The Latinx Comic Arts Festival is the California Central Valley’s international celebration of Latinx comic arts creators and friends, highlighting Latinx cartoonists, writers, animators, artists, and comic arts educators. Founded by Dr. Theresa Rojas, the festival will again take place virtually on Friday, March 12, and Saturday 13, 2021, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m./PT with a virtual Artist Alley, as well as an incredible lineup of programming via the festival’s YouTube channel! The full panel schedule has been announced and is listed below. The Fanbase Press staff is very excited to be participating alongside a number of other talented independent creators!
PROGRAMMING
FRIDAY
11:00 a.m. Mesoamerican Comics
Daniel Parada (Moderator), Dustin Garcia, Louise Fogerty, Daron Antonio Smith
Interlinking Mesoamerican comics traditions of the pre-Columbian past with modern comics, this panel demonstrates the ancient traditions of comics in America and offers examples of the incorporation of themes, ideas, and comic conventions. The panel includes a heavy emphasis on how research influences panelists’ work.
12:00 p.m. Punk Feminism: Feminist Zines of Latin America and their Diaspora
Sharon De La Cruz (Moderator), Stephanie Aliaga Draizys, Julia Valencia, Breena Nuñez
A zine is a small-circulation self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images, usually reproduced via a photocopier, and is the product of either a single person or of a very small group. In this session, we will explore how the medium of zines continues to nourish the punk feminist scene in Latin America and its diaspora in the United States. Panelists will present their work and speak to how zines influenced their understanding of feminism, the differences and similarities between the medium in the U.S. and Latin America, archiving zines, and the future of punk feminism.
1:00 p.m. Borderland Cryptids and Legends: La Llorona, Chupacabras, La lechuza, and More!
Ray Ramos (Moderator), Francisco Arce, Oliver Lee Arce, Javier Gutierrez
Cryptids are beings that exist without scientific evidence. Cryptozoologist, Ray Ramos leads this discussion on the effects that cryptids such as La Llorona have on our culture and the way that the mythologies of the Latinx community and beyond are interpreted and represented in comics and mainstream media…for better and for worse.
2:00 p.m. Virtual Gallery Walk
Dr. Theresa Rojas (Moderator), Professor Laura Manzo
Experience the first-ever Latinx Comic Arts Expo virtual art gallery as led by festival founder Dr. Theresa Rojas and Professor Laura Manzo.
3:00 p.m. Comics and Pandemic Futures (pre-recorded)
Justin Rueff (Moderator), Dr. Fernanda Díaz-Basteris, Javier Hernandez, Carlos “Loso” Perez
This panel discusses how the pandemic has affected the way creators and comic arts educators approach their work. They address questions of motivation, staying connected, re-mixing ideas, innovation, and change. What lessons and opportunities has the pandemic brought and what do these panelists see for the future of comic arts in changing times?
4:00 p.m. Storytelling Across Mediums (I) with Professor LatinX (pre-recorded)
Dr. Frederick Luis Aldama (Moderator), Jaime Crespo, Carlo A. Flores, Candy Briones, Alex Schumacher
In this first of two features about how comics creation translates into working across media/iums, panelists discuss engaging audiences well beyond comic books. These creators share their cultural, historical, satirical, semi-autobiographical, and transcendent work in television, video games, animation, toymaking, vlogging, webcomics, education, and more! LCAfter Dark…
5:00 p.m. Meet LCAFA!
The Latinx Comic Arts Festival Advisory consists of eight members of the comic arts community, all working in different areas of comics production, education and support. In its first year, LCAFA has helped make it possible to present this virtual, innovative festival. Meet Katie Sweeny, Barbra Dillon, Luke Martinez, Kathryn Blackmer-Reyes, Dustin “Dus T’” Garcia, Jennifer Caroccio Maldonado, Jaime Crespo, and Manuel Martinez.
5:15 p.m. Dibujando el Camino: Comics Design
Bobby Hernandez (Moderator), Jose Cabrera, Jason “J-Gonzo” Gonzalez, Oscar Garza,
Join Bobby Hernandez, host of Cuentos Y Comics for this discussion of the role of various elements of design in the comics ecosystem. How might choices, such as color palette, composition, patterns, lines, character design, and tools of the trade work together to portray the possibilities of Latinx-centered universes?
6:30 p.m. C2: Creators in Conversation #3 featuring “The Dukes:”
Dr. Elvira Carrizal-Dukes and Ronnie Dukes of DukesComics.com
Join us for the third installment of “C2” with comics creators and power couple, Dr. Elvira Carrizal-Dukes and Ronnie Dukes, creators of the graphic novel A.W.O.L. as they discuss their super fascinating comic arts origin stories, journalism, filmmaking, collaboration, art practice, playwriting, traveling, projects, and narrative storytelling. They share the journey together building Dukes Comics and so m more!
SATURDAY
11:00 a.m. Families, Friends, Culture; Kids’ Stories from Our Roots
Dr. Theresa Rojas (Moderator), Cathy Camper, Isabel Quintero, Paul Meyer, Carlos Meyer
When creating books for kids of any age, where do ideas come from? How do we, as adults, come up with ideas that will interest and appeal to kids? How does one work around gatekeepers to make sure kids get books that reflect kids’ worlds? Panelists share how family, friends, parenting, and the cultures these authors grew up in inspired their books for kids, and how they as creators have worked to create books that are both windows and mirrors of children’s worlds.
12:00 p.m. Rise of the Latina Superhero
Nelly Castillo (Moderator), Kayden Phoenix, Amanda Juliana Gonzalez, Barbra Dillon, Maxi Rodriguez
The public has spoken! In the expanding universe of superheroes, Latina superheroes are on the minds of all. This panel discusses potential futures and implications of the rise of Latina superheroes, addressing such questions as: Where are they? How will they look? What are their powers? Most importantly, when will they be here? The time is now!
1:00 p.m. Muy Macho: Machismo and Latinidad in Comics and Visual Media
Luke Martinez (Moderator), Henry Barajas, Terry Blas
Visual media offers unique opportunities to extend, innovate, and challenge storyworlds. This panel interrogates the expectations of masculinity and machismo in Latinx Creative spaces. We will discuss how these expectations manifest and influence people of all genders, sexualities, and identities.
2:00 p.m. Storytelling in the Age of Disinformation
Barbra Dillon (Moderator), Stephen Andes, Desiree Proctor, Erica Harrell
For decades, comics have served as a storytelling medium that tackles hot-button issues across genres and age groups. Now, comics are taking on the age of disinformation, using narratives to examine those that would use misleading information to control others. Led by Barbra Dillon (Editor-in-Chief, Fanbase Press), this panel will discuss the current and upcoming comics that are addressing the spread of false information by higher authorities head on.
3:00 p.m. Storytelling Across Mediums (II)
José Alaniz, Javier Solórzano, Crystal Gonzalez, Steven Prince, Catalina Rufín, Fernando de Pena
In this second of two features focusing on how comics creation translates into working across media/iums, panelists discuss engaging audiences well beyond comics books. Creators share their innovative and transcendent work in video, television, animation, toymaking, webcomics, film, education, marketing, and much more!
4:00 p.m. The LCAF Finale! Comics and Beer Forever!: The Comadres y Comics Interview with DocTeeRoh
Dr. Theresa Rojas (Moderator), Kristen Parraz, Jennifer Lopez, Sara Bazan
Comadres y Comics is a podcast hosted by three Latinas highlighting the role that Latinxs have in the comic book industry, not only as creators but also as consumers and fans. Episodes include book reviews, “chisme de la semana,” discussions about the latest in popular culture, and the coveted “hora de las cervecita” where the Comadres rate the week’s beer selection. Latinx Comics Arts Festival Director, Dr. Theresa Rojas goes behind-the-scenes with Las Comadres for an exclusive interview and conversation about their show, working together, what keeps them going, and of course what everyone is drinking during this pandemic. It’s all the chisme you can handle in a single hour, and more! Content warning: May not be suitable for younger viewers.
ART GALLERY
Miss checking out incredible artwork by indie creators at in-person cons? Fans can browse the first-ever virtual art gallery that runs from March 11 through April 11 to check out the work of amazing Latinx creators.
Please visit the Latinx Comic Arts Festival website to learn more about this exciting event. Attendance is FREE and open to the public — VIRTUALLY!
Everyone at Fanbase Press is greatly looking forward to the festival, and we hope to see you there!
*Poster Art by Larry Garcia II