Awesome Con's local faces

I was able to make into Awesome Con's main floor before it closed for the day, and tried to say hello to local cartoonists.



In no particular order:

Evan Keeling represented the Smithsonian.





National Geographic's booth, with my wife's colleagues.



Joe Carabeo of Curls Studio.



A token Canadian, Ryan North (aka writer of Dinosaur Comics and Squirrel Girl).



Cuddles & Rage with their new picture book.



Arsia Rozegar.



Dawn Griffin of Baltimore.



Matt Dembicki.



Vanessa Bettencourt and novelist Jacob Falling.



The Frazetta family's booth (they've got some originals for sale!)



SL Gallant.



Jamie Noguchi in motion.



Marc Hempel of Baltimore.



The Red Skull with a cosmic cube cosplayer.

The Express and Post on Cars 3

Watch 'Cars 3' and feel like a kid again [in print as Getting into 'Cars'"It's fun when a film revs up the crowd].

By Kristen Page-Kirby
Express June 16 2017, p. 24
online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2017/06/16/watch-cars-3-and-feel-like-a-kid-again/
 

Lightning McQueen and Cruz Ramirez have the platonic automative friendship we all aspire to. (Disney-Pixar)

'Cars 3': Once more around the track, for old times sake [in print as Storyline and jokes starting to sputter].

By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post June 16 2017, p. Weekend 25

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/cars-3-once-more-around-the-track-for-old-times-sake/2017/06/14/b5efac32-5051-11e7-b064-828ba60fbb98_story.html

New Muslim Superhero book by A. David Lewis

David used to live in DC, and this is a good interview.

One Scholar On What Comic Books Reveal About Attitudes Toward Muslims

Here & Now's Robin Young

June 15, 2017

http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2017/06/15/muslims-comics-refugees

The Express on Awesome Con

'I'm marrying Deadpool at Awesome Con.' Three superfans share their plans for this year. [in print as Is Awesome Con in your future?]

By Sadie Dingfelder
Express June 15 2017, p. 22-23
online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2017/06/15/im-marrying-deadpool-at-awesome-con-three-superfans-share-their-plans-for-this-year/

"Who are the new superwomen of the universe?" - the morning after

Thanks to the courtesy of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, I was invited to attend this panel last night.

The Museum described it as:

FRESH TALK: Who are the new superwomen of the universe?

Join us for FRESH TALK on the superwomen changing the universe of comics and beyond.

For much of comics history, women characters were introduced as plot devices for the leading male characters. Join us for a conversation about the new wave of superheroines entering the comic universe, leading the fight for justice and dispelling traditional stereotypes in fiction and beyond. 
Followed by Catalyst, a cocktail hour with a topic and a twist.

SPEAKERS:

• Carolyn Cocca, author of Superwomen: Gender, Power, and Representation
• Ariell Johnson, owner of Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse, Philadelphia
• Gabby Rivera, YA author and writer for Marvel’s AMERICA series
• Ashley Woods, illustrator, graphic novelist, and artist for the Stranger Comics series, NIOBE: She is Life

Moderated by Emily Whitten, ComicMix.com writer and moderator of Awesome Con. Emily is based in Washington, D.C.

DC Zine Fest reps, including my neighbor Anna Tecson, set up in the lobby before and after the show. The main event, in the Museum's 5th floor auditorium appeared to be sold-out. The crowed was probably 90% women. After a two introductions by museum staff, the panel began, slightly late due to Metro delays.

Carolyn Cocca gave an academic overview of the problems with women in superhero comics over a fifty-year period, including helplessness, cheesecake, under-representation, and 'fridging' or abuse to highlight a male superhero's feelings. While she spoke in a very academic fashion, she got her point across especially with her visuals, and I'll be looking for her book.



Ariell Johnson gave a very entertaining account of her decision to open a 'safe-space' comic book and coffee shop in Philadelphia.



Gabby Rivera had one young adult novel published when Marvel Comics sought her out to write a Puerto Rican, lesbian hero named America. Rivera was irrepressible during her talk, and I plan on following her career.



Ashley Woods talked about growing up in Chicago and discovering comics via a convention that she attended with her mother, and then self-publishing a comic through college, until finally landing the Niobe title. Her art is anime/manga-influenced and now done digitally, but she talked briefly about not being able to afford computer tools earlier in her career.



The talks ran a bit long, so the panel session was short and mostly taken up with the panelist's impressions of the Wonder Woman movie (which were generally positive). Everyone agreed that there should be more non-white-male work and representation in comic books. After the panel, there was a cocktail party in the main lobby, but unfortunately I had to leave at that point.



The panel was recorded and should appear online soon.

July 7: Zine making with Arlington Library

Zine Lab

Friday, 7/7, 5:00-7:00 p.m., Connection Pop-Up Library, Crystal City

http://arlingtonva.libcal.com/event/3370650?_ga=2.20408956.530056943.1497316248-470748024.1476586117

Library of Awesome is open at the Library of Congress

In cooperation with Awesome Con, the Library of Congress has Library of Awesome, a pop-up exhibit on comic books in the Jefferson building, off to one side on the first floor. You have to look for it, but it's worth seeing.



The exhibit was curated by Megan Halsband of the Serials division, and features rooms of comics - Milestones, Wonder Woman, Marvel, DC, Children, Science Fiction and a final room for selvies with the characters drawn by the Library's exhibit department.



Comic books surround Amelia Earhart's handprint and a speech by Clara Barton.



The Milestones exhibit (including an original page of art from the first Spider-Man comic).



WorldCat only lists two copies of this Lost World #6 comic book held by libraries - one is in Australia. The comic was only published for two issues - #5-6 in 1952.



More pictures can be seen here.

Comic culture on display at the Library of Congress

Comic culture on display at the Library of Congress

Tuesday, June 13, 2017 - 00:50

http://www.reuters.com/video/2017/06/13/comic-culture-on-display-at-the-library?videoId=371881803&videoChannel=4

The Library of Congress opens an exhibit celebrating the world of comics. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) STORY: The Library of Congress in Washington D.C., is hosting a pop-up exhibit celebrating comics and graphic novels. The exhibit dubbed the "Library of Awesome" features 90 famous comic-book issues, drawings, and original comic strips chosen from the Library's collection of almost 140,000 items. "Wonder Woman" features prominently in the exhibit, and Lynda Carter who played the superhero in the 1970's television series will appear at an event at the Library of Congress on Friday (June 16). "One of the things that we would like to do in the collection is to make sure that we are including non-traditional subjects, non-traditional characters, characters," said Library of Congress reference librarian Megan Halsband. "I wanted to kind of highlight that through this exhibit as well because it is there even though it's not maybe as talked about as it could or should be." In addition to Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, and other favorite superheroes the exhibit also includes characters of diverse backgrounds including African-American, Muslim, and LGBTQ characters.

Cuddles and Rage design a beer can for Awesome Con

DID YOU HEAR, AWESOME CON'S GOT ITS OWN BEER?! We thought we'd try something new this year! Awesome Con and Manor Hill Brewing have partnered to bring you Atomic Smash, the official Awesome Con beer! Where can you find Atomic Smash? We're glad you asked! It will be sold at the DC Convention Center at Food Show B, C, D, and E, Ezra's BBQ, and La Mia Famiglia Pizza. And while Atomic Smash is limited at the show, it can also be found outside at local restaurants around DC! Delicious! Special thank to Cuddles and Rage for the artwork.

Awesome Con programming PR (local ties in italics and added at end)

Awesome Con Announces Full Schedule of Events

Three Days Packed with Special Guest Appearances, Industry Expert Panels, Exclusive Screenings, and More Fill the Walter E. Washington Convention Center June 16-18

 

Washington, DC (June 13, 2017) – Awesome Con, Washington DC's Comic Con, is proud to announce three days of programming complete with panels, workshops, celebrity appearances, and more, taking over the Walter E. Washington Convention Center from June 16-18. This year, Awesome Con attendees will have access to specialized sections including Future Con, presented in partnership with the Smithsonian, featuring more intellectually stimulating and entertaining content than ever, and robust family-friendly programming called Awesome Con Jr., presented in partnership with Nickelodeon. Attendees can start planning their Awesome Con experience and view the full schedule online at: www.awesomecon.com/programming.

 

"This year we've doubled down on our programming efforts," said Awesome Con founder Ben Penrod. "From Future Con, to Awesome Con Jr, to our LGBT creators showcase Pride Alley, and to our most robust celebrity guest list yet, Awesome Con has grown by leaps and bounds into a fan convention unlike any other."

 

Highlights from Awesome Con 2017 include:

 

Celebrity & Comic Guests

Hear from some of the biggest influencers from the world of pop culture and comic books at panels, screenings, Q&As, and more. Events include:

·         Stan Lee Q&A (10:30AM – June 18 – Main Stage) Stan Lee will discuss his exciting career spanning several decades and answer questions from audience members. Seating begins at 9:30 AM.

·         Tech of Batman Panel with Greg Capullo, Scott Snyder & Tom King (1:30PM – June 17 – Room 150) – Capullo and Snyder, the creative duo behind today's Batman comics, join engineers and experts in technology and intelligence to look at the plausibility of replicating Batman in real life. Panelists will examine Batman's endurance, tech, and more to determine what's real and what's best left to fiction.

·         David Tennant Explores Time and Space (10:30AM – June 17 – Main Stage) – Actor David Tennant, who 'visited' the furthest futures while playing The Doctor on BBC's Doctor Who, joins experts Dr. Grant Tremblay and Dr. Matt Shindell on Awesome Con's Main Stage to discuss the outer reaches of the galaxy. They'll cover topics including Doctor Who, what's really going on out there among the stars, and answer questions from the audience. Seating begins at 9:30 AM.

·         Edgar Wright: Meet the Director of Baby Driver (2:00PM – June 17 – Main Stage) – Meet Edgar Wright, the director of popular film juggernauts including Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Shaun of the Dead, and get a first look at his new film Baby Driver. Wright will share insight into his career and the creation of Baby Driver, with giveaways and extra surprises planned for fans. Hosted by Felicia Day.

·         WWE® Superstars Charlotte Flair™ & Shinsuke Nakamura™ Q&A (2:30PM – June 17 – Room 146) – WWE® Superstars Charlotte Flair™ and Shinsuke Nakamura™ discuss life as WWE stars and answer audience questions.

·         The Guild Reunion with Felicia Day, Sandeep Parikh, Amy Okuda, Jeff Lewis, and Robin Thorsen (11:30AM – June 18 – Room 146) – Cast members of The Guild, the award-winning original web series, reunite to talk about working with each other, their careers, and new projects, and answer audience questions.

·         Experience Japan! (1:00PM – June 17 – Room 154) – Hosted by the Embassy of Japan, this panel seeks to help participants understand the influence of Japanese culture on American pop culture. Explore traditional Japanese culture, play Japanese games, and meet the embassy's very own therapeutic robot, PARO.

·         Representation Matters with Bryan Turner, Jerry Gaylord & Penelope Gaylord (3:30PM – June 16 – Room 152) – How important is it to see characters and creators that look like you? Join Identity Comics Studio and the "Loading Snacks" crew for a discussion on diversity in media, from the characters leading stories to the creators behind them.

·         Comics Conversation: Collections and Preservation at the Library of Congress (11:00AM – June 17 – Room 150) – Join Library of Congress staff members for a panel discussion about the comics collections at the Library. Specialists from the Library's newspaper, graphic art, and popular art conservation teams share collection highlights, insights on comics conservation, and suggest how attendees can utilize the Library's comics collection.

 

Future Con

·         StarTalk Live! with Colonel Chris Hadfield & Scott Adsit (8:00PM – June 16 – Main Stage) – Colonel Chris Hadfield, former commander of the International Space Station, and award-winning actor and comedian Scott Adsit (Veep, 30 Rock) co-host a special edition of award-winning talk show StarTalk Live!, bridging the intersection between pop culture and science with humor and passion.

·         Brave New Girls: Women in STEM (5:00PM – June 17 – Room 146) – Some of the greatest scientific advances in history have been made by women, but girls are seldom encouraged to explore the sciences. Future Con presents a panel of scientists jointly discussing the achievements of female scientists, women's roles in STEM today, and the need for advocacy to create the next generation of female scientists, engineers, and astronauts. With speakers from NASA, the National Science Foundation, and more. Hosted by Nerdist's Jessica Chobot.

·         IBM Watson: Superman or Supercomputer? Making Money with Artificial Intelligence (5:30PM – June 16 – Room 146) – IBM's Artificial Intelligence creation Watson, which made its debut on Jeopardy! in 2011, amazed American audiences and today is an open platform for millions of users and developers. Dr. Marc Teerlink, IBM's Chief Business Strategist, takes the stage to discuss what Watson represents for AI progress worldwide.

·         NASA's Space Lasers (4:00PM – June 16 – Room 143) – Explore the latest laser technology and the key science behind missions helping us investigate our home planet and beyond. Engineers and scientists will take you behind the scenes of missions like the Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite 2 launching with green lasers in 2018, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter currently orbiting the Moon, and more.

 

Awesome Con Jr

·         GeekDad Celebrates Father's Day: Raising Geek Generation 2.0 (1:30PM – June 18 – Room 149) – Join some of the writers from GeekDad.com and their kids for a discussion about raising the next generation of geeks. Topics covered will include introducing various fandoms to kids, sharing old and new geeky passions, and determining what's age-appropriate.

·         Padawan Lightsaber Training presented by Saber Guild Corellia (5:45PM – June 17 – Backlot Stage) - Adults and their 'Padawans' can join Saber Guild Corellia to learn how to wield a lightsaber and stave off the Dark Side on the Backlot stage.

·         Kids Costume Parade presented by The Emoji Movie (1:00PM – June 18 – Backlot Stage) – Awesome Con encourages budding costume designers to strut their stuff in custom outfits at the Kids Costume Parade presented by The Emoji Movie. Participation is limited to the first 30 kids (and their parents) who register at the Backlog stage 30 minutes before the parade.

·         Let's Go LEGO! (1:00PM – June 17 – Awesome Con Jr Stage) – Cartoonist John Gallagher shows you and your kids how to draw LEGO versions of your favorite characters. Come expand your art skills and take home the art as a souvenir.

 

Pride Alley

·         Making LGBT+ Representation Matter in Fiction (5:00PM – June 16 – Room 144) – Engage in a lively conversation about LGBTQ+ characters in fiction and what creators are doing, or not doing, to foster representation.

·         A History of LGBTQ+ Representation in Comic Books & Television (June 17 – 12:30PM – Room 144) – Learn about the history of LGBTQ+ representation in Nerd Culture through discussion of the most iconic LGBTQ+ characters in anime, comic books, video games, and television. The important dialogue will conclude with thoughts on the importance of LGBTQ+ characters in the media and pop culture.

·         Pokémon, Musicals, & Gay with Voice Actor Jamie McGonnigal (4:30PM – June 17 – Room 144) – Fans will have the opportunity to discuss Jamie McGonnigal's impressive resume including his voice work on Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh!, his global LGBTQ+ activism, and his career as a Broadway producer. From questions about how to get started in voice acting to how to come out to your high school anime club – nothing is off the table!

 

Esports

·         NRG at Awesome Con (11:00AM-2:00PM – June 18 – East Salons G-I, Booth 16) - Fans of video games and esports will have a unique chance to meet players from NRG Esports' Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) team at Awesome Con on Sunday, June 18. Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, will host the NRG CS:GO team's visit in Awesome Con's Video Game Room in East Salons G-I from 11:00AM to 12:00PM for a live gaming experience, followed by an autograph session in the show's Exhibit Hall at booth 16 from 1:00PM to 2:00PM.

 

For Awesome Con's full guest and event list, visit www.awesomecon.com, and for the latest news and information, follow Awesome Con on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AwesomeConDC.

And here's a few more local ties that I noted:

Celebrating Five Years of Awesomeness

6/16/2017 / 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM / 103

It's Awesome Con's fifth year! Join Awesome Con founder, Ben Penrod, for a look at what the first Awesome Con looked like and what the Awesome Con of the future looks like!

Panelist: Ben Penrod

Rated G

Building a Better Batcave! with John Gallagher

6/16/2017 / 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM / Awesome Con Jr.

You are part of Batman's trusted team of engineers and interior designers. He has just tasked you with a very important job. Working together, you must design and draw the blueprints for a new Batcave!

The Advent of a New/Old Comic Company — C3 Comics

6/16/2017 / 6:30 PM – 7:15 PM / 154

Even though we've been around for almost 20 years, few have ever heard of C3 Comics.  And it's not your fault, it's ours.  We entered the Comic Indie Market thinking that we could take it over in one fell swoop; change the industry with just our imagination and boundless ambition.  Little did we know that the comic book industry is actually an industry, and that hopes and dreams only get you so far.  Join us and as we formally introduce the Indie creators, and company that's finally ready to make it's mark in the comic industry.  Broaden your horizons.  Read C3 Comics.

Panelists: Alan Cole, David Welcher, Jose Loeri, Raymond Francis, Douglas Pendleton, Robert Spencer

Rated PG-13

Awesome Con Short Film Fest

6/16/2017 / 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM / 144 A

Finish your day of insanity at Awesome Con by grabbing some popcorn, all your friends, and a seat, as Joe Carabeo(Director, Astray Productions, Project Resolution) and Otessa Marie Ghadar(Director, 2020 Production, DC Web Fest Founder) bring to Awesome Con for the first time, an Awesome Con Short Film Festival! Check out on the fringe films that have been making waves by Otessa Marie Ghadar, Rick Spears, Matthew Lucas, Michele Lombardi, Danny Caporaletti, and Joe Carabeo. Grab your seat fast for this exclusive, first time, Awesome Con mini film festival. 

Panelists: Joe Carabeo, Otessa Marie Ghadar, Danny Caporaletti, Rick Spears, Matthew Lucas, Michele Lombardi

Rated PG

PURE:THE MOVIE TEASER

6/16/2017 / 9:00 PM – 9:45 PM / 144 BC

PURE is an epic tale of ingrained racism and the evils of inequality – a project where models get body painted to become the characters of a graphic novel and a feature length movie.

The movie is based on a fumetti style graphic novel named PURE. A story built around the small nation of Seyns. It's governed by 7 feuding Western defined families(Baum, Cassidy, Dolle', Kindris, Rome, Mundi and Slaven); each with unique characteristics(heritage, social norms, cloning, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, artifacts and technologies). They don the ornate clothing and jewelry of money, beauty, and corruption. Their golden exterior and sky blue eyes belie any preoccupation with altruism, for the commoners serve as mere stepping-stones to money, power and useless things.

Panelists: Anthony Dortch, Grant Collins, Charlie Belle, Sha Golanski, & Gazelle Powers

Rated R

Using Comics to Tell the History of D.C.

6/17/2017 / 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM / 149

ReDistrictedComics.com is a new serialized online anthology that focuses on lesser-known historical stories about Washington, D.C. The site has caught the attention of students, teachers and historians. Join editor Matt Dembicki (District Comics, Trickster, Wild Ocean) for a panel conversation with local educators, historians and community leaders on how the website and its resources are being using as teaching tools inside and outside classrooms.

Panelists: Matt Dembicki, Jason Rodriguez, Jane Freundel Levey, Mary Ann Zher, Eric Cervini

Rated G

LIVE Carolyn and Joe Show Podcast "400th Episode"

6/18/2017 / 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM / 154

The Carolyn and Joe Show podcast celebrate their 400th episode! Every year one of the best times at Awesome Con is the live recording of The Carolyn and Joe Show podcast in front of a LIVE Awesome Con audience. They've had special guests from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Pulp Fiction, Renowned Animation voices and Walking Dead Actors. This is a panel/recording/live show like no other and it's the 400th episode. What in the world could possibly happen this year?

Panelists: Carolyn Belefski, Joe Carabeo

Rated PG

Alien Art with Dawn Griffin

6/18/2017 / 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM / Awesome Con Jr.

Awesome Con Jr. will be transformed into an alien factory when cartoonist, Dawn Griffin, shows you easy ways to draw wacky aliens.

6/18/2017 / 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM / 149

Learn how to color comics just like the pros with Comic Book Digital Colorist, Arsia Rozegar (credits include Marvel's The Hulk and Iron Man).  Arsia will demonstrate step-by-step techniques on how to color comic pages using Adobe Photoshop.

Panelist: Arsia Rozegar

Rated G

ARKHAM FILES: SUPERVILLAIN PSYCHOSES Vol. 2

6/18/2017 / 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM / 154

Ever wonder what makes our favorite Batman villains tick? Well, look no further, as the folks behind last year's ARKHAM FILES: SUPERVILLAIN PSYCHOSES panel return to Arkham Asylum to discuss the possible psychoses for a BRAND NEW set of villains in Batman's rogues gallery!

If you thought last year's villain profiles were interesting, wait until you see what villains we profile in this sequel edition!

Panelists: Brandon Troy, Julian Lytle, Charles Samenow

Rated R

Create Your Own Superhero Symbol with Carolyn Belefski

6/18/2017 / 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM / Awesome Con Jr.

Every hero needs a logo! Many superheroes have personal branding on their outfits and My Little Pony characters even have cutie marks! Join artist and designer Carolyn Belefski and learn how to incorporate graphic design elements to create an icon and establish your own powerful visual identity.

Speech Bubbles, Ink and Clay Offer Powerful Ways to Communicate Science

By Andrea Korte/American Association for the Advancement of Science


The journey of a great white shark, the adventures of “science sleuths” and the inner workings of our genes are just a few of the stories told in comic strips and books, tapping into a rich medium for communicating science and presenting an effective way to use such art forms to teach readers about science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Read the full article.

June 14-17: Library of Awesome at Library of Congress

May 26, 2017 Public Contact: Tyanne Rodgers (202) 707-1507, tyro@loc.gov Request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at (202) 707-6362 or ADA@loc.gov                                                                                                      Library of Congress to Celebrate the World of Comics The Library of Congress is gearing up for a super summer treat celebrating the role of comics and graphic novels in promoting literacy, as collectibles, in the arts, advertising, sociology, popular culture and history. Making a variety of collection items more accessible to the general public, the "Library of Awesome" features a pop-up display of famous comic-book issues, drawings, original comic strips and related items. Programming for all ages will be offered. Nearly 100 comic-book collection items will be on display for "Library of Awesome," a pop-up exhibit featuring items from the Library's comic-book collections presented in conjunction with Awesome-Con, Washington, D.C.'s annual convention of comics, cosplay and pop culture. The display will be on view Wednesday, June 14 – Saturday, June 17 on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street S.E., Washington D.C. Tickets are not required. "Comic books attract fans and collectors of all ages. What many people might not know is that the Library of Congress is a collector as well," said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. "We have the world's largest collection of comic books, and I am so pleased we can share some of them during this special display.  I hope this experience will inspire visitors to further explore our collections and discover other surprises." The collections of the Library of Congress include nearly 140,000 comic books dating back to the 1930s. Visitors will see famous editions of such comic-book characters as Wonder Woman, Superman and some of the most significant artwork and storylines in comic-book history. These include original artwork for the first appearance of Spider-Man and the American classic known as Famous Funnies No. 1 (1934), considered by many to be the first American comic book. First appearances of Batman, the Fantastic Four and the Incredible Hulk will be on display, as well as rare early science fiction and children's comics. The exhibit will also feature first issues of Archie, Luke Cage: Hero for Hire and Supergirl. Additional programming includes a family-friendly costume contest with a chance to win a pair of tickets to Awesome-Con 2017, workshops and demonstrations. Events are free and open to the public. Visitors who come to "Library of Awesome" dressed in a superhero character costume will receive a 15 percent discount on merchandise at the Library of Congress Shop. Media wishing to cover the event must RSVP no later than Thursday, June 1. Additional details about coverage opportunities will follow. The excitement can be followed on Twitter at @librarycongress and #LCcomics. The programming includes: Wednesday, June 14 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (LJ 113, first floor, Thomas Jefferson Building) "Library of Awesome" Comic-Book Display Visitors are invited to explore this pop-up display of more than 100 iconic comic-book issues of today's most popular characters. The display will feature multiple themes including Wonder Woman and milestones, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, children's comics and sci-fi comics. Free and open to the public. No tickets required.   Thursday, June 15 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (LJ 113, first floor, Thomas Jefferson Building) "Library of Awesome" Comic-Book Display Visitors are invited to explore this pop-up display of more than 100 iconic comic-book issues of today's most popular characters. The display will feature multiple themes including Wonder Woman and milestones, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, children's comics and sci-fi comics. Free and open to the public. No tickets required.     2 p.m. (Young Readers Center) Cosplay Demonstration Library Technician Ashley Dickerson and other cosplayers will demonstrate how they develop characters. Free and open to the public. No tickets required. 3 p.m. (Young Readers Center) Cosplay Workshop Library of Congress Young Readers Center staff and cosplayers will teach visitors how to make superhero arm gauntlets using basic craft supplies. Kids are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite characters. Free and open to the public. No tickets required. Friday, June 16 9:30 a.m. (Neptune Plaza) Costume Contest Get your capes ready! Come dressed up as your favorite comic-book character for the ultimate costume contest. There will be separate categories for children and adult participants. The winners of the adult contest will receive a pair of passes to 2017 Awesome-Con to be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Free and open to the public. Reservations required; visit Eventbrite for reservation and official contest rules. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (LJ 113, first floor, Thomas Jefferson Building) "Library of Awesome" Comic-Book Display Visitors are invited to explore this pop-up display of more than 100 iconic comic-book issues of today's most popular characters. The display will feature multiple themes including Wonder Woman and milestones, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, children's comics and sci-fi comics. Free and open to the public. No tickets required.  Saturday, June 17 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Young Readers Center) "Library of Awesome" themed activites and displays  Young Readers Center staff will host activities all day, including drawing comic books, creating props, and assembling costumes. Visitors will also be able to explore comic books, graphic novels and other Young Readers Center collections and partake in superhero and sci-fi-themed photo shoots. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (LJ 113, first floor, Thomas Jefferson Building) "Library of Awesome" Comic-Book Display Visitors are invited to explore this pop-up display of more than 100 iconic comic-book issues of today's most popular characters. The display will feature multiple themes including Wonder Woman and milestones, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Children's comics and sci-fi comics. Free and open to the public. No tickets required.       11 a.m. (Walter E. Washington Convention Center) "Comics Conversation: Collections and Preservation at the Library"* Join Library of Congress staff members, including Senior Rare Book Conservator Claire Dekle, Curator of Popular and Applied Graphic Art Sara W. Duke, Reference Specialist Megan Halsband, Head of the Newspaper Section Georgia Higley and Curator of Popular and Applied Graphic Art Martha H. Kennedy, for a panel discussion about the original art and collections held at the Library. Panelists will share highlights of the collections, provide insights on the conservation and preservation of this material, and suggest how attendees might come to use the Library's collections for their own research. *Awesome-Con 2017 ticket required for attendance. The Library of Awesome is made possible by gifts to the Library of Congress Fund. Those interested in supporting free programs at the Library can contact devofc@loc.gov. The Serial and Government Publications Division maintains one of the most extensive newspaper collections in the world. It is exceptionally strong in United States newspapers, with 9,000 titles covering the past three centuries. With over 25,000 non-U.S. titles, it is the largest collection of overseas newspapers in the world. Beyond its newspaper holdings, the division also has extensive collections of current periodicals, comic books and government publications. The comic-book collection is available for research use by scholars, collectors, and other researchers in the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room; for more information visit www.loc.gov/rr/news/coll/049.html. The Library of Congress is the world's largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States—and extensive materials from around the world—both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov, access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov, and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov. ### PR 17-63 2017-05-26 ISSN 0731-3527

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June 14: Women in comics at National Museum of Women in the Arts

For much of comics history, women characters were introduced as plot devices for the leading male characters with disheartening regularity. Join us for a conversation about the new wave of superheroines entering the comic universe, leading the fight for justice and dispelling traditional stereotypes in fiction and beyond.  Joining the conversation are: Carolyn Cocca, author of Superwomen: Gender, Power, and Representation; Ariell Johnson, owner of Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse, Philadelphia; Gabby Rivera, young adult author and writer for Marvel's AMERICA series; and Ashley Woods, illustrator, graphic novelist, and artist for the Stranger Comics series, NIOBE: She is Life. Moderated by Emily Whitten, ComicMix.com writer and Awesome Con moderator, based in Washington, D.C.

Sign up now for your Friend Discount Rate of $15! Discount tickets are limited. (Regular price: $25 general; $20 members, seniors, students). Price includes museum admission and Catalyst cocktail hour. Galleries open to attendees from 3 p.m - 6:45 p.m. Museum store will have speaker's books and comics for sale before and after the program.