SDCC’ 25: Prism Comics returns for 22nd year at SDCC

Prism Comics will be hosting Comic-Con Weekend Kick-Off Party at Pecs Bar in Hillcrest to raise funds for Prism:

Comic-Con Weekend Kick-Off Party

Thursday, July 24

8 pm to 12 midnight

Pecs Bar – 2046 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

pecsbar.com

Cosplay encouraged! Win comics swag! Drink specials!

21+ no cover

Prism is excited to once again be “LGBTQ+ Comics Central” at Comic-Con and would like to thank the staff of Comic-Con International: San Diego for their long-time support of LGBTQIA+ diversity, equity and inclusion in comics. And Prism is eternally grateful to the printer who generously donates the printing of The Prism LGBTQIA+ Guide each year.

Here is a complete listing of Prism Comics’ panel presentations at San Diego Comic-Con:

Transgender and Nonbinary Creators Take a Stand in Tough Times

Thursday, 7/24/25, 4:00PM – 5:00PM, Room: 9

Cartoonists have been taking on current affairs since the dawn of comics, and in difficult times, transgender and nonbinary comics creators continue to tackle the issues that affect them and their community. How can comics and culture fight back against transphobia? Can poking fun at political figures influence their opinions? Can comics change the way people think about the trans community? Can a knowledge of trans history improve public understanding? Join Prism Comics, moderator Tara Madison Avery (Stacked Deck Press, Prism Comics) and panelists Aimee Campbell (We Belong, Thorns of a Rose),Liam Coballes (Shifter, The Out Side), Alex L. Combs (Trans History, Magical Boys), Andrew Eakett (Trans History); Nicole Maines (Bad Dream, Suicide Squad); Sonya Saturday (The Greatest Thing You’ve Ever Seen in Your Life, J.K. Rowling and the Ungrateful Fans), and Tilly Bridges (The Color of Always, Begin Transmission) for a lively discussion of these and other topics!

Queer Horror  

Friday, 7/25/25, 2:00PM – 3:00PM, Room: 4

As a genre, horror has always attempted to bring us to the threshold of our fears and use a dark lens of the fantastic to force us to come face-to-face with issues the mainstream may otherwise dare not address head on. For those in the LGBTQIA+ community, this sense of otherness within the genre is not only terrifying and titillating, it’s quite often also relatable. The queer community has had a long history with the horror genre, from the lesbian vampires of Gothic literature to modern fare like The Boulet Brothers Dragula, I Saw The TV Glow, T-Blockers, and more. Does a queer horror genre exist, and, if so, what makes it different from mainstream horror?  Furthermore, how does the current political climate alter the lens through which we celebrate and connect to the macabre? Join Prism Comics and moderator/screenwriter Michael Varrati (There’s a Zombie Outside, The Midnight Mass Podcast) and an array of panelists including David M. Booher (Specs, Killer Queens), Teri Gamble (Horror Movie Survival Guide, Horror X), Casey Gilly (Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer, Ravenloft), Sina Grace (West Hollywood Monster Squad, Ghosted in L.A.) and Wendy Pini (ElfQuest, Masque of the Red Death)

Out In Comics: Year 38

Saturday, 7/26/25, 6:00PM – 8:00PM, Room: 4

The comic world’s longest-running panel is back for its 38th record-breaking year. The Comic Book world has become a celebrated part of the Pop Culture world. LGBTQ comics and graphic novels for all ages are being produced and acclaimed in incredible numbers, and queer characters are finally starting to show up in genre movies and TV shows like Star Trek Discovery and X-Men ’97. And yet, in our politicized and polarized world, LGBTQ comics and graphic novels and LGBTQ characters in popular media are facing more banning and opposition than in previous years. This means that telling stories of queer characters of diverse backgrounds and identities is more important than ever before. Join Prism Comics, moderator Andy Mangels [he/him] (the Founder of the “Out In Comics” panel; bestselling author of Wonder Woman ‘77 Meets The Bionic Woman, Star Trek and Star Wars books and comics) and special guest panelists as they discuss what being “Out In Comics” means now and in the future.

A short Prism Comics Meet-and-Greet and fundraising Silent Auction of cool comics items will follow the panel discussion.

Panelists include:

• Alison Bechdel, (Comic-Con Special Guest)  [she/her], Eisner, Stonewall, Inkpot, Harvey, and Tony-award-winning writer and artist of Fun Home, Are You My Mother?, Dykes To Watch Out For, The Guide to Super Human Strength, and the new Spent: A Comic Novel.

• Tilly Bridges [she/her], writer for TV, animation, comics and books including Star Trek Voyager: Homecoming from IDW, Begin Transmission: The Trans Allegories of The Matrix, Monster High, Star Trek Prodigy – http://birdguest.com

https://www.tillystranstuesdays.com

• Chris Cantwell [he/him], writer for Doctor Doom, Star Trek Defiant, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and the TV series Paper Girls and The Terror: Devil in Silver

• Richard Fairgray [he/him], writer and artist of Octopus, Four-Color Heroes, The Ex-Wives of Frankenstein and many other comics. Booth Small Press O-02. https://richardfairgray.com/

• Dr. Craig Hurd-McKenney [he/him], writer of Oni’s Station Grand, Hermes’ Curse of Dark Shadows, and Some Strange Disturbances. http:www.hspcomic.com

• Maria Sweeney [she/her], 2025 Eisner-nominated for both Best Writer/Artist and Best Painter/Multimedia Artist for her book Brittle Joints https://mariasweeney.com/

• Jasmine Walls [she/her], writer of the noted graphic novels Brooms and The Last Session, and titles for Maverick and DC including Vixen: NYC. https://www.jasminewalls.com/

Queer Comics in Color

Sunday, 7/27/25, 10:30AM – 11:30AM, Room: 10

Inclusion and diversity are crucial to storytelling. All cultural voices deserve to be heard in comics and popular media. Join Prism Comics, Moderator Viktor Kerney (StrangeLore, We Belong), panelists Ajuan Mance (Gender Studies, Living While Black), Emely Corona Sandoval (Animator), and Fernando Velez (Class 6, The Queen’s Heroes) in a discussion of the contributions of queer people of color to comics and on creating a more inclusive and powerful queer geek community.

Queer Eye on ElfQuest

Sunday, 7/27/25, 11:00AM – 12:00PM, Room: 29CD

Wendy and Richard Pini’s landmark series ElfQuest has been popular with LGBTQ+ comics fans since it debuted in 1978. In 2000’s Wendy and Richard published their Masque of the Red Death graphic novel and web comic with queer characters and adapted the story into a musical. Join Prism Comics and Andy Mangels (bestselling author of Wonder Woman ‘77 Meets The Bionic Woman, Star Trek and Star Wars books and comics) in an interview with Richard and Wendy Pini that explores gender openness in their work and the popularity of ElfQuest and Masque of the Red Death within the queer community.