The venue was new and the main speaker, filmmaker Kevin Grevioux, had to cancel but the spirit of conviviality was undimmed at the 20009 East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention held May 16 at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Philadelphia. Last-minute scheduling conflicts left Underworld film franchise creator Grevioux, who has attended previous ECBACCs, unable to attend, but the screening of the actor-screenwriter’s latest film, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, went on as planned.

For the first time in its eight-year history, ECBACC was not held on Temple University’s main campus in North Philadelphia. Instead the event moved downtown to the Crown Plaza Hotel at 18th and Market streets in Center City. The move seems to indicate a step up in profile for the grass roots event and organization, which the organizers said has seen attendance grow every year since its inception as a public event in 2004. Although attendance figures were not available at press time, organizers say last year’s event drew approximately 600 attendees. The convention was first held in 2002 as a private gathering of artists and writers.

The Glyph Awards ceremony, an annual event honoring the best black comics characters and their creators, was held on May 15 and also changed venues. The Glyph prize is open to artists of all backgrounds. The ceremony was held last at the Afro American Museum of Art. This year construction forced the awards ceremony to move to the Free Library of Philadelphia. Jeremy Love’s Web comic Bayou swept the honors, winning Story of the Year, Best Writer and Best Artist for creator Jeremy Love. Best Male Character was Black Lightning for DC Comics issue Final Crisis: Submit. Bayou also won for Best Female Character. A complete list of awards recipients can be found on the ECBACC web site.

ECBACC president and founder Yumy Odom said the new hotel location maximized traffic flow from vendors to workshops and panels. All events were on one floor centered around the vendor space, which expanded to two rooms this year. Moreover, he said participants seemed to be happy with the change. “They love it,” he said. “It still has a family feel about it and this still serves as reunion for these artists who come from across the country here to meet once a year.”

Among the highlights of the show was an appearance by the creator of the Vampire Huntress series, novelist L.A. Banks, along with Comic Buyer’s Guide reviewer Tony Isabella and artist Jamar Nicholas (web comic strip Leon) who discussed successful writing techniques, especially the importance of detailed and consistent “world building.” Banks said, “If you blow the rules [of your own fantasy world] to me that’s one of the things that people won’t forgive you for.”Isabella added, “Expedience is not heroism.”

Journalist-author Greg Walker, also known as Brother G, was on hand to discuss his collaboration with actor Wesley Snipes and popular artist Mshindo I. on an upcoming animated production, Zulu Mech 1. The project is based on Walker’s Shades of Memnon book series, which features an African hero. Online reports say Snipes is expected to announce the venture at the Black Book Expo in New York on May 30. Walker expected the production to have broad appeal because even “white people are tired of white people,” he said joking. “Especially fair-minded white people,” he continued, who try to provide their children with a diverse view of the world but see few faces of color in positive roles in the media.

Mama's Boyz creator Jerry Craft and fan.

There was an exhibition of Mshindo’s work as well as his drawing techniques, which attracted a packed audience. Mama’s Boyz creator Jerry Craft and DC Comics artists Jamal Igle (Supergirl and Firestorm) and Eric Battle (Green Arrow and Batman), all of whom have at least a decade of professional comics work under their belts, discussed the experience of occupying the “middle ground” of their careers where, as Igle said, “We still have our inspirations but are [now] inspiring others.”

Overall, organizers considered the event to be a success. ECBACC v-p and event coordinator Maurice Waters, said “Being in a new venue we were taking a chance but everyone loved the it and when we asked for feedback everyone said we should be here again next year.”