Miami Book Fair International Introduces New Genre to its Lineup and Celebration of Comic Book Legend
Late comic’s work will be featured in Multi-Media Exhibit, Panel Discussion and Film Screening
Related Articles
- The Florida Center for the Literary Arts at Miami Dade College to hold the 2008 Miami Book Fair Unveiling Ceremony Thursday, Sept. 18
- Teaching with Comic Books at 25th Anniversary Miami Book Fair International
Related Links
- Website - Miami Book Fair International
Miami, Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - Organizers for the Miami Book Fair International have added new and exciting programs to its cadre of events during its 25th anniversary, which will be held November 9-16, 2008. Among its new programs is the Comix Galaxy, a beloved genre and exciting cultural phenomenon, featuring an array of well-known comic legends, exhibits, discussions, and more. Comix Galaxy programs will be held November 13-16; the first of which, is a special event celebrating the life and work of comic book legend Will Eisner, on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Centre Gallery at the Wolfson Campus.
Eisner’s original artwork, including his last graphic novel (“The Plot”), will be presented in a multi-media exhibit. There will also be a panel discussion about Eisner’s life and work, followed by a screening of the award-winning documentary, Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist. Panelists participating in the discussion about Eisner’s work will include, Bob Weil (vice president and executive editor at W.W. Norton & Company); literary agents Denis Kitchen and Judy Hansen; and author and Eisner protégé Scott McCloud (“Understanding Comics”). The panel will be moderated by Charles Kochman, executive editor of Abrams ComicArts, and editor of “The Will Eisner Companion.” Also included in the multimedia exhibit, several other original works by Eisner, including art from “The Spirit” and his seminal graphic novels “A Contract with God,” “The Name of the Game,” “A Life Force,” and “Dropsie Avenue,” among others. Eisner’s last graphic novel, “The Plot,” was published posthumously in 2005.
In addition to the Eisner event, other Comix Galaxy programs include an educational presentation for librarians, educators, and parents who are interested in using comic books and graphic novels as part of their teaching methods. Then, during the final two days of its programs, the Comix Galaxy will host nearly a dozen sessions featuring some of the comic genre’s most respected and beloved figures, such as, Art Spiegelman, (creator of the 2008 official Book Fair poster), Chip Kidd, Jessica Abel, Frank Beddor, and many more.
With its recent rise in popularity and integration into the mainstream, organizers of the Miami Book Fair International wanted to offer fans of the comic book genre, a comprehensive program on graphic novels and an in-depth look into the world of comics. This year, the Book Fair partnered with Diamond Book Distributors to create a program that was both educational and entertaining. More than 20 publishers will participate in the Comix Galaxy program, including Marvel Comics, Dark Horse, Udon, Hermes Press, Toon Books and many others at the popular Street Fair in downtown Miami.
- WHAT: A Celebration of the Life and Work of Comic Book Legend Will Eisner, hosted by Miami Book Fair International and the Florida Center for the Literary Arts at Miami Dade College
- WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 12, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
- WHERE: Miami Dade College’s Centre Gallery at Wolfson Campus, Building 1, 3rd Floor, 300 N.E. 2nd Avenue, downtown Miami
For more information about the Comix Galaxy or Miami Book Fair International, visit www.miamibookfair.com or call 305-237-3258.
Media-only contacts:
Juan Mendieta, 305-237-7611, jmendiet@mdc.edu, MDC communications director
Tarnell Carroll, 305-237-3359, tcarroll@mdc.edu