Introduction and Editing by Jen Bateman
Welcome to another edition of the MNCBA Newsletter! April is almost here, though you might not know it from the recent cold snaps. While winter weather is still lingering in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, we have been told of a few robin sightings.
…no, not that one.
The flowers may not be blooming yet, but our MNCBA volunteers have already been hard at work getting our MNCBA SpringCon 2025 flyers and posters into book and comic stores. If you would like to help spread the word, please submit a volunteer application and ask to become a part of our street team.
WHAT’S NEWS
MNCBA SpringCon 2025 exhibitor spaces are tentatively sold out, and new applications have gone to waitlist-only status while we finalize the first draft of our floor plan and confirm how much space (if any) is still available. More information about the applications can be found under the “Events” menu on our website.
Jim Keefe at MNCBA FallCon 2024. Panel Moderation by Eric Childs. Videograpy by Rusty Detty.
Last month saw major additions to the MNCBA YouTube channel. All of our panels from both 2024 events are now available to watch — and rewatch! — at your convenience. We hosted an amazing lineup including Jim Keefe, Gene Ha, Joseph Michael Linsner, Christopher Jones, and more. Don’t miss it!
We are in the beginning stages of planning our MNCBA SpringCon 2025 panel programming. If there’s a topic you’d like us to consider, or you yourself would like to participate in a panel at a future show, please share your thoughts with us.
Gene Ha at MNCBA FallCon 2024. Panel Moderation by Eric Childs. Videograpy by Rusty Detty.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Saint Paul Jaycees Foundation, beginning with MNCBA SpringCon 2025 our volunteers will have the option of wearing these fun and functional vests while staffing our events.
Minnesota Comic Book Association (MNCBA) Volunteer Vests
In addition to making our volunteers more easily identifiable for our attendees and exhibitors, the many pockets will help our volunteers keep anything they might need during the day close at hand. We hope you love them as much as we do!
Stay tuned for more MNCBA SpringCon 2025 announcements!
“COMIC BOOKS IN HISTORY: CAPTAIN AMERICA #1” by Stephen Henninger
I always knew about Captain America #1 but didn’t know its history. I always assumed it started in World War II; mainly because the cover had Captain punching Hitler. But no — it was published in December of 1940; about one year before the attack at Pearl Harbor and the USA entering the war. The Great Jack Kirby and Joe Simon both believed the actions of Nazi Germany were wrong, and that the USA should enter the war. So they thought (and rightfully so) that Hitler would be the perfect villain for their new super hero — though a few did disagree.
It is also of note that on 20 February 1939, there was a Nazi rally in Madison Square Garden which drew more than 20,000 people to the arena and more than 100,000 counter-protesters outside. It was a strange time. The phone call Jack Kirby received at the Marvel offices in New York would have been of little surprise.
Mark Evanier describes in his biography Kirby: King of Comics, “…Jack took a call. A voice on the other end said, ‘There are three of us down here in the lobby. We want to see the guy who does this disgusting comic book and show him what real Nazis would do to his Captain America.’ To the horror of others in the office, Kirby rolled up his sleeves and headed downstairs. The callers, however, were gone by the time he arrived.”
Cover of “Captain America #1” by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon
Captain America Comics ended in 1950, after seventy-five issues, as horror comics were becoming more popular. The character was formally reintroduced in The Avengers in 1964, and the self-titled Captain America was relaunched in April of 1968 during the Silver Age. After researching the history of Captain America and his creators, I remember a quote from Jack Kirby, “The only real politics I knew was that if a guy liked Hitler, I’d beat the stuffing out of him and that would be it.”
As a U.S. Army veteran who saw firsthand the horrors of Hitler’s concentration camps, I have no doubt that Kirby would have.
All this made me think about the MNCBA motto, “Something for everyone, and everyone is welcome!” I truly believe that everyone is welcome. But in the context of the “Paradox of Tolerance,” which I understand to be a social contract, I must add:
The intolerant are not following the rules of the social contract of mutual tolerance. They are no longer covered the social contract, and their intolerance should NOT be tolerated. That was so in 1939, and it is still so today.
“KOREAN COMICS: Manhwa and Webtoons” by Sehee Snead
When thinking about comic books, what comes to mind? Personally, I think of colorful images of superheroes taking down villains, animals with human qualities, or satirical imagery that reflects the political times. I’m sure if we were to compare everyone’s lists there would be common themes as to how people view comics from the Western world. What about comics from other countries? How do international comics compare and differ from what we know about American comic books?
Woodcut Manhwa Published in 1908 (via Wikipedia)
In this month’s issue, I will introduce Korean comic books called ‘manhwa’ (만화; pronounced like mahn-hwah). Manhwa can be traced back to some of Korea’s earliest dynasties such as the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). Paintings depicted folktales and historical events and later became more rigid in structure that reflected the hierarchical themes of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). However, manhwa began to really form once Japan took control of Korea in 1910. In response to the imposed strict laws and policies, Korean cartoonists leaned into a humorous and satirical tone that made fun of societal issues, norms, and political figures. Some notable authors from this time were Ahn Seok-Joo with Adventure of a Boaster, and Roh Soo-Hyun’s Imbecile’s Vain Efforts which later became a movie.
Korea was liberated in 1945, and manhwa in the post-war era had significant Japanese manga influences and some Western comic inspirations. Manhwa began garnering more popularity and respect as an art form and method of storytelling where stories had complex narratives of overcoming personal and societal issues. Since then, manhwa expanded and grew into other genres and themes that offered deeper insights into the Korean culture and identity. Now, manhwa is more popularly enjoyed as webtoons where readers from a global platform can conveniently enjoy Korean comics through websites or apps like Webtoons, Tapas, and Tappytoon. Some well-known webtoons (with some becoming show adaptations) are True Beauty by Yaongyi, Lookism by Taejun Pak, and Tower of God by S.I.U.
"Spirit Fingers" by Han Kyoung Chal
Want to get into manhwa and webtoons and don’t know where to start? Here are some of my recommendations!
Omniscient Reader by Sing Shong (action, apocalyptic, modern fantasy)
Solo Leveling by Chugong (action, fantasy)
Spirit Fingers by Han Kyoung Chal (slice-of-life)
Wind Breaker by Yongseok Jo (sports)
Comics have a culturally and politically complex history in Korea and this article only provides a fraction of this rich history. Whether this is your first time learning about manhwa or as a seasoned webtoon reader, I hope you enjoyed learning about how comic books made their way in Korea!
Feel free to share which country I should cover next!
“IT TAKES A LEAGUE, A LEGION, A TEAM” by Matt Walkosz
Think comic book conventions like the MNCBA SpringCon and MNCBA FallCon just magically happen? As the Volunteer Coordinator for the Minnesota Comic Book Association, I really wish they did — then we could have one every month.
No; in truth the amount of time, effort, and planning is monumental. And who does all this work? It’s everyday comic geeks, just like you reading this newsletter. Collectors, artists, store owners, and plain-old fans who wanted to help make these shows the best they can be. What does volunteering with the MNCBA look like?
Let me give you a quick tour:
Our conventions are the MNCBA’s biggest events and where we need the most help. It all starts a day or two before the event with prepping the location and setup. Seeing the Grandstand completely empty is an eerie sight to behold!
This is the grunt work moving bins out of storage, setting up tables and chairs, placing tablecloths and signage, and stuffing grab bags. Once the tables have been set up, there’s work to be done helping exhibitors navigate the floor before the madness begins, stocking our break area, and staging our activities.
On the day of a convention there’s admissions to run, food donations to collect, floor monitors to make sure everyone is having a great time, giving out cool stuff at our prize table, answering questions at the information booth, running panels, and helping kids with fun crafts. Then we tear it all down and pack up at the end!
(Left to Right) Sehee Snead, Matt Walkosz, and Dan Bateman at MNCBA FallCon 2024
Of course, no one is expected to work the whole time! Sign up to help with a single 4-5 hour shift, then enjoy the rest of your day buying comics and meeting cool artists. Volunteers receive free admission to the show and lunch on us.
Volunteering with the MNCBA can be more than just helping during events. You could be taking notes and discussing ways to improve the shows at any of our public planning meetings. Our street team is dedicated to distributing flyers to local and distant stores, schools, and libraries. Got media connections? Contact us!
Occasionally, we set up booths at other conventions and need people to staff a table, be friendly and outgoing, and help promote the MNCBA.
There is now this wonderful newsletter with a team of dedicated writers.
MNCBA SpringCon 2025 will be the fifth show I’ve helped behind the scenes. Over the last two years, I’ve worked nearly all of the volunteer positions I described above. What does it take to be a volunteer with the MNCBA?
The biggest qualifications are time and a willingness to help. If you have both, please visit MNCBA.org and fill out an application today!
REMEMBERING PAT GRUBER
We are heartbroken to share the news that on March 19th, following multiple complications from a heart attack and stroke, Pat Gruber went into hospice care. Pat passed away peacefully in his sleep the morning of March 24th. All of us here at the MNCBA are mourning his loss, and he will be dearly missed.
Pat was a much-loved, longtime MNCBA volunteer and member of the Twin Cities comic book community. We invite you to watch this video recorded with Pat last summer for our Kickstarter campaign.
Pat served on the MNCBA Executive Committee as Treasurer.
Pat Gruber interview for the “MNCBA FallCon 2024 at the Grandstand” Kickstarter campaign. Video by Jen Bateman.
Click here to view Pat’s obituary online.
Funeral/Wake Information:
Wednesday April 2nd
O’Halloran & Murphy
8700 Valley Creek Road
Woodbury, MN 55125
Visitation 10:00AM – 11:00AM
Memorial Service 11:00AM – 12:00PM
Luncheon 12:00PM – 2:00PM
Pat Gruber and Stephen Henninger
We have set up a form to share your favourite memories of Pat Gruber with us. Stories may be published on the MNCBA website, on MNCBA social media, in the MNCBA SpringCon 2025 Program Book, and/or displayed at MNCBA SpringCon 2025. Stories will be reviewed and curated by a team of MNCBA volunteers.
Until next time, let’s all remember to care for each other.
