What is LadiesCon?
LadiesCon is an annual celebration of comics, science fiction, fantasy, cosplay, and many other realms of pop culture with a special focus on women, non-binary people, and the LGBTQ+ community. We are open to everyone.
LadiesCon 2019 was held at the Somerville Armory on September 21, 2019.
2019 Guests
Gigi Edgley
Gigi Edgley is an internationally renowned actress originally from Australia. Edgley has starred in countless film and television series and has an extensive history with The Jim Henson Company beginning with her popular role as Chiana on the company’s critically acclaimed sci-fi cult series Farscape, in which she starred for over five years. She hosted the reality TV series Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Challenge. Edgley is also a recording artist, creator of original comic books, director and producer.
Mad Rupert
Mad Rupert is a comic artist and writer. She has been neck-deep in the online comics scene for over 9 years, and authors two ongoing webcomics. She has also worked with many comic publishers, including First Second, Boom! Studios, and Oni Press, on projects ranging from comic adaptations of popular cartoons to original graphic novels. When she's not making comics, Mad enjoys spending time with her husband and small angry dog, going to the gym, and playing Minecraft. She is most active on Twitter, where you can find links to most of her comics and content
Tana Ford
Tana Ford is a Hugo award nominated comic book artist whose indie work earned her a Queer Press Grant in 2010. Tana finished her first major graphic novel LaGuardia earlier this year with writer Nnedi Okorafor. The first time Tana teamed up with Nnedi was to create a Venomized Black Panther in Marvel's Secret Empire. Tana has drawn for New Warriors, The Amazing Spider-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Trek, Jem & the Holograms, and Gwenpool, though she is perhaps best known for her work on Marvel's Silk starring Cindy Moon.
Ming Doyle
Ming was born in Boston in the Fall of 1984 to an Irish American sailor and a Chinese Canadian librarian. In the Fall of 1991 she saw a million ducks and predicted the Harry Potter franchise's formula for success with startling accuracy. She has worked on titles including Constantine, DC’s Anatomy of a Metahuman, and The Kitchen, soon to be a major motion picture. She is currently working on art all night and every day and would probably love an espresso.
Mildred Louis
Mildred Louis is a freelance comic artist and illustrator based out of Los Angeles. After studying animation at Sheridan College, she quickly discovered her love for storytelling. Flash forward a couple of years and a number of frustration filled days over the delay of Sailor Moon Crystal, she decided to simply say screw it and make her own Magical Girl comic. And from there – Agents of the Realm was born. She’s had the great pleasure of working on a number of titles, including Invader Zim and Rick and Morty: Lil’ Poopy Superstar. She is now planning to release the many, many, many other comic projects that she’s had to put on the back burner for years.
Joe Quinones
Joe Quinones is a comic artist and illustrator. He has worked on Spectacular Spider-Man, America, Howard the Duck, and more. He is currently drawing DC’s Dial H for Hero.
Additional Entertainment
Jurassic Park Jeep
Direct from the park, with all of the dinosaur tooth marks buffed out, it’s the Jurassic Park Jeep! The Jeep and a T-Rex skeleton (Sorry, our insurers won’t let us bring the live ones) was parked outside of LadiesCon for photo ops throughout the day.
501st New England
The New England Garrison is part of a Star Wars costuming fan club that currently holds a 4000+ membership in all 50 U.S. states and 25 countries worldwide. From Stormtroopers to Snowtroopers, Bounty Hunters to Sith Lords, the 501st is the premier Imperial Star Wars costuming fan club in the galaxy!
2019 Vendors
Our talented vendors offered items from comics to pins, jewelry to nail polish, and accessories to prints.
Pan + Scan Illustration
Alex Kittle
Castle Thunder Graphics
Dan Cleri
Cambrasine
Jennifer Bouche
Singing Stone Jewelry
Kelly Hopkins
Kristilyn Ink
Kristilyn Stevenson
Hellcat Press
Lindsay Moore
Fanservice Nails
Marianna Martin
Underdog Comics
Taren Beatrice
Red Bark Crafting
Trescha Brock
Quantum Seahorse
Victoria Chiu-Lin
Abreu Illustration
Michelle Abreu
Yarnvark Designs
Stephanie Mann
Broad Universe
Jenise D Aminoff
Sierra Bravo Art
Sierra Barnes
Enkindle Storytelling
Brittany Smith
Hypersmash Studios
Roel Torres
Marche des Gobelins
Jasmine Graham & Brianna DeLairre
Joy Cat Comics
Kristi McDowell
Doctor Pixel
Kelsey Lacroix
Holy Crow
Eowyn Evans
Mili St. John
Amilia St. John
Dark SaberCat Designs
Nicole Hanafin
After Life Comic
Tonya
Reeberry
Irena Spassova
The Jellyfish Lady
Taylor Popek
Rilano.art
Ruth Ilano
2019 Panels
Con Survival Tips
11:30pm - 12:20pm, Upstairs Panel Space
Panelists:
Katt Ciampa
ChinMo Crawford
The hosts of the ConQuest podcast offer up our tips for the best ways to make the most of your convention going experience!
Fandom Online
12:00pm - 12:50pm, Downstairs Panel Space
Panelists:
Anika Dane, manicpixiedust.com
A.J. O'Connell author and blogger for Book Riot
Sam Einhorn
Fandom exploded into the spotlight with the coming of internet and social media. From message boards to Twitter, Livejournal to Tumblr, FanFiction.net to Archive of Our Own, My Space to Soundcloud, and Usenet to Amino - join us for a brief history of online interactions among fans, and sometimes creators, including safety tips and positivity hacks.
From Mary Shelley to the Doctor - The History of Women in Science Fiction
12:30pm - 1:20pm, Upstairs Panel Space
Panelists:
Tracey Michienzi, Ladies of Comicazi, Co-Organizer of ELS Gameday, Whovian, Trekie and all around science fiction fan
Caitlin Walsh, writer and fandom enthusiast
Gillian Daniels, science fiction and fantasy writer, independent comic artist
Tana Ford, comic books artist
Science Fiction has always been a place for groundbreaking ideas, but it is more than Lucas, Roddenberry or Bradbury. How did Lucille Ball change science fiction on the small screen? What science fiction was written on a dare? Join us for a discussion of the history of women in science fiction and why they are so important to the conversation about science fiction and its place in today's society.
Wonder Woman - Bringing the Past into the Future
1:00pm - 1:50pm, Downstairs Panel Space
Panelists:
Donna Martinez
Juliet Kahn
Cassandra Lease
Wonder Woman was created with classical mythology at its center and with the upcoming 'Wonder Woman: Historia', the Amazing Amazon will return to her roots! Diana of Themyscira will also be revisiting the totally radical 80's in 'Wonder Woman 1984', the sequel to her 2017 blockbuster film. Join us as we discuss what's in store for the future of the world's most famous super heroine!
The Making of a Toy
1:30pm - 2:20pm, Upstairs Panel Space
Panelists:
Catrina Cerise-Arana, art director manager at Boss Fight Studio
Erik Arana art director at Boss Fight Studio
How do toys get made today? What is it like running an independent toy design studio? Trina and Erik share their knowledge and experience in the world of toys.
Disneybounding...and Beyond!
2:00pm - 2:50pm, Downstairs Panel Space
Panelists:
Anika Dane
Cassandra Lease
Sarah Anderson-Krim
Disneybounding is a kind of casual cosplay - reminiscent of the character, but still appropriate for everyday wear. Our panelists discuss their experiences with Disneybounding. Learn how they get inspiration for their outfits, where they shop, and what it’s like Disneybounding in the Disney parks and in the rest of the world.
Design for Animation
2:30pm - 3:20pm, Upstairs Panel Space
Panelists:
Tim Finn, Art teacher, animator, G.I. Joe historian
Obi Little, Character Designer and Visual Development Artist
How do animators approach design? How does design help to express character, story, and ideas? What’s unique about creating a design that will move? Join us as we discuss the possibility and challenges of designing in animation.
Gaming 101
3:00pm - 3:50pm, Downstairs Panel Space
Panelists:
Tracey Michienzi - Co-Organizer of ELS Game Day
Savannah Camacho - Co- Organizer of ELS Game Day
Want to get into board games or table top RPGs but aren't quite sure where to start? Do you get easily overwhelmed by game days? Do terms like “d12” and “crit” confuse you? Join the women of ELS Game Day as they talk terms, games, and helping others try gaming in a way that makes them comfortable.
Queer Manga
3:30pm - 4:20pm, Upstairs Panel Space
Panelists:
Morgana Santilli, Manga Reviewer and Former Manager of Comicopia
Juliet Kahn, Comics Journalist and Sales Associate at Hub Comics
Lexi Lockwell, Sales Associate at Comicopia
Literature for, by, and about LGBTQIA+ individuals is more and more prevalent in North American publishing, and manga is no exception. Join Lexi, Juliet, and Morgana as they cover the history of queerness in manga, from the origins of boys’ love and yuri, to geicomi, to autobiographical manga like Nagata Kabi’s My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness, or chi’s The Bride Was a Boy. There will be discussion of what makes a story queer, who the audiences are for these various types of manga, and who is creating them.
Depiction and Treatment of Women in Popular Culture
4:00pm - 4:50pm, Downstairs Panel Space
Panelists:
Avram Baskin, pop culture fan and dad of a 15 year old daughter
Robin Brenner, teen librarian at the Brookline Public Library, editor-in-chief of No Flying No Tights
Clarissa Hadge, bookstore manager and children’s book buyer for Trident Booksellers & Cafe
Kasey Myers, Costumer and performer, Multitudes Cosplay
Obi Little, Character Designer and Visual Development Artist
From Wonder Woman’s old role as the secretary of the Justice Society of America, to female super heroes drawn in anatomically impossible ways, to the sexist trolling of Kelly Marie Tran, Daisy Ridley, and Brie Larson, there is a long history of unfavorable and demeaning depictions and treatment of women in popular culture. The panel will discuss these issues, progress that has been made in recent years to provide more favorable depictions and role models that women of all ages can identify with, and what still can be done.