|
Abandon: First Vampire |
Abandon: First Vampire |
Lamashtu, Sumerian demon and the First Vampire, has hidden herself behind many lives. Currently she is Laila McCarthy, Professor of Ancient Cultures. On a military-led artifact recovery mission she faces the forces of an old enemy. Studying the relics with a handsome agent of the Bureau of Evil Elimination brings her ever closer to danger. (www.abandoncomic.com) |
|
Michael |
Agrusso |
With over 120,000 subscribers and 40,000,000 video views, ItsJustSomeRandomGuy is one of the most-watched and most-subscribed channels on YouTube. Since 2007, Michael Agrusso (ItsJustSomeRandomGuy) and Brinna Li (ItsJustSomeRandomGal) have been creating videos parodying the comic and movie franchises of everybody's favorite superheroes, starting with their long-running Mac/PC parody series, Hi, I'm a Marvel...and I'm a DC. They have further branched out with their other parodies: Marvel/DC: After Hours, Goblin Bloggin', and numerous others. |
|
Tony |
Akins |
A native Chicagoan, Tony Akins had his first published work appear in his high school yearbook, the De La Salle Meteor. Happy with the outrage incited, he decided to continue drawing for the public. His initial work as a comic book artist was for Now Comics where he penciled for the acclaimed series Rust and was the first artist to adapt Terminator to comics. His talent was soon seen on pages from First Publishing titles such as Sable, Munden's Bar and Nexus. At Dark Horse, Tony brought skills to bear on Aliens: Colonial Marines and Star Wars: The Freedon Nadd Uprising. Closer to home, another Chicago-based publisher, Comico, gave Tony the chance to work on covers and interiors for Bill Willingham’s Elementals. Bill and Tony would team for the first time on the series special edition A Ghost of A Chance. After a long hiatus from comics, Tony was asked to contribute Willingham’s Fables title at Vertigo where Cinderella Libertine marked his comeback to publishing. After his run on Hellblazer: Papa Midnight and Fables: War Stories, Tony settled into the position of penciling for the Vertigo series Jack of Fables. |
|
Todd |
Allen |
Todd Allen is the author of The Economics of Web Comics and pens the Funnies Business column for Publisher's Weekly Comics Week. He also writes the Division and Rush webcomic (www.DivisionAndRush.com) for the Chicago Tribune Media Group's ChicagoNow site. Because he doesn't have spare time, Todd spends his daylight hours as an adjunct professor in the Art, Entertainment & Media Management Department at Columbia College Chicago and consulting on technology. Todd's adventures have had him popping up everywhere from an MTV shoot to the Rockette's dressing room. |
|
Sean |
Archer |
Sean Archer is an up-and-coming artist/writer who is best known for his webcomic and toy line, Milo the Cloud. Archer got his start as a vocalist in great Chicago bands like Stripped and Mandy and the Bandits, but he recently made the leap into webcomics and the designer toy scene. He had long done flyers and graphic design for local bands, and now he's put that aspect to work designing shirts, toys, and a book due out later in the year called Milo Decides To Be. Archer will be bringing Milo pocket art with him to C2E2, and he'll also be unveiling a limited edition pocket plush figure at the convention. |
|
Franco |
Aureliani |
Franco was born in 1492 aboard the cruise ship Santa Maria and currently resides in Nueva York in a warm ranch-style house with a white picket fence and a very lovely lady who said "yes" to his marriage proposal and their wonderful son. Franco spends most of his time in his Bat Cave-like studio and emerges occasionally to yell at people and stuff. He is the creator of Weirdsville, co-creator and writer of the acclaimed indie title Patrick the Wolf Boy, and co-creator and writer of DC's all-ages, New York Times Best-Selling, Eisner Award-winning hit Tiny Titans. He has also been known to write, paint, or draw for companies big and small from DC to Devil's Due on titles such as Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam, I Dream of Jeannie, Ninjatown and many others. Not wanting any free time in his life, Franco teaches High School Art and gains immense satisfaction in seeing new generations of artist coming into their own. Franco is adamant that he is a genius, but he usually defers to his wife who tells him he isn't and keeps him grounded in the real world. |
|
Azure |
Azure |
The year is 2022. The ice caps are long gone. The world is a watery grave for most coastal and low-lying cities, and the land left has been decimated by warfare and stripped bare by the remnants of humanity. Over time, the survivors of mankind have fled to the only cool areas left on earth, and many have migrated beneath her oceans. Entire cities have been relocated to undersea environments, in order to escape the wrath of the sun and the creeping of the seas. After eons of evolution moving away from the water, mankind is being forced back into her depths. (www.zudacomics.com/azure) |
|
Mark |
Bagley |
Mark Bagley has been in the comic business for roughly 25 years. After winning The Marvel Try-out Contest, he went on to pencil many Marvel comics before teaming with Fabian Nicieza on The New Warriors. That book's success lead to a long run on The Amazing Spider-Man. After his next gig, The Thunderbolts, Mark teamed with Brian Bendis on a record breaking run on Ultimate Spider-Man. His last couple of years in the industry has been with DC comics. First on the year-long Trinity, and currently he is the penciller on Justice League Of America with James Robinson. Mark lives in Georgia and Florida with his wonderful wife, Pattie, and has one fantastic daughter, Angie, and two beautiful grand kids. |
|
Art |
Baltazar |
Art is a super-cartoonist machine from the heart of Chicago! He's all about the peace, love, and joy. He defines cartoons and comics not only as an art style, but as a way of life. Art started his funky secret art studio in 1994 with the his self-published comic book, The Cray-Baby Adventures. Since then, he created other comics such as Gyro-Man, Captain Camel and The Space Chicken, Jimmy Dydo, Lunar Lizard, Meteor Mite, and the famous Patrick the Wolf Boy. Artie has also had a few gigs with Warner Bros. and had a monthly comic strip in Disney Adventures Magazine called GORILLA GORILLA! Art has some cool character design skills and has recently completed the Big Amoeba graphic novel for Platinum Studios. Currently, Art is the creative force behind The New York Times Best Selling Eisner Award Winning DC Comics' Tiny Titans. From small press to mainstream in a heartbeat! Art is living the dream! He stays home and draws comics and never has to leave the house! He lives with his lovely wife, Rose, big boy Sonny, little boy Gordon, and baby girl Audrey! Right On! |
|
Matt |
Banning |
Inker extraordinaire and fan favorite Matt "BATT" Banning got his start on L.E.G.I.O.N for DC comics at the age of 19. He was later tapped by Top Cow to ink Marc Silvestri and oversee the other inkers in the studio. During his time at Top Cow, BATT inked most pencillers and titles at one time or another and co-created Ascension with David Finch. During his career, BATT's talents have taken him from titles as diverse as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Uncanny X-Men. Some recent career highlights include runs on Superman/Batman, Death of The New Gods, and New Avengers. You can currently enjoy his work on Thor with Billy Tan month to month and upcoming X-Men: Second Coming. |
|
John |
Bivens |
John Bivens recently graduated from Northern Illinois University. Since that time, he has done work for Sam Costello's Split Lip horror anthologies, the award-winning Comic Book Tattoo anthology, Popgun Volume 4, and has appeared in a handful of Zuda web comic competitions. Upcoming projects include the Reading With Pictures benefit anthology and The Kiss on tor.com. He spends whatever spare time he can with his lovely fiancée Mallory. |
|
Ivan |
Brandon |
Ivan Brandon is a writer and editor for comics and other media. His most recent work includes Deadpool and X-Force for Marvel Comics and Nemesis and Final Crisis: Escape for DC Comics. He is the writer and co-creator of Viking, The Cross Bronx, NYC Mech and the creator and producer of the Eisner-nominated 24SEVEN series. |
|
Brat-Halla |
Brat-Halla |
Brat-halla is a mythology webcomic about the Norse gods during their elementary school days. All-Father Odin and his wife Frigg constantly have their hands full with youngsters Thor (the super strong runt of the litter), Loki (the god of mischief who likes to play with dolls), Balder (the invulnerable pretty boy), Hod (the blind god of darkness and winter), Hermod (the hyper super speedster) and the rest of the Norse pantheon. (www.brat-halla.com) |
|
Mitch |
Breitweiser |
Illustrator Mitch Breitweiser is widely known for his visceral and realistic take on Marvel's pop culture icons. With his work on Captain America: The Chosen in 2007 and the recent Captain America: Theater of War, Mitch has left a lasting impression on Marvel's timeless patriotic hero. Mitch has also lent his artistry to Ultimate Fantastic Four, Annihilation, Iron Fist, The Young Avengers, Uncanny X-Men Annual #2, the 70th Anniversary Submariner Special, as well as, issues 600 of Captain America and Amazing Spider-Man. Mitch is currently working on an, as of yet, unannounced four part miniseries for Marvel. More information can be found at mitchbreitweiser.com. |
|
John |
Campbell |
John Campbell has been making sad and surreal stick figure comics for some years. his first book, Pictures for Sad Children, collects some stories about a ghost who works a desk job and a man whose extended family can perform useless miracles. |
|
Eric |
Canete |
Eric Canete is an illustrator and designer working in the animation and comic book industries. Some of his past animation projects include Aeon Flux, Men In Black, Dark Fury, The Batman, Justice League Unlimited, and Ben10. In comics, he's worked on Cybernary 2.0, Iron Man: Enter The Mandarin, Comic Book Tattoo, The End League, Amazing Spider-Man, and Luke Cage. |
|
Michael |
Capps |
Dr. Michael Capps is the president of Epic Games, Inc. based in Cary, NC. Epic has created multiple million-selling, award-winning titles in its Unreal series, as well as the 2006 Game of the Year, Gears of War, which has sold over 4.7 million copies. Epic is also responsible for the Unreal Engine, which is the underlying technology for a wide range of games including 2K Games’ 2007 Game of the Year, BioShock, and BioWare’s 2007 RPG of the Year, Mass Effect. Michael serves on the board of directors of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), the world’s largest nonprofit membership organization for game developers. He also serves on the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS), which is charged with recognition of outstanding achievement in the entertainment software community. Prior to entering the game industry, Michael served as a professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He specialized in defense and entertainment collaboration, virtual reality and computer graphics. For his work in these areas, he was one of 50 graphics pioneers interviewed for the ACM SIGGRAPH documentary, The Story of Computer Graphics. He holds master’s degrees in computer science and electrical engineering from the UNC-Chapel Hill and MIT, and a doctorate in computer science from the Naval Postgraduate School. |
|
C.B. |
Cebulski |
C.B. Cebulski is just a guy lucky enough to be working in comics. After a decade of editing in the Japanese, European and American comic book markets, Cebulski's now finally discovering what life on the other side of the desk is like as a freelance writer. He can't complain so far as he's written for Marvel on such titles as the X-Infernus, Wolverine, and the critically-acclaimed Loners series. On the creator-owned front, Cebulski publishes the vampire tale Drain and Wonderlost, his lauded autobiographical anthology, through Image Comics. He also serves as Marvel's international talent scout, always on the hunt for the best and brightest new artists around the world. When not traveling or creating comics, C.B. spends his time trying to beat the world record on Dig Dug. No wonder he sucks at meeting his deadlines. |
|
Jimmy |
Cheung |
Originally hailing from the UK, Jimmy now resides in Florida, pencilling exclusively for Marvel Comics. He is currently working on a new Young Avengers project with Allan Heinberg as well as providing covers for the Secret Warriors series. His past projects for Marvel have included Iron Man, X-Force, Uncanny X-Men, Illuminati and New Avengers, and he Is responsible for co-creating the Young Avengers and Scion for CrossGen Comics. |
|
Cliff |
Chiang |
Cliff Chiang's artwork has been hailed for its "fluid and confident storytelling" and "sweeping linework and nuanced style." Graduating from Harvard University with a joint degree in English Literature and Visual Arts, he worked in editorial at Disney Adventures Magazine and Vertigo/DC Comics before making the leap into freelance illustration. Previous works include Human Target, Green Arrow & Black Canary, and Doctor 13: Architecture & Mortality. He recently collaborated with rock legend Neil Young on the Greendale graphic novel for DC/Vertigo. He lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. |
|
Frank |
Cho |
Frank Cho was born in Seoul, South Korea, and at the age of six, he and his family came to the United States. Cho never had any formal training in art and taught himself to draw and write by reading art books and comics. At the University of Maryland, he created the award winning college strip, University 2 (University Squared), which ran in the campus newspaper, The Diamondback. Upon graduating from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor degree in Nursing, he signed with Creators Syndicate Inc. His Liberty Meadows was distributed worldwide and was also published as a comic book from Insight Studios Group. In an unprecedented move in comics history, Cho voluntarily discontinued the newspaper strip in favor of comic book distribution only. In 2002, Cho has moved the hugely successful Liberty Meadows comic from Insight Studios Group to Image Comics. He has number of projects scheduled, including upcoming exclusive Hulk and New Ultimates with Jeph Loeb for Marvel Comics and Dragon Line and Zombie King for Image Comics. |
|
Kevin |
Colden |
Kevin Colden is the author of the Eisner Award-nominated, Xeric award-winnig graphic novel Fishtown. He is a veteran of the ACT-I-VATE and Chemistry Set web comics collectives, and his work has been published by such notable publishers as IDW Publishing, Image Comics, Alternative Comics, and Top Shelf Productions. He currently writes and draws I Rule The Night for Zuda and plays drums in the band Heads Up Display. He lives in New York City. |
|
Amanda |
Conner |
Amanda Conner started out working as an illustrator for New York ad agencies Kornhauser and Calene and Kidvertisers. She worked on a number of launches and campaigns including Arm and Hammer, PlaySchool and Nickelodeon; however, loving comic books and cartooning the most, Amanda found herself working with Marvel on their Barbie and Disney lines. At the same time, she was illustrating Soul Searchers & Co. for Claypool Comics and was soon working on other Marvel projects, such as Excalibur and Suburban Jersey Ninja She-Devils. Amanda then moved on to do what is probably her best known work -- several years as penciler on the hit series Vampirella for Harris Comics. While illustrating Vampirella, Amanda worked with the top writers in the field, Grant Morrison, Mark Millar and Warren Ellis. Continuing to expand her horizons, Amanda illustrated the best-selling Event Comic Painkiller Jane vs. The Darkness and went on to work on Painkiller Jane #0. She also wrote and illustrated a story for Kid Death and Fluffy. Since then, Amanda has moved on and has worked on many of the top titles in comics such as Lois Lane, Codename: Knockout, Terra and Birds of Prey for DC, X-Men Unlimited for Marvel, co-created Gatecrasher for BlackBull Comics, and The Pro, a creator-owned book for Image with Jimmy Palmiotti and Garth Ennis. Amanda's work can also be seen outside the comic book world in such places as ABC's Nightline, The New York Times, and Mad Magazine. Amanda’s current work can be seen in Powergirl monthly for DC Comics as well as the Supergirl series for Wednesday Comics. |
|
Kevin |
Conroy |
Kevin Conroy is known to audiences as the voice of the animated Batman, which he has played since the original Batman: The Animated Series in 1991. Subsequent series have included Batman and Robin, Justice League, and Batman Beyond. A native of Connecticut, Conroy began his acting career in the New York theater. After graduating from The Juilliard School, he toured nationally in John Houseman productions of King Lear and Mother Courage. His next tour was in the Broadway tour of Deathtrap, co-starring with Brian Bedford. His Broadway credits include Lolita with Donald Sutherland and Eastern Standard by Richard Greenburg. His regional credits include The San Diego Shakespeare Festival (King Lear and Much Ado About Nothing) and The Hartford Stage (The Greeks). Off Broadway, he appeared at Joe Papp's NY Public Theater in Midsummer Night's Dream and Hamlet, as well as The Signature Theatre's The Last Yankee and The Roundabout Theatre's Come Back Little Sheba. After performing on Another World and Search For Tomorrow, he moved to LA to appear on Dynasty. He starred as Captain Wallace on the series Tour of Duty and Dr. Dunkle on Rachel Gunn, RN. While in LA, he did a number of TV movies, notably Face of Fear for Dean Koontz, Kennedy playing a young Ted Kennedy, and George Washington. His film credits include Chain of Desire. |
|
Katie |
Cook |
Katie Cook is a popular artist among Star Wars fans. Her work can be seen in many Topps Star Wars Trading Card sets, Star Wars how-to-draw tutorials, and webcomics for The Clone Wars on starwars.com. She's also done licensed work for The Lord of the Rings, DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Heroes, and -- soon -- Fraggle Rock! A fan favorite and a huge nerd, her work can be found at www.katiecandraw.com. |
|
Danielle |
Corsetto |
Danielle is the artist and creator of the hit webcomic Girls With Slingshots, an ongoing dramedy strip that updates five times a week and features two girls, a bar, and a talking cactus. She's also the former artist/writer on The New Adventures of Bat Boy, which was featured in the Weekly World News before the print publication ended. Danielle hails from West Virginia and may be heard singing Country Roads loudly at the pub after the show. |
|
Cyanide And Happiness |
Cyanide And Happiness |
Cyanide And Happiness is the hit daily comic strip from Explosm.net. Its authors, Kris, Rob, Matt and Dave, hail from all around the world: Wyoming, Texas, California and Ireland, respectively. While running the comic for years, they don't see each other in real life except for conventions much like this! So stop by the booth, say hello and buy a ton of their stuff. (www.explosm.net) |
|
Tony S. |
Daniel |
Tony S. Daniel is the writer/artist/creator of independent books The Tenth, Adrenalynn, Sike, and F5 from the late 90's. Tony returned to mainstream comics in 2004 with DC's Teen Titans and a short run on The Flash before teaming up with Grant Morrison as artist on Batman for his epic R.I.P. tale. In 2009, Tony put on his writer hat once again to write and draw DC's Battle for the Cowl. He's now Batman's current ongoing writer and artist. |
|
DAR |
DAR |
100% true recountings of the stuff that happens in Erika Moen’s life. (www.darcomic.com) |
|
Geof |
Darrow |
Geof Darrow began his professional career in Cedar Rapids, Iowa as a snow shoveler, lawn mower, and occasional altar boy. He moved up from there (or down depending on your taste) to design character models for Hanna Barbera. Due to the French-American trade imbalance during the 80's, he was sent to Paris, where he nearly ruined Jean "Moebius" Giraud's career by working with him at the French publishing house Aedena on the project City of Fire. From there, he bedeviled Frank Miller, making his life miserable, in turn, by working with him on the comics Hard Boiled and The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot for Dark Horse. Not content with ruining his reputation in print, Darrow moved into celluloid and was the concept artist on the Matrix Trilogy and Speed Racer films for the Wachowski Brothers. He is currently writing and drawing the Shaolin Cowboy for Burlyman Entertainment as well as writing and co-directing an animated version of the Shaolin Cowboy for Madhouse Animation Studios, produced by the aforementioned Wachowskis. He is still available for lawn mowing and snow shoveling but has laid down his hassock much to the consternation of the church. Mea Culpa. |
|
Peter |
David |
Peter David, self-proclaimed "writer of stuff," is probably best known for his award-winning twelve year run on "The Incredible Hulk." He currently writes "X-Factor" and "Stephen King's The Dark Tower." |
|
Dan |
DiDio |
Dan DiDio is the Senior VP-Executive Editor, DC Universe for DC Comics. Since 2003, he has spearheaded such bestselling titles as Identity Crisis, Infinite Crisis, 52, and Final Crisis. Prior to joining DC, Dan worked in television for CBS and ABC on creative affairs and development. His writing can also be seen in The Outsiders. |
|
Division And Rush |
Division And Rush |
What's the definitive Chicago comic strip? For my money, it's Dick Tracy. (Sorry, Brenda Starr fans.) Did you know Dick Tracy always had an eye for pastiches? The first Dick Tracy villain, Big Boy, was a pastiche of Al Capone. Not too long after Big Boy showed up, Dick Tracy took on something that looked an awful lot like the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby. It's with Dick Tracy as touchstone, that we now bring you Division And Rush. Cartoonist Chester Gould played Dick Tracy as drama. Division And Rush is a satire. Using the crime comic as a vehicle, we're going to poke a little fun at Chicago crime and Chicago personalities. Law And Order doesn't have a monopoly on current event driven plots, after all. (www.divisionandrush.com) |
|
Chuck |
Dixon |
Born in Philadelphia, Chuck Dixon has more than 25 years of experience in the graphic novel field as an editor, writer, and publisher. He has contributed well over a thousand scripts to publishers including DC Comics, Marvel, Dark Horse, Hyperion and others featuring a range of characters from Batman to The Simpsons. His comic book adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit continues to be an international bestseller. Considered to be one of the most prolific writers in his field, this award-winning storyteller currently writes G.I. Joe for IDW, The Good the Bad and the Ugly and Stargate Universe for Dynamite, and The Simpsons for Bongo Comics along with many creator-owned projects for various publishers. |
|
Terry & Rachel |
Dodson |
Oregon-based artists Terry and Rachel Dodson have been working together in comics since 1996 starting on the X-Men teen spin-off series Generation X. The Dodsons launched Harley Quinn for DC Comics with writer Karl Kesel, starring the Joker's deadly female sidekick. They then collaborated with writer Mark Millar on the year-long blockbuster Marvel Knights: Spider-Man, and then with writer/filmmaker Kevin Smith on Spider-Man and The Black Cat. After that, the Dodsons relaunched and redesigned the universe of Wonder Woman, with writers Allan Heinberg, Jodi Picoult, and Gail Simone. Currently, Terry and Rachel are working on the Uncanny X-Men with writer Matt Fraction. For the last few years, Terry has been working in the European market starting with the graphic novel Songes, enabling him to produce interior art in full color. |
|
Colleen |
Doran |
Colleen Doran is an illustrator with hundreds of credits for clients including Lucasfilm, The Walt Disney Company, Marvel Comics, Image Comics, DC Comics, Reader’s Digest, Scholastic, and many more. She was artist in residence at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC where she lectured on Hokusai and ukiyo-e prints and their relation to pop culture and manga. She has also lectured on graphic novels in arenas as diverse as the Singapore Writers Festival and the American Library Association. Further, she has illustrated the work of Neil Gaiman, Anne Rice, and Clive Barker. Currently, she is working on two original graphic novels for Vertigo, one by Warren Ellis called Stealth Tribes, and another by the Eisner-nominee Derek McCulloch entitled Gone to Amerikay. She is also artist for an upcoming original graphic novel for publisher Houghton Mifflin with best-selling novelist Barry Lyga. Other credits include Wonder Woman, Amazing Spider-Man, X-Factor, Captain America, Teen Titans, and officially licensed illustrations for Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and The Lord of the Rings. Her graphic novel series A Distant Soil, published by Image Comics, was listed among the 101 best graphic novels of all time and has tens of thousands of readers online. |
|
Marc |
Draven |
Marc Draven began teaching himself the art of tattooing in 1992 outside of Philadelphia, PA and worked his way down the East Coast -- eventually finding his home base in Tampa, FL. Along the way, Marc has tattooed many celebrities, been published in numerous magazines, and continues to work with some of the best pin-up and fantasy artists in the world. He is now making himself known for crossing the tattoo industry with the multimedia industry. His "INK-FUSION" project shows the world that tattoos, movies, television, comics, and artists of all backgrounds share a common thread of self-expression. He describes it as follows, "INK-FUSION is when the worlds of tattooing and comics collide." |
|
Michael |
Easton |
Michael Easton is the author of the critically acclaimed Soul Stealer trilogy. Featuring the art of Christopher Shy, the final chapter in the series will be released in April. Bestselling author Peter Straub collaborated with Michael on the graphic novel The Green Woman for Vertigo. Easton's face is perhaps best known for his role as John McBain on the daytime drama One Life to Live, as well as Ally McBeal, VR5, and the Philip K. Dick inspired Total Recall 2070. He lives in New York City. |
|
Ed Contradictory |
Ed Contradictory |
A webcomic with pandas and robots and stuff. Ed Contradictory follows the adventures of the title character, Pinder the pygmy panda bear, Mackenzie the automaton, Marcus the mercenary, the Magical Booze Fish, and others as they struggle to survive in a crazy world and put together a weekly webcomic. (www.edcontradictory.com) |
|
Josh |
Elder |
Josh Elder is an award-winning cartoonist and nationally renowned advocate for using comics in the classroom. Josh began his career in the comic industry with internships in the Publicity and Editorial departments at DC Comics, but Josh quickly discovered his true calling was in writing for comics rather than about them. As a comics scribe, Josh has contributed to the superheroic sagas of Batman and Superman and the sci-fi franchise StarCraft. Though he is best known for co-creating (along with artist Erich Owen) the nationally syndicated comic strip and certified awesome graphic novel series Mail Order Ninja. The comic strip ran in over 40 newspapers nationwide, including the Boston Globe and the LA Times, while the graphic novel was named one of the 25 Best Graphic Novels for Children by the School Library Journal. In 2009, Josh joined with a group of likeminded individuals to found Reading With Pictures, a nonprofit organization that advocates the use of comics in the classroom to promote literacy and improve educational outcomes for all students. Josh is honored and privileged to serve as Executive Director and President, guiding the organization and running its day-to-day operations. You can find Josh and Reading With Pictures online at www.readingwithpictures.org. A graduate of Northwestern University, Josh makes his home in the small, Midwestern town of Chicago, Illinois. |
|
Steve |
Epting |
With a career stretching back to First Comics, Steve Epting made his name with Marvel fans everywhere with a 50-issue run drawing Avengers in the early '90s. He also contributed art to various X-Men titles, including the Factor X series, part of the seminal Age of Apocalypse event. This was followed by a stint at DC Comics, working on their flagship Superman, as well as on an acclaimed run on Aquaman. After working on various CrossGen titles, including the Eisner-nominated El Cazador, which he co-created with writer Chuck Dixon, Steve returned to Marvel to embark on his first collaboration with writer Ed Brubaker on Captain America. The award-winning team of Brubaker and Epting then culminated Marvel's 70th Anniversary by redefining the origins of the Marvel Universe in The Marvels Project. |
|
Erfworld |
Erfworld |
Erfworld is a story-driven fantasy/comedy webcomic about a master strategy gamer stuck in a wargame. The first book, The Battle for Gobwin Knob was written by Rob Balder and illustrated by Jamie Noguchi. It was recognized as one of the top 10 graphic novels of 2007 by Time Magazine. The second book, Love is a Battlefield is illustrated by Xin Ye. The comic was originally started as an attempt to bring all of author Rob Balder's fantasy-related strips from his other comic, PartiallyClips, into the same universe. (www.erfworld.com) |
|
Evil Inc. |
Evil Inc. |
Evil Atom, a Silver-Age-villain-turned-businessman; Lightning Lady, a recovering supervillainess; Dr. Haynus, a brain-in-a-jar symbiotically joined to a puppy dog; and the rest of the employees of Evil Inc. give a new meaning to “punching in” for the day. (www.evil-comic.com) |
|
Fans |
Fans |
A band of science fiction fans, fighting for their lives, their world and their freedom to dream. (www.faans.com) |
|
David |
Finch |
David Finch began his comic book career at the age of 22 at Top Cow. There, he created Ascension and Aphrodite IX, both of which were top sellers in the business. In 2001, he made the move to Marvel. His 15 issue run on Ultimate X-Men saw sales of the comic jump 40%. On Avengers, David's presence doubled sales with starting with his first issue. Eventually feeling the need for a change, David took on the monumental task of bringing a perennially low-selling, cancelled Moon Knight into the mainstream. His run on Moon Knight skyrocketed this title into the main Marvel universe and saw it sell over five times the all the title's previous releases. Now, David is working with Jeph Loeb on Ultimatum. In addition to his comic career, David has also worked on video games, music, and film. He has worked with Zack Snyder, Guillermo del Toro, Clive Barker, and Michael J. Straczynski, among others. His artwork can currently be seen in stores nationwide on the CD cover for the band Disturbed. |
|
Gary |
Friedrich |
Gary Friedrich worked as a member of the Marvel Bullpen staff and as a Marvel freelance writer from 1966 to 1978. During that period, he wrote most of the Marvel characters including Iron Man, Captain America, Daredevil, Spider-Man, X-Men, The Hulk and many others. He served a long stretch on Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos and created two other Marvel war series, Capt. Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders and Combat Kelly and his Deadly Dozen. He also wrote a brief series featuring the western Ghost Rider with Sgt. Fury partner Dick Ayers as well as the Monster of Frankenstein series with Mike Ploog. Friedrich is best known for creating the flame-skulled, motorcycle-riding hero the Ghost Rider in 1971, the character portrayed in the recent movie by Nicolas Cage. He lives in the St. Louis, Mo. area with his wife, Jean, and daughter, Leslie. |
|
Neil |
Gaiman |
Neil Gaiman is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Neverwhere, Stardust, American Gods, Anansi Boys (#1 NYT bestseller), and Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett); the Sandman series of graphic novels; and the short story collections Smoke and Mirrors and Fragile Things. He is also the author of books for readers of all ages including the #1 bestselling and Newbery Medal winning novel The Graveyard Book, the bestselling novels Coraline and Odd and The Frost Giants; the short story collection M is for Magic and the picture books The Wolves in The Walls, The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, and Crazy Hair, illustrated by Dave McKean; The Dangerous Alphabet, illustrated by Gris Grimly; and Blueberry Girl, illustrated by Charles Vess. He is the winner of numerous literary honors, including the Hugo, Bram Stoker, and World Fantasy Awards, and the Newbery Medal. Originally from England, he now lives in America. Visit him online at www.neilgaiman.com. He is appearing at C2E2 on Saturday night in the CBLDF's "Evening with Neil Gaiman" fundraiser. |
|
Ron |
Garney |
Ron Garney has been a professional comics illustrator since 1989. Over the course of his career, he's built a large fan following, tackling some of the industry's greatest characters including the Incredible Hulk, Silver Surfer, X-Men, JLA, Captain America, Spider-Man, Daredevil, Ghost Rider, Moon Knight, and G.I. Joe. He's been nominated twice for the industry's coveted Eisner award, for best penciler and best serialized story for Captain America with Mark Waid. Ron has also worked in the film industry, notably on I Am Legend as costume illustrator, and he currently illustrates Wolverine: Weapon X alongside Jason Aaron. Ron lives in Connecticut with his wife and three children. |
|
Girls With Slingshots |
Girls With Slingshots |
An ongoing dramedy strip from Danielle Corsetto that updates five times a week and features two girls, a bar, and a talking cactus. Danielle's also the former artist/writer on The New Adventures of Bat Boy, which was featured in the Weekly World News before the print publication ended. Danielle hails from West Virginia and may be heard singing Country Roads loudly at the pub after the show. (www.daniellecorsetto.com/gws.html) |
|
Michael |
Golden |
Artist/writer/creator Michael Golden, co-creator of the X-Men's Rogue, Spartan X and Bucky O'Hare, has a legion of devotees that number not only in aficionados of his work, but other artists as well. Known for his detailed pencil work on The 'Nam, Micronauts, G.I. Joe Yearbook, and Dr. Strange, among much more, Golden modestly never says which is his own personal favorite project. However, according to one art dealer, "Everybody in the business has been influenced by Golden's "Dr. Strange." Milestones in Golden's career include the co-creation of Bucky O'Hare, which led to an animated series and toy line designed by Michael, as well as Spartan X with editor/writer Renee Witterstaetter. Currently, Golden's work can be seen with recent covers on Nightwing, Iron Man, Heroes for Hire, Exiles,Demon's Regret, Spider-Man, The Hulk, and more. Michael has served as an Editor at DC Comics as well as Senior Art Director at Marvel Comics, and has worked on scores of movie production projects, some currently in development. His art has been the focus of gallery shows in places as diverse as Gijon, Barcelona, New York, Antwerp and Brussels, while his class on storytelling has been conducted from Spain to Brussels to France to Canada to the United States -- and most recently China. |
|
Daniel |
Govar |
Daniel Govar has worked on various freelance projects for clients such as Nike, MCI, the USDA, USA sports teams, and he co-founded the website ThereAndBackAgain.net, a Tolkien/Lord of The Rings website dedicated to illustrating all facets of the world created by J.R.R. Tolkien. He has illustrated over 15 book covers (Seekers of Dreams, From Witch to Wicca, etc.), and is currently The Art Director for the DVD firm MetaMediausa.com. In October 2008, Daniel entered the Zuda competition by DC Comics and won with his sci-fi epic comic Azure now in its second season, a fan favorite, and updating weekly. |
|
Seth |
Grahame-Smith |
Seth Grahame-Smith is a film and television writer/producer, semi-frequent blogger, and New York Times bestselling author. He grew up in the wilds of Connecticut, eschewing the outdoors in favor of Stephen King novels and a worn-out VHS copy of Aliens. After college, he moved to California, where he wrote everything from narration scripts for History Channel documentaries to lyrics for Flava Flav. No, really. He also wrote several non-fiction humor books, including How to Survive a Horror Movie and the much-funnier-than-it-sounds Big Book of Porn. In 2007, he produced the innovative CBS internet series Clark and Michael, starring Michael Cera (Superbad, Juno). In 2009, his Jane Austen-meets-the-undead mash-up Pride and Prejudice and Zombies debuted at #3 on the New York Times bestseller list. It has sold over half a million copies to date. Seth is also the Co-Creator/Executive Producer of the MTV comedy series, The Hard Times of RJ Berger. He received a B.S. in Film from Emerson College. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son. |
|
KC |
Greene |
KC Green is the author and illustrator of the webcomic Gunshow where he attempts a variety of stories and gags to make the young children smile and laugh. However, the comic is decidedly not for children. Why are you letting your child read this comic? For shame. |
|
Jackson |
Guice |
Jackson "Butch" Guice has built a varied career with nearly three decades of experience as a comic artist. In the early 1980s, his work on Micronauts, New Mutants, and X-Factor for Marvel earned him a reputation as a solid and exciting draftsman. He moved to DC for a fan-favorite run on post-Crisis Flash before settling into the 1990s delivering steady work for both companies. Following a tenure at CrossGen on the Harvey and Eisner nominated title Ruse, he briefly collaborated with Kurt Busiek on Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis and illustrated numerous comic albums for the European comic market for French publisher Humanoids. He is now back with the publisher he started his career with, working exclusively for Marvel on such titles as Iron Man, Captain America, and Ultimate Origins, as well as currently embellishing Bryan Hitch's pencils on Captain America: Reborn. |
|
Brad |
Guigar |
Brad Guigar is celebrating ten years of doing a daily comic strip this year. His first strip, Greystone Inn, ran from 2000-2005. His current daily comic, Evil Inc, runs every day at www.evil-inc.com and appears in front of an estimated 1.5 million newspaper readers. He has been nominated for an Eisner award for Phables, a year-and-a-half-long weekly series of comics about life in Philadelphia, and he does a weekly single-panel comic, Courting Disaster, about sex, love, and relationships. He is the author of The Everything Cartooning Book and the co-author of How To Make Webcomics. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the daily tutorial-and-advice site webcomics.com and one quarter of the popular Webcomics Weekly podcast. |
|
Guilded Age |
Guilded Age |
An ex-stage actor and failed internet shut-in, T. Campbell has written eighteen gazintillion pages of comics. While other children played in the sun and dreamed of becoming astronauts, a young Erica Henderson sat alone in her room reading Zot and drawing Jughead. A longtime Professional Neckbeard, Phil Kahn has spent a few years writing for various webcomic, webcomic criticism, and webcomic enthusiast sites, and is now trying to do something with his accumulated knowledge. Together, they present Guilded Age. (www.guildedage.net) |
|
Gunshow |
Gunshow |
Gunshow is a comic about a lot of different things. With some recurring characters. But you can mostly jump in whenever you feel like it. (www.gunshowcomic.com) |
|
Gene |
Ha |
Gene Ha is a comic book artist mainly known for his superhero stories and covers. He started off drawing books such as Cyclops and Phoenix for Marvel and Starman for DC. He is best known for his collaborations with writer Alan Moore, Top 10 and its prequel, The Forty-Niners. Both projects won Eisners, the highest award in American comics. In 2008, he won his third Eisner for Justice League of America #11 with writer Brad Meltzer. He is currently doing a series of painted covers for DC's Blackest Night: JSA and Kevin Smith's Batman: Widening Gyre. Along with writer Bill Willingham, he's diligently working on Backroads for IDW, a modern fantasy graphic novel. Gene Ha's work has been reprinted in countries as far flung as Poland, France, Brazil, and Japan. Gene Ha lives outside Chicago in Berwyn, IL with his lovely wife Lisa and their two beagle bassets. Since college he's tried to avoid temptations that will distract him from drawing more comics, and thus never mastered using a game controller with more than one button. Sad but true. More info about him can be found at www.geneha.com and www.facebook.com/geneha. |
|
Halolz |
Halolz |
What is it? Well, it’s sort of a cross between video games and LOLCATS! We all know adding captions to things (especially with poor grammar and spelling!) makes them funnier, so why not apply that time-tested scientific reasoning to the world of video games? (www.halolz.com) |
|
Christopher |
Hastings |
Christopher Hastings writes and pencils the Adventures of Dr. McNinja, an action/comedy comic about the adventures of a doctor who is also a ninja. Christopher also designs t-shirts under the name Raptor Bandit Industries, sold through TopatoCo. Those two things are pretty much all Hastings has been doing for the past few years, because before that he wasn't out of college yet. Christopher lives in Brooklyn with his fiance, Carly Monardo, and their dog, Commissioner Gordon. His work can be found at drmcninja.com |
|
Casey |
Heying |
Casey Heying is the artist and creator of the comic book series The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles, which is among his first published comic book work. He has done a large amount of promotional artwork for The WB, DC Comics, GI Joe, and for his store, BuyMeToys.Com. He is also the proud father of three children. Casey is very much looking forward to his nap at the completion The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles issue four. |
|
Jonathan |
Hickman |
Jonathan Hickman is the talent behind such works as The Nightly News, TransHUMAN, Pax Romana, and Red Mass for Mars. Breaking into the industry in November of 2006, Jonathan garnered praise for his ground-breaking series, The Nightly News, which earned an Eisner nomination for “Best Limited Series.” Currently, Jonathan is writing Secret Warriors, Fantastic Four and SHIELD for Marvel Entertainment. This year will also see the release of his latest indie work -- Plus! Jonathan currently lives in South Carolina. |
|
HijiNKS Ensue |
HijiNKS Ensue |
Geeking for the sake of geekery. HijiNKS Ensue doesn’t really follow a story. Most of the comics use one geek pop culture reference to make fun of another geek pop culture reference. That sounds stupid when you read it out loud but it ends up working in the end. If you are into sci fi, rechnology, comic books, cartoons, 80’s TV, non 80’s TV or geek-life in general, you should find something to laugh at here. (www.hijinksensue.com) |
|
Eva |
Hopkins |
Eva Hopkins, award-winning colorist and co-creator of Dark Ivory, has been JML (Dawn, Dark Ivory)’s creative collaborator since 1996, but an artist and writer her whole life. Eva’s co-creation, Dark Ivory, is a goth girl who wants to become a vampire -- until it happens to her. The Dark Ivory trade paperback is coming soon from Image Comics, and Eva is hard at work on her follow-up to her sellout indie smash anthology, Fear of Flight. She lives in upstate NY where it’s hella cold and is looking for a good excuse to move. Hit her up on Facebook. |
|
Adam |
Hughes |
Born Cinco de Mayo during the Summer of Love in Riverside, NJ, Adam escaped to Atlanta in the early 90s, when such things were possible. Starting his comics career in 1987, Adam has drawn for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and many other companies. He has also done work for Lucasfilm, Warner Bros., and Joss Whedon's Mutant Enemy Productions. He's drawn everything from Star Wars to Star Trek and Indiana Jones to Tomb Raider. His run of covers on Wonder Woman won multiple Harvey Awards and an Eisner. He's also won both the Gold and Silver Spectrum Awards for Comics. Adam is currently working on many projects, including a hard-cover collection of his work for DC Comics over that last 20 years. He also enjoys designing statues for Sideshow Collectibles. |
|
Andrew |
Hussie |
Andrew Hussie’s career as an artist began at age 11 with the now classic graphic novel Superfrog. He spends most of his time in a subterranean lair in Cambridge, Massachusetts creating MS Paint Adventures and dreaming of horses. Mr. Hussie will be maintaining a mysterious, wraithlike presence at the TopatoCo booth. |
|
I Rule The Night |
I Rule The Night |
Seven years have passed since the death of Crane Carlson, aka the Night Devil, New York City’s only vigilante. In the years since, his faithful sidekick, Shadowboy, has mourned him, slowly going insane and becoming increasingly violent, all the while searching for any means with which to bring him back to life. But as we begin to learn more about the legacy of Crane Carlson, it becomes apparent that nothing is quite what it seems, and a mysterious new villain will threaten to bring Shadowboy’s reign of terror crashing to an end. (www.zudacomics.com/i_rule_the_night) |
|
Lora |
Innes |
Lora Innes's first solo work, The Dreamer, was published by IDW Publishing as a six issue mini-series, then collected as a graphic novel. The Dreamer began as a webcomic in 2007 and quickly gathered a large, cult-like following online. This year, The Dreamer collected two Harvey Award nominations: Best New Series and Best New Talent for Innes herself. The Dreamer is currently a finalist in the 2009 Cybils in the Graphic Novel for Young Adults category. Lora has also done work for Vertigo's American Splendor. Read The Dreamer online at www.thedreamercomic.com. |
|
Jack of All Blades |
Jack of All Blades |
The story of Jack and company as they combat vampires and other evil deities. (www.teamsnowday.com) |
|
John |
Jackson Miller |
John Jackson Miller is the author and comics writer behind the upcoming Star Wars: Knight Errant, recently announced as a 2010 comics series from Dark Horse and a 2011 novel from Del Rey. His Star Wars: Knights of The Old Republic recently concluded its 50-issue run. He's also the scripter on the Mass Effect: Redemption series, Dark Horse's spin-off from the hit video game. His previous comics work includes Iron Man, Indiana Jones, and Crimson Dynamo. An Overstreet advisor and a longtime comics history researcher, Miller maintains The Comics Chronicles (http://www.comichron.com), an archive of comics sales charts dating back to 1960. He and Chicago artist Chuck Fiala also produce a weekly webcomic, Sword & Sarcasm (http://www.swordandsarcasm.com). |
|
Jeph |
Jacques |
Jeph Jacques is the creator of the comic Questionable Content, which is kind of like Friends except they have real dirty mouths and there’s a robot instead of a monkey. Intrigued? You should be. Rumor has it that he invented the funny t-shirt after a lost weekend with Ernest Hemingway. |
|
Geoff |
Johns |
Geoff Johns is a critically acclaimed, New York Times Bestselling comic book author, and a writer and producer for television and film. Geoff originally hails from Michigan, where he attended Michigan State University, earning a degree in Media Arts and Film. Geoff has quickly become one of the most popular and prolific comic book writers today. His current re-imagining of Green Lantern has pushed the character to the height of its popularity in its decades-long publishing history, rivaling Spider-Man and Superman. He has also worked on such titles as The Flash, Teen Titans, Action Comics, Justice Society of America, Infinite Crisis, and the experimental breakout hit series 52 for DC with writers Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid. In television, Geoff developed Blade: The Series with David S. Goyer, and penned the acclaimed "Legion" episode of Smallville. He also wrote for the fourth season of the Emmy Award-Winning Robot Chicken, and co-produced the first season of Titan Maximum. In film, Geoff is currently working with Warner Brothers on development within their DC Comics library. Geoff has also written the story for Sony's unprecedented DC Universe MMO. Geoff recently won the 2009 Spike Scream Award for Best Comic Book Writer, and is currently writing DC Comics' 2009 blockbuster event, Blackest Night |
|
Sherrilyn |
Kenyon |
The #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon lives a life of extraordinary danger... as does any woman with three sons, a husband, a menagerie of pets, and a collection of swords that all of the above have a major fixation with. But when not running interference (or dashing off to the emergency room), she's found chained to her computer where she likes to play with all her imaginary friends. With more than twenty million copies of her books in print, in over thirty countries, she certainly has a lot of friends to play with, too. In the past two years, her books have claimed the coveted #1 best-selling spot ten times, and this extraordinary bestseller continues to top every genre she writes in. Her current series include The Dark-Hunters, The League, Lords of Avalon, BAD Agency, and the forthcoming Nevermore and Chronicles of Nick. Her Lords of Avalon novels have been adapted by Marvel and her Dark-Hunter novels are now a New York Times bestselling manga published by St. Martins. |
|
Chip |
Kidd |
Chip Kidd is the four-time Eisner Award--winning designer and author of Batman: Animated, Peanuts: The Art of Charles M. Schulz, and Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross. As an editor of graphic novels for Pantheon Books, he has worked with some of the very best talents in the medium, including Chris Ware, Dan Clowes, Art Spiegelman, Charles Burns, and David Mazzucchelli. Kidd is also the recipient of the 2007 National Design Award for Communications, the design industry’s highest honor. |
|
Lee |
Kohse |
In 1998, Lee co-founded the indie comic publisher, BloodFire Studios (bloodfire.com) and created the hit underground comic Kindergoth. Today, Lee is the Creative Director of BloodFire Studios, where he spends his time drawing and writing Kindergoth and creating new comics with BloodFire’s Chief Creative Officer, Len Wein (creator New X-Men, Human Target, Swamp Thing). Lee is also involved in developing and producing several BloodFire properties into feature films and television series. Over the years, Lee has produced art for Star Wars, Lord of The Rings, Dreamworks, 20th Century Fox, Marvel, IDW, Indiana Jones, Angel, Nike, Reebok, and Verizon. Lee is also a regular sketch card contributor to Topps, Rittenhouse Archives, and Inkworks. Outside of the studio, Lee is a contributing author to the Photoshop Cafe, producing instructional videos on traditional painting techniques in a digital environment and is a technical adviser to several of Cengage Learning's digital art text books. When not chained to his desk, Lee practices origami and dreams of whirled peas. |
|
Scott |
Kurtz |
Scott Kurtz is best known as the creator of the popular webcomic PvP. Kurtz attended the University of North Texas where his daily strip, Captain Amazing, appeared for four semesters in the college paper. Scott's earlier comics, Tales from The Tavern, Wedlock, and Samwise earned him his first online audiences and gained him notice in the computer gaming industry. His Player Versus Player or PvP debuted on May 4, 1998 and has run ever since. |
|
Greg |
Land |
Greg has been illustrating comics as a freelance artist since 1994. He broke into the business with Sky Comics, on a title called Storm Quest. This work led to projects with DC Comics that included Nightwing and the Birds of Prey. In 2001, Greg started with CrossGen Comics and helped develop their top selling adventure book, Sojourn. His next step was illustrating several covers for Marvel, Top Cow, and DC. His relationship with Marvel Comics led to an exclusive contract that has featured work on titles such as Phoenix: End Song, Ultimate Fantastic Four, and Ultimate Power. Currently, he's at work on The Uncanny X-Men. Greg resides in Florida with his wife of almost 25 years, Trish, and their daughter, Shelbi. |
|
Victoria |
Laurie |
Victoria Laurie is an accomplished author of several adult mysteries, but her new middle grade fantasy series, The Oracles of Delphi Keep (Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers), is special to her, not only because it's her first for young readers, but also because it draws from her personal experience living abroad as a young girl. Victoria's family moved from the United States to England when she was eleven and it was on a school trip where she caught her first glimpse of the White Cliffs of Dover. Her trip to the Cliffs, the year abroad, and the childhood experiences of her orphaned grandfather left an indelible impression on her, such that, when she later turned to a career in writing, this was a story she felt she had to tell. The Oracles of Delphi Keep follows Ian Wigby and his sister, Theodosia, who while seeking hidden treasure on the White Cliffs of Dover, discover an ancient prophecy of a quest that the fate of the world depends on—a quest, written by a great Greek Oracle, that names two children: Ian and Theodosia. Victoria Laurie resides in Austin, Texas, where she is a professional psychic and author. Victoria will continue the tale of Ian and Theodosia in the second installment of the series, The Curse of Deadman’s Forest, to be released in August 2010. |
|
Bob |
Layton |
In 1978, with writing partner David Michelinie, Bob totally re-imagined Marvel's Invincible Iron Man, ultimately transforming it from a low-end book into one of Marvel's all-time best sellers. Their "Demon in a Bottle" storyline is now considered a milestone in comics history. Second only to his tenure on Iron Man, Bob is also known for his innovative contributions to the Valiant Comics line as Editor-in-Chief and Senior Vice President. Bob (with David Michelinie) returned to Marvel Comics and Iron Man in 2008, creating two, new limited series to be released in conjunction with the Iron Man motion picture. Marvel has recently released two hardback editions of Layton's classic Hercules series in conjunction with his new four-issue Hercules mini-series for 2009. Along with comics work, Bob and David Michelinie are currently collaborating on the development of properties for major motion pictures and television, including his highly successful web comic, Colony. For more, visit www.boblayton.com. |
|
Least I Could Do |
Least I Could Do |
Least I Could Do is a humor webcomic by Ryan Sohmer and Lar deSouza (also the creators of the fantasy webcomic Looking for Group), which debuted on February 10, 2003. The strip center around the relationships of protagonist Rayne Summers. (www.leasticoulddo.com) |
|
Paul |
Levitz |
Paul Levitz was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1956 and entered the comics industry in 1971 as editor/publisher of The Comic Reader, the first mass-circulation fanzine devoted to comics news. He continued to publish TCR for three years, winning two consecutive annual Comic Art Fan Awards for Best Fanzine. His other fan activities included editing the program books for several of Phil Seuling's legendary New York Comic Art Conventions, running the dealers' room of the first Creation Cons, and organizing the programming for DC's one and only comic convention, in 1976. He received Comic-Con International's Inkpot Award in 2002 and the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award in 2008. Levitz also serves on the board of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Levitz is primarily known for his work for DC Comics, where he has written most of their classic characters including the Justice Society, Superman, and The Legion of Super-Heroes, a series he's recently returned to write. Readers of The Buyers' Guide voted his Legion: The Great Darkness Saga one of the 20 best comic stories of the last century. As a staffer from 1973, Levitz was an assistant editor, the company’s youngest editor ever, and in a series of business capacities, became Executive Vice President & Publisher in 1989 and then served as President & Publisher from 2002-2009. He continues as a Contributing Editor, but is now concentrating on his writing, including a new run on Legion. |
|
Joseph Michael |
Linsner |
Born on Dec. 13th, 1968, Joseph Michael Linsner grew up in Queens, NY. Comics taught him how to read and quickly became the love of his life. Cry For Dawn, his self-published indie horror comics debut, became a runaway success. The cover girl, the goddess Dawn, has gone on to become a cultural icon, with graphic novels, albums, toys, an annual Dawn Look-a-Like contest, and thousands of fans all over the world. Since Cry For Dawn #1 saw print in Dec. 1989, 2010 marks the 20th Anniversary of Dawn. Joe is also the creator of Sinful Suzi, a blue-haired demoness, and co-creator of Dark Ivory, a gothic vampire teen. JML is an accomplished painter who has also done covers and stories for most of the major comics publishers out there. He's about to release the first new Dawn story in two years -- Not To touch the Earth -- and the first Dark Ivory trade paperback, both from Image Comics. |
|
Russell |
Lissau |
By day, Russell Lissau is a mild-mannered newspaper reporter in suburban Chicago. By night, he battles evil writing comic books including The Batman Strikes!, The 29, and Shrek. He broke into comics in 2005 with the lead story in Batman Allies Secret Files and Origins. (A lifelong Batman fan who dressed up as the Caped Crusader as a child, he can't believe his luck.) Never one to shy away from a crowd, Lissau also leads workshops at libraries throughout the Chicago area about writing comics. To learn more, check out www.myspace.com/rlissau. |
|
Marjorie M. |
Liu |
Marjorie M. Liu is an attorney and the New York Times bestselling author of short stories, novellas, and two ongoing series: Dirk & Steele, novels of paranormal romance, and the Hunter Kiss urban fantasy series. She wrote NYX: No Way Home, for Marvel Comics, the upcoming Black Widow, and is co-writing the ongoing Dark Wolverine. Marjorie divides her time between the American Midwest, and Beijing, China. |
|
David |
Lloyd |
David Lloyd was born in North London and trained in advertising art before becoming a sequential artist in 1977. He first attracted attention working on Night Raven for Marvel UK, and later created the globally successful V for Vendetta with Alan Moore. He's worked on various stories in the Hellblazer series, Aliens, Marlowe: The Graphic Novel, Global Frequency, War Stories, and the acclaimed crime thriller, Kickback. For European publishers, he's drawn for a collection of war memoirs, Words of Stars, and produced his first limited-edition print, The Prizefighter. He's also written and illustrated a book on Sao Paulo. Currently he's helping launch an educational website in the UK called Cartoon Classroom. More information on Kickback and David's other past and present projects can be found at www.lforlloyd.com. |
|
Looking For Group |
Looking For Group |
Looking For Group is a fantasy-themed Canadian webcomic written by Ryan Sohmer and drawn by Lar DeSouza. The comic follows the adventures of Cale'Anon (an elven hunter) and Richard (an undead warlock), as well as their companions. Since its launch on November 26, 2006, it has received the attention of the World of Warcraft community. (www.lfgcomic.com) |
|
Doug |
Mahnke |
Doug Mahnke was born in the Year of the Rabbit and embarked on a love affair with comics at the age of five, having received a pile of Spider-Man issues from a rugby-playing college student named Mike who lived in his basement. A consistent interest in the medium, coupled with some art skill, landed Doug a job of drawing comics for Dark Horse at the age of 24 (the date is known precisely, as it occurred just two weeks before he wed his lovely bride). His first gig was illustrating the moody detective story entitled Homicide, written by John Arcudi. The two went on to collaborate on Dark Horse's The Mask and their creator-owned series Major Bummer, originally published by DC. Since then, Doug has worked on a variety of titles (including Superman: The Man of Steel, JLA, Batman, Team Zero, Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein, Black Adam: The Dark Age, Stormwarch: P.H.D. and currently Green Lantern) with such writers as Joe Kelly, Judd Winick, Chuck Dixon, Grant Morrison, Christos Gage, Ed Brubaker, and Geoff Johns. He resides in the Midwest with his wife and seven kids, one dog, and a bunny named Suzie. |
|
David |
Malki |
David Malki is the author of the Harvey-, Ignatz- and Eisner-nominated comic strip Wondermark, a unique gag strip crafted entirely from 19th-century woodcuts. His fourth Wondermark collection, Dapper Caps & Pedal-Copters, will either be released by Dark Horse Books in April 2010, or was released back then to fervent acclaim, depending on when you read this. |
|
Eric |
Maruscak |
Illustrator Eric Maruscak has been appearing at conventions and art festivals since the summer of 2004. A sequential artist, digital painter and cartoonist, Eric is widely known for his giant chalk art murals which are often recreations of iconic heroes, anime characters, and video game art created by the biggest names in the industry. His appearances in New York, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, Philadelphia, Baltimore and more have included such famous artwork as Dave Gibbons' Watchmen for Warner Brothers/DC Comics and the Captain America costume redesign by Alex Ross at two consecutive New York Comic Cons, a Soul Eater character mural at the New York Anime Festival that currently hangs in the FUNimation offices, and premiering Bioshock 2 game art at The Penny Arcade Expo. Eric’s mural work often takes upwards of 30 hours to complete over the course of an appearance, so be sure to keep stopping by and watch his progress all weekend long. Check out more of his work at www.pepperink.com. |
|
Steve |
McNiven |
Steve has been penciling comic books for a while now, mostly at home with his cats. His wife and daughter think he's doing a pretty good job, too. His work can mostly be seen in the pages of Marvel comics under such titles as Amazing Spider-Man, The New Avengers, Marvel Civil War, and Wolverine. When he's not working, he loves to attend conventions such as the one this blurb is attached to, where he gets a chance to talk to fellow comic fans and buy even more art books that won't fit into his already stuffed studio. |
|
Mike |
Mignola |
Mike Mignola is best known as the award-winning creator/writer/artist of Hellboy, a comic series following an eponymous demon, the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, and their fight against various supernatural forces around the globe. The Hellboy saga, beginning publication in 1993, has crossed across comic books, animation, toys, video games, and – in 2004 – a live-action film starring Ron Perlman. Mignola served as a Visual Consultant for both the 2004 Hellboy motion picture as well as its 2008 sequel, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army. Outside of Hellboy, Mignola co-authored (with Christopher Golden) the novel BALTIMORE, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire. Mignola lives in southern California with his wife, daughter, and cat. |
|
Milo The Cloud |
Milo The Cloud |
Milo The Cloud is written and drawn by Sean Archer, who lives in Chicago, where it's very often cloudy, and just as often full of adventure. So, Milo is always around, and sometimes brings friends. Sean started writing Milo the Cloud at the end of 2008, even though he'd created the character a little over a year previous. Sean hopes to bring Milo to the world, and share with everyone his light and his zest for being. Sean hopes also that no one takes anything Hank or Lou does all too seriously. They are good company, because without them, Milo would just be a lonely little cloud. (www.milothecloud.com) |
|
Mark |
Morales |
A graduate of New York's famed School of Visual Arts, Mark Morales is a longtime comics veteran. Over the course of his 15 year career, he has worked for Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Image Comics and various others, mostly as an inker. Through the years, Mark has worked on such titles as Uncanny X-Men, Secret Invasion, Justice League, New Avengers, Thor, Daredevil, and many others. Currently he is hard at work on Siege from Marvel Comics. |
|
MS Paint Adventures |
MS Paint Adventures |
MS Paint Adventures are stories that exist in the format of "mock games", specifically text-based adventure games. You advance through the pages of the story by clicking links which sound like commands you would type in a text prompt to get a character to do something. Generally, the character will respond to that command on the following page. (www.mspaintadventures.com) |
|
Multiplex |
Multiplex |
Multiplex is a comic strip about the staff of the Multiplex 10 Cinemas — a (fictional) theater located in an unnamed Chicago suburb — and the movies that play there. Because much of the humor is character-based, and there is a bit of continuity, it's best to start reading read from the beginning: — either at the top of Archives or the Multiplex: Chapter 1 eBook, which collects the first 24 strips in their native vector format, plus new, exclusive strips — sort of like Multiplex: The High Definition Extended Edition. (www.multiplexcomic.com) |
|
Neil Jam |
Neil Jam |
Hello there. My name is Neil Fitzpatrick and I have been drawing Neil Jam comics in one form or another for many years. I self published the first assemblage of Neil Jam comics in minicomic form. Neil Jam #1 was released in the summer of 1997. Neil Jam has seen print in dozens of minicomics since then, as well as a handful of indie-comics anthologies. In addition to comic books, I’ve dabbled quite a bit with Neil Jam in comic strip form. Neil Jam ran as a student comic strip at the University of Missouri for four years. After I got neiljam.com up and running a couple years later, Neil Jam ran as a daily web comic for over a year. In late 2008 I started up a new edition of Neil Jam strips currently running on neiljam.com. (www.neiljam.com) |
|
Dave |
Nestler |
Dave Nestler is one of the most recognized names in contemporary pinup art. A traditional brush painter, Dave blends a slick photorealistic touch with elements of pop culture and iconic imagery to produce paintings that stand apart from the classic Glamour/Cheesecake style. |
|
Mike |
Norton |
Mike Norton has been working in comics for over 10 years now, gaining recognition on early projects such as The Waiting Place and Jason and the Argobots. After becoming Art Director for Devil's Due Publishing in 2001, he drew the first Voltron mini-series and worked on several G.I.Joe related projects. He's been working on his own since 2005 making a name for himself working on books like Queen and Country, Gravity, Teen Titans Go!, Runaways, and All-New Atom. Most recently is the penciler for Blue Beetle and Green Arrow/Black Canary. |
|
Joshua |
Ortega |
Joshua Ortega is a Seattle-based writer whose work spans nearly the entire spectrum of the popular arts. He has written for every major American comic book company including Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse, Image, Top Cow, TOKYOPOP, Dynamite Entertainment, and more, working on high-profile properties such as Star Wars, Spider-Man, Star Trek, Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer, and Battlestar Galactica. A former journalist, Ortega is also the author of the critically acclaimed novel ((FREQUENCIES)), co-writer of the short film …loves Martha, and has worked on a wide variety of Xbox 360 titles for Microsoft Game Studios, including the smash hit Gears of War 2. He has been featured numerous times on NPR and has also appeared on G4 and Syfy in addition to many other major media outlets. Updates on his new work can be found at www.joshuaortega.com. |
|
Overcompensating |
Overcompensating |
Overcompensating is about Jeffrey Rowland. Jeffrey is an actual dude who used to live in Oklahoma but now lives in Northampton, Massachusetts. He has problems like everybody does. And he's got a few stories to tell you. (www.overcompensating.com) |
|
Greg |
Pak |
Greg Pak is a filmmaker and comic book writer best known for directing the award-winning feature film Robot Stories, writing the epic Planet Hulk and World War Hulk comic book storylines, and co-writing (with Fred Van Lente) the fan favorite Incredible Hercules series for Marvel Comics. He was named one of 25 Filmmakers to Watch by Filmmaker Magazine and described as "a talent with a future" by the New York Times. Pak's numerous Marvel mini-series include Magneto Testament, which IGN named the Best Mini-Series of 2008. Pak's feature film, Robot Stories, won 35 awards, played in 75 film festivals, and is now available on DVD from Kino.com. Pak's latest short film is Mister Green, a science fiction tale starring Tim Kang and funded by ITVS as part of its FutureStates series. Pak studied political science at Yale University, history at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and film production at the NYU graduate film program. For the latest about Greg Pak's work, visit PakBuzz.com. |
|
Jimmy |
Palmiotti |
Jimmy Palmiotti is a multi-award-winning character creator with a wide range of experience in advertising, production, consulting, editorial, film writing, development and production, media presentation and video game development. Just a few of his clients include Nike, Nickelodeon, Universal pictures, Disney, Warner Brothers, DreamWorks, Lion’s Gate, Vidmark, Starz, Fox Atomic, Alliance films, New Line, Spike TV, MTV, 2kgames, Midway, Radical games, Activision and THQ games. He is co-founder of such companies as Event Comics, Black Bull Media, Marvel Knights, a division of Marvel comics, and the current Paperfilms, where he is partners with Amanda Conner and Justin Gray. Together they have created and co-created numerous universes, comics , TV series and characters including The New West, Monolith, 21 Down, The Resistance, The Pro, Gatecrasher, Beautiful killer, Ash, Cloudburst, Trigger Girl 6, Thrill Seeker, Trailblazer, Ballerina, The Twilight Experiment and the TV series, Painkiller Jane. His current works includes Powergirl, Jonah Hex, Supergirl, Prototype, The Last Resort, Back to Brooklyn, Splatterman, Time Bomb, and Spartacus. |
|
Paul |
Pelletier |
Paul has been drawing comics professionally since 1992. Over the last 18 years, he's penciled books including Ex-Mutants, Flash, Green Lantern, Negation, Fantastic Four, and She-Hulk and worked for companies including Malibu, DC, CrossGen and Marvel. He is now under exclusive contract with Marvel and is drawing the Incredible Hulk. Paul lives in Tampa with his wonderful wife, Danette, and their two cats, Moxie and Marino. |
|
Penny And Aggie |
Penny And Aggie |
Penny Levac is a trendsetter within her high school, a trend-watcher outside of it. Penny has long since mastered the "game" of high school popularity. Boys want her, girls want to be her. But she has only a few real friends, and is beginning to question her long-held career goals of acting, modeling and trophy wifedom. This is her story. (www.pennyandaggie.com) |
|
Mike |
Perkins |
Beginning his comic career in the esteemed pages of 2000 AD, Mike went on to illustrate sequential storytelling – in both pencil and ink – for Caliber Comics, Marvel UK, DC Comics and Dark Horse. In 2001 Mike moved to Florida to work in the studio environs of CrossGen relinquishing his pencil for inking opportunities on the multi award-nominated Ruse alongside Mark Waid and Scott Beatty, Butch Guice and Laura Martin. After a while his penciling fingers started itching again and he created Archard's Agents and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang to showcase his abilities. After CrossGen, Mike moved to Marvel, illustrating District X, Spider-Man Unlimited and the Elektra movie adaptation. This work lead to the co-creation of Spellbinders, collaborating with the magnificent Mike Carey. Whilst penciling this project Mr. Perkins was also inking Captain America and went on to pencil and ink alternate arcs on the highly acclaimed run alongside Steve Epting, Ed Brubaker and Frank D'Armata – resulting in multiple Eisner nominations, Harvey and Eagle awards. Alongside his work on Captain America Mike also illustrated mini series runs on Union Jack, X-Men: Endangered Species, House of M: Avengers and Annihilation: Conquest as well as contributing to the Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust? One-shot. His most recent work has been illustrating Marvel's adaptation of Stephen King's The Stand. |
|
David |
Petersen |
David Petersen is the creator, writer, and artist of the widely popular and critically acclaimed all ages books Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 and Mouse Guard: Winter 1152. He started drawing as soon as he could hold a pencil, and throughout high school and college he worked with friends to create their own comic book characters and stories. After high school, David attended Mott Community College in Flint and then transferred to Eastern where he got his degree in Fine Art with a concentration in Printmaking. While working on a portfolio of samples to send off for children’s book illustration, David’s Mouse Guard comic idea got some attention at a local convention. After self-publishing the first issue in 2005, he met with Mark Smylie of Archaia at San Diego Comic Con and was picked up by the publisher. Two volumes of Mouse Guard have been released along with a Role Playing Game. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Russ Manning Award for Most Promising Newcomer, and in 2008, David won Eisner Awards for Best Publication for Kids and Best Graphic Album – Reprint. David continues to make Michigan his home where he lives with his wife, Julia, and their dog, Autumn. He’s very happy to be working on a series he loves for fans who seem to love it just as much. In May, David will invite respected creators in the industry to write and draw their own Mouse Guard stories in the anthology limited series, Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard, and in the Fall, he’ll introduce the next chapter in the Mouse Guard series: The Black Axe. |
|
Khoi |
Pham |
Khoi Pham is a penciler for Marvel Comics. He is currently working with Dan Slott on Mighty Avengers and worked previously with Brian Bendis on Mighty Avengers: Secret Invasion. His other published work includes Incredible Hercules, X-Factor, What If? Spiderman: Other, 1602 Fantastick Four, and Marvel Comics Presents. He is also featured in Image's Wonderlost and Image's Outlaw Territory. Khoi is a founding member of Ten Ton Studios. Visit www.khoipham.com and www.tentonstudios.com. |
|
Pictures for Sad Children |
Pictures for Sad Children |
Pictures for Sad Children is written and drawn by John Campbell. It is about a bad feeling you get when you are feeling good, or a good feeling you get when you are feeling bad. John lives in an old building in Chicago with some hippies. (www.picturesforsadchildren.com) |
|
PvP |
PvP |
PvP, also known as Player vs Player, is a webcomic, written and drawn by Scott Kurtz. The comic chronicles the adventures of a fictional video game magazine company and its employees. The humor includes technology jokes, relationship humor, in-jokes about and mocking of the generation gaps between the different characters. Kurtz sometimes speaks of his father's open disdain for the strip. (www.pvponline.com) |
|
Questionable Content |
Questionable Content |
Questionable Content is an online comic strip that is ostensibly about romance, indie rock, little robots, and the problems people have. (www.questionablecontent.net) |
|
Aaron |
Renier |
Aaron Renier was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He has been drawing comics, in one way or another, for as long as he can remember. His illustrations have appeared in a wide variety of places, including turning an entire city bus into a moving aquarium. He won the Eisner award for his first graphic novel, Spiral-Bound. He is the illustrator of a series of books about the knights of the roundtable by Gerald Morris and a picture book by Alice Shertle titled An Anaconda Ate My Homework. He lives in Chicago. |
|
Rice Boy |
Rice Boy |
Rice Boy is a brightly colored and surreal fantasy adventure story set in the ninth century of the Red Age of Overside. (www.rice-boy.com) |
|
Rival Angels |
Rival Angels |
Rival Angels follows the story of Sabrina "Ultragirl" Mancini and her three roommates in the fight of their lives as they battle against the best wrestlers in the world. As Sabrina begins her career she finds the road already full of personal and professional rivalries to contend with. (www.rivalangels.com) |
|
James |
Robinson |
James Robinson is a comic book scribe and sometimes screenwriter, currently known for his work on sundry Superman books as well as The Justice League of America for DC Comics. His prior work Starman is also currently been reprinted by DC in Omnibus form. He's grateful that after more than two decades as a writer he's still able to earn a shekel. While he's in town he looks forward to revisiting the Art Institute of Chicago where he can reacquaint himself with his old friends Georges Seurat and Edward Hopper. |
|
Alex |
Ross |
Alex Ross's photorealistic paintings have garnered attention throughout the comics world and beyond. He has made a name for himself as both an artist and a storyteller. He studied illustration at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, then honed his craft as a storyboard artist before entering the comics field. His 1993 miniseries Marvels (Marvel Comics) opened a wider acceptance for painted comics. He followed that with the series Kingdom Come for DC Comics, which remains one of the most successful graphic novels in comics history. He painted a series of tabloids for DC Comics celebrating Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel, and Wonder Woman, which were then collected as The World's Greatest Super-Heroes. Ross co-created the Earth X projects for Marvel and Justice for DC. He is currently working on Superpowers for Dynamite Entertainment and Avengers/Invaders for Marvel. He was the subject of the 2003 book Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross (Pantheon). His non-comics work includes creating the poster for the 2002 Academy Awards®, the opening credits for Spider-Man 2, and multiple covers for TV Guide and Village Voice. For more information, please visit www.alexrossart.com. |
|
Stephane |
Roux |
French born comic book artist Stephane Roux comes from the animation industry. The one nobody's ever heard of. French animation. After 17 years of relative fun in this business, he posted his comic book work on the internet, where comics legend Adam Hughes spotted it and pushed his portfolio to DC Art Director and Editor Mark Chiarello. He’s done DC covers for Birds of Prey, Batman Confidential, Supergirl, Countdown to Final Crisis, DC Universe: Decisions, Manhunter, Acition Comics, and Superman. At Marvel, he’s done covers including Gamma Corps., Amazing Spider-Man Extra, Savage She-Hulk, X-Men: Worlds Apart, and Uncanny X-Men. He's currently working as the interior and cover artist for DC’s new Zatanna series with Paul Dini. |
|
Jeffrey |
Rowland |
Jeffrey Rowland is a true Renaissance Man, whose many accomplishments include the comics When I Grow Up, Wigu, and Overcompensating. He is also the founder and CEO of The Topato Corporation, a business committed to sustaining the livelihood of over thirty independent artists. He almost died this one time, but he didn’t , and now he thinks he's invincible. Do not look Mr. Rowland directly in the eye. |
|
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal |
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal |
Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal is a one-off, usually single-panel webcomic by Zach Weiner. Like most one-off comics, there are few recurring characters. The humor often comes from leading the reader to think they understand the situation when they look at the picture, but then throwing them off with a punchline-esque caption underneath. (www.smbc-comics.com) |
|
Andy |
Schmidt |
During his nearly six years at Marvel Comics, Andy Schmidt edited such popular comic books as X-Men, X-Factor, Alias, Secret War, Captain America: The Chosen, Iron Man / Captain America: Casualties of War, Avengers Classic, and the Annihilation saga. As an assistant and associate editor, Andy worked on nearly every major character in the Marvel canon -- from Spider-Man to the Avengers and Fantastic Four. Andy's tour of duty also led him to work with the top writers and artists in the comics industry including Stan Lee, Brian Michael Bendis, John Romita Jr., David Finch, and Steve McNiven. After leaving Marvel, Andy launchd a new career of writing and editing, and founded Comics Experience to pass his knowledge on to students. Andy is currently the Senior Editor at IDW Publishing and is in charge of such popular franchises as G.I. Joe and Transformers. Additionally, he still finds the time to write for Boom! Studios, IDW, and others, as well as writing an authoritative book about making comics: The Insider's Guide to Creating Comics and Graphic Novels, published by Impact Books. |
|
J. J. |
Sedelmaier |
J. J. Sedelmaier, president of J. J. Sedelmaier Productions, Inc. (www.jjsedelmaier.com), is responsible for many of the most talked about animated projects of the past 17 years -- the launch season of MTV's Beavis and Butt-Head, SNL's Saturday TV Funhouse, The Ambiguously Gay Duo, The X-Presidents, the pilot for Cartoon Network/Adult Swim's Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, the Tek Jansen/Alpha Squad Seven series for The Colbert Report, and over 400 TV commercials, print and design projects. His studio, which he runs with his wife Patrice, also lends its services to architectural preservation/restoration (like the Dempster Street Skokie Swift terminal in north suburban Skokie), corporate branding for companies like The Chicago Tribune, and contributing archival reference material to publications on everything from animation history to urban mass transportation. If you Google him, prepare to be very confused... |
|
Dash |
Shaw |
Dash Shaw made numerous comics and zines while a BFA student at the School of Visual Arts, Manhattan. Since graduating, he's done the surreal family comedy Bottomless Belly Button, published by Fantagraphics Books in 2008, and the telepathy comedy webcomic BodyWorld, published in book form from Pantheon Books. He is also a regular contributor to the quarterly comics anthology Mome and the animator/director of IFC's The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D. He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he's working on another comic book and an animated feature. |
|
Shortpacked! |
Shortpacked! |
Shortpacked! is the third comic in the It's Walky! family by David Willis. The comic alternates between following the lives of the employees of the Shortpacked! store and comics about popular culture with a strong emphasis on toys. (www.shortpacked.com) |
|
Chistopher |
Shy |
Christopher Shy is author and artist to over 10 graphic novels, including Pathfinder, Exceptions To Life, and Silent Leaves, as well as the visual designer for three feature films. Last year saw the release of the graphic novel Soul Stealer: Blood and Rain, and Deadspeed . More recently, he has worked as a visual consultant for the film Friday The 13th and the upcoming Conan the Barbarian. His latest graphic novel series partners again with long time writer and friend Michael Easton for the last installment of Soul Stealer. Christopher Shy is the founder of Studio Ronin. |
|
Gail |
Simone |
Gail Simone is an award-winning, critically acclaimed writer of comic books and animation. She has had classic runs on titles including Action Comics, Deadpool, Agent X, The All-New Atom, The Simpsons, and The Secret Six, as well as her creator-owned works, Killer Princesses (with co-creator Lea Hernandez) and Welcome to Tranquility. She is currently resuming her definitive run on DC's Birds of Prey. In animation, she's written for Justice League Unlimited and The Brave and The Bold and was co-writer of The Wonder Woman animated film. Gail lives with her family on the Oregon coast. |
|
Jeff |
Smith |
Multiple Eisner and Harvey Award winner Jeff Smith broke out on the comics scene in 1991 with the celebrated and well-loved fantasy, BONE. U.S. publisher Scholastic brought this indie comic to a whole new audience with a full-color version in 2005, now with over 3 million color graphic novels sold. In 2008, Cartoon Books debuted Jeff's newest adventure series, RASL, a sci-fi, noir thriller to critical acclaim. |
|
Allison |
Sohn |
Allison Sohn is an illustrator working primarily in the trading card industry. Allison has worked on such licensed card sets as The Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Heroes, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and Red Sonja to name but a few. Drawing for both sketch cards as well as printed cards, Allison has been featured in more than a dozen different trading card sets in the last several years. Visit www.justsayah.com and www.allisonsohnart.com for more. |
|
Something*Positive |
Something*Positive |
Something*Positive or S*P is a webcomic by R. K. Milholland, which is characterized by a cynical tone and off-beat humor, including its portrayals of geeks, gamers, and goths. S*P received a Web Cartoonist's Choice Award in 2005 for "Outstanding Character Writing," in 2006 for "Outstanding Dramatic Comic", and has been nominated in seven additional categories spanning five years since 2002. (www.somethingpositive.net) |
|
Sorcery 101 |
Sorcery 101 |
Sorcery 101 follows the adventures of Danny Gunn, a chainsmoker who is trying to learn sorcery. After he finishes up are his day job as a high school history teacher, Danny visits Pat, an angsty vampire, who has been forced into instructing Danny;s magic lessons by Seth, an old sophopathic vampire whom Danny's life is magically bond to. Between this and helping his geeky werewolf friend Brad and his mage friend Ally take care of their daughter Rebecca, Danny has his hands full. (www.sorcery101.net) |
|
Spooky Co. |
Spooky Co. |
What were you doing when you were a kid? Playing baseball with the other neighborhood kids? Flying kites? Not me, I was in front of the tube watching old horror flicks on Saturday afternoons. Call me strange, I wear that badge with pride. After all, how many kids do you know of that could tell you who Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi were at the age of six? Not many I dare say. That was the start of a life long fascination with spooky stuff for me. (www.spookyco.com) |
|
Jeff |
Stone |
Jeff Stone is the author of the Five Ancestors series (Tiger, Monkey, Snake, Crane, Eagle, Mouse, and Dragon from Random House Children’s Books) for middle grade readers. Set in medieval China, the Five Ancestors series follows five warriors, each a master of a distinct animal fighting style, that set out to avenge their fallen brothers and regain the stolen scrolls of the Cangzhen Temple. The secrets they uncover will change not only their future but the future of all of China. Jeff Stone lives in the Midwest with his wife, their two children, and a python named Yokwan (Cantonese for “Jade Bangle”). Mr. Stone holds a black belt in Shaolin-Do kung fu. He had the honor of traveling to China with the Shaolin-Do grand master and test for his black belt at Shaolin Temple. Like the Five Ancestors, Stone was adopted as an infant. He began searching for his birth parents when he was eighteen and found them fifteen years later. |
|
Brian |
Stringer |
Brian Stringer's love of art began in the pages of the comic books that he bought with his allowance. With a formal education from The Art Institutes of Ft. Lauderdale and Atlanta, Brian has developed a diversity of styles. Now, his art work takes place on skin, more often than on paper. Tattooing since 1995, Brian Stringer provides his clients with clean, solid, and impressive tattoos. He is currently working with some of the best tattooers on the East Coast, at Fuzion Ink in Norfolk, VA. Brian also has a growing presence at tattoo conventions nationwide. Always following the highest standards of sterilization and disease prevention, Brian is licensed by the DPOR (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) in the State of Virginia, which includes health department inspections, Red Cross certifications, and continuing education. Brian enjoys tattooing comic book characters, large tribal designs, and realistic images. |
|
Ben |
Templesmith |
Ben is a New York Times best-selling artist and writer most widely known for his work in the American comic book industry where he has received multiple nominations for the International Horror Guild Awards as well as the industry's top prize, the Eisner Award. He's also won a Spike TV Scream Award. As a creator, his most notable works have been 30 Days of Night (which has now spawned a major motion picture) and Fell. His other projects include the critically-acclaimed serial Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse, as well as Welcome to Hoxford, (recently optioned by Chris Columbus) and Singularity 7, all of which he also wrote. He has also worked on the Star Wars, Doctor Who, GI Joe, Army of Darkness, Silent Hill, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer properties and produces art and design for musicians, DVD, toys, and film concept work. |
|
Mark |
Texeria |
An alumni of the famous Art & Design High School in Manhattan, it wasn't long before Mark won mentions at the Salmagundi Club and Society of Illustrators for his oil paintings, which sparked interest and work in the form of cover assignments for books, magazines and record albums involving such properties as Remo Williams, Buckaroo Banzai, and Public Enemy. Some of his continuing clients include Marvel Comics, Wizards of the Coast, New York Magazine, Scholastic Books, MCI Records, Def Jam Records, DC Entertainment, Harris Publications, Black Bull Entertainment, Continuity Associates, and Fleer/Skybox International. Some of Mark's recent work include Ghost Rider and Marvel's Wolverine Special. Texeira's work will soon be featured in a five-issue Punisher limited series from Marvel as well. |
|
That Monkey Tune |
That Monkey Tune |
That Monkey Tune is a cute, funny, and eccentric strip about monkeys living in a human world. Starring Elliot and his friend Beagly, these two little monkeys are joined by their human owners, Dadoo, and his brother, Umo. With this cast of characters, there's no telling what's going to happen next. (www.thatmonkeytune.com) |
|
The Dreamer |
The Dreamer |
High school senior Bea begins having vivid dreams about a brave and handsome soldier named Alan Warren -- a member of an elite group known as Knowlton’s Rangers that served during the Revolutionary War. Prone to keeping her head in the clouds, Bea welcomes her nightly adventures in 1776, filled with danger and romance they give her much to muse about the next day. But it is not long before Beatrice questions whether her dreams are simply dreams or something more. Each night they pick up exactly where the last one ended. And the senses are all far more real than any dream she can remember. (www.thedreamercomic.com) |
|
The Night Owls |
The Night Owls |
The Night Owls is a Detective Agency set in New York City in the 1920s and specializing in cases that involve the supernatural. Professor Ernest Baxter is the brains of the operation, utilizing his vast knowledge of all things weird to right the wrongs that leave ordinary police baffled. He's a bit of a bookworm, and allergic to sunlight, but his inquisitive nature has led to the downfall of many of New York's deadliest demons. Of course, he couldn't have done it without Mindy Markus. She's a feisty flapper that's put the hurt on a lot of nocturnal nasties. (www.zudacomics.com/the_night_owls) |
|
Theater Hopper |
Theater Hopper |
Theater Hopper is a web comic about movies written from the fan's perspective. It is semi-autobiographical, combining characters based on real people with a supporting cast of fictitious creations. (www.theaterhopper.com) |
|
Jill |
Thompson |
Jill Thompson is a multiple Eisner award winning comic book creator. She has been drawing comics for well over half her life and is proud to have collaborated with many of this industry's great talents. She has garnered acclaim for her work on titles such as Classics Illustrated, Wonder Woman, Sandman, Finals, the Badger, Death: At Death's Door, The Little Endless Storybook and Beasts of Burden. She is best known for creating and illustrating The Scary Godmother Series of books which not only have been adapted for the stage, but for television as well. The Scary Godmother and The Revenge of Jimmy have enjoyed yearly places on The Cartoon Network's Halloween holiday rotation. In 2008-2009 Harper Collins released Magic Trixie, Jill's latest all ages series chronicling the tales of the little witch Magic Trixie, her cat Scratches and the pupils at the Spectral Park Monstersorri School. Jill loves being an ambassador of comics to libraries and schools across the country and often conducts workshops and participates as a guest speaker whenever her schedule allows. |
|
Bobby |
Timony |
Bobby Timony is the artist and co-creator of the popular comic strip The Night Owls on Zuda, the webcomics imprint of DC Comics. In 2009, he was nominated for three Harvey Awards for Best New Series, Best Online Series, and Best New Talent. He's also the artist and co-writer of the webcomic Minion Maze. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two bunnies. |
|
Peter |
Tomasi |
Peter J. Tomasi, a life-long New Yorker, is an NYU grad with degrees in political science and filmmaking. Peter has helped re-imagine many characters and books over the course of his extensive and exclusive career at DC Comics as a writer and editor. Peter's newest project is the DC event Brightest Day, which he co-created with Geoff Johns. Peter's recent writing credits include Green Lantern Corps, Batman: Blackest Knight, The Outsiders, Nightwing, Phantom Stranger, Black Adam, The Dark Age, Final Crisis: Requiem, and many others, including his critically-acclaimed original graphic novel Light Brigade and the recently concluded creator-owned series The Mighty. |
|
TopatoCo |
TopatoCo |
TopatoCo, founded by author and artist Jeffrey J. Rowland, is the world's largest webcomics merchandising company. Rowland is also the creator of Wigu and Overcompensating, two popular webcomics. He's one of the small number of professional webcartoonists, as running Overcompensating and Wigu, in addition to TopatoCo, is his full time job. (www.topatoco.com) |
|
David |
Uslan |
David Uslan began his career even before graduating from college with internships at DC Comics, Walter Cronkite's production company, and Wild Brain Animation Studios. Not long after that, Uslan went to work for his mentor and father, Michael Uslan, where he assisted in developing and producing films including Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Constantine, and National Treasure. In 2007, Uslan became a partner in the formation of COG1 Entertainment. As Senior Vice President of Development, Uslan is responsible for selecting, acquiring, and developing properties for feature film, television, video games and digital uses. Among projects acquired or developed by Uslan are the upcoming feature films Honor Thy Father, Mascot To The Rescue, Black Dawn, and The Secret History of Tom Trueheart, the internet reality series Price My Pride, animated series Kindergoth and Bob Monkey Giant Robot Arm, live-action comedy series Hero Withdrawal, and the documentary series Mob's Greatest Hits. |
|
Michael |
Uslan |
As a boy, Michael Uslan wrote for early fanzines and hung out at all the New York based comic book companies as well as The Comics Code Authority, trying to learn the comic book business and the first-hand history of the comic book business. Uslan then created and taught the world's first college-accredited course on comic books. He would go on to write, direct, and produce books, cartoons, documentaries, TV movies and mini-series, and feature films. Uslan has served as Executive Producer of every Batman feature film since 1989's Batman -- films including The Dark Knight, Batman Begins, Batman: Gotham Knight, and Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. Uslan’s comic writing has included Batman, The Shadow, Terry and The Pirates, and The Spirit. |
|
Jim |
Valentino |
Jim Valentino was born in the Bronx, New York on October 28, 1952. He started his career in the late 1970’s creating small press, self-published comics such as Christmas Comics, Kid Stuf’ and others. His work soon came to the attention of Dave Sim and Deni Loubert who published his first full color series, normalman, in 1984 under Aardvark-Vanaheim. In 1985, the title moved to Loubert’s Renegade Press, where his second series, the eponymous titled, Valentino, was launched. Valentino worked as a storyboard artist for various animation features and upon returning to comics began working for Marvel where among other work, most notably the What If? series, he re-created the Guardians of the Galaxy. Leaving Marvel with several other artists, he co-founded Image Comics for which he created the ultra-violent HIV infected vigilante, ShadowHawk. Under the Image banner he published Vignettes, a collection of his earlier auto-biographical work and the Eisner Award nominated A Touch of Silver. Valentino served as Image publisher from 1999-2004, changing the face of the company into one of the most stylistically diverse in the industry. He brought in such renowned authors as Brian Michael Bendis, Warren Ellis, Jim Mahfood, Scott Morse, James Robinson, John Romita, Jr., Joesph Michael Linsner and many more. Valentino has done work, either as writer, artist or both for virtually every publisher in the comics field, he has served on the Board of Directors of the Cartoon Art Museum, HERO Initiative and Image Comics, Inc. as well as on the original steering committee of Free Comic Book Day. In 2008 he founded Silverline Books, dedicated to publishing family-friendly books that bridge the gap between traditional story books and graphic novels. Jim’s proudest achievement are his two grown sons, Aaron and Joel. |
|
Ethan |
Van Sciver |
Ethan Van Sciver, 35-years-old, is by now a being of pure energy and light. Without Ethan Van Sciver, we wouldn't have Cyberfrog, Flash: Iron Heights, Green Lantern: Rebirth, Sinestro Corps., or Flash: Rebirth. And if we did, they wouldn't have half the number of lines in the drawings. His skin is pale, but soft and yielding to a gentle touch. His eyes sparkle, with the slightest crease of crow's feet at the corners, clues of acquired wisdom with age. His hair is as if God's own mare sacrificed a blessed patch of nourishing hay, sparing only enough to cap and warm his delightfully impish mind. His newest projects? Whatever they may be, they will fill the shelves of the tasteful and imaginative comic book fans the world over. He is Ethan Van Sciver. And for the weekend, he belongs to Chicago. |
|
VG Cats |
VG Cats |
Basically VG Cats, or Videogame Cats, is a webcomic about videogames and totally random stuff. (www.vgcats.com) |
|
Dexter |
Vines |
Dexter Vines is an American comic book artist and inker. He is most well known for being one half of the "eDex" team, along with artist Ed McGuiness. Vines is an Atlanta, Georgia native and is one of the comic industry's most respected inkers, having worked on a multitude of titles for both Marvel and DC. Some titles include Marvel's big 2007 summer event Civil War, Superman/Batman, The Hulk, and Wolverine: Old Man Logan. |
|
Mark |
Waid |
Mark Waid has been a comics professional for over twenty-five years, having written and edited a wider range of popular characters than most anyone, including Flash, X-Men, Superman, Spider-Man, Archie, Fantastic Four, JLA and Captain America. In 1996, he and artist Alex Ross created Kingdom Come for DC Comics. Currently, Waid is the Editor-In-Chief of Boom! Studios. In addition to overseeing Boom!'s successful line of comics, Waid writes their breakaway hits Irredeemable, Incorruptible, and The Incredibles. |
|
Chris |
Ware |
Chris Ware lives in Oak Park, IL, and is the author of Jimmy Corrigan – the Smartest Kid on Earth. He is currently serializing two new graphic novels in his ongoing periodical The ACME Novelty Library, the 20th issue of which will be released in 2010. He has guest-edited McSweeney's Quarterly Concern and Houghton-Mifflin's Best American Comics and was the first cartoonist chosen to regularly serialize an ongoing story in The New York Times Magazine. A contributor to the New Yorker and The Virginia Quarterly Review, his work was included in the 2002 Whitney Biennial, was favored with an exhibit of its own at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago in 2006, and will be exhibited at the Gävle Konstcentrum in Gävle, Sweden in 2010. |
|
Daniel |
Way |
After being hired immediately following publication of his Xeric award-winning miniseries, Violent Lifestyle, in 2000, Daniel Way has gone on to write some of Marvel's most well-known characters. Known for re-inventing characters for a new generation, he has launched such successful series as Ghost Rider, Wolverine: Origins, Dark Wolverine and the current sales juggernaut, Deadpool. |
|
Webcomics.com |
Webcomics.com |
Comics news and how-tos for the modern cartoonist. (www.webcomics.com) |
|
Wigu |
Wigu |
Wigu is a comic story about a boy named Wigu and his family, the Tinkle family. They all live in a town in Oklahoma called Shallow Brook that has a population of about 21,489, but that changes almost daily. (www.wigu.com) |
|
N. D. |
Wilson |
N. D. Wilson is the author of the popular middle grade fantasy series the 100 Cupboards (100 Cupboards, Dandelion Fire and The Chestnut King from Random House Children’s Books), which chronicles Henry York’s journeys to the mysterious worlds that lay within the walls of the Kansas farm of his aunt and uncle. Henry comes to learn that he comes from a world beyond the cupboards and that he must confront an evil that has long threatened his true home. At the age of twelve, N. D. Wilson spent nearly a year living in his grandparents’ attic. If there were cupboards in those walls he never found them, but not for lack of trying. He loves barns, still checks for hidden doors, and is certain that dandelions are magic. N. D. Wilson is a Fellow of Literature at New Saint Andrews College, where he teaches classical rhetoric to freshmen. He is also the managing editor for Credenda/Agenda magazine, a small Trinitarian cultural journal. He lives in Idaho with his wife and four children. His first novel for young readers, Leepike Ridge, was published in May 2007 to great critical acclaim. |
|
Renee |
Witterstaetter |
Writer, editor, producer and publisher Renee Witterstaetter began the comic phase of her career working on such titles as Superman at DC Comics and Silver Surfer, Conan The Barbarian and Conan Saga at Marvel, then going on to spearhead the reintroduction of She-Hulk at Marvel to boot. She then moved over to Topps Comics where she was the editor on X-Files, Jurassic Park, Xena and Hercules and the co-creator -- with artist Michael Golden -- of the successful series, Spartan X. During this time, Renee was also the colorist on hundreds of comics from the Avengers to Spider-Man to Captain America among many, many more. Film work was a natural progression for Renee after this storytelling immersion in comics, and she has since worked on dozens of music videos for Madonna, Seal, Ben Harper and Usher, as well as the features Police Story III, Drunken Master II, Crime Story, Rush Hour Two, Red Dragon , To ease the lose, and Swimming With The Virgin, among others. In addition to on-going film work, she is the President of Little Eva Ink Publishing and Little Eva Ink Toys. Renee is also currently working in artist management via Eva Ink Artist Group, and is the co-producer of the Creator Chronicles DVD series with Woodcrest Productions. She is particular proud of this series, which features interviews with major industry creators such as George Perez, Bill Sienkiewicz, Michael Golden, Joe Jusko, Matt Wagner and many more. |
|
Wondermark |
Wondermark |
Wondermark is created from 19th-Century woodcuts and engravings, scanned from my personal collection of old books and also from volumes in the Los Angeles Central Library. Most of the books are bound volumes of general interest magazines such as Harper's, Frank Leslie's and Punch, but my collection also includes special interest magazines such as Scientific American, Sears-Roebuck catalogs, storybooks, and primers. (www.wondermark.com) |
|
Skottie |
Young |
Skottie Young is the artist of Marvel Comics critically acclaimed and New York Times Best Selling Book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Skottie has become a fan favorite at Marvel over the years with his unique and energetic versions of all the characters you love from Spider-Man and New X-Men, to Wolverine and Deadpool. In the coming year, he will be continuing his epic adaptations of L. Frank Baum's Oz novels as well as entering the world of webcomics with his creation, Sam Heck. |
|
Zuda Comics |
Zuda Comics |
Zuda Comics is a webcomics imprint of DC Entertainment. Zuda series have won awards and nominations from the comic industry's Glyph Comics Awards and Harvey Awards including Best Online Series, and five awards for Story of the Year, Best Writer, Best Artist, Best Comic Strip and Best Female Character. Zuda works have also been named to the 2010 Great Graphic Novels for Teens by the American Library Association. (www.zudacomics.com) |
|
Michael |
Zulli |
Michael Zulli is best known for his work on The Sandman with writer Neil Gaiman. In the pages of The Sandman, he co-created the character Hob Gadling, who simply decided not to die in the 14th century, and drew most of the stories he appeared in, set at various points between then and the present day. His work on the final Sandman volume, The Wake, was printed from his pencils, without the use of an inker. Zulli has also collaborated with Gaiman on an unfinished adaptation of Sweeney Todd, a miniseries starring rock singer Alice Cooper entitled The Last Temptation, and comic adaptations of some of his short stories. With other writers, he has drawn Sandman spin-offs The Dreaming and WitchCraft, and illustrated J. Michael Straczynski's novella Delicate Creatures. |
|
David |
Rich |
When David Rich was three, David started drawing and creating art. Love for comics came shortly after in 1993, and since then he has continued to create amazing comic art, band art and tattooing art. He started tattooing in 2006 at Exile Tattoo in Iowa City, IA where he is currently located up in the Hall Mall. In the three years he has been tattooing he’s attended conventions and won multiple awards for work he has done. David has a full understanding of how to use the color in tattooing to make a piece pop. He loves to work on comic related tattoos and art and will be available at C2E2 to take appointments. Check out my work at myspace.com/bobross2attoo
If you'd like to set up an appointment send me a message through my space. |