Celebrating the rich tradition of Black comics, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture opens its virtual doors to the 10th Annual Black Comic Book Festival January 13-15th.
“The Schomburg Center’s Black Comic Book Festival has grown to be more than just an event; it’s a movement and the Schomburg is so excited to invite the community to celebrate this milestone with us,” said Kadiatou Tubman, Schomburg Manager of Education Programs and Outreach. “This year’s festival marks a legacy of 10 years celebrating Black imagination, representation, and culture through comics. ”
This online event will feature panel discussions, workshops, cosplay showcases and highlight the work of creators from across the country.
Thursday, January 13
Lifting as We Climb: A Black Comic Book Festival Story | 12 PM: Black Comic Book Festival cofounders: John Jennings, Jonathan Gayles, Deirdre Hollman. Moderated by Kadiatou Tubman (Schomburg Education).
Graphic History: Telling Our Histories through Comics and the Archives | 2 PM: 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.
S.T.E.M in Comics – Bridging the Gap of Current and Future Technologies in Art and Comics | 4 PM: 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
Afrofuturism: The Past, Present, and Beyond | 12 PM: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).
Black in Anime: Creators Coloring Outside the Lines | 2 PM: Guests: Arthell Isom (dartshtajio anime studio), Johnny O’bryant (Noir Caesar), Shanice Penn (Freelance anime illustrator), Sozo Maika (Digital illustrator). Moderated by TJ Sterling (Rae Comics).
10 Years Later: The Landscape of Comics Scholarship | 4PM: Guests: Qiana Whitted, Rebecca Wanzo, and JoAnna Davis-McElligatt. Moderated by Dr. Jonathan Gray.
Saturday, January 15
How to Draw Black Superheroes & Comics | 11 AM: Guest: Tim Fielder (Infinitum: An Afrofuturist Tale, DieselFunk Studios)
The Comic Book Spectrum: Curating Safe and Brave Spaces | 3 PM: 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).
Comic Books & Big Screens: How Comic Creators Are Making Their Way Through Film and TV | 5 PM: 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).
COSPLAY SHOWCASE: This year, we’re bringing the SchomCom Cosplay Showcase to you! The showcase is open to attendees of all ages and skill levels. If you want to participate, the deadline for submissions is Friday, January 7th at midnight, and the instructions are here. The full showcase with all submissions will be available on the website at some point during the festival. These clips will be featured throughout the live broadcast and schomcom.org.
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. The exhibition will be on view beginning January 14, 2022 in-person in the Exhibition Hall.
SCHOMCOM BLOG SERIES: As the countdown to the 2022 festival begins, enjoy the six-part blog series, Black Comic Book Festival Turns 10. A new story will be released each week starting December 13.
Select your date and Register Here.
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is part of the New York Public Library.