Presented and produced by Miami Dade College
Miami, Oct. 5, 2016 – Bestselling comics and graphic novelists will discuss the oldest form of storytelling as part of the Destination: Comics program at the 33rd Miami Book Fair, the nation’s finest and largest literary gathering presented by Miami Dade College, (MDC) on Saturday, Nov. 19 and Sunday, Nov. 20.
Comics have become a hugely popular form for contemporary storytelling and social commentary, offering a wealth of possibilities to writers, artists and readers alike. Destination: Comics will highlight the scope of comics and the innovative range of works and expression comic authors are currently creating.
All presentations take place in the MAGIC screening room (Bldg. 8, First Floor), unless otherwise noted. For even more comics, authors can check out MBF’s Generation Genius Authors schedule, featuring children’s and YA authors of all genres, including comics and graphic novels.
Saturday, Nov. 19
10:30 a.m.
Brave New Worlds: Building Comics Universes
Faith Erin Hicks (The Nameless City), Robert Venditti (Rise of the Robot Army), Eddie Pittman (Red’s Planet: Book 1), and Jeffrey Brown (Lucy and Andy Neanderthal) answer the question: How do you build your own vibrant comics universe and how do you stake out your own ground in the universes of others? Moderated by Conor McCreery.
12 p.m.
New Takes on Tales Retold
Pantheons, princesses, plagues, and private eyes: these comic creators give classic tropes new meaning. Featuring George O’Connor with Apollo: The Brilliant God, Matthew Phelan with Snow White, and Julia Gfrorer with Laid Waste.
1:30 p.m.
Teenage Riot: YA Reality with a Comics Kick
Margaret Stohl (Black Widow: Forever Red), Maggie Thrash (We Know It Was You), and Jessica Abel (Trish Trash: Rollergirl of Mars) talk about their new YA thrillers and how their travels between comics and prose challenge and inspire them. Moderated by author Alex Segura.
2:30 p.m.
Play to Win: Graphic Novel Games
These comic creators talk graphic novels that use puzzle theory, coding and videogame history to turn readers of all ages on to a wide range of subjects, from science and Shakespeare. Ryan North (Romeo and/or Juliet), Box Brown (Tetris: The Games People Play), and Library of Congress Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Gene Yang (Secret Coders) invite us to play. Moderated by editor Joan Hilty.
3:30 p.m.
Short Stories, Big Ideas
Masters of short-form comics, narrative illustration, and web comics discuss the world of writing small and thinking big, with Leela Corman (We all Wish For Deadly Force), Drew Weing (Creepy Casefiles of Margo Maloo), and Frank Viva (Sea Change). Moderated by Jessica Abel (Trish Trash, Artbabe).
4:30 p.m., Room 3210 (Bldg. 3, Second Floor)
Spotlight on Si Lewen’s Parade: Art Spiegelman in conversation with Charlie Kochman
Pulitzer Prize-winning comic writer and artist, Art Spiegelman, and editorial director of Harry N. Abrams, Charles Kochman discuss the wordless epic, Si Lewen’s Parade: An Artist’s Odyssey. First published in 1957, the timeless story of Si Lewen’s Parade is a lost classic, newly discovered, remastered and featuring a foreword by Spiegelman.
Sunday, Nov. 20
11 a.m.
Spotlight on Best American Comics
Guest-edited by Roz Chast, the 11th annual volume of the New York Times bestselling series showcases a wide range of “varied, provocative feats of cartooning”—The Comics Journal. Series editor Bill Kartalopoulos talks to contributors Ben Katchor, Richard McGuire, and Marc Bell.
12:30 p.m.
Investigative History: Comics That Uncover
Nick Bertozzi (Becoming Andy Warhol), Sarah Glidden (Rolling Blackouts), and Trina Robbins (The Complete Wimmen’s Comix) discuss comics as tools of investigation and social commentary.
1:30 p.m.
Serious Satire
Returning from their startling and hilarious illustrated retelling of the Bible in Apocrypha Now, Mark Russell and Shannon Wheeler discuss the art of satire with Benjamin Frisch, whose The Fun Family takes aim at real-world stress on the nuclear family.
2:30 p.m.
Child’s-Eye View: Memories and Memoirs of Youth
Wisdom doesn’t always come with age; what do adult readers learn from challenged lives lived by the very young? Tom Hart (Rosalie Lightning) Emil Ferris (My Favorite Thing is Monsters), and Meags Fitzgerald (Long Red Hair).
3:30 p.m.
Chronicling the Urban Landscape
These comics makers paint a picture of daily life for a varied set, from fading worlds lost to gentrification, to junkies escaping the dregs, and illustrated narratives with unexpected stories. Featuring Ben Katchor with Cheap Novelties, Dean Haspiel with Beef With Tomatoes, and Richard McGuire with Sequential Drawings: The New Yorker series. Moderated by author and illustrator George O’Connor.
4:30 p.m.
They Shoot Black People, Don’t They?: A Cartoonist’s Look at Police Brutality in the U.S.
With a deft, humorous touch, award-winning cartoonist Keith Knight highlights 20 plus years of police brutality and racial injustice in the United States with works that originated in his various cartoon series, (th)ink, The K Chronicles, as well as his nationally syndicated comic strip, The Knight Life.
For Book Fair updates, please visit www.miamibookfair.com, call 305-237-3528, or email wbookfair@mdc.edu.
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Visit MiamiReads.com for complete schedule and more information. #MiamiReads
Miami Book Fair
Widely recognized as the largest and finest literary gathering in the U.S., the Miami Book Fair’s eight-day festival features readings and conversation with the world’s most renowned authors and more than 200 booksellers and exhibitors across various genres and interests. Book lovers are also treated to culinary presentations, live music, dance and theater performances, interactive art projects, fun and educational activities for children, and more! In addition to the annual festival, the Miami Book Fair builds community and promotes reading and writing throughout the year with activities open to all, including creative writing courses taught by local and visiting authors, literary gatherings and happy hours and Read to Learn Books for Free, a partnership with The Children’s Trust that distributes more than 160,000 free books a year to children in Miami-Dade County.
Miami Book Fair is made possible through the generous support of the State of Florida and the National Endowment for the Arts; the City of Miami; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; Miami-Dade County Public Schools; the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau; the Miami Downtown Development; and the Friends of the Fair; as well as many corporate partners. Miami Book Fair: Building community, one reader at a time.
Miami Book Fair media contacts: Lisa Palley, 305-642-3132 lpalley@bellsouth.net or Deyanira Navarrette, 305-495-7168, deyanavarrette@gmail.com