NEW YORK (APRIL 4, 2018) – Kids Comic Con (KCC), the children’s outreach initiative now in its 12th year, is thrilled to announce new guests added to the roster for its April 21st flagship event. The fun and excitement happens on Saturday, April 21 at the Bronx Community College from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
RAINBOW RANGERS: ONE WORLD! is this year’s theme. It’s all about diversity… how people from any background can make comics or stories or art about anything… and the latest guests reflect this eclectic approach. Among them:
- Jimmy Jeffreys – born without legs, Jimmy has created a comic about his life experiences called Adventures with Ted, appearing in Amplitude magazine… and Jimmy will be talking about his life and experiences in a very special presentation at KCC.
- Michael Markman – author of two children’s books, The Path an adventure in African history; and Surviving The Storm—the story of how a family survived a storm by utilizing survival skills from past generations, based on his own family’s experience with Hurricane Sandy.
- Denny Daniels – the curator-creator of The Museum of Interesting Things, Denny will demonstrate vintage toys and gadgets while relating their history in entertaining fashion… and inviting attendees to play along!
- Juan Espinosa – taking a cue from Harvey Pekar, Juan shows how a person’s everyday life can make the basis for a great comic series, with Adventures of a System Admin.
- Christian Zabriskie – the founder of Urban Librarians Unite, Christian is one of America’s most vocal champions for the cause of comics.
- Gary Fields – a journeyman cartoonist, Gary has worked on iconic characters including Scooby Doo, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, SpongeBob SquarePants, Cartoon Network Comics and more!
- Mark Mariano – Moonbeam award-winning children’s book and comics writer-artist, Adventure Time, Claire Lost Her Bear at the World’s Fair, Happyloo, Flabbergast
- John Hudak – creative photographer whose ToyclickNY project inventively stages toys and action figures in story poses.
- James Wojtal – puppeteer and puppet designer – Sesame Street, Bear in the Big Blue House, The Smurfs.
- Nadia Burgess — painter, illustrator, filmmaker, cartoonist, multimedia artist, and cake artist, Tough Spirits Creations
- Ray Felix – writer-artist, Bronx Heroes, Enter: the Roach, A World without Superheroes
- Greg Anderson-Elysee – Brooklyn-born Haitian-American writer, film-maker, model, and teacher. Curator of the (Heard It Thru) The Griotvine column showcasing diverse comics creators. Writer-creator of Is’nana the Were-Spider
- Steiner Palomino – comics writer/artist, animator, creator of New Era G
- Elizabeth Sheehan – graphic designer
- Ellen Stedfeld – Ellesaur Arts – interactive comics
In addition to all the new guests, Kids’ Comic Con is welcoming all attendees to take part in a costume contest on the main stage! And it’s all part of what will be an awe-inspiring day packed full of comics creators, children’s entertainers and activities including:
- Alex Simmons (KCC founder, playwright, comics writer: Archie, Tarzan, Scooby Doo, Blackjack)
- Tim Fielder (cartoonist, illustrator, animator: Sesame Street, Marvel, Matty’s Rocket)
- Phyllis Novin (comics artist: Simpsons, Sonic the Hedgehog, Superboy)
- Jim Salicrup (writer-editor, Papercutz, Marvel Comics, Topps Comics)
- Mike Lopez (writer/co-creator of Life’s a Beach, educator, founder of the Comics’ Clubhouse outreach)
- Rich Drezen (comics writer-artist, animator: Luckyzilla)
- Gene Adams (educator, author, creator of children’s outreach initiatives)
- Steve Conte (writer-artist/co-creator: Action Figure Kingdom)
- Emilio Velez (writer-artist/co-creator The Dodgeball Teens)
- East Coast Avengers: your favorite costumed superhero characters!
- The Emerald Knights: performing light saber duels, displaying custom light sabers, and inviting children to interact and join in on the fun!
- The Lair: the Bronx’s premiere comics and gaming store , back again this year with role-playing card game tournaments featuring Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokemon and Magic, the Gathering. The fun-for-all-ages competition is open to various player levels. The Lair will also have plenty of supplies on hand for KCC attendees to stock up on all their gaming needs.
The fun and learning extends beyond the Kids’ Comic Con event… aspiring comics creators can find “KCC Creative Artist Tips for Young Artists” on the official Kids’ Comic Con Facebook page (www.facebook.com/KidsComicCon) as well as on YouTube (https://youtu.be/Mpx7LHIMcpU).
“Kids’ Comic Con has always been about two things: inclusion and imagination,” declared KCC founder Alex Simmons. “Now more than ever, kids need to see examples of how they can work together no matter what their backgrounds, and what better way to show this than by celebrating one of the most collaborative and creative arts of all – comics!”
Exhibitors interested in leading workshops, panels or lectures can submit their ideas to KCC founder, Alex Simmons for his review at Alex@KidsComicCon.com.
The 2018 KIDS COMIC CON is set for April 21 at Bronx Community College, 181st Street and University Avenue, Bronx, NY from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Up-to-the-moment updates on additional programming and guests for KCC RAINBOW RANGERS: ONE WORLD can be found on our main site (www.KidsComicCon.con) as well as our Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/KidsComicCon
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