The East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention (ECBACC) is the Philadelphia region's first black comic book convention, bringing together hundreds of comic book, science fiction, and fantasy creators, their colleagues, and their fans. The ECBACC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit community-based organization focused on education, literacy and the arts. ECBACC, Inc. was founded in 2002 by Yumy Odom, a multidisciplinary educator, scientist and researcher affiliated with Temple University, and Maurice Waters.
ECBACC is an outgrowth of the "Black Age of Comics", a movement (ca. 1981–present) and era (ca. 1990–1997) dedicated to people of African descent creating a plethora and range of Black (Pan-African/Africentric/Afrocentric/African-centered) characters in the U.S. comic book industry. (The earliest documented "Black Age" comic book character is NOG: Protector of the Pyramids, introduced in 1981 by Chicago-based artist Turtel Onli ["NOG" is an acronym for "Nubian of Greatness."])
ECBACC is generally held on a May weekend in Philadelphia, with festivities kicking off on Friday evening for the Glyph Comics Awards ceremonies (often held at the African American Museum in Philadelphia), followed by a full-day convention on Saturday. The ECBACC STARS Workshop (an acronym for Storytelling That Advances Reading Skills) is an ECBACC initiative designed to use comic book art and imagery as a vehicle to foster creativity and promote literacy, with a secondary focus on introducing participants to the various career options that exist within the comic book industry. ECBACC STARS participants learn what it is like to be comic book creators via the "Create Your Own Hero" exercises while they put their imaginations to work as they pen their own stories for the characters they create. Along with panels, seminars, and workshops with comic book professionals, ECBACC now features a costume contest.
History
Originally slated to be called the Pan-African Comic Convention (PAC-Con) or First World Komix Con (1st World Con), and after over a decade of deliberations, networking and consortium-building (from 1990 to 2001), the first convention was held in Temple University's Ritter Hall, in the Walk Auditorium, on May 11, 2002. Guests at the inaugural show included Arvell Jones, William H. Foster, III, Lance Tooks, and Jerry Craft.
The 2003 show had 50 attendees coming to see such guests as William H. Foster, III, Jerry Craft, and Anthony Jappa.
In 2004, ECBACC inaugurated the ECBACC Pioneer Lifetime Achievement Award; beginning in 2005, the convention expanded to two days. Starting in 2006, the Glyph Comics Awards became part of the annual ECBACC convention.
The 2007 show featured guests Dwayne McDuffie, Kyle Baker, and Taimak.
The 2008 show was dedicated to celebrating black women in comics; guests included Jerry Craft. And a special featured guest: Nichelle Nichols, who received the ECBACC Pioneer /Lifetime Achievement Award in-person.
The 2009 convention featured such guests as Kevin Grevioux, Jamal Igle, Reggie Byers, Leslie Esdaile Banks, and Eric Battle.
The 2010 show included Eric Battle, Reggie Byers, Shawn Martinbrough, and Larry Stroman.
The 2011 ECBACC featured guests Jerry Craft, Alex Simmons, and Eric Battle. And was celebrated as the event's 10th anniversary.
The 2012 show featured ECBACC's first annual costume contest, dubbed "AfriCoz", was held on Saturday, May 19th. Guests at the show included William H. Foster, III, Alex Simmons, and Eric Battle.
The 2013 ECBACC included the screening of the documentary film White Scripts and Black Supermen. And the second annual costume contest and a
The 2014 show featured ECBACC's second celebration of Black women in the comic book and sci-fi industry.
The 2015 show was billed as ECBACC AT THE MOVIES, which highlighted up and coming filmmakers of Black Sci-Fi content.
The 2016 show was held on May 21, and included guests; Milton Davis, Tony Isabella, Bashea Imana, Balogun Ojetade and international cartoonist Tayo Fatunla.
The 2017 show was held on May 20, and featured guests such as: Naseed Gifted, N. Steven Harris, Karama Horne, Kurenai Kiba, Don McGregor, and Uraeus.
The 2018 show was held on May 19, and included guests; Eric Battle, Mshindo Kuumba I, Sheeba Maya, and Regine Sawyer.
The 2019 show was held on May 18, and featured guests such as: Aaron Beatty.
The 2020 ECBACC had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic; as an alternative, a one-day virtual event, entitled, ECBACC's first "E-Convention", was held on July 11, 2020.
The 2021 ECBACC was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.