Panels

The MNCBA offers 45-minute panel programming to educate, inform, and entertain at every MNCBA SpringCon and MNCBA FallCon event. Panel attendance is always free with your general admission, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Group photo in the panel room at MNCBA FallCon 2024. Left to right: John Bivens, Gene Ha, Eric Childs, Ted Anderson, and Zander Cannon. Photo by Buzz Meade.

We especially love to host educators and teachers adjacent to the comic book industry, as well as drop-in comic-making and drawing classes for students of all levels. We greatly appreciate your ideas and suggestions for future panels you would like to attend. Please contact us to share your thoughts.

Our panels (including improvements to our panel room equipment) are one of the many family-friendly activities made possible by your donation to the MNCBA.

Miss an event? Visit our YouTube channel for our playlist of past panels!

Meet our Panel team!

Our panel host team is made up of Eric Childs, a comic book store owner and community advocate, and Russel Detty, a creator and videographer. They work with our panelists to bring truly exceptional conversations to MNCBA events.

Eric Childs, MNCBA Secretary and Panel Moderator

Eric Childs, MNCBA Secretary and Panel Moderator, at Mind's Eye Comics

Eric Childs is a comic book enthusiast and creative thinker, channeling his passion for comics into community engagement and literacy advocacy.

As the proprietor of Mind's Eye Comics and THICKET&THORN Publishing (subsidiaries of Archived Expressions LLC), he's made a significant impact, earning the title of Main Street Champion for Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District in 2021.

Originally from Kansas City, MO, and a Minnesota resident since 1991, Eric is an entrepreneurial "superhero" who has garnered attention from Marvel Studios and various news outlets for his dedication to community building and championing Black history and representation.

Rusty Detty, Panel Moderator Assistant and Videography

Rusty Detty

Rusty is a filmmaker, writer, and performer who grew up in Minnesota consuming a steady diet of Mad Magazine, Spawn, and Classics Illustrated comics.

He's shot everything from fiber-optic installations and choreographed dance to sketch comedy and music videos. Rusty is proud to bring that videography experience to capturing the history and craft of comics as presented by panelists at MNCBA events.

If your project involves dead-pan comedy, subversive satire, or piston-engine fighter planes, he would probably love to work on it with you.