Diversity in Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Comics (and why it matters)
Friday, June 17, 2016 6:30pm-7:20 pm
Adelina Esquibel, Craig Volk, Emily Peros-McBreen, Josh Hem Lee, Regina Renee Ward

My first panel at the 2016 Denver Comic Con (and ever for that matter) was “Diversity in Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Comics (and why it matters)” with staff members of the Denver Public Library. They began with staggering statistics showing how little of a role women, people of color, and especially LGBTQ people have played in films. There was one study on “The Diversity Gap in Sci-Fi & Fantasy Films as of 2014” which showed that only 14% of the films had a female protagonist, 0% had LGBTQ protagonists, 1% had a protagonist with a disability, and 8% had a protagonist of color (six of those were with Will Smith).
 
They presented us with the obvious but important questions. How many characters of color are there? Of that number, how many have their own series? Since near the beginning of Marvel Comics, we have had disabled heroes like Professor Xavier, Daredevil, and more recently, Hawkeye (he is deaf). Lately they have become even more inclusive, with characters like Miles Morales (Ultimate Spider-Man) whose father is African American and mother is Puerto Rican, and Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel) who is a Pakistani-American Muslim.  This diversity however, is slow to trickle into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The goal is not to remove Caucasian men from all comics and movies, the other groups just want their children and themselves reflected in the art forms that they love so much.
 
So, what can we do to help?
 
We can support the artists who are creating worlds with more diversity. We were supplied with an extensive “suggested reading” list, including comics and graphic novels like Rat Queens, Hilo, Little Robot, Bitch Planet, Saga, and Lumberjanes. If you are a heavier reader, then some of novels that might interest you are, Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor and Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older. On the small and big screen, there is the Netflix series Sense 8 and the upcoming Disney movie Sanjay's Super Team.

Don’t accept cultural appropriation or whitewashing. Plenty of films have changed the gender/race/etc. of the characters (Avatar, Iron Man 3, Doctor Strange, Ghost in the Shell, etc.), but if you don’t buy it, eventually they will stop making it. If you are a creator, then create. We need more diverse books, comics, movies, etc., and you could even just start a blog or a web comic. Also check out some blogs that specialize in diversity such as NPR Code Switch, For Harriet, The Nerds of Color, and A Tribe Called Geek.

Believe it or not, cosplay is one way we can help. The more Sam Wilson Captain Americas and Jane Foster Thors we see, the more they become common and normalized.
 
Next up to discuss from Denver Comic Con's panels: The Force.

If you have ever wanted to find me at Denver Comic Con, I can give you one hint of where I will always be, I am with the artists. I get lost in Artist Valley every year and it never seems to get old, especially since I am able to find so many excellent pieces to add to my collection, along with meeting some freaking awesome people. One of the things that I love about Denver Comic Con is all of the local talent that is joined together at the event. Now don’t get me wrong, I am a sucker for some of the biggest names in the game, but I have met so many talented people that are right here in our own back yard that it's simply mind blowing.

Now this year Artist Valley was massive and a little disorienting at first, but once you got your bearings, it was easy to locate your favorite artists and stop by their booths frequently. I did stick to my check list this year and even though I did not get a chance to stop by the big name tables, especially Stan Lee since his line was always several hundred deep, I did get some great finds this year and I have even added some new favorites to my list to check out next year.

​One of the people that I said to visit was Serna Illustration, run by Frankie Serna.  I meet Frankie last year at DCC and picked up a great Venom print from him and I wanted to see more, since his style is mind blowing. With his design of the Snape-Ricot logo for this year’s DCC beer, I needed to see what else he had at his booth. I was happy to see a couple Denver Comic Con exclusives, a Deadpool and Harley that I will proudly be putting up on my wall, at least until he can give me something to relocate them. He is such a nice guy and he always has a smile on his face which makes him very easy to talk to, next I will have to ask him for a commission, because I would love to see what he could do with the Joker.

​I also mentioned Robert Elrod, mostly because I can never leave a show without picking up something from his booth to add to my collection.  I picked up his book, Former Dwellings, mostly because it houses so many prints of his great work, but also because he was willing to add a sketch to the front cover. Now, if you know me, I do have a love for gnomes and Robert was able to make my dreams come true with a Gnome killing Zombies!  This has easily become a prized possession for me and I cannot wait to find a way to display it, because I am blown away.  He is always a joy to talk with during the show and a great source of information when I seem to fall short.

Joe Oliver has become a great friend over the years and his work is just phenomenal. One of the things that I like most about Joe, is that we have common interests and that seems to translate into the pieces that I like the most. This year I took a shot and picked up his sketch book that houses many of his great works, a couple of which I already own. Joe Oliver Sketch Creeps, a collection of black and white classic sketches from Joe, is a great collection of Joe’s artwork and a book that I am still in awe of since he has created so many great pieces of art.

​I have been in the presence of Joe Becker at many cons now, but this time I actually got a chance to talk with him and pick up some art. But this time I did not go for the prints, I saw the premiere issue of Ti**ies and Fangs and had to grab a copy. Being a pin-up book this may not be safe for the kiddies to look at, but the artwork enclosed is phenomenal. With works from so many local artists, it is great to see such a collaboration come to life and leave me thirsting for more.  I cannot wait to see what comes out in Volume Two, as it will blow your mind as it did to me. With so many other great pieces at his table, I cannot wait to make my next purchase from him.

I always have a good time at Denver Comic Con and one of the major reasons is that I get to see the same people year after year and one of these people is Jay Peteranetz. Doing the badge artwork for DCC last year, Jay was able to secure a booth right where he was sitting last year, so he was very easy to find.  As I mentioned on my artists to visit article, Jay is the artist behind the Magicians Must Die card set and I did end up with my own set this year around. When talking to the salesman, I was sold on Set #3, mainly because it has a flip book addition to it, along with the running comic on the back of the cards. If you have not seen Magicians Must Die yet, you need to check it out, it is a brilliant idea and with Jay doing the artwork, you know you cannot go wrong.

​Making sure to stop by Lewis Brown’s table to pick up his Joker/Harley print, I was lucky enough to get a glimpse of his new book, The Brown Hornet Omniverse. Just flipping through the pages, it was easy to see how much work went into bringing it to life. Doing every aspect of the book on his own, Lewis has done a great job putting it all together in such a short time. I cannot wait to get my hands on the book when it is officially released, especially since the art on the pages is great and the story has been on his mind for over a year.  

​I was lucky enough to be invited to sit with a group of artists on Saturday night after Denver Comic Con shut down.  While chatting, I got to see some of the artwork from Patrick Canter who has a style all of his own.  When stopping by his table and seeing more of his prints, I was blown away and had to pick up a couple.  Since I am a huge Joker fan, I found that his print of Villains of Gotham would feed my need for that, but all of the characters look great.  Also finding a cool Boba Fett, I think I made out like a bandit with a great sample of his work.  

I also spoke with Sal Galindo from CCP Comics who has a huge fan base that loves his Stitch characters dressed up as any superhero. But I found that I was more attracted to his Day of the Dead series of princesses as they are something different and I have not seen it before. With two really cool series that are growing, of course I had to pick up a Joker from Sal, since it is my goal to get at least one from every artist that I like. I cannot wait to see what Sal is able to come up with next, since his Day of the Dead series is phenomenal and something that needs to be checked out, even if you are not a fan of princesses.  

I then got to meet Skylar Patridge, who everyone in the group continuously raves about and after I saw a commission that she was working on of the Rocketeer, I could see why. Skylar is able to bring any piece she does to life with very minimal color, most of her best work is just black and white.  I was blown away when I stopped by her booth and looked through her originals and there is a Daredevil that I might need to invest in sometime in the future. I picked up a Nosferatu print because it seemed to speak to me from the wall and will have a commission coming my way soon, because I wanted to see what she is able to do with a character that is near and dear to my heart…Batman.  

My last stop of the show was to get a piece of artwork from Jeff Herndon, maybe for me, or maybe for a Father’s Day present, I am still not decided. This Indiana Jones piece had been speaking to me ever since I saw the first picture of it being completed and now a print has made its way into either mine or my father’s collection. I love following Jeff’s art page, especially since he gives progress shots on his works and what you see in the beginning is amazing, but the finished product is beyond mind blowing. It was nice to get a couple of seconds with Jeff this year, especially since his booth seemed to be kicking every time I walked by.

I also got a great piece from Todd Jones this year. It's been amazing watching Todd's talents grow over the past year ever since he started to do sketches. I love Skeletor and the story that goes along with him from Todd. I am happy to see Todd working on artwork and he said one thing that will stick in my mind for years to come, ‘writers should have to draw’. There is a story for this, but it can wait for another time. I hope to see more of Todd Jones’s artwork in years to come.
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There you have it, here is the artwork that I have picked up this year at Denver Comic Con. I think I made out like a bandit and got to meet and talk with so many great artists while walking up and down the rows.  This has to be one of my favorite recaps to write every year, mostly because I love artwork and will need to buy another house with massive walls to showcase everything that is in my growing collection.  I cannot wait to see what this awesome group will bring to the show next year, as they never stop working and it is great to see how they grow from year to year.  

Most of the time Sunday’s are the down day of the con as everyone is so tired from running around the previous couple of days, but not at Denver Comic Con this year. Although the opening line could not compare to Saturday, seeing people file in throughout the day, it appeared to be double the crowd from Friday. And with the appearances of Clark Gregg and Jeffrey Dean Morgan for one day only, it looked like everyone had their agenda set and were ready to move as they entered the convention center. 

Keeping an eye on Artist Valley, it was fun to see more and more people filter back to booths at the end of the rows, seeing that there were more artists waiting to be discovered. While several artists were working to get their commissions done before the final bell, they were more than willing to take a break and talk to their new fans.  As Artist Valley continued to fill up, it was also great to see Author Alley get plenty of looks, especially at the Barnes and Noble booth where they had been featuring big name authors all weekend long. 

As this is the day that I roam the halls a bit more than normal, I did notice that the weather did not stop any of the cosplayers from doing their thing. As I ran into a tall Groot, a taller Galactus and a massive Minotaur, it was apparent that nobody was letting the scorching hot temperatures keep them down. With more photos being taken of the cosplayers than I have ever seen, it is great to see that all of their hard work paid off for the weekend.

Every single con that we geeks attend with glee, has a certain feel and a certain atmosphere to it. You simply know what you're getting when you walk through the door and there's nothing wrong with that. After all, there's a reason we attend these events, because they evoke a certain memory or feeling.  

But is it entirely possible for a convention to reinvent itself out of the blue? Can a con create new feelings and new memories all in the span of a single year? The answer is yes, because Denver Comic Con managed to pull off such feats this past weekend and in the process make itself it a bigger and better convention and truthfully, I hadn't quite noticed the evolution of DCC until Saturday afternoon when I looked out at the endless rows of artist and vendor booths; all packed to the brim with smiling and happy attendees.  

That was of course the first real big change that I noticed for DCC this year, the fact that I have never seen it this busy, and with a preliminary number of 114,900 in attendance, I shouldn't be that surprised, but there was something incredible about seeing that many fans packed into one place, all of them searching for that perfect gift or collectible, or autograph because Celebrity Summit was equally as busy. I can't think of a celebrity guest line that wasn't spilling out onto the floor anytime I walked by, and while often times busy often results in frustration from attendees unable to get to where they need to go, that was another change I noticed for this year's show...it was extremely relaxed.

Yes, despite the fact that the con was in the midst of its busiest year to date, it was more or less entirely stress free. I knew where everything was, I knew exactly how and when to get there and in a way, the crowd energized the experience. Everywhere I turned there were giant smiles to be found as people took in the sights, marveled at amazing cosplays and the fact that no one else seemed rushed, or flustered only helped contribute to the relaxed atmosphere of the day and well, I think the credit for creating an environment such as this goes to the Denver Comic Con volunteers and staff because without them, none of this would be possible. Their tireless work and endless planning brought forth the final big change I noticed for the con this year; the fact that although this is only the fifth year of the show, this weekend it felt like it had been around for so much longer.

From the look of the show, to the knowledge of the people working it, you'd never know this was such a young con if you were a first year attendee and well, I have to say I'm impressed. When I got home Saturday, I felt excited and energized for Sunday and most importantly, I was in awe of the fact that a convention I have attended since day one could make these kinds of incredible leaps and bounds in such a short time and it only means that DCC 2017 and beyond...are only going to become all the more incredible. But before I get too far ahead of myself, there was still one day left of this amazing show to attend, and that's where we will pick up next time. Until then. 

Let's be honest folks, the wait for Denver Comic Con 2016 has been an absolutely excruciating one this year, for so many reasons. For starters, it is the biggest convention in the state of  Colorado, and one of the largest in the nation and there's something incredibly special about being able to attend such a premier show in my home state. 

But the anticipation for this convention goes beyond bragging rights, this year features the best line up of guests to date and judging from the map on the Pop Culture Classroom app, the biggest show floor the convention has ever utilized as well. It's simply going to be an incredible weekend, and thankfully the wait is finally over and Denver Comic Con 2016 is upon us at last. 

So what can we expect for the first day of DCC 2016? Well for one, it's going to be busy, with 101,500 in attendance last year I'll be shocked if that number doesn't increase again this year since DCC continues to grow at an exponential rate. So be prepared for a crowd filled to the brim with your fellow geeks and be prepared to have a lot of fun, and if it's your first time at the convention, my advice is to go slow on Friday and take the whole experience in. Walk the floor, get familiar with everything before diving in for something specific, so you don't get overwhelmed by rows and rows of vendors and incredible artists. 

As for some of the spots you definitely want to check out, start with the Pop Culture Classroom Lab if you're bringing your family to the con this weekend. You'll easily be able to spot this area on the con floor since it is clearly labeled and surrounded by activities and workshops for people of all ages. Your kids can learn and have fun with all kinds of crafts and activities available to them throughout the entire weekend and several of the artists in attendance will pop in from time to time to do workshops on art and if you're there at the right time, you can take part in a grand Denver Comic Con tradition...having a celebrity guest pop in to read to all the children hanging out in the PCC Corral. 

If you're looking to check out incredible cosplay, you'll find plenty of that all over the con but the fact of the matter is, the main lobby just beneath the blue bear is where you'll find the costumes you're looking for. Cosplayers will be on hand by the dozens to show off their hard work and pose for photographs and it's not uncommon to see a group of cosplayers dressed from the same fandom help create an impromptu photoshoot. Just be sure to remember to politely ask if a cosplayer is okay with having their picture taken, because cosplay alone is not consent and DCC is all about respect. 

The last thing to see on Friday, and a great way to end the day is by attending Opening Ceremonies. This year the event will be held in the Bellco Theater/Main Events area but this is always a great way to kick off the convention. It's an evening filled with incredible guest speakers and this year looks to add another wrinkle to the fold with some celebrity guests popping up on stage...and so much more. Either way, there is going to be plenty to see and do today and I can't wait to see all of your smiling faces throughout the day because Denver Comic Con 2016 is here at last everybody! ​

If you want to find me at Denver Comic Con, it is a sure bet that you will find me hanging around Artist Valley, it is always where I am hiding. With so many talented artists coming, it is easy to make a list of some favorites that you want to check out. I always have a list of a couple of artists that I make sure to catch first thing when I get to the show, just to make sure I don’t get caught up in the long lines, or for fear of them selling out before I get a chance to buy something.
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Allen Bellman has become a standard on my purchasing list, why you may ask, well he has a fantastic pen and brought Captain America to life. Being in the industry for over seventy years, he is still going strong and his new drawings are just as good as the ones he made back when he was starting out. He is a joy to talk to and he is always happy to answer any questions you have about the character. Don’t forget to get a photo with him as well, one thing Allen is extremely good at is getting you to do the Captain America pose. 

J. Scott Campbell is another good one to check out as he is becoming a staple for the con. Creating some of the most iconic covers for Marvel over the years, his work blows everyone away and is a must have autograph for the true comic book lover. His line is always long, so make sure to get there quickly to get something signed, or possibly a quick sketch by one of the all-time greats.

​Arthur Suydam is great if you are into all things Zombie as he is the Marvel Zombie King. I think I have one of every print that he brings since I love the genre so much. This is a man that has stories to tell, if you get a chance to talk with him one on one, you will be blown away by what he has done, even before joining the art industry.

And of course Stan Lee, the man that was able to kick start Marvel back up. This is a huge announcement for Denver Comic Con since he was supposed to be an honored guest in 2013 but had to cancel for scheduling reasons. I know this line will be nuts from the moment the doors open, so if you are only going to be there for one day, you might want to be in his line first thing since it will never shorten during the show.

With all of the big names that are coming from out of town, it is easy to forget about the local artists that will be in attendance.  These are the people that make the con a great place to visit since you never know what you will be finding on their tables.  So here are just a few that I know and own a piece or two of their artwork that will never be taken from my collection.
 
Alex Miller – Just completed a sweet Star Wars piece with the new cast from Episode 7, including BB-8.

Jay Peteranetz – I love Jay’s work and he did the badges for DCC last year.  If you stop by, make sure to check out his Magician’s Must Die cards.

Jeff Herndon – Every time I look up, Jeff has a new piece that is better than the last. It is hard to walk away from his table empty handed.

Joe Becker – I know Joe has a new Captain Deadpool piece which is fantastic, but he is also working on a new comic Ti**ies and Fangs that will make its appearance at DCC.

Joe Oliver – Joe has been quiet on the Facebook recently, but he has a box of awesomeness on the table at all times.  You never know what you will find in there, but I guarantee you will be blown away.

Lewis Brown – Should have a new book to bring to the show, but I really want his newest Joker/Harley print.

Meents Illustrated – Tykes, tykes and more tykes!  You have got to love them!

Pink Havok – Blake Henriksen’s art is fantastic and spans so many genres, he has something for everyone.

Robert Elrod – I have too much of his artwork, I think I am a fan.  Robert’s artwork has gotten better with age, he must be a wine or something.

Serna Illustration – The man who did the Snape-Ricot artwork for the DCC beer.  But he has much more than that on his table.

Todd Jones and Lee Oaks! – Todd may not be a crazy artist yet, but after the tips he got last year, I bet he will have some pieces that will turn some heads.  Lee Oaks is great and has done the DCC badges before and should have some great sketches to get your heart beating.

​There you have it, some of the great artists that will be attending Denver Comic Con this year.  I know I have left off so many, but there are...so many.  Make sure to walk up and down Artist Valley more than once as they are always working and coming up with new pieces during the show. You never know, you might be able to get a sweet one of a kind sketch catered to your liking as they are always happy to make your dreams come true.  Look forward to seeing you all at Denver Comic Con!

As the days continue to pass by and the Denver Comic Con is only a few days away, why not start to get excited about some of the guests that will be appearing this year.  Why not look at some of my favorite movie and television stars that will be in attendance this year.  Since there are no big name horror stars this year, I thought there would not be much for me, but as always, Denver Comic Con has given us some great names in the industry and a few of them I am quite happy to see on the docket. 
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Ralph Macchio – That’s right, the freaking Karate Kid will be in attendance this year and this would have to be one of my favorite announcements of all time. Kids of my generation have been mimicking him for years with the ‘illegal’ crane kick to ‘wax on, wax off’.  Being and idol for a generation, Macchio has also played in more roles than you can shack a stick at, but my favorite has to be in My Cousin Vinny when he has to depend on his cousin to keep him out of jail for murder.

Lena Headey – Cersei Lannister from our favorite, Game of Thrones.  I must admit that I love how she has been able to take over this role and make it her own.  With so much hatred for her, it shows that she is doing a great job and is a fantastic actress.  There would be so many questions I would love to ask her about the show, but I would probably just ring the bell of shame and admire the scowl that she would shoot my way.

Clark Gregg – Agent Coulson himself and this has to be a favorite for so many people for all of his work on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the few Marvel movies he has been a part of, hopefully he comes back to those since he is alive.  But if I got a chance to talk with him, I would be more interested in his work on a little Joss Whedon movie called Much Ado About Nothing. Being a featured role in a classic Shakespeare story that everyone has had to read at one time or another, it would be great to hear the stories about what went on on set, along with how hard it was to hold the accents.

John Rhys-Davies – Being a child of the eighties and loving Indiana Jones movies, I always had a soft spot for Sallah who was able to help his buddy Indy more often than not. One of the most entertaining actors from the generation that is still working to this day. If I had a bucket list, having drinks with John would defiantly be on it. He has seen the film industry grow and decline over the years, worked with so many other amazing actors and made a name for himself along the way. The stories that he could tell would blow your mind, I guarantee it.

 ​Cary Elwes – Westley from The Princess Bride, it is difficult to find a better movie out there and one of the reasons why is Elwes. Although he has been in many more roles over the years, it is hard to find one that is more quoted, maybe Robin Hood: Men in Tights, but it would be close. I hope I don’t jinx it again, since he was on the slate last year as well and canceled, but hey, it is only a few days away and he is one of the guests I am most excited to meet. I hope he brings his book to sign this year, As You Wish, since he is very proud of his work on it and his iconic role from the Princess Bride has helped to skyrocket him to the star he is today.

​Jeffrey Dean Morgan - You know, truthfully I stopped watching The Walking Dead a long time ago. It's got zombies going for it and I respect that and I love a good zombie story as much as the next guy, but I personally had some issues with the way they told the story. But, with Jeffrey Dean Morgan joining the show, I may have to give it another chance. He's just an incredible actor and my personal favorite when it comes to what he has done so far was his role as Clay in The Losers. Love the fact that he's coming to DCC on such short notice and if he has a 8x10 of Clay at his table, might need to step in line and have him sign one for me. 

I know I have left several people off of my list, but it is my list and not everybody has made a crazy impression on me, yet. All off the guests are fantastic and every year when you get to meet one, you are blown away by how down to earth they really are. Make sure to have your wallet stuffed if you're planning to get autographs at the con since it's cash only when you get there, but it is worth it to meet some of the people that have captured your imagination on the big and small screens and a make a new memory that you will never forget.