Boston Comics in Color Festival 2025: Full Schedule

6:00pm EDT

Frontiers of Imagination

Friday April 25, 2025 6:00pm - 7:30pm EDT

The Friday night opening panel will feature our Moderator, Joel Christian Gill will speak with our other BCICF 2025 special guests about the experience of being a professional in the comics industry and what's next in the world of comics.

Real-time Captioning provided for deaf and hard of hearing audience.

Moderators

Joel Christian Gill

Gill is a cartoonist and historian who speaks nationally on the importance of sharing stories. He wrote the words and drew the pictures for Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield’s First Ride (published by Lion Forge, 2019) and the award-winning graphic novel series Strange Fruit: Uncelebrated... Read More →

Speakers

Greg Burnham

Greg Burnham is a comic book/children’s book writer out of Norcross, GA. With DC Comics stories under his belt: The Spoils featuring Superman, Ablution featuring Icon, and Fair Play which stars Mr. Terrific, Greg has created quite the resume. His creator owned properties, Tuskegee... Read More →

Buttercup

buttercup (they/them) is a multidisciplinary digital artist based in Baltimore, Maryland with a particular focus in illustration, sequential art, and 2D animation. Their work consists of radical, yet familiar moments of Afrodiasporic and indigenous life with a specific focus on queer... Read More →

Barbara Brandon Croft

Barbara Brandon-Croft was born in Brooklyn and grew up on Long Island. After debuting her comic strip Where I’m Coming From in the Detroit Free Press in 1989, Brandon-Croft became the first Black woman cartoonist to be published nationally by a major syndicate. During its 15 year... Read More →

Khary Randolph

Boston-born and Vienna-based, Khary Randolph has worked with some of the biggest media companies in the world, such as Marvel Comics, DC Comics, 20th Century Fox, Netflix, ESPN, Upper Deck, Nickelodeon, Epic Games & Samsung. For two decades his stylish and energetic artwork has been... Read More →

Stephanie Williams

Stephanie, a University of Illinois at Chicago graduate, has made a remarkable journey from the world of science to a comic book creator. Her imaginative storytelling has captivated readers, and she has an impressive portfolio of titles. These include 'Nubia and the Amazons,' an empowering... Read More →

Friday April 25, 2025 6:00pm - 7:30pm EDT
RCC Media Arts Building 1234 Columbus Avenue Boston, MA 02120

Panel, Real-time Captions

11:15am EDT

Black Stories Matter

Saturday April 26, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT

Studio 1 (2nd Floor)

Representation matters especially in today's political and social turmoil. Our panelist will talk about telling authentic stories that capture the wide array of OUR experience.

Moderator: porsha olayiwola

Speakers

porsha olayiwola

porsha olayiwola is a individual world poetry slam champion and the author of the collection i shimmer sometimes, too. olayiwola served as the third poet laureate for the city of boston. she is a 2020 academy of american poets poet laureate fellow. olayiwola is the assistant professor of poetry at emerson college. her work can be found in or forthcoming from with triquarterly magazine, black warrior review, the boston globe... Read More →

Barbara Brandon Croft

Buttercup

Wayne Carter

I’m Wayne Carter a black cartoonist and a recent graduate of the center for cartoon studies. I teach comics throughout the upper valley and have a house full of pets.

Christopher Rhodes

Christopher Rhodes is a lecturer at Harvard and Boston University, a news and politics writer for Blavity News and Al-Jazeera, and creator of the superhero comic TEN, the story of ten people across the globe chosen to represent humanity and given amazing powers by visitors from another... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT
Studio 1 (2nd Floor) 1234 Columbus Avenue Boston, MA 02122

Panel, ASL Interpretation

11:15am EDT

Creating Comics for Kids

Saturday April 26, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT

Studio 3 (2nd Floor)

Young Adult (YA) and youth-focused literature is experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity, engaging readers of all ages and is driving force the publishing world. Join us for a conversation with talented artists and creators who are shaping this popular genre.

Speakers

Cristela Guerra

Cristela Guerra is a senior arts and culture reporter for WBUR, a queer Panamanian journalist of color, and a moderator who facilitates and leads conversations around race, identity, and equity. Before working in public radio, she was a newspaper journalist for more than a decade... Read More →

Nilah Magruder

Brittney Bourne

I am a Jamaican-American illustrator and character designer with a passion for imagination and play and use my work to reflect on my childhood, bring my young self's imagination to life, and deal with my struggles then. My goal is to create illustrations that mean and stand for something... Read More →

Nell Valle

Nell is a Chinese-American illustrator based in Boston. She specializes in the big and small: public art and comics. She is known for her cute characters, bright colors, and bold, fun lines. She holds a masters in Art Education from Lesley University and a BFA in illustration and... Read More →

Raphael Pagarigan

Raphael Pagarigan is an illustrator who is obsessed with comics and everything regarding them. He is currently living in Somerville Massachusetts with his partner and guinea pigs.

Saturday April 26, 2025 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT
Studio 3 (2nd Floor) 1234 Columbus Avenue Boston, MA 02122

Panel

1:00pm EDT

RoxFilm Film Screening and Talk Back

Saturday April 26, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT

Studio 3 (2nd Floor)

Roxbury International Film Festival (Rox Film) featuring the Cinema Sisters, Lisa and Alison Simmons, will host a screening a talk back with some incredible animators,

Speakers

Roxbury International Film Festival

THE LARGEST NEW ENGLAND FILM FESTIVAL DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING FILMS BY, FOR, AND ABOUT PEOPLE OF COLOR AROUND THE WORLD.SAVE THE DATES FOR OUR 2025 FESTIVAL! JUNE 20 - JULY 2, 2025PROVOCATIVE. ENTERTAINING. FIERCELY INDEPENDENT.

Sable Kudzu Entertainment

Sable Kudzu Entertainment is a company that is true to its name. Kudzu, a species of vine that was taken from Japan to America, is considered invasive and a pest. It is beautiful and resilient, able grow through the toughest conditions. Sable meaning black, represents how our reach... Read More →

Gabriel Reid

Gabriel "Joy" Reid (they/she) is a writer, filmmaker, animator, and illustrator originally from Kansas City, Kansas. They currently live and work in Massachusetts, pursuing their M.F.A. in Visual Narrative at Boston University. From superheroes to social justice, sci-fi to slice-of-life... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
Studio 3 (2nd Floor) 1234 Columbus Avenue Boston, MA 02122

Panel

1:00pm EDT

What to Expect When You're Making Comics

Saturday April 26, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT

Studio 1 (2nd Floor)

Our panelists will pull back the curtain on their creative processes! Discover the diverse ways they bring their comic visions to life, from initial concept to finished page. They'll also share invaluable insights and practical advice on navigating the world of publishing and getting your own comic work out there.
Moderated by: Barrington Edwards

Speakers

Barrington Edwards

Barrington Edwards has lived and worked in the city of Boston as an artist and community activist for over four decades. He attended Hampton University in Virginia for one year then transferred to the Massachusetts College of Art where he earned both a BFA in Communication Design... Read More →

Ray Felix

Ray Felix, is a Bronx native born in 1973, he is a graduate of the School of Visual arts Class of 1999/ 2000. His comics include, Bronx Heroes® 2.0 : The Greatest Hero Black Power®, Heavy Traffic™, Enter: The Roach™ and "A World Without Superheroes®". Ray Felix is also the... Read More →

Vandel Marchen

VandelVandel is a New York-based artist and writer with South African roots. Inspired by Japanese Anime and Manga, I create captivating stories using both digital and traditional mediums. Beyond my work, I'm passionate about mentoring aspiring artists and writers. As a two-time published... Read More →

Javier Cruz Winnik

Javier Cruz Winnik was first published creating sketch cards for Upper Deck. He went on to create 4 books in the graphic novel series, "A Reason to Smile!", all funded on Kickstarter! He's since created art for "Puerto Rico Strong", "Ricanstruction" & Saladeen, Keeper of the Flam... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
Studio 1 (2nd Floor) 1234 Columbus Avenue Boston, MA 02122

Panel, ASL Interpretation

2:00pm EDT

Black Magic: Magic and Fantasy in black speculative fiction

Saturday April 26, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT

Studio 1 (2nd Floor)

Explore the rich tapestry of magic and fantasy within Black speculative fiction. From ancestral powers to futuristic sorcery, panelists discuss the unique ways Black authors weave magic into their narratives, challenging tropes and crafting worlds of their own.

Speakers

Tyahra Symone Angus

N Steven Harris

Multi Glyph Award for Ajala, and Watson and Holmes winning, and 2 time Eisner Nominated artist for Watson and Holmes. N. Steven Harris is also known for his work on Michael Cray, Voltron, Static Graphic Novel, Catwoman, Robin, Deadpool Annual '98 and so many others. Mr. Harris also... Read More →

Ben Passmore

Ben Passmore is the author and illustrator of the comics Your Black Friend and Other Strangers (2018) and the Eisner Award-winning Sports Is Hell (2020). His latest graphic novel, Black Arms to Hold You Up, will be released in 2025 by Pantheon.

Greg Anderson Elysée

Greg Anderson Elysée is a Brooklyn born Haitian-American comic writer. He is the writer and creator of the award winning comic book/graphic novel series Is’nana the Were-Spider, a coming of age dark fantasy book about the son of Anansi the Spider, drawing inspiration from Black... Read More →

Khary Randolph

Saturday April 26, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm EDT
Studio 1 (2nd Floor) 1234 Columbus Avenue Boston, MA 02122

Panel, ASL Interpretation

3:00pm EDT

Creating Worlds: Writing for Comics

Saturday April 26, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT

Studio 3 (2nd Floor)

Join us for an insightful discussion with industry professionals as they delve into the unique challenges and rewards of writing for comics. Learn about script formats, pacing, character development, collaboration with artists, and the secrets to bringing your visual narratives to life.

Moderator: Arielle Gray

Speakers

Arielle Gray

Arielle Gray is a storyteller and artist currently based in Boston. She is a reporter at WBUR, where she reports on Black and brown communities through the lens of art and culture. She joined WBUR in 2018 as a reporting fellow before being hired full-time. Her work examines the liminal... Read More →

Javon Stokes

Born in Hartford, CT, JaVon O. Stokes has spent his entire life in the service of the arts. JaVon attended the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). There, he studied in the field of Animation and earned his Bachelor’s degree in 3D animation from SCAD in 2008. while taking... Read More →

Stephanie Williams

Jarrett Melendez

Jarrett Melendez is a GLAAD Media Award- and Eisner Award-nominated comic and graphic novel writer, cookbook author, and food journalist. He’s best known for the award-winning graphic novel Chef’s Kiss, a queer romance set in a restaurant, which he co-created with Danica Brine... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 3:00pm - 3:45pm EDT
Studio 3 (2nd Floor) 1234 Columbus Avenue Boston, MA 02122

Panel, ASL Interpretation