Howdy Purveyors of the Toon,
Dinner gathering, outreach opportunity, and more in this email!
Our last dinner gathering found folks sharing their reference materials and books for inspiration. Do you have an idea of anything you’d like to see shared at an MSCA Dinner Gathering? Please forward to any friends interested in cartoon as art. Always keep up with the MSCA News at www.midsouthcartoonists.org and by following us at https://www.facebook.com/midsouthcartoonists/. Always fun to catch up via the podcast at www.drawingfunny.com for more updates and information.
2027 is our 40th Anniversary! We’re looking to do some new promo items, participate in art shows, set up at cons/events, and would love to publish another zine issue..! What ideas do you have for fun celebratory plans we could do? Reply to the recent group email or get to me in person.
If you know a young person into comics, several library branches hold comic book clubs. Check the calendar at Upcoming Events | Memphis Public Libraries.
If you have news to share please send it to me before the last Monday of the month, or if you’d like to be on our group email list please contact me at: midsouthcartoonists@gmail.com.
See you soon,
Your Favorite Toonboy,
Kevin Williams, MSCA Prez.
________________________________________________________
DINNER GATHERING
On the first Tuesday, August 4, 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
________________________________________________________
ALPHA OMEGA VETERANS CENTER – FINAL OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE
Katie Jones connected us to the Alpha Omega Veterans Center, and they are looking for comics – original publications by us, old copies of comic books and graphic novels – and if you have any you can donate, please bring this to the next dinner meeting and give to Kevin.
________________________________________________________
CON CARDS BY GREG CRAVENS
The following night, August 5, 2026, you can hang with Greg Cravens and play some Con Cards at 6pm at 901 Games on Broad Ave, come hang and play with Greg Cravens’ Con Cards. Are there prizes? Sounds like it!
________________________________________________________
NOVEL BOOKSTORE JUNIOR DRAWING CLUB
Jamie Wells shares that The Junior Drawing Club is a free event for all ages (recommended for ages 5-15) that takes place one Friday a month from 4–6 PM in the Event Space at Novel Bookstore. There are always many tables full of blank paper, coloring sheets, pens, pencils, markers, crayons, colored pencils, and other arts and crafts equipment. Snacks, water, and music will also be provided. For those who need it, there is always an optional prompt. Everyone can draw whatever they want. It’s not always the same Friday each month. Here is the schedule as set so far:
August 7th (prompt: draw yourself)
September 11th (prompt: draw a word)
October TBD
November 20th
December 4th
________________________________________________________
PROJECT BEEBALL DEMO GAME
Devin Hodges shares his demo game for Project Beeball:
https://djreturns.wixsite.com/myportfolio/project-beeball
________________________________________________________
FEATURED CREATURES ART SHOW – Running through August 2, 2026
You still have a few days to get over to Playhouse on the Square to see Lin Workman’s Featured Creatures art show! The location is: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YU18HRs98bCsAQrb6
________________________________________________________
STAGE & SKETCH at THE DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS
The next sketch event is August 13, 2026, from 6 – 8 pm. The location is at https://maps.app.goo.gl/DMR1XHZV4wAzuMCt8
Dale Martin shares: the 2nd Thursday of every month, from 6-8 pm in their education building (4339 Park Ave.). Past models have included wrestlers, belly dancers, and cosplayers. Organizer Shelda Edwards (@legendofshelda) keeps things fresh each time. Aug. 13, Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov. 12, & Dec. 10, 2026.
________________________________________________________
JETTA: TALES OF THE TOSHIGAWA EPISODE 2
Premiering August 22, 2026, at 9pm CT. Don’t want to miss it? Follow the link and click “notify me.” https://youtu.be/HpnxDj0S1_4?si=2K0Yqlb3Cwiz_Yyi
Congrats to Team Toshigawa- Janet Wade was on a panel at the recent San Diego Comic Con, and Martheus Antone Wade had a signing appearance at the National Cartoonists Society’s booth!
________________________________________________________
OUTREACH – AVE MARIA HOME VISIT
We’ve been invited back on Monday, September 7, 2026, from 3 – 5 pm. Do I have anyone else able to come with me? I know the time is odd, but it’s just enough time before they go to dinner. LET ME KNOW if you can come, please. Would like to have a few of us go.
Ave Maria is at https://maps.app.goo.gl/rgV6cYVaXRf6UchaA
After, we can go to dinner at Pop’s Comfort Kitchen at https://maps.app.goo.gl/azBZgEoAe7QG5Qa96
________________________________________________________
ROGUES GALLERY
Rogue’s Gallery Memphis is returning October 11th with Rogue’s Gallery Memphis Strikes Back sponsored by Nae-Nae’s Comics at Abandoned Antiques’ event space in Millington TN from 1pm to 5pm. The MSCA’s own Lee Raggs is our poster artist for this year and we are opening up the event this year to include vendors, artists, a cosplay contest, giveaways, and more.
Sign ups are opening up on July 31st. Sign up at www.RoguesGalleryMemphis.com at the google form in the link.
________________________________________________________
SALES OPPORTUNITY!
Jee Vahn Knight is CEO of the Baron Von Opperbean & the River of Time interactive experience happening at 101 Island Drive, Memphis, TN 38103 (in the former Mississippi River Museum), and hopes to create an inventory in their BVO Gift Shop of local comic art, plush, books, etc., which she plans to buy outright to display in their shop. Reach out to her at jee@bvoexp.com, and to see more about the program visit: BVO | Baron Von Opperbean and The River of Time | Memphis, TN
________________________________________________________
CATS FOR ADOPTION
The kittens may have all been adopted by the time you read this email, but their mom (in the collar) and her brother (the whiskers turned solid black overnight it seems) still need a home (or homes). Reply to this email if you’re willing to give a good home to some really nice cats! (The boy has been fixed, by the way.)
________________________________________________________
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
The Memphis Ghostbusters franchise has turned 10 years old! The group was officially formed back in 2016 which is the same year that the movie “Ghostbusters: Answer The Call” was released.
________________________________________________________
Don’t forget you can listen to the “Drawing Funny” podcast on Spotify, Apple, or most podcasting platforms…and it’s FREE!
In the latest episode, #94 “Info Dump”, we discuss a lot of the info in this blog post and give a bit more info on each event. The show is about to start it’s 7th season , and getting close to 100 episodes…stay tooned!
________________________________________________________
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
August 4, 2026 – 6-8pm MSCA Monthly Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
August 8, 2026 The Mid-South Collectible Toy Show 9am-2:30pm at The Venue at Bartlett Station,5868 Stage Rd. Bartlett, TN
September 1, 2026 – 6-8pm MSCA Monthly Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
September 8, 2026 – 3 – 5 pm Outreach at Ave Maria Home https://maps.app.goo.gl/rgV6cYVaXRf6UchaA
October 3, 2026 – Nashville Comic Arts Festival https://nashcomicsfest.wordpress.com/2026/03/09/october-3-2026-save-the-date/
October 6, 2026 – 6-8pm MSCA Monthly Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
October 11, 2026 – Rogues Gallery Memphis www.RoguesGalleryMemphis.com
October 16-25, 2026 – Memphis Monster Market at Medicine Factory, downtown Memphis, TN
November 3, 2026 – 6-8pm MSCA Monthly Dinner Gathering at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN
November 21 & 22, 2026 – Memphis Monster Con at the Agricenter International, 7777 Walnut Grove Rd., Memphis, TN
December 1, 2026 – 6-8pm MSCA Monthly Dinner Gathering & Holiday Art Swap at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN<
September 2027 – WKNO Art Show Exhibition, themed around “literacy,” including students from Katie Jones’ own class, and will happen in the gallery/lobby of WKNO https://maps.app.goo.gl/3YRSJy5v8e1qB3aZ8
Print and save the dinner gathering calendar below:
Mid-South Cartoonists Association
Formed in Memphis in 1987, the MSCA is comprised of cartooning professionals, amateurs, enthusiasts, and collectors celebrating and promoting cartoons as art.
www.midsouthcartoonists.org
