At last year’s Kids’ Comic Con, Lake Erie Ink program director Charisse Bailey was struck by an unexpected silence among the nearly 100 kids who were engrossed in their creative work.

"They’re writing and they're drawing and they're sharing and they're engaging and they're collaborating,” she recalls. “And to feel that energy and to see it? One volunteer said she’d never experienced anything like it."

The 12th annual Kids’ Comic Con: Ignite you Imagination returns Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2 with exciting new partnerships and locations—promising to ignite imaginations as this year’s theme suggests.

“The kids really enjoy that it's a building comics community and it's low pressure, it's fun, and creative. It’s really a safe space for youth and teens to gather and explore creativity,” says Bailey.

Lake Erie Ink Comic Con 2023The weekend kicks off virtually on Friday, March 1 with a free Nickelodeon Virtual Drawing jam led by Loud House graphic novels artist Alexia Valentine, followed by a Teen Party for students in grades six through 12 hosted by the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (moCa), 11400 Euclid Ave. in University Circle.

This year's Teen Party is extra special, as teenagers from moCa, Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), and Lake Erie Ink collaborated for the first time to plan the evening. Partygoers can expect music, lights, mocktails, cosplay, and collaborative writing and drawing sessions with guest artists hosted by CandiBee Cosplay. During the party, kids can also create their own sketches that will be displayed at moCa and in a digital Zine library after the event.

“The participants get to walk around the gallery and use zine making in their own sketches to share their own interpretation of the new exhibit on display,” explains Bailey. “There's a lot of intersecting components, not only for the day of Comic Con, [but also] for the community to experience this—even after the event is over.”

Additionally, at 4 p.m. on March 1, the Cleveland Institute of Art will host a special campus tour  for Kids’ Comic Con attendees and their parents who are considering pursuing art in college. Participants will meet at the American Greetings Welcome Center, 11610 Euclid Aven., Suite 122, by Entrance A. Registration is required.

On Saturday, March 2, Kids Comic Con moves to in-person workshops and events at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Community Arts Center in the Pivot Center for Art, Dance, and Creative Expression, 2937 W. 25th St. in Tremont.

Bailey says she is excited about the location and believes that it has the potential to foster imagination and innovation.

“This new space is a really big thing—it’s ideal to dive into creativity and allow kids not to be afraid to go outside the lines,” Bailey observes. “It’s a big, active space. It's a lot of colors. They even have life-sized puppets!”

Hands-on workshops at the Community Arts Center will be led by more than 15 featured artists, including Cleveland’s own John G, whose work has been commissioned by Cleveland staples like Melt Bar and Grilled and the Grog Shop; and Sevita Lochan, illustrator and founder of Lumicpress, a children's publishing press specializing in manga-style books.

The workshops will cover topics like illustration and storytelling—allowing participants to practice new skills and learn from industry experts.

“What I think is great is youth get to explore different avenues of art that aren't available in public schools,” says Bailey of the workshops. “We focus on things like animation, digital illustration, and allowing kids to find their own artistic style.”

Lake Erie Ink Comic Con 2023A highlight of Saturday’s events will be an artist panel discussion, “Comics Change Lives” at

3:30 p.m. at the Community Art Center. The discussions will be moderated by Valentino Zullo, the American editor of the Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics, and Dawn Arrington, director and founder of Comics at the Corner. The event, which is open to both kids and adults, will feature guest artists Lynnesha Hamilton, Miguel Hernandez, Vijay Shah, Fern Haught, and Kate Atherton.

Additionally, an Artist’s Alley, which is open to the public, will allow attendees to interact with and purchase the work of local artists.

“It’s a place to showcase the artists' art who are teaching the workshops and then some who just want a space to share their work with others,” says Bailey. “Artist Alley really provides an opportunity for the artists to make money to share their work and the kids to have a deeper experience.”

Day passes for youth ages eight to 18 are $10, while weekend passes are $25 and include a T-shirt. View the full Kids’ Comic Con Schedule and artists bios.

Like all of their other programs, scholarships are available for Kids’ Comic Con through Lake Erie Ink’s website.

“I like to joke, but it's true—we never turn a kid down ever, and It's awesome,” says Bailey. “They should have access to such cool stuff that really supports their creativity.”

The event is ADA-accessible, and sign interpretation is available upon request. Volunteer opportunities are also available by contacting Lake Erie Ink.

For Bailey and Lake Erie Ink, the importance of writing, drawing, and comics for kids can’t be overstated.

“We use comics a lot in our creative processing because there are a lot of benefits,” she emphasizes. “You have storyboarding, you have brainstorming, there's collaboration. You can take the art and put it into a book.

“There’s a lot of skill sets that can be learned from comics,” Bailey continues. “Writing and art can really save lives. If you want your youth to be engaged in a like-minded community, this is the space and event for that.”

Major support for Kids’ Comic Con comes from Arts Midwest, Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, Ohio Arts Council, and the Tabor Family. 

Rebecca Cahill is a freelance writer who is thrilled to contribute to FreshWater Cleveland, sharing the stories of the people and places that make our fine Forest City flourish and grow. Rebecca enjoys hiking CVNP, Playhouse Square’s pretzels, and the Cleveland Browns. She lives in Ohio City with her husband and three dogs.