STAPLE! Austin

Lot’s of amazing stuff happening throughout the day at this year’s STAPLE! We’ll be kicking everything off with a last minute addition:

1:00-1:30pm Lord Vile Rally – Come see who Lord Vile is and what he and his Henchmen are up to.

2:00-3:00pm Q&A with Brian Wood – Hear from the award winning creator of DMZ, Northlanders, Local and Demo. Moderated by Scott Hinze of Fanboy Radio.

3:30-4:30pm Webcomics Discussion Panel – Hot webcomics stars Scott Kurtz (PvP), Danielle Corsetto (Girls With Slingshots), David Malki ! (Wondermark!), and Kris Straub (Starslip Crisis) discuss the art and business of the webcomics revolution. Moderated by Randy Lander of Rogue’s Gallery Comics & Games

5:00-6:00pm Q&A with Eric Powell – Madcap antics with award winning creator of The Goon! Ask him questions if you dare! Moderated by Scott Hinze of Fanboy Radio.

Representatives from the Austin office of The Onion, America’s Finest News Source, will be…well, representing…at this year’s STAPLE! I’ve been a loyal reader for years so I’m personally pretty stoked to see them come out to the show.

For those sub-mineral dwellers not familiar with it, The Onion is a national publication and website with millions of readers, offering award-winning news and views that can’t be found anywhere else. Every week, their attention grabbing headlines and photojournalism paint a unique and hilarious picture of the world. The New Yorker calls it “The Funniest Publication in the United States”.

A print version of the paper that includes local entertainment news and reviews is distributed at over 1000 locations in Austin, so pick one up – it’s free! Several members of their super-hip and attractive staff will be on hand at STAPLE! for you to ogle and admire. Become their BFF at http://www.myspace.com/theonionaustin

Yours Truly,
Uncle Staple

Hey folks,

I’ve had about a dozen emails in the last couple weeks from people asking about exhibitor tables at this year’s show. As of January 17 all tables were sold out (scroll down to see the news item below that I posted at that time). There’s currently a waiting list with about 10 people on it and there have been no cancellations.

Demand for tables was really high this year. If you wanted to exhibit this year and couldn’t get in I hope that you will still consider attending the show. With the 80+ exhibitors who DO have a table, and all our fantastic guests, 2008 is is a STAPLE! not to miss. Not that anyone should EVER miss a STAPLE!

Again, very sorry but there are NO tables available for STAPLE! 2008. Some folks may be willing to share their space but it’s up to you to contact them – check the Blog and the Exhibitor List to see who you can persuade, otherwise, better luck next year, kid.

Thanks,
Chris “Uncle Staple” Nicholas
www.staple-austin.org
http://www.myspace.com/staple_austin

The second episode of the STAPLE! Podcast is now available. Randy Lander interviews Danielle Corsetto, creator of the popular web comic Girls With Slingshots. Danielle is a featured guest on our web comics panel at STAPLE! 2008, along with Scott Kurtz, David Malki, and Kris Straub.

For download and subscription links, check out the podcast section. And watch for the third episode next week!

Very excited to announce a brand spanking new feature of the STAPLE! website – STAPLE! Podcasts!

In this first episode Randy Lander of Comic Pants and Rogue’s Gallery Comics talks to Fred Van Lente, author of Action Philosophers and a brand new work Comic Book Comics, a comic book history of comics, which will be making its world premiere at STAPLE!

We’ll be posting a new podcast every week, so be sure to keep checking back. Upcoming episodes include Danielle Corsetto (Girls With Slingshots) and featured guest Brian Wood!

iTunes users can subscribe here.

All podcasts graciously recorded by the studios of Dial A Stranger: When you don’t know who to turn to, turn to who you don’t know.

Hey Folks!

Big news here in a little press release composed by STAPLE! Press Secretary, horror novelist, and rakish man-about-town Nate Southard (www.natesouthard.com). Add’l comments by Uncle Staple at the bottom:

“STAPLE! RETURNS TO AUSTIN WITH ERIC POWELL AND BRIAN WOOD AS GUESTS OF HONOR

Comic creators Eric Powell (The Goon) and Brian Wood (DMZ, Demo) will be the Guests of Honor at the fourth annual independent comics, animation, and literature convention STAPLE! on March 1st at the Monarch Event Center.

‘I’m really excited about the 2008 show,’ said STAPLE! founder Chris Nicholas.
‘Having Brian Wood and Goon creator Eric Powell is not only great for STAPLE!, but for me personally. I’m a huge fan of both these cats.’

Eric Powell has won three Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards and an International
Horror Guild award for his horror/comedy series The Goon. Published by Dark Horse Comics, The Goon tells the story of a punch-happy palooka with a penchant for swigging booze and busting monster craniums.

Brian Wood released his first series, Channel Zero, in 1997 to considerable critical acclaim and has continued to produce comics and graphic novels
at a brisk pace ever since. Buzz book DMZ is Wood’s story of a demilitarized New York City in the wake of a second Civil War. Currently under exclusive contract for DC/Vertigo, Wood has received several Will Eisner nominations as both a writer and a cover artist.

Now in its fourth year, STAPLE! is a celebration of the independent artistic spirit,
drawing creators from all over the United States. ‘I’m looking forward to getting
together with the great friends and indie creators who are coming back this year,
and meeting all the new folks who are making this their very first STAPLE!’ says
Nicholas.

In fact, the growth of STAPLE! has necessitated a change in venue from the Red Oak Ballroom to the recently completed Monarch Event Center. The former movie theater will give STAPLE! the room it needs to grow for years to come.

STAPLE! will take place at the Monarch Event Center, 6406 North IH-35, Suite 3100, Austin, TX, on March 1st, 2008 from 11AM until 7PM. Admission is $5 at the door. All ages welcome. For more information, visit www.staple-austin.org or email info@staple-austin.org.

###

Staple founder Chris Nicholas is available for interviews. To request one, please
email info@staple-austin.org with the words ‘interview Request’ in the subject
line.”

Nice job, Nate! Some newspaper should totally hire you. Also worthy of note at this year’s show is the Webcomics panel discussion with Scott Kurtz (PvP), David Malki ! (Wondermark!), Daniealle Corsetto (Girls With Slingshots), and Kris Straub (Starslip Crisis)!

Like to help promote the show? Webmaster Manton Reece has designed handy web buttons you can use to link to STAPLE! Grab’em at:

www.staple-austin.org/promote

And don’t forget to check out the new STAPLE! Community Blog for all the latest
scuttle-butt on this year’s show and what you can expect to see!

I say it often but it bears repeating – STAPLE! The Independent Media Expo is the Southwest’s only convention for independently produced comics, zines, graphic arts and animation. If you don’t go you will be sad! Forever!

See you soon!

Chris “Uncle Staple” Nicholas
www.staple-austin.org
http://www.myspace.com/staple_austin

As of today’s mail run STAPLE! 2008 tables are sold out! Any registrations received after this point will be wait-listed in the order they arrive.

For everyone who has a table, congratulations! We’ll see you at the show. Please let us know if you cannot make it – we’ll send you a refund and give your spot to someone on the waiting list.

Hotcha!

Love,
Uncle Staple

Hey folks!

Happy to report that over half of the available exhibitor tables for STAPLE! 2008 have been sold!

What that means is that if you want one and haven’t gotten it, well, you need to get yer butt in gear!

To register for a table go to the registration page, download the registration form and send it in (along with your payment, natch) to secure your spot today!

I dropped by the venue yesterday (www.monarcheventcenter.com) to check out the Blue Genie Art Bazaar that is going on there all month till Christmas. The place looks really great! I’m getting more and more excited about this new spot and I think it’s going to work fantastically for next year’s STAPLE!

If you’re in the area and want to get a preview of the new place, drop by the Art Bazaar and do a little Christmas shopping while you’re there. Tell’em Uncle Staple sent ya!

Chris “Uncle Staple” Nicholas
www.staple-austin.org
www.myspace.com/staple_austin

Hey everybody!

STAPLE! The Independent Media Expo is back for its fourth annual show! Come out Saturday March 1st, 2008 to a new location ‘ the Monarch Event Center next to Highland Mall. This exciting new venue occupies the site of the former Lincoln Village Theater in the Lincoln Village shopping center in north central Austin. It’s been completely remodeled and refurbished into a lovely new spot just perfect for a bigger and better STAPLE!

We are very pleased to announce a very special guest for STAPLE! 2008 – BRIAN WOOD! Author of Channel Zero, Couriers, DMZ, Demo, Local, Supermarket, and the forthcoming Northlanders (available December 5th), Brian has made his mark as an influential and eclectic pioneer of independent comics creation. We are very honored and excited to have him appear at STAPLE!

And if you’d like to start making your own mark, you can be an exhibitor at STAPLE! Exhibitor registration is now open and tables are available at $65 for an eight footer and $35 for a half ‘ cheap! They always sell out fast so to get yours now hit the Registration page and download the form.

STAPLE! The Independent Media Expo is the Southwest’s only convention for independently produced comics, zines, graphic arts and animation. The fourth annual Expo is Saturday, March 1st, 2008, 11am-7pm at the Monarch Event Center in Austin, Texas. Admission is STILL only $5 at the door!

Stay tuned here for more exciting announcements, articles, podcasts and more!

Chris “Uncle Staple” Nicholas
www.staple-austin.org
http://www.myspace.com/staple_austin

PS: The best way to stay up on STAPLE! news is to sign up for our email updates. Drop your addy in the little box down on the left.

Hello faithful STAPLE! fans!

Uncle Staple here to announce that very shortly we will be making some big, exciting announcements about our 2008 show! Yes, that’s right, I’m announcing announcements. Say that over and over in your head until it starts to sound weird.

Just want you all to know, that even though we may’ve seemed a little quiet lately, we’re still back here behind the scenes working as hard as ever to make this the biggest, bestest STAPLE! yet. So stay tuned and keep your eyes peeled for the big news that’s coming soon!

Looking forward to seeing you all again next year!

xoxo,
Chris “Uncle Staple” Nicholas

ps: In case you’re trying to make travel plans to be here mark down March 1st on your calendar with a big ol’ STAPLE!