The Black Comics Collective “celebrates cultural diversity in comics and seeks to amplify awareness of creators, writers, illustrators, and publishers who are producing independent comics that depict a dynamic range of global Black experiences, aesthetics, and social issues in both early and other-worldly realms.”

Founded by Serendipity client Deidre Hollman alongside comic scholars John Jennings and Jonathan Gayles, this community spreads awareness through meet-ups, exhibitions, creator talks, book festivals, conventions, film screenings, and more.

The first spark that led to the creation of the Black Comics Collective came to Hollman after teaming up with Gayles and Jennings to produce the first Black Comic Book Festival at the Schomburg Center. After leaving to pursue her doctorate at Teacher’s College Columbia University, Hollman decided to find a way for those in the comics community to stay connected. Thus, the Black Comics Collective was born with the mission of celebrating and amplifying the creators and creations of Black comics.