Reference articles on history, science, culture and more
Surprise meSurprise meSubscribe
Encyclopedia

STAPLE!

Annual convention in Texas, United States

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors
1 min read
Source updated June 10, 2026

STAPLE! The Independent Media Expo is an annual convention in Austin, Texas, United States, for alternative comics, minicomics, webcomics, zines, underground comics, and graphic arts. Chris Nicholas founded the conference as a gathering place for professional artists and amateur creators, "a showcase for the folks who publish comics and zines and possible literary masterworks out of their own apartments."

The show is sponsored by Austin Books, an Eisner-nominated comic book store and the site of the largest gathering of artists for the worldwide 24-Hour Comics Day held in 2005.

Additional sponsors include Rogues Gallery: Comics + Games, ECPrinting.com, Dragon's Lair: Comics & Fantasy, KOOP (FM), Motorblade Postering Services, CKP communication agency of record, and Bumperactive.com.

01History

The 2020 show, scheduled for October, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The show returned in 2024.

02Event dates and locations

  • March 5, 2005: BPOE #201
  • March 4, 2006: Red Oak Ballroom
  • March 3, 2007: Red Oak Ballroom
  • March 1, 2008: Monarch Event Center
  • March 7, 2009: Monarch Event Center
  • March 6, 2010: Monarch Event Center
  • March 5-6, 2011: Marchesa Hall and Theatre
  • March 3-4, 2012: Marchesa Hall and Theater
  • March 2-3, 2013: Marchesa Hall and Theater
  • March 1-2, 2014: Marchesa Hall and Theater
  • March 7-8, 2015: Marchesa Hall and Theater
  • March 5-6, 2016: Marchesa Hall and Theater
  • September 9-10, 2017: Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex
  • September 8-9, 2018: Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex
  • October 12-13, 2019: Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex
  • October 2020: Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
  • April 13-14, 2024: Mabee Ballroom, St. Edward's University
  • April 12-13, 2025: Mabee Ballroom, St. Edward's University
  • April 11-12, 2026: Mabee Ballroom, St. Edward's University
Watch videos about STAPLE!Explainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “STAPLE!”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.

Continue exploring

Related topics

Alternative Press Expo

The Alternative Press Expo was a comic book festival and alternative comics convention that operated from 1994 to 2017. Founded by Slave Labor Graphics publisher Dan Vado, APE focused on self-published, independent, and alternative cartoonists and comic publishers.

MoCCA Festival

The MoCCA Arts Festival, or MoCCA Fest, is an independent comics showcase that typically includes artist booths, slide shows, and educational panels. It was created by the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in 2002 by bringing together over 2,000 artists, publishers, editors and enthusiasts.

Small Press Expo

The Small Press Expo is an American alternative comics convention. A registered 501(c)(3) that was created in 1994, every year since its inception, SPX has put on a festival, known as The Expo, that provides a forum for artists, writers and publishers of comic art in its various forms to present their creations to the public and to expose the public to comic art not normally accessible through normal commercial channels.