When Denver-based comics artist Amy Reeder Hadley started her manga series Fool’s Gold in 2006, her hip, fresh take on romance, action and magic brought her to the attention of Vertigo — the DC Comics imprint that launched Neil Gaiman’s career. Vertigo paired Hadley with veteran comics creator Matt Wagner, and the result is Madame Xanadu, a cornucopia of supernatural horror and Gothic romance that was recently collected in a trade paperback titled Disenchanted. A lot of that has to do with Hadley’s lush yet crystal-clear art.

Hadley recently returned to Denver after a triumphant appearance at San Diego’s Comic-Con in July, where she was nominated for two prestigious Eisner Awards (for Best Cover Artist and Best Penciller/Inker Team along with inker Richard Friendly). And she’ll appear at 3 p.m. at the Tattered Cover today as part of the Local Flavor Fest. The event is being thrown by the Lowenstein CulturePlex and the Mile High Business Alliance as a way of recognizing and celebrating locally owned businesses.

Besides Hadley’s book signing and question-and-answer session, the fest, which runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., will feature a raffle, food, vendors, and music. Says Hadley, “I'm a big proponent of local businesses. I think they provide better food, better merchandising and better service. They have to, or they wouldn’t succeed. I live downtown, and I love where I live, and I love the unique experience I get by going to places I couldn’t find anywhere else.”

Tattered Cover is located at 2526 East Colfax Avenue; for more information, call 303-322-7727 or go to www.tatteredcover.com.
Sat., Aug. 8, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 2009