My Return to Mecca: Schomburg's 8th Annual Black Comic Con
January 2020 kicked off the historic Black Comic Con that was housed at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, USA. Although it was the con’s 8th year in existence, it was my second time attending and it felt great to be surrounded by so many faces that resembled mine. As I approached this building for the second time, I felt a renewal of energy; a resurgence in my soul that told me, ‘despite all that you went through in 2019, 2020 is filled with new opportunities and goals; especially for the Black!’. Renewed and invigorated, I entered these doors and my spirit led me to the Black creatives who made this event action packed for the 8th (my second) time in a row.
As I walked through the convention of the research institute, I had a different focus this year…. My goal was to examine the creators and really shine light on them as they discussed with me and others their masterpieces and amazing stories behind their brands. Armed with my bottled water and a few granola bars (7-Eleven always!!) I preceded to listen and engage with the creatives.
1st Floor
On the main floor, a plethora of artists awaited me to buy their products and speak with them. Limited in my funding, I scanned the show floor to take pictures of some good work and interview some artists.
Marcus Williams (MW)
The Visual: Marcus Williams
Known for his artistic magic in creating the Swaptober series which appears on Instagram every October, famous for his artwork by evolving the Boondocks characters, Marcus the Visual a.k.a Marcus Williams, graced the show floor with his colorful images of Miles Morales’, X-Men, and various video game characters. Now I covered him before, but this time, I had a very important agenda. My goal was to find out about the release of the up and coming comic book series Super Natural Woman. With her amazing hair, her exquisite frame, her imagery is truly inspirational and as The Visual spoke with me about this up and coming comic book series, I became even more eager about the book’s arrival for all to see….
JW: What can you tell me about the series, The Super Natural Woman?
MW: She’s a traveler; not from earth. She gets caught on earth, accidentally from a mission from her planet; her solar system. She’s here for about two years, and before she starts, she meets a young girl that says, ‘if you can fly, why aren’t you a super hero’? She doesn’t know anything about superheroes, so she becomes one based on a 9-year old girl’s perspective of what a hero is. Unfortunately, in doing so, she runs into the local police with the guiding question, ‘if you have power, is it okay to use it’? and to what extent? And eventually, she has to atone for these actions, but not before everything starts falling down because of the 9-year old girl’s perspective.
JW: How long have you been writing this?
MW: It’s a really cool story; I’ve been writing for about 4-5 years. A lot of changes have been made. And so, I’m very comfortable with where the story is going since I did the Kickstarter. It has been taking a long time; there were a lot of elements missing, and I changed as a writer and a creator. I’ve placed those things in the book, and now it’s not just entertainment anymore, it’s something that I can actually feel proud of releasing to any audience. Hopefully you’ll learn something too.
And rightfully so. Marcus Williams has been in the game for quite some time and as his art keeps evolving, his messages become clearer and clearer. Continue making great work for all to admire Mr. Williams as you continue to represent people of color. Across from him, were two women whose comic, Wash Day was definitely worth a read.
(L to R) Wash Day Creators: Jamila Rowser & Robyn Smith
Wash Day: Jamila Rowser (JR) & Robyn Smith (RS)
Opposite of Marcus Williams, on the same level, were two phenomenal Women of Color, whose graphic novel, Wash Day, grabbed my interest. Honestly, I’ve never heard of this comic, yet I was drawn toward it because of the cover. I was also familiar with how black women treat their hair, since I’m married to one and have seen, first hand, the great lengths she treats her head. Guessing what this could be about, I cautiously asked its creators about the comic:
JW: Hello, can I know a little bit more about your work?
JR: Of Course, my name is Jamila Rouser, I’m a comic book writer and I love to create stories for black and brown women, I wrote Wash Day and Wobbledy 3000 and have written for some anthologies as well.
RS: I’m Robyn Smith, I’m a cartoonist, I did Wash Day with Jamila; The Saddest Angriest Black Girl in Town is also coming out, so look out for that.
JW: I have a question, could you explain Wash Day? And what was the creative idea behind Wash Day?
JR: For Wash Day, we wanted to create something that really celebrated Black Women and their hair. We know in society our hair isn’t something that’s seen as beautiful sometimes and I wanted to celebrate the beauty of our hair, by seeing how much time and energy we put into taking care of it. Despite what society says….We know we’re beautiful and I wanted to make other Black women feel seen and feel beautiful with the comic.
JW: Nice, Nice. Will there be a sequel to Wash Day?
JR: Possibly, you have to stay tuned….(laughter).
Wash Day is definitely a must have comic for Black women, and anybody who is dating a Black woman who needs to understand how Black women are dedicated to taking care of their hair and its mystical powers. I can truly relate to this manuscript due to the fact that my significant other has dedicated weekends to ensure her hair looks fresh and intact. I immediately bought a copy and gained even greater understanding into my wife’s hair maintenance.
With so much Black Magic here, I couldn’t wait to see what was on the other floors…..
2nd Floor
Navigating into the unknown, I decided to go upwards to see what magic awaited me from the creatives. Venturing left and walking down into the major hall, I saw a diverse group of ‘creative greats’ from far and wide as patrons were not only questioning the creative’s intellect, they were also purchasing their products as well. If you saw what I saw, you would truly understand the power of the Black dollar; if it’s dope, the new ‘hotness’; we will truly support it. And what better way to support the arts then right here, at the Schomburg!!
On this floor, this floor’s vibe is also unique. I would say that the mid 90’s - early 2000’s flow is up here and I’m absolutely loving it!!!
Tephlon Funk!!!
Tephlon Funk: Creator on right - Stephane Metayer
On first glance, I was fascinated by the artwork; very manga in style, yet all the characters were of Black and Brown origin. The detail…. SAVAGE!!!, the colors, AMAZING!!! And the creators who came up with this work were the illest (awesome, dope, etc.) you’ve ever seen. A while ago, I ran into them at another con and I forgot to pay homage to their creative genius. This time, I stood in line to speak with them….
JW: I remember seeing this comic and I downloaded it a while back. I always wondered about issues 2 & 3. What was the idea behind Tephlon Funk?
Stephane Metayer (SM): I mean, I just wanted to make a story about New York, that’s it. Like, I never saw a story about real New Yorkers living in New York and I just wanted to put my twist on it.
JW: Any plans, movie wise? Or anime wise? Because I think you definitely have something here.
SM: That would be nice, but people think it’s very simple. There’s a lot of money and politics involved. In order to get the money, you have to go through the politics, in order to go through the politics, you gotta know somebody, in order to know somebody, you gotta get yourself out there!!! So, it’s like a domino effect.
JW: Have you tried Kickstarter?
Tephlon Funk Crew
SM: I did a kickstarter for the comic, yeah.
JW: Where are you guys based from?
SM: We’re based out of NY?
JW: What Borough?
SM: Queens, Brooklyn, and I have other artists to help; I also have help from artists in Paris.
JW: Paris?....Like Paris, France?
SM: Yes, I have a lot of friends in other places… (laughter)…I also have other artists in Japan.
I’m blown back by the #squad’s artwork. I mean, this shyt is tough!! The way the manga-comic is styled, it almost reminds me of a mix-tape I would buy on the corner; and I’m not talking about those mix-tapes that are 5 for a dollar. I’m talking about that ‘Nipsey Hussle’ Mixtape; the one that was for $100. Yeah…. this manga, I feel, is that heat rock!!!
Stephane is also right about the politics, especially for African American manga creators. As manga and anime have taken the world by storm, African American creators are overlooked and not acknowledged for their talents and creativity. Additionally, as more and more of us are creating content with an anime-manga styled feel, we are still being mistreated as characters in the genre as well.
However, many African Americans are not only gaining a foothold in the industry, they are quickly climbing the ranks, churning out content and becoming mega powerhouses in their own right.
Lesean Thomas – Anime and manga legend, Lesean’s historic artwork ranges from being creative producer and supervising director of Black Dynamite: The Animated Series on The Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim programming block. Story board & animation production artist on The Legend of Korra (Book 1) animated TV series for Nickelodeon Animation & as well as Director/Lead Character Designer for Aaron McGruder’s Peabody Award-winning The Boondocks animated TV series (seasons 1 & 2) for Sony Pictures Television. Currently, his newest hit project, Canon Busters has hit Netflix with resounding success and acclaim as he is the creator, executive producer and director. Lesean Thomas: Youtube Channel
Noir Caesar Entertainment – CEO Johnny O’ Bryant, former NBA player, loved anime and manga so much, he created his own anime publishing and entertainment company. Seen both nationally and internationally, his diverse staff is promoting the next wave of manga by allowing writers and artists of color to shine on their platform all the while promoting anime characters of color. Noir Caesar Entertainment: Youtube Channel
D’Art Shtajio - Nestled in Japan, two Brothers of Color, Arthell and Darnell Isom, created their own art studio in hopes of revolutionizing the anime’ industry. Being the first in the anime industry to be owned and operated by African Americans in Japan, they are changing the narrative in regard to how African Americans are being portrayed in the anime industry and as animators. D’Art Shtaijo: Youtube Channel
Although there are a whole host of other African American manga artists in society, these three, in my opinion, represent the next level in the anime’ industry and ownership within the genre as well.
Adv. of a System’s Admin?
Juan Espinosa and Family
As I continued on my 2nd floor journey, I saw one of the funniest comics at the convention titled, Adventures of a System Admin. It was funny, because it’s a blend between the movie Office Space & a Sci-fi movie and the artwork is well done; especially the front cover for issue #1. Curious, I asked about the issue and its contents. Most surprising was that the whole family was there to support the writer of the acclaimed comic, Juan Espinosa (JA).
JW: How long have you been doing this?
WJA (Wife of JA): Well the first time we went to a comic con he started to get interested in this field and when he got a booth with Alex Simmons, that was when everything started. He’s been writing ever since. He started with his first comic in 2017 and now the whole family comes to every convention.
JW: Can you tell me a bit more about the comic?
WJA: Of course, he’s a system admin, a young man, who loves what he does and in his adventures, he’s battling hackers.
JW: Nice!!!
I immediately bought my first issue, signed of course.
Beautiful Black and Brown magic was in the air here as many patrons and artists came to celebrate and commemorate not only the Schomburg, but this realm of creatives in this infused ‘Wakanda - like Space’ as more and more patrons were filing in.
David Crownson aka Dr.Blackhattan
Harriet Tubman Demon Slayer’s David Crownson
David Crownson, author and creator of Harriet Tubman, Demon Slayer was there as well and I was completely starstruck. His concept of Harriet Tubman as a sword slingin’ African American who battles demons in the days of slavery is truly how one would think of how she was able to guide slaves to freedom, repeatedly, I might add!!! Some would still say that she was superhuman.
I had a few questions for ‘Dr. Blackhattan’ as I wanted to know how Harriet was doing and if there were any upcoming projects for this newly created character….
JW: Mr. Crownson, when will the anime come out?
DC: I have no idea …(laughter)
JW: When will the kickstarter for the anime, maybe come out?
DC: I have no idea!!!....(Laughter)….
JW: When will the live action movie, that might be funded by Netflix….come out?
DC: You’re asking questions that I have no answers too (laughter) !!!
JW: So you’re saying that it’s a possible 2021?
DC: Yes, Yes, Yes…
JW: When will issue #3 be coming out?
DC: February 12th, February 12th @Forbidden Planet.
JW: Where do you come up with these Ideas?
DC: I come up with these ideas in a library, ….by myself.
JW: Really?
DC: Yes…..
JW: Oh Wow!!! and with the well received, Harriet Tubman, Demon Slayer, when will the action figure drop?
DC: March 2020…
JW: NICE!!! I would definitely like to say, thank you for creating and please, keep up the great work.
DC: I will, thank you.
David Crownson is a phenomenal storyteller and visionary and all-around great person as he meticulously managed to take a piece of Black History and turn it around on its ears, by making a well-known leader, abolitionist and ‘no person left behind’ freedom fighter, an even greater living legend.
Thank you for your inspiring work, cheers to the action figure and soon to be made Netflix movie and anime’. After all, if book companies can do Abraham Lincoln Vampire Slayer, then Harriet Tubman, Demon Slayer should unquestionably be created without any roadblocks.
The second floor held so many surprises and wonders and yet the ultimate powerhouse on this floor was Black Sands Entertainment.
Black Sands Entertainment Company
Manuel and Geiszel Godoy
Heavily seen on Youtube and Instagram; this heavily watched and widely supported Black-owned company has garnered acclaim and supporters far and wide. Husband and Wife team Manuel and Geiszel Godoy (MG & GG) have created a lane, by focusing on an ecosystem in black history and characters, prior to slavery: Ancient Egypt. As I interviewed them, they dropped some serious gems as they changed the way fund raising takes place for the creation of graphic novels, comics and Black ownership in a company:
JW: So, with funding taking place, can you please tell Region 99 about that?
GG: Black Sands Entertainment is raising $500,000 for 10% of the company. We’re doing this so we can scale the company and its live on wefunder; so, go to wefunder.com/blacksands, to invest in the company and the minimum to invest is $100.
JW: Very Nice, what about the common person who has less?
GG: If you’re not an accredited investor, you can still invest.
Black Sands Entertainment is growing to become a monolithic powerhouse in the entertainment industry. Seriously!!! They are loved by all and as a result, their funding efforts have created to date, a $4.5 million evaluation. As they continue to put out great content, they have, to date, released and sold over 30,000 units of their groundbreaking work; hired senior animators from Disney, Sony, Pixar, Bron, Amazon Studios, Nickelodeon, and Rainmaker; and received continuous reviews from patrons and others on social media. This company is the must watch company for 2020.
(After that last question, I simply wanted to know when directing the movie was going to start…..)
JW: Because you’re breaking barriers and achieving greatness, who would you want to direct the live action?
….a momentary silence…..MG steps in….
MG: I would work with the dude from the ‘Equalizer’…. I can’t pronounce his name right now.
Could Antoine Fuqua direct the Live Action Black Sands Movie?
JW: Denzel?
MG: No the other guy…
JW: Antoine Fuqua?
GG: Yes (3x)
JW: You would want Antoine Fuqua to direct Black Sands?
MG: Yes, Yes. Because our series…is more about….it has the black experience and it’s also very serious in that it has that very manly, very masculine appeal and he’s always made productions that have, that very masculine and very respectable black lead character in his stories. Every movie he’s ever done! He’s the perfect person to direct this!!
With over 68 directed shows, movies, and videos and producer for 18 of them, Antoine Fuqua, would be an ideal candidate for this series. What’s important to note here is that Black Sands Entertainment, not only kickstarted their company, they’ve also created another avenue in which they’re giving the common investor a chance in ownership in a Black-owned company as well. This allowancing of their company’s shares reveals a firm belief that their company is going to continue to grow and they want you to enjoy the ride as well. Manuel and Geiszel, I wish you all the success in the world.
The Black Nerd Experience….Blerdcon !!!
The ‘Unbreakable’ Hilton George
Hippies had Woodstock, Black College goers had….and still have Freaknik, Ravers have the EDC and now the Black Nerds, have Blerdcon in the world-famous chocolate city; Washington, DC. Now in its fourth year, I’ve been trying to go every year and I can’t seem to make it because of some issue; whether it be money, life or family.
However, this year for 2020, your humble author will be attending this event and will be writing about it for Region 99 later this year…
However, I did get a chance to speak with the creator of the famed Event, Hilton George (HG).
JW: Can you tell me about Blerdcon?, Chocolate City’s most famous Blerd Convention…
HG: Hello…Blerdcon….4th-year convention focused on Blerd culture, the Black nerd experience, in DC, the nation’s capital. 3 days, with over 24 hours of ‘programming, anime screening, video arcade, food truck rallies’; I’m telling you that we have DJ’s in every corner, parties all night. There’s adult stuff happening at night, kid friendly stuff happening during the day; there’s cosplay, there’s music, there’s bands, panels and workshops; everything that you’ve wanted in a convention, plus more.
JW: What made you create Blerdcon?
HG: This was the convention I wanted to go to before there was a Blerdcon; So I just made the con I wanted to see. As a lifelong Black nerd, I’ve been trying, to get a little bit of my blackness, connected with my nerdiness, connected with my comic book and my anime…..with…..you know…..video gaming and table top gaming fandom and we find ways to highlight those achievements and the contributions of those Black people in those fields…….
BlerdCon - For the Steve Urkels and the Stefan Urquelles of the world!!!
Hilton George is a visionary. A remarkable gentleman whose vision of creating a Black Nerd oasis is by far a necessity for those who still, to this day, have a love of the action figures, comic books and video games. What Hilton has created is a ‘safe space’ for Black Nerds and dare I say it, a space for the ‘Steve Urkels’ and the ‘Stefan Urquelles’ of the world. From the far out to the near-ins; the Black extroverts to the introverts; those from the Hip-Hop generation to the Soul generation; for the ‘peoples’ from the hood to the suburbs.
Hilton George’s Blerdcon is the East Coast’s answer to the all-inclusive Black Bar-Mitzvah for all things Black, Nerdy and Pop Culture!!!
Princess Love Pon’s Shauna Grant
As I left the 2nd floor and proceeded to the downstairs area, I saw the famous Shauna L Grant (SG). Black, beautiful and famous for her character, Lia a.k.a. Princess Love Pon; a magical girl who navigates her way through love, heals the hearts of others who have fallen into despair, and discovers what it really takes to be magical. She’s also a fighter as she battles villains in order to stop the evil dark queen from destroying the hearts of innocents.
I had the privilege of speaking with her mother and her as they discuss their achievements.
JW: I take it, you’re Shauna’s sister?
Mom: Thank you so much, I’m Shauna’s mom.
JW: What can you tell me about Shauna?
Mom: Shauna’s a lovely girl, I’m proud that she’s my daughter. She’s making me proud everyday as she does something more wonderful. She’s a good kid.
JW: How did she come up with her character?
Mom: Well, her character is a blend of a little anime and her. That’s her style and she’s been a Sailor Moon fan since she was 6.
JW: So, those were your influences? (directing question to Shauna)
Shauna: I love Sailor Moon, I love Shojo…
JW: Alright (2x). Where do you see Princess Love Pon, and the other graphic novels you’re working on in 2-10 years?
SG: I would definitely love to see Princess Love Pon completed. I’m deciding if I want to continue to self-publish or pitch it to a publisher and do a contained story for it; and I also have other magical girl stories. I want to make a lot of really cute, diverse, shojo influenced art and stories that star people of color, especially Black women.
JW: ‘Black women in anime’…what advice would you give them for those who might still be getting picked on because of their love of anime’ and/or manga?
SG: Continue your passion, find other people that enjoy the same things that you do, like as you grow older, its easier to be more comfortable with yourself and accept what you like and what you want to be. Just keep following your heart.
‘Follow your Heart’
Quite possibly the realest words spoken here at the con….‘Follow your heart’. Every vendor here who has pursued that mantra, has created, from the heart, a piece of their passion for the world to see. Each vendor has meticulously created an alternate universe; their own unique solar system that encompasses people of color in multiple situations and placed them on display to the best of their ability for patrons. They are the Gods of their realms and as a result have dressed them in their Sunday best here at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture for our viewing pleasure.
Although, there were many other artists and authors available, my timeline didn’t allow me to see everyone. However, I do need to give a shout out to the authors Damian Duffy (adaptor) and John Jennings (illustrator) for the Graphic Novel Adaptation of Parable of the Sower; a graphic novel adaptation of the Sci-fi, 1993 hit Parable of the Sower, written by African American Sci-fi writer Octavia E. Butler. Butler, was also the first science-fiction writer to receive the MacArthur "Genius" grant, as well as the Hugo and Nebula awards. Additionally, Butler’s key themes in her writing was race, class and feminism.
Damian Duffy and John Jennings; Artists and Scholars, have created a piece of literature that is creating controversy and is highlighting how climate change is changing the world. This is the must have graphic novel for the new millennium.
The Message: Well Received
One of the most exciting aspects of the Schomburg is the message they display for the world to see. Here, for 2020, that message was Subversion and the Art of Slavery Abolition.
The foundation of America was built on the backs of African Slaves and as a result the phrase, ‘inalienable principles of equality, liberty, and democracy’ for African Americans is still the topic of debate to this day. Here at the Schomburg, they show how the power of art and imagery led to the changing, the swaying and the lifting of hearts in regard to slavery.
Using illustrations, paintings and photographs, abolitionists and others who fought for the dismantling of slavery created avenues for describing the institution of slavery in letter, pamphlet, speeches, and in newspaper form. The power of the images of slavery blended with the power of the word created in the hearts and minds of people a sorrowful message that slavery needed to be eliminated. Additionally, these images also created, in African American readers and observers, a motivation that placed them in a new light as fighters for freedom, rebels with a cause and above all, freed people.
Here at the Schomburg, the creators of the Black Comic Con, has once again blended that past and the present as they demonstrate how the art of the past has led to the art of the present. They have displayed how African American creatives of the past used their ingenuity and inventiveness to create novels, slave narratives, poetry and music that encompassed hidden messages that could mean the difference between liberty and death. As for today, those messages are still here as they have evolved, in new forms and in new works in the form of graphic novels, comics, prints and posters, etc. .
The Schomburg continues to cater not just to the past, but the present and the future and as this annual Comic Con continues to inspire a younger generation of Black artists, people of color will continue to be inspired by this place as this con will continue to promote more creatives who will remain vigilant in keeping the message of Liberty and Equality alive.
