UK – Stormwatch Signing

Writer Paul Cornell signs at the Forbidden Planet Megastore on Wednesday 6th June from 6:00 to 7:00pm.

As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics—The New 52 event of September 2011, Stormwatch returns, but this time to the DC Universe! Jack Hawksmoor, Midnighter, Apollo, The Engineer and Martian Manhunter comprise a dangerous super human police force whose existence is kept secret from the world. Collected here, this covert team of sci-fi Super Heroes must not only battle the Earth’s moon, but find a way to hide its monstrous metamorphosis from the rest of the Earth! Featuring writing from Doctor Who and Superman: The Black Ring scribe Paul Cornell, and art from rising star Miguel Sepulveda.

Paul Cornell is a writer of SF and fantasy in comics, prose and television, and is Hugo Award nominated for all three media. His work includes Doctor Who, Action Comics, and Captain Britain and MI-13. His first urban fantasy novel is out from Tor next year.

Forbidden Planet – London Megastore
179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR

FL – Silk Spectre Signing

Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti sign at Tate’s Comics  on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 from 4:00pm until 7:00pm!

RSVP on Facebook!

Tate’s Comics
4566 N. University Drive, Lauderhill, FL 33351

MeCAF 2012 Guest List Announced

In addition to special guests Kate Beaton and Kazu Kibuishi the Maine Comic Arts Festival has released their guest list for next weekend which includes Raina Telgemeier, Dave Roman, Faith Erin Hicks, Renae De Liz, Ray Dillon, Colleen AF Venable, Shelli Paroline, Braden Lamb, Tyler James, and many, many more!

Guests:
Andrea Agostini is a Massachusetts based artist and an alumnus of the School of Visual Arts. Her focus is on comic art, but she dabbles in crafts as well. Her comics explore topics such as gender identity, sexual orientation, and psychological disorders. Agostini has been published in IDW’s, Womanthology, and featured in 789 Studio’s, Rain Anthology.

Samples of her art work can be viewed at www.andrea-agostini.com

Barry Corbett: Corbett Features is a cartoon and illustration syndicate supplying content for print and multi-media.

Barry is a freelance magazine cartoonist and self-published author of 3 trade paperbacks. His panel cartoons have appeared in national publications including Readers Digest, Barron’s, American Legion, Lacrosse Magazine, Medical Economics, Christianity Today, and many others.

Barry released his first book in 2006. “Embrace the Pun!” is a collection of pun-based panel cartoons. He followed that up in 2010 with “Revenge of the Pun!” Both are available in e-book format. Revenge! was awarded a Silver Medal in Humor, at ForeWord Reviews 2010 Book of the Year Awards and a Bronze Medal at the 2011 IPPY Awards, presented by Independent Publisher Magazine.

“Kitty Nirvana: The First Ginger & Shadow Collection” also won a Silver Medal at the 2008 IPPY Awards.

A graduate of the Vesper George School of Art in Boston, Barry teaches Cartooning and Adobe InDesign at local colleges. Barry’s panel cartoons can be licensed for PowerPoint and business presentations through http://www.corbettcartoons.com/.

Bob Flynn was born in Buxton, Maine and raised on a steady diet of cartoons. He currently resides in Boston, where he is the Director of Art & Animation at FableVision Studios. His comics and illustrations have appeared in publications including Nickelodeon Magazine and Nursery Rhyme Comics. He is the co-creator of Heeby Jeeby Comix, and he also writes and draws for SpongeBob Comics.

Bob Ulrich is full time Educational Technician and photographer from Maine who has been reading comics since before he could actually read (over 30 years ago), and began the process of learning to make them in his all too spare time in 2006. He loves collecting and making music almost as much. He’s a libra.

Braden Lamb is the artist for KaBooms! Adventure Time series.

Brian Codagnone is the creator of the comic strips “Misfits”, “S1019″ and “In The Zone” and the humor column “Emotional Chaos”. He is also the author of the books “The Hartford Whalers”, “Hey, America! It’s Misfits Time!” and co-author of “The Boston Garden” and “The Bruins in Black and White” volumes 1 and 2, all of which make the perfect gift for any occasion and should be required reading for every sentient being in the known universe.

A well known bon vivant and man about town, he lives by the credo “Quality over money” (or “Species super viaticus” if Google Translate can be trusted). As a result he lives in his “Fortress of Poverty” somewhere in Massachusetts.

Carl Mefferd is a graduate of the Center for Cartoon Studies. He is also the co-creator of the steampunk adventure “Doctor Atlantis,” premiering nationwide this summer.

Casey Girard is a freelance illustrator/designer. She creates marketing materials for a few companies including Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, The Boston Conservatory, and Shambhala Publications. She has worked with two authors, illustrating their self-published books. Her work is in watercolors and color pencil on wood panels as well as paper. She employes the technique of burnishing for her color pencil on paper work.
Her side work is creating polymer critters which, she is developing into a story based project.
Online you can catch up with her through her blog, where she runs two weekly themed posts, which change seasonally. You can also find her on twitter @CaseyGirard.

Center for Cartoon Studies

Clayton McCormack

Cody Pickrodt is an internationally recognized artist, cartoonist and illustrator. His work has appeared in numerous publications and
anthologies. Clients include Kid Robot, Scholastic Books, Art Faccia.

Colleen AF Venable is the author of the kids’ graphic novel series GUINEA PIG, PET SHOP PRIVATE EYE (illustrated by Stephanie Yue), which includes HAMSTER AND CHEESE and the latest, FISH YOU WERE HERE. Along with writing super silly comics mysteries for early readers, her first full-length teen graphic novel, KISS NUMBER EIGHT, is in production at
First Second Books where she also works as the Art and Design editor.

Colin Tedford makes humor & nonfiction comics which he publishes online, in his zine Square Dance, and elsewhere. He co-founded the regional Trees & Hills Comics Group and has co-edited & contributed to all of its anthologies to date.

Corey Hodgdon

Corked The Comic: Writer Francis Sanders and artist David Griffin are the creators of www.corkedthecomic.com, the online comic series for wine lovers.

Dan Mazur: Cartoonist, writer, member of the Boston Comics Roundtable, and founder of Ninth Art Press. Solo comics include “The Way it Crumbles,”"The Last,”"Lummox,” and “Palindramas,” as well as contributions to anthologies such as Inbound, Outbound, Hellbound, Show and Tell, Minimum Paige, I Saw You, and Leftovers of the Living Dead. Currently working with Alexander Danner on a book about the history of comics throughout the world. Lives in Cambridge, Mass.

Dan Moynihan: Heeby Jeeby Comix is now the home for Dan’s whimsical, and even wacky, cartoon shenanigans, but his comics have also festooned the pages of Nickelodeon Magazine and a multitude of photocopied mini-comics. At the moment, he also has a kids’ graphic novel and a wordless picture book under wraps, but you can ask him for a peek if you like. Dan lives in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Daniel Barlow is a Vermont writer and co-founder of the Trees & Hills Comics Group. He has edited several comic anthologies and is launching a webcomic called Not Since You. He also makes music under the name Ghost Town Tourism. When he is not publishing comics, Barlow works as a political advocate for a socially responsible business group.

Dave Kender is the writer, letterer, and publisher of The Ragbox. He is also the founder of the Boston Comics Roundtable, an organization that fosters the growth of comics creators in the Boston area. In addition to further development of The Ragbox, he is busy creating a new story about the birth of modern conveniences at the turn of the twentieth century.

Dave Roman is the author of several graphic novels including Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity, Agnes Quill: An Anthology of Mystery and the upcoming Teen Boat. He has contributed stories to Explorer: The Mystery Boxes, Nursery Rhyme Comics, and is the co-author of two New York Times bestselling graphic novels, X-Men: Misfits and The Last Airbender: Zuko’s Story. Roman worked as a comics editor for the groundbreaking Nickelodeon Magazine from 1998 to 2009. He lives in New York City with his wife, Raina Telgemeier.

Webcomics pioneer Dirk I. Tiede started his online graphic novel series, “Paradigm Shift” in 1999 and has never looked back. In addition to print collections, he continues to serialize his comics online and is a founding contributor to premiere comics portal Modern Tales. His artwork is showcased in the books “Toon Art: The Graphic Art of Digital Cartooning and Webcomics”, appears the documentary “Adventures In Digital Comics”, and was featured in Season 3 of NBC’s “Heroes.” He lives in the Boston area where he continues to work as a professional cartoonist and freelance illustrator.

Doug Cowan

Elenore Toczynski is a queer, self published comics creator and illustrator currently living in the Northeast US. She is the creator of the series “brain crease” and illustrator of a new series, “Engine,” written by William Emery, along with various other small projects and mini comics. She also serves on the board of Salacious Magazine, enjoys tacos, dogs, and drawing as much as possible. She is in the middle of building a website where everything will be in one place.

Ellen T. Crenshaw is a Boston-based artist, movie-goer, comic-book-reader, and dirty-joke-teller. Her illustrations have graced the pages of Beer Advocate Magazine, Boston’s The Weekly Dig, and Orlando Weekly; she has collaborated with FableVision Studios and Monitor Group for digital applications and videos; and her comics have been featured in Inbound, ZombieBomb!, and most recently the acclaimed Womanthology. She’s an alumni of Girls Drawin’ Girls, a member of the Boston Comics Roundtable, and co-founder of the fan-art blog, Fanartica.

Eric Boeker is a Beverly-Massachusetts-based cartoonist and the creator of the Gen-X zombie sitcom comic “Commute of the Living Dead”, which can be seen on-line as part of the Sunday Comics Project at http://digboston.com/ (under the “Laugh” tab) . He is a proud member of Boston Comics Roundtable and has published stories in their anthology “Inbound”, as well as “Outbound: the Science Fiction Anthology” and “Hellbound”. He is also a snappy dresser. You can check out the comics of Eric Boeker on-line at: http://www.webcomicsnation.com/eboeker/

Faith Erin Hicks has drawn thousands of pages of comics, and has managed to get paid for some of them. Previous comics include Demonology 101, Ice, Zombies Calling, The War at Ellsmere, Brain Camp (art only), The Adventures of Superhero Girl, and Friends With Boys. She lives in Nova Scotia, buried under all the snow.

Frank Einspruch

George O’Connor (Homeless Comics)

Griffin Shawn is a dedicated artist providing creative services since 2006. His talents cover a wide range but he excels at visually communicating the ideas of others.

Heather Bryant

Jason Viola

Jay Piscopo

Jeff Pert is a native Mainer, born and breaded, like a clam. His cartoons have appeared in publications since 1982 though he has no recollection of anything prior to 1995, including where that elk in a tutu came from. Jeff’s first cartoon collection, “Cartoons from Maine: How’s the Water, Bob? Bob?! BOB!!”, is recently out from Down East Books. If you don’t like lobster, moose or New England in general, you probably won’t like the book. His family and friends think it’s just peachy keen, though. So there—put THAT in your pipe and smoke it! Jeff can be found at www.jeffpertcartoons.com and on Facebook as Jeff Pert Cartoons. Feel free to join and mingle with his eight other followers!

Jen Silverman

Jen Vaughan

Jennifer Choung

Jerel Dye

Jesse Durona, a native Vermonter, graduated from The Center For Cartoon Studies in 2011. After years of flirting, he has finally married his love of video games and comics. His web comic, “Despondent Mega Man,” can be seen at www.therealdurona.com

Jessica Shea is a 2008 graduate of Maine College of Art with a BFA in Illustration. She owned and operated her own art gallery from 2009 to early 2011. Shea continues to make comics and watercolor illustrations while working two day jobs to pay the bills! Among these include “2:15″, a gag comic about the joys of high school, which ran online and in local newspapers throughout the North Shore; “Apt C-3″, a comic strip about the highs and lows of two roommates navigating through post-college and pre-career life; and her current fantasy graphic novel project, “Ravenstar”. She enjoys wearing goggles, collecting belt buckles, and slow motion.

John Green is the artist and co-creator of the graphic novels Teen Boat! and Jax Epoch and the Quicken Forbidden with writer Dave Roman. He has worked on comics for DC, Nickelodeon, Dreamworks, First Second, Scholastic, and Disney. He also does concept art, storyboards, and video game design.

John Platt is a journalist and cartoonist living in central Maine. In addition to writing for magazines like Scientific American and Mother Nature Network, John draws minicomics and the irregularly updated webcomic, “Plattitudes.”

Jordyn Bochon currently lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Author of comics such as Gene Day Award nominated The Day After V-Day and The Terrible Death of Finnegan Strappe, her work has been described as quirky and dark; dealing in tense relationships, the beauty of inner-city life, and scientific fictions. Her comics can also be seen in anthologies such as You Aint No Dancer (New Reliable Press), Prison For Bitches, Exploded View (Cloudscape), Arabesque, and Spera Volume 1 (Archaia). Her work can be seen online at 8et8.net.

Ron & Justine Fontes met at Western Publishing in New York City where he worked for Whitman Comics and she was an editorial assistant for Little Golden Books. Together they have written over 500 children’s books, in every format from board books to historical novels. Most recently, they have been writing graphic novels for Lerner, an educational children’s book publisher. For ages 9-14, these books include adaptations, as well as original fiction and nonfiction.

Ron came to New York from Tennessee, where he studied art and theater while working for a printing company and advertising agency. After Whitman folded, Ron moved on to mighty Marvel, where he worked with John Romita Sr., and rose to art director for Marvel Books.
Justine grew up on Long Island, then earned a BA in English Literature Phi Beta Kappa from NYU while working part-time in publishing.

In 1988, the couple moved from Manhattan to Maine, where they publish critter news, a strictly-for-fun newsletter that keeps them in touch with publishers long-distance. Along with articles about the couples’ latest books, the newsletter includes stories, poems, recipes, mini-biographies, and, of course, news about critters.

In 2004, the Fonteses launched Sonic Comics with their first graphic novel TALES OF THE TERMINAL DINER, a unique anthology with continuing characters including the owner of a very strange diner and a kid who wants to be a cartoonist. Their next publishing project is THE WOODEN SWORD, a three-volume graphic novel about a gladiatrix, to be printed in both English and Latin. Please visit http://www.sonicpublishing.com. Ron’s hobbies include film-making and oil painting. Justine likes to juggle, play ping-pong and the ukulele, and make movies with Ron. They hope to write 1001 books together and live happily ever after!

Kate Leth is a comic purveyor and illustrator from Halifax, Nova Scotia. She works for Eisner Award-winning shop Strange Adventures and is the artist behind Kate or Die!, an eclectic webcomic dealing with sexuality, life in the comic industry and gay superheroes. She has provided work for Womanthology, The Strange Talent of Luther Strode and is a regular contributor to IDW’s hit series Locke and Key. Her work can be seen online at kateordiecomics.com.

Keith Perkins lives in Bucksport, Maine where he draws comics in his teeny tiny studio, surrounded by dogs, cats, knick-knacks, and (in the spring) black flies; THE SCOURGE OF THE EARTH. He studied art at the University of Maine, and has been making comics for 3 years now, since his love of them was rekindled by Warren Ellis (yes this is his fault). He’s collaborated on several comics with writers, including “A Wicked Little Town”, a western mystery, featuring Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holliday serialized here and out in print this fall. He has also done several mini-comics, and many comic shorts, and is working on the first issue of a superhero comic to be set in Maine, with the first issue out soon.

Keith Zoo is an Illustrator and character designer. His work doesn’t tend to take itself too seriously, which is probably a result of growing up on too much Chuck Jones and Calvin and Hobbes. During his daytime hours he puts his skills to use as a Lead Artist at FableVision Studios in Boston, MA.

Take a poke around his online portfolio at www.zoolawnick.com and check out FableVision’s website.

Kori M. Handwerker, alumnus of the Maine College of Art, is a Maine-based watercolorist and the author/artist of Prince of Cats, a web comic about growing up gay in rural Pennsylvania in the early 2000s. The story, Kori’s first, touches on issues of economic, racial, and sexual disparity and prejudice, with the curiously fantastic touch of a boy who can talk to cats.”

Kristen Toohill

Lindsay Moore

Maineland Studios: Corey B. Olmsted, Graphic Artist and owner of Maineland Studios based in Portland, Maine. We’ve been doing this Indie Publishing gig since 2008. Producing a variety of comics, stories and childrens’ books. Our featured title is called, “The Maineland”. An adult humored comic that just celebrated it’s 10 year anniversary with a “Maineland Collection” title filled with over 100 full page comics. This is our third year of attending MeCAF and we’ve got several new titles that we are excited to release to the public! You can check out our website or find us on Facebook: Maineland Studios/Pillage Comix

Marek Bennett draws comics, makes music, and teaches in New Hampshire & it’s surrounding planet.

Matt Ryan: Based out of the Free Lunch Studios production office in Granby, CT, our company puts out some of the freshest and most satisfying independent comics, graphic novels and games around as well as conduct lessons, workshops and host special events.

Meg Brennan

Melissa Mendes graduated with an MFA from the Center for Cartoon Studies in 2010. She draws comics in her studio in western Massachusetts, next to her best beau, Charles Forsman . In 2010 she received a Xeric award for her all-ages graphic novel, Freddy Stories.

Metrokitty (Cathy Leamy)

Michael Gianfrancesco

Michael Rapa is a Brunswick-born, but now Boston-based illustrator who spends his days working as a Technologist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Though schooled in Graphic Design by the Art Institute of Boston, Michael ultimate found that he would rather draw than kern. His clients include Boston game company Fire Hose Games, gaming blog and magazine Kill Screen, and people with money. He is also a regular contributor to the Fan Art blog FANARTICA. Just in case this whole thing falls through he is currently training his son to ride on cats for future youtube fame.

Mike Lynch’s distinctive work appears in books, magazine and online
throughout the world. His clients include Reader’s Digest, Playboy, The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, St. Martin’s Press, Random House, McGraw Hill, The New York Daily News and many others. He has curated and participated in cartoon gallery shows in SoHo and Long Island.

In 2005 Mike organized a group of cartoonists to create a mural on the wall of The Overlook Restaurant (formerly Costello’s) in New York City that would serve as a counterpart to the famous wall decorated by cartoonists a generation earlier. His efforts brought together a
number of legendary artists and received significant media coverage.

For five years, Mike served as chair of the National Cartoonists Society Long Island chapter, the famous “Berndt Toast Gang.” Since 2006, he has spearheaded the “Oscars of cartooning” as the Award Coordinator for the annual National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben
Awards. Mike currently serves on the NCS Board as its National Representative.

He writes the popular Mike Lynch Cartoons blog on the business of cartooning, one of the most recognized and trafficked comic art industry sites on the Web.

Raina Telgemeier is the adapter and illustrator of four Baby-sitters Club graphic novels, the co-author of X-Men: Misfits, and the author-illustrator of the bestselling dental memoir graphic novel Smile. Smile won an Eisner Award for Best Publication for a Teen Audience, and was also an ALA Notable Book, a Kirkus Best Book of 2010, and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards Honor title. Most recently, Smile won the Maine Student Book Award! Raina lives in Queens, NY, with her husband, Dave Roman. You can visit her online at www.goRaina.com.

Randall Drew: Graduate of the Center for Cartoon Studies class of 2010, he continues to live and work in Vermont. His all ages adventure comic “Citadel” and various anthology pieces as well as convention sketch cards can be seen at www.randalldrew.com

Ray Dillon

Renae De Liz

Renee Kurilla is a children’s illustrator whose artistic inspiration comes from the colorful quirkiness of the cartoon world. While growing up in a town just outside Scranton, PA she kept herself amused with Disney movies, stuffed animals, and loads of picture books. Her admiration of city life is what brought her to Boston, where she currently works as a Lead Artist at FableVision Studios. Renee’s most recent graphic novel, Zebrafish (FableVision/ Atheneum), received a Junior Library Guild Award in 2010 and a sequel will be published in Spring 2013! She’ll be sharing a table with her fiancé, Keith Zoo and would love for you to stop by and say hello!

Rick Parker: Rick Parker is known in the world of comics as the artist of MTV’s Beavis and Butt-Head Comic Book as well as The Papercutz Slices series parodying the popular children’s books, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”, “Harry Potter”, “Twilight”, “Percy Jackson and The Olympians” and “The Hunger Pains”. He was the artist of the Introductory Pages of Tales From The Crypt (featuring the Crypt Keeper, The Vault Keeper, and The Old Witch) and of one of the four artists of The Pekar Project, which brought autobiographical comics legend, Harvey Pekar’s work to an internet audience. Rick Parker is the creator of the graphic novel “Deadboy”, which is sort of a cross between the Wizard of Oz and Night of The Living Dead. Rick’s artwork has been featured in The New York Times, The Village Voice, The New York Press, Life Magazine, U.S. News and World Report, Time Magazine, on 60 Minutes with Andy Rooney and in millions of Marvel and Papercutz comic books and graphic novels worldwide. Rick was the founder of The Barking Dog Museum, in New York City, which specialized in exhibiting small-scale works of art to the public from 1975 to 1987 and was among the first venues of its kind to do so. Rick is married to the writer, Lisa Trusiani, they are the proud parents of two teenage boys. When he’s not drawing, Rick has been teaching cartooning at Geralyn’s, privately, and in the public schools and after-school programs in NJ for ten years. Several of Rick’s students have won multiple prizes in regional and national design competitions.

Rick Silva

Ron Lebrasseur

Ryan Wing is a comics illustrator (The October Ghost, Neutron Star, Bible Belt, Adventures of Quick Carleson) who resides in the Greater Portland Area, having completed his BFA at the University of Southern Maine, with his amazingly supportive wife and their Golden Retriever; who does not actually retrieve thrown objects. This will be Ryan’s third year with AP&P Comics at MECAF. Please stop by the table to talk comics, music, or other minutia (this will probably take the form of discussing a graphic novel that he’s been stewing over for too many years now). Further exploration of Ryan’s ambling process can be seen at www.unexpectedpress.com.

Sarah Winifred Searle: As Writer-in-Residence at the Boston Public Library, Sarah’s working on a graphic novel based on family history and local lore from her hometown of Kennebunk, ME. Set during World War II, a girl has to solve the mystery behind her haunted house while handling the trials of growing up during an era of great change. Under the Apple Tree is available to read online.

Secret Acres Books

Shelli Paroline

Stacy Ponder

Sue and Everett Soares

Tina Pratt is a graphic designer and the creator of the webcomic, “The Paul Reveres” (www.paul-reveres.com), a fictional interpretation of the American Revolution where the battles are fought with electric guitars and awesome hair. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sequential Art from the Savannah College of Art & Design, 2006. At SCAD she co-founded Shoujo Phonebook, a student comics anthology. She now lives in the deep woods of New Hampshire with her Boston Terrier, Wednesday, and her fat cat, Bert. She likes to pretend to play guitar, collect Pokémon toys and sleep in really late on the weekends.

Travis Dandro

Trees and Hills: Trees & Hills Comics Group brings together cartoonists in Vermont, New Hampshire, and western Massachusetts to produce, publish, and promote comics, share resources, and build creative connections in our diverse communities. They publish community-minded anthologies every Spring and Fall, distribute comics made in the region, and share regional comics news online.

Tyler James is a comics creator, game designer, and educator residing in Newburyport, MA. He is the writer and co-creator of superhero murder mystery maxi-series THE RED TEN, EPIC, a superteen action comedy, and Tears of the Dragon, a swords and sorcery fantasy. His past work includes OVER, a romantic comedy graphic novel, and Super Seed, the story of the world’s first super powered fertility clinic. His work has been published by DC and Arcana comics.

Tyler is the publisher and co-creator of ComixTribe, a new website empowering creators to help each other make better comics.

Contact Tyler via email (tylerjamescomics@gmail.com), visit his website, follow him on Twitter, or check him out on Facebook

Zack Giallongo

Zombie Romance (Kristilyn): Kristilyn is a Boston-based illustrator, comic artist and crafter. She has been drawing ever since she could pick up a pencil, making comic strips since she learned to read and self publishing zines since she was an awkward, high school teen. Her work has been featured in galleries up and down the east coast and she has become a fixture in the Boston music scene drawing Boston’s best local bands live as they play. Currently, she can’t get enough of Osamu Tezuka manga, mainly his epic work “The Phoenix.”

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2012

Brom, Mike Mignola, Phil Hale, Ian McCaig, Andrew Jones, and more appear at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live next weekend!

Press Release:

The list of artists selected to appear in Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art Volume 19 has been released. Visit www.spectrumfantasticart.com to see the full list of selected artists. The winners for each art category will be announced at the awards ceremony at the Midland Theatre in Kansas City, MO on May 19th, 2012 as part of the inaugural Spectrum Fantastic Art Live! show.

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live! will showcase 200 exhibitor booths featuring the world’s most celebrated painters, sculptors, and digital illustrators, ongoing live art demonstrations, educational panels, guest interviews, a documentary film program, and portfolio reviews by the art directors for Tor Books, DC Comics, Blizzard Entertainment and many more who will be scouting for new talent. Special guests include Brom (World of Warcraft, Van Helsing, Galaxy Quest), Phil Hale (world-renowned fine artist), Andrew “Android” Jones (Industrial Light and Magic, Nintendo), Ian McCaig (designer of Star Wars: Episode 1, Terminator 2, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) and Mike Mignola (creator of Hellboy).

This one-of-a-kind, international convention is a rare opportunity to mingle with some of the most talented artists, illustrators and creators in the world. Meet the people who brought Batman, Harry Potter, Darth Maul, Conan the Barbarian, Alien, John Carter of Mars and every other imaginable character to vivid life on book covers, in comics, for video games, and on the screen. For three days in May, Kansas City’s Bartle Hall will be transformed into an international museum of the imagination to host this fantastic art convergence. If you love fantasy, science fiction, horror, comics, movies and especially fantastic-themed art, then Spectrum Fantastic Art Live! is the event you’ve been waiting for. Memberships are $20 for one day and $40 for all three days.

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live! is the natural outgrowth of Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art, the award-winning and internationally renowned art book series established by Cathy and Arnie Fenner in 1993. The prestigious Museum of American Illustration in New York City has hosted two exhibitions

 

Frank Cho Plans for Big Wow 2012

Artist Frank Cho posted about his plans for Big Wow Comic Fest on his blog:

The great Big Wow Comic Fest in San Jose is just around the corner. Again this year, I’ll be holding one of my very rare art classes where I’ll teach drawing the female figure- veeeery sexy female figures. (This is a felony in some southern states, I believe.) Again this year, the lovely and culo-rrific Ivy Doomkitty will model for me at the live figure drawing class. She’ll be dressed as Dejah Thoris and belly dance for us. (She’s a professional belly-dancer. I kid you not.)

The wonderful thing about Big Wow Comic Fest is that it focuses on the art of drawing and painting comic books. There will be various free art workshops at the convention for the fans, including a costume making workshop for cos-players and acrylic/oil painting classes for fine art lovers. The fans can just watch or draw along with the artists, or just get your comic books autographed – because Big Wow Comic Fest is still a comic book convention.

Don’t forget, This year’s stellar guest list includes the great Jim Lee, Juanjo “Blacksad” Guarnido, Bernie Wrightson, Travis Charest, Kevin Nowlan, Joe Jusko, Bill Morrison, Tim Sale, Brandon Peterson, James O’Barr, Michael Golden, Mike Choi, Tim Vigil, and many many more.

www.bigwowcomicfest.com

Brian Bolland Added to Baltimore Comic-Con 2012

Press Release:

The Baltimore Comic-Con is proud to announce the addition of British comic legend Brian Bolland to the growing line-up of guests for this year’s show, taking place September 8-9, 2012 at the Baltimore Convention Center.

Bolland, best known for his meticulously detailed line work, is one of the artists who helped define Judge Dredd for the British anthology series 2000 AD. In 1982, Bolland spearheaded what has become known as the “British Invasion” of the American comic industry, blowing open the doors for some the most prolific creators from across the pond to showcase their work throughout the States.

Bolland’s cover work for such DC Comics titles as Animal Man, The Invisibles, and Wonder Woman defined the look and feel of these books through the late-’80s and early-’90s. His most recent work includes Cover Story: The DC Comics Art of Brian Bolland, which hit stores last September, and covers for DC Comics’ Dial H, one of the titles in the second wave of books from the New 52, which hit stores this past week.

“We are delighted to have Brian Bolland attending this year’s show,” said Marc Nathan, show promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. “His influence on both the world of British and American comics continues to be felt through his eye-catching composition gracing the covers of DC Comics.”

In addition to Bolland, other confirmed guests for the show including: Laura & Michael Allred (Madman, iZombie); Greg Capullo (Batman, Spawn); Tommy Castillo (Grimm Fairy Tales); Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman); Frank Cho (Avengers vs. X-Men, Liberty Meadows); Steve Conley (Bloop webcomic www.bloopstree.com); Amanda Conner (Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre); Lar deSouza (Looking For Group, Least I Could Do); Dan Didio (O.M.A.C.); Garth Ennis (The Shadow, Hellblazer, Preacher, The Boys); Rich Faber (Roboy Red); David Finch (Batman: The Dark Knight); John Gallagher (Buzzboy); Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman); Keith Giffen (Superman, OMAC, Green Arrow); Gene Ha (Justice League); Larry Hama (G.I. Joe, Wolverine, The ‘Nam); Cully Hamner (Action Comics); Dean Haspiel (Billy Dogma, ACT-I-VATE, Trip City); Jamal Igle (KISS, Supergirl, The Ray); J.G. Jones (Wanted, Doc Savage); Barry Kitson (Captain America, Iron Man, Fantastic Four); Scott Kurtz (PvPonline.com); David Mack (Kabuki); Ron Marz (Artifacts, Voodoo); Bob McLeod (DC Comics Presents: Wonder Woman); Mark Morales (Avengers vs. X-Men); Jimmy Palmiotti (All-Star Western); David Petersen (Mouse Guard); Brian Pulido (Lady Death); Frank Quitely (All Star Superman, Batman & Robin); John Romita, Jr. (Avengers Vs. X-Men); Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge); Stuart Sayger (Infestation 2: 30 Days of Night One-Shot); Walter Simonson (Thor, Legion of Super-Heroes, Avengers); Ryan Sohmer (Looking For Group, Least I Could Do); Scott Snyder (Batman, Severed, Swamp Thing); Brian Stelfreeze (ICE); Karl Story (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9); Peter Tomasi (Batman and Robin); Billy Tucci (A Child Is Born, Shi); Matt Wagner (Tower Chronicles, Mage, Grendel); Mark Waid (Daredevil, Incorruptible, Irredeemable); and Bernie Wrightson (Frankenstein).

In the coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.

This year’s Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 8-9, 2012. Convention hours are Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. The ceremony and banquet for the Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, September 8th.

Neal Adams Making First Ever Dallas Appearance at May 2012 Dallas Comic Con

Press Release:

Neal Adams makes first ever Dallas appearance at Dallas Comic Con 10th Anniversary, May 19-20

This May 19-20 sees the return of the Dallas Comic Con celebrating its 10th Anniversary, officially titled ‘Stan Lee presents Dallas Comic Con.’ Among the incredible guests attending is a very special creator – the one and only Neal Adams. When it comes to comic book artists, there are well-known names, and then there’s “legendary” status. Adams continually redefines the genre with innovative ideas and dramatic character interpretations. His takes on popular heroes like Batman, Green Lantern, Green Arrow and Superman have wowed readers and heavily influences multiple generations of illustrators. Some of earliest days found him turning in comic strips for BEN CASEY, based on the popular ABC series. But it would be his work at DC Comics that defined his fan base, beginning in the Silver Age with covers for titles like ACTION COMICS and SUPERMAN’S GIRLFRIEND LOIS LANE. His work on Deadman in STRANGE ADVENTURES became award-winning, and with good reason. Neal moved into Marvel work with X-MEN and THE AVENGERS. But some of his most treasured stories were found in BATMAN and DETECTIVE COMICS, as well as GREEN LANTERN/GREEN ARROW in the Bronze Age. Adams also became a strong advocate for creator rights, even helping SUPERMAN creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster receive long-overdue credit, and getting original pages returned to artist Jack Kirby. Neal even formed his own comic book imprint with Continuity Comics, and continues to inspire and influence artists and readers to this day.

DCC Event Manager Mark Walters notes, “It’s hard to believe an industry legend like Neal Adams has never appeared in a popular city like Dallas before, but thankfully this May 19-20 that will change. We’re incredibly honored to have Mr. Adams join us as a special guest for the 10-year Anniversary of the Dallas Comic Con… like many others would claim, he’s one of my heroes.”

Neal is appearing both days of the show, which also features guests like Stan Lee, Patrick Stewart, George Perez, Val Kilmer, Len Wein, James Marsters, Arthur Suydam, John de Lancie, Doug Sneyd, and Adam West and Burt Ward… to name but a few. VIP and 2-day priority passes are sold out, but General Admission tickets will be available at the show. You can find more information on the Dallas Comic Con at http://www.dallascomiccon.com

NYC – Star Trek TNG/Doctor Who Signing

J.K. Woodward signs and sketches at Forbidden Planet on Wednesday, May 30th at 5:30pm.

RSVP on Facebook!

Press Release:

Celebrate the historic first meeting of the Doctor and your pals on the Enterprise D with a special Forbidden Planet NYC signing! Series and cover artist J.K. Woodward will be here signing copies Star Trek TNG/Doctor Who Assimilation2 issue #1 on Wednesday, May 30th starting at 5:30pm.

Mr. Woodward will also be doing head sketches for everyone who purchases an issue at the event.

ALSO every attendee will receive a raffle ticket, good for entry into a drawing for a one-of-a-kind 12×18 Trek/Who watercolor painting by J.K. Woodward (First Prize) and a rare limited edition 1:25 variant cover of issue #1 (Second Prize)!*

About the book:

They said it would never happen! Nearly five decades and 1500 episodes in the making! The two greatest science-fiction properties of all time cross over for the first time in history, in STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION/DOCTOR WHO: ASSIMILATION2!

When the Federation’s most terrifying enemy strikes an unholy alliance with one of the Doctor’s most hated antagonists, the result is devastation on a cosmic scale! Spanning the ends of space and time itself, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise find themselves joining forces with the Doctor and his companions, with the fate of the galaxy hanging in the balance!

Written by Scott and David Tipton, the authors of the critically acclaimed Star Trek: Infestaion, and featuring the beautiful painted artwork of J.K. Woodward (Fallen Angel), this is the adventure that both Trekkers and Whovians have waited for all their lives! Geronimo? Make it so!

Forbidden Planet
840 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

Spooky Empire’s May-Hem convention is less than 4 weeks away….are you ready for, well…the Mayhem?!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Spooky Empire’s May-Hem convention is less than 4 weeks away….are you ready for, well…the Mayhem?!!

Orlando, FL – May 4, 2012 – The show is looking to be an epic event, their last one at the Wyndham, and Spooky Empire wants everyone to join them in bidding farewell to their favorite venue as only they know how.

There is an amazing line up of celebrity guests in store at May-Hem this year, most of which have never appeared at a Spooky Empire event! It’s a never-ending list of heavy hitters, sure to please fans of all kinds. Guests will be available for meet and greets and autograph signings all weekend!

Some of the guests appearing are Linda Hamilton, best known for her role as “Sarah Connor” in The Terminator, as well as the TV series “Beauty and The Beast” and more recently “Chuck”. Vivica A. Fox of “Kill Bill Vol. 1”, “Independence Day” and “Batman & Robin” and Verne Troyer of the “Austin Powers” films and “The Love Guru”. Cathy Moriarty of the classic “Raging Bull” as well as “Casper” and “Analyze That”. Plus a very last minute addition, James Marsters most well known as Spike from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”.

For all of you KISS fans out there, here’s your chance to meet the one and only Ace Frehley, original guitarist of the legendary band!

There will be an “Addams Family” reunion featuring John Astin “Gomez Addams”, Lisa Loring “Wednesday Addams” and Felix Silla and “Cousin Itt”.

Roddy Piper will be making a return appearance to Spooky Empire, not only for autographs, but to perform his live “one man show” This performance will require a separate ticket in addition to your admission. Tickets for Roddy’s show are $10 and are available in advance online.

From the hit new TV series “The Walking Dead”, films Mallrats and Henry:Portrait of a Serial Killer, Michael Rooker will be appearing. Also from “The Walking Dead” is Madison Lintz who played “Sophia” in the hit show. Stars of the TV series Charmed, Holly Marie Combs, Brian Krause, and Michael Bailey Smith. Holly Marie Combs currently stars on the hit new show “Pretty Little Liars”, Brian Krause is also known for his role in Sleepwalkers., and Michael Bailey Smith has appeared in Buffy and The Hills Have Eyes 1 & 2. Also making a rare convention appearance is Joey Lauren Adams best known for her roles in films Chasing Amy, Big Daddy, Dazed & Confused and many more.

To round off the guest list is Kristanna Loken of Terminator 3, Monica Keena of Freddy vs Jason, and Oliver Robins from Poltergeist, plus legendary rock goddess Lita Ford, Marc Price from the film Trick or Treat, and Mackenzie Lintz of the hit new movie based on the bestseller The Hunger Games.

May-Hem is not just about the guests, there are some memorable events lined up as well. For the first time at May-Hem, Spooky Empire will be hosting their Zombie Walk in memory of the late Bill Hinzman!

The Mucklebones Monster Museum will be set up throughout the weekend inside the hotel. This is an exclusive Spooky Empire event! Spooky Empire’s Tattoo Festival will also be in place featuring over 25 of the country’s best artists. Check out the website to make your appointments now.

Of course there is the huge vendor room loaded with merchandise, collectibles and artists, tons of panels and Q&As, and no one can forget the notorious pool parties with live bands!

If you haven’t already booked your room for May-Hem, do it soon! Rooms are just $85 per night, and are going fast! Reach Wyndham reservations at 1-800-421-8001, and mention “Spooky Empire” to get the special rate. Tickets are still available, one day passes are $30- $35, and $50 gets you in all three days! VIP packages are available but going fast! Both are available on the website.

Contact:Pete Mongelli
Info@spookyempire.com
www.spookyempire.com
954-258-7852

CA – Sweetness Signing

Christina Strain signs her new art book at Collector’s Paradise on Saturday May 26, 2012 at noon! Plus the first hard copy of Christina’s webcomic The Fox Sister will be out that week!

Please note Adrian Alphona will not be appearing as previously reported.

Collector’s Paradise
7131 Winnetka Ave, Canoga Park, CA 91306

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