Vermont Monster Guide Extravaganza!

The Connecticut River Monster, in its natural habitat—the riparian areas of the Connecticut and White Rivers. Reconstruction by Steve Bissette, 2009, c.e.

On First Friday, 4th September, 2009, from 5 to 9 p.m. Its Monster Day in White River Junction! If you have ever wondered what Weird and Stomach-Churning Beasts wallow in the somewhat unsavory waters of the White and the Connecticut Rivers; and if you have ever longed to see Real Live Cartoonists, in their natural habitat, spraying ink on each other—or eating crackers and cheese—come and see the Rare Specimens—human, animal and everything in between!
All events are Free and open to the eager Public!

Schedule of Attractions!

5 p.m. to 7 p.m.:

• On the Main Street Museum Stage—the live tunes, jazz and interpretation of Neil Luke and his combo!

• At the Cartoon School, 94 South Main Street, The Center for Cartoon Studies Faculty Art Exhibition, featuring a selection of instructor Stephen R. Bissette’s brand new Vermont Monster Guide original illustrations—come and meet and chat with faculty, students, alumni, and to meet and greet Vermont Monster Guide author Joe Citro and artists Steve Bissette and Cayetano ‘Cat’ Garza, Jr.!

• Note: The new freshmen class will also be in town, and there will be lots of eye-candy and surprises. A running video loop of a Steve Bissette inking demo—featuring one of the illustrations that appears in the Vermont Monster Guide!—will also be projected throughout the event. Come and enjoy!

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.:

• At the Main Street Museum (a short walk from CCS) see more Vermont Monster Guide original art—and witness, in person, some of the Real Vermont Monsters that appear in the book! Are they alive?! Shocking!

Main Street Museum director David Fairbanks Ford describes the Connecticut River Sea-Monster in a lecture given at the University of Vermont, 2000, c.e.

• SEE! The Connecticut River Monster’s Mortal Remains! Is it Champ's Cousin, is it the Last Dinosaur, or did this Odious Chimera come from Outer Space? You decide!

• SEE! The Fantastic Fur-Bearing Trout, or a "pelted perch", these appalling specimens grow fur in Northern climes to stay warm! A Shameful Display!

• SEE! Miniature Replica of The Lake Champlain Monster "Champ" in All Its Glory! Horrific! Shocking!

• SEE & HEAR! Museum staff reminisce about the career and personality disorders of Gulgo Vandersheltz Bargain—Monster Hunter and Expert in "Oriental Taxidermy" We will Tell All — Live! Live! Live!

• Also, at 7:30 p.m., the Museum is proud to present a Live Citro & Bissette Vermont Monster Guide Lecture with illuminated slides on the Museum stage, followed by Q&A!

They Walk! They Talk! They Speak the Unspeakable & Show the Unshowable! They Crawl on Their Bellies Like Reptiles and Hiss and Spit (well, maybe only if they have had too much wine. So be careful people, don't let them have too much wine!
You’ll want to see & hear it all! Don’t be late!

Warning: Individuals with heart conditions, high blood-pressure, or "nervous stomaches" should not attend this event! You must obtain a Doctor's Certificate if you wish to view these Despicable Displays!

For as long as there have been fisher-folk, and contact with the ocean, there have been Sea Monsters.

Cover of the Vermont Monster Guide, University Press of New England, 2009.

References and Links

See Monsters as only a Master of Comics could draw them here at Steve Bissette's own htmlpage!

and see Joe Citro's blogspot page here!