CAKE is in 17 days! Join Us for Our Kickoff Events

Thursday Night - David Alvarado & Tyrell Cannon at Sulzer Library in Lincoln Square

CAKE Special Guest Tyrell Cannon will join Newcity Cartoonist David Alvarado for a presentation on their work at the Sulzer Library. This event will be in accordance with 2 exhibitions of Alvarado and Cannon's work; Alvarado will be exhibiting in the 2nd floor cases and Cannon will be exhibiting in the North Exhibit Case in the lobby of the Sulzer. Both exhibits will run from June 1st to June 30th.The event will take place at The Sulzer Library, located at  4455 N. Lincoln Ave, on Thursday, June 9th at 7pm. Join the Facebook event here!

Friday Afternoon - Chester Brown at Graham Crackers Comics Downtown

Stop by Chicago Loop Graham Crackers Comics on the Friday before the CAKE weekend and meet author Chester Brown. Chester will be signing copies and discussing his new graphic novel Mary Wept Over the Feet of Jesus.The iconoclastic and bestselling cartoonist of Paying for It: A Comic-Strip Memoir About Being a John returns with a polemical interpretation of the Bible that will be one of the most controversial and talked-about graphic novels of 2016. Mary Wept over the Feet of Jesus is the retelling in comics form of nine biblical stories that present Chester Brown’s fascinating and startling thesis about biblical representations of prostitution. Brown weaves a connecting line between Bathsheba, Ruth, Rahab, Tamar, Mary of Bethany, and the Virgin Mother and reassesses the Christian moral code by examining the cultural implications of the Bible’s representations of sex work.Mary Wept over the Feet of Jesus is a fitting follow-up to Brown’s sui generis graphic memoir Paying for It, which was reviewed twice in the New York Times and hailed by sex workers for Brown’s advocacy for the decriminalization and normalization of prostitution. Brown approaches the Bible as he did the life of Louis Riel, making these stories compellingly readable and utterly pertinent to a modern audience. In classic Chester Brown fashion, he provides extensive handwritten endnotes that delve into the biblical lore that informs Mary Wept Over the Feet of Jesus.This exclusive signing with Chester Brown at CAKE Sponsor Graham Crackers Comics will be taking place Friday, June 10th from Noon - 1:30 PM at 77 E Madison St. Join the Facebook event here!

Friday Night - Kramers Ergot Signing at Quimby's Books

CAKE is excited to present a signing event for Kramers Ergot 9, with CAKE Special Guest Sammy Harkham. Joining the signing will be contributors Andy Burkholder, Anya Davidson, Michael DeForge, Kevin Huizenga, Patrick Kyle,John Pham, and Lale Westvind.Since the inception of Kramers Ergot inception in 2000, it has introduced new talents and solidified aesthetics; each volume is an of-the-moment, state-of-the-medium manifesto. This anthology has always been a reflection of creator/editor Sammy Harkham’s comics passions, both past and future. Kramers Ergot 9 gathers many of the best and brightest together in one giant, oversized collection.This event is sponsored by Revolution Brewery, and will have refreshments provided while supplies last. This event will be taking place on Friday, June 10th at 7:00 PM at 1854 W North Ave. Join the Facebook event here!The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) is a weekend-long celebration of independent comics, inspired by Chicago’s rich legacy as home to many of underground and alternative comics’ most talented artists–past, present, and future. Featuring comics for sale, workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions, and more, CAKE is dedicated to fostering community and dialogue among independent artists, small presses, publishers, and readers. The fifth annual CAKE will take place Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12, 2016, at the Center on Halsted, 3656 North Halsted Avenue in Chicago. For any questions about about CAKE, please email cakexpo@gmail.com.