2025 was a challenging year for many, including myself. But comics kept us together when anxiety in the world is at an all-time high. From the end of April to a few days before Christmas, these 24 Bay Area comics events got me through 2025 with hope intact of the world after I saw what I photographed, and the joy it documented! In the form of these photographs, here is my yearbook and visual love letter to Indie Comics 2025. It's dedicated to those who showed up and obliged me for a moment to stand for my camera and be immortalized in Indie Comics history. Here is to those who attended and to those who didn't, but who still might be curious what it was like to have been there. When we convene again, may it be a joyful Indie Comics meet up, documented in photographs! — Chris Diaz
Crumb biography book release at Et. Al. Books in San Francisco (April 26)
Dan Nadal with his new book, Crumb A Cartoonist’s Life
Cushion Works’ Jordan Stein interviewed Dan Nadal.
Attendees with Dan Nadel (back turned).
Robert Armstrong and Robert Crumb exhibition opening at Cushion Works in San Francisco (April 26)
Cushion Works entrance.
Dan Nadel.
Robert Crumb original art.
Robert Armstrong with original art.
Robert Armstrong, left, performs.
Sophie Yanow interviews Anders Nilsen for Tongues book release at Silver Sprocket in San Francisco (May 4)
Advertisement for Anders Nilsen at Silver Sprocket
Exhibition of Anders Nilsen’s original art.
Anders Nilsen interviewed by Sophie Yanow
Love vs. the World reading with Cullen Beckhorn and Kalan Sherrad at Silver Sprocket (May 14)
Cullen Beckhorn at the Alive Outside anthology reading.
Mary Kalcic, Apple Berry,002 Mary Kalcic, Apple Berry, unknown and Kalan Sherrard after the reading.
Love vs The World guest readers and attendees.
Caitlin McGurk presentation on Barbara Shermund at the Cartoon Art Museum (May 18)
Caitlin McGurk with her book Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins The Life and Art of Barbara Shermund.
Caitlin McGurk and Barbara Shermund’s grandniece Amanda Gormley
Caitlin McGurk’s presentation
Muybridge release at the Booksmith in San Francisco (April 28)
Guy Delisle, interviewed by John McMurtrie
Guy Delisle
Guy Delisle signs copies of his book.
Wahab Algarmi, Mary Shyne, Gene Luen Yang and Huda Fahmy on the Bay Area Book Festival panel at the Berkeley Public Library (May 31)
From left: Elaine Tai, Wahab Algarmi, Huda Fahmy, Mary Shyne and Gene Luen Yang
Huda Fahmy and Mary Shyne signing books.
Wahab Algarmi signing books.
San Francisco Art Book Fair '25 (July 12)
Daniel Zhou and Raul Higuera of D.R.Y. Comics
Dave Pifer and David Ritchie of Secret Headquarters
SF Art Book Fair merchandise table
William Stout Architectural Books
Crumb documentary screening with Terry Zwigoff and Jordan Stein at the Roxie Theater (July 16)
Terry Zwigoff, director of Crumb, and interviewer Jordan Stein.
The Jungle signing at Mission Comics (Aug. 1)
Keenan Marshall Keller, Tom Neely and Kirt Burdick
Keenan Marshall Keller, Skinner, Tom Neely, Leef Smith and Kirt Burdick
Leef Smith, Keenan Marshall Keller, Tom Neely, Skinner, Harry Nordlinger and Luis Pardio
San Francisco Zine Fest, City View at the Metreon (Aug. 31)
San Francisco Zine Fest 2025
Wahab Algarmi
Patio of Metreon City View.
Bruce Simon and Peter Hoey
Club Ded live art show and sci-fi book signing at Dermafilia Gallery (Sept. 13)
Apple Berry and Mary Kalcic
Yates Cessna, Wilson, Floyd Tangeman and Apple Berry
Mary Kalcic
Yates Cessna, Apple Berry, Floyd Tangeman, Mary Kalcic and Nikhil Singh
Wahab Algarmi Emerging Artist Showcase closing reception at the Cartoon Art Museum (Sept. 14)
Wahab Algarmi
Wahab Algarmi Emerging Artist Showcase exhibit at the Cartoon Art Museum
Wahab Algarmi and attendees, family and friends.
Original art from Almost Sunset
Litquake 2025's Small Press Book Fair at Yerba Buena Gardens and Litquake 2025 at Mrs. Dalloway's (Sept. 28 and Oct. 14)
Bruce and Jackie Simon and Mimi Pond
Kim Askew, Amy Helmes, Mimi Pond, Iris Jamahl Dunkle, Jessica Ferri and Emily Van Duyne
Val Vale of RE:Search
Release party for Venom: Black, White & Red and Spider-Man Noir 1 at Mission Comics (Oct. 1)
Erik Larsen
Erik Larsen with fans
From left, Leef Smith, Erik Larsen and Luis Pardio
Art of Manga exhibit at the De Young Museum (Oct. 3)
Takahashi Rumiko original art
Takahashi Rumiko original art
Sean Watkins, Ben Damstedt and Felix Lu
Sean Watkins, Ben Damstedt, Felix Lu, Raina Telgemeier and Ryan
Rerelease event for The Very Fine Clock by Muriel Spark and Edward Gorey at the Cartoon Art Museum (Oct. 4)
Edward Gorey art from The Very Fine Clock.
Ashley Nelson Levy and Adam Z. Levy
Briana Loewinsohn, Amy Martin and Marinaomi after the discussion with Ashley Nelson Levy and Adam Z. Levy on Muriel Spark and Edward Gorey’s The Very Fine Clock
Mark Evanier, Hilary Price, Charles Kochman, Chip Kidd, Patrick McDonnell talk with Andrew Farago for The Essential Peanuts at the Cartoon Art Museum (Nov. 16)
Andrew Farago, Hilary Price, Patrick McDonnell, Mark Evanier Chip Kidd and Charles Kochman
Chip Kidd
Patrick McDonnell, Hilary Price, Chip Kidd and Mark Evanier
Brinke Stevens and Mark Evanier
The Essential Peanuts at the Cartoon Art Museum panel guests and museum board members and staff
Chris Ryall, Steve Leialoha and Scott Morse interviewed by Andrew Farago for the release of Marvel Age of Comics: Daredevil: Born Again at the Cartoon Art Museum (Nov. 18)
Scott Morse, Chris Ryall, Andrew Farago and Steve Leialoha
Chris Ryall, Steve Leialoha and Scott Morse
Andrew Farago, Chris Ryall, Scott Morse and Steve Leialoha
The Anti-Fascist Zine Fair at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (Nov. 22)
The Anti-Fascist Zine Fair
The showroom
Eeshan Kumar and Yates Cessna
Co-organizer Barry McGee
Howard Zinn Book Fair (Dec. 7)
The Howard Zinn Book Fair
The showroom
Yates Cessna and Floyd Tangeman
Fred Noland
Keith Knight
The West Coaster: New Yorker Cartoons from the Other Side exhibition at the Cartoon Art Museum (Dec. 12)
From left: Andrew Farago, Zareen Choudhuy, Shannon Wheeler, Lonnie Millsap, Eric Drooker, Tom Toro, Mark Ulriksen and Mike Twohy
Tom Toro, Mark Ulriksen and Mike Twohy
Lonnie Millsap
Shannon Wheeler and Tom Toro
Eric Drooker, Lonnie Millsap and Mark Ulriksen
Roman Muradov and Josh Pettinger signing at Mission Comics (Dec. 13)
Josh Pettinger, Leef Smith and Roman Muradov
Harry Nordlinger and Josh Pettinger
Roman Muradov at the end of the signing
Mikey Reger Realicide 3 signing at Mission Comics (Dec. 21)
Mikey Regar
Emilio Garcia, Kurt Burdick, Mikey Regar, Floyd Tangeman, Yates Cessna and Leef Smith