Prism Comics Announces Comic-Con Plans, Panels & More

Prism Comics, which supports LGBT comics, creators, issues and readers is excited to announce its biggest slate of programming ever at this year's San Diego Comic-Con International (July 22-26, 2009), featuring four panels, a mixer and silent auction, creator signings, portfolio review, “Young Heroes” party, and the debut of the new Prism Guide! "San Diego Comic-Con continues to be the best way for Prism to reach the LGBT comics audience,” said Ted Abenheim, Event Chair of Prism Comics. "Our presence has had a small but significant influence on the comics industry and it’s gratifying to see."

Prism kicks off its schedule highlighting the biggest LGBT-related comic book event of the year—the arrival of Batwoman and The Question as co-lead features in DC Comic’s namesake book, Detective Comics.

Panels
Thursday, July 23, 4:00-5:00pm - The first panel, “Tipping Point for LGBT Portrayals in Comics” asks if the arrival of Batwoman and The Question in Detective—the first time any lesbian characters have headlined a mainstream publisher’s comic book—is an isolated event or a tipping point in the acceptance of LGBT characters. David Stanley (Prism Co-President) moderates with panelists Greg Rucka (Detective Comics), Marc Andreyko (Manhunter), Judd Winick (Pedro and Me), José Villarrubia (The Mirror of Love), Scott Allie (editor, Dark Horse Comics, Buffy Season 8), Mimi Cruz (retailer, Night Flight Comics, Salt Lake City, UT), Perry Moore (Hero) and Matt Wagner (The Aerialist). Room 32AB.

Friday, July 24, 11:30am-12:30pm - The second panel “True Confessions: LGBT Slice-of-Life Comics” explores the coming of age of LGBT autobiographical comics (shown by the success of Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home). But telling the truth is as much art and craft as it is confession. Join moderator Roger Klorese (Prism’s Publication Chair) with panelists Lee Marrs (The Further Fattening Adventures of Pudge, Girl Blimp), Ariel Schrag (Likewise), Jeff Krell (Jayson Goes to Hollywood), Robert Triptow (Gay Comix), and Justin Hall (True Travel Tales). Room 10.

Saturday, July 25, 4:30-5:30pm - The third panel “Love is in The Air: LGBT Romance Comics” focuses on LGBT creators inspired by but moving beyond the boy-girl romance comics of yesteryear. Join moderator Charles “Zan” Christensen (Mark of Aeacus and Prism's founder and Web Chair) with panelists Terry Moore (Strangers In Paradise), Tim Fish (Cavalcade of Boys), Mari Morimoto (Naruto), Steve MacIsaac (Shirtlifter), Colleen Coover (Small Favors), and Michelle Nolan (Love on the Racks: A History of American Romance Comics). Room 30AB.

Saturday, July 25, 6-7:30pm - The fourth panel is the long-running "Gays in Comics: Year 22!" Founding moderator Andy Mangels (best-selling author of Star Trek novels and Iron Man: Beneath The Armor), presents an all-star look at the diversity in the comics world today with Greg Rucka, Phil Jimenez (The Amazing Spider-Man), Gail Simone (Wonder Woman); Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Marvel Divas), Peter David (Fallen Angel), Ed Luce (Wuvable Oaf), Perry Moore and Sina Grace (Books with Pictures). Room 6DE.

Mixer and Silent Auction
Following the “Gays in Comics” panel, Prism hosts its Gays in Comics Mixer and Silent Auction from 7:30-8:30pm. Mingle with comics' writers, artists and fans, plus stay for the special drawing of a "Comics Gift Basket" and the silent auction of hot comics items! All proceeds benefit Prism Comics. Room 6A.

Prism Booth – Signings and Booth Partners
The Prism booth (#2146)—thought of as the LGBT epicenter of Comic-Con—is partnering with individual creators Jeff Krell, Justin Hall, Charles “Zan” Christensen, Ed Luce, Steve MacIsaac, and Sina Grace who will exhibit their comics and meet their fans at our expanded space. Prism will also present nonstop signings with creators including Ariel Schrag, Jen Van Meter (Hopeless Savages), Greg Rucka, Perry Moore, Eric Schlegel (Skipping Out) and many others, plus an appearance by everyone’s favorite superhero team, Lucky Legendary! Pick up The Gay Agenda at the booth and also check www.prismcomics.org for the most updated schedule.

Volunteer!
And if you really want to be part of the action, volunteer to work at the Prism booth and meet your faves up close! Just email ted@prismcomics.org.

Portfolio Review
After the overwhelming success of portfolio review last year, Prism is proud to offer it once again this year with Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex, Countdown), Phil Jimenez, Bob Schreck (Editor at Dark Horse, Oni Press, DC), Georg Brewer (DC Direct), Colleen Coover, and José Villarrubia who will critique the work only of those interested in applying for this year's Queer Press Grant (established by Prism to encourage new LGBT talent). Before attending the sessions, applicants are required to read QPG guidelines available at prismcomics.org/grant. Very few sessions are available so check at prismcomics.org and the Prism booth to ensure you get your portfolio reviewed by some of the best professionals working in the field.

New Prism Guide
Debuting at Comic-Con is the 2009-2010 Prism Guide, with fab flip-covers by Stephen Sadowski and Megan Rose Gedris. This jam-packed resource guide features an extensive “Queer Year in Review”; profiles of Howard Cruse, Queer Press Grant winner Pam Harrison, and Wuvable Oaf; plus Anton Kawasaki, Glamazonia, Queer Eye on Comics and much more! All for a recession-friendly price of $3.99!

Party!
On Friday, July 24, from 9:00pm to 1:00am, party with Prism at “Young Heroes”! For the 5th year, Prism, Ned Cato, Jr. and Rich’s bring you another super-powered evening with Go-Go dancers, drink specials, and events galore including the annual Superhero Costume Contest with cash and prizes totaling $200 and more! Categories will include Sexiest, Best Costume, Best Body, Most Original and Crowd Favorite! Have your picture taken at the photo booth with your favorite Young Hero! Mingle with special guests and superheroes in the VIP Young Heroes Creators lounge. Get your face and body painted by our expert Makeup artist. Help Prism Comics and Lucky Legendary with the Power Hour Jello Body Shot fundraiser. Special guests include award-winning artist Joe Phillips, artist J.J. Kirby, Captain Rich's and Twink Boy, plus surprise guests. Come in costume and get in free until the costume contest, or show your Comic-Con badge and get a discount off the cover charge at the door. Rich's Dance Club is located at 1051 University Avenue, San Diego, CA (619) 295-2195, richssandiego.com. For all the latest information, keep checking back at prismcomics.org.

Prism Comics is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that promotes LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered) creators, characters, themes and readers in the comic book field. Along with convention appearances, Prism publishes an annual guide to LGBT related comics, and maintains a website with LGBT creator profiles, web comics and features on all that’s queer in comics. For more information, go to www.prismcomics.org.

For further information contact David Stanley at david@prismcomics.org or stop by the Prism booth during the con.

A Night of Elegance: The Prom You Never Had

Did you miss your High School Prom because you couldn’t bring your girlfriend? Or perhaps you went to your prom, but not with the person you wanted to? Well here is your chance to go to Prom with whomever you want.

Sparkle Production is putting on their first annual adult prom, A Night of Elegance: The Prom You Never Had. This event is a fundraiser for Positive Images, a non-profit group that provides support and advocacy to Sonoma County's gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersexed youth and young adults, and educates the greater community.

The evening’s events will include dancing to the sounds of DJ MoniKa, official prom photos, raffle prizes a no-host bar and hors d'oeuvres. This event is for adults 21 and over, and straight allies are welcome!

When: Saturday, May 31st, 7 pm - Midnight

Where: St. Rose Hall, 320 10th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95401

How: For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.posimagesprom.org/

Buffy's Romp: Marketing Ploy or Part of the Plot?

By Emily Friedman, ABC News

Buffy Summers has now done it all.

After spending nearly a decade slaying vampires and demons and carefully juggling her schoolwork with her budding teen romances, Buffy of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" now also knows what it's like to have a one-night stand -- with a woman.

In the latest installment of the comic book series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight" -- which continues the saga that began in a 1993 film and then continued during seven seasons of a hit television series -- Buffy takes a break from her vampire duties to jump into bed with Satsu, a fellow slayer.

"Wow," says Buffy in the comic, hand on sweaty brow, naked body wrapped in tangled bed sheets. "That was ... that was ... Wow."

"'That was wow' pretty much covers it," responds Satsu, who, also dripping with sweat, clutches Buffy's 20-something body.

The comic's illustrators -- seemingly inspired by the sexy narrative -- litter the bedside with discarded bras and panties.

While the scene, which was first reported by The New York Times, may initially come across as a little too sexy and a little too soft porn, Joss Whedon, executive producer of the strip, told ABCNEWS.com that the story line flowed naturally and is nothing to gape at.

"We had already established that there was this character, Satsu, was in love with Buffy and that Buffy was kind of lonesome," said Whedon. "[We decided] it would be fun if they just went ahead and did it, rather than have it be a 'will they won't they' situation."

Despite Whedon's assertion that Buffy's adventurous sexuality is nothing new -- after all, her best friend on the show, Willow, came out in Season 4 -- industry insiders still aren't convinced that the latest plot twist isn't anything more than a marketing ploy.

Buffy's Lesbian Encounter: Groundbreaking or Marketing Ploy?
Having gay characters in comic books is not a new concept, according to comic guru Matthew McAllister, but central characters who stray from heterosexuality may be.

"We've definitely seen gay characters in mainstream comics over the past 10 to 15 years," said McAllister, who co-edited the book "Film and Comics." "But usually those tend to be secondary characters, not leads."

Dark Horse Comics, the publisher of Buffy's comic strip, estimates that since the comic's inception in March 2007, more than 1 million issues have been sold, approximately 120,000 each month.

While according to the publisher the audience includes "lovers of television and comics of all ages," McAllister says that Dark Horse is known for aiming its material more toward older teens and readers in their mid-20s.

Because the comic was the spawn of a popular movie and television series, McAllister bears on the side of Whedon, who asserts that Buffy's gay romp was more about character development than revenue.

"It's not like Buffy hasn't explored these issues before, so in a way it goes with the basic sensibility of the characters and the universe of Buffy," McAllister said. "'Buffy' is a metaphor for teenage life, and one of the issues teenagers face is the questioning of sexuality. Now [Dark Horse] is trying to explore it a little bit more."

A representative from The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation familiar with the comic welcomed the plot twist, lauding it as yet another example of the "Buffy" enterprise including "multidimensional lesbian characters in the Buffy universe."

"'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' has always been an inclusive series, both on screen and now on the page," said Damon Romine, the entertainment media director for GLAAD, in a statement e-mailed to ABCNEWS.com. "We look forward to seeing how Buffy's emotional and physical connection with Satsu plays out, since the creators always take us in surprising and compelling directions."

"It made logical, emotional sense and it was an opportunity for drama and character exploration," said Whedon, who told ABCNEWS.com that while Buffy has not "all of a sudden turned gay" she is not "completely cut off from that particular enjoyment."

But for Stephen Krensky, author of "Comic Book Century: The History of American Comic Books," it's not so clear that Buffy's gay romp was a true advancement of her character and not just a way to freshen up the comic and keep it from its demise.

"Comic books are competing now with video games, DVDs and 'Guitar Hero' for the attention of the audience that, let's face it, they had [during the 1960s]," said Krensky. "Now it's, 'how do we get attention' and 'how do we find a niche?'"

Buffy is not the first comic to stray from its original form, Krensky said, and he added that sometimes he wishes comic writers would let the story "run its course" rather than go off on endless tangents.

"Superman" writers, said Krensky, went as far as developing "Superpets" to extend the comic's story line.

"This is just the latest installment of [a comic] pushing the envelope," said Krensky, who was once a fan of the "Buffy" television show. "It disappoints me if the only reason they do it is because they're looking for new wrinkles to just have something to write about."

Whedon says that's just not the case -- and that he wouldn't continue writing storyboards for "Buffy" if he didn't think it was truly advancing the story.

"I don't need to push the envelope. The reason I'm [still writing it] is that we love it and we couldn't stop telling these stories," Whedon said.

He said he's confident fans won't stray from the comic and will understand Buffy's desire to experiment.

"We have a glut of ideas, but that doesn't mean everyone is going to like them," Whedon said. "But eventually, if the comic doesn't feel like it's artistically valid or if it's not selling, then we'll stop making it."

Queer Comics Reading & Signing: Local Cartoonists Celebrate the Diversity of LGBT Comic Books

For those of you out there who enjoy reading comics or are into supporting local Gay/Lesbian Artists, check out this great upcoming event in San Francisco.


Six stellar, local cartoonists join forces on Saturday, February 23rd for a reading and signing at the LGBT Center's 3 Dollar Bill Café. Queer comics have never been richer and more vibrant, and the Bay Area creators especially typify this new diversity of themes and styles.



Featuring:
Brian Andersen So Super Duper
Paige Braddock Jane's World
Justin Hall True Travel Tales, Hard To Swallow
Andy Hartzell Fox Bunny Funny, Monday
MariNaomi Estrus Comics
Tommy Roddy Pride High


When: Saturday, February 23rd, 7-10pm, with readings beginning at 8pm
Where: 3 Dollar Bill Café, at the LGBT Center, 1800 Market St.

Sponsored by Prism Comics and Whatever Comics

The Queer Cartoonists Reading takes place on the evening of the first day of Wonder Con, northern California's largest comic book convention.

WonderCon celebrates its 22nd year as Northern California's most popular comics and pop culture event with a return to Moscone Center South on February 22-24, 2008. The February date solidifies WonderCon's status as the first major convention of the year in the United States. To find out more about the Con, please visit http://www.comic-con.org/wc