The Comic Bug

Sketchy Bugs Weekly Creator Meeting on Wednesdays
2026-08-25 18:49 (America/Los_Angeles)
The Sketchy Bug Group was founded when a group of South Bay creators chose to break free from the isolation of working in solitude and sought out a common place for creative work in an attempt to simulate the “bullpen” experience of comic book history. The group has been meeting every week on Wednesday nights from 6 pm to 9 pm at THE COMIC BUG in Manhattan Beach, CA since the Spring of 2013. Be it Artist or Writer, Inker or Colorist, The Sketchy Bug Group welcomes all that are enthusiastic about pursuing creations in this medium.
Interested? Join the group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/387717228061106/
Follow us on instagram @ instagram.com/sketchy_bug_group

Open Mic Comedy Night! Next show TBD
2026-08-25 18:49
Just when you could use a REALLY GOOD laugh, here comes the Latverian Laugh Riot to the rescue at The Comic Bug totally FREE!

Free Comic Book Days Manhattan Beach!
2026-08-25 18:49
It’s that FREE COMIC BOOK DAY time o’ the year again and we have a stellar line-up of artists and writers joining us SATURDAY in Manhattan Beach and then SUNDAY in Culver City. Here’s who you can expect to meet SATURDAY!Saturday, May 5th Manhattan Beach:
James O’Barr (The Crow)
Chiara Bautista (www.chiarabautista.com)
Scott Koblish (The Many Deaths of Scott Koblish)
Barbara Kesel (Shadowzone)
Ryan Odagawa (Shadowzone)
Joe Allard (www.designdevil.com)
Nicole Dubuc (Bruce Lee: The Walk of the Dragon)
Renae Geerlings (Bruce Lee: The Walk of the Dragon)
Brandon McKinney (Bruce Lee: The Walk of the Dragon)
Rafael Navarro (Guns A’ Blazin’!)
Mike Wellman (Guns A’ Blazin’!)
Luke Lizalde (Mac Afro)
Don Walker (Agent Wild)
DJ Kirkbride (Amelia Cole)
Dan Wickline (Metal Hurlant)
Vince Hernandez (Charismagic)
Frank Mastromauro (Overtaken)
Karl Altstaetter (Emerald City Blues)
Kids Entertainment (HoneyDew and MaryLu)
Lord Mesa (www.lordmesa.com)
The Sketchy Bugs
….and more to be announced in over the next few days!
Refreshments provided by Bruce Tea
On top of all the talented folks, we will have THOUSANDS of comics to give away, free snacks, cosplayers, photo ops and FUN! See you in Manhattan Beach on Saturday and Culver City on Sunday! Viva la comics!!!

Standard PPTQ
2026-08-25 18:49
$25 Entry // Decklist Required // 70 Player cap
Preliminary Pro Tour Qualifiers (PPTQs) are the first step for new players on their path to the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour. By winning a Preliminary PTQ, you will qualify for that season’s Regional Pro Tour Qualifier (RPTQ).
FREE parking available in the residential area just past the store.
Pre-register in store or by phone to guarantee your spot!!

Local Comic Shop Day
2026-08-25 18:49
What is Local Comic Shop Day®?

Local Comic Shop Day® is a three-year old event conceived and implemented by ComicsPRO comic book specialty retailers to call attention to locally owned independent comic book specialty stores, celebrating their unique and vital role in being the primary fire-starters of pop culture. Pop Culture begins in your Local Comic Shop!

Come by The Comic Bug Manhattan Beach and Culver City for your shot at some hot and very limited exclusives!
www.localcomicshopday.com

Comic Creator Meeting with Talent Search Winners!
2026-08-25 18:49
Comic Book Creator Talent Searches are an excellent way to get noticed in comics! Joining us for this month’s comic creator meeting are TWO Talent Search WINNERS! Mr. Hannibal Tabu (Top Cow 2012 Talent Search Winner) and Mr. Ryan Cady (DC New Talent Search Winner 2017).
How did they stand out above the crowd and get noticed above the thousands of other submissions? What happened next?
Even if you don’t plan on submitting to talent searches, this should be a fun and informative session, especially for writers!
Our comic creator meetings are FREE for anyone with an interest in making comic books! And it’s Hannibal’s birthday, so we can celebrate that as well! No chocolate or nuts though! See you at our Manhattan Beach location Saturday, January 20 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.!

Aspen Comics 15th Anniversary Party!
2026-08-25 18:49
At last, it can be revealed!
Next Wednesday, we’ll be celebrating 15 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE with ASPEN COMICS! Nearly every creator who’s talent has graced their pages will be here will be here to meet and greet the fans, sign autographs and there may even be some sketches and commissions happening!
There is an awesome FREE LIMITED EDITION PRINT available to the first 100 people to arrive and, word has it, FREE TACOS and drinks!
We consider the gang at ASPEN a big part of our Comic Bug Family and we are honored that they chose our spot as the place to launch their 15th ANNIVERSARY TOUR. There are some pretty big things on the horizon for them! Stay tuned!
Oh, and take a moment to check out that line-up of talent coming to represent!!! Unfortunately, Siya is too far away to make it to this event, but I’m sure she will be appearing here later this year!
Scott Lobdell, Frank Mastromauro, Vince Hernandez, Peter Steigerwald, Mark Roslan, Gabe Carrasco, David Wohl, J.T. Krul, Jonathan Marks, Eric Basaldua, Joe Benitez, Lori Hanson, Hannibal Tabu, John Starr, Beth Sotelo, Koi Turnbul, Brian Buccellato and Justice will ALL be onhand to ring in 15 years of awesome ASPEN COMICS! Don’t miss it!!!! It’s the biggest single signing The Comic Bug has ever done!

Open Mic Comedy Night!
2026-08-25 18:49

Black Lighting Friday!
2026-08-25 18:49
Black Lightning Friday!
Crazy and Amazing Sales that appear light lightning!
Get Ready!

Port of Earth Signing with Zack Kaplan
2026-08-25 18:49
Join us at either Comic Bug location this Wednesday to meet sci-fi comic book writer Zack Kaplan as he signs his intriguing new book PORT OF EARTH!
His last book, ECLIPSE, was one of the smartest and most compelling sci-fi books on the stands and this looks every bit as good!
Zack is signing at our Culver City shop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then at Manhattan Beach from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Don’t miss it!
More info:
Fan-favorite writer Zack Kaplan (ECLIPSE) teams up with all-star artist Andrea Mutti (Rebels, Prometheus) for a gritty new science fiction series, PORT OF EARTH, coming this November from Image Comics and Top Cow Productions. Aliens have come to Earth, not in war or peace, but with a business deal: open up a spaceport here on Earth in exchange for advanced technology. But when our alien visitors break Port restrictions and wreak havoc in our cities, it falls to the newly formed Earth Security Agency to hunt down and safely deport the dangerous rogue aliens back to the Port of Earth. “After exploring the solar apocalypse in ECLIPSE—which was just announced to be in development for TV, but more on that later—I’m thrilled to be tackling a very unique alien arrival story with another amazing creative team!” said Kaplan. “My passion for sci-fi is very ancient, beginning when I was really young with Star Wars, Star Trek, Galactica, Space 1999, UFO, Alien, and dozens of other books and comics,” said Mutti. “I was like a black hole, reading and watching everything with aliens or spaceships with a sense of wonder at the unknown in the deep universe and all of its stars and planets…it’s amazing! I’m thrilled to be on PORT OF EARTH, such a cool project, full of great visuals, action, and an emotional touch; what else could a comic artist need?”

Monthly Comic Book Creator Meeting
2026-08-25 18:49
Come meet your local artists, writers and creators of amazing comics and graphic novels. Come network, learn the trade or just mingle with incredibly talented individuals.

Spencer & Locke GN signing with creator, David Pepose
2026-08-25 18:49
Come to The Comic Bug on August 2nd in celebration of the release of SPENCER & LOCKE, VOL. 1.
David Pepose, writer of Spencer & Locke, will be signing at the following times and locations:
August 2nd
11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. The Comic Bug Culver City
5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. The Comic Bug Manhattan Beach
About SPENCER & LOCKE VOL. 1:
Collecting the hit mini-series, Spencer & Locke follows hard-boiled Detective Locke as he investigates a brutal murder with the strangest of partners – his childhood imaginary panther, Spencer.
Hitman producer Adrian Askarieh and Prime Universe Films have a first-look deal with Constantin Film to develop Spencer & Locke into an action franchise.

Batman Day 2017
2026-08-25 18:49
Join us at The Comic Bug in Manhattan Beach as we celebrate Batman Day! To commemorate the 1990s television show ‘Batman: The Animated Series” 25th anniversary this month, Londyn Jackson (History of the Batman) is hosting a Q&A panel with creators Kevin Altieri (storyboard artist and director, Batman: The Animated Series) and Bradley Rader (storyboard designer, “Batman: Mask of the Phantasm”, illustrator, “Batman Adventures” and “Catwoman”)!
Come celebrate the Dark Knight and Harley Quinn’s 25th birthday by picking up FREE Batman Day comics and meet Kevin Altieri and Bradley Rader at their signing!
STARTING AT 1PM
FREE Batman/Harley Quinn comics while supplies last (2 per person limit)
SALE! 25% OFF all Batman related merchandise (Except new comics)

24 Hour Comic Book Day Is Coming!
2026-08-25 18:49
DATE CHANGE! Due to scheduling conflict, The Comic Bug will host it 1 week later. This will allow die-hard creators to possibly participate in 2 back-to-back 24 Hour Comic Book Days!!! Thank you for your understanding.
24-Hour Comics Day is an annual international celebration of comics creation. On this day, creative folks take on the 24 hour comics challenge: to create a 24 page comic book story, normally months worth of work, in 24 straight hours. Many participants gather at official event sites including comic book stores, schools, and libraries. Others take part in private gatherings, and many work on their own.
Every year since 2004 this event has taken place. The thousands of participants who have created tens of thousands of pages of original art have included the young and the old, people with decades of professional comics creation experience and those who have never tried to draw a panel before, at locations on at least five continents.

Halloween Comic Fest 2017!
2026-08-25 18:49
Celebrating its sixth year, Halloween ComicFest is an annual event where participating local comic shops across North America and beyond celebrate the Halloween season by giving away free comics to fans. The event takes place the Saturday on or before Halloween each year and is the perfect opportunity to introduce friends and family to the many reasons why comics and comic shops are great! Comic shops are the perfect location to get into the sppoktacular season: from zombies, vampires, monsters, and aliens to costumes and more, comic shops have it all when it comes to Halloween fun!
Major publishers like DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and IDW Publishing put out free comics for fans to enjoy during Halloween. Also available are all-ages mini-comics, perfect to give out to trick-or-treaters or as party favors to inspire the next generation of comics readers! Popular series from past years have included Archie, Pokemon, and Grumpy Cat.

Development Hell VI: James Cameron's Spider-Man Table Read
2026-08-25 18:49
Come join us on Saturday, August 12th at The Comic Bug Manhattan Beach for Development Hell VI. We will be doing a live script reading of James Cameron’s ‘Spider-Man.’
The original script, which was developed in 1992, has been reviewed by various media groups and has received mixed reviews. Who knows? You be the judge.
The script will be performed by the fine cast from Skeleton Crew Productions with score and sound effects by Chris Saunders to provide you the full stereo-pathic experience!

Unearth Game Launch Party!
2026-08-25 18:49
Sunday, August 27
2 pm – 5 pm
Unearth Launch Party
Unearth is now in stores and Brotherwise Games will be at the Game Hub on Sunday to celebrate with a launch party! Demo the game, score some free Unearth and Boss Monster promo cards, and meet the Brotherwise team. Food and beverages will be provided… just drop by between 2 pm and 5 pm this Sunday!
Watch a review of the game on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceV4INHcAVw&feature=youtu.be
www.brotherwisegames.com
https://www.facebook.com/BrotherwiseGames/

Long Beach Comic Con is Coming!
2026-08-25 18:49
Long Beach Comic Con is a celebration of comic books and pop culture that showcases the exceptional works of talented writers, artists, illustrators and creators of all types of pop cultures. The Long Beach Comic Con packs in two days of movie screenings, panels, an action packed exhibit floor with artists, retailers, live experiences, meet & greets, celebrity signings and more.

Stan Lee's Los Angeles Comic Con
2026-08-25 18:49
Stan Lee’s L.A. Comic Con is Los Angeles’ first multi-media pop culture convention, held annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center. L.A. Comic Con assembles the most exciting and innovative in comics, video games, sci-fi, fantasy, horror and all things pop-culture, making Stan Lee’s L.A. Comic Con Los Angeles’ ultimate pop-culture convention.
Partnering with comic legend Stan Lee himself and Elvira Mistress of the Dark, L.A. Comic Con is the only pop-culture convention owned and operated by true pop-culture icons.
Having attracted 91,000 fans from around the country in our sixth year, Stan Lee’s L.A. Comic Con is quickly growing into one of the most diverse and celebrated geek and pop-culture events in the United States. Our 2016 event housed over 700 diverse artists and vendors, selling exclusive, rare and limited editions of comics, collectibles, art, toys and other hard-to-find merchandise.
Our unique panels, autograph sessions and photo-ops give fans once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to truly interact with their favorite creators and major players in the entertainment industry.
The L.A. Comic Con team strives to make all your geeky fantasies come true! It is important that we create a cohesive community around our event. This truly is an event for the fans, by the fans.

Ray-Anthony Height, artist of Catalyst Prime Superb
2026-08-25 18:49
Ray-Anthony Height, artist of Catalyst Prime Superb, will be signing at The Comic Bug Manhattan Beach on July 26!
About Catalyst Prime Superb:
Teenager Kayla Tate is forced to move back to her hometown Youngstown, Ohio, an “Event” designated Level 5 impact zone. Compared to her new life, returning to Youngstown is a step backwards. She has a strained relationship with her childhood friend, Jonah Watkins, school is a nightmare, and everyone is talking about the mysterious superhero and Internet sensation, “Cosmosis”, and his nighttime battles against the supposedly.
Come by The Comic Bug to meet Ray-Anthony Height in person!

Spencer & Locke signing with creator, David Pepose
2026-08-25 18:49
David Pepose, writer and co-creator of Spencer & Locke, will be signing at The Comic Bug Manhattan Beach on July 26!
About Spencer & Locke:
When his grade-school sweetheart is found dead, there’s only one friend Detective Locke can trust to help solve her murder—his childhood imaginary panther, Spencer. But when they face a vicious crime syndicate and memories from Locke’s traumatic youth, can this unlikely pair survive long enough to find the truth?
Come by The Comic Bug and meet David Pepose in person!

Dave Crosland, Invader Zim writer.
2026-08-25 18:49
Dave Crosland, writer of Invader ZIM #21, will be signing at The Comic Bug Manhattan Beach on July 12!
Invader ZIM #21
Special one-shot issue by series artist Dave Crosland! ZIM’s finally found a way to destroy the human race-his Brainwave Accelerator will melt the brains of every human on Earth in a matter of seconds! Enter Dib, who screws things up as usual, causing the machine to malfunction and NO ONE’s brains to melt. Instead, it causes brains to SWAP!
Come by The Comic Bug and meet Dave in person!

Stan Lee signing presented by Stan Lee's LA Comic Con
2026-08-25 18:49
Be one of the lucky 100 fans to meet Stan Lee and have 1 item signed for free!
The Comic Bug thanks Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Convention for the opportunity to host comic book legend, Stan “The Man” Lee on August 5th.
The Details: Starting on Free Comic Book Weekend, May 6-7, all fans may come to either store to enter their name for a chance to meet Stan Lee. Sign-ups are free and names can be entered once every day until July 22.
https://vimeo.com/214114343

The Comic Bug Presents: Drink & Draw at The Slip
2026-08-25 18:49
Do you like to draw? Do you like to drink? Then come join us at our monthly Drink n’ Draw at The Slip Bar and Eatery presented by The Comic Bug!
We’ll have comic and sci-fi themed DRINK SPECIALS and you can work on your life-drawing and the company of dozens of awesome fellow artists and maybe even a writer or two!
LadyBugs, SketchyBugs and Uninitiated Bugs, come on down! Admission is FREE! Drinks will be flowing and pencils and pens will be on fire! Finally, the South Bay has it’s own drink and draw gathering! Special thanks to The Slip for having us!
Come have fun!

The Wonder Woman 100 Project
2026-08-25 18:49
HERO INITIATIVE, the charity that helps comic book creators in medical and financial need, is celebrating the 75th anniversary of Wonder Woman in a HUGE way! With DC Entertainment’s help, HERO INITIATIVE got 100 top artists to each draw an original Wonder Woman cover. The result is The Wonder Woman 100 Project! The originals will be auctioned off later this month. View them in person for one night at The Comic Bug!
Refreshments and snacks will be served.
Find more info at: https://www.heroinitiative.org/portfolio-item/the-wonder-woman-100-project/

Infinite Glory Signing with Justin Kirkman
2026-08-25 18:49
Come meet writer and creator, Justin K. Kirkman, of the new series Infinite Glory!
Culver City: 11am-2pm
Manhattan Beach 5pm-8pm
http://calicomics.com/InfiniteGlory/

Spencer & Locke signing with creator, David Pepose
2026-08-25 18:49
I don’t think I can say it any better than I did last Saturday night! Don’t snooze on this one, folks!
Pretty sure this is going to be the indie comic sensation of 2017 and that’s not because creator David Pepose is signing copies at Culver City THIS Wednesday from 11 to 2 and at Manhattan Beach on Wednesday, April 26 from 5 to 8.
No, it’s because for the last two months, we’ve had a steady drip of customers asking to put it on their pull sheets, a drip that has become a stream here lately. It’s a great concept “Calvin & Hobbes in the gritty underbelly of a Sin City-like world” and it is fabulously executed! Check out this link and come meet Mr. Pepose at our Culver City shop around lunchtime this Wednesday!

Magic The Gathering: Amonkhet Open House
2026-08-25 18:49
Magic Open House – AmonkhetOn Saturday, April 15, players of all levels will come together to learn and play Magic, say farewell to Aether Revolt, and look ahead to the next exciting release—Amonkhet!
We will be introducing new players to the game and welcoming them into your Magic community with learn-to-play sessions, using the Welcome Decks that will be provided to new players.
Invite your veteran players to join the fun by bringing a friend or helping to teach new players.
The first 20 new players will receive a 2017 Welcome Deck!
There will also be foil full-art Amonkhet land cards while supplies last! So get there early!

Cup O' Joe with Stan Lee, Joe Quesada & Kevin Smith!
2026-08-25 18:49
Now with added Kevin Smith! That’s right, folks! This just in, Kevin Smith will be joining this Friday’s Cup o’ Joe with Stan Lee event at The Paley Center! Joe Quesada, Stan Lee and NOW Kevin Smith! It’s a geek trifecta!
Purchase tickets at this link and join us at The Comic Bug Manhattan Beach by 9 a.m. to cruise there on the BUG BUS (our version of a party bus!) courtesy of The Hero Initiative! Tickets are $125 plus service charge, but we’re offering a very special REBATE to our Comic Bug peeps! Choose between a $30 cash refund or $50 in store credit the day of the event!
Oh, and you get this nifty autographed poster too! All proceeds benefit The Hero Initiative, a great charity that looks out for many, many comic creators who could use a helping hand. Click the link and join the party! Huzzah!
ABOUT Cup O’ Joe
Marvel Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada is bringing back his famous “Cup o’ Joe” chats in a spectacular way in a spectacular place—The Paley Center in Beverly Hills! And he’s bringing along the GREATEST of all possible guests—Stan “The Man” Lee!
And YOU can be there for this fun and historic event! A mere 125 tickets will be made available at $125 each for this great Friday lunchtime event! It’s the PERFECT way to take an afternoon off work and ease into your weekend while being regaled with great tales of the Marvel Universe from Stan and Joe! Ticket proceeds benefit Hero Initiativem the charity the helps comic book creators in medical and financial need!
WHO: Stan Lee and Joe Quesada!
WHAT: Cup o’ Joe, Joe Quesada’s freewheeling Marvel chat, WITH Marvel Universe founder Stan Lee!
WHY: Because it’s a GREAT event that benefits a GREAT charity!
WHERE: The Paley Center, 465 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA. MASSIVE ramp parking right across the street!
WHEN: Friday, April 14 at 11 a.m. Have a great time, and hit lunch after!
WHAT YOU GET

A small, intimate, cool event with Stan Lee and Joe Quesada!
Great tales of Marvel Comics and Stan’s fascinating life and times!
BEST of all, a commemorative print TRIPLE-signed by Stan, Joe, and artist Mike Mayhew!

Get your tickets NOW! They’re sure to sell out fast!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cup-o-joe-with-stan-the-man-lee-tickets-32639126506?aff=efbnreg
