Oni Press Goes Full Bite Mode at ALA 2025 - All Star Panel

Oni Press Goes Full Bite Mode at ALA 2025 - All Star Panel

Sink Your Teeth Into Comics, Censorship, and Donuts: Oni Press Takes Over ALA 2025

Dust off your library cards and sharpen your convention claws — because Oni Press is storming the American Library Association Conference 2025 (ALA) with a stack of killer panels, signings, and enough ARC freebies to make a book dragon cry. From Friday, June 27 through Monday, June 30, Oni’s Booth #418 becomes your pop culture pit stop for everything weird, wonderful, and wildly overdue.

Step right up for signings with a murderers’ row of creators including Dracula’s Brunch Club blood-peddler Brian Gonsar, Indoor Kid agitator Mat Heagerty, cosmic goofball Ben Kahn (Mr. Muffins), gender memoirist legend Maia Kobabe (Gender Queer), horror queen Meredith McClaren (Meat Eaters), and kaiju-fist cartoonist Joey Weiser (The Littlest Fighter). Drop by early — the first 100 librarians each day (Friday through Sunday) walk away with a Gender Queer-themed tote. Because representation should have handles.

But wait — there’s more frosting on this narrative pastry. Oni dropped a brand-new ALA-exclusive trailer for Dracula’s Brunch Club, a comic so absurdly delicious it makes bloodsucking brunchable. And if that’s not enough glazed chaos, co-creator Brian Gonsar will host an actual Donut Brunch at the booth on Sunday, June 29, at 9AM. Come for the comics. Stay for the cavities.

Panels? Oni’s got ‘em locked and loaded. Check out “Scary Sisters” on June 28, where Meredith McClaren dives fang-first into horror comics and gender dynamics. Or join the Booklist Graphic Novel Panel, Part II later that same day with Mat Heagerty spilling the ink on genre storytelling. Sunday levels up with the Spectacularly Supernatural panel featuring basically the entire booth crew, followed by “Building Bridges” with Gonsar talking middle grade dreams and YA nightmares.

Still hungry for righteous rebellion? Oni’s secret weapon, Gender Queer creator Maia Kobabe, headlines the censorship showdown with appearances on not one, not two, but three power panels. We’re talking Freedom to Read, GNCRT Friday Forum, and the aptly named Banned Together. This isn’t just a booth — it’s a battle cry.

So whether you’re a die-hard graphic novel junkie or a librarian ready to throw hands over First Amendment rights, Oni Press has you covered. Booth #418 is where the undead brunch, the banned get loud, and comics become a form of resistance with frosting on top.

Oni Press' Full ALA 2025 Schedule Below

Friday, June 27

2:00pm - 3:00pm: GNCRT Friday Forum: Why Graphic Novels? Defending Graphic Novels Value in School in the Age of Censorship,

Featuring Maia Kobabe (Gender Queer: A Memoir)

Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 118 A B

Saturday, June 28

9:00am - 10:00am: Meet Brian Gonsar (Dracula's Brunch Club) signing ARCs in Oni Press Booth #418

10:30am - 11:20am: Meet Maia Kobabe (Gender Queer: A Memoir) signing in Oni Press Booth #418

10:30am - 11:30am Panel: Scary Sisters: Libraries Supporting Women Creators in Horror Comics

Location: Philadelphia Marriott, Franklin 11

Horror often addresses "The Other," that which is perceived as different, alien, or monstrous compared to the norm, invoking fear or revulsion. This panel will discuss how women comics creators, including writers, artists, and editors, use horror as a lens/mirror to reflect and critique societal issues about gender, race, sexuality, and other topics. Why do women create horror comics? Why do women read horror comics?

The role of libraries in collecting horror comics can help highlight the influence of women creators in horror comics. By displaying their work, libraries help support these creators' contributions to the horror genre, and how they challenge and redefine the genre. Libraries can also support independent publishers or self-published creators of women-created horror comics.

Featuring Meredith McClaren (Meat Eaters), Jasmine Walls, Faith Erin Hicks, Sandy King, and Tillie Walden

Moderated by Lizzy Walker, Associate Professor, Metadata & Digital Initiatives Librarian, Wichita State University Libraries

12:00pm - 1:00pm: Meet Ben Kahn (Mr. Muffins: Defender of the Stars) signing copies in Oni Press Booth #418

1:00pm - 3:00pm: Attend the ALA GNCRT Magical Tea to hear from Dracula’s Brunch Club writer Brian Gonsar!

Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 202 A B

1:00pm - 2:00pm: Freedom to Read Foundation President's Program: Fighting for Your Right to Read Freely

Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 107

Since its founding in 1969 the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) has had a critical impact on the right of Free People to Read Freely. First Amendment litigation is the foremost action achieving results in the fight against censorship and that is our expertise. FTRF President Sophia Sotilleo will be joined by a panel of notable guests, including author Maia Kobabe, to discuss First Amendment rights, how they look different in different sectors, and how our staff, members, and colleagues are dealing with challenges to their intellectual freedom. You will leave this program with knowledge of ways to move forward and tackle these issues with the support of each other and the support and expertise of the Foundation. Whether you are a long-time member or being introduced to FTRF for the first time, our mission is clear - Free People Read Freely.

1:30pm - 2:30pm: Meet Joey Weiser (The Littlest Fighter) signing copies in Oni Press Booth #418

1:30pm - 2:20pm: Booklist Graphic Novel Panel, Part II

Location: Graphic Novel/Gaming Stage (Booth #2062)

Join Booklist for a #ReadGraphic panel featuring creators from your favorite publishers on Saturday, June 28 at 1:30 p.m. ET on the Graphic Novel/Gaming Stage during ALA's Annual Conference in Philadelphia. Booklist's Books for Youth and Graphic Novels editor Sarah Hunter will lead a conversation with creators Mat Heagerty (Indoor Kid from Oni Press); Colleen AF Venable (Junie B. Jones: The Graphic Novel from Random House Children's Books); Brian "Smitty" Smith (Transformers: Worst Bot Ever - Meet Ballpoint! from Skybound Entertainment); and Scott Campbell (Cabin Head And Tree Head from Tundra Books).

2:30pm - 3:20pm Banned Together: Defending Diverse Stories in a Time of Censorship

Location: A Real Page-Turner Stage (Booth #2435)

Join editor Ashley Hope Pérez and contributors Nikki Grimes, Kelly Jensen, and Maia Kobabe for an insightful conversation about BANNED TOGETHER: OUR FIGHT FOR READERS' RIGHTS, a bold anthology that tackles the issue of book bans through fiction, memoir, poetry, graphic narratives, essays, and more. This collection brings together the voices of fifteen legendary YA authors and illustrators, each exploring the high-stakes question of what is lost when books are kept from teens. With personal stories, clever comebacks to censorship, and powerful reflections on the importance of access to diverse stories, this program will highlight the urgency of defending intellectual freedom. Don’t miss this essential discussion on empowering young readers and the fight for the freedom to read.

Moderated by Sally Morgridge, editor of BANNED TOGETHER (Holiday House, Executive Editor)

3:00pm - 4:00pm: Meet Mat Heagerty (Indoor Kid) signing chapbooks in Oni Press Booth #418

4:00pm - 5:00pm: Meet Meredith McClaren (Meat Eaters) signing copies in Oni Press Booth #418

Sunday, June 29:

9:00am - 11:00am: Attend Donut Brunch at Oni Booth #418 and meet writer Brian Gonsar signing advance copies of DRACULA’S BRUNCH CLUB

*Donuts while supplies last

11:30am - 12:30pm Meet Maia Kobabe signing copies of GENDER QUEER: A MEMOIR in Hoopla Booth #939

11:30am - 12:20pm: Panel: Power up the Pages with Spectacularly Supernatural and Superhuman Graphic Novels!

Location: Graphic Novel & Gaming Stage (Booth #2062)

Ever wonder what gives vampires the energy to live forever? (Hint, it’s a sweet treat!) Or how superpowered sports skills could change your life? (Spoiler, slam-dunks ahead!) Or what would happen if you woke up as a member of the undead? (These answers can’t stay buried.) How about if your pet Corgi was cosmically powered? (Tail wags to the rescue!). Or what if your small stature hid big battle energy? (Kaiju fights in store!) Find out all this and more as Brian Gonsar (Dracula’s Brunch Club), Mat Heagerty (Indoor Kid), Meredith McClaren (Meat Eaters), Ben Kahn (Mr. Muffins: Defender of the Stars), and Joey Weiser (The Littlest Fighter) join together for an extraordinary exploration of real-world topics such as mental health, bullying, and more!

Moderated by Oni Press Senior Editor Grace Scheipeter.

12:30pm - 1:30pm Power Up the Pages Panelist Signing with Mat Heagerty (Indoor Kid), Meredith McClaren (Meat Eaters), Ben Kahn (Mr. Muffins: Defender of the Stars), and Joey Weiser (The Littlest Fighter) in Oni Press Booth #418

12:30pm - 1:20pm Panel: The Art of Building Bridges with Debut Middle Grade and Young Adult Authors

Location: Chapter One Stage (Booth #112)

There are many challenges as well as opportunities new authors face in connecting with readers and the literary community. Join Brian Gonsar (Dracula’s Brunch Club), Stan Yan (The Many Misfortunes of Eugenia Wang), Jess Callans (Ollie in Between), and Shana Targosz (The Underwild) as they share insights on creating authentic, diverse narratives, building a supportive network, and bringing people together in an ever-evolving world.

Moderated by Amie Wright, Toronto Comic Arts Festival, Executive Director

2:00pm - 3:00pm Meet Maia Kobabe signing copies of GENDER QUEER: A MEMOIR in Oni Press Booth #418

Which Oni Press Panel will you be Heading to?

Let me know in the comments.