New York Comic Con is October 8-11, 2026

The East Coast's largest pop culture convention, New York Comic Con returns October 8-11, 2026 at Javits Center located at 429 11th Avenue. Carolyn Belefski and Joe Carabeo (Curls Studio) will be at Booth #1947 all four days (same location as last year, area with the low ceiling). The location is on show floor level 3. 

We will also have the "This Ink Runs Cold" collaboration book -- Joe Carabeo wrote a story that Scott Morse (former Pixar story artist) illustrated.

We will have the convention exclusive limited edition Curls book and the revised Black Magic Tales 154 page omnibus comic book. We will have several of our hard enamel pins available for purchase. We will debut the Bell Peppers sticker sheet at this show and showcase other sticker sheets and larger individual stickers.

We will bring copies of Magic Bullet #25 comics newspaper. Hope to see you soon in the city that never sleeps!

Show Floor Hours 

Thursday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM 

Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM 

Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM 

Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM 

Baltimore Comic-Con 2026

Visit Curls Studio at Table F1

Friday, September 25 -- 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Saturday, September 26 -- 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday, September 27 -- 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Visit Curls Studio at Baltimore Comic-Con at Table F1 in Artist Alley. Click on the map image above to see a large map of where to find us. We have the latest edition of Magic Bullet, issue 25 for the first time published in full-color.

We are celebrating Savage Dragon by Erik Larsen in Baltimore Comic-Con's Yearbook this year. Get your Yearbook signed at Curls Studio at Table F1. The original will be auctioned off during the art auction Saturday at 2:00 PM in Room 339-342. 

Here are some "Curls Studio Visits..." Convention Films, produced by Astray Productions, to get you in the mood!

2008 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFyPIiWnZFA

2007 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDUL8zNv5FQ

As they say: I'll see you in Baltimore!

Small Press Expo 2026

This year's Small Press Expo will be held September 12-13, 2026. Visit Curls Studio at Table W63 near the front entrance at Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center (5701 Marinelli Road Rockville, Maryland 20852). 

Saturday, September 12 -- 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday, September 13 -- NOON - 6:00 PM

The latest issue of Magic Bullet (#25) will debut at SPX in full color -- look for a new Roxy and Dean story in it!

Cartoonist Showcase in Columbus, Ohio

The National Cartoonist Society is teaming up with the Billy Ireland Museum at Ohio State University for a Cartoonist Showcase sketching and signing event, open to the public. You can find me in the lobby on Saturday, August 8 from 1:00 to 5:30 PM.

Spotlight presentations from Colleen Doran and Cathy Guisewite are part of the festivities.

There will also be a ticketed event on the same day in the Mershon Auditorium featuring Dav Pilkey, Raina Telgemeier, Jim Benton, Jamar Nicholas, and Maria Scrivan from Scholastic’s Graphix imprint.

If you are near Columbus, Ohio it is a great way to meet talented cartoonists, illustrators, and authors! I'm looking forward to this event and hope to meet you there.

Details here: https://nationalcartoonists.com/showcase

NCS Exhibitors: Chuck Whelon, Joe Dator, Wayno®, Nate Fakes, Jerry Van Amerongen, Tom Stiglich, John and Anne Hambrock, Andrea Beizer, Colleen Doran, Dave Blazek, Pat Higgins, Jason Chatfield, Barbara Dale, John Rose, Richard Robert Pollak, Dee Fish, Dave Kellett, Polly Keener, Bill Morrison, Harold Buchholz, Joe Staton, Greg Cravens, Francis Bonnet, Carolyn Belefski, Thom Zahler, Milburn Taylor, Deon Parson, Tom Toro, Josh Ulrich, Mark Parisi, Dan Thompson, Wes Molebash, David Rickert, Norm Feuti, Lex Fajardo, Chuck Dillon, Ed Steckley, Dawn Griffin

Toon Talks: TED-Style Presentations by Cartoonists

I am selected to present at "Toon Talks" during National Cartoonists Society’s 80th Annual Reuben Awards and Conference in Ohio on August 7. 

Five cartoonists. Five big ideas. Ten minutes each. Inspired by TED Talks, this fast-paced session features short, focused presentations on creative breakthroughs, business pivots, technical innovations, and career insights. Topics range from process to publishing, from style to strategy. After the presentations, join table conversations with speakers to dive deeper into the ideas that resonated with you. 

Presenters: Carolyn Belefski (How Comics Shape Minds and Health), Deon Parson (Making Traditional Comics in a Digital World), Jonathan Lemon (How to Hack Your Deadlines), Sonya Saturday (So Anyway, I Saved a Dollar), Tom Gammill (How I Learned To Draw). 

Registration link: https://ncs.glueup.com/event/80th-annual-ncs-conference-and-reuben-awards-173648

There will also be National Cartoonists Society Showcase on August 8 at The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum that I will be participating in (taking place after the conference). More details to come in the next blog post.

Recap: Fredericksburg Comic Con 2026

This past weekend Curls Studio had a fun time at Fredericksburg Comic Con with the Kids Love Comics crew. I got to meet fellow NCS member John Rose for the first time in-person. Joe got to unexpectedly meet writer Robert Venditti. I had a workshop "Emoji Comics with Carolyn Belefski" and drew this code to crack 🍍🍕👍. Reply where you stand on this controversial opinion. Thank you Incredible Conventions!

Fredericksburg Comic Con 2026

Fredericksburg Comic Con is July 11-12, 2026. There will be Kids Love Comics activities and workshops, arcade games, special guests (voice actors, wresters, and comic creators), artist alley, and exhibitors. 

On Sunday at 1PM join us for Emoji Comics with Carolyn Belefski -- We’ve used them in texts and social media, now cartoonist Carolyn Belefski shows you how to use emojis in comics. From designing these easy-to-draw icons to using them to tell a story, this workshop will surely play with your emotions.

This will be the first time Curls Studio will visit Fredericksburg Comic Con. Hope to see you there!