Comic-Con 2015

Graphic novel superstar Raina Telgemeier, the best-selling author of Smile, Sisters, and Drama, is coming to the San Diego Central Library in downtown San Diego, on Tuesday, July 7 at 6:00 PM for “An Evening With Raina,” a free event to help you get ready for Comic-Con International! Come hear her talk about her mega-popular all-ages graphic novels. Bring your questions and find out what's next for Raina at this special event presented by Comic-Con International and Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, in conjunction with the San Diego Public Library.

Raina is a global phenomenon! Her three books, Smile, Drama, and Sisters—along with her four books based on Ann M. Martin’s The Baby-sitters Club—total a staggering 3 million copies in print, placing her at the forefront of the children’s graphic novel boom. The writer/artists just celebrated her third straight year on the New York Times Bestseller list! Her efforts to champion kids' right to read include speaking out for Banned Books Week, the annual celebration of the freedom to read. Banned Books Week 2015 celebrates Young Adult books, and the rights of young readers everywhere to read fearlessly!

This popular comics creator is a special guest at Comic-Con International this year, but you don’t have to have a badge to see her in this special early appearance at the San Diego Central Library! “An Evening with Raina” is co-sponsored by Comic-Con and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, on Tuesday, July 7 at 6:00 PM in the Neil Morgan Auditorium, located at 330 Park Blvd., in downtown San Diego. Admission is free, but seating is limited for this special event. CBLDF will have books available for donations.

Our friends at the Library have set up a Facebook page for this special event. Please visit it at https://www.facebook.com/events/409652992554989/ and let us know if you’re going to join us on Tuesday, July 7th for this very special evening!

In the 1960s and '70s, publishers fled from spinner racks to magazine stands to escape the bounds of the Comics Code Authority. While comic books continued to labor under the stigma of low-value, juvenile speech, the larger-format magazine comics broke out, giving artists a safe haven to openly deal with adult content, provide more horror and suspense, and be frank about sexuality. Magazines like Mad, Creepy, and Eerie paved the way for a generation of titles that included Heavy Metal, Vampirella, Epic Illustrated, 1984, and Savage Sword of Conan to break new ground for a general audience and loosen the reins on some of comics' top creators. CBLDF deputy director Alex Cox reveals the untold history of magazine comics, reviewing the impact of publications from Warren, Marvel, Heavy Metal, National Lampoon, and more!

When the American Library Association released their latest annual list of the most challenged books, a disturbing trend was noted: Books that increased the diversity of what is available to readers were more likely to be challenged. What is it about diversity that seems to encourage censors? Join CBLDF and library and education professionals Candice Mack (president, Young Adult Library Services Association), Erwin Magbanua (programming & special events coordinator, San Diego Public Library), Carla Riemer (librarian, Claremont Middle School, Oakland, California), Carol Tilley (associate professor, University of Illinois), and more for a discussion of why diverse books are challenged and how we can defend them. Moderated by CBLDF editorial director Betsy Gomez.

Join Jeff Smith (Bone) and Mariko Tamaki (This One Summer) for an in-depth discussion of what it's like to be the author of a banned book. CBLDF executive director Charles Brownstein hosts this special live podcast celebrating Banned Books Week and examining the stakes of censorship for creators, librarians, and most of all, readers.

It's hard to believe that books are still banned in the United States, and yet each year hundreds of incidents are recorded. CBLDF springs to action in these cases, providing expert support for the librarians and individuals who fight back when calls to censorship arise. CBLDF executive director Charles Brownstein and editorial director Betsy Gomez examine the comics that have been banned and challenged this year, showing how they fit into recent trends in comics censorship. They'll also preview Banned Books Week 2015, celebrating Young Adult books.

Comics are more than just great entertainment, they're an incredible tool for learning. Creators Cecil Castellucci (Odd Duck, The Plain Janes), Nathan Hale (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales), Matthew Holm (Babymouse, Squish), Matt Phelan (The Storm in the Barn, Bluffton), and Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy, Jax Epoch and the Quicken Forbidden) and educators Rose Brock and Dr. Meryl Jaffe discuss how comics can be used to engage students in the classroom. Get real-world suggestions for ways to integrate comics in the classroom, to expand on lessons with comic-based activities, and to encourage student participation. They'll also have lesson and reading suggestion handouts and time for Q&A. Moderated by CBLDF editorial director Betsy Gomez.

Although free expression is seen as a basic human right, censorship is rampant in the United States and around the world. CBLDF executive director Charles Brownstein and editorial director Betsy Gomez present an overview of the censorship crises facing cartoonists in 2015, from the violence and legal prosecution occurring around the globe to domestic attacks on young adult books in libraries and schools across the country. Learn how comics and books are being challenged, and what you can do to fight back.

Comics and graphic novels are achieving more acclaim than ever, which is leading to increased demand, and unfortunately a rise in challenges. Comic Book Legal Defense Fund executive director Charles Brownstein spotlights the current landscape of graphic novel challenges and shares the organization's most recent resources and success stories. Come share your perspectives, and learn more about how you can be a part of protecting comics.

Join Michael Cho, Denis Kitchen, and special guests celebrate creative freedom by making live art before your eyes. Join the CBLDF and these great creators as they share their perspectives on censorship and make once-in-a-lifetime art to benefit the Fund's important work. Get a chance to watch live art being created, learn about censorship, and bid to win the pieces made here to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.