Chad Carpenter invites community to celebrate 30 years of Tundra Comics

WASILLA — Tundra Comics creator Chad Carpenter is hosting a 30t anniversary celebration at the Palmer Train Depot from 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17.

The widely syndicated, Valley-based cartoonist said that everyone is welcome to the event, and he looks forward to celebrating this milestone with his community.

“It’s here, home where it really counts,” Carpenter said.

This event will feature local food trucks, free cupcakes and other treats, prizes, games, and signings for the recently released 30th-anniversary book. Carpenter said that he’s thankful for the continued opportunity to do what he loves for a living.

“When I started, it kind of started out as a hobby, but now I can’t imagine stopping,” Carpenter said. “It’s been a heck of a fun career.”

“Chad Carpenter’s Tundra Celebrating 30 years of Nature’s Favorite Comic” features a collection of about 900 comic strips. Carpenter said that half of the strips are his favorites over the three decades and the other half is composed of new material. He said the book even comes in a “fancy-schmancy hardback.” The 30th anniversary book features a forward from Carpenter’s hero, “Garfield” creator Jim Davis. He said that Davis was the one who inspired him to pursue comics in the first place.

“I felt like I was 10 years old all over again,” Carpenter said with a laugh.

Carpenter participates as a vendor at the Alaska State Fair every year. Fairgoers had the opportunity to purchase Carpenter’s book throughout the 2022 season. He said that he always enjoys the opportunity to interact with so many different people.

Carpenter noted that Sudsy Slim from the “Sudsy Slim Rides Again” full-length, locally made motion picture will make an appearance at the 30th-anniversary celebration to take photos with guests. Carpenter said they’re currently working out the details of a third film project

“That’s the number one question I get at the Fair, ‘when’s the next movie?” Carpenter said. “It looks like it’s going to happen.”

Carpenter said that the pandemic slowed down their film efforts, but he said they’re in a good position to get back on track. He said he’s glad to have so many different avenues to express his creativity.

“I gotta be creative constantly,” Carpenter said.

For more information, visit tundracomics.com.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com