12 years ago, a community arts event debuted in the comic mecca of San Diego, California. An event that connected artists in the community, allowing them to have a voice and share their creations with other like-minded individuals in a way that some events could only hope to achieve. In those 12 years, the event has only evolved, including artists and creators from all around the nation, convening to share their ideas and creations.
That event is the San Diego Zine Fest.
This year, it took place in Barrio Logan, a historic town in San Diego, where everywhere you go, the art, people, and heritage reflect what makes the barrio so special to the city’s residents, especially its Latino community.
Even as a San Diego resident, I am a bit ashamed to say that this was my first time hearing about Woo Studios. A warehouse on the outskirts of Barrio Logan’s pier, Woo Studios is a hub centered around the cultivation of artistic and cultural expression. By fostering a space where creatives, either institutional or transbordered, can cultivate their artistic and cultural expression. They have allowed artists, not just San Diegans, to thrive.
This couldn’t have been any more apparent than San Diego Zine Fest, taking place October 18-19. The Woo was large enough to have three separate sections of Zinesters packed into the exhibition. Opening up from the front, where community artist Chikle brought the SDZF ”skanker” to life. The piece attached the logo of SDZF to the top while debuting the skanker, strolling through the fest, with a folded up beanie, pink polo, and a zine in hand.
To be blunt, when you showed up at the venue, if you knew anything about the community that surrounds zines, you knew what you were getting into. People from all different walks of life, races, fashions, and communities flooded the space. It was phenomenal, a living kaleidoscope of communities all jam-packed into one venue. The best part, that was just the people, then there were the artists.
Two separate days of the venue had more than 100 artists each day, different food trucks, music, and more. Even the event was promoting its own line of shirts, tote bags, and raffles.
Whether it was a booth filled with beautifully drawn food items, thought-provoking zines featuring adorable animals, or your own mix of Ghibli prints like Catching Toast, the variety was endless. “San Diego Zine Fest was an amazing experience! It was such a great time and space to connect with fellow vendors, artists, and just everyone passionate about what we do,” said Leslie Kwan, creator of Catching Toast.
There was even an advertising agency with a big blue whale bomb right in the middle of their table, literally Whalebomb, showcasing their notebooks, stickers, and zines, that you could not miss.
UpperMind Ink stood out with their distinct comic style, bringing to life a fan-made/drawn recreation of the first Giant-Sized X-Men issue (Sewer Boyz 2) alongside Traumatarium; Deckulus, a Solo Dungeon Crawler Card Game they got to do some amazing work on.
Among all the colors and creativity were zines centered on revolution and standing against hate, reminding everyone that art has a voice. Artists of all ages proudly displayed their work, trading pieces like an unspoken promise between creators. If one artist admired another’s work and the feeling was mutual, they didn’t hesitate; they swapped creations, sealing a moment of mutual respect in art form.
The conversations heard were some of the best, even if you were flipping through, checking things out, even if you didn’t buy anything, everyone here was in it for the love of the game. Artist had mini TVs with ominous messages, their work sprawled out in front of them to start a conversation. Full racks of prints, stickers, and some even had their t-shirts taped to the walls to show off their creations.
Whether it was debuting their own photo ops, comics, newspaper, and more, everyone had a conversation about where their art came from, and how it came it be. One booth was even handing out pointy newspaper hats, given to you by their dog puppet (no, literally a dog hand puppet), creating a cult of “newsies” scattered across the event. The best part? The Fuck AI pins, stickers, imagery, that were plastered as far as the eye could see.
The art wasn’t just brought by the artists, it was the people, the event, the messages, everything was just so unapologetically themselves. It was so easy to meet new people and discuss their favorite art, hobbies, etc. This was to such a point that artists came down from as far as LA, San Francisco, and even Texas to attend.
The Comics Courier had its own booth at the event, as mentioned them in our Kickstarter Round-Up in the past. Getting the chance to meet Tiffany Babb in person was fantastic. In a time where it seems comic criticism is slowly fading away, it’s great to have a critical newspaper that is writer-driven and of the highest quality. That statement carries over not only to its material, but its writers. Writers choose their own topics to work on and release some amazing articles, with fantastic designs. It’s truly something special to come out of a period of time where most everything is being carried over to digital.
Babb chose to have a newspaper format, and that alone speaks volumes about the content of its creators. With editorial experience of more than ten years, she has served as a deputy editor, a co-editor of an Eisner award-winning paper, and has worked at more than 4 publications, and here she was at SDZF, being a comic’s courier.
“I think it’s really amazing what the zine community does” said Babb. “It’s not just all about selling your own thing; people do trades, everyone is showing up with amazing stuff. Their very amazing outfits. It’s just really nice to be a part of this community.
The best part it’s not too late to join the legion of comic critics, their upcoming paper is up for backing on kickstarter!
They weren’t the only Kickstarter creators there either, another newspaper on display caught my eye, except it wasnt exactly from our time. That’s how I met Jason Lego, an artist and creator based out in Anaheim, CA, displaying their art and news project, Mass Cybernetics, the world’s first cyberpunk newspaper.
I mean, genuinely, what a stunning project, a whole newspaper with fake (and some real) ads and art all created by various artists within the theme of a dystopian cyberpunk future that I could not stop flipping through.
Lego says, “This is one of the most amazing events that brings the community together in an active way that brings about a lot of good change we need in this city.”
If you’re interested in more of his work, check out their page over at Ink and Drink Long Beach, a community org that connects artists through monthly and weekly art events.
Seasoned comic artist, Andrew Greenstone, known for their work on Sid the Cat Magazine, Rust Belt Review, and Star Wars from Memory, their own zine series, was also at the event. Greenstone was boothing with two other artists at the convention; he had a lot to say about the event.
“It’s fantastic, it’s so nice, everyone is cool. It’s weird to say that there aren’t too many industry people here, or even publishers, so you can just connect with people and relax a little bit.” He goes on to mention how this is the end of a seven-show run, and at this point, whatever happens happens. That he was so glad to be here with his friends and that every time he gets to go to San Diego, it’s just a great experience, he gets the most out of these events.
“This is it for me, I don’t sell online, and I’m more than ok with that, when you do these things your own events like this are everything to us. Being able to publish your own stuff, ship it out, it takes a lot of time, and that’s what makes these kinds of events so special.”
Rachel Dukes, Artist and illustrator for Frankie comics, The Wizerd, and currently illustrating for In Science We Trust on Tiny View, was set up right next to Greenstone.
“I’m a cartoonist currently based out of Phoenix, Arizona, and I grew up in San Diego. I’ve been doing this show for over a decade, and I love it very much. I love everybody that’s here and meeting new Zinesters and cartoonists, getting to have a good time with everybody, it’s amazing.”
Speaking to Dukes was fantastic even more so when I had to back track to ask them if they were ok with mentioning this next bit; they were ecstatic.
“Two weeks ago, I had an emergency appendectomy. It started with a mild tummyache, which then developed into the worst stomach pain that wrapped around my whole body. I went to the ER, and they said they were going to take my appendix out. A week after the surgery, as soon as I was off meds, I walked onto an airplane and went to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for a show called A2CAF (Ann Arbor Comic Arts Festival), got all my bandages off, my scars are solid, and I’m here at San Diego Zine Fest with all of you.”
In our conversation afterward she told me “Doing this shit for the love of the game.” The feeling was mutual, and artists around couldn’t help but agree they could not get enough of that feeling.
Then, then there was BestuFriendo Shirt Company, run by Raul Rodriguez and Christopher “Macho” Machorro. Machorro is an illustrator and designer based in Dallas, Texas, and Rodriguez is a screen printer and illustrator also from Dallas. They’re best friends, which is why they started BestuFriendo together. They stood out to me because they used bright blue duct tape to attach their red-and-blue T-shirt designs of Vash the Stampede and Nicholas D. Wolfwood to the wall behind their booth.
I had to get to know them; their art was phenomenal, that was certain, but their personality spoke volumes about their experience, and they had a lot to share.
“So, being two people from Texas, we’ve gone to Atlanta, we’ve gone to Colorado, and now we’re here in San Diego for our first SDZF. It’s amazing,” Rodriguez said. He went on to explain that they had met many wonderful people at the event and that his biggest takeaway was connecting with the community and like-minded individuals from all over the United States.
Machorro added, “That’s been the greatest part. Despite being from different regions, we all share the same love for this community of artists. I love coming to these events because sometimes, down the line, someone will ask us to work on a project. For us, it’s not about the money, but about having fun with the creative process.”
Rodriguez mentioned that although this didn’t become their full-time job, one shirt quickly turned into many. It all started when Macho was invited to table at what was once a small art market, which has since grown into a much larger one. From there, the art kept evolving, shirts led to zines, then to stickers, prints, and more.
They made it a point to explain that while Bestufrinedo is how they got their start, their jobs as illustrators, as gallery curators, are what allowed them to connect with their community in Dallas and expand even farther out. Everything worked within the same circles because they made sure to go to events like these; they were that important to their work. The friendships they made at these events could make or break your future. That their friend Konstantine, another artist tabling at SDZF, they met during their first-ever Dallas Zine Fest and have been friends and partners ever since.
They even went so far as to say that there are artists everywhere if you know where to look. They feel Texas gets a bad rap because of the government, but if you travel to Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and El Paso, you’ll find these cities are more liberal and people are more open-minded than you might think. Coming out to see the talented artists in Texas, the queer POC creators, and other like-minded individuals, is well worth it.
“Give us a chance, you know? We won’t let you down.”
That’s why I wasn’t surprised to see them tabling with Cynta Camilla, better known as j4lly, and more recently their work for KanakKanak Press. Camilla is a Malaysian cartoonist currently based in Oakland, CA, and they were here with Rodriguez and Macho at SDZF. When you pan from their shirts hanging on the wall to the array of art prints and designs spread across the table, it’s hard to look away. I couldn’t stop admiring a Godzilla-inspired Zinograph print they had on display.
It featured a slightly (and legally) distinct Godzilla wearing a cap and printing zines and comics from a machine plastered with Doraemon, tokusatsu memorabilia, and other pop culture and anime references. Even a Kamen Rider toy was posed beside him. The print is incredible; it’s clear it was made with so much care and love, and if you’re a fan of any of those media, it’s exactly the kind of piece you’d want framed on your wall.
Camilla had come from the Santa Barbara Art Book and Print Fair the day prior to setting up now at SDZF. In their own words, they had been hustling to make sure this back-to-back adventure could happen in the first place.
“I went to California College of the Arts for their MFA comics program,” Camilla said. We had an event at Silver Sprocket. It was a great experience, and ever since then, I have kept attending events to make connections within our community. Events like these give us the chance to actually share our work. I especially loved tabling in San Francisco because that’s where I’m based, and it’s how I met all my friends. It’s amazing to see how artists support and lift each other up, helping one another grow, because it’s hard to get published these days.”
However, of all the items on Camilla’s table, one piece stood out the most, and, to my joy, it was also the work they were most proud of. It Shouldn’t Be Hard to Learn How to Crack Eggs with One Hand is a comic created, written, and drawn entirely by Camilla. In one word: it’s absolutely beautiful.
The cover featured a thin sheet of parchment paper with its own sketch, allowing the image on the front to subtly blend into the cover art on the back, reminiscent of Absolute Martian Manhunter’s Martian vision from the final page. On the parchment, Camilla’s doodle version of themselves appeared, flowers sprouting from their face. The main cover page depicted a fully realized version of themselves cracking an egg with two hands, the yolk revealing the doodle version of themselves inside. The effect was playful, intricate, and deeply personal, a perfect reflection of Camilla’s storytelling and artistic style.
Camilla used their art and writing to tell a story of their love for food, even including recipes for the dishes they cherished from home. Much of the story is told through the doodle version of themselves, their unrealized, whimsical self, before the narrative takes a dramatic turn. For lack of a better term, the egg finally cracks, and they experience the emotional fallout of a breakup. Cooking, which had once been a way to show care, becomes tinged with loss as the dishes they prepared feel “spoiled” by what happened. Yet, through the passage of time, the memories embedded in those meals linger, and the love they had for cooking returns, a quiet rebellion that could only come from the work they produced with their own hands.
I don’t believe it’s an accident that their art grew from the same passion that brought their cooking to life. It took seven months to produce this piece, and through every page, every panel, every mind-bending, distorting detail, it’s impossible not to feel the weight of care, patience, and devotion poured into it. It’s a living testament to creativity as an act of love, healing, and the unbreakable connection between the artist and their world.
And all of this comes in the form of a $25 comic, something someone might have easily overlooked if they hadn’t taken the time to talk to Camilla. Yet within those pages lies a work on par with anything a major publisher might produce, a labor of love that proves the true value of independent art isn’t measured in price, but in the care, heart, and story it holds.
“I was going through a hard time. I just remember being in limbo, present but not really present. I feel like comics are a great medium for that reason. From a therapeutic and storytelling perspective, it was the only way I could share this with people without just saying, ‘Here’s my breakup story.’ The comic is special to me because I used my love of food, how we connected over meals, to create a metaphor through cooking with a focus on eggs. It may have been strange, but I remember feeling almost possessed while making it. I just kept working until all 24 pages were done. Every time I open it, I get to relive why I want to do this for the rest of my life and why it is so important to me.”
Any fan of comics or any art form can tell you there is a distinct joy when a piece of art doesn’t come from a massive publisher. When a project is personal and unique, there is no other feeling like it in the world. It is truly one of a kind. In a way, it’s all yours.
San Diego Zine Fest is much more than an event; it is a celebration of creativity, community, and the relentless passion that drives artists to share their work with the world. From first-time attendees discovering hidden gems to seasoned creators reconnecting with friends and collaborators, the festival is a reminder that art is never just about the finished product. It is about the process, the people, and the love poured into every line, every page, every print.
Walking through the festival, witnessing the joy, dedication, and ingenuity on display, it becomes clear that this is what makes independent art so vital. It fosters connection, sparks conversation, and keeps the flame of creativity alive in a way no corporate-backed project ever could. Whether through a $25 comic that carries the weight of months of labor and personal growth or a booth bursting with prints, zines, and stickers, every piece tells a story, and in telling it, gives life to the artist and everyone who encounters their work.
San Diego Zine Fest is a living, breathing testament to the power of community-driven art. It reminds us that creativity cannot be contained, that passion will always find a way to flourish, and that the value of a piece of art is measured not in its price or popularity, but in the heart, care, and humanity behind it. For anyone lucky enough to experience it, the festival leaves one with a single, undeniable truth: art is essential, artists are vital, and the world is richer for every story they choose to share.
If you want to check out more independent creators, check out our Crowdfunding round-up here!
If you’re looking for more Zine fests, make sure to check out the
Oceanside Printmaking & Zine Fair 2025 on November 8th!
English (US) · 