Meeting the creative minds at MICE

Recently, Ben Chou and I went to the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE). For me, it’s been many years since I went there, and remember what a great collection of comics they had, many of which I still have today.

Well, this year did not disappoint. Held at Boston University’s Fuller Building, the event featured dozens of comics creators, some at the start of their careers and others with a slew of titles to their names.



In this episode, Ben and I talked with a some of artists and one of the minds behind the event (who is also an artist, so remember that!). First up is Savannah Strodder. This was her first MICE and we talk about the experience, the people she met and some important lessons for her artistic career.

Savannah has a comic out, “Mundae,” with beautiful illustrations and absolutely no text, so the reader can make their own story. I really like the concept and yes, I purchased a copy. I wonder how my story will go…..



Hannah Templer may be a familiar name—she’s worked on titles like Doctor Who, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and many more. Hannah also has a great series called “Cosmoknights.” It’s all about a ragtag group of space gays out to save princesses from the patriarchy. Needless to say, I bought both volumes shortly thereafter.

We go into the origins of the series, how it’s grown over the years, and what we can expect in the forthcoming third volume. Hannah also shares some of her times at MICE and what she likes about the expo.



Tak Toyoshima is perhaps best known for his Secret Asian Man comic, and for years he was an exhibitor at MICE. Well, he’s also one of the organizers as the Art Director, and let me tell you, that’s no cake walk. Ben took the lead here, and the two talk about what led to Tak taking on this new role and what it’s been like.

Tak gives us some history on Secret Asian Man as well as some other projects he’s working on (hint: think Choose Your Own Adventure). He and Ben talk about the state of the comics industry and the pros and cons of the recent changes that it’s seen.



Wrapping this episode up is Shaina Lu. Like Savannah, this is her first time at MICE and she shares the great memories made over the weekend. Shaina is in the process of releasing a new comic, “Noodle & Bao,” all about a food cart that stands against a hip new café and gentrification.

Shaina said the series takes a cue from what she has seen in Boston’s Chinatown and we go into that as a theme. Shaina is also an art teacher for elementary students and we look at her teaching style and how she helps guide the next generation of creatives.