I’ve got about a half dozen secret projects I’m working on right now – and I *promise* I will tell you about each and every one as they become public. A couple of them are in process and a couple are still in pitch stage (wish me luck, these could be really cool!). But today I want to announce a public event!

I will be bringing BL and Yuri and queer anime, manga, comics and cartoons to Derpycon at the Hyatt Regency in Morristown, NJ.

Because the con is for a general geek stuff audience, I’m keeping everything as inclusive and open (and broadly defined) as possible.

So, please join me on November 9th for:

The ‘Secret’ History of Yaoi and Yuri
Friday. 2:30pm-3:30pm, Panel 2

LGBTQ in Anime,Comics, Manga, Cartoons
Friday, 5pm-6pm, Panel 1

As always, there will be prizes for good questions! And don’t miss Tito’s Tacos, across the green on the corner of Schuyler Place – get the veggie taco, trust me, you’ll be blown away. Oh, hey, did I mention that Derpycon is in my hometown? Check out the Game Vault on South Street – it’s got all the games I played when my wife and I were dating in high school. (Honestly, it kinda freaks me out. ^_^)

See you there!

Join me today at the Newark Museum for Manga Mania and the Kimono Refashioned Exhibit! I’ll be presenting a short lecture on Osamu Tezuka, Manga, Fashion and Kimono at 2:30 and 4:00 in the Planetarium.
There will be Wii games, a maker space, a J-pop performance.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite – the event is free for Museum members, Newark residents, students at any Newark College or University, Children under 2 and any active duty Military. Children, teacher. students, veterans and seniors will be eligible for a discounted rate.

If you are an Okazu reader, please do come up and say hello! You know I love meeting you. ^_^ See you there!

New York Comic Con 2018 was, in all honesty, the best NYCC I have attended. It was also grueling. I feel every single second of my years today. ^_^

This year I did something I have never done before – I worked for someone else. It was my tremendous honor to be part of the Comics Beat team this year. As a result, you can see most of what I have written about the panels and interviews and stuff there:

NYCC ’18: International Creator Spotlight – Harold Sakuishi
INTERVIEW: BECK Creator Harold Sakuishi on Storytelling
NYCC ’18: Outspoken The Queer Cartoonists Represent Panel
NYCC ’18: “Ghost in the Shell – The Global Neural Network” Creator Panel
NYCC ’18: Use Manga to Help You in School – Explore Classic Literature with Manga Classics
I wrote up a pre-event explanation of the AnimeFest@NYCC by Anime Expo situation:
NYCC ’18: Anime Expo Wants to Proves It Can Make It In New York City

And here are my final thoughts about AnimeFest@NYCC: AnimeFest@NYCC ’18: Your First Impression Might Be Your Last

Every single panel I attended was exceptional, no joke. I really enjoyed the heck out of all of them. And I’m sorry I wasn’t able to make more of the LGBTQ-focused panels, so here are some writeups by other folks:

Amanda Steele:
NYCC ’18: The LGBTQ in Pop Culture Panel Discusses Representation in Media
NYCC ’18: These Amazing Artists Celebrate Queerness and You Should Check Them Out

William Henderson:
NYCC ’18: The New York TimesOUT LGBTQ in Comics Panel
NYCC ’18: The Entertainment is LGBTQ Panel: Creating Comic Books in ‘20-Gayteen’
NYCC ’18: Outspoken – A Peculiar Time to be a Queer Cartoonist

Samatha Puc:
NYCC ’18 Interview: Darin Strauss & Adam Dalva Modernize & Queer Dickensian Classics for “Olivia Twist”

I will update this list if more get published. And if you know anyone who covered that LGBTQ in Anime panel send in a link!

In the meantime, I want to share a couple of things that aren’t in any of the articles above, except peripherally. During the Ghost in the Shell: Global Neural Network panel , one of the things that was noted is that some of the stories refer back to specific scenes in the original manga. “Star Gardens” by Brendan Fletcher and LRNZ makes a nod to the lesbian sex scene. I think the anthology is generally excellent and worth reading. 

I also picked up the first volume of Sailor Moon Eternal Edition which is quite beautiful and extra large format.

And my last and probably best purchase was Jook Joint #1 from Tee Franklin and Image Comics. Damn, that’s some good comicking. I can’t wait for #2. 

Now I have been typing since 9AM and I have got to give my fingers a break. New Doctor Who and the Revolutionary Girl Utena musical beckon! 

I’ll be pounding the (overcrowded, hot) aisles and panel rooms of New York Comic Con this weekend. And, for once, I won’t be there just for Okazu. I’ll be working with the exceptionally talented and dedicated reporters of the Comics Beat. 

In fact, if you want to see what I’m up to, follow the tag with my name and you’ll find me there. I’ve already posted two stories: The NYCC 2018 Guide to LGBTQ Panels and NYCC ’18: Anime Expo Wants to Proves It Can Make It In New York City about LA’s Anime Expo and it’s role in developing the AnimeFest@NYCC. There’s a lot there to chew on.

I have a full schedule for the next two days, then will spend the next week writing stuff up, and THEN, I’ll be lecturing at Newark Museum’s Manga Mania Day on October 14, so expect a slowdown here for another week or so.

If you see me at NYCC do say hello! You know how much I love seeing you!

This month is going to be nuts for me! First up at this coming weekend is New York Comic Con and this year Anime Expo is running the “Anime Fest” portion of the event. I am, very honestly, skeptical about this for many reasons, but I will withhold all judgement until after the event.

I’m going to be intermittently posting the next two weeks as I’m up to my neck with events. It’s all good. ^_^ 

In the meantime, here is a quick rundown on NYCC Panels that may interest you, if you are attending! Hope to see you there!

Thursday, October 4

GLAAD #SpiritDay Photo Booth Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson 
October 04, 2018, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Queer Lounge – Room 1E02 – Javits Center

Queer Comics for Kids of All Ages 
October 04, 2018, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM, NYPL 476 5th Ave – Berger Forum

Entertainment is LGBTQ 
October 04, 2018, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PMm Room 1A21 – Javits Center

Friday, October 5

Surviving As Womyn & Nonbinary People of Colour with Mental Illness in Cosplay 
October 05, 2018, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM, Cosplay Central Stage Presented by Imgur – River Pavilion – 4th Fl Javits Center

#METOO to #TIMESUP: An Action Summit for Comics
October 05, 2018, 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM, Room 1A21 – Javits Center

LGBTQ+ in Anime, Presented by Crunchyroll
October 05, 2018, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM, Anime Fest @ NYCC – Mirai Stage

Outspoken: Queer Cartoonists Represent
October 05, 2018, 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM, Room 1C03 – Javits Center