The John M. Pfau Library at Cal State San Bernardino will host the third annual Comic Book Expo and Career Workshop on Thursday, Feb. 20, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in PL-5005, located on the fifth floor of the library.
 
The program will feature a panel on career pathways into the comics industry, discussions on the creative process, from-the-trenches writing advice, opportunities to engage one-on-one with professional comics artists, and the announcement of winners who compete in a comic book contest, each of whom will receive 500 color copies of their winning entry.
 
The contest is free to enter and open to all CSUSB students. Submissions must be related to climate change, pollution, green technology, sustainability, recycling, species extinction, social and environmental justice, among other topics specified in the competition’s rules and guidelines.
 
“The Comic Book Expo and Career Workshop continues to expand in scope and popularity,” said Cesar Caballero, dean of the John M. Pfau Library. “This year’s program is career-oriented, with a focus on providing essential information to students who wish to enter the comics profession. Our goal is to have a greater impact each year, by offering students transformative learning experiences to explore, pursue, and achieve their artistic aspirations.”
 
Panelists include Matthew Poole, professor and chair of Art Design at CSUSB; Eric Koda, an art instructor, book artist, and former Marvel Comics animator; Melina Chavarria, a comic book writer and co-creator of “The Magic Glasses” series; and Javier Hernandez, a cartoonist, art educator, and co-founder of the “Latino Comics Expo.” 
 
Special guest Amanda Jacquez – an artist at Saatchi Art, the world’s leading online art gallery – will discuss her experiences with self-publishing and working with small independent printing houses. Her insights will be particularly valuable to students who are interested in pursuing careers in visual storytelling.
 
“Given the excellent lineup, with its emphasis on career pathways into the world of professional comics, we expect the largest turnout to date,” said Pfau Library staff member Pat Ricé-Daniels, who conceived the idea of the Comic Book Expo and is one of the main organizers.  “We invite everyone on campus and in the broader community to join us on February 20, 2020 for what will be an exciting and informative program – perhaps even catalytic for many aspiring artists.”
 
The event is free and open to the public. Visit the campus’ main Information Center, located at the campus’ University Parkway entrance, for a complimentary parking permit.
 
For more information, contact Pat.Ric’e-Daniels@csusb.edu or (909) 537-4307.