Oklahoma City may not have as many superheroes as Metropolis, vigilantes as Gotham or mythological goddesses as Themiscyria, but when it comes to comic book writers, artists and creators, the Big Town has been assuredly crafting itself a decent-enough origin story over the past few years. Now it's finally on the verge of its own “great power/great responsibility” moment, with the inception of Oklahoma Contemporary’s Comix OK exhibit.*
Dedicated to exploring the “thriving artistic culture of comics in Oklahoma,” the Comix OK exhibition has been single-mindedly dedicated to “comic books, zines, graphic novels and related forms of sequential art, as well as the universes created by comic artists of superheroes, fantasy, mythology and science fiction,” especially on a local level, showcasing the work of many Okies working hard behind the capes. The folks behind the exhibit wanted to represent the great diversity both on and behind the pages of Oklahoma comics. In addition to the expected superheroes, COMIX OK features characters, artists, illustrators and writers from a variety of backgrounds, genders, sexualities, races and careers.
The program reaches its apex this weekend with ContempCon, a free comic book convention that runs April 21st and 22nd at Oklahoma Contemporary, 3000 General Pershing Blvd on the Fairgrounds. The con will feature workshops, drop-in studios for kids and adults, panel discussions, 45+ artist, publisher and vendor booths, storytimes, board games, a movie screening and other activities for families, artists and fans of the genre. Click here for more info including event schedules.
As someone who’s covered various conventions for The Lost Ogle on a very sad, very lonely regular basis, the event inspired us to revisit what role Oklahoma has played in the history of both the DC and Marvel universes. With a nod towards a possible cosplay idea or two, here are 10 comic book characters that have straight-up Okie roots, no matter how insignificant or embarrassing.
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