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SI MoCCA Fest 2025: A Vibrant Gathering of Comic Creators

The Society of Illustrators’ Museum of Comics and Cartoon Arts Festival 2025, commonly referred to as SI MoCCA Fest, attracted nearly 7,000 visitors to the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City on March 15–16. This annual event showcased an impressive array of independent creators selling zines, prints, minicomics, and merchandise alongside smaller publishing houses such as Drawn & Quarterly, Fantagraphics, and Silver Sprocket.

Situated in Chelsea, a hub for art schools in New York City, the festival drew a significant turnout from students, with numerous art and design graduate programs setting up booths to attract new talent. The atmosphere was one of camaraderie and celebration, where long-time indie cartoonists reconnected and young artists mingled with their mentors, many of whom were present to showcase their work. RisoLab, a sponsor from the School for Visual Arts, also offered attendees a chance to print their own creations on Risograph machines.

Notable guests at this year’s festival included prominent figures such as Charles Burns, Jaime Hernandez, Anders Nilsen, and Adrian Tomine, alongside emerging talents like Boum and María Medem, both of whom contributed to the event’s visual identity. Arabelle Liepold, the executive director of the Society of Illustrators, highlighted the festival’s longstanding commitment to international representation, and this year’s event emphasized that vision with the inclusion of global artists, reinforcing a message of unity among creatives against a backdrop of political polarization. Partner organizations included the French, Swedish, and Spanish consulates, further enhancing the festival’s international flavor.

While the festival offered a reprieve from current events, real-world issues were not ignored. A notable panel featured Badiucao, an Australian-Chinese dissident artist, and Cuban-American cartoonist Edel Rodriguez, speaking on the topic “Dissidents in Exile.” Often referred to as “the Chinese Banksy,” Badiucao utilized the opportunity to unveil a provocative piece titled “New World Order,” depicting political figures like Donald Trump in a critical light. He also promoted his graphic novel, You Must Take Part in Revolution, which, according to him, has already faced censorship in China.

“As a Chinese political artist, the democratic ideals of America were once seen as a guiding light for us. However, witnessing the current reality is disheartening,” Badiucao shared. “It’s vital for Americans to understand that defending democracy is crucial, especially in these challenging times.”

Various panels throughout the festival addressed a range of topics, including environmental themes in comics and essential skills for new graduates. Longtime programming coordinator Bill Kartalopoulos emphasized the festival’s role as a cultural event that encourages discussions among artists and audiences alike. He noted that while the economic aspect of SI MoCCA is important, the festival’s mission as a nonprofit organization is equally significant.

During an afterparty held at the SVA Flatiron Gallery, the festival recognized this year’s recipients of the SI MoCCA Arts Festival Awards of Excellence, known informally as the “M prize” in honor of the late cartoonist Timothy Patrick “M.” Moynihan. The award is distinct in that judges evaluate works solely based on what they witness on the first day of the festival, which this year included not only comics and illustrations but also handmade felted plush toys.

This year’s award winners included:

• Natalie Andrewson, Dreaming in Color (Peow2)
• Linnea Sterte, World Heist (Peow2)
• Connie Myers, Big Gamble Rainbow Highway (Cram)
• Huahua Zhu, The King’s Warrior (Bulgilhan)
• Lucky Pocket Press, Knapsack
• Ellen Lindner, Lost Diamonds Part 3 (Birdcage Bottom)
• John Vasquez Mejias, The Puerto Rican War: A Graphic History (Union Square)
• Bill Roundy, The Bees Knees
• Keith Knight, Keefer Madness!
• Johnny Dombrowski, Over the Top
• Yasmeen Abedifard, When to Pick a Pomegranate (Silver Sprocket)
• Jennifer Xiao, Puff plush toys (Mango Town)
• Bianca Xunise, Punk Rock Karaoke (Penguin Random House)
• Christina Lee, Smart Talented Hot Personality
• Michael Deforge, Holy Lacrimony (Drawn & Quarterly)

Source
www.publishersweekly.com