Once a month, downtown Mesa lets its hair down a little bit and stays up late, playing host to street performers and indie bands and local artisans on Second Friday.
For its contribution to this month’s block party-themed event, the eclectic clothing and collectibles shop Evermore Nevermore will highlight local independent comic book artists and writers on Sept. 10.
“Even at the Phoenix Comicon, local talent gets a bit overshadowed by celebrity appearances and corporate-owned franchises,” says Russ Kazmierczak Jr., who will debut a new issue of his Amazing Arizona Comics at the event. “Evermore Nevermore isn’t a comic book shop, it isn’t a toy store, and it isn’t an art gallery — but it’s a cutting-edge combination of all of those things, so I can’t think of a better place to show off diverse, independent comic book talent.”
The first issue of Amazing Arizona Comics sold out at the shop and introduced the impetuous teenage superhero Speed Cameron. Issue No. 2 stars a living storm system named June Monsoon and explores an alternative explanation for the recent dam burst at Tempe Town Lake.
As part of what it’s calling ENCREDICON (Evermore Nevermore Comic Review of Enlightened Drawing and Inscribing Convention), the store will also host a fashion show featuring models wearing sci-fi and superhero-inspired outfits by local designers, including Amanda Tucker of Modified Minds and Sharon Skinner. In keeping with the comic-book theme, each style will be fleshed out with a unique character background story, Tucker says.
To make the event a true multimedia experience, Evermore Nevermore will also host a screening of Sacrifice, an indie sci-fi film shot partly on location in downtown Mesa, 7 p.m. Saturday. Filmmakers will use the event to debut a comic-book adaptation of their giant-monster story.
“I think definitely Evermore Nevermore has brought some really great creative energy downtown,” said Suzanna Woodford, owner of OneOhOne Gallery and president of the Second Friday Night Out merchants volunteer organization. “We’re working on building the arts and cultural district image.”
ENCREDICON
What: Part of downtown’s Second Friday event focusing on Valley comic book artists and writers, with a sci-fi fashion show and screening of the indie film Sacrifice
When: 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10, and noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11
Where: Evermore Nevermore, 127 W. Main St., Mesa
Information: (480) 964-4624 or http://www.evermorenevermore.com
