The two-day Black Comic Book Festival returns to The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New YOrk City this Friday and Saturday, April 26-27th. It’s the 12th annual outing for the show which brings together creators, fans, cosplayers and Blerds to celebrate Black comic books and graphic novels.
Last year’s show drew more than 9000 attendees, and curator & executive producer Kadiatou Tubman expects another lively outing. “As the festival enters its 12th year, we are so excited to continue this tradition showcasing the expansiveness and importance of Black imagination, representation, and culture. Not only is this festival a joyous celebration to bring artists and enthusiasts together to explore the past, present, and future, but it’s a way to support upcoming and established artists looking to create community and expand to new audiences.”
The festival comes with a full slate of programming including a Black Comic Book Trivia Night (Friday, April 26 @ 5:30 PM), A Very Black Cosplay Showcase (Saturday, April 27 @ 5:30 PM) and more. Some highlights:
Graphic Histories and Comics in the Classroom (Friday, April 26 @ 11 AM) – Exciting new visual narratives have been created to aid students in imagining the past and engaging with historical events.
Say it Proud: Amplifying LGBTQ+ Voices in Comics (Friday, April 26 @ 3:30 PM) – A conversation on how comic creators are expanding and creating exciting spaces for LGBTQ voices in comics, novels, and multimedia.
“IYANU: Weaving West African Wonder into Animation” presented by Lion Forge (Saturday, April 27 @ 12:30 PM) – An exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of the highly anticipated animated series, IYANU coming soon to Cartoon Network and Max based on the popular West African fantasy graphic novel series “Iyanu: Child of Wonder” from YouNeek Studios and Dark Horse Comics.
She’s Out There Screaming: Women and the New Golden Age of Black Horror (Saturday, April 27 @ 3:50 PM) – An exploration of the dynamic role of women in shaping the resurgence of Black horror.
A full list of programming this year and highlights of last year’s virtual festival can be seen at SchomCom.org.
The SchomCom Marketplace will be open at the Center on Friday, April 26 from 12 PM – 6 PM and Saturday, April 27 from 10 AM – 6 PM. On both days throughout the halls of the Schomburg Center, the festival will stage an all-day vendor’s market of over 60 indie comic book exhibitors.
A few photos from last year, taken by Bob Gore:
