In an effort to increase the gender diversity and presence of women at comic conventions, an all-women group of comics pros has presented organizers with a compelling resource, providing them with the ability to contact them and be put in touch with any number of female pros interested in making an appearance! This group is Comic Book Women, and as a member, I assure you that we are mighty.

Comic Book Women originated at Emerald City Comic Con in 2014 when a dozen women met over breakfast, intent on creating a safe space for women to network, ideate and talk shop. A year and a half later, the group has over 200 members including creators, editors, journalists, artists and professionals from all channels of the industry.

The presence of women in comics is obvious. As of August 2, five out of the ten books on the New York Times Graphic Book Best Seller list come from women creators, and approximately 41% of the 2015 Eisner Award winners were female. Women are making a huge impact on the industry, and our contributions should be felt at conventions. Sadly, however, that isn't always the case.

Earlier this year, Denver Comic Con hosted a Women in Comics panel, featuring an all-male lineup. Just last week, GenCon announced a panel on writing women-friendly comics without a single woman participating. Although GenCon was ultimately able to add female panelists, the immediate response from organizers was that they had been unsuccessful at finding any up until that point. In an effort to make sure this sort of poor planning doesn't happen again, Comic Book Women's administrators have developed a plan, encouraging con organizers to reach out for assistance and welcoming any potential new members.

Official Press Release

Comic Book Women, an advocacy group for professional women in the comic book industry with over 200 members including writers, artists, editors, retailers, and journalists, announces a solution to the growing problem of conventions having trouble finding women to speak on their comic book panels and exhibit at their shows.

"I get asked to be at a lot of cons. Last year, I turned down over 120 events all around the world, even though I accepted as many as I thought I possibly could," Said Gail Simone (Writer DC Comics'Secret Six). "Having Comic Book Women as a resource to offer to convention organizers will be really helpful. Our hope is that we can add a wider range of voices to the many great conversations about comics at these conventions."

The group is made up of women who have worked at a variety of publishers and in a number of mediums and can offer organizers a diverse selection of professionals who can speak on all aspects of the comic book process.Show organizers can contact Comic Book Women by email atThereAreMany@ComicBookWomen.comwith details about their show or their panels, and the group will work with them to find guests.

For more information, please visitwww.comicbookwomen.comor follow us on twitter at@ComicBookWomen.

About Comic Book Women

Comic Book Women is an advocacy group working to help raise the profile of women who work in comics. The group is open to all comics pros that identify as women with a validated body of work as either a creator, journalist, editor, retailer or other relevant professional. For more information, please contactThereAreMany@ComicBookWomen.com."

With the support and resourcefulness of this group, there should be no reason for panels without women -- and not just panels specifically about gender in comics, but panels that reflect the diverse careers, talents and perspectives of ladies across the industry.