UPDATED: Thu, Jul 14, 09:23AM Sven Larsen (VP of marketing, Papercutz), Betsy Gomez (editorial director, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund), and Lizette Serrano (director of library and educational marketing, Scholastic) explain how librarians can build programming to foster a love of graphic novels in their communities in a Q&A session moderated by Dawn Rutherford (teen services coordinator, Sno-Isle Libraries).
Censorship is affecting more comics than ever, especially comics made for young people. Recent months have seen attacks on award-winning books like This One Summer and Drama, as well as increased targeting of books by and about diversity. CBLDF editorial director Betsy Gomez leads a discussion with Gina Gagliano (First Second), and Carla Riemer (librarian, Claremont Middle School, Oakland, California) about what books are challenged, who's affected, and what you can do stop the spread of censorship.
Terry Nantier (CEO, Papercutz), Ed Massesa (acquisitions manager, Graphix, Scholastic Book Fairs), Susan Van Metre (editor-in-chief, Abrams), and Mark Siegel (editorial director, First Second Books, Macmillan) predict the future of children's comics and graphic novels and their aspirations for the next 10 years. Moderated by Candice Mack (senior librarian, LA Public Library).
Comic creators Nathan Hale (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series), Stuart Moore (Egos, Zodiac Legacy), Gene Luen Yang (Secret Coders, Boxers & Saints), and Ru Xu (NewsPrints, Saint for Rent) explain their process, demystifying comics creation for librarians. Moderated by Jack Baur (supervising librarian, Berkeley Public Library).
Younger readers are one of the fastest-growing comics audiences, so which books are bringing in these readers? This panel takes a look at trends in the kids' graphic novel category with top industry experts Charles Kochman (Abrams ComicArts), Filip Sablik (BOOM! Studios), and other decision makers. Moderated by Brigid Alverson (Robot 6).
Comics are striving to create a more diverse culture of creativity for an increasingly varied audience. Gina Gagliano (First Second), Robin Herrera (Oni Press), and Sierra Hahn (BOOM! Studios) talk about what comics are doing to create a more diverse culture of material to serve the diversity of our readership. Moderated by Candice Mack (president, Young Adult Library Services Association).
How are kids' graphic novels growing, and what does the future hold for this dynamic segment of the comics medium? Executives Mark Siegel (First Second), David Saylor (Scholastic), Greg Goldstein (IDW Publishing), and Terry Nantier (Papercutz) and moderator Calvin Reid discuss this growing market.
