Alternative Press Expo

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.

Alternative Press Expo
StatusDefunct
GenreAlternative comics convention
FrequencyAnnual
VenueHerbst Pavilion (2000–2002)
Concourse Exhibition Center (San Francisco) (2003–2013)
San Jose Convention Center (2015–2017)
Location(s)San Jose, California (1994–1999, 2015–2017)
San Francisco, California (2000–2014)
CountryUnited States
InauguratedJune 4, 1994 (1994-06-04)
FounderDan Vado
Most recent2017
Organized bySlave Labor Graphics (1994, 2015–2017)
Comic-Con International (1995–2015)
Websitewww.alternativepressexpo.com

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."[1] The first APE was held as a one-day event in San Jose, California.[2]

Vado transferred management of APE to Comic-Con International in 1995.[3] 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.[2] In 2000, APE moved to San Francisco,[3] 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.[4] The most recent APE was held in 2017, with special guests Jhonen Vasquez and Derf Backderf. As of 2019, the event is no longer organized.[5]

Event dates and locations
Alternative Press Expo 2010
  • 1994: June 4 — Parkside Hall, San Jose[6]
  • 1995: May 19 — San Jose[7]
  • 1996: March 23 — San Jose[8]
  • 1997: February 2 — San Jose[9]
  • 1998: February 21–22 — San Jose[2]
  • 1999: February 27–28 — San Jose[10]
  • 2000: February 5 — Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason, San Francisco[11]
  • 2001: February 17–18 — Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason, San Francisco[12]
  • 2002: February 9–10 — Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason, San Francisco[13]
  • 2003: February 1–2 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco[14]
  • 2004: February 21–22 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco[15]
  • 2005: April 9–10 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco[16]
  • 2006: April 8–9 – Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco[17]
  • 2007: April 21–22 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco[18]
  • 2008: November 1–2 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco[19]
  • 2009: October 17–18 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco
  • 2010: October 16–17 — Concourse Exhibition Center, San Francisco[20]
  • 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 Jose[21]

References
  1. Matt Osterberg (1996). A Q&A with Slave Labor President, Dan Vado.. Retrieved July 12, 2005. Archived 2009-10-25.
  2. Comic Book Legal Defence Fund (1998). Report: CBLDF Goes A.P.E.! Archived 2005-02-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 12, 2005.
  3. McKenney, Craig. "APE Moves to San Francisco," Comics Journal (Jan. 2000), p. 17.
  4. Vado, Dan (October 7, 2014). "Alternative Press Expo returns to SLG Publishing". SLG Publishing. San Jose, California: Slave Labor Graphics. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  5. MacDonald, Heidi. "Whatever happened to... APE?," The Beat (October 3, 2017).
  6. Geoffrey R. Mason (1994). INFORMATION: Alternative Press Expo (APE) 1994. Retrieved via Google Groups July 12, 2005.
  7. James Drew (1995). Once in a While an APE II A. Retrieved July 12, 2005.
  8. Randy Reynaldo (1996). WCG at APE III. Retrieved July 12, 2005.
  9. Jerry Stratton (1997). Fear and Loathing in San José. Retrieved July 12, 2005.
  10. Kate the Short (1999). Fandom FAQ - Welcome to alt.comics.fandom!. Retrieved via Google Groups July 12, 2005.
  11. Comic Book Legal Defence Fund (2000). Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Goes APE! Archived 2004-12-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 12, 2005.
  12. Jeff Mason (2001). Ape 2001 Report
  13. Wonderella Printed (2002). APE 2002 . Retrieved July 12, 2005.
  14. Alan Bamberger (2003). APE 2003: SAN FRANCISCO ALTERNATIVE PRESS EXPO. Retrieved July 12, 2005.
  15. Comic-Con International (2004). APE 2004 Programming Schedule Archived 2005-08-28 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 12, 2005.
  16. Comic-Con International (2005). APE :: What's New:. Retrieved July 12, 2005.
  17. Comic-Con International (2006). APE :: What's New:. Retrieved April 3, 2006.
  18. Comic-Con International (2007). APE 2007 :: A Look Back at APE 2007 Archived 2008-08-13 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 15, 2008.
  19. Comic-Con International (2008). APE :: What's New. Retrieved July 15, 2008.
  20. Beale, Scott. "APE 2010 – Alternative Press Expo," Laughing Squid (Oct. 3, 2010).
  21. Vado, Dan. "2017 APE DATES ANNOUNCED," Alternative Press Expo website (January 13, 2017).
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