They're Here for the Apocalypse

Nate McDonough and Dan McCloskey are members of Pittsburgh's Cyberpunk Apocalypse writers cooperative, which is dedicated to the stamping out the menace of the MFA and placing the power of publishing back in the hands of the writers and artists. They appear to be winning, with seven books published by members in the past three years and the group earning a Heinz Endowment as well. The first rule of war is to press the attack when you're making gains, so McDonough and McCloskey have taken the fight on the road. Their tour, Back to the Gutter: Declaring War on the MFA, visits mushmaus (2700 Cherokee Street; www.danielmccloskey.com) at 5:30 p.m. today. The two will read/perform from their own works (McDonough from his graphic novel Don't Come Back, McCloskey from his hybrid novel/graphic novel, A Film About Billy), exhibit some of their art and discuss the need for comics creators to be creating for themselves, not for an MFA program. Admission is free, but bring money to buy books and maybe donate a little something to the artists. It ain't easy to wage war on the establishment.
Sun., Nov. 4, 2012