From MSCA President Kevin L. Williams:
Salutations Toony Wordsmiths, Ink Slingers, Pencil Pushers, and Digital Doodlers,
Thanks to all who made it out to the March Dinner Gathering! The photos look like we had a great crowd. I was sad to not be with you all, but was also glad to visit New York and the Jim Henson Creature Shop. I have some images below to share from the Museum of the Moving Image – I’m always intrigued by concept art and story boards and hope you find them inspiring, too.
If you have any news, please get it to me before the last Monday of the month. Send pictures!
midsouthcartoonists@gmail.com
We have a few outings coming up, most importantly the Ave Maria Home visit. Who can go? I’ll be there, of course. Afterwards, we head around the corner for dinner at Pop’s Comfort Kitchen. (Map to Pop’s https://maps.app.goo.gl/AJbxUmbGozmax3QC8 )
Stay ‘tooned to www.midsouthcartoonists.org and www.drawingfunny.com for more updates and information. You can also follow us at https://www.facebook.com/midsouthcartoonists/
Sincerely,
Kevin Williams,
MSCA President
MSCA MONTHLY DINNER GATHERING
Next Tuesday, April 7, 2026, we will gather at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, by the University of Memphis, from 6 – 8 pm. Some of us show up a little earlier sometimes if you want to come early. Bring art to show and money to buy food, and we look forward to seeing you again!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3kRSvDH7tB7hbzJF9
The following night, Wednesday, April 7, you can hang with Greg Cravens and play some Con Cards at 6pm at 901 Games on Broad Ave near Hollywood. The game has easy to follow rules, and there are several card decks to choose from, including an MSCA set.
Are there prizes? Well, come play Con Cards with Greg and find out..!
SKETCHY SATURDAY + WRITER’S GROUP
Bradley Sharp has scheduled a 10am – noon writer’s group on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at First Congregational Church, 1000 S Cooper Street, Memphis, TN 38104 (it isn’t a “churchy” event). After discussing that sometimes scheduling drawing time is tough, we’ve been invited to share that time to draw or write. At noon, there may be a “share” time to discuss what we’re working on, gain some feedback, and help inspire one another to create! The writer’s group gathers monthly and we’re always welcome!! There is also a farmer’s market in the parking lot so come earlier to do some shopping. https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZBVLWSat627k29sX8
OTHERWORLDLY FUNDRAISING PODCAST – CARTOONS & PUPPETS
Join Kevin Williams (and probably Muley The Mule) Saturday, March 21, 2026 (World Puppetry Day) at 6pm CT as he discusses cartooning and puppetry with friends Steve Troop www.melonpool.com and Zach Haumesser www.zachhaumesser.com in a podcast only at: https://www.youtube.com/@otherworldlyfundraising
The residents have requested us back again, and we have scheduled the following dates. LET ME KNOW if you’re able to attend, please! Both days are Tuesdays, March 23, 2026 & April 14, 2026, and the location is:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rgV6cYVaXRf6UchaA
LIVE AT 9 – LIN & GREG TALK TOONS
Did you get to see Greg Cravens and Lin Workman on Live at 9 with Kontji Anthony to talk about the MSCA? Now, you can!
Indie Spotlight Presents: Comic & Conversation
On March 15, 2026, at 1:30pm there was a live screening of Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa — Episode 1 followed by an intimate Q&A with creator Martheus Wade, and Team Toshigawa crew and cast members- Janet Wade, Michelle Francine and Andrew Chandler. This special afternoon at Java Cabana was all about celebrating indie storytelling, creativity, and the journey from comic panel to motion. Support indie artists!
MEMPHIS PUBLIC LIBRARY COMIC CON
This year, for it’s 4th annual comic con the event has moved to the Raleigh Branch at 3452 Austin Peay Hwy, 38128, on May 30, 2026, from 10am – 3pm. Many of your fellow members will be set up, including an MSCA table. Please be sure to get me business cards, buttons, and any other freebie promo materials, if you haven’t so I can put that on our table at the show.
https://www.memphislibrary.org/events/mpl-comic-con/
https://www.memphislibrary.org/comic-con-art-showcase-application/
COMICS FESTIVALS AND MORE – ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR
Katie Jones has been awesome enough to compile some extra information to share:
Hey Kev! Here is the additional events and news to add to the newsletter!
Many of the members of the Midsouth Cartoonists Association and Rogue’s Gallery Memphis Teamed up to help throw the first ever Comic Con in the Memphis Shelby County School District at Ridgeway High School. Students got to meet with members of the MSCA Ryan Ladner, Martheus Wade, and Eric McMeans with team Raptor Boy Gabe and Benito DeRanzo and Rogue’s Gallery Members Annie Starnes, K.f Golden, Vi Foster, Matt Bowers, and Skoot Starnes with MSCA Gallery Manager, founder of Rogue’s Gallery, and MSCS teacher Katie Jones bringing them all together for this event helping Susan Harris the Librarian who wanted to have a comic con at Ridgeway high school for her students. A bigger part two is sure to happen soon.
Rogue’s Gallery Returns on June 27th at the venue! Rogue’s Gallery is now joining forces with the Midsouth Collectible Toy show! We have a guaranteed number of tables for the show itself. The Rogues this time are creating a special poster by the likes of K.f. Golden and badges by Shawn Howe. Tables are $50 each! Please contact Alex Moody at midsouthcollectibletoyshow@gmail.com for purchasing a table in the show and make sure to mention you are a part of Rogue’s Gallery!
Midsouth Collectible Toy Show also has additional shows this year happening in August and October. Contact Alex for additional information.
Shelby County Star Trek Day is happening again this year on April 12th at Neil’s Music Room. Rogue’s Gallery Member’s Katie Jones, Matt Bowers, Shawn Howe, and April Lachell Browning will be present selling their art and wares for everyone.
2027 ART SHOW OPPORTUNITIES!
MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDENS ART SHOW MARCH 2027? POSSIBILITY!!
Let me know who is interested in participating in an art exhibition at the Memphis Botanical Gardens in March 2027 (not 2026). I like Katie’s suggestion since their theme would be Cherry Blossoms, that would allow us a whole anime and manga them. Application deadline is March 1, 2026, so I would need to know who all is interested and how many pieces you would submit in order to send the details to them.
WKNO ART EXHIBITION – SEPTEMBER 2027
Mark it on your calendars! Thanks to Katie Jones, we have an upcoming art show in September 2027 in the lobby gallery of WKNO-TV. This show will be themed around literacy. Art will be collected at the September 7, 2027, Dinner Gathering.
We have been offered a space within A. Schwab, the set up is different from what we know as usual. The work has to be able to sit on a frame as we are unable to make holes in the walls of the store, and theme and dates are to be determined…
May 16th, 2026 – 11AM – 6PM Beale Street Monster Club Presents: Bigfoot on Beale at A. Schwab. Lin Workman will have a table at the event.
Michael Cox, the Monster Club Founder says:
Dear MSCA,
On May 16th, 2026, from 11AM – 6PM we will be hosting our Beale Street Monster Club Presents: Bigfoot on Beale event. At this event, we will have 10 artist and 11 vendor tables. We really want to support local artists and our friends who are a part of MSCA, so we would like to give you all the first opportunity at these tables. Attached is a PDF that contains all the information about the vendor tables sizes and cost. All proceeds go back into the event! If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.
Michael J. Cox
Founder
901-831-1376
For more info please email them at bealestreetmonsterclub@gmail.com or check out their Facebook page. Be sure to visit their Hoodoo Museum upstairs at A. Schwab on historic Beale Street in downtown Memphis!
– New Show dates and shows!
Memphis Monster Con and Midsouth Toyfest have moved to the Agricenter out east at Shelby Farms.
Memphis Monster Con is now happening November 21 and 22!
Midsouth Toyfest is December 5th!
March 28th is Bartlett Book Bonanza at the Venue in Bartlett TN Behind the Bartlett Library and many members of the MSCA will be a part of the numerous authors and illustrators. The show will include MSCA Members like Devon Hodges, Katie Jones, Dale Martin, and Matt Bowers as well as Andrew Chandler who appeared in the first episode of the Toshigawa’s Universes.
April 28, 2026 – That Katie Jones’ “Welcome to the McPromise Land” art show at Playhouse on the Square: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YU18HRs98bCsAQrb6 Artist’s Reception May 9, 2026 – 5–7pm. Come for a chance to get first come first served tickets to see the show “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
REVERSE VISUAL ARTS FAIR AT CBU
Cathy Lantrip at Christian Brothers University shares:
Hello! I am the Assistant Director of Career Services at Christian Brothers University here in Memphis. I wanted to invite you to participate in CBU’s upcoming Reverse Career Fair for Visual Arts, being held on Thursday, March 26th, from 12:30 to 2:00 pm on CBU’s campus.
This FREE event will allow our visual arts students and alumni (graphic design, studio arts/fine arts, art therapy) to display their portfolios and other examples of their work and to connect with employers regarding opportunities available throughout the Greater Memphis area: internship, part-time, full-time, contract, freelance, commissions, etc.
If you are interested in attending and recruiting CBU talent for your employment, internship, or contract needs, please RSVP by Friday, March 20th with the expected number of representatives from your company.
Additional information/logistics will be provided prior to the event, and you will also receive digital copies of all participants’ resumes as brief artist skills summaries.
Please let me know if you have any questions. We hope to see you!
Cathy Lantrip
Assistant Director, Career Services
clantrip@cbu.edu
A NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
Firstly, Memphis food is way better. There, I said it. But they do have the Jim Henson Creature Shop which I got to tour (no pics allowed) and gained inspiration from it.
Then, I went around the corner to the Museum of the Moving Image where there are great displays of movie and television history, most importantly to me was the Jim Henson exhibition and some stuff from other films like The Exorcist.
Also revisited the Hook & Ladder #8 which was a filming location for the “Ghostbusters” movies. It’s an actual working fire station and was used for exterior shots in the movies.
MSCA FRIEND PUBLISHES BOOK
If you’re a fan of the comic pages of a newspaper (really, the only reasons to buy a newspaper), then you’ve seen Barney Google and Snuffy Smith! Friend of the MSCA, John Rose, has published a collection of these strips into a book which is now available at Lulu. Paperback, $20, 8.5×8.5” and 201 pages of comic fun. You can get yours now:
https://www.lulu.com/shop/john-rose/up-to-snuff-a-barney-google-and-snuffy-smith-collection/paperback/product-7k8ergz.html?q=Snuffy+Smith&page=1&pageSize=4
MSCA Ads
We’re planning to create some little ashcan pass-outs to advertise the club a little more, along with a jam art piece to create a new postcard. This will include art from all of us! Please let me know if you’re interested in playing along – this will be a pretty simple process. We will have these at comic shops, book stores, art Center, and more locations around town, including our freebie table at MSCA monthly dinner gatherings at Garibaldi’s.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
March 20 – 22, 2026 – Mid-South Con, Vitality Hotel, 2625 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Olive Branch, MS.
March 21, 2026 – Sketchy Saturday and Writer’s Group, First Congregational Church, 1000 S Cooper St., Memphis, TN 38104 10am – Noon.
March 23, 2026 – 3-5pm – Ave Maria Home, drawing with residents. https://maps.app.goo.gl/rgV6cYVaXRf6UchaA
March 28 – 29, 2026 – Blues City Comic Con, Memphis Sports and Event Center, 995 Early Maxwell Blvd, Memphis, TN 38104
April 7, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
April 10 – 12, 2026 – Animation Y’all, Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN
April 14, 2026 – 3-5pm – Ave Maria Home, drawing with residents https://maps.app.goo.gl/rgV6cYVaXRf6UchaA
April 28, 2026 – Katie Jones’ “Welcome to the McPromise-Land” at Playhouse on the Square presentation of “Jesus Christ Superstar” into late May 2026.
May 5, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
May 9, 2026 – 5 – 7pm, Katie Jones Artist’s Reception “Welcome to the McPromise Land” at the Playhouse on the Square: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YU18HRs98bCsAQrb6
May 16th, 2026 – 11AM – 6PM Beale Street Monster Club Presents: Bigfoot on Beale, Lin Workman will have a table.
May 30, 2026 – 10 am – 3 pm, Memphis Public Library Comic Con, Raleigh Branch. Many of your fellow members and the MSCA itself will be represented there. Come out and support one another and the Memphis Library as well! https://maps.app.goo.gl/NhUKJvZUsQkfMVy19
June 2, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
June 5,2026 – 5-7pm Lin Workman’s “Featured Creatures” Art Show Reception, Playhouse on the Square, 2nd Floor West Gallery (where the MSCA “Everything…” art show was). Art show running June 6 – August 2, 2026. Open to the public during theater business hours.
July 7, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
August 4, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
September 1, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
October 3, 2026 – Nashville Comic Arts Festival www.nashcomicsfest.wordpress.com/2026/03/09/october-3-2026-save-the-date/
October 6, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
November 3, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
December 1, 2026 – 6-8pm Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN