Comic-Con International is just over a week away, and CBLDF is going to be on hand with some spectacular programming in support of our mission to fight for the right to read comics! Don’t forget to add these amazing events to your calendar for the show!
TUESDAY
An Evening with Raina Telgemeier
July 7, 2015 • 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library
Graphic novel superstar Raina Telgemeier, the best-selling author of Smile, Sisters, and Drama, is coming to the San Diego Central Library in downtown San Diego, on Tuesday, July 7 at 6:00 PM for “An Evening With Raina,” a free event to help you get ready for Comic-Con International! Come hear her talk about her mega-popular all-ages graphic novels. Bring your questions and find out what’s next for Raina at this special event presented by Comic-Con International and Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, in conjunction with the San Diego Public Library.
Raina is a global phenomenon! Her three books, Smile, Drama, and Sisters—along with her four books based on Ann M. Martin’s The Baby-sitters Club—total a staggering 3 million copies in print, placing her at the forefront of the children’s graphic novel boom. The writer/artists just celebrated her third straight year on the New York Times Bestseller list! Her efforts to champion kids’ right to read include speaking out for Banned Books Week, the annual celebration of the freedom to read. Banned Books Week 2015 celebrates Young Adult books, and the rights of young readers everywhere to read fearlessly!
This popular comics creator is a special guest at Comic-Con International this year, but you don’t have to have a badge to see her in this special early appearance at the San Diego Central Library! “An Evening with Raina” is co-sponsored by Comic-Con and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, on Tuesday, July 7 at 6:00 PM in the Neil Morgan Auditorium, located at 330 Park Blvd., in downtown San Diego. Admission is free, but seating is limited for this special event. CBLDF will have books available for donations.
Our friends at the Library have set up a Facebook page for this special event. Please visit it at https://www.facebook.com/events/409652992554989/ and let us know if you’re going to join us on Tuesday, July 7th for this very special evening!
THURSDAY
CBLDF: Spinner Rack Revolution: The Secret History of Free Speech in Magazine Comics
July 9, 2015 • 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Room 30CDE
In the 1960s and ’70s, publishers fled from spinner racks to magazine stands to escape the bounds of the Comics Code Authority. While comic books continued to labor under the stigma of low-value, juvenile speech, the larger-format magazine comics broke out, giving artists a safe haven to openly deal with adult content, provide more horror and suspense, and be frank about sexuality. Magazines like Mad, Creepy, and Eerie paved the way for a generation of titles that included Heavy Metal, Vampirella, Epic Illustrated, 1984, and Savage Sword of Conan to break new ground for a general audience and loosen the reins on some of comics’ top creators. CBLDF deputy director Alex Cox reveals the untold history of magazine comics, reviewing the impact of publications from Warren, Marvel, Heavy Metal, National Lampoon, and more!
CBLDF: Why Are Diverse Books Banned?
July 9, 2015 • 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Room 30CDE
When the American Library Association released their latest annual list of the most challenged books, a disturbing trend was noted: Books that increased the diversity of what is available to readers were more likely to be challenged. What is it about diversity that seems to encourage censors? Join CBLDF and library and education professionals Candice Mack (President, Young Adult Library Services Association), Erwin Magbanua (Programming & Special Events Coordinator, San Diego Public Library), Carla Riemer (Librarian, Claremont Middle School, Oakland, California), Carol Tilley (Associate Professor, University of Illinois), and more for a discussion of why diverse books are challenged and how we can defend them. Moderated by CBLDF Editorial Director Betsy Gomez.
CBLDF Podcast Live: Banned Authors Speak Out
July 9, 2015 • 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library
Join Jeff Smith (Bone) and Mariko Tamaki (This One Summer) for an in-depth discussion of what it’s like to be the author of a banned book. CBLDF executive director Charles Brownstein hosts this special live podcast celebrating Banned Books Week and examining the stakes of censorship for creators, librarians, and most of all, readers.
CBLDF Comic-Con Welcome Party
July 9, 2015 • 8:00pm – 11:00pm
Westgate Hotel (1055 Second Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101)
Kick-off Comic-Con with comics’ greatest creators at the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s Comic-Con Welcome Party, sponsored by Image Comics and comiXology, with a special gallery display from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab! The fun starts at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, at the Westgate Hotel, where CBLDF welcomes you to Comic-Con for a night of amazing creators, astonishing artwork, and outstanding exclusives! RSVP now: https://cbldf-sdcc2015.eventbrite.com
Meet Great Creators! Every year the greatest creators in comics drop in at the CBLDF Welcome Party. Confirmed attendees so far this year include Scott Snyder, Jock, Jeff Lemire, Kieron Gillen, Fábio Moon, Gabriel Bá, Tim Seeley, Ben Acker, Ben Blacker, Joshua Williamson, and dozens more who are expected to drop in over the course of the night!
Get the Exclusive Goods! The first 200 attendees will receive a free gift bag, with exclusive items from Image Comics, comiXology and CBLDF! RSVP now: https://cbldf-sdcc2015.eventbrite.com
Smell Awesome at the Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab/Trading Post! Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab will be debuting their Profanities series, with a selection of limited edition Expletives that will only be available at the CBLDF Welcome Party. Proceeds from every sale at the CBLDF Welcome Party benefit CBLDF!
Get First Dibs on CBLDF Exclusives! CBLDF has been working hard to put together an exclusive assortment for Comic-Con attendees! We have an all-new tote bag featuring art by the terrific Vanesa R. Del Rey (Hit); an embroidered Comic-Con souvenir patch and new CBLDF t-shirt, both designed by Brian Wood (Starve); and the CBLDF-exclusive variant of Star Trek Green Lantern from IDW Publishing and DC Comics!
Preview the Incredible Items in CBLDF’s Comic-Con Auction! Get a first look at the amazing original art up for grabs at Saturday’s CBLDF Comic-Con Auction, including pieces by Jim Lee, Kelley Jones, Jeff Smith, Matt Kindt, Gilbert Hernandez, J. Scott Campbell, Herb Trimpe, Jeffrey Brown, Greg Ruth, Ray Fawkes, Tyler Crook, and many, many more!
Get New Neil Gaiman Art From Neverwear! Neverwear has an ever-growing line of items based on the works of author Neil Gaiman and is an ardent supporter of CBLDF! Neverwear will support the Fund at the SDCC Welcome Party by premiering “Hope,” a new print by Chris Ridell, along with classic designs by David Mack, Jim Lee, Olivia, and Jouni Koponen. Proceeds from sales at the CBLDF Welcome Party benefit CBLDF!
Come support Free Speech and experience the best party at Comic-Con during the CBLDF Comic-Con Welcome Party, Thursday, July 9, at the Westgate Hotel (1055 Second Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101), from 8:00 – 11:00 p.m.! This party is FREE for CBLDF Members. Non-members: Suggested $10 – $20 donation at the door, please. You can RSVP here: https://cbldf-sdcc2015.eventbrite.com
FRIDAY
CBLDF: Banned Comics
July 10, 2015 • 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Room 30CDE
It’s hard to believe that books are still banned in the United States, and yet each year hundreds of incidents are recorded. CBLDF springs to action in these cases, providing expert support for the librarians and individuals who fight back when calls to censorship arise. CBLDF executive director Charles Brownstein and editorial director Betsy Gomez examine the comics that have been banned and challenged this year, showing how they fit into recent trends in comics censorship. They’ll also preview Banned Books Week 2015, celebrating Young Adult books.
CBLDF: Comics and The Real World: Using Graphic Novels as Tools of Tolerance
July 10, 2015 • 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Room 30CDE
Jimmy Gownley (The Dumbest Idea Ever, Amelia Rules!), Jonathan Hennessey (The United States Constitution, Gettysburg), Aron Steinke (The Zoo Box), Rafael Rosado (Giants Beware, Dragons Beware), Eric Kallenborn (Alan B. Shepard High School Palos Heights, IL), Cecil Castellucci (The PLAIN Janes), Matthew Holm (Babymouse), Betsy Gomez (CBLDF), Tracy Edmunds (Reading With Pictures), and moderator Meryl Jaffe, Ph.D. (Raising a Reader! How Comics and Graphic Novels Can Help Your Kids Learn to Read) demonstrate how graphic novels can be used to teach and empower students to feel, access and comprehend historical and cultural events, as well as more fully understand diverse figures in history and fiction and even grasp concepts in science and math. There will be lesson and reading suggestion handouts and time for Q&A.
SATURDAY
CBLDF: Comics in the Classroom: Real-World Ideas for Engaging Your Students with Comics
July 11, 2015 • 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Room 30CDE
Comics are more than just great entertainment, they’re an incredible tool for learning. Creators Cecil Castellucci (Odd Duck, The PLAIN Janes), Nathan Hale (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales), Matthew Holm (Babymouse, Squish), Matt Phelan (The Storm in the Barn, Bluffton), and Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy, Jax Epoch and the Quicken Forbidden) and educators Rose Brock and Dr. Meryl Jaffe discuss how comics can be used to engage students in the classroom. Get real-world suggestions for ways to integrate comics in the classroom, to expand on lessons with comic-based activities, and to encourage student participation. They’ll also have lesson and reading suggestion handouts and time for Q&A. Moderated by CBLDF editorial director Betsy Gomez.
CBLDF: Comics Censorship in 2015
July 11, 2015 • 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Room 30CDE
Although free expression is seen as a basic human right, censorship is rampant in the United States and around the world. CBLDF executive director Charles Brownstein and editorial director Betsy Gomez present an overview of the censorship crises facing cartoonists in 2015, from the violence and legal prosecution occurring around the globe to domestic attacks on young adult books in libraries and schools across the country. Learn how comics and books are being challenged, and what you can do to fight back.
Events for Community Engagement
July 11, 2015 • 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Shiley Special Events, San Diego Central Library
Annual events like Children’s Book Week, Star Wars Reads, and Banned Book Week are celebrated at libraries all over the country. How can graphic novels be included in these programs, and introduced to communities through them? Join this conversation with Charles Brownstein (CBLDF), Kuo-Yu Liang (Diamond), Gina Gagliano (First Second), and Kat Salazar (Image). Moderated by Eva Volin (Alameda Public Library).
CBLDF Protecting Comics in Libraries
July 11, 2015 • 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Shiley Special Events, San Diego Central Library
Comics and graphic novels are achieving more acclaim than ever, which is leading to increased demand, and unfortunately a rise in challenges. Comic Book Legal Defense Fund executive director Charles Brownstein spotlights the current landscape of graphic novel challenges and shares the organization’s most recent resources and success stories. Come share your perspectives, and learn more about how you can be a part of protecting comics.
CBLDF Live Art Auction
July 11, 2015 • 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m
Hilton Bayfront, Sapphire CD
CBLDF hosts its biggest original art auction of the year at Comic-Con! Presented in partnership with IDW Publishing and the San Diego Comic Art Gallery, CBLDF’s Live Art Auction gathers amazing original pieces that you can bid on to help the Fund protect the freedom to read! Check CBLDF Booth 1918 for a complete list of auction items and come bid, mingle with creators, and celebrate free speech at CBLDF’s Live Art Auction!
SUNDAY
CBLDF: You Can’t Draw That! Live Art Jam
July 12, 2015 • 12:15pm – 1:45pm
Room 5AB
Join Michael Cho, Denis Kitchen, and special guests celebrate creative freedom by making live art before your eyes. Join the CBLDF and these great creators as they share their perspectives on censorship and make once-in-a-lifetime art to benefit the Fund’s important work. Get a chance to watch live art being created, learn about censorship, and bid to win the pieces made here to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.