Los Angeles Comic Con returned on Oct. 4-6, reinforcing its status as L.A.’s largest event for comics, animation, sci-fi, and pop culture. With over 125,000 attendees, the convention was lively and filled to the brim with star power, creatives, and fans.
Esteemed guests included actress, producer, and activist Rosario Dawson (“Sin City,” “Luke Cage,” “The Mandalorian”), actor, director, and producer Giancarlo Esposito (“Do the Right Thing,” “School Daze,” “Breaking Bad”), and actor Christopher Lloyd (“Back to the Future,” “The Addams Family”), among others.
The diversity of guests extended beyond celebrities, featuring several panels and exhibits spotlighting Black creators and entertainers. Talents such as Chuck Patton, an Emmy Award-winning animation producer/director known for “Todd McFarlane’s Spawn” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” stood alongside independent creators like Compton artist Marcus D. Newsome, who created a series called “Lightning Strike.”
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In addition to exhibitor booths, discussion panels were held to amplify the voices of Black creators. One notable panel, “We Belong: Queer and Black Sci-Fantasy,” focused on the creation of the first all-Black, all-LGBTQ+ sci-fi fantasy comics anthology published by Stacked Deck Press and backed by Prism Comics. During the panel, artists introduced themselves and their work. Sean Z Maker, creator of “Colors of Myth,” spoke about his upcoming project, “Ramonah Rising,” set in a fantasy world inspired by bell hooks’ writings on Black love. This work explores what a world built on Black love would look like and seeks to center Black women in underrepresented fictional settings. Sean Z described it as “his love letter to Black women.”
Professor Ajuan Mance, who teaches African American literature at Mills College, highlighted their mission to depict Black people in futuristic settings and keep traditions alive with “The Pride Cookout Hanky Code…in Space.” Mance remarked, “Science fiction should show Black people will still exist in the future.” They have also authored a children’s book, “What Do Brothas Do All Day,” depicting the everyday lives of real Black men and boys—from working and driving to going to the barbershop and cooking.
Panelist Aimee Campbell created “Luminous Flux,” an adventure featuring a non-binary Black wizard in a fantasy setting, a character perspective not often seen in the literary world. Gerald Brandon Bell introduced his character “Mother Illuminessence,” a powerful figure representing the ballroom community who symbolizes the ongoing fight for BIPOC and LGBTQ rights and “holds the spirit of those who died fighting for the community.” The panel was skillfully hosted by William O. Tyler, who not only facilitated the dialogue but also contributed to the anthology with his story “Soft Serve” and served as one of its editors.
The artists also discussed issues of visibility and the challenges of being pioneers in their fields, as well as their love for the comic medium as a means of self-expression. Campbell remarked,
“With comics, you don’t need a Hollywood budget to make your story.” Mance raised concerns about the current climate, emphasizing the fight for inclusion in the science fiction scene, the prevalence of book bans and soft bans, and the elimination of Black American history studies in many public schools. Despite these challenges, Campbell, representing the younger generation, expressed hope, believing that the power of the Internet will always provide avenues to find and share their stories.
L.A. Comic Con provided a platform for several Black stories and creators. Storyteller Jared Sams, author of “Space Negro,” tells an imaginative story about a Compton man finding himself as the last Black man alive.
Exhibitor Stranger Comics featured a series co-written by Amandla Stenberg and Sebastian Jones called “Niobe,” published in 2015 as the first internationally distributed comic with a Black female author, artist, and central character. One hardcover volume includes a foreword written by Viola Davis.
The comic convention space is becoming more inclusive, and while more progress is still needed, Black stories are increasingly being shared in these environments. L.A. Comic Con stands as a strong ally for diversity and the inclusion of Black voices.
Find out more at comicconla.com or on Instagram @comicconla.To get a copy of “We Belong,” visit stackeddeckpress.com.
