Boston Kids Comics Fest, which had grown exponentially since it launched in 2018, is taking a pause this year. But the good news is that there’s a viable alternative, particularly for those west of Boston: the very first Young Artists Comics Fest, aka ALYAC Fest, coming to the Ashland Public Library on July 13, 2025. We talked to event organizers Meena Jain, past director of the Boston Kids Comics Fest and current director of the Ashland Public Library; Tony Davis, owner of the Million Year Picnic Comic Book Store in Harvard Square and a co-founder of the Boston Kids Comics Fest; and Katrina Ireland-Bilodeau, director of youth services/assistant director of the Ashland Public Library, about what to expect.

Also, the latest on not one, but TWO new "Pet Peeves" books, based on Dave and Pete's popular comic strip.

Luse — a longtime local cartoonist himself — sat down with Pete and Dave to talk about what people can expect this year's Boston Comics in Color festival, and why it's more relevant, and necessary, than ever. Also in this ep: A new Art Spiegelman doc, the GoComics kerfuffle, and more!

Brian Anderson isn't just a Worcester, Massachusetts native, although he gets extra props for that. He's also the creator of the very funny comic strip "Dog Eat Doug," the author of several children’s picture books and illustrated novels, including "The Conjurers" trilogy, and now he’s released two graphic novels based on the "Dog Eat Doug" characters, called "Sophie: Jurassic Bark” and “Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound.” He lives in North Carolina with his family, which includes a herd of rescued dogs and cats, and now, he's on Strip Search! Listen in to his chat with Dave and Pete, and also to our tribute to the late, great cartoonist Jules Feiffer.