Sick of Trying to Find Comics at Comic Con? Try Tr!ckster

It seems like every year San Diego Comic Con rolls around and naturally it coincides with several big-budget genre flicks that dominate the con, whether its Twilight, Harry Potter, or even something actually based on a comic book itself. What started out as a gathering simply dedicated to collectors has become one of Hollywood’s biggest media stomping grounds, and no doubt this year’s event will be plastered in The Avengers, The Dark Knight, Captain America, Cowboys & Aliens, and The Smurfs.

Now, we know not everybody goes to Comic Con, and for those of us who don’t the big media spectacle is pretty much all there is. But we’re secretly hoping that something exciting comes out of a little parallel event that’s being set up across the street from the big party this year, called Tr!ckster.

TR!CKSTER is a huge, free-to-enter pop-up store event that’s equal parts retail shop/fine art gallery/and symposium space. Spearheaded by Scott Morse and Ted Mathot, TR!CKSTER just might be the world’s first creator-owned venue of its kind, spotlighting an armada of artists and writers that are the heart and soul of popular storytelling, daring enough to retain the rights to their own work. Featuring limited run small press books and wares, original art in a gallery setting, a full bar, live music and more, TR!CKSTER seeks to be a haven for creators and audiences to gather in a classy, comfortable atmosphere. With no booths, creators will be free to relax and interact more casually with their audience, have a cocktail, and share their creative processes more readily.

The list of names attached to Tr!ckster is long, but includes folks like Marc Andreyko, Francesco Francavilla, Kazu Kibuishi (of Flight Magazine), David Mack, Mike Mignola, Steve Purcell (creator of Sam & Max), and Greg Rucka.

So to us this sounds a lot like the tiny con experience that can be difficult to find at many nationally covered cons, and you can stop by for free. That’s right, no Comic Con ticket needed, and most of the event (barring various Symposia events, which seem like small workshops or masterclasses) is, in fact, free.

So, if you’re lucky enough to find yourself in San Diego between July 19th and July 24th (that’s right, it’s even longer than Comic Con) whether or not you’re lucky enough to have a ticket to SDCC, stop by.

(via Boing Boing.)