Mantamaji at San Diego Comic Con!

playfulThere are a few things everyone looks forward to every year and San Diego Comic Con is one of them. The crew from Legend of the Mantamaji is there in full force with several exciting things happening. If you’re in San Diego, make sure you stop by Small Press Table P-13 to get your Mantamaji books autographed by TV director and author Eric Dean Seaton all weekend.

 

Get a chance to win an exclusive Legend of the Mantamaji tee and chat with Eric at the Geekscape booth (#3919) Friday from 2pm – 3pm!

If you dream of being an independent comic book creator, then check out the Insights for Independent Creator’s Panel Eric is on of the panelists! Room 32AB from 7 pm – 8 pm.

Moderator Charlotte (Fullerton) McDuffie (writer, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Ben 10: Alien Force/Ultimate Alien/Omnivers and chairperson, WGA Animation Writers Caucus),
Geoff Gerber (president, Lion Forge Comics)
Hannibal Tabu (writer, Artifacts/Soulfire: Sourcebook #1/Waso/Project: Wildfire),
Nilah Magruder (writer/artist, M.F.K., winner 2015 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity),
Russell Nohelty (writer/creator, Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter and Katrina Hates the Dead, publisher, Wannabe Press), and
TAT co-founder Robert Roach (creator, Menthu, The Roach; storyboard artist, Insomnia; winner inaugural Glyph Award).

And then the big deal for us here: Legend of the Mantamaji: Live Action Short is being screened at the SDCC Film Festival!

Panelist include Eric Dean Seaton, Chris Philips (producer, Bella and the Bulldogs), and Nicole Seaton (2nd AD, The Great Indoors). Set a reminder for Saturday, July 23rd beginning at 2:35 pm Pacific 23, North Tower, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina.

San Diego Comic Con is one of our favorite events. It’s a huge event and we always have a great time,” Eric Dean Seaton, TV director and author of Legend of the Mantamaji said. “We are over the moon to participate in the Film Festival with our live action short and the Independent Creator’s Panel.  Any time we can get Mantamaji in front of new audiences is always fun and talking with other indie creators is always a great learning experience.

Social Media for SDCC Film Festival.001

TV Director, Author Eric Dean Seaton Brings Sci-Fi Adventure Graphic Novels to Book Expo America

Meet the Mantamaji and Eric Dean Seaton at BEA!Hey Chicago! Come on out to Book Expo America this week, Eric is on hand meeting readers (new and well-versed) and signing books as well. Here’s more info:

Eric Dean Seaton, television director and author of the Legend of the Mantamaji  graphic novel series is on hand meeting Book Expo America attendees all this week with special book signing sessions at Booth 810 on Wednesday, May 11th from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. and Friday, May 13th from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

The graphic novel series continues to sell out at convention appearances as part of at 25 city international book tour. The series has been named a ‘Top Graphic Novel’ by Examiner.com and Atlanta Black Star, added to MTV’s Beach Reads for Social Justice Warriors list, earned brisk sales (including hitting top spots on Amazon.com) and has spawned an award-winning live action short of the same name.

Book Signings:

Booth 810 (APG Book Distributor)

Wednesday from 2 pm – 3 pm, Friday 3 pm – 4 pm

Available for interviews Wednesday – Friday

 

https://www.prlog.org/12557224-tv-director-author-eric-dean-seaton-brings-sci-fi-adventure-graphic-novels-to-book-expo-america.html

Photo of John Jennings Artwork and Black Comics And Action Entertainment C2E2 panel Black Male Identity in Comics

C2E2 News: Panelist John I. Jennings Talks Comics, American Culture & the Black Male Image

Photo of John Jennings Artwork and Black Comics And Action Entertainment C2E2 panel Black Male Identity in Comics

Here at “And… Action!” Entertainment, we are very excited about the selection of our panel proposal for next week’s Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo. The Comics, American Culture & the Black Male Image: Perspectives from Creators panel is a fantastic opportunity for us to have this important discussion – and some of the top creators in comics today will be the leading voices at this event.

This week and next, we will sit down with each creator and pick their brains a bit, to give everyone a preview of what to expect from next Saturday’s discussion in Chicago. Today, we catch up with the whirlwind that is John I. Jennings.

Jennings is an Associate Professor of Art and Visual Studies at the University at Buffalo – State University of New York. He is the co-author of the graphic novel, The Hole: Consumer Culture, Vol. 1 and the art collection Black Comix: African American Independent Comics Art and Culture (both with Damian Duffy).

Blue Hand Mojo:  Hard Times Road John Jennings Black Comic Book

Blue Hand Mojo:
Hard Times Road

He is also the co-editor of The Blacker the Ink: Constructions of Black Identity in Comics and Sequential Art and co-founder/organizer of The Schomburg Center’s Black Comic Book Festival in Harlem, MLK NorCal’s Black Comix Arts Festival in San Francisco, and the AstroBlackness colloquium in Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University.

Jennings’ current comics projects include the Hip Hop adventure comic, Kid Code: Channel Zero; the supernatural crime noir story, Blue Hand Mojo; and the upcoming graphic novel adaptation of Octavia Butler’s classic dark fantasy novel, Kindred.

And… Action! Entertainment: The panel at C2E2 is focused on “Black male identity.” Why is it important to confront stereotypes of the male image in comics? Even the “positive” ones of strength and virility? Are they positive?

JENNINGS: Fighting against black male stereotypes isn’t just about representational equity. It’s a matter of life and death.

In today’s exacerbated climate around the black body and heightened police brutality and discrimination, it becomes even more imperative to humanize the black body. Stereotypes are very dangerous because they simplify an entire group of people into one fixed image. Simple images are easy to transfer and propagate.

Comics pretty much traffic in stereotypes. So, if you propagate the idea of black men as sex-starved, violent savages in every aspect of media you end up with a populace that “mis-reads” the black body; all black bodies, as dangerous thugs.

photo of masculinity, male identity cisgendered

Masculinity. John I. Jennings, Artist

Trayvon Martin was killed because his black body was in the wrong place and Zimmerman’s racial literacy only allowed him to see the boy as a threat. So, when we are talking about black male images in comics, it’s not just to make ourselves feel better by seeing images of ourselves in the comics. We are trying to create resistant images to the hundreds of years of negative information that leads to so many tragic outcomes surrounding racialized violence in our country.

Something else we need to clarify when we say “the Black Male Identity in Comics”…are we talking about the medium of comics are we conflating the medium with the genre of the superhero? The reason I ask is because, as much as I love superheroes, they are inherently problematic constructions when we talk about masculinity.

The superhero is pretty much a white male power fantasy and when you map that fantasy onto a black male body you intensify that signification into a space that can be read as hyper masculine. Black men are already read as not-human and super sexual, violent monsters. How do you negotiate the tropes of a genre that is so mired in physical violence as righteous when it is projected onto a criminalized body?

It’s a catch 22 to be sure.

Can they be positive? Sure.
Are they usually? Probably not.

 

Comics pretty much traffic in stereotypes. So, if you propagate the idea of black men as sex-starved, violent savages in every aspect of media you end up with a populace that “mis-reads” the black body; all black bodies, as dangerous thugs.

 

AAE: There is a level of sensitivity that comes with saying “I’m not invulnerable, I am human, I am a man.” Do you think there has been a reluctance in the overall discussion of diversity in comics to acknowledge the special societal pressures on Black male characters?

JENNINGS: The main goal of the mainstream comics industry is to make money – like any business. So, as long as “diversity” is important to an audience that has money, it will try to engage as much as it can without disturbing what it thinks is it’s main fan-base; straight cisgender white men.

It’s not the job of the comics industry to really have the discussion. It’s job is to try to provide entertainment. I think that the work of discussions of this kind are happening in the independents as usual.

Mainstream comics are essentially IP farms for films, video games, etc. We can’t expect the industry to make a space to help us have these discussions. We can only utilize what we can from them to make our arguments and statements about the status quo when we talk about these issues of intersectional identity.

Comics, American Culture & the Black Male Image: Perspectives from Creators

Comics, American Culture & the Black Male Image: Perspectives from Creators

Comics, American Culture & the Black Male Image: Perspectives from CreatorsPack your bags because we’re headed to Chicago!

Legend of the Mantamaji is rolling into C2E2 with our usual booth an a hot panel you have to see:

Comics, American Culture & the Black Male Image: Perspectives from Creators

March 19, 2016, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Location: S405a

The heavy hitters are coming out for this panel to take a unique look at the Black male experience from a comic creator’s perspective:

“And… Action!” Entertainment invites you to join TV Director/creator Eric Dean Seaton (Legend of the Mantamaji), writer David Walker (Cyborg, Shaft), professor/artist John I. Jennings (SUNY Buffalo, Kid Code), actor/writer Kevin Grevioux (creator Blue Marvel & Underworld) and moderator Mark Smith (iHeart Radio 1390 am) as they discuss black male identity in comics past, present and future. How do comics in their various forms (books, movies, TV) impact society’s view of the Black male and how Black men view themselves? How are creators using art to reshape the narrative in pop culture as a whole? Diversity is not a buzzword, it’s a call to action.

Tweet: Hotness @C2E2: #Comics, American Culture & the Black Male Image: Perspectives from Creators http://ctt.ec/VFc72+ #exploreblackcomicsClick to tweet: Hotness @C2E2: #Comics, American Culture & the Black Male Image: Perspectives from Creators http://ctt.ec/VFc72+ #exploreblackcomics”

Stay tuned for interviews from the panelists and vids from the event. But you know the best way to be involved is to be there!

Get your C2E2 tix now.

black comic books, diversity in comics

#BlackFutureMonth: 29 Places to #ExploreBlackComics

black comic books, diversity in comicsIn comics, diversity is talked about so often that it can come across as just a trend or a buzzword designed to get people to pick up the latest product. The reality is, diversity in comics is a call to action, not an ethereal idea to which big corporations should aspire. The average comic book fan has just as much to gain from and just as much responsibility to champion diversity in comics.

Sure, comic book companies gain more fans and “street cred” when they hire diverse talent and executives and publish products with a focus that lies outside of the outdated “white male” pool of characters. Comic book fans benefit when they push for diversity in comics because, by doing so, they gain new characters and varied stories. But fans also have a responsibility to seek out existing stories and creators who are already producing fantastic work.

This call to action is much bigger than Legend of the Mantamaji – which is why we aren’t just championing sites that have reviewed our books or carry them in their stores. Instead, we are highlighting sites and reference materials that work diligently to highlight creators of color and stories from a variety of genres, publishing companies, formats, etc.

This month is Black History Month, so we are highlighting Black creators, characters and publishing houses. But remember, diversity doesn’t begin and end with race.

Now, keep in mind, this is by no means an exhaustive list. This is a starter list – a place for you to check back with each day to try a new site, or pick a new book or series to try out. In March we will explore women in comics, so stay tuned!

Black Comic Book Websites:

 29 places to #exploreblackcomics, black comic books

BlackGirlNerds.com

Jamie Broadnax and her crew have their finger on the pulse of pop culture and are ahead of the curve in spotting up and coming comic creators with their “Creators You Should Know” column.

29 places to #exploreblackcomics, black comics, black comic book

TheBlerdGurl.com

With posts titled, “Magical Books for Black Girls,” The Blerd Gurl hits all the right notes with her reviews and news about comics for consumers and comic creators alike.

peepgame_final2

PeepGameComix.com

When asked why he created digital comic book store, PeepGameComix, Black comic book creator Imani Lateef said it was in direct response to “The Question.” You know the one: “Where can I find Black Comics?”

“Fans are also starting to use Peep Game as an answer to the question, ‘How can I get into Black Comics?’ Lateef said. “In fact, several educators have been using the website as a learning tool to introduce students to black comics, graphic novels and speculative fiction.”

29 Places to find #exploreblackcomics

The Shadow League: Comic Book Convo

Lead by Richard Hazwell, the Shadow League’s Comic Book Convo series is a must read. The series includes conversations with up and coming creators and other leaders in the field and explores a wide range of comics from creators of color.

africomics, 29 Places to #ExploreBlackComics, black comics, black comic books, diversity in comics

AfriComics.com

A clearinghouse of digital, print, indie and mainstream comics featuring Black protagonists and creators

29 places to #exploreblackcomics, black comic books, black comic book creators

World of Black Heroes.com

Not only does the site offer reviews, insight and interviews about Black comic books and creators, but it boasts a pretty large listing of Black comic book characters, including their powers and where these characters appear.

29 Places to #ExploreBlackComics, Black comic books, diversity in comics
SugarCayne.com

Cool website with a variety of pop culture and BMX commentary that also features a dedicated comics section. Recently gave an in-depth look at the Black Comix Festival in Harlem, New York.

AfroPunk, 29 Places to #ExploreBlackComics, Comic Books, Comic book creators

AfroPunk

Widely known for its music festivals, Afro of the Day social media posts and exploration of issues in the Black Diaspora, AfroPunk is also dedicated to promoting Black Comic Books and creators. The site is especially adept at highlighting indie comics creators.

29 Places to #ExploreBlackComics, black comic books, black comics, diversity in comics, black comics month

Fantastic Forum TV

The Comic, Science Fiction & Fantasy Fan’s FANTASTIC FORUM is a half hour TV series dedicated to various comics genres and fans who fuel the industry. The program is segmented with a panel discussion, interviews, event coverage, parodies, toy/game profiles and producer features.

 #blackfuturemonth,black comics, 29 Places to #ExploreBlackComics, black comic book creators

Geek Soul Brother

Geek Soul Brother’s job is to introduce the older generations to something new and younger geeks to the geek universe that was around before they were born.

 fanbros, #blackfuturemonth, #exploreblackcomics

FanBros.com

FanBros.com is a natural extension of the FanBrosShow podcast, with articles, reviews and previews that focus on exploring the diverse world of nerd culture and all that it represents. From editorials, to the latest news of the day, you can find everything you need to keep you up to speed on what is happening in the world of Fan Bros.

Black Nerd Problems.com

An editorial and informative website that focuses on popular, nerd and geek culture from the perspective of People of Color.

The Museum Of UnCut Funk

Black Comic Book Facebook Groups and Pages

Geekdom and new comic discoveries (and spirited discussions) often happen in Facebook groups dedicated to all things comics and pop culture. Check out (and join) these groups.

Black Comix African American Independent Comics, Art & Culture

Comic Book Nerds of Color

The Extraordinary Journey of a Black Nerd

Black Comic Book Podcasts

afronerd

AfroNerd

For Colored Nerds

The Black Guy Who Tips

Blerds on Nerds

#BlackComicsChat

BlackTribbles

Back to the Pod

Black Comic Book Scholarly Exploration:

The blacker the ink

The Blacker the Ink by John Jennings

 

 

 

 

 

black comics politics of race and representation

Black Comics: Race and Representation by Dr. Sheena C. Howard

 

 

 

 
black women in sequence

Black Women in Sequence: Re-inking Comics, Graphic Novels, and Anime by Deborah Elizabeth Whaley

 

 

 

 

 

untold story of black comic books

The Untold History of Black Comic Books by Bill Foster

Eric Dean Seaton, Diverse Comics Take New York Comic Con by Storm

Three panels on comic book diversity, books signings and work included in the Schomburg Center: Unveiling Visions: The Alchemy of the Black Imagination Exhibit highlight television director’s appearances in New York this week.

NEW YORK – Oct. 7, 2015 — Television director and graphic novelist Eric Dean Seaton delves deep into the diversity in comics discussion with three panel appearances and book signings for his graphic novel series “Legend of the Mantamaji” at New York Comic Con and an appearance of his work in the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture’s exhibit: Unveiling Visions: The Alchemy of the Black Imagination.

“Diversity in comics is an important conversation that is about more than simply creating characters of color. The conversation is also about creators of color owning and creating their own stories and publishers daring to challenge the status quo and publishing these stories,” Eric Dean Seaton said.

Screen Shot 2015-10-07 at 1.43.39 PM
Panel Appearances:

We Need More Diverse Comics Panel

Thursday, October 8 11:15am – 12:15pm Room 1A05

From Black Face to Black Panther Panel

Friday, October 9, 11:15am – 12:15am Room1A05

Geeks of Color

Friday, October 9, 6:30pm – 7:30pm Room 1E03

Book Signings:

Booth 972 Thursday – Sunday

Schomburg Center of Research in Black Culture:

Unveiling Visions: The Alchemy of the Black Imagination Exhibit

Open House, Wednesday October 7th, Exhibit ends December 31st

San Diego Comic Con: Eric Dean Seaton Joins “The Black Panel,” Teases Live Action Short

downloadSince his publishing company previewed the Legend of the Mantamaji graphic novel as a San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) exclusive months before their release, Eric Dean Seaton has had quite a whirlwind of a year. From its small, but earnest beginnings, the series has gone on to sell out at convention appearances as part of at 15 city (and growing) international book tour, been named a ‘Top Graphic Novel’ by Examiner.com and Atlanta Black Star, added to MTV’s Beach Reads for Social Justice Warriors list, earned brisk sales (including hitting top spots on Amazon.com), had continuous press coverage and has been picked up by major book distributors like Barnes & Nobles stores, Baker & Taylor, Ingram Books and public library systems. Seaton himself has been recognized with a Glyph Comics Awards Rising Star’ nomination and as a 2014 Samella Lewis Award winner for outstanding professional achievement. The momentum continues with Seaton’s appearance on “The Black Panel” –  a closely followed SDCC panel – on Friday (10:00am – 11:30am Room 5AB) as well as his sneak peek at the upcoming Legend of the Mantamaji: Live Action Short which can be viewed all weekend at Small Press Pavilion Table P-13.

TV Director Eric Dean Seaton at San Diego Comic Con“Heading back to this year’s SDCC is like returning home,” Seaton said. “Last year, we launched previews of the book as SDCC Exclusives and this year we return with the Live Action Short’s sneak peek and my appearance on The Black Panel. It’s amazing to see how much Legend of the Mantamaji has grown and I am so grateful for all of the support, encouragement and even the discouragement we’ve encountered along the way.”

The Legend of the Mantamaji series will be available for purchase at San Diego Comic Con throughout the entire weekend and the books will be autographed by Seaton. Additional special appearances include: Legend of the Mantamaji artist Brandon Palas and Legend of the Mantamaji: Live Action star Philip Michael.

 

Coloring The Future: Eric Dean Seaton at Manifest Justice May 9th

eric dean seaton panelist, erika alexander Manifest Justice panel, concrete park, legend of the mantamajiIf you’re in L.A. or the surrounding area on May 9th, make it a priority to come out to take part in the Manifest Justice events. Eric has been invited as a panelist for the “Coloring The Future” moderated by Erika Alexander. Participants will discuss how they are creating new worlds in color and impacting how society thinks about race.

“I created Legend of the Mantamaji because I’ve always loved comics, and as a kid it bothered me not to see many people of color in the stories I loved so much,” Seaton said. “I wanted to create great stories with heroes, and magic and swords and have it feature people of color and strong women…stories that more people can identify with. It’s imperative for diverse creators to tell their story and create worlds of their own imaginings.”

The entire Manifest Justice event is several days of dialogue, events and activities with a focus on empathy, accountability, economic opportunity, compassion, dignity, power and opportunity for all communities.

Coloring the Future Panelists:
Erika Alexander
Tony Puryear
Brandon Easton
Shawna Mills
Betty Bynum
Mark Davis

Learn more about the Manifest Justice event: http://manifestjustice.org

All Kids & Teens Need Superheroes of Color – Sword & Sorcery Series to LA Book Festival

“Representation matters, and not just to minorities,”Eric Dean Seaton, television director and creator of the Legend of the Mantamaji series said.

“We are sending kids out, unprepared, to encounter a world that is much more diverse and rich than it is made to appear in literature and comic book culture. We are stunting their imagination and their futures with one-sided stories.” With an expected 150,000 book lovers attending this weekend’s L.A. Times Book Festival, Seaton hopes to connect with fans and gain new ones of all backgrounds and ages at booth 743 Saturday and Sunday.

Buy Legend of the Mantamaji Book One Today

250_Sirach“People have sometimes overlooked the series as being ‘just for Blacks,’ or ‘for feminists,’ but that’s their hangup, not the story’s,” Seaton said. ‘The focus is not on the race of the characters. There’s no monologue about being a strong woman in the series. It’s not diversity for diversity’s sake. The characters are focused on figuring out the mystery and coming to grips with the idea that supernatural forces are going to destroy the world. It’s an awesome adventure story with magic, mystery, superpowers, evil doers…everything superhero fans love about the genre.”

The Legend of the Mantamaji series brings together diverse characters not tied to stereotypes and has gained the recognition of critics, fans and awards committees alike. Nominated for a prestigious Glyph Comics Award and riding high off the release of the third book in the series, Seaton recently expanded the national book tour to 13 cities in the U.S. and Canada.female characters in comics, strong female characters

Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo [C2E2] (April 24-26)
East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (May 15 – 16)
Puerto Rico ComicCon (May 21 – 24)
Heroes Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina (June 19-21)
Comic Con San Diego (July 7 – 12)
OnyxCon, Atlanta, Georgia (August 15 – 16)
Wizard World Chicago (August 20 – 23)
Fan Expo Canada in Toronto, Canada (September 3 – 6)
Long Beach Comic Con in Long Beach, California (September 12-13)
Wizard World Columbus in Columbus, Ohio (September 18 – 20)
New York Comic Con (October 8-11)

About Legend of the Mantamaji:

Legend of the Mantamaji tells the story of Elijah Alexander, an Assistant D.A. who has learned that his childhood storybook legends are actually the true stories of his heritage and that he is the last of a race of mystical knights known as the Mantamaji. After realizing he’s only part human, Elijah struggles with the shift in his world and becomes a hunted man charged with ridding the world of an ancient evil no other Mantamaji has ever been able to defeat. The full-color, action packed series has hair-raising plot twists and smart storytelling for all superhero fans.

The books feature artwork by Brandon Palas, colorist Andrew Dalhouse who has worked with From Boom, Dark Horse, Image, Marvel and DC and lettering by Deron Bennett, who was nominated for an Eisner Award for his work on titles like Jim Henson’s Dark Crystal, Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand and Helldorado, among others.

2015 Glyph Comics Award Nominees Announced, Legend of the Mantamaji & Eric Dean Seaton Gets ‘Rising Star’ Nod

Legend of the Mantamaji Glyph Award NomineesThe Glyph Comics Awards recognize the best in comics and with the release of the 2015 nominees, the judging committee shows there is no shortage of talented creators producing quality work made by, for and about people of color. Television directorEric Dean Seaton scored a ‘Rising Star’ nomination for his first graphic novel series, “Legend of the Mantamaji: Book One and Two,” marking another high point in the series’ debut. In the past year, Legend of the Mantamaji has seen Amazon sell outs, been picked up by major distributors including Barnes & Noble, the creation of a 13 city comic convention book tour, Live Action Short and a flurry of excitement from superhero genre fans of all races and ages.

“The nomination came on my daughter Legend’s first birthday, which seems just perfect,” Seaton said. “I am truly honored to be nominated and that people are so supportive of the series. I set out to write a great story first and to make characters that reflect the world around me – multicultural, with strong male and female characters who have depth to their personal stories. It took six years to build the Mantamaji world, working at night after being on set during the day. It was a real team effort and we’re still having so much fun, we’re already well into the next book. There’s so much talent out there, and those nominated represent a very small sample of the great work being published.”

Legend of the Mantamaji Graphic Novel, Eric Dean SeatonThe Legend of the Mantamaji series has been named a “Top Graphic Novel” by Examiner.com and Atlanta Black Star and all three books made the top 10 list for Graphic Novels, Contemporary Women on Amazon. The 2015 Glyph Comics Awards take place on Friday, May 15 at the African American Museum in Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 6 p.m.

About Legend of the Mantamaji: 
Legend of the Mantamaji tells the story of Elijah Alexander, an Assistant D.A. who has learned that his childhood storybook legends are actually the true stories of his heritage and that he is the last of a race of mystical knights known as the Mantamaji. After realizing he’s only part human, Elijah struggles with the shift in his world and becomes a hunted man charged with ridding the world of an ancient evil no other Mantamaji has ever been able to defeat. The full-color, action packed series has hair-raising plot twists and smart storytelling for all superhero fans.

The books feature artwork by Brandon Palas, colorist Andrew Dalhouse who has worked with From Boom, Dark Horse, Image, Marvel and DC and lettering by Deron Bennett, who was nominated for an Eisner Award for his work on titles like Jim Henson’s Dark Crystal, Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand and Helldorado, among others.

Praise for Legend of the Mantamaji: 
“Standouts include female characters who are smart, strong warriors equal to the male characters in the book with no “a**-to-the-camera” poses, great pen work by Brandon Palas, coloring by Andrew Dalhouse of Boom!, D.C. and Marvel, and lettering by Eisner-nominated artist Deron Bennett.” –Buzzfeed Community

“Fans who bemoan the ‘big two’ for a lack of vision, or effort, to create bold new characters and franchises, should learn that innovation can often be found elsewhere. ‘Legend of the Mantamaji ‘ has all of the excitement, imagination and suspense to be a TV or film series on its own, but instead it is here as a comic to be enjoyed by the masses who crave them. ‘Legend of the Mantamaji’ volume one is a must read for those who crave all of the spectacle and action of superhero comics, yet want a comic which offers creative new ideas and a progressive storyline with real weight behind it,” Alex Widen, Brooklyn Comic Book Examiner

“Legend of the Mantamaji is teevee director Eric Dean Seaton’s (Sonny with a Chance, That’s So Raven, Good Luck Charlie) first shot at writing comics, but this is clearly a professional storyteller with writing chops and a lifelong love of the medium, both of which are on full display here. I am not sure what I expected when I was invited to review Legends of the Mantamaji, but I can tell you I was definitely impressed by the quality world-building and storytelling.” –GhettoManga.com

About Eric Dean Seaton: 
As an episodic director, Eric Dean Seaton has directed 200 television episodes of 38 different hit TV series, including NBC/Warner Bros. comedy “Undateable,” TBS’s “Ground Floor,” BET’s “Let’s Stay Together,” Disney’s “Austin & Ally” and Nickelodeon’s “Bella and the Bulldogs.” He has also directed 18 music videos and two pilots for Nickelodeon, as well as two pilots for Disney XD. Seaton is a Cleveland, Ohio native and graduate of The Ohio State University. Eric, his wife children live in California. Legend of the Mantamaji, named a Top Graphic Novel series by Examiner.com and Atlanta Black Star, is his first graphic novel series.

For Media Interview | Book Review Requests Contact: Terreece M. Clarke, (614) 467-0361 | Press(at)Mantamaji(dot)com or TClarke(at)LifeSliceMedia(dot)com | LegendoftheMantamaji.com

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