AD CONTENTS 1 CONTENTS ICC MAGAZINE ISSUE #2 April, 2018 independentcreatorsconnection.com EDITORIALEDITORIAL TEAM TEAM COVER FEATURE Pam Harrison, Editor in Chief Winston Jordan, Assistant Editor Contributors: Terance Baker, Pam Harrison, Bill McCormick DESIGNDESIGN layout LAYOUT Pam Harrison, Graphic Design, Advertising Graphics Supervisor » p.15 7 Ultra Black “...When we attended the premier there were » p. 7 worries not everyone who showed up would get in. Some didn’t. Some showed up six hours early. press, ‘Black Panther’ has become the THIRD Largest Domestic They desperately wanted this movie to be good. Release of All-Time, seizing its place in history and inspiring They wanted it to live up to not only the hype, but a whole new generation of comic fans. What new heroes and their dreams: Black Panther could be that hero. A heroines will we see in years to come? Representation matters. character that has flaws, resources, and a heart that cares under it all. Short story? They got it.” 9 Harold B. Gibson on cosplay While geek culture has been mainstream for the past few years, Harold B. Gibson has been in the community since 2015 as a Cosplayer. He is a life-long geek. His acting background and stunt work all add up to an A-list Cosplayer, who is always working on his next cosplay. 14 The importance of representation We predicted great things for Marvel’s Black Panther, and wanted to highlight it as a nod to Black History month. As this magazine goes to » p. 9 » p.14 ICC Magazine #2, Published April, 2018. Material copyright © 2018 Sword and Labrys Productions and Independent Creators Connection. All rights reserved. All other rights revert to their respective creators. For sales and advertising inqui- ICC Magazine | Issue #2 - April 2018 ries visit http://independentcreatorsconnection.com Printed in the USA. 2 CONTENTS HISTORY COSPLAY » p.16 16 Portrayal of Black People in comics Over history, black heroes, folk heroes and superheroes weren’t always so well-represented. As a society, we’ve fought centuries of racism, bigotry and stereotypes. In order to guide aspiring young new Indie artists and writers to set their sights to the stars, first we have to put our history in perspective and take a good look at how very far we have come. » p.20 ARTICLES 20 Comic Cons, Cosplay News Follow ICC Founder Terance Baker and his incredible wife Detria as they make the circuit of the hottest Comic Conventions all along the Orlando, Florida scene. » p.24 24 girls just wanna make Comics! Enjoy this special preview of the best and brightest, up and coming female Indie artists, cosplayers and writers that we’ll be featuring via Artist Spotlight in upcoming issues of ICC Magazine! 28 How to Avoid Artist Block Create and surround! You need to surround » p.28 yourself with a library of inspiration, (repeat) so if you do feel that block monster creeping up on you, go to your inspiration area and beat him! ICC Magazine | Issue #2 - April 2018 31 Artist Spotlight: Chester Colston Master of The Art of the Grind, Chester Colston talks about creating stories that entertain and inspire, about the obstacles of competing with mainstream comics, and what it takes to succeed as an Indie artist. 39 Artist Spotlight: Tanya Geritsidou The first in our series of Artist Spotlights featuring female Indie artists introduces us to Tanya Maria Geritsidou, a Greek Canadian, born in Montreal, raised Greek and deeply in love with her country. The creator of Without Moonlight and Brave Resistance lives and works and fights in Athens, Greece. 45 Artist Spotlight: Ken Gaynor Created by Kenneth Gaynor, Milton Howell, and Carl Richardson, DARK CHILD is a new series from G7 Comics which features Haitian mythol- ogy, uncomfortable stories, and a charming narra- tor, the aforementioned little girl, who can rip your skin off and send you to hell. As you might imagine, she has issues she’s trying to work out.. 50 Advertise with ICC Advertise with ICC Magazine! You have two options: Print advertisement in our comics, or promote your comic or business on Project Wonderful! All ad pages and inserts must be reserved in advance. Please see Monthly Advertising Deadlines for Ad Reservation and Materials Due Dates. Ads are subject to pre-approval. » p.50 4 PREVIEWS You need to be- come good enough so people pay you for your art, pay you for your skills! You need to develop your- self and become a better artist! Your time here on this planet is limited; you have to be able to put out within reason as much art as you can. When you lose focus, you need to look at who or what in- spires you and ask your- self why they inspire you.” » p.31 » p.9 » p.39 » p.28 » p.45 ICC Magazine | Issue #2 - April 2018 PREVIEWS 5 (Wakanda) is a world apart from us. Hid- den from us. A world that holds great power, and a world that could be perceived as a great threat. A world that has left its African broth- ers and sisters to suf- fer while it prospered. Those aren’t your usual superhero movie themes and this movie tack- les them head on.” ICC Magazine | Issue #2 - April 2018 6 PREVIEWS ...Many black ce- lebrities, churches, social groups, etc. are taking the Black Panther Challenge and making sure that black children are able to see the movie. There is a very good rea- son why, it’s very impor- tant for black children to see themselves portrayed in a positive light so that they know that they too can be heroes.” -- african- americanreports.com Destiny Ellington, 12, sheds a tear while watching “Black Panther.” Copyright © 2018 Huffington Post, Photo by Christopher Aluka Berry/Reuters ICC Magazine | Issue #2 - April 2018 ARTICLES 7 ULTRA BLACK BILL MCCORMICK February 13, 2018 - Last that’s a mistake, and what hap- called Black Misery Month. She night The World News Center’s pened to it and other similar is an actual African-American, official girlfriend and I went to films, so I won’t drag you down born in Ghana and now a U.S. see the Chicago premier of that path again. Suffice it to citizen. Her complaint is how Black Panther. I’ll tell you all say that many filmmakers have the month is presented. We about that in a moment. But, made successful films starring get the “slavery is bad” meme if you’re in a hurry, it freaking minorities, and comics have had in various presentations, with no rocked, go see it. However, the black superheroes for decades, explanation of any of the under- one thing that keeps popping up but none have hit the public lying causes or the complexities is how AWESOME it is to have conscience like Black Panther. that surrounded it and then we the first black superhero on the The reasons for that are multitu- get either George Washington big screen starring in a movie. dinous, and I’ll touch on some of Carver invented the peanut (he Obviously, somebody missed them in a moment, but the short didn’t and that’s a gross simpli- Blade. Now, to be fair, Blade answer is times have changed. fication of the many things he was a hard “R” rated film that did invent), or Maya Angelou seemed like more of an outlier I have a friend (yes, I know, wrote about caged birds (an at the time than a movement. you’re shocked) who claims that actual insult to her legacy). I’ve written before about how Black History Month should be Basically, we get a few talking points that no one actually talks about and then we move on to getting drunk and pretending to be Irish. Yes, I know I’m already Irish, but I’m speaking generically here. Anyway, considering that Africa is the birthplace of human- ity, the home of our earliest, and most storied, civilizations, and has been the focal point of some of the greatest military actions in history, you’d be justified in wondering how all of that got swept under the historical rug. All Marvel characters and the distinctive likeness(es) thereof are Short answer? Racism, power, Trademarks & Copyright © Marvel Studios 2018 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ICC Magazine | Issue #2 - April 2018 8 ARTICLES and money. dreams. They wanted a black and this movie tackles them superhero that could truly rival head on. They are central to Long answer? There are Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne. all that happens. The villain, four year courses at major uni- And Black Panther could be Killmonger, neatly represents versities that haven’t nailed all that hero. A character that has the world we live in and trou- that down. We’ll stick with the flaws, resources, and a heart bles we see. T’Challa, the Black short answer for now. that cares under it all. Short Panther and king of Wakanda story? They got it. after his father’s death in Civil Nevertheless, as I’ve noted War, is the heir to thousands numerous times, nothing lasts Your spoiler free review of years of tradition who faces forever. Time marches on and follows: Black Panther picks up a chasm leading to the future: each generation gains a little after Captain America: Civil War One he can widen or bridge more traction than the last. and manages to do so with only over. Rights, once mere pipe dreams, the slightest references to that become reality. I was six years movie, or the greater Marvel He’s not a fan of bridges old before a black person was Cinematic Universe.