9th Annual East Coast Black Age of Comics Con

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Wednesday, 12 May 2010 22:52

Written by Chris M. Barkley

The Ninth Annual East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention 2010 will be held Friday, May 14 and Saturday, May 15, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Philadelphia Center City.

The ECBACC was founded in 2002 by Yumy Odom, director of Temple University's storied Pan-African Studies Community Education Program. This annual event highlights the ongoing effort to promote literacy and creativity in youth and show the African-American experience through comics, fantasy and science fiction storytelling, films and other media.

This convention brings together comic book artists, writers, creators and publishers of African descent, along with their colleagues and fans from across the country, to explore art and images in comics, and to discuss a myriad of other pressing issues. Needless to say, there will be comic book workshops, autograph sessions, panel discussion and a marketplace with comics, books and other media-related items for sale.

Among the featured guests will be:

L.A. Banks -- author of The Vampire Huntress Legends series and, under various pseudonyms, romance, women’s fiction and crime/suspense thrillers. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton undergraduate program, with a Master’s in Fine Arts from Temple University.

Eric Battle -- a native Philadelphian who has worked with both DC and Marvel Comics, penciling for Spiderman, Batman, Aquaman, Green Arrow and Green Lantern, among others. Eric has been a panelist at previous East Coast Black Age of Comics Conventions.

Jerry Craft -- the creator of Mama’s Boyz, an award-winning comic strip that has been distributed by King Features Syndicate since 1995.

William Foster III -- a long-time comic book collector and researcher, he is an expert commentator for both CNN News and National Public Radio and the author of Looking for a Face like Mine, published in 2005 by Fine Tooth Press. He is currently a Professor of English at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury, Connecticut.

Roland Laird -- founder and CEO of Posro Media, an entertainment production company that explores African-American history and culture in a variety of formats including comics, books, radio, video and film. He is also the co-author of Still I Rise: A Graphic History of African Americans, which was re-issued in February 2009.

Shannon Newby -- the creator/producer of Heavy Sedation, a short film series which uses comedy, science-fiction and mystery to tell stories. Heavy Sedation is nationally and internationally syndicated on 42 television stations in North America and the United Kingdom.

Alex Simmons -- created/wrote and independently published a critically acclaimed adventure comic book series, Blackjack, about an African-American soldier of fortune in the 1930s. He has also authored Scooby-Doo comic book stories, three mini series for Archie Comics; created 12 interactive mysteries for The Tiger Toys’ Who Done It; and has co-written a middle grade mystery series, The Raven League for Penguin Books.

Larry Stroman -- has been a mainstay at Marvel Comics for over the past decade, having worked on the Uncanny X-Men, Alien Legion, X-Factor and most recently the Black Panther.
 
Rob Stull -- has worked for every major publisher in the comic book industry. His credits include Spider-Man Adventures, Sensational Spider-Man, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (The Back in Black campaign), Iron Man, Uncanny X-Men, X-Force, Wolverine and New Mutants for Marvel Comics; 52, Supergirl and the Legion of Super Heroes, Nightwing, Secret Files and Firestorm for DC Comics; and Tellos for Image Comics.

On Friday evening, between 7 p.m. – 9 p.m., the ECBACC will also be presenting the Glyph Comic Awards, which recognize the best in comics and celebrates the accomplishments of black artists and writers by, for, or about African Americans. Although the award is not exclusive for black writers and artists, it strives to honor diversity in the medium and those who have made significant, social, critical and commercial contributions in comics industry.

2010 Glyph Comics Awards Nominees:

The panels of judges for the 2010 awards competition are:

    •    David Brothers, comics’ blogger, 4th Letter!
    •    Carol Burrell, editorial director, Graphic Universe/Lerner Publishing Group
    •    Brian Cronin, writer, Comic Book Resources
    •    Katie Merritt, co-owner, Green Brain Comics; former president, Friends of Lulu
    •    Dan Merritt, co-owner, Green Brain Comics

Categories:

Story of the Year

    •    Luke Cage Noir; Mike Benson & Adam Glass, writers; Shawn Martinbrough, artist
    •    The Original Johnson; Trevor von Eeden, writer and artist
    •    Unknown Soldier #13-14; Joshua Dysart, writer, Pat Masioni, artist
    •    War Machine: Iron Heart; Greg Pak, writer, Leonardo Manco, artist
    •    World of Hurt; Jay Potts, writer and artist

Best Cover

    •    Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink #1; Brian Stelfreeze, illustrator
    •    Luke Cage Noir #1; Tim Bradstreet, illustrator
    •    The Original Johnson; Trevor von Eeden, illustrator
    •    Unknown Soldier #8; Dave Johnson, illustrator
    •    Unknown Soldier #10; Dave Johnson, illustrator

Best Writer

    •    Joshua Dysart, Unknown Soldier
    •    Jeremy Love, Bayou
    •    Greg Pak, War Machine
    •    Jay Potts, World of Hurt
    •    Alex Simmons, Archie & Friends

Best Artist

    •    Chriscross, Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance
    •    Jeremy Love, Bayou
    •    Shawn Martinbrough, Luke Cage Noir
    •    Jay Potts, World of Hurt
    •    Trevor von Eeden, The Original Johnson

Best Male Character

    •    Black Lightning, Black Lightning Year One; Jen van Meter, writer, Cully Hamner, artist; created by Tony Isabella and Trevor von Eeden
    •    Isaiah Pastor, World of Hurt; created by Jay Potts, writer and artist
    •    Jack Johnson, The Original Johnson; Trevor von Eeden, writer and artist; inspired by the life of JackJohnson
    •    Luke Cage, Luke Cage Noir; Mike Benson and Adam Glass, writers, Shawn Martinbrough, artist; created by Archie Goodwin and John Romita Sr.
    •    Moses Lwanga, Unknown Soldier #13-14; Joshua Dysart, writer, Pat Masioni, artist; inspired by the character created by Robert Kanigher & Joe Kubert

Best Female Character

    •    Aya, Aya: The Secrets Come Out; created by Marguerite Abouet, writer, Clement Oubrerie, artist
    •    Lee Wagstaff, Bayou; created by Jeremy Love, writer and artist
    •    Michonne, The Walking Dead; created by Robert Kirkman, writer, Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn, artists
    •    Misty Knight, Immortal Iron Fist; Duane Swierczynski, writer, Travel Foreman and Tom Palmer, artists; created by Tony Isabella and Arvell Jones
    •    Nola Thomas, NOLA; created by Chris Gorak & Pierluigi Cothran, writers, Damian Couceiro, artist

Rising Star Award

    •    Jiba Molei Anderson, The Horsemen
    •    John Aston, Rachel Rage
    •    Kerry & Tawanda Johnson, Harambee Hills
    •    Julian Lytle, Ants
    •    Jay Potts, World of Hurt

Best Reprint Publication

    •    Aya: The Secrets Come Out; Drawn & Quarterly
    •    Bayou Volume 1; DC/Zuda
    •    Icon: A Hero’s Welcome; DC/Milestone
    •    The Life and Times of Martha Washington in the 21st Century; Dark Horse
    •    Static Shock: Rebirth of the Cool; DC/Milestone

Best Comic Strip

    •    Bayou; Jeremy Love, writer and artist
    •    Jump Start; Robb Armstrong, writer and artist
    •    The K Chronicles; Keith Knight, writer and artist
    •    The Knight Life; Keith Knight, writer and artist
    •    World of Hurt; Jay Potts, writer and artist

Fan Award for Best Comic

    •    Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel; Kevin Grevioux, writer, Mat Broome, Sean Parson and Alvaro Lopez, artists
    •    Black Lightning Year One; Jen Van Meter, writer, Cully Hamner, artist
    •    Final Crisis Aftermath: Ink; Eric Wallace, writer, Fabrizio Fiorentino, artist
    •    Luke Cage Noir; Mike Benson and Adam Glass, writers, Shawn Martinbrough, artist
    •    War Machine: Iron Heart; Greg Pak, writer, Leonardo Manco, artist

The Glyph Comic Awards reception and awards ceremony is free and open to the public.

The opening reception and kick-off will be held on Friday, May 14, 2010, from 6:30 pm until 9 pm, and is open to the general public. The full con will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2010; from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Admission will be $15.00 for adults and teens in advance and at the door. Children 12 and under will be admitted free.

For more information, please visit:

www.ecbacc.com
www.facebook.com/ecbacc
www.myspace.com/ecbacc
www.comicspace.com/ecbacc

The 9th Annual East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention
Friday, May 14 - Saturday, May 15, 2010
the Crowne Plaza Hotel
Philadelphia City Center

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