MILK Comics Fest

MILK Comics Fest MILK (Milwaukee Indie Local Comics) is a FREE one-day festival in Milwaukee, WI.

☆FREE and open to the public!

☆MILK will be an indoor and outdoor event, utilizing the indoor venue and area outside of Cactus Club. (Moved to indoors at Bay View Community Center due to rain).

☆COVID-19 Policy: Please see our website for our current policy.

☆Follow us on Instagram and Twitter:
https://www.instagram.com/milkcomicfest/
https://twitter.com/milkcomicfest

It's that time again! Applications for MILK Fest hosted by Milwaukee Indie Local Comics are OPEN!Details about the fest ...
04/06/2026

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)

MKE ARTISTS! Come hang out at the first MILKSHAKE: an artist mixer event 💜 You can come and draw, have a drink, and of c...
03/20/2026

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 ! 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 ✍️)

Ever wonder who's behind all this? The MILK (Milwaukee Indie Local Comics) crew is small but we get it done. Meet our st...
03/16/2026

Ever wonder who's behind all this? The MILK (Milwaukee Indie Local Comics) crew is small but we get it done. Meet our staff:

- 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.

- 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.

- our graphic designer and creator of our cowgirl mascot. She's known for her distinctive personal brand of colorful and playful merch and design.

- 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.

- 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 🐮🤠

WELLLLL SHOOT. Howdy cartoonists, it's about that time of year again. Mark your calendars for MILK FEST 2026 application...
03/12/2026

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 again on September 26th, 2026!

Follow us and keep an eye on the website for more details as we get closer to these dates 🐮🤠

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 a...
10/16/2025

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 for documenting the fest 🐮📸

Another successful MILK Fest has wrapped up, and some thanks is in order.Much appreciation to  for hosting our event. Th...
09/29/2025

Another successful MILK Fest has wrapped up, and some thanks is in order.

Much appreciation to 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 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 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 and .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 's 2025 residency comic soon! And 2026 applications opening in the coming months.

Our special guests this year, and , 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 and and for manning our info tables, for your design work and checking in on our guests. Thank you to ; without you coordinating with our venue, MILK wouldn't be nearly as great as it was. And of course 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 ()
Team MILK

09/27/2025

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

09/26/2025

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!

SPECIAL GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT: Last but certainly not least, MILK is excited to have John Porcellino (www.spitandahalf.com,...
09/26/2025

SPECIAL GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT: Last but certainly not least, MILK is excited to have John Porcellino (www.spitandahalf.com, www.king-cat.net) 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  and Paul Moran for leading the workshop.Huge shouto...
09/26/2025

The Collage Comics workshop was a huge success!
Thanks to Lara Antal and Paul Moran for leading the workshop.

Huge shoutout to for hosting with us, and for providing space.

What a wonderful prelude to MILK Fest weekend! Take care tomorrow and we'll see you all on Saturday 🐮

SPECIAL GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT: We can't wait to have Maggie Umber (https://maggieumber.com/) at MILK Fest 2025! Maggie Umbe...
09/23/2025

SPECIAL GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT: We can't wait to have Maggie Umber (https://maggieumber.com/) at MILK Fest 2025! Maggie Umber paints, prints, and programs graphic novels and zines. She's published four graphic novels — Chrysanthemum Under the Waves, Sound of Snow Falling, Time Capsule, 270°. Her work has been widely anthologized. Chrysanthemum Under the Waves was nominated for a 2024 Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel and excerpted in the Ignatz-nominated* Rust Belt Review vol.6.

Maggie answered some questions for us about her comic-making process. You can read her full answers at milkcomicfest.org and meet her at MILK Fest on 9/27!

*-and Ignatz Award winning! - editor

MILK x MIAD COMIX CLUB x LARA ANTAL — OH MY!Join us for some pre-MILK Fest fun on Thursday, 9/25 from 5p-8p at MIAD for ...
09/19/2025

MILK x MIAD COMIX CLUB x LARA ANTAL — OH MY!
Join us for some pre-MILK Fest fun on Thursday, 9/25 from 5p-8p at MIAD for a workshop led by cartoonist, illustrator, and MILK Fest 2024 special guest, Lara Antal!
Lara will be guiding us through the chaos and stream of consciousness that is collaging a comic. Get ready to cut, paste, and open your mind to the transformative narrative possibilities ✂️

This workshop is held in partnership with the new MIAD Comix Club ✨
It is free to attend and will be held in room 495C.

We'll see you there!

Address

Milwaukee, WI
53207

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