Newark Culture Con 2018 Will Highlight ‘Diversity’ In Comics

NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Rutgers University–Newark. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here.

Rutgers University–Newark, in partnership with FarCorners Studios, LLC, and powered by The Newark International Film Festival, is hosting the first ever Newark Culture Con at Express Newark (54 Halsey Street) in the iconic Hahne & Co. Building in downtown Newark on Saturday, April 28, 2018.

Culture Con, an official Rutgers Day event, is a comic fan convention centered on the arts across all genres featuring traditional comic con fare, such as artists alley, cosplay, vendors, live performances, and special panels. However, this comic con is centered on the trending issues of inclusion and representation, and highlights diversity, inclusion, and representation in the industry and in the medium. Culture Con is also removing traditional comic con economic barriers with free admission, free activities, and free parking. For the full program and times, and to register online, visit https://www.newarkculturecon.com/activities.

Culture Con highlights include the panel discussion "Secret Identity: The People Behind it All," featuring comic book artists Will Torres and Vita Ayala, and Luke Cage actor Khalil Maasi. The trio will discuss what it's like working behind the scenes for the biggest names in the comic book industry and bringing our favorite comic book characters to life. Torres, an accomplished artist for Marvel and Image comics, teamed up with comic book legend Stan Lee to create his own comic book titled Mr. Venture: Man of Adventure #1. DC, Image and Dark Horse comic book artist Vita Ayala worked in book retail and night security before pursuing a career as a comic book writer. She has since penned her own comic book The Wilds through Black Mask Studios. Maasi, an actor, writer, producer and fight choreographer, has been studying martial arts since age 5 and currently stars in Netflix's Luke Cage, based on the classic Marvel comic series of the same name.

Actor and slam poet Darian Dauchan will headline the Creative Clash interactive performance workshop including open mic and Q&A. Experience the poetic rhythm of reinventing worlds as new frontiers in storytelling and collaborative opportunities are explored at the crossroads of spoken word, comic books, sci-fi, and fantasy. Featured workshop artists include Newark's own poet / producer Poet On Watch, Noni Williamston, Founder of Newark Women In Film, and visual artist and performance poet Bernard Collins, Jr. The panel will be moderated by on-air personality, author, poet, and producer, Suite Franchon from Soul Opera Radio & TV and the Peace, Love, and Poetry performance group.

Some of the features at Newark Culture Con include:

• Cosplay Contest
• Screen Printing (first 100 guests get free T-shirts, free posters all day)
• Green Screen Action Photos
• Individual Professional Photoshoots
• Live 3D Printing Demonstration
• Virtual Reality Demonstrations by Microsoft
• Dungeons & Dragons Character Creation Workshops
• Cosplay Creation Workshops

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Photo: Rutgers University–Newark