A new nonprofit aimed at supporting comics creators in Brooklyn and beyond has officially launched. The Brooklyn Organization Dedicated to the Endurance of the Graphic Arts, or BODEGA, is founded by a group of publishers, creators, and industry leaders that includes James Tynion IV, Bryce Gold, and Courtney Menard. Gold will serve as Executive Director, while Tynion takes on the role of Chair of the Board of Directors alongside Gold and Menard.
BODEGA’s first major initiative is the Brooklyn Expo of Comics, a two-day festival set for November 14 and 15, 2026, in Williamsburg. The event will highlight standout comics talent from New York and around the world, with panels featuring prominent creators and a convention floor hosting more than one hundred artists. Menard and Gold will co-direct the event. Guests already announced include Chris Ware and Lisa Hanawalt, with more to come.
The expo will also introduce two new initiatives. The BODEGA Comic Arts Trophy will recognize standout works during the event, and the Brooklyn Annual of Graphically Elevated Literature will debut as a new magazine showcasing comics from New York-based creators, with future editions planned each year.
Beyond the festival, BODEGA plans to support the comics community through exhibitions, educational programs, live readings, signings, and direct financial grants for creators and community projects. The organization aims to build on the legacy of influential New York comics figures like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, and Harvey Kurtzman, while continuing the borough’s long tradition of cultural impact.
Gold brings a wide range of experience to the role, including work as Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Pyrite Press, Head of Content at ComiXology, and Head of Comics at Kickstarter. He has also taught at the School of Visual Arts and organized events like Zoetrope in Brooklyn.
“When I started publishing comics and zines in New York, resources for comics creatives outside of educational institutions were few and far between,” said Gold. “So much of my approach to comics was through a ‘do it yourself and figure it out’ ethos, and I’ve always strived to pay that knowledge forward, providing the next generation of creators more accessible support than what was available when I was in their shoes. BODEGA is here to reshape that relationship, and I am so excited to offer future comics creators new opportunities to learn, create, and flourish here in Brooklyn.”
The organization has also assembled a support team that includes illustrator and educator Christina Lee as Communications Manager, literary agent Paloma Hernando as Outreach Manager, and Desert Island Comics founder Gabe Fowler as Panel Coordinator for the expo.
“Working with Gabe on CAB let me see firsthand what a great comics festival can do for the Brooklyn independent comics community,” said Menard. “It lets us get out of our own heads and apartments, and into a space where we can shake off the dust and celebrate our work with enthusiasts and fellow creators alike. A comics festival that fills that space in Brooklyn is long overdue. CAB set the bar incredibly high, and we feel honored to have Gabe contributing his experience and expertise to our programming slate.”
“I can’t tell you how many times my customers have begged me to bring back the Comic Arts Brooklyn show, and I’m psyched to join this incredible team to keep the spirit of independent comics alive in Brooklyn,” said Fowler.
BODEGA and the Brooklyn Expo of Comics are backed by an initial donation from Tynion, who also leads the Brooklyn-based production company Tiny Onion.
“I’ve always loved the full and inspiring breadth of the comics medium, from its most mass market forms in newspaper strips and superhero magazines, to the cutting edge of the indie alternative scene and the brilliant artists pushing the limits of what comics can be,” said Tynion. “For years I’ve wanted to find a way to use my stature in the industry to help support the people working on that cutting edge, and do what I can to support a thriving scene in the city I love. It’s hard to live as a working cartoonist in New York, and we want to do what’s in our power to help.”
BODEGA is structured as a nonprofit organization and aims to strengthen the comics community by connecting artists, publishers, and readers while providing new opportunities for creators in New York.
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