MECCA comic con celebrates black contributions to comics

Detroit is certainly no stranger to comics. Our city has given the comic industry the late Dwayne McDuffie and Robert L. Washington III, who created the hero Static for Milestone Media. DC Comics president and chief creative officer, Geoff Johns, is a Detroit native. And within the comic world, Detroit spent a short time as the headquarters of the Justice League and is currently home to DC heroes Cyborg and Vixen.

With so much comic history starting here in Detroit, it’s only right that the Midwest Convention for Comics and Arts (MECCA) will help inspire the next generation of creative this month at the Detroit Public Library.

MECCA, which heads into its third year here, is a traveling convention founded to celebrate art created by a diverse crowd of creators. Oftentimes comics can appear to be created mainly by and for straight white men, so it’s important to highlight the many other voices in the medium that often don’t get the attention they deserve. The convention’s mission is to make sure young people are able to see that there are heroes who look just like them.

The convention was founded in October 2013 by Maia Crown Williams. Williams tells BLAC that she already had plenty of experience working with others to organize comic conventions and wanted to branch out on her own to create a different kind of event.

“MECCA isn’t just a convention for comics, but for all kinds of art,” Williams says. “It celebrates everything from comics and graffiti to Steampunk fiction and African martial arts.”

Williams’ goal was to create a convention where more energy was focused on the creators and providing activities, workshops and classes for attendees. Attendees also will be able to visit an incredible artist alley — an area where independent artists and vendors sell their work — to get to know the creators and maybe take home a piece of art.

The convention also boasts an independent film festival that runs all day, playing a dozen films by black artists from around the world. It will have workshops on illustration, coloring, writing and more, including classes specifically aimed at children. And don’t forget to also check out the panels on the Black Speculative Arts Movement and Women in Comics NYC Collective.

Vault of Midnight, a comic-book shop with locations in Ann Arbor and downtown Detroit, will be joining in on the festivities. The day before the con kicks off, the downtown Detroit location will be hosting book signings from some of the creators featured at MECCA. Guests include Kim Eggleston (Dead by Wednesday), Kaur Alden (Super Sikh) and N. Steven Harris (Solarman).

Kickoff festivities for MECCA will be held at Vault of Midnight, 1226 Library St. in Detroit, from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. on September 16. MECCA’s third annual convention commences at 10 a.m. at the Main Branch of the Detroit Public Library, 5201 Woodward Ave., in Detroit, on September 17. https://www.facebook.com/events/826319067480841/For a full schedule of events and more information, click here.