THANK YOU to everyone who made CAKE amazing this year! We continue to be blown away by the community turning out to celebrate alternative comics. We canāt express our gratitude enough to everyone who exhibited, participated in programming, and attended. You made it another CAKE for the books! š°āØš
Additional thanks to the @iahcchicago for being CAKEās home. We hope everyone loves it as much as we do!
.
.
#chicago #chicagocomics #alternativecomics #comicfests #comics
Our 2026 CAKE poster is revealed!!!
Weāre excited to welcome this yearās artist, Chicago-born legend @biancaxunise
Bianca Xuniseās work has been regarded as āgripping narrative[s], relatable situations, and evocative artwork with an aesthetic that oozes with late-1970s zine flair.ā With two Ignatz and an NAACP Award under their belt, Bianca enjoys being a voice for those who march to the beat of their own drum and hopes that their comics are comforting to those who feel like they donāt fit in. Bianca continues to bring rock n roll to illustrative life, collaborating with legends from Blondie to Bauhaus. When Bianca isnāt doodling away, they are usually at an underground DIY punk show dancing with friends by the Chicago riverside.
Keep your eyes peeled for the CAKE rat punk popping up around the city and join us May 2nd and 3rd at the Irish American Heritage Center!
Weāre very excited to announce this yearās Cupcake Award Winners: Nasa Espinoza and Jesus Blanco! It was another stellar applicant pool this year, so the jury wants to shout out some additional honorable mentions. Swipe and tap for tags! Thank you to our jury, and congratulations Nasa and Jesus š
Jesus Blanco (AKA @samerowisleader ) has decided to stay in Dekalb, IL for the time being. He likes to make neurotic comics about his fading, diasporic Mexican community nestled in the rural Midwest, but more importantly, he wants to make you laugh.
Nasa Espinoza (AKA @nostalgicnasa ) is a cartoonist and printmaker, with a Texan soul that made their way into Chicago. They spend their time making comics that explore the quiet aspects of life, and mixing the right shade of pink.
.
.
#chicago #chicagocomics #alternativecomics #cartoonists #comics
One week ago today we held our first ever Cupcake Award Minicomic Release Party š§š Thank you to everyone who made the night special! If you missed it, weāll be announcing the 2026 award winners tomorrow. Stay tuned!
Our deepest gratitude to:
@milistjohn for sharing your debut minicomic
@tea.ddie and @anatwocomics for reading
@pidgecomics for the hybrid discussion
Betti Funfetti for MCing
And of course @skunkcabbagebooks for hosting us + @awesome.chicago for the mini grant making the night more awesome!
.
.
#chicago #comics #alternativecomics #comicreading #minicomic
Itās a beautiful day for COMICS! CAKE day two opens to the public at 11am! Head over to the Irish American Heritage Center 4626 N Knox Ave! Weāll be here til 5 today!
![Our 2026 CAKE poster is revealed!!!Weāre excited to welcome this yearās artist, Chicago-born legend @biancaxuniseBianca Xuniseās work has been regarded as āgripping narrative[s], relatable situations, and evocative artwork with an aesthetic that oozes with late-1970s zine flair.ā With two Ignatz and an NAACP Award under their belt, Bianca enjoys being a voice for those who march to the beat of their own drum and hopes that their comics are comforting to those who feel like they donāt fit in. Bianca continues to bring rock n roll to illustrative life, collaborating with legends from Blondie to Bauhaus. When Bianca isnāt doodling away, they are usually at an underground DIY punk show dancing with friends by the Chicago riverside.Keep your eyes peeled for the CAKE rat punk popping up around the city and join us May 2nd and 3rd at the Irish American Heritage Center!](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6747725518434413285654_0_7a3fbda3f18d5a429e4681680395de2d.jpg?o=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&h=5cd26b347ed7f6ede50ef8a976f447c0)
