Drawn & Quarterly, everyone’s favorite Montreal-based independent comics publisher, showed up at MOCCAfest 2025 with stunning new releases and exciting signings.
D&Q took advantage of this year’s MOCCAfest to debut several new books ahead of their official release dates. Muybridge by Guy Delisle, which hits retailers April 29, was prominently displayed at the edge of the table, but the real highlight according to D&Q staffers was the brand-new debut Checked Out by Katie Fricas: a colorful story about a lesbian library worker in New York City struggling to finish her epic graphic novel. Checked Out won’t reach stores until May 20, but its New York setting and lively, original art made it perfect for a MOCCAfest debut. Fricas, a queer cartoonist, illustrator, editor and library worker, was signing copies on Saturday from 12-1:30. Checked Out is her first graphic novel.
Besides Fricas, other Drawn & Quarterly artists signing books on Saturday included Edward Steed, Adrian Tomine, Michael DeForge and María Medem. DeForge and Medem also signed autographs on Sunday, in addition to participating in two panels. DeForge discussed the subject “Between Two Worlds” with Anders Nilsen, and María Medem talked about “Color Composition Emotion” with Brian Blomerth. DeForge’s newest book, Holy Lacrimony, is a “post-alien abduction trauma memoir” about sadness, and performance, and performative sadness, released on Tuesday, March 11. Medem traveled to NYC all the way from Spain to promote the English translation of Land of Mirrors, which was published February 4th.
On Saturday, Adrian Tomine discussed artistic evolution with Charles Burns and Jaime Hernandez, in a panel spotlighting their early work and influences. “It feels like I put in a lot of effort to get something that other people can do effortlessly,” Tomine said about his own work.
Other new books represented at the Drawn & Quarterly table include Milk White Steed by Michael Kennedy, Walter Scott’s Wendy series, a new edition of the Moomin comics by Tove Jansson, and English translations of midcentury manga masterpieces by Yoshiharu Tsuge and Yamada Murasaki.
As always, Drawn & Quarterly had a significant presence at MOCCAfest 2025, bringing with them beautiful books and talented cartoonists.
You can check out the rest of our MoCCA Arts Fest 2025 coverage right here.
English (US) · 