For the second year in a row, the Black Comic Book Festival is virtual, with three days of FREE online talks, workshops, cosplay and more.
The 10th annual event is Jan 13-15, and brings together Blerds, bloggers, cosplay lovers, fans, families, illustrators, independent publishers, and writers for workshops, chats, and more, online only.
Once again, it is presented by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, one of the branches of the NYPL.
The Black Comic Book Festival (BCBF) celebrates Black comic books and graphic novels, and provides a platform for independent publishers to get their work directly to readers of color.
NOTE - If you want to participate in the Cosplay Showcase, the deadline for submissions is Friday, Jan. 7th at midnight.
Cosplay participation instructions are here. The full showcase with all submissions will be available on the website during the festival and clips will be featured throughout the live broadcast and schomcom.org.
Plus, the exhibition, Boundless: 10 Years of Seeding Black Comic Futures, opens to the public - in person - at the Schomburg Center beginning January 14, during the virtual Black Comic Book Festival, which was founded by writer Jerry Craft, scholar Jonathan Gayles, educator Deirdre Hollman, and illustrator John Jennings.
The festival now calls its panels and workshops Schomcom.
Registration is required. You will receive the online link and additional information with registration. All events are FREE.
Here is the schedule:
Thursday, January 13
Noon - Lifting as We Climb: A Black Comic Book Festival Story
Black Comic Book Festival cofounders: John Jennings, Jonathan Gayles, Deirdre Hollman. Moderated by Kadiatou Tubman (Schomburg Education).
2pm - Graphic History: Telling Our Histories through Comics and the Archives
Guests: Dr. Rebecca Hall (Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts; Scholars-in-Residence program) and David Walker (The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History). Moderated by Bridgett Pride, Reference Librarian, Schomburg Center.
4pm - S.T.E.M in Comics - Bridging the Gap of Current and Future Technologies in Art and Comics
Guests: Newton Lilavois (Motor City Comic Con), Naseed Gifted (PBS Media, LLC), Dedren Snead (SUBSUME), Ryan Benjamin (DC Comics/Sony), and Emeka Chiedu. Moderated by TJ Sterling (Rae Comics).
Friday, January 14
Noon - Afrofuturism: The Past, Present, and Beyond
Guests: John Jennings (Black Comic Book Festival cofounder), Tim Fielder (Infinitum: An Afrofuturist Tale, DieselFunk Studios), Ytasha Womack (Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci Fi & Fantasy Culture), Reynaldo Anderson (Afrofuturism 2.0: The Rise of Astro-Blackness). Moderated by Julian Chambliss (Cofounder of Consortium for Critical Diversity in a Digital Age Research).
2pm - Black in Anime: Creators Coloring Outside the Lines
Guests: Arthell Isom (dartshtajio anime studio), Johnny O’bryant (Noir Caesar), Shanice aka NanaDesign (Freelance anime illustrator), Sozo Maika (Digital illustrator). Moderated by TJ Sterling (Rae Comics).
Saturday, January 15
11am - How to Black Superheroes & Comics
Guest: Tim Fielder (Infinitum: An Afrofuturist Tale, DieselFunk Studios)
3pm - The Comic Book Spectrum: Curating Safe and Brave Spaces
Guests: Cindy Cortez (Sonic Boombox), Robyn Warren (Geek Girl Strong), Clairesa Clay (Blerd City Comic Con), and Chauna C. Lawson (HBCU Con). Moderated by Regine Sawyer (Lockett Down Productions).
5pm - Comic Books & Big Screens: How Comic Creators Are Making Their Way Through Film and TV
Guests: David Crownson (Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer), Sebastian Jones (Stranger Comics), Jaycen Wise (Museum of UnCut Funk), Prentice Penny (Insecure), David Walker (The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History). M oderated by TJ Sterling (Rae Comics).
Where to Learn More
The Black Comic Book Festival has recorded workshops and talks from past events. Find descriptions and links to them all here.
ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION: The anniversary exhibition, Boundless: 10 Years of Seeding Black Comic Futures, will document the festival’s evolution through photographs, memorabilia, creator highlights, comic book reading stations, and clips from past festival programs. The Schomburg Center’s collection of comic books and graphic novels dating back to the golden age of comic books will be deployed to illuminate the long history of Black comics and sequential art creators, and the ongoing motivations to render humor, struggle, irony, and futurism steeped in a Black aesthetic.
What do you think about this? We welcome your comments.