Milk Comic Fest

It's that time again! Applications for MILK Fest hosted by Milwaukee Indie Local Comics are OPEN! Details about the fest and applications can be found on our website milkcomicfest.org (link in bio)

Ever wonder who's behind all this? The MILK (Milwaukee Indie Local Comics) crew is small but we get it done. Meet our staff: @quinnblackshere - one of our founding organizers who handles public relations, and day-of logistics. An artist herself, Quinn has done illustration, comics, and animation. No matter the medium, her work is narrative-driven and often whimsica, but thoughtful. She's also been an organizer for MKE Zinefest, and recently organized the Paper Pals stationary pop-up. @slumberfish - another founding organizer, handing social media, digital communications, and art direction. Her work has been featured in comics anthologies, zines, as well as doing commercial illustrations in the TTRPG space. You may also recognize her from managing a local comic book store. @wilddaggers - our graphic designer and creator of our cowgirl mascot. She's known for her distinctive personal brand of colorful and playful merch and design. @cottna - our fearless leader and founder of MILK. When she's not doing a little bit of everything for the organization, she's working on her third graphic novel. Her other works include Lucky & Scary, The King's Companion, as well as mini-comics featured in various comic anthologies. @kpossibles - our volunteer coordinator who has been with MILK since year one. She's an avid comics and manga fan, with a decade of convention staffing under her belt. She also has freelance lettering experience for various English manga publishers. A very big thanks to the entire crew for all that they do! And a special shout-out to past MILK volunteers and organizers who have helped to make MILK what it is today. We're looking forward to the fifth annual MILK Fest this year 🐮🤠 #milkfest2026 #milk2026 #mkeartists

WELLLLL SHOOT. Howdy cartoonists, it's about that time of year again. Mark your calendars for MILK FEST 2026 applications opening from 4/6-5/31 🌵 You will be able to apply on our website milkcomicfest.org (link in bio ☀️) We're happy to announce that we'll be at @3rdstmarkethall again on September 26th, 2026! Follow us and keep an eye on the website for more details as we get closer to these dates 🐮🤠 #MILK2026 #mkeartist #indiecomics

⭐ Midwest cartoonists unite! ⭐ We’re excited to share an epic teamup spanning three states and their three comic shows: @slicexpo @cakechicago & @milkcomicfest 🤩 a SLICE of CAKE with MILK is a collaboration between organizing teams to share information about community building and our respective events. You’ll find representatives from each organization at all three shows this year – so mark your calendar and gear up! 5/2-3 in Chicago, IL: Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) 9/26 in Milwaukee, WI: Milwaukee Indie Local Comics (MILK) 10/31 in St. Louis, MO: St. Louis Independent Comics Expo (SLICE) . . Graphic 🎨 by @studionohva . . #comics #alternativecomics #comicfests #midwestcomics #stlouisevents #milwaukeeevents #chicagoevents

MKE ARTISTS! Come hang out at the first MILKSHAKE: an artist mixer event 💜 You can come and draw, have a drink, and of course chat and connect with other artists. It's a lowkey, good vibes, after-hours event at @lionstoothmke ! We'll have alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink options for purchase, but otherwise a free event for artists! 🍻 All you have to bring is yourself (but feel free to bring a sketchbook and drawing tools if you'd like ✍️) #milk2026 #mkeartists #mkeevents #milwaukeeartist

Hey MILKERS! We want to hear from you! It's hard to believe it's been almost a month since MILK Fest 2025! If you were an exhibitor or an attendee, we'd like to hear about your experience—the good, the bad, and the "how does parking work here?" Follow the ⬇️link below⬇️ for a quick survey (~1min) and help us make next year even more spectacular 💜 https://forms.gle/h5HPGGqaCXfAdquT7 Thanks to @digital_witness for documenting the fest 🐮📸

Attention Milwaukee cartoonists! It’s time to apply to the 2026 Dandelion Comics Residency. The application is easy peasy and the form is open until Monday October 27, 2025. Link in bio ✨✨✨ The Dandelion Comics Residency is presented by Lion’s Tooth in partnership with BearBear and MILK Comic Fest and mentorship by Quinn Blackshere and Hannah Hallman. It is a juried program for cartoonists based on the Greater Milwaukee area. Our goal is to support the local comics community while promoting work produced here to well-respected professionals active in the industry today.

Another successful MILK Fest has wrapped up, and some thanks is in order. Much appreciation to @3rdstmarkethall for hosting our event. The 2nd Street corridor was gorgeous and spacious, and it was deightful to see how many Food Hall patrons and staff were able to walk through and check out our comics. Big thanks to @miadcollege for its continued support with providing tables and student volunteers to assist with the fest. We're grateful for this continued partnership, and love to support comics making at MIAD. Shoutout to @tinypressmke for supporting the MILK mission by locally printing posters, signage, and comics for our MILK Team. If you are local, and want to work with a printer who is an artist and understands their needs, reach out for details. As always, love to @lionstoothmke and @bearbear.co . Throughout the year we work together on the Dandelion Residency, mentoring and guiding a local artist on a mini-comic project. Keep an eye out for @moritz_junker 's 2025 residency comic soon! And 2026 applications opening in the coming months. Our special guests this year, @kylefewell @maggieumber @bluedelliquanti and @johnporcellino , thank you for sharing your work, experiences, and accomplishments. And thanks to all of our artists, cartoonists, and creators who make MILK Fest a destination for comic fans and zinesters. MILK couldn't happen without our organizers and volunteers. Thank you to @babirousa and @kpossibles and @carolehallman for manning our info tables, @wilddaggers for your design work and checking in on our guests. Thank you to @quinnblackshere ; without you coordinating with our venue, MILK wouldn't be nearly as great as it was. And of course @cottna for doing a little bit of everything, and being everywhere, with a smile on her face. Lastly, thanks to everyone who follows MILK and supports our mission, to build community around comics here in Milwaukee. Keep creating and we'll catch you at the next one 🐮 -Hali (@slumberfish ) Team MILK

MILK Fest 2025 is open until 5pm today! Come on down to @3rdstmarkethall and check out all the local and midwestern talent 💜 #milkfest2025

MILK ATTENDEES AND EXHIBITORS: Intimidated by the attached parking garage downtown? Don't worry about it! We've broken down how to get your parking validated. The Avenue Garage entrance is on Michigan St Pull a ticket as you enter the garage Make sure you bring this ticket with you! If you make a purchase in the FOOD HALL, ask the vendor to validate your parking. Your first three hours in the garage will be $3 Pay as you exit the garage. Keep in mind: the garage is PRIVATELY OWNED by Interpark. MILK exhibitors CANNOT validate parking. Regular and/or rates may apply beyond the first three hours. Other parking options including street parking may be available. We can't wait to see you tomorrow! #milkfest2025

SPECIAL GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT: Last but certainly not least, MILK is excited to have John Porcellino (, ) as a special guest at this year's fest. John's self-published, photocopied, mostly autobiographical series King-Cat Comics is among the best-known and longest-running minicomics produced today. John answered some questions for us about his comic-making process. You can read his full answers at milkcomicfesf.org and meet him at MILK Fest on 9/27!

The Collage Comics workshop was a huge success! Thanks to Lara Antal @laraantal and Paul Moran for leading the workshop. Huge shoutout to @miadcomix for hosting with us, and @miadcollege for providing space. What a wonderful prelude to MILK Fest weekend! Take care tomorrow and we'll see you all on Saturday 🐮