The Brooklyn Expo of Comics (BEC)’s anthology, Brooklyn Annual of Graphically Elevated Literature #1, or BAGEL, is set to debut on November 14, with a release party at Desert Island on November 11. The anthology features contributors Rama Duwaji, Rosemary Valero-O’Connell, Alex Krokus, Ping Zhu, Grayson Bear, Andrew Alexander, J. Mai, and Vreni.
While most of the names above are familiar, Duwaji is perhaps better known of late as the First Lady of New York City, as she is married to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Duwaji has a well-established career as an artist and designer, but this is her first comics contribution since moving into Gracie Mansion.
The debut issue is called “The Sandwich Issue” and will have eight different stories focused on–you guessed it–delicious sandwiches.
Bryce Gold, Executive Director of BODEGA Comics Group and co-editor of BAGEL, who helped edit the book along with Courtney Menard, said in a statement:
“BAGEL showcases local comic stories from local comic artists, and we are so proud to introduce this annual anthology at our inaugural festival. We want to showcase stories from New Yorkers that fuel their creativity here in our city. To that end, we wanted our inaugural theme to focus on stories featuring New York’s most ubiquitous and abundant food, the sandwich.
Read more below:
Community, care, history, debates on what qualifies as a sandwich, and a cockroach just looking for a bite- these stories are told by New York-based cartoonists from their own New York experiences. Folks can pick up a copy at the release party at Desert Island in Williamsburg on Wednesday, November 11th or at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Williamsburg during BEC on Saturday, November 14th and Sunday November 15th.
Pre-orders for the inaugural issue are now live and can be pre-ordered from BODEGA’s webstore here.
“Much like the menu at your favorite bodega, BAGEL issue one has a story for whatever you’re craving. These 8 New York cartoonists bring us their sweetest, saltiest, spiciest sandwich-based stories, and we couldn’t have asked for a better slate of comics to kick off the anthology,” said Menard.
“I am immensely proud of BODEGA’s inaugural publication, the first of what I hope will be many,” adds James Tynion IV, Chair of BODEGA’s Board of Directors. “When you’ve started a comics nonprofit, there’s no better feeling than paying cartoonists to do what they do best. It’s a beautiful comic. I hope you pick it up to see for yourself!”
BEC is a two-day comics festival taking place November 14 and 15 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It spotlights comics talent from New York and beyond “while sparking newfound appreciation for independent comics and zines.”
BODEGA stands as a monument to the birthplace of comics, and a spotlight on the future talent that will inherit New York’s comics heritage. By connecting artists, publishers, and readers, BODEGA aims to strengthen Brooklyn’s comics ecosystem at a time when rising costs and limited infrastructure increasingly challenge creative sustainability. BODEGA’s mission is to ensure comics remain a vital cornerstone of New York’s cultural landscape.
BODEGA and BEC are supported by an initial donation from James Tynion IV. Tynion is CEO & Founder of the independent multimedia production house Tiny Onion, which oversees the creation of comic book publications for many of the industry’s top publishers including Image Comics, Dark Horse, and Penguin Random House. The company operates out of Brooklyn, NY, where Tynion lives and works. BEC is also made possible through sponsorships from Desert Island, Kickstarter, Drawn & Quarterly, Fantagraphics, Oni Press, Tiny Onion, Pow Pow Press, and Dirty Diamonds.
Check out an exclusive look at BAGEL below!
