KC Mini Con for local comic book creators creates a talent showcase | Opinion
My research tells me that the first all-Black-created comic book in the United States was a single-issue anthology featuring private eye Ace Harlem and Lion Man, who was widely considered the first Black superhero. That was in 1947.
It would be more than 20 years, the 1970s, before we saw comics feature several Black superheroes — Luke Cage/Power Man, John Stewart/Green Lantern, Misty Knight and Black Lightning — emerge in the mainstream DC or Marvel comics sphere.
Of course, Black Panther first appeared in the comic book pages in the Fantastic Four series created by Stan Lee. He debuted in 1966, headlined a solo story in 1973, and got his own comic series four years later.
And then, as most people know, in 2018, the movie “Black Panther,” directed by Ryan Coogler, became the first superhero film ever nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award.
It also became the highest-grossing film directed by a Black filmmaker, pulling in more than $1.3 billion worldwide. So, yeah, it pays to draw a Black superhero.
Today, there’s a boom in popular comic books created by Black writers and artists across the country. In fact and of course, Kansas City has a share of those creators contributing to the mix.
I’m most familiar with Black Spartans Manga, because that series was created by one of The Star’s regular sources, Brandon Calloway, founder of G.I.F.T., a nonprofit supporting Black businesses in Kansas City.
I’m not a comic book reader, although I was pretty into “Dennis the Menace” and “Archie” comics as a kid, and my two sons read a lot of graphic novels, manga and anime as teens — they probably still do.
But my curiosity about the industry, particularly Black contributions to it and the Kansas City area’s place in that, was sparked after I attended the Heartland Mini Con event here last weekend.
Now, it wasn’t calling on national creators, but rather was held to give some local creators a chance to be seen.
Calloway, as a comic book creator and small-business promoter, pulled together Saturday’s event.
He said that when Planet Comicon comes to town with its big-time celebrities, major creators, publishers and distributors, the smaller, local guys often get overlooked or lost in the bigness of the convention. Calloway said he wanted to allow local writers, artists and cosplay enthusiasts an opportunity to shine on their home turf.
The event was held at Equal Minded Cafe on Troost Avenue and included not only writers and artists pushing their comic books, but also a few jewelry makers, along with costume and dice designers.
The event reflected the charm of Kansas City, a bit of everything, on a small scale — really manageable, at a venue where comic book and cosplay lovers could discover something new that they wouldn’t find anywhere else.
Calloway, who publishes the “Black Spartans” manga under his brand Blerd Manga, the publishing arm of his company Blerd Manga Group, told Star reporter J.M. Banks: “When I’m doing comics with Blerd Manga, people are surprised that there is an indie comic publisher here in Kansas City. And I’m not the only one. There are a bunch of us.”
My son, 29, met me at the event because, as I said, this stuff is right up his alley. He proudly admits to being a Blerd — a Black nerd. He said that initially, he hesitated about going: “ I was afraid all it was going to be was a bunch of nerds in bargain-bin costumes. But it wasn’t that at all. It was a creator’s showcase. I was glad to be there, proud to be a Kansas City Blerd, and I hope they do another one soon.”
Calloway said he’s planning another for sometime in November, because the Saturday event turned out so well.
He said that about 200 people attended and all vendors reported selling more books there than they had at bigger Planet Comicon events.
“I had people come up to me just to give me a heartfelt thank you, because this was their first comic con experience, and they were comfortable attending because it was in an environment that wasn’t overwhelming,” Calloway said. And the coffee shop did good business too. “I would say it was a pretty big success.”
While we wait for the Fall event, maybe the rest of us non-nerds might consider checking out this mini gathering of comic creators.
I’ll tell you, in case you haven’t opened a comic lately, the stories are good, and the artwork is fantastic. Who knows, we might have the next Stan Lee, one of the most famous and prolific comic book creators in history, right here in our city.
Off The Vine
Below are stories about culture and identity from communities in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Go here to find more from Star reporter J.M. Banks.
- One of Kansas City’s most popular Vietnamese coffee shops, Café Cà Phê, is partnering with a sister spot, Hella Good Deeds, to grow Asian culture in the city beyond festivals and community gatherings. Banks writes about their vision for a permanent infrastructure for Kansas City’s Asian community.
- A business that had spent years moving between pop-up locations across Kansas City finally opens in a permanent brick-and-mortar spot in the Columbus Park section of Kansas City. Banks talked to owners who described the new cocktail bar.
Around The Vine
- Kansas City can celebrate Juneteenth at KC Jazz in the Garden with live jazz and food, hosted by Global One Urban Farming Community Garden at 3 p.m. June 6, at 4409 Cypress Ave., Kansas City.
- Then hold on to your guts laughing at the KC Black Comedian Crown, a comedy competition from 7:30-9 p.m. on June 19 at The Bird Comedy Theater, 103 W. 19th St., Kansas City. The show benefits The Walker Foundation, a nonprofit that provides free custom wigs, hair education and grooming services to children facing hair loss from medical conditions.
Vine Picks
A historic Kansas City landmark with close ties to the city’s civil rights era and Freedom, Inc., the influential Black political organization, went up in flames on Monday. Star reporter Robert A. Cronkleton covered the blaze and David Hudnall wrote about the history of the tavern and what happened.
Missouri lawmakers cut money for Dolly Parton’s reading program designed to give free books to poor kids and others. Do our legislators know the value of child literacy?
Kansas City officials are still trying to get Costco to reconsider its proposal to convert the Midtown Kansas City warehouse grocery store into a business center. What might change?
Your voice matters to us. What local issues do you want to hear discussed in On The Vine? Let me, Mará Rose Williams, The Star’s senior opinion columnist, know directly at mdwilliams@kcstar.com. Thank you for reading. Support our local journalists with a subscription.
