Comic Book Heritage Night at Great Lakes Brewery On Friday, May 30th

It’s time for our second annual Comic Book Heritage Night at Great Lakes Brewery!

Over the past year Cleveland’s comic book art scene has gotten quite a bit of support from the folks at Great Lakes. From hosting a monthly drink and draw, to helping out with the beer at our events, and even volunteering on Free Comic Book Day. Comic Book Heritage Night is our yearly event  where we step on out of the shop and head down to the brewery to support them in their en devour. It’s a really cool chance to interact with local artists, learn a little bit about Cleveland’s rich comic book history, and drink some beer (of course) Each year we hope to grow the scope of the event, by adding different elements here and there. Here’s what’s on the plate this year!

Friday, May 30th from 6pm to 10pm in Great Lakes Brewing Company Tasting Room. (2701 Carroll Avenue Cleveland, OH 44113) It’s a really cool spot that’s like a speakeasy above the brewery. Not open to the public and a really cool place to see and have a beer in.

$20 gets you addmission to the event, along with a sketch cover you can have customized by one the many artists that will be there! So far artists include:

• Randy Crider
  www.randycrider.com
• Ryan Patrick Finley
  www.ryanpfinley.com
• Rev. Jim Giar
  www.chelsostudios.com
• Ben Hale
  http://www.needyourdisease.com/
• Clare Kolat
  clarekolat.com
• Angela Oster
  www.angelaoster.com
• Ashley Ribblett
  http://aribblett.blogspot.com/
• Tim Switalski
  www.timswitalski.com/
• Craig Worrell
  http://www.cbworrell.com

For a good quick example of the skill set of the artists, here’s a link to The Rust Belt Monster’s Blog:

They were the group responsible for the mural on Free Comic Book Day and will be represented in near full force at this event.

We’ll also have DERF on hand as our guest of honor!

DERF is the guy responsible for The City weekly cartoons, which while nationally syndicated, are created right here in Cleveland, Ohio.He has been nominated for two Eisner Awards (the Oscars of comix) and was the recipient of a pretigious Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award in 2006.

DERF just ended a 24 year run on The City  to focus on creating graphic novels, one of which has caused quite a stir and become very popular in quite a few circles, My Friend Dahmer.

My Friend Dahmer depicts the author’s teenage friendship with serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer during his time at Eastview Junior High and Revere High School. Backderf, while not excusing Dahmer’s crimes, presents Dahmer as a surprisingly sympathetic kid who was tormented by inner demons and neglected by the adults in his life. The story follows Dahmer from age 12, when he was a shy, bespectacled kid, right up to the day he kills his first victim a mere two weeks after high school graduation.

The book was nominated for Ignatz, Harvey and Rueben Awards, received an Angoulême Award and was named by Time magazine as one of the Top 5 non-fiction books of 2012.

DERF will be doing sketches, signing copies of his books (which we’ll have on hand), and at 7pm he will give a slideshow lecture on his career in the Cleveland Comic Book scene.  Really cool and a really rare opportunity to hear him speak.

Your ticket will also get you light appetizers, which will help to get you ready for the beer.

“We will tap Truth, Justice & the American Ale, our hoppy sessionable pale ale honoring Cleveland’s comic book heritage, along with our five Year-Round beers.”

It’s my favorite beer that Great Lakes makes, and you’ll never find it in stores.

You’ll also have a chance to buy one of those cool Great Lakes/CNJ Comics Pub Glasses, and we’ll put together some great raffle prizes to give away through out the night.

Again, this is your event in your town featuring your hobby! Be a part of helping it grow! We are open to suggestions for future ideas for the event, and if you would like your comic related organization to be represented in the future, let us know!

Here’s a link to buy tickets:

http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/events/3685

And here’s an image you can share to promote the event:

Tickets are limited and are typically not available day of the event, so be careful!

So come on out, have a couple beers, get a few sketches, and learn a little bit more about your hobby and your town

Thanks Cleveland!