Color of Comics: Does It Matter? (Free admission - No tickets required)

Panel Discussion

Friday, Nov. 13, 6:30 p.m., Centre Gallery (Building 1, 3rd Floor, Room 1365)

Is there a need for race and multi-cultural representation in comics? Does the presence or absence of certain people in an entertainment medium affect the way they are perceived in the real world? Is “looking for a face like mine” relevant at a time when this nation has a Black president?

These and other questions will be explored when artists featured in the Color of Comics art exhibit sit down with moderator and show curator Alex Simmons, writer for Archie Comics. Panelists include syndicated cartoonist, Jerry Craft, Mama’s Boyz; Ray Felix, Runaway Slave; Dawud Anyabwile, Brotherman; Fernando Ruiz, Archie Comics; and Anne Sibley O’Brien, The Legend of Hong Kil Dong.

Author(s) and Guest(s)

Dawud Anyabwile

Dawud Anyabwile is the co-creator and illustrator of Brotherman: Dictator of Discipline, a pioneering African American comic book that has influenced a generation of artists and writers while selling more than 750,000 copies without the help of a major publisher.

Jerry Craft

Jerry Craft is the creator of Mama's Boyz, an award-winning comic strip that has been distributed by King Features Syndicate since 1995, making him one of the few syndicated African-American cartoonists in the country. He’s illustrated a number of children’s books, comic books and book covers, and he’s the former editorial director of the Sports Illustrated For Kids website.

Ray Felix

Ray Felix is founder of the independent comic book company Cup ‘O’ Java Studio, publisher of the comic magazines, God: The Second Coming, O.D’s Helpful Hints, The No-1 Anthology, the comic series A World Without Superheroes. The serial Runaway Slave is based on his Afro-Colombian ancestors and their Dutch slave master Phillip Livingston. He’s also worked on as an artist on Broadway (Cathay: 3 Tales From China), and in film (A Wonderful Christmas).

Anne Sibley O’Brien

Anne Sibley O’Brien, who was raised bilingual and bicultural in South Korea, has illustrated 28 children's books, 12 of which she also wrote. The Legend of Hong Kil dong: The Robin Hood of Korea, her first graphic novel, was named a Booklist Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth, Bank Street College Best Book of the Year. It also received the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, and the Global Korea Award.

Fernando Ruiz

Fernando Ruiz  is an artist/writer for Archie comics. A graduate of the infamous Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in 1994, he later returned to work there as an instructor.

Schedule

Friday, Nov. 13, 6:30 p.m.

Free

Location

Miami Book Fair International * Miami Dade College
300 NE Second Ave., Miami, FL 33132
Centre Gallery (Building 1, 3rd Floor, Room 1365)