Festival of Books with New Exhibition Dedicated to Comics, Graphic Novels & Manga

LOS ANGELES, April 10, 2008 -- For the first time, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will include “The Comix Strip,” an entire section of the popular event dedicated to showcasing comics, graphic novels and manga. “The Comix Strip” will feature booths from prominent comic book publishers, retailers, and distributors as well as the inimitable writers and artists who create these hip and unique works. Comix Strip-related programming will include a special Festival panel to be hosted by Los Angeles Times pop culture writer, Geoff Boucher, entitled “Comics: Superheroes of the Page & Screen.” Panelists include Jeph Loeb, co-executive producer of the smash TV hit “Heroes” and writer for some of the industry’s most well-known characters, including Spider-Man, Hulk, Captain America and Wolverine; Mike Mignola, creator of “Hellboy;” and Steve Niles, creator of the “30 Days of Night” graphic novel franchise. Other panels include “Reading Manga: A Japanese Phenomenon Comes to America,” and “Graphic Novels: Every Picture Tells a Story.”

Additional comic book luminaries are slated to participate in autograph sessions at booths throughout the weekend. Image Comics, Boom! Studios, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Animation Magazine, and Animal Army Comics are among the list of exhibitors. “The Comix Strip will have a vibe all its own, matching the energy and diversity of the genres represented,” said The Times’ Geoff Boucher. “It was 70 years ago this summer that Superman took flight and now, with graphic novels, magna, comics-as-journalism and the surge in sophisticated films rooted in comics, there’s never been a better time to be a fan. Engaging those fans is an ideal complement to the Festival of Books.”

Over 140,000 attendees are expected this year, as the Festival brings together a cool, eclectic and family-friendly line-up of talent, story-tellers, celebrities, musical performances and literary giants. The Festival will be held April 26th & 27th on the UCLA campus. General event information can be found at https://latimesfestivalofbooks.com or by calling 1-800-LA TIMES, ext. 7BOOK. Admission is free, but tickets are required to attend author/panel discussions and lectures. Because seating at these events is limited, tickets will be made available for a $.75 per ticket fee at Ticketmaster.com and through select Ticketmaster locations in Southern California beginning at 12 Noon, April 20 and until capacity has been reached.
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About the Festival of Books:

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is presented in association with UCLA and presenting sponsor, Target; major sponsors, South African Tourism, Borders and Ticketmaster; contributing sponsor, Time Warner Cable; supporting sponsors Sprint and Ghirardelli; and media sponsors, KTLA-TV, Hoy, KCRW-FM, KPFK-FM, KLAX-FM, KJZZ-FM, KOST-FM, KABC-AM, KRLA-AM and Indie 103.1.

About the Los Angeles Times:

The Los Angeles Times is the largest metropolitan daily newspaper in the country, with a daily readership of 2.2 million and 3.2 million on Sunday, and a combined print and interactive monthly audience of 4.9 million. The Los Angeles Times and its media businesses and affiliates – including The Envelope, Metromix, Times Community Newspapers, Hoy, and California Community News – reach approximately 8.1 million or 62% of all adults in the Southern California marketplace. The Pulitzer Prize-winning Los Angeles Times, has been covering Southern California for over 126 years and is part of Tribune Company, one of the country’s leading media companies with businesses in publishing, the Internet and broadcasting. Additional information is available at www.latimes.com/mediacenter.

Contact:
Nancy Sullivan (213) 237-6160 nancy.sullivan@latimes.com