Artist Nicole Georges gives advice to Short Run attendees on everything from publishing to caring for yard chickens. Photo by Candace Winegrad

When someone mentions comic books, you’re likely to think of well-known American superheroes, the Sunday paper or even Archie and Jughead.

But in Seattle, the hottest comics are handmade, in short supply and can be about anything from Guantanamo Bay, to zombies, to real-life Craigslist ads.

The independent comics scene in the Pacific Northwest is alive and well, as evidenced by the massive turnout at the second-annual Short Run Small Press Fest on Nov. 3 at The Vera Project at Seattle Center..

Short Run showcased 100 artists and small publishing companies, all of whom self-publish their own work or provide printing for independent artists. The convention brought hundreds of comics fans who squeezed through crowded aisles to check out the local talent and, of course, buy comic books.

Kelly Froh, a local artist who has been making comics for more than 10 years, curated the event. She created Short Run last year with fellow artists Martine Workman, Jenny Gialenes and Eroyn Franklin after noticing the lack of major events for independent comics.

“We all had experience as exhibitors at alternative-press events in other cities and decided that Seattle needed one of its own,” Froh said. “Seattle has larger