Alex Yarde previews the upcoming 4th Annual BLACK COMIC BOOK FESTIVAL, taking place on January 16 from 10AM -7PM and featuring panels, screenings and workshops celebrating Black Comics
2015 saw the popularity of non white male heroes grow in mainstream comics as never before. Writer David Walker’s excellent CYBORG (Cyborg #6 is currently available, it’s remarkable and you need to pick it up!) was both a critical and financial success. Amy Chu’s highly anticipated Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death for DC #1 drops January 20th. Marvel’s flagship title All New Avengers, featuring Jane Foster chosen worthy of the mantle of Thor, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Laura the former X-23 assassin now taking on Logan’s mantle as Wolverine, Sam Wilson rising as The All New Captain America, inspirational Kamala Khan as Ms. Marvel, Carol Danvers featured in Captain Marvel. It’s an exciting time for comic book fans but there is still along way to go for inclusive and diverse talent to break into the major media venues to entertain and give voice to authentic stories about heroes that reflect the wide variety of comic book fans that love them.
Toward that end The Schomburg Center’s 4th Annual Black Comic Book Festival celebrates the rich tradition of black comics in a full day event featuring panel discussions, film screenings, hands-on workshops and exhibit tables with premiere black comic artists from across the country. If you live within the New York area check out the mind-blowing afrofutrism art and design exhibition Unveiling Visions: The Alchemy of the Black Imagination curated by John Jennings and Reynaldo Anderson. I’ll be bringing my comic loving kids, so should you!
The Schomburg Center’s Black Comic Book Festival is presented by Deirdre Hollman (Schomburg Education & Junior Scholars Program) in collaboration with Jerry Craft (Mama’s Boyz) and John Jennings (SUNY Buffalo/Black Kirby).
This one day fun for all ages event is Free with priority seating for youth. You can register at Evenbright
Location: Schomburg Center For Research In Black Culture
515 Malcolm X Boulevard
New York, NY 10037
Exhibitors are by invitation only. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
#blackcomicbookfestnyc #supportindiecomics
art credit~Schomburg Center For Research In Black Culture