Even if you’re not at the Detroit Fanfare, there is plenty to do around the world in comics this weekend. From reading all the preview stories spotlighting people who are putting on shows, it’s kind of amazing how the idea of comic-con has spread everywhere; and of course, just like chili, each locale has its own unique flavor.

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§ One of the most interesting events is Cola-Con in Columbia, SC., which bills itself as the only hip hop comic-con. The local paper has a preview and a chat with founder/musician Preach Jacobs:

Familiar with these mediums in hip-hop, Jacobs became confident that he could fill in the gap between illustration and music with an intentionally hip-hop infused show. “I went to different cons like HeroesCon in Charlotte, and the Atlanta Comic Convention and I noticed that there was a huge presence of hip-hop. It seemed like a natural fit. I knew they could be brought together,” he says. Encouraged by his friend, Marvel illustrator Sanford Greene, Preach created a one-of-a-kind event that combined the storytelling and artistic principles of the comic book and hip-hop cultures. Now in its third year, Preach’s brain child Cola-Con is creating a space for artists and the public to discover each other in Columbia.


The show is in its third year, and like many, is moving to a bigger venue this time out. The panel schedule was released earlier this week:

Friday, Oct. 25, 2013:
            Congaree Room, Artists:
·       4 p.m. – “Going to War to Make Comics” with David Axe & Matt Bors of War is Boring and Marine and writer Robert LeHeup of Piensa Art Company

·       5 p.m. – “Making Comics with No Money” with Shigeharu Kobayashi & John Pading of Princess Calabretta, Chad Bowers, Dre Lopez and Sammy Lopez of Piensa Art Company

Hall of Fame Room, Artists:
·       4 p.m. – “Walk This Way: Working with RUN DMC” Creators of RUN DMC-inspired comic book, with Damion Scott, Ron Wimberly and Dexter Vines

·       5 p.m. – “Blaxploitation & Comics” with Sanford Greene of Army of Frogs, Carl Jones of The Boondocks, Ed Piskor of Hip Hop Family Tree, Ron Wimberly of Prince of Cats & Black Dynamite, and Jay Potts

Exhibit Hall Live Music:
·       5:15 – 5:45 p.m.: The Elements

·       6:15 – 7 p.m.: The Secret B-Sides

·       7:15 – 7:45 p.m.: Analog

·       8 p.m.: The Foreign Exchange

·       DJ Prince Ice on the 1s & 2s

Saturday Oct. 26, 2013:
            Lexington Room A, Artists:
·       1 p.m. – “Carolina’s Finest” w/ Marvel Comics’ Steve Epting, Roy Thomas and Sanford Greene

·       3 p.m. – “Behind the Beat: Carolina Beat Makers Speak” with Midi Marc, Mike S, Mic Beats, Jah Freedom and DJ Ambush

·       4 p.m. – “Hip Hop & Comics” with Sanford Greene, Afua Richardson, Ed Piskor and Ron Wimberly

·       5 p.m. – “Alchemy of a Beat with Midi Marc”: producer Midi Marc breaks down the concept of sampling and produces on the spot

Lexington Room B, Artists:
·       4 p.m. – “Comics Get Political” with David Axe, Matt Bors and Blue Delliquanti

·       5 p.m. – “Digital Platforms and Crowd Sourced Comics in the Kickstarter Era” with Jeremy Love, Carlton Hargo, Jay Potts and Shigeharu Kobayashi

Exhibit Hall Live Music:
·       5:15 – 5:45 p.m.: Figga 4

·       6 – 6:30 p.m.: SFMG

·       6:45 – 7:15 p.m.: Danny!

·       7:30 – 8:15 p.m.: Rapper Big Pooh

·       8:30 p.m.: Dead Prez

·       DJ Lazy on the 1s & 2s


So there you go: comics and concerts. This sounds like a great cross-medium event.

§ Meanwhile, in San Antonio, it’s the Alamo City Comic Con, , and as always, here’s the local paper’s interview with the founder:

Alamo City Comic Con, brainchild of one Alfredo “Apple” De La Fuente, kicks off its inaugural convention on Friday, October 25, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. With it comes three glorious days of celebrating TV, movies, comics, games and the culture that surrounds them.

“I worked at the San Diego Comic Con and I just loved the energy, how it was the [gathering of] pop culture” De La Fuente said. “I asked myself, ‘Why can’t San Antonio have that?’ We are big collectors. We love that stuff in San Antonio. San Diego Comic Con has a huge San Antonio presence. A lot of our artists travel down there. Why can’t we do something local?”


Let’s put on a show!

§ And finally in Dhaka, there is the “Bigger and Better” Dhaka Comicon Shamefully, like most Americans, I am an idiot at geography so until I read this, I did not know that Dhaka was the capital of Bangladesh. Anyway, once again some guys are putting on a show and here is an interview:

This mega event for comic lovers was first introduced in Dhaka by Saadi Rahman and Syed Abu Yousuf in December 2012. The series of events are again going to take place on October 25-26 at Saad Musa City Center, on Jomaz Road, Kuril, Badda.

Saadi: There is a whole lot to say when it comes to this question. It starts off with “Bigger and Better.” That’s what we promised all the attendees last year. So, of course we’ll have our usual cosplay contest on both days, fan art contest, action figure photography, live music featuring Nemesis, Echoes and Naïve, stand-up comedy, short film screenings, display of custom action figures, electro artists performance, comic book launches, animation launches, two music video premieres of Cryptic Fate and Aushtruto, tons of vendors selling toys, comics, memorabilia, and of course the highlight being the entire museum of toys and collectibles. There is actually so much more than what I just mentioned but let’s leave that to be experienced at the event.


This show seems to be low on guests but very high on participation. All part of the globalization of comic book culture. There’s more on the show here. I can’t wait to see the photos on Facebook.

4 COMMENTS

  1. Wow Thanks so much for mentioning us here!! It truly is an honor!! We launched Dhaka comicon last year, and didn’t realize we’d receive such a great response!! 10,000 people for Dhaka is quite good for a new event for this town!! This year we promised Bigger and Better!! We know there is always a longing for pop culture gatherings. Hopefully next year in 2014 we can get some international involvement from writers, artists, etc!! Fingers Crossed!! Once again Thank you for mentioning us!! ;)

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