San Diego Comic-con Special Edition 2021

I am super excited to be part of San Diego Comic-Con Special Edition! With my colleagues, we will share on X-men as an allegory for the marginalized. The X-Men cartoons, comics, and films have impacted generations of people who feel like outcasts and perpetually misunderstood. Some of us grew up in environments where our unique gifts and innate traits were perceived as threats to those who did not understand. Some of us grew up with the message that being different is a burden and something that makes us broken. We learned that we were only accepted if we hid parts of who we were, we masked who we truly were and hid behind shame and fears of rejection. We may have lived for the approval of others, and it created feelings of self-hatred, confusion, sadness, anxiety, anger, or resentment.

Xmen and other references have been the source of escape, healing, and empowerment for so many. Knowing that there is beauty in diversity and increased representation, we can learn to cultivate acceptance for our unique differences as well as see others more wholly and compassionately. Many times we fear what we do not understand, and that can make countless people feel less than. It can create cycles of misunderstanding, pain, and rejection.

As pop culture has evolved in terms of diversity, inclusion, and antiracist practices, it is important to honor where we come from. This panel will explore the personal narratives and insights of Leo Partible, Tara Avery, Lorran Garrison, and Boontarika Sripom (me). We will share on perspectives of BIPOC, Neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA community members and professionals in the creative industry, educational, mental health, and helping professions.

We will also remind and highlight spaces that offer solace and community to geeks and misunderstood. Comic shops, cons, meetups, Discords, online games, a friend’s house to play D&D—these are all hubs for safety and escape from a world that reminds us too often that we are “broken". Being misunderstood is not the same.

We get that reminder when we find community, that there are others like us. There is hope to thrive when our experiences are honored.

How to Apply the X-men & Other References: Learning & Supporting the Needs of the Neurodiverse, BIPOC, & LGBTQIA+

Sunday November 28 1-2pm, Room 2

San Diego Comic-Con Special Edition

SOCIALS:

Lorran Garrison, School Psychologist Instagram

Leo Partible (Storyteller, Film, Comics, Music+) Instagram

• www.matchmademovie.com

Tara Avery (Stacked Deck Press) Instagram

• www.stackeddeckpress.com

Boontarika Sripom (Therapy-Informed Life Coach) Instagram

• www.organizedmesses.com

X-Men ‘97 logo, Marvel Studios

UPDATE!: X-Men ‘97 is coming to Disney+

This panel will also help celebrate X-Men ‘97 coming to Disney+ in 2023. The animated series empowered generations of people who felt misunderstood. Many of us continue to feel misunderstood, like mutants. We attempt to speak our truths and seek safety in community. Having shared narratives of difference, compassion, struggle, survival, and thriving are what makes X-Men and other heroic sagas so influential and lasting.

We see ourselves when we need to be seen. We see possibility to fight for who we are, and that others have and will go through similar battles just to exist. We also see that there are those who will stand up and fight for others, uplift, mentor, and protect.

Here’s to another generation of mutants being able to embrace their differences in a world that isn’t always made for us. Here’s to hope that we continue finding one another to create our own schools for gifted youngsters.

How to Create Safe Spaces in the Geek Community During Traumatic Times: Survive the Zombie (Covid) Apocalypse (Lorran Garrison, Robert Rice, & Jamila Mahfudh)

How to Create Safe Spaces in the Geek Community During Traumatic Times: Survive the Zombie (Covid) Apocalypse

Saturday November 27th 1-2 pm Room 2

My colleagues Lorran Garrison & Jamila Mahfudh are on another panel with Robert Rice discussing how geek culture saved us during pandemic, and ways to integrate back into society after experiencing the Covid apocalypse. We cannot go back to how things used to be. There are things learned and wonderful gifts of connection and story that can empower us towards something better.

SOCIALS

Lorran Garrison, School Psychologist Instagram

Jamila Mahfudh (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist)

• www.jamilatherapy.com

Robert Rice (actor, singer, co-producer of DemonHuntr)

• www.robertriceonline.com

5 Things About Comikaze - Artists, Comics, & Cute Things

Ashley A. Woods, illustrator for niobe. she is super kind, and enthusiastic. I think she teared up hearing me speak on my love of art and children ^__^ thank you for representing and making an amazing story~ 

Comikaze is a convention created by Stan Lee where lovers of geek, sci-fi, tech, pop-culture, fantasy, video games, and anime culture could get together and share their interests. Yes, San Diego Comic Con and countless superhero movies (Avengers, Batman, Spiderman...etc) did put geek culture on the map for others to enjoy. Comikaze is a little smaller, with less emphasis on creating a geek and popular-culture community by and for community members. 

This was the fourth annual Comikaze convention, and I've attended the first and fourth year. It's amazing to see how much growth and cohesion a community can have within four years. I can't wait to go next year. Here are some photos from the event:

5 Reasons Why Comikaze & Other Comic Events are Awesome

1) You get to share a joy you have with others.

If you are a parent, you can share your geeky side with your kids, or get to know your child better by sharing in their joys and their world. :)

2) You can discover new interests.

Liking comics and/or anime can lead you to discovering you have an interest in certain video games, sci-fi or fantasy culture. It can be difficult finding venues that cater to specific interests, so these conventions can help you find what you're looking for and explore new joys.

3) You can connect with others.

There was a stronger stigma with geek culture in the past, and I acknowledge that things are getting better. Sometimes it can still feel isolating having the interests you have, and not being able to talk to someone about it. Attending conventions can help find your tribe. This does take some bravery to talk to strangers, though. After a couple conversations, maybe you'll start following each other on Pinterest or Instagram, and become friends in the future. 

4) You can support local artists.

This is important to me. When conventions get really big, it's not easy for local artists to get their art out there any more. Comikaze is still small enough where there's a huge section of the venue allocated for local and small businesses. I think this is important to help promote a healthy artist community.

5) You can fuel creative inspiration.

As a creative individual, seeing what others are making can help guide your creative process. You can ask each other for tips on materials, deals on production, and support each other emotionally and financially. It was awesome seeing artists freely share how they made their work, and resources they had on how to market. I think sharing tools keeps the community strong. 

If you went to Comikaze, did you cosplay? I wore my My Little Pony (MLP) shirt, and noticed lots of Harley Quinns and Deadpools. One day was not enough to walk through the entire venue and enjoy myself. So next year, I hope on going for at least two days.