Celebrate Books and Comics With These Virtual Conventions

Normally at this time of the year we’d be deep into con season. The Covid-19 crisisOpens in a new tab means that all of the conventions where we’d usually be hanging with friends, supporting our local artists, and gushing about the things we love on panels have been cancelled. Despite our sadness, something that’s been uplifting to see is the way people have organized online equivalents. And now two powerhouse publishers, Penguin Random HouseOpens in a new tab and First SecondOpens in a new tab, have announced that they’re holding virtual conventions for fans this month!

First SecondOpens in a new tab

First up is graphic novel publisher extraordinaire First SecondOpens in a new tab. The publisher behind some of your favorite award-winning comics like Check Please!, On a Sunbeam,Opens in a new tab The Adventure ZoneOpens in a new tab, and Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With MeOpens in a new tab will be running Comics Relief: A First Second Festival on April 18th. As the tweet below demonstrates, the all-day event will feature artists like Gene Luen Yang, Ngozi Ukazu, Lucy Knisley, and many more who will showcase how to create comics. There will be sessions on multiple different skills as well as some chats between creators and First Second Editorial & Creative Director Mark Siegel.

Penguin Random House

Book lovers everywhere can rejoice as Penguin Random House has announced that on April 24th, they’ll be hosting Virtual ConOpens in a new tab! Their addition to the digital con landscape will feature “exclusive content, giveaways, online author appearances, an interactive Geek Geek Revolution game show, and much more!” And if readers want to know more they can join the Unbound Readers CommunityOpens in a new tab on Facebook or follow the publisher on TwitterOpens in a new tab and InstagramOpens in a new tab. Something we can’t wait for is the Random House Graphic comic drawing contest which will run throughout the day of the convention. It encourages fans to create their own graphic novel cover in order to potentially win a rad swag bag full of gorgeous graphic novels.

We’re excited to take part in both of these awesome virtual conventions and hopefully learn something new to get us through these strange days whilst we’re sheltering in place!

Header Image: Flickr via user 蔡小璇Opens in a new tab