The Black Comic Book Festival kicked off Friday at the Schomburg Center in Harlem, which played host to comic book artists from around the country. 

Writer and Brooklyn-native Jamal Igle says the festival is unique. 

"When you look back at the history of comics, it's not really filled with a huge amount of diversity," said Igle. 

The festival gives artists of color a significant platform to show off their work. With the film release of "Black Panther" only a few weeks away, black comics are about to become a lot more mainstream. 

"It's very important for our culture because it's never ever been seen where little black children can go to a movie theater and see a whole movie full of black super heroes," said Maia Crown Williams, the founder of anime convention MechaCon.

Igle says the movie could create an opportunity for other African-American characters that already exist.