The Michigan State University Comics Forum http://www.comicsforum.msu.edu is an annual event that brings together scholars, creators, and fans in order to explore and celebrate the medium of comics, graphic storytelling, and sequential art. This year’s event is scheduled to take place February 26-27, 2016 at the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities in Snyder/Phillips Hall on the campus of Michigan State University.

This year, the Forum is proud to announce that Sergio Aragones will be our Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker on Friday, Feb 26th, 2016. Aragones is the most honored cartoonist, having won every major award in the comics field including the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award and the Will Eisner Hall of Fame Award. He is widely known for his contributions to Mad Magazine and his longrunning comic book series, Groo the Wanderer. Recently, Aragones completed a Groo vs. Conan crossover with artist, Tom Yeates, and continues his more than 50 years of contributions to Mad Magazine.

On Saturday, February 27th, 2016, the Forum will feature scholarly presentations in a variety of formats as well as an artist’s alley spotlight featuring Sergio Aragones.

We seek proposals for presentations, which may include but are not limited to:

• Individual Submissions
  Will have 15 minutes to discuss topic; 5 minutes for questions
  Presenter will be grouped with other participants into a panel
• Panel Sessions
  Will run for one hour
  Must include at least 3 presenters
  Presenters must discuss similar or connected topics
  Presenters are responsible for finding their own panel session members
• Roundtables
  Will run for 45 minutes to an hour
  Must include at least 3 participants
  Presenters must discuss one specific topic
  Presenters are responsible for finding their own roundtable session members

The MSU Comics Forum is seeking a multitude of perspectives that represent the diversity of comics and the medium’s social, literary, and artistic context. Submissions from a broad range of disciplines are encouraged.

Individual submissions require a 250word (maximum) abstract of the topic as well as name and affiliation. Panel sessions require one 250word abstract for the overarching topic and a unique abstract for each presenter’s specific topic, including name and affiliation, emailed together. Round table proposals should include a 250word abstract that includes an explanation of the topic and the names and affiliations of participants. All proposals should be in PDF format.

Due to the visual nature of the comics medium and diverse community engagement in the Forum, we ask that all
presentations integrate visual content.

Proposals are due December 1 st , 2015 by 11:59 p.m. EST
Notification of acceptance or denial will be emailed by Dec.15 th , 2015
Please submit proposals to 2016 MSU Comics Forum Panel Coordinator, Zack Kruse, at: msucfpanels@gmail.com

For more information visit comicsforum.msu.edu