October 2018 - Let Us Entertain You: Indigenous Comic Con
In a world of back to back comic conventions, there is the search for one that stands out in a completely different way. Celebrating their 3rd year, Indigenous Comic Con provides fans with their comic, sci-fi and popular culture fix, while honoring the Native American culture at the same time. The event returns to Isleta Resort and Casino on November 2nd-4th, 2018 with Meow Wolf as their Executive Sponsor for the second year in a row. Lee Francis, Director of Indigenous Comic-Com, is excited to bring what he feels was a much needed event back to New Mexico. “I founded the Indigenous Comic-Con in 2016 as a way to bring together Native and Indigenous folks from multiple pop culture fields. What I had noticed for many years was how we were all siloed in our respective fields and conventions. There are so much cross-over and interconnections, it was just a way to create a space where we could connect and celebrate our identities as Indigenerds.” ICC will continue to bring new events, guests and vendors and they are excited to introduce a brand new exhibit, Electric Chaco, a new interactive story exhibit that reimagines Chaco Canyon in an alternative future and celebrates the spirit of this amazing landmark as a gathering place for Indigenous Peoples throughout the Americas. Francis explained how the exhibit came to fruition. I’ve been kicking around with Indigenous Futurisms for a while and I began to think how it might play out for Pueblo folks and Natives here in the Southwest. I tried to think of something that would be recognizable yet not disrespectful to our Pueblo communities. Chaco Canyon was a focal point for me. So I began to imagine what Chaco might have been like long ago and drew a line as to what it might have become.”
This year’s guests for the event include TV actor Jonathan Joss (King of the Hill, Parks and Recreation); comic veterans Timothy Truman, Arigon Starr, Weshoyot Alvitre, author and Hugo Award winner Rebecca Roanhorse and game designer Allen Turner. The event starts on Thursday, November 2nd with a kick-off party hosted by Bow and Arrow Brewing Company. The event will also continue to promote their Native Youth Sponsorships, providing Native youth the ability to attend the event for free. Francis shared how important this sponsorship is to the organization. “Over two-hundred sponsorships, last year and we are on track for that this year as well. Essentially, it gives folks who may not be able to travel out here to New Mexico, a chance to be a part of the Convention and give back to Native kiddos at the same time. I am so very grateful to all the folks who are supporting Native youth for our event.”
Tickets for Indigenous Comic Con are available at www.indigenouscomiccon.com. www.indigenouscomiccon.com.