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Wonder Woman
Listen up, nerds! Today marks the first day of New York Comic Con, and that means cosplayers, comic book makers and geek celebrities abound in our fair city for the next four days. For those of you lucky enough to be attending (and for those, like me, who can’t go but are patiently awaiting pics and vids of the fun) we’ve got a Feminist Guide to NYCC’s panels and screenings; if there’s a panel that’s highlighting women in media, or an exclusive broadcast featuring hardcore lady types, we’ll let you know here.
Thursday
- Day #1 starts with a few different panels discussing body representation in comics and in cosplay. Body of Evidence: How We See Ourselves in Comics (11 a.m. Room 1A02) hosts a panel of experts discussing body diversity in comics, and the impact of character depictions on fans, especially cosplayers; Cosplay Rule 63 (11:15 a.m. Room 1A05) will examine the sometimes difficult realm of gender-bent cosplay; and later in the day check out Body Confidence and Positivity in Cosplay (3:45 p.m. room 1A02) discussing similar topics with international cosplayer Ivy Doomkitty.
- Inclusivity campaign We Need Diverse Books is presenting a panel this year called Women and Gender Nonconforming Writers of Color in Digital Media (1:30 room 1A18). This panel of writers is discussing social media, topic popularity in comics, and offering tips to future writers.
- For the third year in a row, Blastr’s Fangrrls presents: Women in Geek Media (2:45 in room 1A21). These 7 badass ladies will discuss their careers in comics, film, television and video games.
- For the little feminist in your life, the Girlcentric Creating Comics Workshop (4:00 p.m. room 1A18) takes girls step by step through the comic making process. The women on the panel will also discuss kids’ comics, and the difficulties of being a woman in the industry.
- How Women Keep Changing the Game (6:45 p.m. at BookCon) joins writers and artists as they discuss their experiences working on comics as women.
- Finally, wrap your first day up with one of these two panels on race; Afropunks & Blerds: The Black Nerd Renaissance (7:45 p.m. room 1A18) explores “the intersections of racial identity and creative expression during a crucial time in American history,” while this panel on race and sexuality (8:00 p.m. room 1A10) highlights three authors who are breaking barriers with their characters.
Friday
- You Fight Like A Girl! and Other Awesome Ideas Involving Women in Pop Culture (11:00 a.m. room 1A24) focuses on creating strong women in leading roles, and the importance of representation in mdeia.
- Sweet/Vicious is a new show coming to MTV in November, and Comic Con is offering interested fans their first look (2:30 p.m. room 1A10). Described as “an offbeat superhero story for the millennial generation,” Sweet/Vicious follows two girls kicking ass and taking names as they see people getting away with abuse on their college campus, and take matters into their own hands.
- Panelists of Queer Representation in All-Ages and Youth Media (4:00 p.m. room 1A02) will discuss the importance of normalizing LGBT characters in media meant for younger audiences, and steering away from the idea that queer characters are “inappropriate.”
- Friday offers two panels that focus on two kickass comic book ladies, Harley Quinn: Past, Present and Future (4:00 p.m. room 1A21) and Wonder Woman 75 (5:15 p.m. room 1A24)
- Women Warriors: An Homage to Strong Female Characters in SFF (4:15 p.m. room 1A18) brings together a panel of authors profiling the elevated status of women in leading roles.
- Queer Culture: LGBT Presence in Pop Culture (5:15 p.m. room 1A21) features, “a cast of panelist from all walks of life and careers in Pop Culture, including tv and film, media, comedy and activism.”
- Moving Beyond The Strong Female Character (6:45 p.m. room 1A18) argues female characters need to be, not only strong, but well-written and fully developed.
Saturday
- Be Your Own Superhero: Intersectional Feminism in Comics (11:00 a.m. room 1A18) discusses diverse female characters and the strides that still need to be made in the industry. (They already get props in our book for using the word “feminism” right in their title).
- Supergirl’s Not Black!: On Being Black, Queer and Cosplaying (12:30 p.m. room 1A05) takes on “the stigma of ‘Cosplaying While Black’, Gender Bending, and Pink Washing.”
- Scream Queens: Female Horror/Thriller Writers (2:00 p.m. at BookCon) features female authors and their experiences writing this specific genre.
Sunday
- Strong is the New Beautiful – Empowering Girls Through Entertainment (12:15 p.m. room 1A02) specifically deals with toy makers and brand builders to discuss gender in toy production and marketing.
- Women of Marvel (1:30 p.m. room 1A06) is panel of women who work for Marvel discussing women characters of Marvel.
- Women of Color in Comics: Race, Gender & the Comic Book Medium (1:45 p.m. room 1A05) deals specifically with racially diverse female characters and their importance on readers.
- Last but not least, Secret Loves of Geek Girls: LIVE (3:45 p.m. room 1A24) is an all-female panel discussing their nonfiction anthology, “mixing prose, comics, and illustrated stories on the lives and loves of an amazing cast of female creators.”
And that’s not to mention all the badass women writers, artists, and actresses (Geena Davis is gonna be there, guys!!) who will be on the floor or part of other panels this weekend. So happy Comic Con, nerds, and may your weekend be as feminist as possible.
Photos via New York Comic Con
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