Comic-Con is HERE! It’s the first official day of the con, and you know what that means: the CBLDF Comic-Con Welcome Party! We also have panels and an autograph session with Faith writer Jody Houser! You’ll find us at booth #1918 all week with signed premiums galore, all in support of our important First Amendment work.
Take a look at what we have in store for you today!
CBLDF’s Comic-Con Welcome Party!
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 21, 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-sdcc2016.eventbrite.com
Meet Great Creators! Every year the greatest creators in comics drop in at the CBLDF Welcome Party. Dozens of creators are expected to stop by over the course of the night, with Rick Remender, Howard Chaykin, Joshua Williamson, Jason Latour, Tula Lotay, Nicola Scott, Leslie Hung, Caitlin Kittredge, Kyle Higgins, Ivan Brandon, Andy Belanger, and Jim Zub already confirmed!
Get the Exclusive Goods! The first 100 attendees will receive a free gift bag, with exclusive items from Image Comics, comiXology, and CBLDF!
Smell Awesome at the Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab/Trading Post! Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab will be debuting their Comics Code limited edition series, which 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 all-new Comics Code patches and pins commemorating five years gone!
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, sponsored by IDW Publishing and the San Diego Comic Art gallery! Items include original art by Charlie Adlard, Berkeley Breathed, Cully Hamner, Denis Kitchen, Jim Lee, Paul Pope, and Matt Wagner; plus literary rarities from Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, Paul Levitz, and other comics greats!
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! 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 21, 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-sdcc2016.eventbrite.com
Thursday Panels
CBLDF: Navigating The Powers & Perils of Banned Books
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. • 30CDE
CBLDF Editorial Director Betsy Gomez will lead a panel of librarians, educators, and creators in a lively discussion of how and why graphic novels are attacked by censors. They’ll detail how and why graphic novels can be successfully integrated into classroom curricula, and they’ll provide tools that educators can use to counter these attacks. Participants will leave the panel better enabled to advocate for their instructional materials and their students. Panelists include Carla Riemer (Librarian, Claremont Middle School, Oakland, California), Katherine Keller (TDRL Evening & Weekend Supervisor, University Libraries, UNLV), and Matthew Holm (artist, Babymouse, Squish, Sunny Side Up), and Judd Winick (Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth; The Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius).
CBLDF: She Changed Comics
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. • 30CDE
Meet the women whose work changed what’s possible for free expression in comics! From the turn of the 20th century to today, women comics creators have inspired today’s landscape of increasingly diverse and empowering comics storytelling. Join CBLDF Editorial Director Betsy Gomez; contributors Casey Gilly and Caitlin McCabe; Ramona Fradon (Aquaman, Brenda Starr), Wendy Pini (Elfquest), and Lee Marrs (Wimmen’s Comix) for an examination of the women who changed the format!
Thursday Autograph Sessions
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. — Jody Houser (Faith)
CBLDF Exclusives and the Convention Survival Kit
Comic-Con 2016 is almost here! We’ve been busy at CBLDF HQ, and we’ve got something for your SDCC shopping list: CBLDF EXCLUSIVES! All proceeds from our exclusives benefit CBLDF’s important First Amendment work, so you aren’t just getting something cool and rare — you’re helping us continue the fight! Come by booth #1918 to pick the following rare goodies…
FAITH #1 SDCC Liberty Variant
Valiant is proud to support CBLDF with the FAITH #1 SDCC Liberty Variant — a limited-edition release of the first issue of Faith “Zephyr” Herbert’s history-making ongoing series! Featuring a brand-new cover by Glyph Comics Award-winning artist Ronald Wimberly (Prince of Cats, She-Hulk), the FAITH #1 SDCC Liberty Variant will debut on Wednesday, July 20th exclusively at Comic-Con International in San Diego, California, and will be limited to just 1,000 copies. Pick up yours at CBLDF booth #1918!
The Comics Code Seal Patch and Pin
We have two new collectors items to decorate your favorite jean jacket, messenger bag, or lanyard: the Comics Code Seal of Approval Embroidered Patch and the Comics Code Seal of Approval Enamel Pin! Celebrating 5 years of freedom from self censorship under the Comics Code, this limited edition patch and pin will help you wear your support of CBLDF and the right to read comics!
The CBLDF Convention Survival Kit!
Current Members and anyone joining the CBLDF onsite can come by booth #1918 to pick up the 2016 Convention Survival Kit! STAY HYDRATED with the CBLDF water bottle! STAY HEALTHY with hand sanitizer! SHOW your support for free speech with a CBLDF lanyard! STOW your goods in a CBLDF tote bag! GET THE TOOLS to fight censorship with the CBLDF pencil — the ultimate anti-censorship device!
Check out what we have in store for you during the rest of Comic-Con here. We’ll see you at booth #1918 for Comic-Con International in San Diego!