Update 3/16/20: This event has been canceled due to Covid-19 concerns.
FLINT, Michigan—Through his event Comics, Coffee & Conversation local creative, Jonathan Diener, wants to introduce the everyday person to the real world, behind-the-scenes of comics, not just the stereotypes associated with them.
“There’s this cool immersive world where it’s like, instead of watching a Netflix show you can read a Netflix show,” said Diener. “It’s not just guys in capes, it’s like this whole vast landscape of literally anything you can imagine.”
Related story: Jonathan Diener, a multi-hyphenate creator teaching the world about Flint
Saturday, March 21, local and national names in the comic book comic industry will flock to Fosters Coffee Company downtown to hold a free comic book panel that will explore the hard work that goes into comic creation from concept-building and illustration to writing and marketing.
With Deiner as moderator, featured guests include DC comic and manga artists Cara McGee; Co-founder and Publisher at Source Point Press, Josh Werner; Randy Zimmerman of Flint Comix and more.
“We’re going to have the opportunity to buy these people’s books in person for once and have their whole set-up and stuff,” said Diener. “It’s not going to be a million people showing up to this, it's a very niche thing, but it’s kind of a nice win to be like ‘hey I’m from Michigan, and I get to interact with these people that care’ you know.”
Attendees are encouraged to buy new comics and donate kid-friendly comics as a way to get more Flint children excited about reading and exploring comics. The comics donated at the event will go to the Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village (SBEV) on Saginaw Street, an organization that works directly with Flint youth with creative programs in music, art, and the performing arts.
For information or to register, visit the Eventbrite.
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