The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo was co-founded by
Edie Fake and Neil Brideau, both then employees at the Chicago independent bookstore
Quimby's. The show was designed to honor Chicago's legacy as a home for small-press and self-publishing cartoonists. Sponsors included
Quimby's Bookstore, the
Art Institute of Chicago, and
Columbia College Chicago, some of whose venues hosted concurrent events related to the show. located in Chicago's
Edgewater neighborhood. However, the 2020, 2021, and 2022 events were canceled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. The in-person show returned in 2023, held at the Broadway Armory.
Event history == CupCake Award ==