Jersey City Black Comic Con Brings Creators, Cosplay and Community Together

The Jersey City Black Comic Con returned for its second year on June 21, drawing heroes, villains and creators across the tri-state area. 

Local comic book creators, artists and vendors filled the rooms  of the Mary McLeod Bethune Center, promoting their work and selling everything from Funko Pops, artwork and minifigures. Some booths even offered drawing lessons to kids who were interested in taking their first steps in the craft.

Many attending this year’s convention in Jersey City found a sense of togetherness within the intimacy of much smaller comic cons than those found in cities like New York and San Diego. It was important to Alvin Pettit, the event’s founder, to create a space where Black voices could be represented within the comic community.

“Being a big comic book fan in the 70s and 80s, I remembered when my mother would take me to comic conventions, before they were called conventions, when they were held in the basement of a hotel,” says Pettit, who is also the director of the Bethune Center. “There were mostly just people selling comic books and holding art competitions. But the one thing that was missing was representation for Black people.” 

Pettit studied under some of the best known comic creators, including Will Eisner, but found there were few African Americans in the class. He was also a former instructor at the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art where, once again, he noticed there were hardly any Black students and he was the only Black teacher. 

“I thought since we have this space and resources at the Bethune Center, why not do something for the Black community since the City has grown tremendously with its arts scene over the last several years,” he says. “Also, with Juneteenth becoming a Federal Holiday, why not attach it to that? Juneteenth celebrates freedom from physical bondage. Comic Con celebrates freedom of imagination.” 

While last year’s event was small by default, taking place on the top floor of the Bethune Center, this year’s event saw activities taking place on both floors. It is Pettit’s wish to keep growing the event in the coming years. 

The day was filled with engaging panels featuring local creators,, cosplay contests and gaming tournaments with favorites like  Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. 

Notable guests included David Crownson of Frenchtown, creator of  “Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer,” which reimagines the abolitionist as a supernatural warrior and is currently being considered for a TV adaptation by Disney-owned  Onyx Collective.

Crownson described creating the series as something that happened “by accident.” It was on a slow day while watching a documentary on Harriet Tubman and movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.”

“I happened to be writing in my journal since I was traveling and these were three things that stood out in what I wrote down: Harriet Tubman, katana fight scene and witch hunters. And then I thought, ‘What if Harriet Tubman beat up a racist werewolf or something along those lines,’” said Crownson.

Also in attendance was Vivian Amaro, a motion graphics and visual effects artist from Brazil who works for Perception in Secaucus and hase contributed to Marvel Studios projects like  “Ms. Marvel,” “Daredevil: Born Again,” and “Captain America: Brave New World.” She also designed the tech seen in movies such as “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” Amaro currently resides in Bloomfield.

“It’s events like this that really bring people together who enjoy the art of comics,” says Amaro. “As an animator, I get to see and interact with other creators who work through different mediums and design characters. It’s very inspiring to be among them.”

Cosplayers drew attention from attendees eager to take photos of their favorite characters, with standouts including the Silver Surfer, the Falcon, Spider-Man, and the Walking Dead’s Negan. 

“Just getting together with your community, dressing up as your favorite characters and letting your imagination run wild, it brings a lot of smiles and good feelings to both children and adults,” says Brandon Shelly of the Bronx, who was cosplaying as the Fantastic Four’s The Thing. “When you’re back in reality and see these characters, it just brings back those same feelings you had of seeing them when you were a child.” 

Local creators included publisher, illustrator, and author Michael Markman of Jersey City. He is also an art teacher at Dr. Michael Conti Public School #5. Markman was promoting his character, Artman, the protector of creativity. Artman has been published in a series of coloring activity books by Markman to teach children the fundamentals of making art. 

Other creators, such as Javier Cruz Winnik from Manhattan’s Lower East Side, were present to promote “A Reason to Smile.” It is a comic published in two volumes about finding happiness while dealing with life’s struggles. A spin-off, “Another Reason to Smile,” is currently being published. 

Winnik, like others who traveled across the region for the comic con, was drawn by the chance to connect in person. He came to celebrate a shared passion for comics.

“It’s here where we have the opportunity to be a part of the comic book scene without having to travel to various parts of the country. This makes it accessible,” Winnik said. “And that’s what we’re trying to have more opportunities for. While we’re exposed to things online, this allows us to see things as they are in the flesh with fellow fans and creators.”