Author panels, film screenings, and comic book workshops for kids — all part of a Harlem festival, as NY1's Bree Driscoll reports.
We have all heard of Superman, Batman and Spider-Man right? But what about Brotherman, Kid Code or Blackjack?
"He is a soldier of fortune in the 1930's," said illustrator Tim Fielder. "African American soldier of fortune. He resides in Harlem but he is a world traveler."
Those are just some of the super heroes being featured in the fourth annual Black Comic Book Festival Saturday at the Schomberg Center in Harlem.
"Celebrate black independent comics art," said co-founder of the festival John Jennings.
The goal is to highlight the work of black artists and to inspire future generations.
"I know my parents said, 'Oh well comic books, you can't make a living out of that. You know you will live in our basement until you are 50,'" said co-founder Jerry Craft. "And that is not the case. You can really make a living out of it and do something that you absolutely love."
Mainstream comic book heroes have traditionally been white. But Craft says we are starting to see that change.
"You see like the Black Panther movie, The Falcon and some of the people man of war in there," Craft said. "I do think that there is more on the horizon."
Thousands of people turned out for the event. And organizers say the audience is mostly made up of blerds and bleeks.
"It is an amalgam of black and nerd and black and geek," Jennings said.
"It seems cool to emphasize that there are also black people who are nerds and geeks," said Kwame Stevens.
"This is a great opportunity to come to an event like this and you are surrounded by people who are just like you," said Stevanie Rhim.
Organizers say they pushed their super powers to the max Saturday — the power of inspiring others.
The Schomburg Center is part of the city's public library system, so for more info on the festival, visit the library's web site.