Los Angeles has a booming indie comics and zine scene, with massive shows like LA Zine Fest, Heavy Manners Library, and the dearly missed CALA making welcoming spaces for creators to showcase their work and find community. Attending local zine fests as part of the collective Zines 4 Queers she co-founded with fellow zinester oumou, was what inspired the group to create and put on Black Zine Fest. As organizer Julie explained “We started Black Zine Fest because we just spent a lot of time doing zine fests and wondering how come there hadn’t been one dedicated to all Black zinesters.”
Taking place in Downtown LA, on a warm Saturday afternoon the inaugural Black Zine Fest was an intimate and unique event that focused on inclusivity and accessibility in a way I’ve never seen before at any other comic or zine event. Not only was the event only on one floor with step free access and lots of space between exhibitors, but masks were required.
Each of the volunteers that welcomed us in were friendly and open about the need to wear masks and the show even provided N95s for anyone who didn’t have one. Not only that but they were also offering free COVID tests, water, and sanitizer for any attendees! It was a small choice but one that instantly makes the show stand out as a safe and thoughtful place for those with disabilities, chronic illness, or who are immunocompromised who might not feel comfortable attending events like this otherwise. It was a breath of fresh air that proved just how easy it is to host a fun, chill, and welcoming COVID-concious event in 2024. It was another reason that Zines 4 Queers were excited to organize the show, “The ability to make it a mask required event so that everybody could come was huge,” Julie shared.
Impressively the show wasn’t just interested in protecting and supporting guests but also those who came to showcase and sell their work. All exhibitors were supplied with “really good” pizza, as well as beverages and a constant supply of volunteers to relieve them at their tables if need be. Anyone who’s fought their way through the crowds to find the pro room at SDCC in order to grab a lukewarm cup of coffee, would have been blown away by the thought that went into making sure that exhibitors were looked after and supported. “Because we do so many fests we are aware of the things vendors like to have and that makes the experience easier,” Julie explained. “Like having somebody for breaks, or having food, just felt really good.”
That level of thought and care immediately stood out to experienced exhibitors like Johnny Parker III (The Black Man’s Guide to Getting Pulled Over, Godzilla Rivals Mothra vs. M.O.G.U.E.R.A), who was impressed by the thoughtfulness of the organizers. “It’s been one of the best zine fests and comics I’ve ever done.” He shared. “They’ve been really well organized. They did a lot of great job advertising and getting people to show up for it. It’s been a really welcoming community. They make sure that your creatives are comfortable and have volunteers checking in on us. They’ve made sure that we have food and are provided for. It’s a super safe and inclusive environment for creators and the people who show up.”
He continued. “They’re making sure that people are masked up so that way nobody gets sick. That means, all people are welcome and they’ve just created a great environment for people to come explore and talk about comics and zines.”
One of the most impressive feats of Black Zine Fest was the expansive and eclectic selection of genres and vibes covered. For Rory, a queer, trans art educator who’s been making zines since high school, the zine fest was a place to share all their erotica and work with the weekend crowds. “I’m super excited to be here!” As erotica lovers here at WWAC, we had to know more, so what is Rory’s erotica about? “Well, it’s a demon fucker short story based on a concept I have for an erotic visual novel,” Rory told us. “It’s delicious and disgusting and amazing and filthy. And yeah, and you’ll have to read it to see what happens!” If you weren’t lucky enough to attend the fest then you can follow Rory and erotic find their work @MXSadist.
Rory was tabling with Violet Kwame Lucifer, who you can find @AfroDeezee. Violet has been making zines since 2012, and cites discovering Riot Girl as their big influence for getting into the artform. One of the things that immediately stuck out was their mini-zine library that Violet bought for visitors to explore. “I’ve just collected a lot of zines across time, I’m an archivist and also a hoarder of amazing things, which is kind of the same thing.” Violet continued. “These are historical zines that I’ve brought with me from New York. I like people to come through and read through something.” What’s the most popular? “A lot of people really like to read through this Black Lesbians in the ’90s from the Lesbian Herstory Archives on Long Island.”
Alongside old timers and professional comics creators there were first time exhibitors like local artist Anikazoë who goes by @lagrimasx on Instagram. “I’m here at the Black Zine Fest it’s my first fest and the first one. The vibes have been super great and everyone’s been super kind.” Anikazoë was tabling with Amara who’s known as @SalamanderIndustries online and both were impressed by the way the show was put together. “I’ve done a couple of zine fests over the last few years and this is definitely one of the best ones. It’s been an especially kind and encouraging space.”
Black Zine Fest was a hopeful and radical representation of the many different kinds of art, zines, and comics that are being created by Black creatives. And the exhibitors are hoping it won’t be the last. Parker told us, “I’m super honored to be part of the very first one, and I’m looking forward to this becoming an annual thing here in LA.” After getting to spend such a lovely afternoon at Black Zine Fest, we at WWAC hope for that too.
You can support Black Zine Fest and Zines 4 Queers by following them on socials and sharing their incredible work with the rest of the internet and your comic book communities.
