THE ANNUAL BLACK AGE OF COMICS CONVENTION

OCTOBER 5th and 6th 2007

The month of May 2007 saw an explosion in

Black Age celebrations and expressions.

Professor William Foster organized an exhibition at the Museum of Cartoon and Comic Art in New York. John Jennings and Damian Duffy's exhibition OH: Other Heroes at Jackson State University in Mississippi is being extended through the summer. In Philadelphia PASCEP is presenting the 6th East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention along with the 2nd Annual Glyph Awards Program. In Chicago Turtel Onli was a presenter at the Thurgood Marshall Public Library with the Say It Loud! Youth Reading Advocacy organization and gave away autographed copies of Educate or Die and Cassandra Washington's Grammar Patrol. Plus The UVC, Urban Voice in Comics , Magazine launched its number two issue which featured the likes of Kyle Baker and Ashley A. Woods outstanding works.

ZOOOOM!

Surf this entire blog for exciting Black Age news, history, & facts.....

Enlarge images by clicking on them.....

HOLIDAY GIVING STARTS IN THE BLACK AGE...
Your friends, relatives, and loved ones will appreciate receiving the books on this site as gifts during the holidays. Graphic Novels and comic books make ideal gifts for folks of all ages. Plus the collector resale value, low initial costs, innovative concepts, and easy gift wrapping adds to their appeal as unique gift items.

You have got to add these to your collections. The artwork and writing
on these titles is amazing. You can find them at comic book stores or online via
an Internet search. They are part of a very independent movement in Graphic
Novelizing and Comic Book creation. Grafenveer by Wayne Sanders & Christian St. Pierre from Smash! Comics www.smashcomics.ca

No collection is complete without serious representation from the Masters of the Black Age. Dreadlocks by Andre Batts, Damon Anderson, Abdul Q. Haqq, Khaylil B. Niah, & Orlando Brock for Urban Style Comics of Detroit Michigan.

GALTOW by Robert Garrett & Patrick David of Xmoor Studios. www.xmoorstudios.com

You can find a lot of these titles on www.comixpress.com, www.lulu.com, and through direct title searches. For a virtual art lesson check out the Curriculum Website created with support from the University of Chicago called the Rhythmistic Museum at www.cuip.net/~tonli/wit2002/.

FUTURE FUNK will make its return in the summer of 2007. It will cover the best of the Black Age along with independent creativity.

BRAIN FOOD!
Visual literacy and higher ordered thinking skills are enhanced by reading graphic novels and comic books. The bigger the collection the brighter the brain!!!

You can buy the following books at the internet site at www.comixpress.com.

They will happily take your credit cards. But if you are looking for a store situation the following books are available in Chicago at the GRAHAM CRACKERS Store which specializes in graphic novels, Manga, fantasy, sci-fi, and comic-books. Not to mention related products. The Chicago address is at 77 East MAdison Ave. near the Art Institute Museum.


Onli Studios has published this graphic novel to celebrate its 25th year in the industry. It features three reprinted stories from the classic era of the Black Age,( the early ''90s ) and a never before published color vignette. It is so cool to rediscover the origins of Malcolm-10, Sustah-Girl, and NOG. This will be a collector's treat from www.comixpress.com. Onli Studios can be reached at Multiglobe@aol.com or onli@sbcglobal.net. You can see more of Onli's artwork at www.onli.blogspot.com. TEAM BLANGA carries a modest $10.00 cover price, credit cards accepted. It is available in Chicago at Quimby's Bookstore at 1854 West North Ave in the Wicker Park area. www.quimby's.com for creative independent art related publications of all types.



You can check out this book and its creator at www.Ashley-Woods.com. Ashley is a seriously creative Chicago based wunderkind. This book will let you know how the war between humans and elves really got started.


Ashley was gracious enuff to be a guest at the table of ONLI STUDIOS in the Artists' Alley section of the Chicago Wizard World Convention.

Be sure to collect and share as many Black Age and independent products as you can.

Click on this image to enlarge it to
read the details. The above call for
entries is for a Black Age themed
showcase that is presented by
www.EyeTrauma.net.
This show will be in Jackson State
University, April 2007.
We got ourselves a movement!!!

2007 Annual

Black Age of Comics Convention Chicago

Artist Exhibition's

CALL FOR ENTRIES:
We are starting out early for the biggest Black Age event yet. Artists of all ages are being asked to contribute original art for next year's themed exhibition. The details are as follows.

Title: THE BLACKER THE HERO

When: Oct. 2007
Concept: Visual interpretations of Black Age characters that were created by artists or writers of African descent. Sorry, but no Black Panther, Storm, Blade, Black Lightning, or Luke Cage. You can not draw your own character. These must be previously published characters. No unpublished characters will be accepted. You may want to use the online site called the Museum of Black Super Heroes or the Milestone Media site as a resource.

Process: This is an open show with no jury on a first come, first shown basis. However pornography and insulting bad taste will not be permitted. Should you decide to participate in this amazing gallery show make sure you title the work with the correctly spelled name of the character along with its copyright or trademark information properly indicated. You must include the name of the character's creator and the title of the book it was featured in along with this information. We will create lables based on this information. This is a show of original illustrations in all mediums.

Prizes: Awards will be given out to artists for technique, style, and impact. The opening to the exhibition will be web cast and made available on DVD.

Sizes: No work should be smaller than 11" X 18" nor larger than 30" X 40". All work should come in suitible for gallery hanging. Simple frames under plexiglass or images dry mounted to foam core with eyelets will do.

This blog will have additional information in the future dealing with fees, insurance, and shipping instructions. Or write Onli@sbcglobal.net

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Yumy Odom, the founder of the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention presenting Turtel Onli with a 2006 Pioneer Award for Lifetime Achievement and dubbing him "The Father of the Black Age of Comics." Unfortunately the other Pioneer Award recipient, Tony Tallarico could not make it.

Rich Watson is the creator of the Glyph Awards saluting excellence
and creativity in the Black Age of Comics.
Carla will create a Black Age of Comics quilt to be sold as a fundraiser at next year's ECBACC. We will be fighting over that quilt!






For the Chicago Black Age of Comics Convention Jennifer Hitt and Alanni Duenas created our logo tag and interpretations of it as three murals and T-shirts. Pictured wearing the Black Age logo Tees are Ashley Woods, Onli, and Jenn Hitt. This was a collector’s dream come true.

In photo: Ken, Ashley, Adam, Brian, photo by Lenze.
The 9th Annual Black Age of Comics Convention
Presented by Onli Studios Feb. 17th to the 19th at the South Side Community Art Center of Chicago.

(photo by:Alanni Duenas)

Onli Studios produced its 9th Annual Black Age of Comics Convention. Its opening reception attracted over 500 fans and supporters. The opening featured the “Sistahs on Narcissa” panel discussion of the graphic novel of the same name by Black Age great, Lance Tooks. This was a well received and attended feature. Brothas got a lesson that night. This night was featured on the Bronzeville Arts District Trolley Tour.

After seeing more traditional forms of Black fine art, on the tour many people were pleasantly impressed to see the Black Age of Comics Gallery exhibition. This show featured mounted or framed works from Milestone Media,Kiss Me Comix, Seitu Haden, Tim Jackson, John McClellan, Yaounde’ Olu, Pedro Bell, Eugene Mitchell, and Turtel Onli. It included a special section of works and biographies of African American cartoonists and illustrators whose works were carried or syndicated in the Black Press prior to 1965. Local and nationally affiliated press representatives and arts critics were feverishly trying to interview the artists on hand and to intellectually process the exhibition.





Our traffic flow included people of all ages, races, and income-educational levels. The mood was encouraging and wonderfully positive throughout the entire convention which featured vendors, workshops, net working, collecting, and celebration. Black Age collectors were making their presence felt by buying a variety of products form everyone. Among the vendors were LaMorris Richmond, Ernst Posey, Nino Mesarina, Kiss Me Comix, Uniphysics, Ken Ray, Yaounde’ Olu, Billy L. Henderson, and Turtel Onli.





Ashley Woods was the featured hostess. She was exciting while auctioning off the Static Shock books donated by Dwayne McDuffie.



Despite sub zero weather numerous fans flowed through the convention during the three day celebration. Coincidentally the Chicago Association of African American Photographers and the Chicago After School Matters Program were having their regularly scheduled events at the Art center while we were convening. This added more love and energy to the entire weekend.

In closing the “Sistahs On Narcissa” wants to meet Lance Tooks at some point. They have an assortment of insights and questions for him. We are currently in the process of editing a DVD on it. Each vendor and exhibitor enthusiastically stated they would participate in next year’s convention. Mile, Faheem, Howard, and Diane of the South Side Community Art Center were positive, supportive, gracious, and creative. We could not do this without them and their unique skills. They would like to have us back for another year. Now we are laying plans for next years 10th Annual Black Age of Comics Convention. The first one was given 15 years ago. A lot has happened since the term was coined. “The Black Age of Comics” refers to materials created or derived from the Black or African experience. We are living and creating in the Black Age. Our quest for more market share continues.

John Jennings, the creator of "Urban Kreep" and www.EyeTrauma.net and Prof. Bill Foster, who wrote "Looking For A Face Like Mine" were among the many Black Age living treasures available at ECBACC this year. Another reason to attend the Black Age of Comics Convention in Chicago or the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention in Philadelphia. They are two very important events in this most crucial of visual and literary arts movements.
Eric Battle and Jerry Craft having a positive exchange during ECBACC. Eric is a very talented mainstream illustrator for the likes of Milestone Media, DC and Marvel to name a few while Jerry is the creator of the syndicated "Mama's Boyz....as American as Sweet Potato Pie" comic strip.
Here we have Sam Joyner, a recipient of the Pioneer's Award in 2005 at ECBACC talking with the new hot Black Age Artist , Jamal Igle, who draws DC's "Firestorm" among other things. This was a meeting of great talents and minds sharing in creativity and excellence.
Bro.G, the creator of "MEMNON" was on hand with his title, input, and resourcefulness at ECBACC. He is a longtime Black Age master of creativity, writing and research.




This Black Age tag was created by Reggie. She is a talented student at the Kenwood Academy High School in Chicago and works part time at the Children's Museum of Chicago. This tag and a few other versions were available at the convention as T-Shirts.

She writes, "Working for someone is great, even when you are doing your own art-work for them. Knowing that they are not wanting it because it looks cool but because they believe in you and know you are talented.

"Da Black Age" was the first tag that I have ever done for someone and I 'm glad that it went to Mr. Onli. I feel very good that I was successful with this piece. It was totally awesome to work with Mr. Onli and to work with him in the future."

Milestone landed!!!! You couldn't find them at most stores. You couldn't buy them in most places. But due to the generousity of Dwayne McDuffie we offered a few Static-Shock graphic novels and comic books as raffle prizes to our lucky guests. Milestone has been a supporter of the Black Age of Comics Convention from the start. McDuffie is the most prolific writer/producer in the Black Age and sometimes his subtle brilliance is overlooked. With titles like Rebirth of the Cool or Souls of Cyber Folks his cultural nuances speak loudly and intelligently.





TEAM BLANGA is a new graphic novel from Onli Studios due to hit this Spring. It features re-print origins and a new vignette featuring Malcolm-10 in Africa. Scroll down to get more info.
How Black is your collection????

Here is Black Age great Seitu Haydon
promoting a title.

What is the Candyman doing with Robert of Kiss Me Comix???


Here is the crew of Kiss Me Comix. Rob, Barb, & Rod will be making their second appearance at the Black Age Convention. They are a creative team that produces some very captivating material. Charming too.

Collectors are what collectors do....COLLECT! Surely your stash includes this book by Dwayne McDuffie and the Milestone Media crew??? Word is that autographed copies of Static, the graphic novel Static Shock, and some other Milestone product will be available at the Black Age Convention. McDuffie and Milestone have been supporters of the Black Age of Comics Convention from the start.

The talented, youthful, energetic, hardworking, prolific, wunderkind illustrator and Black Age neophite Ms Ashley Woods was one of the hostesses at the 9th Annual Black Age Convention in Chicago. Her book Millennia War is destined to be a hit. www.ashley-woods.com

Nino and Onli. Nino and the Unbelievable Launsry Detergent Man are looking toward the Latino Age Of Comics Movement at some point in the future. One great turn desreves another!!!! Meanwhile he and his crew were a hit with us and our crowds.
This is a photo from a Black Age Convention ten years ago. A blast form the past!!!

Our's is an art driven creative medium. No movement can be for real without it's masters, geniuses, and amazing talents. These are people who set new terms and expand the territory. Or some who are just always seriously raw. Skilled. Talented. Precise. One such master in the Black Age is Mshindo Kuumba I. He has been a New York based force in illustration and fine art. You should collect his early work on Electro-X and Femme Fatale. Now you can get his work in the Dominion line of graphic novels called Fusion.

Look at this!!!! See what happens to folks who miss out on the Black Age of Comics Conventions in Philadelphia or Chicago. You would need to be at one of them.....soon.

The Marwen Foundation has a variety of creative classes for young students from 6th grade until the 12th grade free of charge. It is based in downtown Chicago in the high end gallery district. The classes include Cartooning, Digital Animation, Photography, Ceramics, and Painting. Black Age visionary, Turtel Onli is a current member of Marwen's Advisory Board and was one of the first teaching artists to work there. Many dedicated young artists have been through is programs.
Call (312) 944-2418 EX. 211 to arrange a visit or to sign up for new student orientation.

This publication is created by the talented and hardworking students of the Kenwood Academy of Chicago IL. It presents original photos, images, poems, and other literary expressions created by some seriouly raw students. This is a high school program under the direction of Ben Jaffe. He is a digital-painter/graphic artist/teacher/coach and mentor based in Chicago. Plus he is very world traveled. These gifted students were at the Black Age of Comics convention in February 2006 promoting and selling their books, MATRIX,....for all that it is worth. The energy just kept getting better.

The Black Age of Comics was written about in the Comics Journal #160 along with tributes and interviews with some of the most innovative artists and writers creating the fire in the movement. This issue is so hard to find today. If you really want to get up on the history of the Black Age you need to contact Fantagraphics Publishing to secure this crucial back issue.

Plus you should check out the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention in May in Philadelphia or the The Annual Black Age of Comics Convention in Feb. in Chicago. This blog encourages your responses and particpation.