Interview with Artist Avy Jetter

Trapped. Scared. Disoriented. Four friends lock themselves in the store room of the corner store. A liquor store that mostly sells candy to neighborhood kids. Is this real? Are people really eating each other? Just on the other side of the freeway, just past downtown, something is happening, something is making people crazy, something is making people feed. Feed on each other. This is the introduction to artist Avy Jetter’s zine Nuthin Good Ever Happens at 4 A.M. Jetter has only been officially doing zines for four years and her work is thoroughly compelling. Midwest BSFA talked to her about her influences and the enduring attraction to zombie narratives. 

Enter the Dragon(*Con)

In the past four years, I’ve attended a number of local and regional conventions, but there have been three biggies on my bucket list for a while: San Diego Comic Con, New York Comic Con and Dragon*Con. I had the pleasure of knocking that list down to only two last September. For longtime Dragon*Con attendees, the convention is always exciting but probably old hat by now. But for newbies like me, it was everything I wanted it to be and more. So much so that I’m going again. With only 98 days left until this year’s convention, it’s time to kick that costume making and event planning into high gear. 

Asherah Bealer at 2nd Annual Queen City Black Comix Day on June 25

Once again, Asherah Bealer, a student at the Art Academy of Cincinnati working on a degree in Illustration, will participate in Queen City Black Comix Day on June 25! A former ArtWorks apprentice, Asherah makes plushies, earrings and clothing, and her work ranges from digital to hand-drawn art.

Cincinnati Library’s Comic Con Recap

The Comic Con at the main branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County was a major good time for the members of the Midwest Black Speculative Fiction Alliance. We stumped those who tried our “Name That Actor/Actress!” quiz on black Star Trek characters, we handed out fliers about next month’s Queen City Black Comix Day and we generally geeked out with other attendees. Make sure you check out the event when it comes back in May 2017!

Midwest BSFA Hits the Cincinnati Library Comic Con on May 21

If you’re in downtown Cincinnati on Saturday, May 21, stop by the 4th annual Cincinnati Library Comic Con and check out the Midwest BSFA table! The theme is the 50th anniversary of Star Trek and we’ll be doing some trivia on the show’s black recurring characters and guest stars! The Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, noon to 5 p.m., 800 Vine Street, downtown (Cincinnati 45202), 513-369-6900