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 #BLACKCOMICSMONTH TAKES MANHATTAN AT NEW YORK COMIC CON
Diversity in Comics panel features Richardson, Snyder, Walker, free comics for attendees
  

October 1, 2015, NEW YORK, NY — After its overwhelming success at NYC: Special Edition in June, #BlackComicsMonth is hitting New York Comic Con with a panel that celebrates and advocates for diverse voices in comics. On Thursday, October 8 at 6:30, rising star comic book creators like David Walker (Cyborg) and Afua Richardson (Genius) will take the stage —in room 1A18 for the Diversity in Comics panel.

The panel will be hosted once more by the incomparable Dean “Tee” Vixen of VixenVarsity.com and BlackComicsMonth.com, whose goal is to make the conversation about diversity in comics completely inclusive.

“Diversity is about race, sure, but it’s also about gender, sexual orientation, disability, mental illness and so much more,” Vixen said. “All of those voices that tend to get marginalized or silenced — we want them to be able to speak loud and clear in comics. There are stories from these voices that no one else can tell with the same insight, and people need to hear them.”

In addition to Walker and Richardson, superstar creator Scott Snyder (Batman, Wytches) was recently added to the panel roster, which also includes Jeremy Whitley (Princeless), Mikki Kendall (Swords of Sorrow), Shawn Pryor (Cash and Carrie), Mildred Louis (Agents of the Realm), Steve Orlando (Midnighter, Virgil), and Christine Dinh of Boom Studios. All will be introduced by panel emcee Swapna Krishna of the comic book news site Panels.

Attendees of the Diversity in Comics panel will receive free comics by diverse creators and featuring diverse casts, courtesy of Dark Horse Comics, Dynamite Comics, Image Comics, Top Cow, Devil’s Due Entertainment, Escape Pod Comics, as well as comics creators, including Valentine De Landro and Kelly Sue DeConnick (Bitch Planet), Jamie McKelvie (The Wicked + The Divine, Phonogram), Greg Pak (The Princess Who Saved Herself), G. Willow Wilson (Ms Marvel), Joshua Williamson (Nailbiter), and many more.

#BlackComicsMonth originated in February 2015, when Vixen created the hashtag to celebrate comics during Black History Month. After it went viral, bringing much needed attention to black comic book creators and characters, Vixen declared “Every month is Black Comics Month.” Her efforts in championing diverse voices in comics have garnered media attention from The A.V. Club, Buzzfeed, Comic Book Resources, The Mary Sue, ComicsAlliance, and many others.

A full video of the #BlackComicsMonth: Diversity in Comics panel at NYC: Special Edition is available to view on YouTube.

#BlackComicsMonth: Diversity in Comics
New York Comic Con
Thursday, October 8
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Room 1A18