Author: Helen Bradley
Doodle Cat Creations by Catherine Epps
Catherine Epps is an award-winning illustrator from Philadelphia who creates quirky, colorful characters and whimsical stories.
From book designs to game designs, to comics and unique commissions, Epps uses a variety of styles to portray adventure, life, and friendship.
Support them on Patreon, shop their stores on Etsy, and follow them on Instagram — but first, check out these sweet cards they made for Valentine’s Day.
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: 120lb Smooth Uncoated Cover
Grief and Glitter with Lillian Ransijn
Lillian Ransijn is a performance artist who implores the moving body and personal storytelling to plumb the depths of loss and missed connection.
Ransijn leads Rough & Tumble Productions, an ensemble that creates gut-punching performances wrapped in glitter and grief.
Check out the posters, postcards, and business cards that they created from our seasonal artist bundles below. We love art that promotes art.
Learn all about Lillian here and find out what Rough & Tumble is up to here.
Order your own bundle now until Feb 28th here.
Posters:
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: 100lb Gloss Cover
Postcards:
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: 120lb Smooth Uncoated Cover
Businesscards:
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: 120lb Smooth Uncoated Cover
2025 Winter/Spring Anime Conventions
Conventions are a chance for us to unite with our fellow fans and immerse ourselves in the worlds of our favorite manga, anime, and Japanese culture.
Check out a selection of the upcoming events in PA and NJ this winter and spring and if you are a vendor, don’t forget to take advantage of Winter Bundles to get deals on swag and merch for your tables!
*preview photo from Fan Expo Philadelphia 2024
- Erie Anime-Fest 2025
- March 8
- Erie Anime-Fest is an anime convention located in the beautiful City of Erie, Pennsylvania. Striving to be Pennyslvania’s best and truest anime convention featuring fandoms of multiple genres.
- Castle Point Anime Convention 2025
- April 26 – 27
- The Castle Point Anime Convention, or CPAC, is a 2-Day anime convention organized and operated by the Anime Critics United, Inc.
- Zenkaikon Anime Convention 2025
- March 20 – 23
- Zenkaikon is an annual volunteer-run convention that serves as a melting pot for fans of anime, manga, gaming, sci-fi, fantasy, and more.
- Kogaracon 2025
- May 3
- Kogaracon is a family friendly anime convention held every spring. Anime and manga fans alike, everyone is welcome to join in on the fun!
- Thy Geekdom Con 2025
- May 23 – 25
- Thy Geekdom Con is a pop culture, anime, and comic convention which is celebrating it’s 10 year anniversary on May 23-25, 2025 at The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA.
- NJIT MiniCon 2025
- April 6
- NJIT Minicon is an annual student run anime convention located on NJIT’s campus in Newark, New Jersey. Get ready for a day of fun fueled by the love of anime.
- Fan Expo Philadelphia 2025
- May 16 – 18
- FAN EXPO Philadelphia is the ultimate go-to event for sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming event in Center City Philadelphia that attracts hundreds of thousands of people to the Philadelphia Convention Center.
Spotlight on Czap!
K Czap (pronounced “chap”) makes comics about friendship, community, & transcendence.
At the end of last year, we printed an edition of Four Years, a book that won K Czap a nomination for “Outstanding Artist” and “Outstanding Comic” Ignatz Awards.
Four Years brings us the story of Betty, who simultaneously finds herself face-to-face with her past, present, and future at a defining moment of her life.
Czap also began the micro-press Czap Books in 2011 and received the CXC Emerging Talent Award for their work and involvement in the comics community.
Check out the images below and explore more of Czap’s work at their site.
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: Insides on 70lb Smooth Text; Cover on 120lb Smooth Uncoated Cover
Spotlight on the Queer Asian Social Club
The Queer Asian Social Club, founded by Maya Satya Reddy, celebrates stories from their community through the weekly web-zine DIS-ORIENT, their instagram page, and their podcast: the Queer Asian Podcast Club. Their collective empowers queer and trans APISWAD (Asian, Pacific Islander, Southwest Asian, Desi) folks.
We got to print these gorgeous posters to help them spread the word of what they do. Learn more about them on their site and on their IG.
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: 100lb Gloss Text
Katie Scarlett’s Interesting Perspective
Katie creates fresh ways of looking at familiar settings. She typically illustrates scenes of home, like dining rooms and kitchens, and loves to incorporate the plants, furniture, and decorations she has in her home into her art.
We were lucky enough to print Katie’s 2025 calendars — which are sure to bring you brightness and inspiration all year. Get them on her site.
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: Insides on 70lb Smooth Text; Cover on 100lb Gloss Cover
Happy Holidays from Fireball
All of us at Fireball hope that all of you have the best holidays,
however you celebrate.
Take a look at some of our favorite holiday inspired projects below.
- Artist: Alison Lee Chapman
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: Natural White 100lb Smooth Cover
- Artist: Sibylla Shekerdjiska-Benatova
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: 120lb Smooth Uncoated Cover
- Artist: Cody Canard
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: 12pt Coated 1 Side
- Artist: Lexi K. Nilson
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: Rolland Enviro 100lb Uncoated Cover 100% Recycled
- Artist: Emily Funck
- Ink: CMYK
- Paper: 120lb Smooth Uncoated Cover
Holiday Gift Guide 2024!
The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year — to support local artists and creators!
Check out our list of treasures that will be sure to make your friends and family sparkle with joy this season (unless their hearts are made of coal) and that will save you from big box stores (because you deserve better!).
Katie Scarlett
2025 calendars, prints, and accessories with vibrant colors and interesting perspectives [shop!]
Primal Soup Designs
prints, posters, and things inspired by sounds and feelings [shop!]
alaina ewin's stuff!
stickers, prints, totes, and more about women, romance, dessert, and more [shop!]
Andyrogyny Shop
queer and sometimes spooky prints and other artsy treasures [shop!]
The World of Zelda Flanagan
prints, postcards, and stickers that spark curiosity and joy [shop!]
S POGAS ART
heartfelt greeting cards, beautiful stationery goods, and unique gifts [shop!]
Cat Schmitz
comfort objects for grown ups that lead to courageous decision making [shop!]
Shop Small Y’all | 2024 Holiday Shopping Guide
The season is truly upon us now and if you celebrate the holidays with gifts, think about supporting small business this year instead of corporate giants. We swear they are more fun and they are also a huge part of what makes our city so great. Here are just a few of our favorite places:
Thunderbird Salvage | Salvaged Goods and Gifts
Circle Thrift | Vintage and Thrifted Goods
Minnow Lane | Babies and Children Gifts
Omoi | Stationary
Harriett’s Bookshop | Books
The Head and The Hand | Books
Philadelphia Record Exchange | Records
Made and Maker | Clothing
Ham and Bone | Pet Supplies and Gifts
Jinxed | Home Goods and Gifts
Repo Records | Records
Great Circles | Records
Drats | Clothing
Runehammer | Hobbies and Games
Vestige | Clothing
Proper Good | Gift Shop
Ritual | Metaphysical Supplies
Uncle Ron’s Candle Co. | Stuff to Burn
And don’t forget to check out our Holiday Event and Market Guide, too!
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art by Uncle Ron's Candle Co. -
art by Thunderbird Salvage -
art by Runnehammer -
art by The Head and The Hand -
art by Jinxed
Holiday Event and Market Guide
There are so many ways to support independent artists and vendors during the holidays, so skip the big box stores with us and give back to your community this season.
Here is a list of just some of the holiday events and markets that we are looking forward to before the end of the year!
