You don’t have to sit at home alone reading to get into comic books and graphic novels. There are always great events going on that celebrate the vitality and creativity of comics. Just here in Los Angeles, there are more events I can ever make. But I try, and so should you. You never know what you’ll discover.

Here are some local Los Angeles events coming up that celebrate the sequential art form.

This week:

Wednesday, November 24: NEW COMICS DAY! Find your local comics specialty shop.

Wednesday, November 24, 8:30 PM: The Meltdown 5: Surprise Thanksgiving Show with stand-up comics Will Weldon, Baron Vaughn, Matt Kirshen, Ed Salazar, and Rob Delaney, at Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90046. Tickets: $8.

Friday, November 26 & Saturday, November 27, 9 AM – 9 PM: Thanksgiving 2-Day Sale with 50% off most product at Golden Apple, 7018 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles 90038. Tickets: $0.

Saturday, November 27, 6 PM: Artist Renee French (The Ticking) will be present for the release of her Slug Girl toy figure and book signing, with artists Kozyndan, Alice Pine, and Chris Stangl, who will be present for the closing night reception of the High Five gallery exhibition displaying their art at Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90046. Tickets: $0.

The future:

Saturday, December 4, 2 PM: Writer Michael Aushenker and artist Rafael Navarro (Gumby’s Gang Starring Pokey) of Cartoon Flophouse sign copies of their books, with special appearances by Gumby and Pokey, at Hi De Ho Comics, 350 Broadway Street, Laguna Beach 92651. Great event for kids! Tickets: $0.

Friday, December 10, 7 PM: Trivia Meltdown 2 – Teams of five can compete in a variety 0f geek-centric categories (Music, TV, Film and Comic Books) in a city-wide tournament, plus enjoy live music, comedy, food trucks and free beer, at Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90046. Tickets: $5 to watch / $12 for individual contestant / $50 for 5-personal team.

Saturday & Sunday, December 11 & 12, 10 AM – 6 PM: Scott McCloud (writer/artist Understanding Comics, Making Comics) presents a 2-day hands-on workshop and visual lecture on the art of making comics at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, 16926 Saticoy Street, Van Nuys 91406. Admission: $450.

Sunday, December 12, 10 AM: Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Center, 700 West 32nd Street, Los Angeles. Tickets: $8 / $0 for kids 5 and under.

Sunday, December 12, 6 PM: Director Julie Landau will take part in a Q&A for the screening and DVD release of her documentary about Gary Oldman, Take Flight, at Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90046. Tickets: $5.

Wednesday, December 15, 8 PM: The Meltdown: Comics You Should Know featuring Chris Hardwick of Nerdist with stand-up comics Chris Fairbanks, Matt Braunger, Paul Cibis, Jonah Ray, Kumail Nanjiani, Kyle Kinane, and Natasha Leggero, at Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90046. Tickets: $8.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011: Stan Lee (co-creator of Spider-Man, et al.) will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. More details to come. Tickets: $0.

Have an upcoming comics-related event in the LA area? Know of one? Email me.