Atlanta is getting a new comic convention built around Black creators. The first Black Atlanta Comic Expo runs Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta NE, 6050 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. in Norcross, Georgia.
The show is organized by writer Greg Burnham, co-creator of Tuskegee Heirs and a participant in the Milestone Initiative. “It’s time for Atlanta to have the premier Black Comic Convention it deserves,” the expo’s site says. Burnham said the team “built this space to highlight the incredible level of talent, artistry, and heritage within our community.”
Featured guests include writer Stephanie Williams, illustrator and director Dawud Anyabwile and illustrator and writer Marcus Williams. The lineup also includes Alitha Martinez, Joe Illidge, Keef Cross, Milton Davis, Robert Jeffrey and Dexter Vines, a mix of comics veterans and independent creators. Stephanie Williams arrives fresh off a big week of her own, after DC revealed her Justice League: Arctic Attack Special #1 with artist Dexter Soy in its January solicitations, so expect fans to bring questions about Donna Troy and her frosty new team.
Because opening day lands on Halloween, the expo is leaning into costumes. Organizers are encouraging cosplay from attendees of all ages, promising treat bags for kids and saying they fully expect Atlanta to live up to its reputation as a cosplay capital. Cosplay guests include MzzSkittles, CORETOONZ and Jazzthebat Cosplay.
Doors are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 31, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 1. Tickets are available through the expo’s website, along with vendor information for creators who want a table.
Community-focused shows have been popping up across the country this year, from Brooklyn’s BODEGA CAT Expo to this new event in Georgia. For fans in the Southeast, this first “chapter” of the Black Atlanta Comic Expo is a chance to meet creators, pick up new books and show off a Halloween costume in the same weekend.
