The Alternative Press Expo (APE) was a comic book festival and alternative comics convention that operated from 1994 to 2017. Founded by Slave Labor Graphics publisher Dan Vado, APE focused on self-published, independent, and alternative cartoonists and comic publishers.

History APE was organized by Vado in 1994 as an event for artists to "promote themselves without having to drown out a 50-million-watt display by some huge publisher." The first APE was held as a one-day event in San Jose, California.

Vado transferred management of APE to Comic-Con International, the organizers of San Diego Comic-Con, in 1995. The organization Friends of Lulu produced its first LuluCon (held at the Hyatt Sainte Claire) in conjunction with the 1997 Alternative Press Expo. Featuring Anina Bennett and Heidi MacDonald.

The event expanded to two days of programming in 1998, and included special guests Mike Allred, Jhonen Vasquez, Terry Moore, Batton Lash, Shannon Wheeler, and Jill Thompson. In 2000, APE moved to San Francisco, where it was held a one-day event at the Herbst Pavilion in Fort Mason, before moving to the Concourse Exhibition Center in 2003. The programming available at the event expanded under Comic-Con International, with APE 2005 offering panels, seminars, exhibitions and special guests. APE was moved to the fall beginning in 2008.

The final APE organized by Comic-Con International was held in 2014. Vado re-assumed management of the event that year, and returned APE to San Jose in 2015. The most recent APE was held in 2017, with special guests Jhonen Vasquez and Derf Backderf. , the event is no longer produced.

Event dates and locations

1994: June 4 — Parkside Hall, San Jose 1995: May 19 — Parkside Hall, San Jose 1996: March 23 — San Jose 1997: February 1 — San Jose Civic Auditorium, Exhibit Hall A, San Jose 1998: February 21–22 — San Jose Civic Auditorium, Parkside Hall, San JoseComic Book Legal Defence Fund (1998). Report: CBLDF Goes A.P.E.! . Retrieved July 12, 2005. 1999: February 27–28 — San JoseKate the Short (1999). Fandom FAQ - Welcome to alt.comics.fandom!. Retrieved via Google Groups July 12, 2005. 2000: February 5 — Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason, San FranciscoComic Book Legal Defence Fund (2000). Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Goes APE! . Retrieved July 12, 2005. 2001: February 17–18 — Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason, San FranciscoJeff Mason (2001). Ape 2001 Report 2002: February 9–10 — Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason, San FranciscoWonderella Printed (2002). APE 2002 . Retrieved July 12, 2005. 2003: February 1–2 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San FranciscoAlan Bamberger (2003). APE 2003: SAN FRANCISCO ALTERNATIVE PRESS EXPO. Retrieved July 12, 2005. 2004: February 21–22 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San FranciscoComic-Con International (2004). APE 2004 Programming Schedule . Retrieved July 12, 2005. 2005: April 9–10 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San FranciscoComic-Con International (2005). APE :: What's New:. Retrieved July 12, 2005. 2006: April 8–9 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San FranciscoComic-Con International (2006). APE :: What's New:. Retrieved April 3, 2006. 2007: April 21–22 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San FranciscoComic-Con International (2007). APE 2007 :: A Look Back at APE 2007 . Retrieved July 15, 2008. 2008: November 1–2 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San FranciscoComic-Con International (2008). APE :: What's New. Retrieved July 15, 2008. 2009: October 17–18 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco 2010: October 16–17 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San FranciscoBeale, Scott. "APE 2010 – Alternative Press Expo," Laughing Squid (Oct. 3, 2010). 2011: October 1–2 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco 2012: October 13–14 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco 2013: October 12–13 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco 2014: October 4–5 — Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason, San Francisco 2015: October 3–4 — San Jose Convention Center, San Jose 2016: October 8–9 — San Jose Convention Center, San Jose 2017: September 23–24 — San Jose Convention Center, San JoseVado, Dan. "2017 APE DATES ANNOUNCED," Alternative Press Expo website (January 13, 2017).

References

External links

Major Books Fairs in the United States of America Long Twitter thread by exhibitors about the 2017 Alternative Press Expo