Episode 258: SDCC 2025: Building Authenticity/Changing Culture with Comics

Hello and welcome to our SDCC 2025 panel, Building Authenticity and Changing Culture with Comics. Today’s panel brings together creators who are using comics to challenge stereotypes, center marginalized voices, and inspire cultural change. Through personal storytelling, historical narratives, and bold new characters, these panelists show how authenticity on the page can lead to real impact off the page. Join us for a conversation about identity, representation, and the power of comics to transform culture. With us today are: Henry Barajas is an acclaimed writer and storyteller whose work has centered on cultural and political histories. His graphic memoir La Voz de M.A.Y.O. Tata Rambo honors his grandfather’s pivotal role in Indigenous activism and community empowerment in Tucson, Arizona. He is also the author of the graphic biography Historias de Resistencia: Dolores Huerta, which brings the legacy of the legendary labor leader to life through a vivid, accessible medium.Henry’s other notable work includes Death to Pachuco, a bold exploration of Chicano identity and culture. In 2022, he made history as the first Latino writer of the long-running daily comic strip Gil Thorp, where he brings contemporary social issues and diverse representation to a new generation of readers. Through all his projects, Henry remains committed to telling stories that empower communities and reshape the cultural narrative. @henryjbarajas
Cecilia Lim is a co-founder of Kwento Comics, the first all-women, all-Filipina comic book company in the United States. Through projects like The Mask of Haliya and other Filipina superhero stories, Cecilia works to center Filipino mythology and cultural heritage within the comic book landscape. Her mission is to amplify Filipina voices and redefine the superhero genre by showcasing powerful, complex Filipina characters that break away from Western norms. Cecilia’s work is a celebration of cultural identity and empowerment, expanding representation for Filipino communities both in the U.S. and globally. @kwentocomics

Omar Morales is the creator of Major Thomás, a science fiction comic that blends Latino culture with thrilling genre storytelling. Omar’s work uniquely fuses cultural authenticity with expansive worldbuilding, transporting Latino narratives beyond traditional settings and into the realms of space and fantasy. His stories challenge stereotypes by placing Latino identities at the center of high-concept sci-fi adventures. With dynamic art and layered storytelling, Omar invites readers to envision futures where Latino culture thrives and evolves in new, imaginative ways. @omorales81

Sonya Saturday is a cartoonist and satirist known for her candid, humorous, and often poignant comics, including The Greatest Thing You’ve Ever Seen in Your Life. She tackles themes of identity, queerness, subculture, and personal vulnerability with unflinching honesty and sharp wit. Sonya’s storytelling blends raw emotional truths with biting humor, creating work that breaks down cultural taboos and reclaims space for messy, imperfect human experiences. Her comics invite readers to embrace complexity and find humor in life’s awkward moments. @sonyasaturdayart

Asia Simone is an artist who brings vibrant energy and thoughtful representation to beloved franchises like Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Wreck and Roll! and Adventure Time. With a background in both indie and mainstream comics, Asia expertly infuses her own cultural perspective and authentic voice into worlds that fans already love. Her work pushes the boundaries of traditional narratives by creating space for diverse characters and stories, helping to reshape the culture of comics toward greater inclusivity and creative freedom. @asia_simone405