"I'm actually kind of a terrible fan," confesses author and illustrator Molly Ostertag (BFA 2014 Cartooning), gearing up for this year’s Flame Con, the world’s largest queer comic con, coming to New York this weekend. A lover of comics and nerd culture but turned off by the franchise-ification of both, she explains, "I always just wanted to make stuff. I’ve always been a creator, I’ve always been very focused on making my own stories." As the author of the award-winning The Witch Boy, co-creator of successful webcomic Strong Female Protagonist, and a writer on Disney’s forthcoming The Owl House, Ostertag lacks no opportunities these days to fulfill her calling: to create. "It's a crazy honor and a crazy privilege to be able to do that and have people who connect with my work; it feels pretty surreal." Ironically, she says with self-awareness, "I appreciate good fans!"

Flame Con, now in its fourth year and being held at the Times Square Sheraton, August 18 and 19, celebrates the diversity and creativity of queer geekdom and LGBTQ contributions to pop culture. From DC Comics artists to indie cartoonists, over 30 SVA alumni and 2 current students are officially participating in the event this year as vendors or speakers. Ostertag will get to connect with them and other readers, peers, and colleagues, fellow creators and fellow fans as she tables Artist’s Alley with her books and prints and sits on three panels. The first time she attended, at the inaugural con, she was less involved in the LGBTQ community, "so it was a very new experience for me," she says, "but it's kind of unlike anything else I've experienced, so I'm really excited to go back."

Then as now, she notes, "I really appreciate how the queer community shows up to support independent artists! We hold each other to a high standard and are always trying to make the stories we would like to read."

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