C2E2 Panel with Top Comic Book Creators to Focus on Image of Black Men in Pop Culture & Comics

Black creators from DC, Marvel, “And… Action!” Entertainment and Rosarium Publishing discuss how their work challenges perceptions and the future of comics.

Chicago — March 3, 2016 — How do comics, in their various forms, impact society’s view of the Black male and how Black men view themselves? Comic book heavy hitters from mainstream and indie worlds come together on Saturday, March 18, 2016 at the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) to discuss this and other timely questions in a groundbreaking panel discussion: Comics, American Culture & the Black Male Image: Perspectives from Creators. TV Director/creator Eric Dean Seaton (NBC, ABC, Legend of the Mantamaji), writer David Walker (Cyborg, Powerman & Iron Fist, Shaft), professor/artist John I. Jennings (SUNY Buffalo, Kid Code, Black Kirby), actor/writer Kevin Grevioux (creator Blue Marvel & Underworld) along with moderator Mark Smith (iHeart Radio 1390 am) delve into the deep topic of black male identity in comics. The panel will also host awesome prize pack giveaways of autographed comics throughout the discussion.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to bring together these creators to have this very necessary conversation and to talk to readers about their perspectives,” said Eric Dean Seaton, owner of “And… Action!” Entertainment and creator of Legend of the Mantamaji. “I’m grateful C2E2 recognized the importance of this conversation and for its support of diversity in comics.”

About Kevin Grevioux

Kevin Grevioux is a screenwriter, producer, actor and a graphic novel creator who has 20 years of experience in the film industry. He has appeared in several films including, Alien Nation, The Mask, Congo, Batman Forever, Tim Burton‘s Planet of the Apes, The Hulk andMen In Black II. Kevin also co-created the successful Underworld franchise, was also a co-producer on the film series and played the character RAZE. Grevioux has also written, sold and was executive producer of the original screenplay I, Frankenstein to Lakeshore Entertainment based on his original graphic novel of the same name.

In addition, Grevioux is a prolific writer in the comic book/graphic novel world. He has worked for both Marvel and DC Comics having written such characters as Spider-Man, Blade, Iron Man, Batman, Superman, the Phantom and the critically-acclaimed Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel for Marvel which he created. The Blue Marvel has also recently become one of the Avengers.

He has established an independent creator-owned comic book/graphic novel company called Darkstorm Comics. Under this imprint Kevin has created ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction, I, Frankenstein, Monstroids, Shurika, Skull & Guns, The Gray Men, Alius Rex and Battlesphere.  As well as Astounding Comics, which produces all-ages titles such as Valkyries, Njuma, Cryptokids,Guardian Heroes, The Atoms Family, The Toy Box, Mighty Girls, The Vindicators and The Hammer Kid.

Grevioux is also no stranger to the world of voiceovers, having worked on such shows as The Batman, Young Justice, Hulk and the Agents of SMASH and The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

About Eric Dean Seaton

As a two-time NAACP Image Award-nominated episodic director, Eric Dean Seaton has directed over 200 television episodes of numerous hit shows such as ABC’s “Dr. Ken,” NBC’s “Undateable” and “Truth Be Told,” TVOne’s “Here We Go Again,” TBS’s “Ground Floor,” BET’s “Let’s Stay Together,” Disney’s “Austin & Ally,” “That’s So Raven,” and Nickelodeon’s “Nicky, Ricky, Dicky and Dawn,” and “The Thundermans,” to name a few, as well as multiple music videos and television pilots.

Seaton is also the creator, writer and publisher of the Legend of the Mantamaji graphic novel trilogy and director of the award-winning Legend of the Mantamaji: Live Action Short. The series, published by “And… Action!” Entertainment, was named a Top Graphic Novel by Examiner.com and Atlanta Black Star and nominated for a 2015 Glyph Comics Award.

About David Walker

David F. Walker is an award-winning journalist, filmmaker, author of the YA series The Adventures of Darius Logan, creator of the acclaimed ‘zine BadAzz MoFo, and a comic book writer. His works in comics include Power Man and Iron Fist (Marvel), Shaft(Dynamite Entertainment), The Army of Dr. Moreau (IDW/Monkeybrain Comics), and Cyborg (DC Comics). Walker has taught courses in documentary filmmaking, writing for comics, and film criticism through the Portland State University, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Northwest Film Center, Documentary Northwest, and Project Youth Doc.

About John Jennings

John Jennings is an Associate Professor of Art and Visual Studies at the University at Buffalo-State University of New York. He is the co-author of the graphic novel The Hole: Consumer Culture, Vol. 1 and the art collection Black Comix: African American Independent Comics Art and Culture (both with Damian Duffy).

Jennings is also the co-editor of The Blacker the Ink: Constructions of Black Identity in Comics and Sequential Art and co-founder/organizer of The Schomburg Center’s Black Comic Book Festival in Harlem, MLK NorCal’s Black Comix Arts Festival in San Francisco, and the AstroBlackness colloquium in Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University. Jennings’ current comics projects include the Hiphop adventure comic Kid Code: Channel Zero, the supernatural crime noir story Blue Hand Mojo, and the upcoming graphic novel adaptation of Octavia Butler’s classic dark fantasy novel Kindred.

About Mark Smith

“Mark Smith is a force of nature,” says the Beacon News. From ministry to entertainment he is man on a mission. He serves as the Senior & Founding Pastor of A PLACE OF CHANGE, a multicultural, worship driven, community minded church in Chicago’s Western Suburbs. Beyond ministry, Mark is called to be a light in the entertainment world: He has guest starred on NBC’s “Chicago Fire”, ABC’s “Mind Games”, the Starz hit series, “Boss” starring Kelsey Grammer, and in FOX’s new smash hit, “EMPIRE.”

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