I was all-out nerd at Lake Superior College today, where the Erickson Library hosted LibraryCon.
LSC had announced it was “excited to offer a day-long celebration of fandom-beloved stories and characters, featuring the creators behind mind-bending speculative fiction, innovative comics, and fan-favorite graphic novels.”
The con was supported by publishers — from Random House to DC Comics — celebrating comics and young-adult literature. In my many, many years loving comics, I have never seen so much youth and diversity in comics creators. Speakers included:
- Natasha Alterici, Heathen, Vol. 2 (Diamond)
- Hannah Templer, Cosmoknights; GLOW vs. the Star Primas (Top Shelf/IDW)
- Brandon Thomas, Excellence, Vol. 1 (Image)
- Sherry Thomas, The Magnolia Sword: A Ballad of Mulan (Lee & Low)
- Henry Barajas, La Voz de M.A.Y.O Tata Rambo (Image Comics)
- Drew Brockington, “CatStronauts” series; Hangry (Little, Brown)
- Will Henry, Snug Harbor Stories: A Wallace the Brave Collection (Andrews McMeel)
- Lucy Knisley, Stepping Stones (RHC)
- Sarah Kuhn, Shadow of the Batgirl (DC)
- Christine Taylor-Butler, The Lost Tribe: Trials (Move)
- Jen Wang, Stargazing (Macmillan)
Maybe the “youth” part of that is mostly indicative of my age. Even local creators, like John Hoban, look young to me. (John’s comic, Apocalypse City, recently released a new issue.)
Thanks to LSC for hosting, thanks to the fans who attended, too, including a brief visit from a Dean at LSC.