Family Workshops

What does it mean to look at America from the outside? Julie Rocheleau (Globetrotters) and Elene Usdin (Detroit Roma, René·e aux bois dormants) discuss how their work approaches America as a place of projection, displacement, and imagination.

Hear from legendary underground comics artist Charles Burns (Black Hole) about his career and how he developed his instantly recognizable work, from supernatural unease to stories of adolescence and contamination, often in stark black and white. The discussion precedes a screening of Fear(s) of the Dark, a horror anthology with shorts from Burns and other cult-classic comic artists.

Witness the collaboration between music and visual art in this Great Gatsby-inspired live illustrated concert. Artist Benjamin Lacombe will bring the classic novel to life through projected real-time illustration, accompanied by New York-based musicians who shape their music to Lacombe’s images as they appear.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn from French illustrator Benjamin Lacombe, known for his whimsical adaptations of classics in an intimate, hands-on drawing workshop!

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn from manga artist Felipe Smith, known for his graphic novel series PEEPO CHOO and Marvel’s Robbie Reyes Ghost Rider, in an intimate, hands-on drawing workshop!

Felipe Smith discusses his wide-ranging career that spans continents and genres, from manga series PEEPO CHOO to Marvel’s Robbie Reyes Ghost Rider, as well as his fascination with manga and Japanese comics.

How can a French comics fan break into the American market? Blending practical insight, firsthand anecdotes, and a clear-eyed view of the industry, Fabrice Sapolsky offers an informative and humorous talk, shedding light on the realities and opportunities of comics in the United States.

Throughout the weekend, Tinker Lounge will feature a pop-up Comic Arts Fest Artist Alley & Bookstore: a hub for book signings and meetings with authors, as well as exclusive books and merchandise for sale. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase.

Illustrator Benjamin Lacombe discusses his adaptations of classic literature (The Great Gatsby, The Little Mermaid) and his approach to visual storytelling, as well as his live illustration performances that combine music, dance and visual art.

What defines a modern superhero? Leading comics artists, including Fabrice Sapolsky and Julie Rocheleau, exchange on questions of morality, politics, gender and violence around the figure of the superhero. This conference will be moderated by Comic Arts Fest curator Rodolphe Lachat.

Watch Parisian superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir travel to New York City in this TV special from the global smash hit animated series.

Dive into the history and mythology of the superhero through the second episode of this acclaimed PBS documentary featuring interviews with Stan Lee, Chris Claremont and other stars of the comics industry. Through this unusually rich gathering of writers, artists, editors, and screen creators, the documentary unfolds as a rare and authoritative oral history of the American superhero, narrated by those who have defined, expanded, and reinvented it. Following the screening, hear from director Michael Kantor, writer Laurence Maslon and comics writer Ivan Cohen.

In the 1980s, the Captain Africa series featured one of the first African superheroes, inspiring a new generation of African comic artists. This documentary is followed by a conversation with writer/director Xavier Fournier and artist Greg Anderson Elysée

Chronicling the creation of one of the most beloved DC Comics, this documentary explores how Alex Ross and Mark Waid developed the story and illustrations for Kingdom Come. The screening is followed by a discussion with editors Joey Cavalieri and Charles Kochman.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn from illustrator Elene Usdin, known for her graphic novels Detroit Roma and René·e aux bois dormants, in an intimate, hands-on drawing workshop!

Two of the most distinctive voices in contemporary comics, Frank Quitely and Charles Burns, meet for the first time to discuss their approaches to storytelling and their shared fascination with the blurry boundary between the ordinary and the strange. The discussion will be moderated by Chip Kidd.

Leading comics artist Frank Quitely discusses his journey from the Glasgow indie comics scene to shaping modern superhero mythology, including his collaborations, artistic process, and approach to character design. This masterclass will be moderated by Comic Arts Fest curator Rodolphe Lachat.

French artist Elene Usdin joins artist and writer Peter Rostovsky for a conversation about her multidisciplinary practice spanning painting, photography, and graphic narrative. Together they will discuss Usdin’s acclaimed work, including her new graphic novel, Detroit Roma. The program takes place at the nearby Society of Illustrators, and guests are invited to explore the museum’s exhibitions and enjoy the bar before and after the talk.