With comics books as popular as ever in film, television and pop culture in general, LGBT fans of comics are starting to coalesce at an increasing number of LGBT-themed comic conventions across the country.
Nijicon, a convention for fans of male/male romance and other LGBTQ representations in various media, is returning to the area for its second year this weekend.
We asked Nijicon coordinator and chair Lyndsey Bellamy why the convention focuses primarily on male/male romance comics and not a broader spectrum of LGBT-themed media.
“That’s what it started as,” Bellamy said. “We’re trying to be more inclusive. It’s just that in the market there are so many more male/male romances. There are some that are lesbian, trans and bi, but it’s one of the things you have to show that there is an audience for.”
With LGBT comic creators and artists being able to self-promote, self-publish and reach fans through the Internet with greater ease, Bellamy said events like these allow fans and artists to connect on a more personal level.
“Even though everything is available through the Internet, it’s rare that you get to interact with people face to face,” Bellamy said. “So it provides that way to do so.”
Greg Fox, creator and author of the gay comic series “Kyle’s Bed & Breakfast,” which runs biweekly in PGN, and who will be on hand at Nijicon, echoed that sentiment.
“It’s a good way to connect with the creators,” he said. “You get to have the one-on-one with the creators and look at their work. It’s an opportunity for the fans and the readers to meet the artists and see behind the scenes of their work process. To actually meet the fans in person, it’s a fun thing. And also they can get books signed.”
Fox and Bellamy said that LGBT-themed comic conventions are starting to sprout up in greater numbers across the country.
“Over the past five years, there’s been a few of these LGBT-oriented comic conventions specifically for LGBT fans and creators popping up,” Fox said. “There’s one in Los Angeles called Bent-Con and one in New York called Flame Con that just started this past year. That’s how I heard about the one in Philadelphia. They’re such a great experience. I’ve gone to the mainstream comic cons where the focus is mainly on the Marvel and DC superheroes. When I go to the LGBT comic con, people know my work and it’s a thrill to meet people who are familiar with my work. So for me it’s great.”
“We’re seeing more of them pop up,” Bellamy added. “Recently at New York Comic Con, they had a panel discussing LGBT characters and figures in comics, so it’s spreading. As the community grows you’re going to see more of that reflected in our media.”
Fox said another aspect of the convention he’s looking forward to is the costumes.
“It’s fascinating to see how many people show up dressed up in ornate, creative superhero and other costumes at these comic cons,” he said. “The costumes have become a big factor at all the comic cons, but the LGBT comic cons seem to have taken it to a new level.”
Nijicon runs Oct. 24-25 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Ave., Oaks. For more information and a list of participating artists and events, visit www.nijicon.com.