This brother was one of the surprising number of people who lined up to ask questions at the costume designers panel. He had apparently done quite a bit of costume design on smaller film and television projects, but he hadn’t yet made it onto any blockbusters; and he wanted some tips from the panelists, all of whom had done significant work for major big-budget films and television series.
Ajuan Mance
I ran into this brother several times during Comic-Con, and each time he was wearing a crisp white shirt. The thing that really caught my attention, though, was his beautifully maintained dreadlocks. The second or third time we crossed paths, he notice me starting at his hair; and he shot me a look out of the corner of his eye that seemed to say, “Sista, I see you see me, and it’s all good.”
Ajuan Mance
As you might have guessed, this is not a Comic-Con sketch. I’m not sure how I managed to skip drawing #756, but this drawing depicts a conversation I saw between two young guys who were speaking with each other on that little stretch of Fruitvale that’s right near the big Farmer Joe’s. I was struck by his candor and by his friend’s patience and understanding.
Ajuan Mance
Raising a hand to ask a question of Jeremy Love at the “Comics of Future/Past: Constructing Race, Space and Identity Through the Visualization of the EthnoSurreal” panel. (Since I couldn’t remember the title of the panel, I looked him up).
Ajuan Mance
This is my drawing of Arif S. Kinchen from the Cartoon Voices #1 panel at Comic-Con. If you keep in mind that I was drawing him based on what I could see from at least 50 yards away, then you’ll think I’m a genius!
Ajuan Mance
This guy with the amazing pharoah’s beard walked past me as I was finding a seat for the voice actors’ panel. Mad props to the brother for taking a style risk. He wasn’t even doing cosplay; he was rocking the Tutanankhamun beard for the simple sake of looking fly.
Ajuan Mance
At The Black Panel, Comic-Con San Diego, Summer 2014.
Ajuan Mance
This t-shirt is absolute geek perfection.
Ajuan Mance
I have no idea who this brotha’s costume was supposed to resemble. It was all handmade, including the hat, which was assembled from a felt-type cloth that (sort-of) matched the blanket cape around his shoulders. The safety pin at the throat added a touch of class.
Ajuan Mance
Some day I’ll do a ‘zine about hairstyles and fashion among the Black men of Comic-Con. It’s certainly a topic worth covering, especially when you’ve got brothas like this one, dressed in big ’80s-style glasses and a Members Only jacket, and not even for the sake of cosplay.
Ajuan Mance