In anticipation of the 2025 American Library Association (ALA) Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Oni Press, the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning publisher of groundbreaking comics and graphic novels since 1997, has announced its upcoming slate of guests, signings, and panels for 2025’s AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE (ALA). Taking place Friday, June 27th through Monday, June 30th, visit creators Brian Gonsar (Dracula’s Brunch Club), Mat Heagerty (Indoor Kid), Ben Kahn (Mr. Muffins: Defender of the Stars), Maia Kobabe (Gender Queer: A Memoir), Meredith McClaren (Meat Eaters), and Joey Weiser (The Littlest Fighter) at Booth #418 for daily signings. Be sure to stop by the booth for ARCs, bookmarks, badge ribbons, and the first 100 librarians at the booth Friday through Sunday will receive a free Gender Queer Oni Press Tote bag!*
Ahead of ALA, Oni Press has released an all-new ALA-focused trailer for DRACULA’S BRUNCH CLUB, a hilarious new graphic novel from debut authors Brian Gonsar (Twisted Tales of Scary Stories: Werewolves) and Keenan Gaybba. DRACULA’S BRUNCH CLUB co-creator Brian Gonsar will host a Donut Brunch at ALA on Sunday, June 29 at Booth #418, starting at 9 a.m. while supplies last! You DO-NUT want to miss it.
Then: Join Oni’s esteemed talent to talk comics and the creative process on panels such as “Scary Sisters: Libraries Supporting Women Creators in Horror Comics” with Meredith McClaren (Meat Eaters) on Saturday, June 28 at 10:30am in the Philadelphia Marriott, Franklin 11; the “Booklist Graphic Novel Panel, Part II” with Mat Heagerty (Indoor Kid) on Saturday, June 28 at 1:30pm on the Graphic Novel & Gaming Stage; “Power up the Pages with Spectacularly Supernatural and Superhuman Graphic Novels” with Brian Gonsar (Dracula’s Brunch Club), Mat Heagerty (Indoor Kid), Meredith McClaren (Meat Eaters), Ben Kahn (Mr. Muffins: Defender of the Stars), and Joey Weiser (The Littlest Fighter) on Sunday, June 29 at 11:30am on the Graphic Novel & Gaming Stage; “The Art of Building Bridges with Debut Middle Grade and Young Adult Authors” with Brian Gonsar (Dracula’s Brunch Club) on Sunday, June 29 at 12:30pm on the Chapter One Stage.
And don’t miss Oni’s special guest – GENDER QUEER creator Maia Kobabe – speaking about censorship and graphic novels on programs such as the “GNCRT Friday Forum: Why Graphic Novels? Defending Graphic Novels Value in School in the Age of Censorship” at 2:00pm in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 118 A B; the “Freedom to Read Foundation President’s Program: Fighting for Your Right to Read Freely” on Saturday, June 28 at 1:00pm in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 107; and the “Banned Together: Defending Diverse Stories in a Time of Censorship” panel on Saturday, June 28 at 2:30pm on the A Real Page-Turner Stage.
Check out Oni Press’ full ALA 2025 schedule below!
Friday, June 27
2:00pm – 3:00pm: GNCRT Friday Forum: Why Graphic Novels? Defending Graphic Novels Value in School in the Age of Censorship, Featuring Maia Kobabe (Gender Queer: A Memoir)
Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 118 A B
Saturday, June 28
9:00am – 10:00am: Meet Brian Gonsar (Dracula’s Brunch Club) signing ARCs in Oni Press Booth #418
10:30am – 11:20am: Meet Maia Kobabe (Gender Queer: A Memoir) signing in Oni Press Booth #418
10:30am – 11:30am Panel: Scary Sisters: Libraries Supporting Women Creators in Horror Comics
Location: Philadelphia Marriott, Franklin 11
Horror often addresses “The Other,” that which is perceived as different, alien, or monstrous compared to the norm, invoking fear or revulsion. This panel will discuss how women comics creators, including writers, artists, and editors, use horror as a lens/mirror to reflect and critique societal issues about gender, race, sexuality, and other topics. Why do women create horror comics? Why do women read horror comics?
The role of libraries in collecting horror comics can help highlight the influence of women creators in horror comics. By displaying their work, libraries help support these creators’ contributions to the horror genre, and how they challenge and redefine the genre. Libraries can also support independent publishers or self-published creators of women-created horror comics.
Featuring Meredith McClaren (Meat Eaters), Jasmine Walls, Faith Erin Hicks, Sandy King, and Tillie Walden
Moderated by Lizzy Walker, Associate Professor, Metadata & Digital Initiatives Librarian, Wichita State University Libraries
12:00pm – 1:00pm: Meet Ben Kahn (Mr. Muffins: Defender of the Stars) signing copies in Oni Press Booth #418
1:00pm – 3:00pm: Attend the ALA GNCRT Magical Tea to hear from Dracula’s Brunch Club writer Brian Gonsar!
Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 202 A B
1:00pm – 2:00pm: Freedom to Read Foundation President’s Program: Fighting for Your Right to Read Freely
Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 107
Since its founding in 1969 the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) has had a critical impact on the right of Free People to Read Freely. First Amendment litigation is the foremost action achieving results in the fight against censorship and that is our expertise. FTRF President Sophia Sotilleo will be joined by a panel of notable guests, including author Maia Kobabe, to discuss First Amendment rights, how they look different in different sectors, and how our staff, members, and colleagues are dealing with challenges to their intellectual freedom. You will leave this program with knowledge of ways to move forward and tackle these issues with the support of each other and the support and expertise of the Foundation. Whether you are a long-time member or being introduced to FTRF for the first time, our mission is clear – Free People Read Freely®.
1:30pm – 2:30pm: Meet Joey Weiser (The Littlest Fighter) signing copies in Oni Press Booth #418
1:30pm – 2:20pm: Booklist Graphic Novel Panel, Part II
Location: Graphic Novel/Gaming Stage (Booth #2062)
Join Booklist for a #ReadGraphic panel featuring creators from your favorite publishers on Saturday, June 28 at 1:30 p.m. ET on the Graphic Novel/Gaming Stage during ALA’s Annual Conference in Philadelphia. Booklist’s Books for Youth and Graphic Novels editor Sarah Hunter will lead a conversation with creators Mat Heagerty (Indoor Kid from Oni Press); Colleen AF Venable (Junie B. Jones: The Graphic Novel from Random House Children’s Books); Brian “Smitty” Smith (Transformers: Worst Bot Ever – Meet Ballpoint! from Skybound Entertainment); and Scott Campbell (Cabin Head And Tree Head from Tundra Books). Stay tuned for a free book signing immediately following the panel!
2:30pm – 3:20pm Banned Together: Defending Diverse Stories in a Time of Censorship
Location: A Real Page-Turner Stage (Booth #2435)
Join editor Ashley Hope Pérez and contributors Nikki Grimes, Kelly Jensen, and Maia Kobabe for an insightful conversation about BANNED TOGETHER: OUR FIGHT FOR READERS’ RIGHTS, a bold anthology that tackles the issue of book bans through fiction, memoir, poetry, graphic narratives, essays, and more. This collection brings together the voices of fifteen legendary YA authors and illustrators, each exploring the high-stakes question of what is lost when books are kept from teens. With personal stories, clever comebacks to censorship, and powerful reflections on the importance of access to diverse stories, this program will highlight the urgency of defending intellectual freedom. Don’t miss this essential discussion on empowering young readers and the fight for the freedom to read.
Moderated by Sally Morgridge, editor of BANNED TOGETHER (Holiday House, Executive Editor)
3:00pm – 4:00pm: Meet Mat Heagerty (Indoor Kid) singing chapbooks in Oni Press Booth #418
4:00pm – 5:00pm: Meet Meredith McClaren (Meat Eaters) signing copies in Oni Press Booth #418
Sunday, June 29:
9:00am – 11:00am: Attend Donut Brunch at Oni Booth #418 and meet writer Brian Gonsar signing advance copies of DRACULA’S BRUNCH CLUB
*Donuts while supplies last
11:30am – 12:30pm Meet Maia Kobabe signing copies of GENDER QUEER: A MEMOIR in Hoopla Booth #939
11:30am – 12:20pm: Panel: Power up the Pages with Spectacularly Supernatural and Superhuman Graphic Novels!
Location: Graphic Novel & Gaming Stage (Booth #2062)
Ever wonder what gives vampires the energy to live forever? (Hint, it’s a sweet treat!) Or how superpowered sports skills could change your life? (Spoiler, slam-dunks ahead!) Or what would happen if you woke up as a member of the undead? (These answers can’t stay buried.) How about if your pet Corgi was cosmically powered? (Tail wags to the rescue!). Or what if your small stature hid big battle energy? (Kaiju fights in store!) Find out all this and more as Brian Gonsar (Dracula’s Brunch Club), Mat Heagerty (Indoor Kid), Meredith McClaren (Meat Eaters), Ben Kahn (Mr. Muffins: Defender of the Stars), and Joey Weiser (The Littlest Fighter) join together for an extraordinary exploration of real-world topics such as mental health, bullying, and more!
Moderated by Oni Press Senior Editor Grace Scheipeter.
12:30pm – 1:30pm Power Up the Pages Panelist Signing with Mat Heagerty (Indoor Kid), Meredith McClaren (Meat Eaters), Ben Kahn (Mr. Muffins: Defender of the Stars), and Joey Weiser (The Littlest Fighter) in Oni Press Booth #418
12:30pm – 1:20pm Panel: The Art of Building Bridges with Debut Middle Grade and Young Adult Authors
Location: Chapter One Stage (Booth #112)
There are many challenges as well as opportunities new authors face in connecting with readers and the literary community. Join Brian Gonsar (Dracula’s Brunch Club), Stan Yan (The Many Misfortunes of Eugenia Wang), Jess Callans (Ollie in Between), and Shana Targosz (The Underwild) as they share insights on creating authentic, diverse narratives, building a supportive network, and bringing people together in an ever-evolving world.
Moderated by Amie Wright, Toronto Comic Arts Festival, Executive Director
2:00pm – 3:00pm Meet Maia Kobabe signing copies of GENDER QUEER: A MEMOIR in Oni Press Booth #418
