Juan Gedeon, comic book artist, moderated a “Latinx Fandom Fiesta: Celebrating Culture, Creativity, and Community!” with panelists Francine (Fran) Delgado, Melissa Flores, and Mo Vermenton on Saturday, 5:30PM, in Hyatt Hanover AB. As panelists introduced themselves, they spoke of a sparsity of representation (Flores, a writer), a lack of conventions in Costa Rica (Delgado, an artist), and discouragement as a child wanting to dress as Superman (Vermenton, cosplayer). In spite of these challenges, the panelists persevered. 

Delgado has collaborated with Marvel-Upper Deck, Disney, Mattel, CAPCOM-Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon, among others. When someone tells her that they don’t think their story matters, she responds, “We do not know that. Tell your story. Talk about what you know.” 

Flores has worked with the Power Rangers and with Marvel and now has her own comic, The Dead Lucky, with artist French Carlomagno. She commented that there were not too many Latina comic book writers on panels, mostly “white guys with beards,” and found this panel “very affirming.” 

Gedeon recalled generational trauma and family advice that no one would care if he wrote what he knew. He has since drawn for Marvel, DC and Skybound/Image comics. 

Vermenton cosplays, often at hospitals or other volunteering, as Superman, Batman, and other characters once frowned upon for an Afro-Latino boy to represent . He pointed to the movie Encanto as “Afro-Latino pop culture wrapped in a bow.” 

For more on the panelists and their creative activities, go to: