Artists and writers of color gain ground at comic conventions

Black creators remained visible at Phoenix Fan Fusion June 4-7, 2026, even as featured Black actors were absent from the event. The convention highlighted both the staying power of artists like Christopher Priest and the broader fight for representation in comics and fan culture. Why it matters: - Phoenix Fan Fusion showed that creators of color are still shaping comic culture, even when representation on convention stages and exhibitor floors remains limited. - The mix of veteran names and newer artists points to a pipeline of Black talent that continues to draw fans and build careers. - The conversation also reflects a wider debate over diversity, publishing, and who gets sustained visibility in pop culture. What happened: - Phoenix Fan Fusion ran June 4-7, 2026, in Phoenix. - Christopher Priest appeared as one of the few exhibitors of color at the convention. - Priest is widely known as the first African-American writer in Marvel comics. - The event did not feature any Black actors this year. - Latique Curry showed work at the Phoenix Convention Center through Miscreant Anthology. - Stranger Comics returned to Phoenix Fan Fusion for its 10th year at the event. The details: - Priest was born in Queens, New York, and began writing as a child after asking for a typewriter so he could write a Batman novel at age 10. - Priest later worked at a comic book store, graduated from the High School of Media Arts, and became a Marvel intern at 17. - Priest later worked as an editor at DC Comics in the early 1990s. - Priest said he was driven out of the industry after being limited to writing only about Black characters. - Priest returned to comics in 2017 as the writer of Deathstroke. - Curry, also from New York, was exposed to the arts by his parents and began drawing at age 7. - Curry retired from the Army and is now based in Mesa, Arizona. - Curry said he enjoys being in the comic space and thanked God for his success. - Curry has worked across graphic novels, fantasy, and photorealistic illustration. - Curry sold color prints of comic heroes and heroines at the convention. - Stranger Comics features the Black heroine Niobe. - Stranger Comics has partnered with Legion M to produce the graphic novel “Defiant: The Story of Robert Smalls” . - The Robert Smalls project has been nominated for awards. - Sebastian A. Jones founded Stranger Comics, was born in London, came to the U.S. at 18, worked in the record business, and has also been an actor, author, and teacher. Between the lines: - The convention snapshot suggests that Black creators remain present in comics even when broader event lineups do not fully reflect that diversity. - The piece frames representation as both a cultural issue and a business issue, with fan demand still strong for creators like Priest. - It also hints that gains in Black-led entertainment and publishing may be uneven rather than permanent. What’s next: - Priest, Curry, and Jones all expect to keep returning to Phoenix Fan Fusion and similar conventions. - The article suggests more African-Americans could appear at comic conventions across the U.S. in 2027. - The broader success of projects like Black Panther 3 and Sinners may keep attention on Black creators and stories in comics and film. The bottom line: - Comic conventions still have room to grow on representation, but the audience for Black creators and Black-led stories remains clearly visible.