Flamecon 2 was a fantastic event and I’m absolutely gutted that I couldn’t get to it for both days.
Flamecon bills itself as New York’s Queer Comic Con. This year, it was queerer and more diverse than ever. And, as a result, was even more fun than last year. Where last year, their mascot was a cheerfully “flaming” young man, this year there was a companion Flamey for those of us who admire women.
The new location has several things to recommend it – it was easier to get to than last year. It was also around the corner from Rocco’s Tacos, which offered happy wait staff who were dancing in the foyer, and The Three Amigos playing on TVs in the bathroom stalls. The food was good, too.
The Dealer’s room was huge, well-laid out and packed wall to wall full of amazing talent, small queer presses and people you need to know about. I picked up a bunch of comics, obviously, but the main event for me was a copy of The Other Side, an anthology of queer paranormal romance. Several contributors were at the event, so they made a little map of the room pointing out who would be where and making a defacto signature rally. I wasn’t able to get everyone’s signature, as some folks weren’t at their table, or were mobbed (coughKateLethcough) but I was able to get a bunch, including squee! cover artist and creator of webcomic Agents of the Realm, Mildred Louis!
Last year, while I enjoyed the event, I found it lacking in lesbian comics presence. this year, I had no such complaint. There were a ton of lesbian comics and comic artists.
In addition to The Other Side, I picked up a delightful lesbian three-way relationship set in the Wild West, called Among the Willows, from Elizabeth Willis and Ann Uland, the same folks that created the queer adventure set in ancient Rome, Cassius, of which I picked up the first issue, as well.
I also was ecstatic to get Wool and Water, a Namesake doujinshi, by creators Megan Lavey-Heaton and Isabelle Melançon, who I’d met some years ago at TCAF.
The folks that put out the Dates! anthology of historical LGBTQ fiction and comics, are doing a second volume(!) and want you to please submit your works and spread the word.
And not at all least, I want to once more sing the praises of Jennifer Camper, comic creator and event organizer for the Queer & Comics conference, which is gearing up for a second event on Friday and Saturday, April 14-15, 2017 at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco, California. The first Queer & Comics event was absolutely amazing and this one is already shaping up to be great. I have a panel in the 2017 event and will be beating the drum loudl, so you’d better just mark it on your calendar now and plan to go. ^_^
I ran the “Secret” History of Yaoi and Yuri panel and was exceedingly gratified at the audience’s attentiveness and great questions. This was probably one of the very best groups to which I’ve ever presented this panel. For one thing, they got all of my jokes. ^_^
Super big shout out to Zan Christensen from Northwest Press who I’m working with on a secret project that will soon be not-so-secret. Keep your antenna up for fabulousness very soon!
Overall, it was absolutely worth making the trek into Brooklyn the day after coming home from Paris. And while I can’t promise I’ll make it both days next year, I’ll do whatever I can to make it there for at least a little while, because Flamecon is here, it’s queer and it’s one of the best cons I’ve ever been to. ^_^
