As the Beat has slowly made its way through it’s 20th anniversary celebration, everyone kept asking when there would be a party, and I kept holding out for NYCC because, simply, I live in New York City! Not having a fest at my home town show seemed wrong somehow, and we managed to come through with a banger of a fête.
Held on Saturday, October 19 at Turntable Chicken Rock bar/restaurant in Manhattan’s K-Town, to celebrate both the anniversary AND the launch of Korean manhwa, mobile webcomics and graphic novels sister site K-Comics Beat, the party was filled with comics fun, spicy Korean fried chicken, gimbap and even a special lavender cocktail, the Manta Ray, in honor of party sponsor / webtoon app/publisher, Manta.
The bash brought together creators, publishers, librarians, Elite Beat Squad members past and present, along with special K-Comics guests TurtleMe, creator of Tapas Media / Yen Press series The Beginning After the End (which just got an anime adaptation announced by Crunchyroll at NYCC) and Undead Gamja, creator of Ize Press/WEBTOON fantasy action series The World After the Fall for a party that will long be remembered.
Here’s a taste of the fun times from the Beat’s 20th Anniversary / K-Comics Beat launch party from NY Comic-Con 2024. All photos by Gabriel Serrano Denis, unless otherwise noted.
Fantom Comics manager Sarahti G and Heidi MacDonaldSungho Lee from Manta and Rebecca Taylor from Inklore celebrate the print publication of the “Under the Oak Tree” novels and graphic novels (Photo: Deb Aoki) TurtleMe, creator of The Beginning After the End, with Alex Car and Mike Zhu from Tapas | photo by Deb AokiTurtleMe signs The Beginning After the End / Tapas Media banner at the Comics Beat / K-Comics Beat party
TurtleMe, creator of “The Beginning After the End” at the Beat / K-Comics Beat partyThe Beat / K-Comics Beat party was the place to meet and mingle with people from the comics, manga and manhwa pro community | photo: Deb AokiThe Beat’s Managing Editor Deanna Destito (R) and Billy RhinesmithUndead Gamja signing The World After the Fall Ize Press / Yen Press banner | photo: Deb AokiA lucky partygoer got a signed autograph board by Undead Gamja | photo: Deb AokiThe Beat / K-Comics Beat Party at Turntable Chicken RockNo bad comics shall pass with sheriffs Zack Quaintance and Ricardo Serrano Denis on duty!Megan Halsband of the Library of Congress, new TCAF executive director Amie Wright and Brittany Netherton of the Darien LibraryRei Kuroda from Orange Inc. and Christopher MacDonald, publisher at Anime News NetworkComic Book Legal Defense interim Jeff TrexlerThe Beat’s bestie pals, who really made the last 20 years possible
The Beat with the people who made this party happen, Deb Aoki and Miles T. Atherton (White Box Entertainment)Brian Hibbs and Heidi MacDonald | photo: Deb AokiAndrew Woodrow-Butcher and Jody Culkin | photo: Deb AokiChristopher MacDonald from Anime News Network, Jacq Cohen from Tapas MediaThe bar crew at Turntable Chicken Rock kept the party hopping | Photo: Deb AokiThe special cocktail of the night: The Manta Ray, a lavender drink honoring event sponsor Manta | photo: Deb AokiRei Kuroda from manga start-up Orange / Emaqi with a Manta Ray cocktail!Heidi MacDonald of The Beat and Chris MacDonald of Anime News Network – unrelated but colleagues forever!The Beat addresses the crowdSomehow Hellboy slipped in to the party!Oops. It should be “2004 – 2024” — My bad.
Heidi MacDonald and Deb Aoki, co-publishers of K-ComicsBeat
It was a heck of a night….thanks to all who joined us!
