black superheroes

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

 by Eric Dean Seaton 0 comments

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

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

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

 by Eric Dean Seaton 0 comments

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.

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

 by Eric Dean Seaton 0 comments

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

Los Angeles Movie Awards Gives Best Editing Nod to Legend of the Mantamaji: Live Action Short

 by Eric Dean Seaton 0 comments

Legend of the Mantamaji Live Action ShortThe Los Angeles Movie Awards(LAMA) recently released its 2015 list of winners and prolific TV director Eric Dean Seaton’s short film, Legend of the Mantamaji: Live Action Short, is among the honorees. The superhero short film received a Best Editing Award and Honorable Mention from the group.

“I am so humbled and honored to be recognized by the Los Angeles Movie Awards,” Seaton said. “It was a dream come true to bring the graphic novel series to life on the big screen. The fan support has been tremendous and now to be recognized by peers is outstanding.”

The Los Angeles Movie Awards screening of 2015 winners takes place Saturday, September 19, 2015. At the screening, Legend of the Mantamaji has a chance to win another award – the Audience Choice Award- which is based on votes of those in attendance. Past LAMA winners include Sandra Oh, Ron Howard and Samuel Jackson.

Read the rest of the press release here.

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Long Beach Comic Con Adds TV Director Eric Dean Seaton as Special Guest

 by Eric Dean Seaton 0 comments
legend of the mantamaji, eric dean seaton, long beach comic con, black superhero

Eric Dean Seaton names Long Beach Comic Con Special Guest

Legend of the Mantamaji author and longtime television pro continues on international book tour as part of the growing list of television, comics and entertainment appearances at the famed con TV director Eric Dean Seaton and his breakout hit graphic novel series and live action short, Legend of the Mantamaji, is everywhere right now. Fresh off of a Los Angeles Movie Awards Best Editing and Honorable Mention nod for his grassroots Legend of the Mantamaji Live Action Short, Seaton is a special guest at this weekend’s Long Beach Comic Con. During this stop on his 16 city international book tour, Seaton will be joining cosplayers and comic enthusiasts for book signings throughout the weekend, “And… Action!” Entertainment Booth 863.

“I always have a great time at Long Beach Comic Con, the staff is so welcoming and the crowd is absolutely fantastic,” Seaton said. “Small publishers and comic book creators really have a chance to connect with readers at Long Beach. People there are open to new stories and voices and seek out diverse and different creators and characters, which is what helps the industry grow.”

[Click to read the rest of the press release…]

Starting off with a Bang: Legend of the Mantamaji Live Action Short!

 by Eric Dean Seaton 0 comments


Tuesday saw the launch of the Legend of the Mantamaji: Live Action Short and boy was it exciting! There has been so much love shown our way. Fans and media alike have enjoyed the short and that means a lot.

Rough analytics show the #LegendoftheMantamaji hashtag has been used more than 800 times, our Facebook engagement has climbed more than 400 percent and we are so glad we upgraded our servers here on the site because a 200 percent increase in traffic would have crashed our servers last month.

Let’s keep it going! The movement for diverse voices in stories is more than one week of excitement. Share with friends, comics lovers.

Check out the feedback so far:

Diverse Heroes Matter: ‘The Legend of the Mantamaji’ Comes To Life via NBC News

With a thrilling plot and a diverse cast of characters, Seaton strives to change the attitude toward and perception of African Americans. “You’re looking at somebody as the hero with a different skin color, and subliminally if you like it, you might actually see people in those positions and it won’t be so shocking,” Seaton continued.

EurWeb covered covered us as well: Check it out.

So did The Source Magazine online. Check it out.

Global Grind gave us a shout as well here.

Many thanks to Alex Widen of Examiner.com for his coverage:

With a mixture of great costume designs, stunt work, highly cinematic pacing and excellent special effects (when needed), it has everything which fans have come to expect from comic book based pilots as produced by “The CW” or even “CBS.”

Uncanny Pop also showed us love:

Seaton hopes the short compels more people to pick up the graphic novel series to see what happens next. The trilogy was featured on MTV’s “Beach Reads for Social Justice Warriors” list, was nominated for a 2015 Glyph “Rising Star” comics award and named a “Top Graphic Novel” by Atlanta Black Star and Examiner.com. We’ve previously have profiled Legend of the Mantamaj several times on our site and we’ve become big fans and encourage our readers to check it out for themselves. You won’t regret it!

 

 

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Fish N’ Cherries Reviews Legend of the Mantamaji Book One

 by Eric Dean Seaton 0 comments

Fish N’ Cherries, what a great name for a website, and not just because they gave Legend of the Mantamaji Book One a great review.

I feel the need to mention that the magical aspects are visually creative in their implementation. In fact, everything is colorful and visually engaging from the costumes to the backgrounds. This could very well have been another story with a washed out palette to make it seem more adult or serious. But instead, things are distinct and pop right off the page. The diverse color scheme lends itself to a lot of color theory too, especially in the three mystical armors. The red of Sirach shows that he’s a danger to the world, Elijah’s blue represents his devotion to the law, and Noah’s green denotes his need to train Elijah because of his loyalty to his family as well as his service to another cause. There are plenty more in there, I’m sure, but far be it from me to dictate whatever you personally read into it.

Thanks Ronin Reads for taking the time to check us out! Read the rest of the review here.

Preview & Buy Legend of the Mantamaji Book One Today!

CaribPress Covers Legend of the Mantamaji

 by Eric Dean Seaton 0 comments

Legend of the Mantamaji Side Group ShotThis weekend we received a nice bit of coverage form Carib Press in their article “”Legend of the Mantamaji” is a fresh take on a new superhero genre.”

A sweeping tale of magic and mystery, heroes and villains, the series is the brainchild of Eric Seaton who has directed multiple TV shows.

Check out the whole article here: Carib Press.

Legend of the Mantamaji: Live Action is Almost Here!

 by Eric Dean Seaton 0 comments

In one day the Legend of the Mantamaji: Live Action Short will go live! To say that the entire team is excited is an understatement.

What’s even more exciting is how geeked our readers are right now. Thank you for the tweets, Instagram DMs, Facebook posts and emails, we read every one of them. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out some sweet Behind the Scenes footage of the making of the short:

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you know exactly when the short goes live!

Sloooowww Motion: Episode 10 Legend of the Mantamaji Behind the Scenes

 by Eric Dean Seaton 0 comments

Remember when you were a kid you would do things in slow motion? Okay, okay, it was last Tuesday, but still, in your mind it was super cool just like the movies. Well, that’s what’s happening in this week’s episode of Legend of the Mantamaji: Behind the Scenes.

We find the team rehearsing more stunts that take place in slow motion with lead actor Phillip Michael, learning on the fly. Watch the video below and please SHARE & TWEET it out to friends!