This year, GLAAD Award-winning and Eisner-nominated publisher and media outlet Fanbase Press will be celebrating its 15th anniversary. Given that this momentous occasion comes at a time when the comics industry and the community at large are facing unprecedented challenges, Fanbase Press will be partnering with industry experts for the “Build Your Community” Initiative: a series of in-person and virtual opportunities for connection and skill building to navigate a collective path forward.

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“Throughout the past 15 years, we at Fanbase Press have endeavored to provide a home for heartfelt stories and to build a welcoming community that lifts the voices of creators across entertainment mediums,” shares Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon. “Now more than ever, we aim to provide a safe space for meaningful connection while also building hope that change is possible through collective actions large and small.”

Fanbase Press’ award-winning titles have included the 2024 GLAAD Media Award-winning Four-Color Heroes, the 2023 Eisner and Harvey Award-nominated Ripple Effects, the 2022 International Latino Book Award-winning Nuclear Power, the 2018 Eisner Award-nominated Quince, and the 2020 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award-winning Quince: The Definitive Bilingual Edition hardcover. The media outlet was also nominated for a 2022 Eisner Award for the “Best Comics-Related Periodical / Journalism” category.

Launching this year, the “Build Your Community” Initiative will include the following free in-person and virtual events, aiming to provide opportunities for 1) making connections and 2) learning new skills. All event dates, times, and registration (when applicable) will be announced on the Fanbase Press website and through social media.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR MAKING CONNECTION

• Comics & Coffee: Since March of 2020, Fanbase Press’ weekly Comics & Coffee Zoom sessions have provided comics industry professionals with an opportunity to discuss ways to cope with the changing comics landscape. Comics & Coffee is an hour-long Zoom session taking place every Saturday at 10 a.m./PT (1 p.m./EST).
• “Office Hours” with Barbra Dillon: Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon will be hosting virtual “Office Hours” via Zoom every Tuesday from 2:00-3:00 p.m./PT for those who need a quiet place to troubleshoot creative issues, celebrate wins, or simply see a familiar face for a few minutes amidst the chaos of the week.
• Virtual Drawing Sessions with Bryant Dillon: In the spirit of Fanbase Press’ motto to “Celebrate Fandoms,” Fanbase Press President Bryant Dillon will be hosting two virtual drawing sessions via Zoom this year. An “Alien Day Drawing Session” will take place via Zoom on Saturday, April 26, at 12 p.m./PT, and a “Star Wars Drawing Session” will take place via Zoom on Sunday, May 4, at 12 p.m./PT.
• Potluck with the Dillons: There is no better way to connect with others than over a warm meal. Fanbase Press co-founders Barbra and Bryant Dillon will be hosting quarterly outdoor potlucks at their home in Los Angeles, welcoming SoCal creators and industry colleagues to enjoy a meal and chat with new and longtime friends alike.

In the spirit of the upcoming “Potluck with the Dillons,” Fanbase Press invites its industry colleagues to host their own local potlucks, providing a chance to grow and strengthen their own local communities.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SKILL BUILDING

• Portfolio Reviews: If you’re an artist who hasn’t experienced a portfolio review or if you’ve had prior reviews that have been far from constructive, Fanbase Press will be hosting portfolio reviews conducted by critically acclaimed artists including Ray-Anthony Height (Midnight Tiger, Spider-Girl) and Don Aguillo (Spawn, King Spawn). Review sessions will offer artists an opportunity to make a genuine connection with an experienced artist and receive helpful and constructive feedback in a professional, yet comfortable, virtual setting.
• Survival Skills for the Entertainment Industry Slump: Various entertainment industries are facing unprecedented slowdowns, forcing many to find work outside of their given trades to supplement their income. Join Fanbase Press and job recruiter Lee Korelitz (Headless Headhunter LLC) for a virtual workshop, providing tips on how to construct a professional-looking resume and garner job opportunities in non-creative fields.
• Get Involved in Local Politics: At a time when it can feel as though we, as individuals, are unable to effect real and meaningful change, Fanbase Press invites you to join Matthew Noe (Board of Directors, Worcester Public Library) and Jose Pimienta (Twin Cities) for a virtual workshop on getting involved in local politics in your area. With the rise in censorship and book bans, the damaging effects of generative AI, and potential tariffs which will increase printing and publishing costs, it is more necessary than ever to be politically engaged to safeguard your and the comics industry’s well-being.
• Virtual Forums: Last year, Fanbase Press hosted its first virtual forum, “Navigating Comics Publishing & Promotion in 2025,” providing an opportunity for creators, publishers, media, retailers, librarians, and educators to discuss and troubleshoot the challenges in the year ahead. Fanbase Press will continue to host virtual forums on a quarterly basis this year with a rotating list of topics that are at the forefront of the community’s concerns.

Fanbase Press will have many more in-person and virtual events scheduled throughout the year. Stay tuned for more information regarding Fanbase Press’ 15th anniversary celebration and the “Build Your Community” Initiative (#BuildYourCommunity) by visiting www.fanbasepress.com, or follow us on Facebook, BlueSky (fanbasepress.bsky.social), Instagram (@fanbasepress), and Twitter (@Fanbase_Press).

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