Erica Schultz has been our favorite champion of indie comics with amazing titles like M3, Deadliest Bouquet and Bylines in Blood.

She’s rocked franchise books like Xena, Charmed and Swords of Sorrow.

And then 2023 hit and she EXPLODED into the Big 2 with Marvel’s Hallow’s Eve! Then she tackled X-23 with X-23 Deadly Regenesis! Then the books just started flowing out like a dam had been broken with Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1, What If?..Dark Moon Knight #1 and Daredevil Gang War - not to mention her appearance in Women of Marvel #1!

NOW - Erica takes the leap into Rat City - Image’s Spawn 2099 - about an ex-soldier/amputee that gains the powers of Spawn due to Al’s actions in the past that unknowingly set Peter Cairn (our future Spawn) on a whole new path as a Hellspawn of his own!

Erica will be here on 4/13 from 2pm-5pm. We’ll have copies of Rat City #1 on hand for customers to purchase as well as a boatload of other comics she’s worked on too!

A little over 9 years ago, we stumbled across a group of indie comics artists who would meet up and draw and hang out and just share stories with each other. We were a brand new store and didn’t really know any “industry” people. In walks the Janimal with his book Time Shark (about a time-traveling shark)! A kid-friendly comic artist who is quite possibly the nicest human to ever walk the earth. We immediately fell in love with both his work and him! Shortly after, life took over and Janimal moved to Arizona and we stayed in touch but we didn’t get a chance to host him again.

Now - almost a decade later - the Janimal returns to the halls of East Side Mags!

Jan Marc “The Janimal” Quisumbing is a Jersey tomato roasting in the Arizona sun. A graduate of the Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University (NJ), he now resides in Northern Arizona with his family and 3 cats. He has exhibited at comic conventions from Phoenix Fan Fusion to New York Comic Con and serves as the acting president of the Northern Arizona Cartoonist Association (NAZCA). His fun and cartoony style has a great retro feel and translates easily to the drawing demo classes that have been a staple at Verde Valley libraries and LibCons over the past nine years. He currently works at a library in Northern Arizona as its Program and Marketing Coordinator.

Follow his work on Instagram at #thejanimaldraws

Dummie Comics is IN THE HOUSE! Come check out one of North Jersey's PREMIERE Indie Comic Publishers!

So many great titles - with literally something for everyone! With thrillers, superheroes, horror and more, Dummie Comics brings the indie game to the next level.

Come hang out with Kalani Caraballo from 1pm-5pm, get some great comics signed and learn about what it's like to be an indie publisher!

If you know East Side Mags, you know we love to read indie comics.  We spotlight dozens of independent artists and writers in the hopes that one day we can watch these girls & guys become the next living legends of the comics industry!  This signing is no different - in fact, it combines 2 of our favorite things - beer & cookies!

Meet Jason Quinones.  Jason is a Native New Yorker, a 1995 graduate of The Kubert School in Dover, New Jersey and a comic creator having written,drawn and self published several comics,selling them successfully at comics shops and conventions in the NY/NJ area. His comics include BEER & COOKIES VOL.1 and 2, a MAD Magazine style,lowbrow,humor comic that uses satire and parody to poke fun at comic book heroes,pop culture and social issues,MANBOY N' Friends,an original comic about a group of moronic friends and their surreal non-adventures and a Sketchbook. You can view more of his work on the following sites: www.beerandcookiescomics.com , facebook.com/jasoncartoons and on instagram at @beerandcookies.

Jason will be here from 1pm-5pm, signing copies of his work and sketching for customers.  Buy a blank sketch cover, get a free basic sketch and Jason will dazzle you with his art and humor!  You can also "upgrade" your sketch to inks and/or full color and pay the artist directly!

Support independent artists! Support your local comic shop!  Have a ton of fun doing BOTH!

UPDATE (9/18):  We are honored to announce that Justin Prokowich (2012 Kubert School grad and current instructor) and Sian Mandrake (freelance artist) will be joining us!

Sketching on blank comic covers is fun! But do you know what's ever MORE FUN? Hanging out with Nick Justus while he draws your favorite characters on blank comic covers!

Nick Justus (Kubert School graduate and artist behind the indie comic sensation MANTASY) will be here on September 24th from 1pm-6pm sketching, laughing, telling funny stories and discussing his favorite foods!

We'll have tons of blank sketch covers and copies of the various works available so come on by and hang out with us!

East Side Mags and Montclair Skillshare presents: GET IN TOON! with Michael Grassia!!!

Come to East Side Mags on March 26th between 1pm and 4pm to meet Michael Grassia and get your hands on some amazing all-ages indie comics from an amazing indie writer/artist!

 Make sure you stick around for GET IN TOON! with Michael Grassia where, for about an hour, kids of all ages will have the opportunity to learn how to draw cartoon style art, learn about art supplies and work with Michael directly!  Demos, hand outs and fun are all here!  Who knows?  You could have the next big cartoon artist right under your nose and not even know it!  Or you could just come on by East Side Mags and have a ton of fun! 

GET IN TOON! with Michael Grassia will begin at 2pm and run until about 3pm.  Admission is free but space is limited so get here early to sign up, grab some great all-ages comics from Michael and get ready for a truly unique experience!

Music and comic books!  A legendary, Grammy-award-winning, Eisner-worthy combination!

What happens when you find a magical knot in a tree that, when you put a CD with a famous song inside, the world forgets that song exists?  You record that same song with your friends and release it yourselves of course!  Taking credit the entire way.

Sound simple?  Not so much!  Find out what happens to Dave Tobin and friends when they take full advantage of this magical tree in Novelty Song (Parts 1 & 2) written by Bee Tee Dee.

Bee Tee Dee will be here from 12pm-4pm to meet his fans, talk about his book and sketch for anyone who wants one!

Indie, self-published comics at its finest!

See you all on March 21st!!!