The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, NY, will host its 12th Annual Black Comic Book Festival on April 26 and 27, 2024.
The two-day festival gathers thousands of Blerds, bloggers, cosplay lovers, fans, families, illustrators, independent publishers, and writers to celebrate Black comic books and graphic novels while providing a platform to get the works directly to readers. The annual event features panel discussions, workshops, a cosplay showcase, and highlights the work of creators from across the country at the historic library.
“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,” said Kadiatou Tubman, Curator & Executive Producer of Black Comic Book Festival. “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.”
Last year, over 9000 visitors attended the Schomburg Center for the Black Comic Book Festival in Harlem. The festival will offer favorites including the Black Comic Book Trivia Night (Friday, April 26 @ 5:30 PM), A Very Black Cosplay Showcase (Saturday, April 27 @ 5:30 PM) and the all-day comic book marketplace showcasing emerging and established graphic artists. New programs that will explore the culture and business of comic book culture.
Highlights of the panel schedule include:
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.
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Founded in 1925 and named a National Historic Landmark in 2017, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the preservation, research, interpretation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diasporan, and African experiences. As a research division of The New York Public Library, the Schomburg Center features diverse programming and collections totaling over 11 million items that illuminate the richness of global black history, arts, and culture. Learn more at schomburgcenter.org.
The New York Public Library
For over 125 years, The New York Public Library has been a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With over 90 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.
Photo credit: The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
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