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, December 1: NEW COMICS DAY! Find your local comics specialty shop.

Wednesday, December 1, 8 PM: Comics podcast Bagged & Boarded: Live! returns with Matt Cohen and Brendan Creecy for a broadcast at SModcastle, 6468 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles 90038. Tickets: $10.

Wednesday, December 1, 8:30 PM: Talking with Gods, a documentary on comics writer Grant Morrison (All-Star Superman), will be screened at Hi De Ho Comics & Books with Pictures, 1431 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica 90401. Tickets: $0.

Wednesday, December 1, 8:30 PM: The Meltdown (weekly comedy show) with stand-up comics Dave Anthony, Johnny Pemberton, Moshe Kasher, Levi MacDougal, Garfunkel and Oates, and more, at Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90046. Tickets: $8.

Saturday, December 4, 1 PM – 3 PM: Kids Comics LA will introduce children to comic creators Sam Humphries (Fraggle Rock), Ian Brill (Darkwing Duck and Rescue Rangers), David Server and Jackson Lanzing (Penguins of Madagascar), and Chris Houghton and Shane Houghton (Reed Gunther), with lessons on how to make comics, plus the Grilled Cheese Truck, at Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90046. Tickets: $0.

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.

Saturday, December 4, 8 PM: Film geek podcast Battleship Pretension broadcasts live featuring stand-up comedians Kyle Kinane, Jackie Kashian, Mike Siegel and Jason Nash at Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90046. Tickets: $5.

Sunday, December 5, 12 noon – 7 PM: Bent-Con 1 is a comic book convention for gay comic book readers and creators, with special guests Brad Rader, Sean Z, Steve MacIsaac, Jon Macy, Prism Comics and more, at Bent Comix, 4232 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles 90029. Tickets: $0

The future:

Thursday, December 9, 8 PM – 10 PM: Comedy writers/editors Geoffrey Golden and Amanda Meadows will be present for the book launch of Devastator #2: Science Fiction Christmas in Space Party. with contributors Jon Schnepp and Angus Oblong, at Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90046. Tickets: Free with purchase of book.

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 – 5 PM: 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.