Source: Schomburg Center / Schomburg Center
Schomburg Center hums as an annual Black Comic Festival takes place this weekend with some of the best in the business.
Harlem is once will again host the Black Comic Book Festival this weekend, which will be held at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. This year marks the 12th time the festival celebrating comics, anime, film and more will be held at the venerable institution. The two-day festival that begins Friday (April 26) will include panel discussions, workshops, a market for attendees to purchase items from established and independent black creators, and a cosplay showcase to close out the festival held over two floors of the center .
“Our creators tell remarkable stories that you often don't see on TV or read in the classroom,” said Kadiatou Tubman, the event's curator and executive producer at Schomburg. “The event is crucial because it provides representation, it provides the release of the imagination.” He also emphasized that the promotion of literacy among the youth is the main objective. “The event was really founded to encourage young people to read, to see themselves in books and to enjoy literature,” she said in an interview with Gothamist. “It's a great entry point for young people and all types of readers.”
The 'SchomCom' panel discussions include a look at what's to come IYANU cartoon series based on the graphic novel series 'Iyanu: Child of Wonder' set in West Africa. The team behind the series will share details about it ahead of its upcoming premiere on Cartoon Network and Max. Another discussion will focus on black female creators making strides in the revival of black horror and fantasy. The Black Comic Festival is free to attend, but pre-registration is recommended – last year, Schomburg reported that the festival had 8,000 attendees. More details and registration can be found on their website.
