If you’re someone who lives in the Pacific Northwest, or loves comic conventions, you’d be wrong to think that the impressive Emerald City Comic-Con is Seattle’s only convention for lovers of comics and print media. For 14 years now, the independent comic company Short Run has hosted the Short Run Comix Festival, a labor of love that highlights local, national, and international comix creators, artists, and zine makers.
As a comic lover living in Seattle, I have had the honor of attending several Short Run festivals over their 14-year run, and I have to say that this year’s, held this past weekend at the Seattle Design Center, was one of the most enjoyable I have attended. It is truly such a blessing to be surrounded by such talented art and writing in an age where AI creation is running rampant and threatening creative spaces. The aura was energetic, rebellious, and heartwarming. As I went to buy Nicole Georges’ “Emotional Support Animal” calendar, I heard a young boy asking Nicole, with wonder in his eyes, “Did you really draw all of this?” It was, perhaps, the most hopeful I have felt about the future of art in a long time.
Art, comix, and zines from Linnea Sterte, Pingnan Lu, Kiku Hughes, Carlos Bergfeld, Greg Stump, A.T. Pratt, Gnartoons, and more!
I wish I had an endless supply of money, or I would have bought something from literally every vendor, but with a limited budget I still managed to score some amazing stuff. I got a gorgeous iron-on patch from Gnartoons, a stunning risograph accordion-style “Animal Alphabet” comic for my 2-year-old niece, and the adorable and funky “Bootleg Batman” from the talented Kiku Hughes. I was finally able to pick up A Garden of Spheres, by acclaimed cartoonist Linnea Sterte, from Peow2. Plus, one of the biggest names at the festival was Jesse Moynihan, whose new comic Forming I just recently reviewed, and he was just as lovely to meet in person as I imagined.
It was such a joy to be surrounded by like-minded lovers of art, words, and comics, and attending the Short Run Comix Festival made me excited to continue my journey of supporting local, indie comic creators. I highly recommend that anyone living in the Pacific Northwest attend the festival whenever it happens in 2027, and I honestly think it would be worth an entire trip from somewhere outside of the PNW as well! Thought-provoking, difficult, beautiful art is still being made by humans every damn day, and it is up to us as consumers to make sure we are supporting local creators just as much, if not more, than larger comic publications. I hope I see you at Short Run next year.
AIPT Comics Podcast Episode 403: Cavan Scott talks ‘Godfather of Hell,’ Star Wars horror, and making deals with the devil
<img src="https://i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Legion-of-Super-Heroes-3-1.jpg?resize=560%2C315&ssl=1" alt="DC Preview: Legion of Super-Heroes #3″>
DC Preview: Legion of Super-Heroes #3
Comic Books
Super Sonic Monthly #8: Exclusive previews, an Amy Rose special, and big Sonic #100 reveals
Comic Books
AIPT’s X-Men Power Rankings: Part 1 (#25-21)
Comic Books
‘Avengers’ #1 prepares for our heroes to dance with the devil
