced work of such stylish and horrific beauty that he ranks with the artists who kept the legendary EC comics line awash in blood and guts.

Written by Blake Bell (the author of the best-selling critical biography of Steve Ditko, Strange and Stranger) and compiled with the aid and assistance of Everett’s family, friends, and cartoonist peers, Fire and Water: Bill Everett, the Sub-Mariner & the Birth of Marvel Comics is an intimate biography of a troubled man; an eye-popping collection of Everett’s comics, sketchbook drawings, and illustration art (including spectacular samples from his greatest published work as well as never-before-seen private drawings); and an in-depth look at his involvement in the birth of the company that would revolutionize pop culture forever: Marvel Comics!

In celebration of this book, The Beguiling will be welcoming author Blake Bell to Toronto to discuss this new book, and the life and career of Bill Everett. Special guests may also be on hand to help us celebrate this release, keep watching this space for details…!

FIRE & WATER: Bill Everett, The Sub-Mariner, and the Birth of Marvel Comics will be available for sale at this event, alongside other classic Marvel Comics collections and previous books by Blake Bell.

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Lewis Trondheim, In Conversation et “Rencontre Desinée”
 Saturday, September 25th, 7PM
 @ Innis College Town Hall, 2 Sussex Avenue (St.George south of Bloor)
 FREE
 http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=100335500031016

The Beguiling is proud to be partnering with The French Consulate in Toronto and The Alliance Francaise de Toronto to welcome the bestselling French cartoonist Lewis Trondheim to Toronto! Mr. Trondheim will be in the city for the last two weeks of September, and we are thrilled to have the chance to present this English-language engagement with him.

Trondheim is the creator or co-creator of such wonderful series as Dungeon, Little Nothings, Kaput and Zosky, ALIEEEN, Tiny Tyrant, Bourbon Island 1730, Mister O & Mister I, and more, and those are just the ones in English! He’s created dozens of albums in French as well, and is one of the most famous and respected cartoonists in the entire world—this is quite possibly a once in a lifetime event.

Mr. Trondheim will be giving a drawing presentation and will be interviewed in an event that will primarily take place in English, but will have some small French-language components that will also be translated.

Books are currently available for sale at The Beguiling and will be available for sale at the event.

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– Christopher