Schedule

2022 Special Event

The Comic and Graphic Novel Extravaganza begins May 2, 2022!

Join us in celebrating the art & storytelling of comics and graphic novels with these special events starting May 2:

  • Featured online event: Interview with Chicagoland’s own C. Spike Trotman of Iron Circus Comics on May 5th (details below).
  • Find a new favorite title: Stop by the library starting May 2nd to go on the hunt for your new favorite graphic novel. Using the map as a guide, browse over 150 selected titles.
  • Create your own comic: Have time in between classes? Need to destress? Sit down and create your own comic using a printed template.
  • Artist workshop: View this pre-recorded event on YouTube. Acclaimed comic artist and writer Gene Ha shares tips and tricks to making comics.

An Interview with Iron Circus Comics’ Publisher C. Spike Trotman  

Thursday, May 5th, 12:30pm, Join online via Webex

Join us as we welcome writer, artist, and publisher, C. Spike Trotman for an online interview. Iron Circus Comics is Chicago’s largest comics publisher. Focusing on underrepresented and unique voices, Iron Circus goes beyond the typical capes and superpowers that dominate mainstream comics. Trotman has brought together creators that are reshaping the storytelling and the business of comics. And they are doing it right here in Chicagoland! As the Chicago Tribune puts it, ““C. Spike Trotman is a force in the world of independent comics.”

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2020 Symposium

Ironheart, Champions, and Ms. Marvel: Eve Ewing’s Comics
In addition to being a sociologist and poet, Eve Ewing also writes for Marvel comics. CBR calls Ewing’s Ironheart “a breath of fresh air”, and The Mary Sue celebrates Ewing’s development of Riri Williams: “We get to really see the psychological weight of what it means to be young, gifted, and black”. This discussion will dig into Ewing’s impact on the Marvel universe.

2019 Symposium

Watch on YouTube: After Watchmen: Interpreting and Misinterpreting a Superhero Comic
Allen Moore’s epic graphic novel, The Watchmen, is often credited for transforming how we see superhero stories. The heroes we see at the movies, on Netflix, or in modern comics can be traced back to the Watchmen in the 1980s. In this talk, fine arts faculty member, Erik LaGattuta, explores the significance as well as the artistic storytelling behind The Watchmen. This event is part of the Library’s Graphic Novel Symposium.

Watch on YouTube: So We’re Playing Video Games Today: The Importance of Teaching With All Literacies
Please join this panel of educators and school administrators from the Lit-X collective as they discuss the importance of teaching with all literacies including video games, comics, music, and film.  And while this session will focus primarily on use in the middle school and secondary classroom, lesson planning ideas will span all grades. This event is part of the Library’s Graphic Novel Symposium.

Watch on YouTube: Westworld: Robots, Entertainment, Power & Desire
Faculty members from different areas of study will discuss HBO’s hit show Westworld. They will consider this show as a commentary on our relationship with technology, the ways we engage in entertainment, and the power dynamics underlying modern life. This event is part of our One Book program on I, Robot by Isaac Asimov and a part of the Library’s Graphic Novel Symposium.

Gaming Day
Friday, September 27th, 11am – 2pm, Library Coffee Bar
Students, staff, and faculty can stop by to play favorite games or learn something new. No experience required!

2018 Symposium 

The rest of our Symposium will be taking place: 

Featured event: Meet the writer of Ms. Marvel!
G. Willow Wilson, writer of the award winning Ms. Marvel, gave two talks at MVCC:

The Magnificent: The Creative Journey of Comics
View & Watch this event here.
Wednesday, September 26th, 10am-10:50am, Library Lounge (Building L)
Writer, inker, and colorists for the graphic novel The Magnificent share their collaborative process and talk about their production process.

Iva-Marie Palmer & Marta Kissi: Their Partnerhsip as Writer and Illustrator 
View & Watch this event here.
Thursday, Sept 27th, 11am – 12:15pm, Library Lounge (Building L)
Iva-Marie Palmer, author of the Gabby Garcia’s Ultimate Playbook series, will talk about writing middle-grade novels with a graphic component. Attendees will hear about how this process differs from the typical novel, as well as the nuts and bolts of working with an illustrator. The illustrator of Gabby Garcia’s Ultimate Playbook, Marta Kissi, will join via Skype to talk about her side of the story. This event is part of the One Book, One College program on Ms. Marvel and the Graphic Novel Symposium.

Ms. Marvel, Meaning & Modern Storytelling : A Faculty Panel
View & Watch this event here.
Thursday, September 27th, 1pm, Library Lounge (Building L)
Join us as we prepare for the visit of author G. Willow Wilson. Faculty members will explore the significance of the award winning comic Ms. Marvel, which is the 2018-2019 One Book selection.

Magic the Gathering for Pros and Beginners
Friday, September 28th, Noon-3pm, Library Coffee Bar (Building L)
Whether you are a beginners or a pros, this event is for you. We are hosting our first-ever Magic the Gathering meetup. New players can come and learn, and experienced players can test their skills.

 Previous Events:

2017 Symposium

Talking About Things We Love: Finding Community in Fandom
View & Listen to this event here.
Wed, Sept 27, 1pm – 1:50pm, Library Lounge Building L
Faculty members discuss their own fan subcultures from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, to Glee, to Star Trek, to 70s sports, and more. How do fans come together to share ideas? How do fans expand on meanings and themes found within stories, time periods, or genres that they love? This will be a fun discussion about pop culture, hobbies, games and other realms of fandom.

Featured Event: Artist & Writer Dan Dougherty Shares His Creative Process
View & Listen to this event here.
Thurs, Sept 28, 9:30am-10:45am, Library Lounge, Building L
Award-winning illustrator and author visits Moraine Valley to share his creative process. Dan is a Moraine Valley alum who has written graphic novels, comic books, newspaper articles, and comic strips. His work has been featured online and in print.

Dungeons and Dragons: The Game, the Myth the Legend
View & Listen to this event here.
Thurs, Sept 28, 12:30pm-1:30pm, Library Lounge, Building L
An estimated 20 million people worldwide have played Dungeons and Dragons – the original roleplaying game of adventure, treasure, and camaraderie. We will briefly talk about the game’s history, influence, and a brief discussion of gameplay. Questions welcome!

2016 Symposium

theMagnificent

Crowd Funding and Publishing Comics
View and watch event here. 
Wed, Sept 28th, 11am, Library Lounge, Building L
Writer and comics creator Carmello Chimera discusses the funding of Magnificent, his new comics title with artist Steven Brown. How do creators successfully crowd fund a project? What works and what doesn’t? How does crowd funding open up opportunities for creators that didn’t exist in the past? This talk is part of MVCC’s Graphic Novel Symposium.

ericpic

Graphic Novels in the Classroom
View and watch event here.
Wed, Sept 28th, Noon-12:50 pm, Library Lounge, Building L
Educators and comics experts talk about the comics they use in the classroom with high school students. They will discuss the ways that comics support literacy, enhance learning, and engage students in all parts of the curriculum. This event is part of our Graphic Novel Symposium.

ArtistGLantern & Writer Gene Ha Shares His Creative Process
View and watch event here.
Thurs, Sept 29th, 9:30am-10:45am, Library Lounge, Building L
Eisener Award winning creator Gene Ha discusses the process behind his art and writing. Ha has worked on the biggest characters in comics including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Captain America, and others. His new, independent title Mae was released by Dark Horse Comics in June of 2016. We are very excited to welcome Gene Ha to our Graphic Novel Symposium.

threadbare

Comics Journalism: Depicting Unseen Connections Between Sex and Garment Trades Worldwide
View and watch event here.
Thur, Sept 29th, 12:30 pm-1:45 pm, Library Lounge, Building L
Artist and journalist Anne Elizabeth Moore talks about her graphic novel Threadbare which explores the ways the garment industry exploits workers. Moore is an award-winning journalist who uses comics to document the world by “showing” us what she sees.

Featured Speakers, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015

Featured Speakers, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015

Featured Speakers, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014

Featured Speakers, Friday, Sept. 19, 2014