The 2013 Toronto Comic Arts Festival, or TCAF as it's more commonly referred to, is about to get underway, so hitch up the buggy and get ready to head over to the Toronto Reference Library and other event venues around the city. As always, there will be some surprises and great access to some of the biggest names in the business.

Here's what to expect.

EVENTS, PART ONE: THE ROAD TO TCAF

TCAF officially starts on the weekend of May 10th, but it technically begins on May the first. The Steam Whistle Roundhouse will be hosting the Toronto Strip Show: The TCAF Tenth Anniversary Art Show, a celebration of comic art from its inception to the modern age. Don't worry about missing the opening night, as the event will run from May 1st to May 31st. Meanwhile, Church on Church will be hosting the Maurice Vellekoop and Gengoroh Tagame's joint gallery LEGENDS from May 4th to the 12th, and p|m (which wins the award for Weirdest Venue Name Ever) will have Anna Sailama's Comics & Drawings from the 1st to the 12th. Other big events and galleries, from mixers to screenings, will also be happening between now and the big day.

EVENTS, PART TWO: REVENGE OF THE EVENTS

During the fated weekend, we can expect way more excitement. Down the street from TCAF, The Japan Foundation will hold the World of Taiyo Matsumoto Gallery, an exhibition of the famed manga-ka's works. There will also be the Bit Bazaar, a celebration of crafting video games, at the Bento Miso on Richmond Street West; Vellekoop and Tagame will have a Saturday night queer mixer during their LEGENDS show; and the Doug Wright Awards will be hosted on the Saturday evening at Marriott Hotel on Bloor East. Finally, on the Sunday evening, Israeli comic artist Rutu Modan will have a special presentation at the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre about her newest work, The Property.

EXHIBITORS

Just when you thought it was safe to leave your mom's house! No TCAF is complete without some of the biggest names and rising stars of the comic world showing up, so let me put it thusly. Ever wanted to be in the same building as Art Spiegelman, Bryan Lee O'Malley, Hope Larson, Faith Erin Hicks, KC Green, Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, Ulli Lust, Adam Warren, Meredith Gran, and scores more talented artists and writers for two whole days? Then you're at the right place. CHECK OUT THE GUEST LIST.

DEBUTING BOOKS

Said artists will be showing off their latest works and books during the weekend, so if you wanted to grab the latest anything then this is the place for it. The extensive list published on the TCAF website pretty much lets us know what to expect, but keep your eyes open for such works as Joe Ollman's "Science Fiction," Prudence Shen and Faith Erin Hicks' "Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong," and Art Spiegelman's "Co-Mix."

TCAF is free and runs from May 11th from 9 AM to 5 PM, and May 12th from 11 AM to 5 PM.

Photo by Paul Tichonczuk in the blogTO Flickr pool