MILK Comics Fest

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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

08/25/2026

What's the best part of MILK's Bingo Night Fundraiser (besides supporting local artists and keeping our annual festival free to all)? THE PRIZES OF COURSE! 💥

We're hard at work making prize bundles to appeal to all. This is just a small sampling: comics, manga, art books, and supplies to make your own comics!

We'll be dropping a very special new product that night too.... get it first at Bingo Night on 8/26 at Cactus Club! Tickets can be purchased online at cactusclubmilwaukee.com or at the door

A very special thanks to Cactus+ for hosting us, Lost World of Wonders (lostwonders.com) for the generous prize donations, and Tiny Press MKE for printing promotional materials.

08/18/2026

Join us for the fifth annual MILK Fest hosted by Milwaukee Indie Local Comics on September 26th! We will be returning to 3rd St. Market Hall from 11-5pm this year with even more artists and cartoonists! This event is all-ages and always free to attend 🤠🐮

We have an awesome special guest line-up this year, with some special programming announcements to follow 👀

We'll see you soon, Milwaukee 🖤

08/11/2026

Get ready for a night of BINGO fun, hosted by us, Milwaukee Indie Local Comics (MILK)!

We'll be hosting a BINGO NIGHT at Cactus Club Cactus Club on August 26th from 6-9pm

Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 day-of and include ONE bingo card.

(psst keep an eye on our socials to find out how you can score more cards)

All funds raised go to operating costs for MILK Fest, which is a one-day FREE event on 9/26 featuring over 70+ local and midwestern cartoonists and artists. Your support helps us keep the fest free and accessible 💜

Come win prizes, have some drinks, and support local creatives 🐮🍻

08/10/2026

Get ready for a night of BINGO fun, hosted by us, Milwaukee Indie Local Comics (MILK)!
We'll be hosting a BINGO NIGHT at Cactus Club Cactus Club on August 26th from 6-9pm
Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 day-of and include ONE bingo card.

(psst keep an eye on our socials to find out how you can score more cards)

All funds raised go to operating costs for MILK Fest, which is a one-day FREE event on 9/26 featuring over 70+ local and midwestern cartoonists and artists. Your support helps us keep the fest free and accessible 💜

Come win prizes, have some drinks, and support local creatives 🐮🍻

08/02/2026

AAAAND OUR FINAL SPECIAL GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT! Denis Kitchen (1946-) is a Milwaukee native and UWM graduate who began his professional career as part of the “underground comix” movement of the late ‘60s. He self-published Mom’s Homemade Comics out of his east side apartment, selling 3,000+ copies in Milwaukee’s hip neighborhoods alone. That success led to his formation of Kitchen Sink Press, which became one of the most prominent independent comics publishers for 30 years (1969-99). In 1970 Kitchen also co-founded The Bugle-American (later just Bugle), Milwukee’s long-running alternative weekly (1970-77) for which he drew countless strips and covers. In 1994 he moved his operation to Massachusetts, merging with Kevin Eastman’s Tundra, which ended in 1999. He continues to create comics, has co-written several books about cartoonists and comics, curates art exhibits, and is the subject of a documentary film-in-progress, Oddly Compelling. Last December UWM awarded him an honorary doctorate.

Meet Denis at MILK Fest in September!

07/27/2026

SPECIAL GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT: We can't wait to have Ursula Murray Husted (https://ursulamurrayhusted.com/) at MILK FEST 2026! Ursula is the creator of the graphic novels A Cat Story and Botticelli’s Apprentice. A lifelong artist, former professor, and advocate for the arts and art history education, Husted teaches formal comics classes, lectures, and art history workshops ranging from graduate university seminars to pre-K. She lives in Minneapolis with her partner, child, and three ungrateful cats.

You can meet Ursula at MILK Fest on September 26th!

07/20/2026

SPECIAL GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT: We can't wait to have Bianca Xunise (https://www.biancaxunise.com/) at MILK FEST 2026! Bianca's work has been regarded as ‘gripping narrative[s], relatable situations, and evocative artwork with an aesthetic that oozes with late-1970s zine flair.’ 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 don’t fit in. Bianca continues to bring rock n roll to illustrative life, collaborating with legends from Blondie to Bauhaus. When Bianca isn’t doodling away, they are usually at an underground DIY punk show dancing with friends by the Chicago riverside.

You can meet Bianca at MILK Fest on September 26th!

07/16/2026

SPECIAL GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT: We can't wait to have Theo Stultz (https://tstultz.com/) at MILK FEST 2026! Theo Stultz is an illustrator and Ignatz Award-winning cartoonist based in Minneapolis. He likes drawing historical fiction, fantasy, and gay romance. Past titles include Blade of the Fane and Ladies of the Living Princess.

You can meet Theo at MILK Fest on September 26th!

07/12/2026

MKE artists! Come hang out at our summer MILKSHAKE: an artist mixer event 💜 You can draw, have a drink, and chat and connect with other artists on 7/24 from 7-9pm

It's a lowkey, chill-vibes, after-hours event at Lion’s Tooth We'll have alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink options for purchase, but is otherwise a free event for artists! 🍻

All you have to bring is yourself (sketchbook and drawing tools optional ✍️)

06/17/2026

MILK Fest 2026 applicants–check your email!

We as a team will never get used to the rush of seeing how many creatives are excited about our small fest. This year was no different and the volume of applications was overwhelming.

Thank you again for your continued support and enthusiasm to all of our MILKers everywhere.

(PSST if you don't see a response to your application, check your SPAM folder!)

Address

Milwaukee, WI
53207

Website

https://milkcomicfest.com/

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