Guests

John Romita, Sr.

Keystone Guest of Honor and Living Legend

John Romita, Sr. was born in Brooklyn in 1930 and is a graduate of Manhattan's School of Industrial Art. Romita began his career in comics as an uncredited ghost artist in 1949 for Timely Comics — the predecessor of Marvel. After time in the Army, where he drafted Recruitment Posters, Romita would return to Timely Comics — now Atlas — where Stan Lee provided him his first full story to pencil and ink. Romita would draw for a variety of pulpy comics at Atlas as well as the 1950's revival of Captain America and Waku: Prince of the Bantu, one of the first black leading characters. By 1958, Romita would leave Atlas for DC and became their leading romance comics cover artist. As the romance genre dried up, Romita looked into advertising work until Stan Lee brought him back to Timely Comics — now Marvel. Romita was would pencil over Jack Kirby layouts for Daredevil until Stan gave Romita Amazing Spider-Man in 1966. In his first run on Amazing Spider-Man, Romita contributed an unbroken string of over 50 covers and an almost unbroken run of story layouts or full pencil art for 46 regular issue stories as well as a multiple Amazing Spider-Man Annuals and the first two issues of the oversized Spectacular Spider-Man. Romita's depiction on the character would become the definitive look for Spider-Man and the iconic image we know today. Eventually promoted to Art Director by Stan Lee, Romita then played a major role in designing characters including the Punisher and Wolverine. While Romita has since retired from day-to-day comics work, Romita continues to pencil and ink special and collaborative projects. He is the father of artist John Romita, Jr. and husband of Virginia Romita, former Marvel traffic manager.

John Romita, Jr.

Keystone Guest of Honor

Born in 1956 in New York City, John Romita, Jr. is the son of comic book legend John Romita, Sr. Romita's early popularity began with his run on Iron Man with writer David Michelinie and artist Bob Layton in 1978, and, in the early 1980s, he had his first regular run on Amazing Spider-Man. Working with writer Roger Stern during this run, he co-created the Hobgoblin. Then, from 1983 to 1986, Romita worked on Uncanny X-Men with Dan Green and Chris Claremont, and he would return for a second run on Uncanny X-Men in 1993. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Romita worked on Daredevil with writer Ann Nocenti and inker Al Williamson. Romita later collaborated with Frank Miller on Daredevil: The Man Without Fear, revisiting the character's origin. During the 1990s, Romita also worked on Punisher War Zone, Hulk, Cable, The Mighty Thor, the second Iron Man Armor Wars, and the Punisher/Batman cross-over. In the 2000s, Romita returned to Amazing Spider-Man with writer J. Michael Straczynski and drew Wolverine with author Mark Millar as part of the character's 30th anniversary. In 2006, Romita collaborated with writer Neil Gaiman on a reinterpretation of Jack Kirby's The Eternals and then worked with Greg Pak on Marvel's 2007 crossover event, World War Hulk. In 2008, Romita again returned to Amazing Spider-Man, and he is now collaborating with Mark Millar for Kick-Ass, published by Marvel's Icon imprint. The Kick-Ass motion picture premieres April 16, 2010.

Stan Lee

Spotlight Guest of Honor

Known to millions as the man whose Super Heroes propelled Marvel Comics to its preeminent position in the comicbook industry, Stan Lee's famous co-creations include Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, The Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Daredevil, The Avengers, Silver Surfer and Dr. Strange among many others. Lee first became publisher of Marvel Comics in 1972 and is presently the Chairman Emeritus of Marvel Enterprises, Inc. and a member of the Editorial Board of Marvel Comics. In 1977, he introduced Spider-Man as a syndicated newspaper strip that went on to become one of the most successful of all syndicated adventure strips. Spider-Man now appears in more than 500 newspapers worldwide — making it the longest running of all Super Hero strips.

Without question, Stan 'the Man' Lee has exerted enormous influence over the comicbook industry through his many years. He had a hand in creating many of Marvel's most recognized characters, the majority of which have been successfully licensed and marketed since 1965. The numbers are impressive — more than 2 billion of his comicbooks have been published in 75 countries and in 25 languages. In Europe alone, Stan Lee's name appears on over 35 million comics annually. Each year, X-Men sells more than 13 million copies.

In 1981 Stan Lee transformed his Spider-Man and Hulk creations into Saturday morning and syndicated television cartoons. When Marvel Comics and Marvel Productions were acquired by New World Entertainment in 1986, Stan's horizons expanded even further, giving him the opportunity to become more deeply involved in the creation and development of filmed projects for both the big and small screen. He supervised such diverse animated series as X-Men, Spider-Man and The Hulk. To date, Stan's characters have populated over 24 separate television series, all of which continue in syndication around the world.

Stan Lee's admirers are not limited to the younger generation — his avowed fans include Presidents (Ronald Reagan once said he started every day reading Spider-Man comics and George Bush, in presenting Stan with a Medal of the Arts, praised him for encouraging and assisting "millions of young people to broaden their own imaginations"). Media titan Steven Spielberg once explained that "Stan and I do the same thing. Only my pictures move." Even his competitors have only good things to say: "Most of my generation of writers learned our craft from or through Stan Lee. He's an incredible part of the business," states Paul Levitz of DC Comics.

Now, as he enters the 21st Century, Stan Lee is broadening his horizons with his new company, "POW! Entertainment" where Stan is currently developing entirely new franchises for film and television while still proudly cherishing the title of Marvel's Chairman Emeritus.

Amanda Conner

Comic Guest

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 onPainkiller 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 for DC Comics , the Supergirl series for Wednesday Comics and a new creator owned series to be announced.

Ryan Dunlavey

Comic Guest

RYAN DUNLAVEY is best known as the artist and co-creator of the American Library Award winning ACTION PHILOSOPHERS comic book series (with author Fred Van Lente). Some of Ryan's other comics include MODOK for Marvel Comics, TOMMY ATOMIC for Royal Flush Magazine and the self-published COMIC BOOK COMICS (also with Van Lente), the first ever cartoon history of the American comic book industry. His comics and illustrations have appeared in Mad, Wizard, ToyFare, The Princeton Review, Time Out and Disney Adventures.

Steve Epting

Comic Guest

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 iconic character Superman, as well as 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. Now Steve has teamed with writer Jonathan Hickman to take the Fantastic Four into bold new directions!

Brian Michael Bendis

Comic Guest

BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS is an award-winning comics creator and one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics. For the last nine years, Brian's books have consistently sat on the top of the nationwide comic and graphic novel sales charts. Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel's Avengers franchise by writing both New Avengers and Dark Avengers along with the wildly successful event projects House of M, Secret War, and Secret Invasion. Brian is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's Ultimate line of comics, a line of comics specifically created for the new generation of comics reader, and he has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch in 1999. Brian's other projects include the Eisner-Award-winning Powers from Marvel's creator-owned imprint Icon and the Hollywood tell all Fortune and Glory. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife, Alisa, his gorgeous daughters, Olivia and Sabrina, and his dogs, Shroeder, Lucky, and Buster.

Matt Fraction

Comic Guest

MATT FRACTION writes Uncanny X-Men and The Invincible Iron Man for Marvel Comics. He's written the graphic novels The Five Fists of Science and Last of The Independents. His other comics work includes a Sensational Spider-Man annual and The Immortal Iron Fist with Ed Brubaker, Punisher: War Journal with Rick Remender, Thor: Ages Of Thunder and Thor: Secret Invasion, and the Harvey-nominated The Order. He lives in Kansas City with his wife, the writer Kelly Sue DeConnick, his son Henry, two jerky dogs, and two jerky cats. And some fish. But that's it.

Michael Golden

Comic Guest

Artist/writer/creator Michael Golden, co-creator of the X-men's Rogue character, Spartan X and Bucky O'Hare is known worldwide for his groundbreaking work on "The 'Nam," "Micronauts," "G.I. Joe Yearbook," and "Dr. Strange, " among MUCH more, and is counted as one of the best cover designers and storytellers in the business.

Currently, Golden's work can be seen with recent covers on "Nightwing", "Iron Man", "Heroes for Hire", "Exiles," "Demon's Regret," "Spiderman," "Hulk," as well as numerous other titles, for about every company out there worth it's salt... including a few secret projects for IDW and DC.

It's no wonder that Golden has been one of the most influential creators around for the last several decades:

"....unless you can actually draw yourself, it is very difficult to understand the exact mind-blowing impossibility of what he does," said writer/artist Larry Hama, of Golden's work.

"Michael blithely puts down on paper exactly what he sees in his head. It's like he's got a cosmic opaque projector that shoots a laser beam from his brain through the kundalini eye in his forehead straight down onto the drawing surface where all he has to do is trace it," continues Hama. "The result is hard-edged and fully realized in every way. No fuzzy impressions here. No using the side of the pencil. No squiggly space-filling lines blocked in on automatic pilot. To paraphrase Neal Adams (who was referring to Golden), there is not a single millimeter of line on the page that is not directed by conscious thought."

Recent books covering the colorful life and amazing art of Michael Golden include a Manga version of the "Bucky O'Hare" series, created with Hama, as well as the top selling art retrospective "Excess: The Art of Michael Golden," written by Renee Witterstaetter, which sold out and has gone into a second printing, as well as his recent sketchbook "Heroes and Villains," and the just released NEW sketchbook, "MORE Heroes and Villains." In addition, Woodcrest Productions/Eva Ink has also just released a two part candid DVD on Michael and his career, entitled "Creator Chronicles: Michael Golden," featuring an extensive interview and tutorial with the creator.

In fact, as a conceptual cover artist, Golden has penciled everything from Batman and Captain America to Vampirella! And the list keeps growing.

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.

It's planned for his extensive 1-2 day storytelling class to launch shortly, as Michael shares more of his philosophy of art and what he considers to be the Golden Rules of storytelling. This course will be conducted as 2 day workshops at key points throughout the United States.

Be looking for future projects as well, including the upcoming "Spartan X Trade paperback!" And few surprise projects that we'll announce as soon as we can!

For more information on Michael Golden and his work, contact:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-Golden/44937601170?ref=share

www.evaink.com

Adam Hughes

Comic Guest

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.

Bob Layton

Comic Guest

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.

Steve McNiven

Comic Guest

Steve has been pencilling comic books for a while now, mostly at home with his many 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 Old Man Logan. Recently he has collaborated with Mark Millar on Nemesis, a new creator owned project released under the Icon imprint of Marvel Comics, and is busy filling comic pages with scenes of evil wrongdoing.

Greg Pak

Comic Guest

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 gregpak.com.

Jimmy Palmiotti

Comic Guest

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, Freedom Fighters, Time Bomb, The Tattered Man, Random acts of violence and more.

Khoi Pham

Comic Guest

Khoi Pham is a penciler for Marvel Comics. He is currently the artist on Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente's Chaos War for Marvel. He most recently worked 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.

www.khoipham.com
www.tentonstudios.com

Whilce Portacio

Comic Guest

Whilce Portacio launched his career in the comic book industry when Marvel editor Carl Potts offered him an inking job in "Alien Legion" and "Longshot" in 1985. Afterwhich, Portacio was handed a pencilling job in "Strikeforce: Morituri".

With determination to bring his craft to excellence, Portacio eventually worked his way to the top of Marvel's artist roster. He was even given the chance to create his own character for "X-Men" named Bishop (first appeared in "Uncanny X-Men " # 282 in 1991). Portacio has also worked on "Legion of Night" "The Punisher", "X Factor", "Uncanny X Men", "Heroes Reborn: Iron Man" and "X Force".

Portacio later joined forces with six other high-profile artists to form their own company called Image Comics and "Wetworks" was born. In 2000, Portacio was forced to stop working in the middle of a deadline for Marvel's "X Force" because he fell ill.

Back on his feet after a year, Portacio continued his career via DC/Wildstorm titles such as "Stormwatch", "The Authority", "Wetworks Vol. II", "Batman Confidential" and "Superman/Batman".

Portacio came back to Image recently and worked on Todd McFarlane's "Spawn" and now the much-talked about Image founders' (Rob Liefeld, Erik Larsen, McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, Jim Valentino and himself) reunion book called "Image United". His upcoming project this December "Hulk # 18" (with Jeph Loeb) also marks Portacio's return to Marvel.

Allison Sohn

Comic Guest

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.

Ben Templesmith

Comic Guest

Ben Templesmith 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 music bands, dvds, toys, and film concept work.

Reach him by email: contact@templesmitharts.com or www.templesmith.com

Mark Texeira

Comic Guest

Renowned painter and illustrator Mark Texeira is known the world over his illustrative interiors and fine art painting. Think of "Ghost Rider," "Moonknight," "Black Panther," .... and one of Mark's fantastic works will surely come to mind.

An alumni of the famous Art & Design High School in Manhattan, which boasts graduates such as Tony Bennett, Harvey Firestein, Steve Asell, Eric Valazquez, Neal Adams and Willie Low...among many others, Mark also studied under the guidance of painters Max Ginsburg, Irwin Greenberg, aand portrait painter David Leffel--the later at the Art Students League.

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; D.C. Publications; Harris Publications; Wizard Magazine; Black Bull Entertainment; Continuity Associates; and Fleer/Skybox International, among many more.

Some of Mark's recent groundbreaking work includes "Ghost Rider"-- leading Mark to be interviewed on the DVD of the Nicolas Cage movie with the same name, as well as the "Wolverine Special" for Marvel Comics, which ties-in with the Hugh Jackman Wolverine movie, as well as fantastic painted interiors for Wizards of the Coast! Texeira's work will soon be featured in a 5-issue Punisher limited series from Marvel as well.

In addition Tex is the subject of several current and upcoming projects: A DVD tutorial from Woodcrest Productions/Eva Ink entitled "Creator Chronicles: Mark Texeira," and a full retrospective and biography of Mark's career has just hit the stands from Vanguard Productions entitled: "Tex--The Art of Mark Texeira...The Artist's Great Escape," written by Renee Witterstaetter. In addition, Mark's new sketchbook, "Babes and Brawn," is available at his various appearances.

For more information on Mark Texeira and his work, contact:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Texeira-Page/32587298195

www.evaink.com

Peter Tomasi

Comic Guest

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 and also the writer of the new series Green Lantern Emerald Warriors.

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.

Jim Valentino

Comic Guest

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.

Fred Van Lente

Comic Guest

Fred Van Lente is the New York Times bestselling author of Incredible Hercules (with Greg Pak) and three entries in the Marvel Zombies series, as well as the American Library Association award-winning Action Philosophers. His original graphic novel, Cowboys & Aliens (co-written with Andrew Foley), is being adapted into motion picture form by Dreamworks and Universal starring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. Van Lente's other comics include Comic Book Comics, Iron Man Legacy, Taskmaster, Shadowland: Power Man and Amazing Spider-Man.

Chris Claremont

Comic Guest

Writer Chris Claremont has encountered more success than most writers ever dream of. His stories have achieved best-seller status, won numerous awards, and are trend-setters for the industry. Although best known for his work on Marvel Comic's X-Men series, he has written other seminal characters such as Batman and Superman; originated several creator-owned series; is published throughout the world in many different languages; authored nine novels; and even had his first video game premier in Spring 2006. His work has touched millions.

His initial unbroken 17 year run on Marvel Comics The Uncanny X-Men is the stuff of industry legend. During that tenure he took a lackluster title and transformed it into the dominant, best-selling title in the industry. His run culminated with the launch of the new title, X-Men, whose first issue sold over 7.6 million copies. No one has yet come close to breaking this record. It is a conservative estimate that Chris has sold in excess of 500,000,000 comics, world wide.

Chris's work on the X-Men has brought resounding creative success as well as outstanding sales. The story arc "Dark Phoenix," with its radical treatment of the story's central character, paved the way for the reinterpretation of superhero mythos throughout the comics industry. That story still resonates throughout the X-men canon.

Chris is well known for his progressive treatment of women in a genre that oftentimes relies on stereotype. Active, intelligent, courageous women characters such as Jean Grey, Kitty Pryde, and Storm have made Chris's X-Men as popular with women readers as men.

The Summer of 2000 saw the release of the feature film, X-Men, based largely on material created by Chris. The sequel, X-2, contains characters and key story elements from Chris's best-selling graphic novel, God Loves, Man Kills. X-Men: The Last Stand, released in May 2006, is grounded in the Dark Phoenix saga. The forthcoming second Wolverine movie is based largely on the graphic novel, Wolverine, by Chris and Frank Miller.

Chris is especially proud of his creator-owed work, which includes the historic fantasies The Black Dragon and Marada, the She-Wolf (artist: John Bolton). Chris has also written 10 prose novels to date, including the science fiction High Frontier Series (First Flight, Grounded!, Sundowner) and the fantasy series Shadow Moon, Shadow Dawn, Shadow Star.

Current projects include the on-going Marvel series X-Men Forever, the one-shot X-Women, drawn by renowned Italian artist Milo Manara, and several exciting, soon-to-be announced prose projects.

Renee Witterstaetter

Comic Guest

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, among other titles. 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 Spiderman 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 including for the likes of Madonna, Seal, Ben Harper and Usher, as well as working on the feature movies Crime Story, Rush Hour Two, Red Dragon , To ease the lose, and Swimming With The Virgin, among others.

She is the author of numerous books, boxing articles and feature articles including the books "Dying for Action: The Life and Films of Jackie Chan" from Warner Publishing, "The Fantastic Art" from Vanguard Productions and "The Art of the Barbarian" from Image/Eva Ink/Heavy Metal, as well as the best-selling biography "Excess: The Art of Michael Golden" from Vanguard Productions, which sold out and just went into a second printing. Her newest books include a biography and retrospective on artist Mark Texeira entitled "Tex: The Art of Mark Texeira," as well as the Michael Golden art books, "Heroes and Villains" and "MORE Heroes and Villains," the sketchbook "Mark Texeira Babes and Brawn," and the upcoming art book "Joe Jusko: Savage Beauty."

A member of the Society of Illustrators in Manhattan, Renee is currently working on two new books on Mr. Golden entitled "Dangerous Curves" and "Bad Dog." As well as instructional books.

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.

In her not so abundant free time, she fishes, dances and is also curating several major art exhibits in the United States and in Europe. In addition, having just taught at several locales in China and Spain in 2009, Renee is planning to return to teach more in China as a visiting professor this coming year.

For more information on Renee Witterstaetter and her work, check out one of the following sites:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eva-Renee- Witterstaetter/180691164867

http://witterstaetterwrites.blogspot.com/

www.evainkpublishing.com

Appearing in Autograph Alley and J&J Collectibles

Media Guest

James Marsters may best be known for the role of Spike, the cult favorite punk-goth vampire that he played for six seasons on the series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and then on the final season of the spin-off show "Angel." He is a headlining fan favorite at conventions worldwide honoring the show and sci-fi genre. A sci-fi favorite, Marsters has recurred on the series Smallville, playing the role of Brainiac, an android who causes a rift between Clark Kent and Lex Luthor. He was also seen in his recurring role on the hit BBC America show "Torchwood," playing the ruthless and sexually deviant Captain John. Currently, he can be seen on the SyFy drama "Caprica". He recently completed the pilot for the CBS remake of the popular television series "Hawaii 5-O. On the big screen, Marsters appeared in the much-anticipated live action adaptation of the hit Japanese video game Dragon Ball, in which he portrayed Lord Picolo, the evil war lord set on destroying the earth. He also co-starred with Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler in "PS I Love You". James will be appearing in the J&J Collectibles Booth for Photo Ops with Froggy's Photos

Katee Sackhoff - Appearing at the Celebrity Authentics Booth

Media Guest

Order your autograph from Celebrity Authentics now! All advance ticket purchases will automatically receive a Speed Pass to help avoid long lines!

As one of the stars of the critically acclaimed television series, Battlestar Galactica, Katee Sackhoff has wowed fans and critics alike with her portrayal of Kara "Starbuck" Thrace; an aggressive, loud-mouthed, hot-shot fighter pilot who undertakes an arduous journey of self-discovery throughout the entire series. For five years Sackhoff brought to life one of the show's most compelling and complex characters, gaining a legion of loyal fans along the way. Now, with Galactica at an end and the journey of Starbuck complete, Katee has recently joined the cast of the hit Fox TV series, 24as computer analyst, Dana Walsh. Early on Katee's athleticism took the drivers seat as she became a proficient swimmer and maintained a long-term goal of going pro. It wasn't long until fate would intercede and Katee's swimming career was to be cut short after an accident that affected her knee. Not one to sit still for long, Katee took her interest in acting and propelled herself from High School productions of Bye, Bye Birdie, Oliver and Fiddler on the Roof to being cast as a teenage mother in the Lifetime original movie, Fifteen and Pregnant with Kirsten Dunst. Upon graduating High School, Sackhoff left her hometown of Portland, OR for the bright lights of Hollywood where she landed various jobs early on in her career including roles in the Fox Family Channel series, The Fearing Mind and MTV'sUndressed. Katee's career blossomed when she became one of the main cast members of the CBS series, The Education of Max Bickford in which she played Nell, the daughter of the title character -- portrayed by award winning actor, Richard Dreyfuss. The series showcased Katee's dramatic talents as she played the estranged daughter of Dreyfuss, trying to deal with the loss of her mother. The series also showcased Katee's singing talents as her character, Nell, pursued a dream of music as lead singer of a rock band. After 'The Education of Max Bickford' Katee made guest appearances on various TV shows including the hit series ER as well as appearing in the horror movie franchise, Halloween: Resurrection. Her career exploded when she took the lead role of Starbuck in the re-imagined sci-fi series, Battlestar Galactica. Derived from the original 1978 series of the same name, Battlestar was met with much criticism from fans of the original who did not take kindly to many of the changes -- particularly the fact that Sackhoff's character had originally been played by a man. Against all odds Katee successfully made the character her own and was quickly embraced by fans of both series. The show was a huge hit with critics, receiving praise from Time Magazine as "the best show on television". The character of Starbuck became a role-model overnight with fans praising Sackhoff for her portrayal of such a strong, sexy and independent character. During her time on BSG Sackhoff also appeared in both television and film projects including the re-imagined Bionic Womanseries. Although cancelled during its first season, Sackhoff received numerous accolades for her role as the first Bionic-Woman-turned-bad, Sarah Corvus. Katee also appeared in the film White Noise 2: The Light alongside actor, Nathan Fillion (Firefly/Castle). Guest appearances on Law and Order and Nip/Tuck followed as well as voiceover work for the hit video game franchise, Halo 3, and appearances on the Cartoon Network series, Robot Chicken. With a guest role, playing herself, on the CBS hit series, The Big Bang Theory, as well as her current role on Fox's 24, Katee continues to seek out new and challenging characters to portray while maintaining a career of success and longevity. When she's not working Katee enjoys spending her time riding motorcycles, working out, watching movies and hanging out with family and friends.

Christopher Judge - Appearing at the Celebrity Authentics Booth

Media Guest

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Douglas Christopher Judge was born raised in Los Angeles, and is of African American and Cherokee ancestry. Judge always knew that he wanted to be an actor, wanting to invoke feelings in others that he was receiving from the shows. He realized quickly that sports would be the stepping stone to an acting career. Attending the University of Oregon on a football scholarship, Judge led in kickoff return yardage for 1983-84 and interceptions in 1984, in addition to earning the Casanova Award in 1982 (given to the freshman or newcomer of the year). Judge was also a three time All American, a Pacific-10 Conference Selection in 1984, and played in the 1985 Hula Bowl. While at Oregon Judge was a pre-med major, then psychology, then telecommunications and film, with a minor in psychology. In his senior year he won a regional contest to host the West Coast Fox KLSR Morning Show, an "MTV talk show type thing"; he used this experience to get an agent and move to Los Angeles. Judge began studying at the Howard Fine Institute in LA in 1989. Some early roles were Bird on a Wire, Cadence, Neon Rider and MacGyver with future Stargate SG-1 star Richard Dean Anderson. In the ensuing years, Judge had small parts in various television shows and movies such as 21 Jump Street (with future SG-1 director Peter DeLuise), The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and House Party 2, and as a regular on Sirens from 1994 to 1995. Judge's largest role came in 1997 with Stargate SG-1. While at a friend's house, he saw his friend's roommate practicing for an audition and was intrigued. While the roommate was away, Judge looked at the audition notes, then called his agent and insisted he get him an audition, or lose him as a client. At the audition there were three sets of actors for each of the principle roles, but eight or ten for the role of Teal'c. Judge was confident he got the part when they dismissed everyone who read for the part except him. Out of all the actors in Stargate SG-1, Judge has been in the most episodes. More recent works of Judge's include guest spots on Andromeda and Stargate: Atlantis, the television movie Personal Effects, and the films Snow Dogs and A Dog's Breakfast, the latter written and directed by fellow Stargate actor David Hewlett. Judge has written three episodes of Stargate: SG-1: "The Changeling", "Birthright", and "Sacrifices". After Stargate was canceled, Judge began writing a script for a show called Rage of Angels. Judge also does voice acting for animated series and video games, including the voice of Magneto on X-Men: Evolution and the canceled Stargate SG-1: The Alliance. In the season eight episodes of Stargate ("Avatar" and "The Warrior"), Teal'c informs SG-1 that he plays Def Jam Vendetta, alluding to the fact that Judge was a voice actor in that game. He is also known for voicing Jericho in Turok.

Ian Whyte - Appearing at the Celebrity Authentics Booth

Media Guest

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This Professional Basketball player turned actor went to Dorothy Stringer High School in Brighton. He played basketball for Iona College and Clarion University in the USA before starting his professional career in 1994. He played for England for 9 years and for clubs in England, France, Portugal, Belgium and Greece before retiring from Basketball in 2003. AVP: Alien vs. Predator was Ian's first film. In the new AVP film you will see many Predator creatures. BUT guess what? THEY ARE ALL IAN! That's right! Via the magic of film making (except for a few scenes where stand-ins were used) every time you see The Predator on screen IT'S IAN! Even in some shots where you see some of them standing side by side, it is STILL Ian (he's just standing in front of a blue screen). Ian said it was fun filming all the different Predator creatures, BUT can you imagine ALL THOSE COSTUME CHANGES! Ian reprized his Predator role in the sequel AVP:R (now on DVD) . He can also be seen in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as Madame Maxime (the Giant) who he portrays in conjunction with the talented actress Frances de la Tour (she plays the Giant close up and Ian plays the Giant for various shots) It's a combined effort. Ian worked closely with Ms.la Tour to get her movements and body language just right! She would often be on set even if she herself was not on camera so that she could guide Ian's in his performance so that together they bring the character to life! A very forceful woman, Madame Maxime is the headmaster of the Belgian wizarding school Beauxbatons. She is very large (10-12 ft tall) and similar in stature to Rebeus Hagrid. She denies being a half-giant. She speaks with a heavy French accent. IAN can currently be seen in DRAGONBALL EVOLUTION as Oozaru. You can also see him in the remake of CLASH OF THE TITANS and also in SOLOMON KANE. Ian resides in North East England with his wife Amy.

Sarah Douglas - Appearing at the Celebrity Authentics Booth

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Still acting, Sarah's career began at the age of nine on stage as The First Fairy in A Midsummer's Nights Dream, performed in Stratford Upon Avon, home of the author of the play and of the aspiring young actress. Sarah Douglas was born, in Stratford Upon Avon, England, the place she will always consider to be her heart and home. Sarah was surrounded by actors and actresses from a very young age. Her mother, Beryl, worked closely with performers of the Royal Shakespeare Company, as their physiotherapist. Growing up in the home of William Shakespeare was a continuous inspiration. Sarah joined The National Youth Theatre in her teens and attended The Rose Bruford Drama School. Sarah loved the theatre and worked in the West End show, Gomes, with Roy Dotrice, a National Tour of Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! alongside the late Jon Pertwee and, in more recent years, with Emily Lloyd on The Open Air Shakespeare Tour of both Hamlet and As You Like It, and a production of Roast Beef at London's Riverside Theatre. Sarah's career soon steered her in front of the camera, and her first screen appearance was in the 1973 sci-fi film, The Final Programme, with Jon Finch. The film was based on the book by Michael Moorcock and is a film that Sarah credits as the beginning of a "quite a career in the sci-fi, fantasy mould." Soon after this, Sarah's screen career began to flourish with appearances in top television shows, Space: 1999, Return Of The Saint and Thundercloud. Next came more films, such as the controversial The Brute, with Julian Glover, and cult-favourite The People That Time Forgot, maintaining her reputation as the "good girl who was always a bit naughty on the side." During the shooting of The People That Time Forgot, Sarah was invited to audition for a role that would ultimately take her career to new heights, and mark the turning point. The casting of as Hollywood's "Queen Of Mean," in the role of the super vixen villain Ursa in the big-budget movies, Superman and Superman II, to be filmed concurrently was a brilliant decision by director Richard Donner. Beating over 600 actresses to the part, Sarah was to find herself "flying" at the end of a wire for the next three years as the movies were extensively filmed and reshot by two different directors, Richard Donner and Richard Lester. After Superman and the world tour she undertook to promote Superman II, Sarah went to America. There, moments before she was to return to the UK, she received a phone call that would make her a household name and face to American television audiences. Sarah was asked to join the cast of the 1980's TV soap, Falcon Crest, portraying the glamorous, fabulous but scheming Pamela Lynch. Over the next two decades, Sarah continued to play roles in what she self-referentially styles as "evil, wicked Queens with different hats on," finding herself co-starring with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Grace Jones, Tom Selleck, Heather Locklearand Pierce Brosnan in various projects ranging from hits shows such as Magnum PI, Stargate, Remington Steele and fantasy films Conan The Destroyer and Solarbabies. Sarah is continually approached by publishing houses to write her autobiography, however she has chosen to use her experiences as the framework for a novel set in the world of the sci-fi genre and Hollywood glitterati. In addition to her writing, Sarah maintains her career of acting, voiceover work, teaching and accepting invitations to appear at speaking events. Whenever opportunity allows, Sarah likes to attend various conventions and signings around the world in order to meet her fans, of which she is delighted to have many. In her personal time, Sarah visits her beautiful and beloved Stratford Upon Avon and her family. Her passion for gardening, creating a piece of England's "green and pleasant land" in the heart of the Hollywood Hills keeps this "Ursa's" high flying feet on the ground.

Simone Legno

Cultyard Guest

Simone Legno is a classically trained illustrator and the inventor of the popular tokidoki brand. Legno is from Rome, Italy where he worked on design projects for clients such as Volkswagen, MTD, and Microsoft. He also cofounded a new media company called Vianet (www.vianet.com). His love for Japanese culture inspired him to create the world of tokidoki (www.tokidoki.it). In 2004, Legno moved to Los Angeles to develop tokidoki as an apparel, art, and lifestyle brand. Tokidoki, which means "sometimes" in Japanese, has become a marketing phenomenon that includes vinyl toys, art-skateboards, iSkins, jewelry, watches, sportswear, accessories, shoes, and stationery.

Tara McPherson

Cultyard Guest

Tara McPherson is an artist based out of New York City. Creating art about people and their odd ways, her characters seem to exude an idealized innocence with a glimpse of hard earned wisdom in their eyes. Recalling many issues from childhood and good old life experience, she creates images that are thought provoking and seductive. People and their relationships are a central theme throughout her work.

Tara exhibits her paintings and serigraphs in fine art galleries all over the world. Named the crown princess of poster art by ELLE Magazine, she has created numerous gig posters for rock bands such as Beck, Modest Mouse, and Melvins. Her array of art also includes creating toys with companies like Kidrobot, Dark Horse, and Toy2R, painted comics and covers for DC Vertigo, advertising and editorial illustrations for companies such as Wyden+Kennedy and Spin Magazine, and teaching a class at Parsons in NYC.

McPherson's art has been included in books such as Lost Constellations; The Art of Tara McPherson Vol II (Dark Horse), Lonely Heart: The Art of Tara McPherson (Dark Horse), Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall (DC), The Art of Modern Rock (Chronicle), Illusive 2, Illustration Now! (Taschen), SWAG and SWAG 2 (Abrams), and more. She has lectured at Semi-Permanent, Offset, Instute of Comtemporary Art London, School of Visual Arts, AIGA NYC, AIGA Austin, Columbus College of Art and Design, Parsons, The University of Arizona, MADE in Edmonton and Foyles London. Her art has also been featured in the Oscar Award winning film Juno.

Tara was born in San Francisco in 1976 and raised in Los Angeles. She received her BFA from Art Center in Pasadena, CA in August 2001 with honors in Illustration and a minor in Fine Art. She interned at Rough Draft Studios, working on Matt Groening's "Futurama" during college.

She has been featured in Juxtapoz, Esquire, Vanity Fair, Playboy, Sony Magazine, Bust, Magnet, Elle, Marie Claire, Clutter, Spin, MTV, Current TV, Swindle, CBC Radio, Super7, Inked, NY Press, LA Times, PBS, Paste, HOW, Step, Communication Arts, Society of Illustrators, Metal Hammer, International Tattoo Art, AIGA, Seattle Times, LA Weekly, Gothamist, DC Comics, Punk Planet, Savage Tattoo and many more.

Some of her clients include DC Comics, Warner Brothers, Dark Horse Comics, Kidrobot, Strangeco, SXSW, Spin, Pepsi, Fanta, Goldenvoice, Penguin, Harper Collins, Bloomsbury, Revolver, Knitting Factory, Playstation 2, House of Blues, Punk Planet, Dogfish Head Brewery, Nike and Wyden+Kennedy among others.

Lou Ferrigno - Appearing in Autograph Alley

Media Guest

In January 2010, Lou Ferrigno® signed on with Nestlé USA, Inc., as a Spokesperson for what promises to be a funny and exciting Campaign that will be launching this year. He and his family are also currently in negotiations with TV Land for a new Reality TV project - The Incredible Ferrigno's which will focus on "coaching" viewers on how to improve the quality of their physical and mental health.Who better than Lou Ferrigno to take on this "Incredible" task. Be sure to stay tuned for the launch of both projects!

In recent news, Lou was a guest on The Tonight Show hosted by his long-time friend and colleague, Jay Leno. You can catch a clip of the Interview on YouTube. Lou has also recently been doing Voice Overs for cartoon characters on The Cartoon Network.

The Summer of 2009 presented a personal challenge for Lou when his long-time friend, Pop legend Michael Jackson, for whom he was a personal trainer over the past 15 years, suddenly passed away stunning both Lou and the entire World. In honor of Michael, Lou made over two-dozen television appearances, including Larry King Live, Good Morning America, The ABC Morning Show and Anderson Cooper. In recognition, Lou was credited on the recently released Michael Jackson movie "This Is It".

In 2009, Lou played a wonderful supporting role in the DreamWorks romantic comedy "I Love You, Man" which was directed by John Hamburg (Zoolander, Along Came Poly, Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers), with a cast that includes Paul Rudd, Jason Segel and Rashida Jones. The DVD was released just a few months ago, in August, 2009.

Shortly before that Lou also appeared in, and did the voice of The Hulk, in Superhero blockbuster feature films, The Incredible Hulk, directed by Louis Leterrier, with a cast that included Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, and Robert Downey Jr. That was, of course, the squeal to the blockbuster hit feature film Hulk, directed by Ang Lee where Lou, at the request of the filmmakers, made an honorary Cameo Appearance. He also provides the voice for the UPN animated series The Incredible Hulk, with a cast that includes Peter Strauss, Mark Hamill, Kathy Ireland, and Richard Moll.

Lou also enjoyed his Recurring Guest Star role on King of Queens, where he frequently appeared up through the shows successful 9th Season, on CBS Television Network.

Also just prior, Lou Guest Starred on the ABC Television sitcom My Wife and Kids, became the spokesman for the Sit Up-Sit Down Home Gym, and was the lead in the debut video for the band "Edgewater" for MTV.

Lou also headed first to Italy where he shot two commercials used in the International market where he has a huge fan base, and to the East coast to shoot two Longhorn Steakhouse commercials, one of which was rated as the No. 3 top commercial of the year by "Shoot Magazine."

Over the past several years Lou completed an extensive physical and academic training program and became a "Deputy" for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. At the induction ceremony, Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca introduced Lou, who spoke publicly before a packed house of other Deputy Sheriffs, their families, friends and press who were present to witness the formal "white glove" event.

In addition, Lou is regularly invited by universities, corporate executives, and numerous other major event holders to give motivational and inspiring speeches all over the world.

In addition to his film and television career, Lou recently released his autobiography, "My Incredible Life as the Hulk," which included forwards by both Stan Lee and Ang Lee.

Lou was only 21 when he won his first Mr. Universe title, a Guinness Book record that stands to this day. More incredible, at age 22 he won again - and to this day remains the only person to win consecutive titles! Lou carried the world of bodybuilding to new heights and himself to superstardom with the film documentary, Pumping Iron, which chronicled the fabled exploits of the youngest and only person to ever become Mr. Universe twice in a row! Exploding onto the film scene, with his place as a body building legend secured, Lou set out to do the same thing in film and television. In less than a year after Pumping Iron, Lou was again larger than life and created a new cult legend as the title character of the hit show The Incredible Hulk. The same hard work that crafted his six foot five inch, two hundred eighty five pound frame into a piece of human art, define him as an actor with the uncanny ability to assume characters of mythic proportions that carry a primal humanity.

Undoubtedly the discipline and resiliency that have made Lou into a bodybuilding icon lend themselves to his willingness to train as a serious theatrical actor. Lou immersed himself in the actor's theatrical experience with the help of his acting mentors, Milton Katselas, Howard Fine, and Hulk co-star Bill Bixby. The results were great theatrical notices in Texas, Canada, and Chicago (at Drury Lane Theater), for his starring role in "Arsenic and Old Lace," and starring roles in ambitious stage presentations of "Requiem for a Heavyweight" and "Of Mice and Men" - shows that toured throughout the U.S. and Canada. Lou's passionate pursuit of excellence has brought this Brooklyn-born actor more than fame and fortune; it has brought him the joy of fulfilling his life-long dreams.

Remaining true to his host of fans from the bodybuilding world, Lou starred in the sequel to Pumping Iron. And, Stand Tall is a film that documents Lou's 1994 comeback in the Masters Olympia title and his return to bodybuilding after a seventeen year retirement. Lou has starred in over twenty feature films including Cage and Cage II, All's Fair, Seven Magnificent Gladiators, and Godson. In two unforgettable performances in Hercules and The Adventures of Hercules, Lou lived a life-long dream by playing the legendary Greek hero.

All this led to an amazingly successful personal training business that includes such star clientele as Mickey Rourke, Michael Jackson, and Chuck Norris, and led him to author the book "Lou Ferrigno's Guide to Personal Power, Bodybuilding and Fitness for Everyone."

Lou continues his regular study of acting and he works out daily, all with the same passion and vigor that made him a household name and established him as one of the most sought-after entertainers in the business.

Richard Hatch - Appearing in Autograph Alley

Media Guest

Richard Hatch has enjoyed international recognition for more than three decades. He has starred in such series as The Streets of San Francisco for which he won Germany's Bravo Award (the equivalent of an Emmy Award), Battlestar Galactica, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe award and the role of Philip Brent, which he originated on ABC's All My Children. Richard is currently playing the role of Tom Zarek in the new re-imagined version of Battlestar playing on the Sci-fi channel and has just written a BG manga for Tokyopop focusing on his character. Richard also starred off-Broadway in several plays and musicals, including the Obie Award winning play "Love me love my children" and PS, Your Cat Is Dead in Chicago. Most recently, Richard starred in the musical Pepper Street and "The Name Game" in Los Angeles. Richard has also just completed directing an infomercial for NSAS on the securities industry.

Richard has starred in such movies for television as The Hatfields And The McCoys with Jack Palance, Addie And The Kings Of Hearts with Jason Robards, Last Of The Belles with Susan Sarandon, The Class Of '65, The Hustler Of Muscle Beach, and the cult classic Deadman's Curve, in which he portrayed Jan Berry of the musical group 'Jan and Dean'. He has also guest starred in numerous television series and feature films, including include Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen with Michelle Pfeiffer and "The Ghost" with Michael Madsen and Brad Dourif. He just completed filming Inalienable written by Walter Koenig and is currently playing the role of Vice President Tom Zarek on the new re-imagined version of Battlestar Galactica airing on the Sci-fi channel. He can also be heard voice acting on the new Sony Playstation 2 Battlestar Game. In addition Richard has co-written seven Battlestar hardback novels for I-books including "Redemption". Richard has also formed a new production company "Merlinquest Entertainment Inc", for which he has written and produced a new Sci-fi/fantasy story entitled "The Great War of Magellan", for which both a table top version and board game will debut this Summer. The online MMO is set to debut late next year. A graphic novel version of Magellan is being currently being produced and will make its debut next May. A theatrical trailer for Magellan has just been completed and will be screened at convention worldwide this summer. In between acting and writing gigs Richard teaches and lectures all over the country on "Acting From The Heart" "Overcoming Fear" Unleashing your Power and Creative Vision" and "Everything you ever wanted to know about the Entertainment Industry" The Art, Craft, and Business of the Entertainment Industry, "Learn cutting edge secrets to a successful career in writing, acting, directing and producing". Please check out battlestargalactica.com or greatwarofmagellan.com for details on Richard's new project and schedule, or email Richard at merlinquest@hotmail.com to book him for conventions or workshops.

Joyce DeWitt - Appearing in Autograph Alley

Media Guest

Joyce DeWitt was born the second oldest of four to parents Paul and Norma DeWitt on April 23, 1949 in Wheeling, West Virginia but grew up in Indiana. Joyce began taking acting lessons when she was in high school. Although her father was hardly thrilled at his daughter's ambition, she persuaded him to let her major in theater in college. DeWitt soon moved to UCLA where she received her master's degree. After college, she worked as a legal secretary while at the same time going from audition to audition. Months passed before ABC offered her a choice of two comedy pilots but gave her only 24 hours to decide on which. After reading both scripts in a hurry, she chose the one about one guy living with two girls, "Three's Company". She chose well - the other show never sold. She had been in numerous amounts of plays before but became familiar to everyone as the sensible, down-to-earth, football jersey wearing, brunette roommate, Janet Wood.

Priscilla Barnes - Appearing in Autograph Alley

Media Guest

Priscilla Barnes is best known for her bittersweet replacement of TV goddess Suzanne Somers during the tension-riddled times of the popular ABC slapstick comedy series "Three's Company" (1977) -- bittersweet in that although the lovely, stringy-framed blonde did become a TV name as a result, she had to endure the anguish of stepping into the shoes of an enormously popular star whose diva act had her unceremoniously dumped from the show when contractual negotiations went awry. It was not the happiest of times for Priscilla yet she managed to pull the whole thing off as nurse Terri Alden, the pretty roommate and (along with co-star Joyce DeWitt), the other female foil to John Ritter's outrageous shenanigans. A former Penthouse Playmate of 1976 (using the alias JoAnn Witty), Priscilla paid her dues via a series of unmemorable projects, including the films Texas Detour, Delta Fox and The Seniors plus the short-lived TV series "The American Girls" in which she played a smart-styled, traveling reporter. Handed a somewhat better supporting role in the Gene Wilder sequence of the four-part film Sunday Lovers, she gathered more experience on such shows as "Cannon," "Starsky and Hutch," "The Incredible Hulk," "The Rockford Files," "Kojak," "Taxi" and "The Love Boat" before becoming a vital part of the "Three's Company" 1981 cast. Active on the theater scene over the years with credits such as "Born Yesterday," "Vanities," "Bus Stop" and "A Streetcar Named Desire" under her belt, she recently played Hillary Clinton in the 2007 black comedy "Hillary Agonistes" in New York. She can also be seen in "The Devil's Reject's, "Mall-Rats", "James Bond" and the "Comic Book Movie Trailer Park of Terror". She has been married to actor Ted Monte since 2003 and has just finished filming "A-Plate".

Brandon DiCamillo

Media Guest

Brandon DiCamillo, born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, is a founding member of the CKY Crew and has risen to fame through appearances in the CKY videos. Some of his starring roles include MTV's Jackass, Jackass: The Movie, Jackass Number Two, Jackass 2.5, Hotdog Casserole, Viva la Bam and Bam's Unholy Union. He played Falcone and various other characters in Haggard The Movie. He played Ponce and Rut Ru in Minghags The Movie. He is a professional stunt man and performed stunts in the movies Assassination of a High School President, The Wrestler and I Am Legend. DiCamillo is a comedic voice talent and is particularly known for his freestyle raps (especially his "Chinese Freestyle" from CKY2K), silly characters and prank phone calls. DiCamillo is credited with the idea of "Shopping Carts" and many other trademark stunts from Jackass and the CKY videos. Brandon is known for his off the cuff lyrics and freestyles. He was also in the band Gnarkill. Brandon is officially recognized as the all time world record holder for the highest score in Mortal Kombat.

Joe Simko

Cultyard Guest

Joe Simko is a New York City based artist. His artwork is a hybrid of childhood influences ranging from underground punk comics and horror films to popular 1980's Saturday morning cartoons and kitschy cereal box art. With his style of bright day-glow colors filling up actively divergent characters in his paintings, Simko often camouflages any dark aspects of expression in the subtle details of his work.

Simko is excited to be working with the Topps Company creating Garbage Pail Kids and Wacky Packages trading cards. He worked on the GPK Flashback series and the current Wacky Packages series 7, and Wacky Packages Postcards series 7.

Joe first established himself as an artist for local and national touring rock bands, designing album covers, concert shirts, and tour posters. Some of the acts he has done work for include GWAR, Trivium, Sonic Youth, Twiztid, Murphy's Law, The Undead, Peelander Z, and the largest traveling summer rock festival The Vans Warped Tour. He was lead designer and art/manager of all the artwork for the traveling rock tour MAGMA based in Japan.

A few of Simko's clients include The Gotham Girls Roller Derby League, New York Hardcore Tattoos, Ride Snowboards, Sims Snowboards, Outlook Skateboards, Spooky Empire's Ultimate Horror Weekend, Monster Mania, Andy Hilfiger, Stephen Baldwin, Live Fast, and has designed bottle art for ManGlaze, a rock and roll black nail polish line. Simko's t-shirt design was used in the film Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. The shirt was originally designed for the store Live Fast in NYC. He is currently represented by MF Gallery and has shown his artwork internationally with MF Gallery in New York City and in Genova, Italy.

Simko continues production as author and illustrator on his new book series The Sweet Rot. An original story showcasing a group of wildly eccentric little kids also known as "little rotters" in the make-believe town of Pollilop Drop. Published by Schiffer Books, The Sweet Rot is an ongoing series of books in which Joe will be putting out over the course of the next several years. He will have a book signing for the first installement of the The Sweet Rot at the Toy Tokyo booth during NY Comic Con on Saturday, time TBA.

All of Joe's work can be viewed at www.sweetrot.com

Adam Kubert

Guest of Honor

Adam Kubert began his career in comics at the ripe old age of twelve as a letterer. After earning a degree in medical illustration, Adam chose to ultimately pursue comics and enrolled at The Joe Kubert School. Adam's body of work includes WOLVERINE, INCREDIBLE HULK, SPIDER-MAN, SUPERMAN, GHOST RIDER along with launching Marvel's mega-popular ULTIMATE X-MEN and ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR titles. After a short stint at DC, Adam has recently returned to his roots at Marvel. Adam Kubert currently teaches with his father, Joe, and brother, Andy, at The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art located in Dover, New Jersey. Visit Adam at the Kubert School Booth. He is appearing Saturday only.

Andy Kubert

Guest of Honor

Andy Kubert began his drawing career at DC Comics illustrating the first highly successful Batman vs. Predator and Adam Strange series. Andy then went on to Marvel Comics popular X-Men title, which remained their top-selling comic during his six-year run. At Marvel, he also illustrated such titles as Ghost Rider (co-creating the "Caretaker" character which also appeared in the Ghost Rider movie starring Nicholas Cage), Captain America, Ka-Zar, Thor, Ultimate X-Men, the first Wolverine: Origin miniseries and Marvel 1602 miniseries. Marvel 1602 was a collaboration with New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman and earned both Neil and Andy a 2005 Quill Award for Best Graphic Novel. Andy then returned to DC to work on the main Batman title with acclaimed author Grant Morrison. His subsequent project was the best selling Batman series again in collaboration with Neil Gaiman entitled "Whatever Happened to The Caped Crusader?" a 2 part story that appeared in DC`s Batman #686 and Detective Comics #853 . The hardcover version of that story earned its spot on the New York Times best seller list for Graphic Novels. Currently, he is working on the first two issues of DC Comics 75th anniversary series entitled DC Legacies that his father, comic legend, Joe Kubert, is inking and Swamp Thing creator Len Wein is writing. Andy also has done the covers for the 6 issue series "The Return of Bruce Wayne" which brings Bruce back to the Batman fold! Along with his teaching and other duties at the Kubert School, Andy is currently an exclusive contract artist to DC comics. He has been named to Wizard Magazine's Top Ten Artists list on numerous occasions over the course of his career. Visit Andy at the Kubert School Booth. He is appearing Friday and Saturday.

Joe Kubert

Guest of Honor

Joe Kubert has worked in comics since the beginning of the business. In his seventy-plus years of working in the medium he has produced countless stories for countless characters, including DC Comics' Hawkman, Tarzan, Enemy Ace, Sgt Rock, Batman and the Flash as well as his own characters: the heroic caveman, Tor, and Abraham Stone. His list of accomplishments is lengthy. A quick rundown: penciler, inker, letterer, colorist, one of the creators of 3-D comic books, newspaper strip cartoonist, school founder and teacher, correspondence course developer, author, artist and editor. Joe Kubert lives and works in New Jersey. Visit Joe at the Kubert School Booth. He is appearing Saturday and Sunday.

J. Scott Campbell

Comic Guest

J. Scott Campbell is a renowned illustrator and a world famous comic book artist with over a decade and a half in the business. Best known for his landmark series 'Danger Girl', where he served as both creator and artist, Scott has also created a huge fan-base over the years from his work on such titles as 'Gen 13', 'Spider-Man', 'Wildsiderz' and most recently his very first pin-up calendar 'FairyTale Fantasies', featuring his very recognizable, sexy and playful girly art. An all around talent, Campbell has also dabbled in the fields of film design, video games, toys, animation, commercial art, and self publishing. His current projects include upcoming interiors on Spider-Man in addition to many high profile covers for Marvel Comics.

Jimmy Cheung

Comic Guest

Originally hailing from the UK, Jim 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.

Geof Darrow

Comic Guest

Geof Darrow was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and studied drawing at the Chicago Acadamy of Fine Arts and Hanna-Barbera School of Frustration. He has lived and worked in four countries: U.S.A., France, Japan, and California. His credits include the comics work HardBpiled, Big Guy (with Frank Miller) and Shaolin Cowboy (With his split personality The Chubby Johnson). He has done concept work with film directors Wachoswki Brothers, Ridley Scott, and JJ Abrams amongst others. He has met President Frederick Mitterand of France and has never met either Bush Presidents. He continues to work in comics, film, animal husbandry, and never intends to meet either Bush' or maverick media vampire Sarah Palin.

Tom DeFalco

Comic Guest

A former editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics with over thirty books currently in print, Tom DeFalco has written comic books, graphic novels, short stories, prose novels and books like Spider-Man: The Ultimate Guide and Comic Creators on Fantastic Four. He was also a major contributor to The Marvel Encyclopedia and The Marvel Chronology. DeFalco has recently worked on Star Wars: The Clone Wars for Titan Comics, The Man From RIVERDALE for Archie Comics, Flash Gordon for Ardden Entertainment, The Flying Fool for Moonstone Books and, of course, The Spectacular Spider-Girl for Marvel Comics. He is currently writing a new Thunderstrike limited series with co-creator Ron Frenz.

Leo Leibelman

Comic Guest

Leo Leibelman went to the HS of Music and Art and took a How to Draw Comic Books class under Carlos Infantino. Those classes paid off because a few years later in 1994 he began working for Marvel Comics on Savage Sword of Conan. From there, Leo worked for Acclaim Comics on Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and Magic: the Gathering and Topps on Hercules. Leo eventually moved to the Great White North and found himself in the film industry while still keeping his hand in the comics business. Besides comics and film, Leo has painted covers for romance novels and has illustrated for educational CD roms. Currently, Leo is working on films and TV shows full time and has produced some covers for magazines like Heavy Metal.

Mark Morales

Comic Guest

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.

Steve Scott

Comic Guest

Comic artist Steve Scott's work recently graced the "X-Men Forever" series with writer Chris Claremont as well as a current Green Lantern special project at DC Comics to boot! Not to mention that Steve is also the ONLY artist tapped by DC Comics to do any work relating to "Batman Forever," depicting the now legendary turn of Heath Ledger as The Joker. Look for Steve's work in the Blue-Ray disc release of the movie! Currently Steve is working on a top secret "Green Lantern" project for DC Comics due out in a few months! Steve is indeed certainly no stranger to media tie-in's. His work has also often been seen on the television show Smallville and in other special projects for DC Comics. As well as doing some darn good likenessess for the recent "Indiana Jones--Tomb of the Gods," comic book series for Dark Horse to tie-in with the recent Harrison Ford movie! In fact, George Lucas liked Steve's work so much that he purchased most of the originals to keep for himself! Beginning his comics career at Malibu Comics and his wildly popular stint on "Razor" for London Night, as well as "New Warriors," "Hourman," and "JLA" for Marvel and DC Comics--With a resume like that, one wouldn't think that up until recently, Steve led a duel life as firefighter by day and artist by night-- for more than sixteen years, in fact! Even then, it took one horrible event to bring those two identities together. On September 11, 2001, he watched, with the rest of the nation as the Twin Towers fell. Soon afterwards, DC Comics published "The Worlds Finest Comic Book Writers & Artists Tell Stories to Remember." Steve was selected among the few to contribute to this historical collection, which was later exhibited, and is now archived, at the Library of Congress. Shortly after Hurricane Katrina and his work as a firefighter in Buloxi during that catastrophe, Steve decided to pursue comic work full time, relocating to the renowned community of artist in Atlanta, Georgia. Immediately, Steve's work began to appear in the pages of "Shadowpact," "The Creeper" with writer Steve Niles, "Batman Legends of the Dark Knight," and "Checkmate." He got a particularly special kick out of bringing to life some of DC Comics strangest characters like Detective Chimp, Rex the Wonder Dog, Rag Man, The Phantom Stranger and many others. Recent and current projects at Marvel Comics, and DC Comics include working with industry legends Louise Simonson and Chris Claremont on the titles "Magik" and "Exiles," the "Marvel Adventures" line featuring Fantastic Four, Avengers, and the Hulk, work on "She-Hulk," And a Kyle XY one shot for Disney/ABC with writer Jeff Parker. In other words, he's busy making comics, which is a good thing for his ever growing number of fans. Recently returned from a signing tour in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, and Spain look for more of Steve's work on title to be announced soon, as well as some awesome surprises!!

Leinil Francis Yu

Comic Guest

Leinil Yu's first interest in Comics was sparked by a copy of How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way when he was 11. It was later reinforced by positive responses from talent scouts from Wildstorn/Homage and Darkhorse, published fan art in Wizard Magazine and first professional work on Entity Comics' Aster. The major break was Whilce Portacio's tutelage where the training landed him his first mainstream comics gig: Wolverine in 1997. After a lengthy run, he later took on the Uncanny X-men, X-men, Highroads, Superman: Birthright, Silent Dragon, Ult. Hulk/Wolverine, New Avengers, Marvel's 2008 Epic: Secret Invasion, and a series of projects with writer Mark Millar, Ultimate Avengers and their creator-owned project Superior. He lives in Manila, Philippines.

William Katt

Media Guest

Tommy Ross in the classic horror film 'CARRIE' and later Roger Cobb in the iconic post modern horror film 'HOUSE'. Ralph Hinkley was the standout role from the super hit 'THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO'. William has starred and appeared in countless television roles including 'HEROES' and the soon to be released 'MIRRORS 2' with Nick Stalh and 'THE GIFT' w/ George Strait. He is also the creator of 'CATASTROPHIC COMICS'.

Salvador Larroca

Comic Guest

Salvador Larroca was born and raised in Valencia, Spain. After first working as a cartographer, Larroca began working as a comic artist at Marvel UK on titles including Dark Angel and Death's Head II. Eventually taking his pencil to US books, Larroca spent three years on Marvel's Ghost Rider before turning to Captain America, Iron Man, and Fantastic Four in Heroes Return. He then went onto titles including Uncanny X-Men, X-Treme X-Men, Spider-Man: House of M, and Ultimate Daredevil and Elektra. Recently, he's worked with Matt Fraction on The Invincible Iron Man.

Jeph Loeb

Comic Guest

Jeph Loeb is the newly appointed EVP, Head of Marvel Television. He is an Emmy and WGA nominated American film and television writer/producer as well as an award winning comic book writer. He was a producer/writer on the TV series Smallville and Lost, writer of the films Commando and Teen Wolf and Co-Executive Producer/writer on Heroes. A four-time Eisner Award winner and five-time Wizard Fan Awards winner, Jeph's writing, which has appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List, includes Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, The Hulk, Iron Man and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. His is currently writing HULK with Ed McGuinness, ULTIMATE X with Arthur Adams, NEW ULTIMATES with Frank Cho and CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHITE with his longtime collaborator Tim Sale.

Joe Quesada

Comic Guest

Joe Quesada wears many creative hats, as both an acclaimed writer-artist and the current Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics, the world's largest comic book publisher. In this role, Joe is steward of such legendary characters as Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Incredible Hulk, and the Fantastic Four. Even with an entire publishing company to run, Quesada keeps his creative hand moving as well. During his tenure as Editor-in-Chief, he's completed Daredevil: Father, a story lovingly dedicated to his own father and later this year will be writing and drawing a new chapter for one of Marvel's most beloved characters that is sure to stir controversy and break the internet in half one more time.

Tony Daniel

Comic Guest

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.

Shane Davis

Comic Guest

A high profile DC artist since at least 2005, Davis worked on smaller venue titles such as Robin and the Marvel Adventures Spider-Man title in the very early days of his career as a penciller. After some fill-in issues of Batman, Davis received much exposure illustrating the title's 25th Annual with writer Judd Winick featuring the return story of Jason Todd. After this, in 2007 Davis illustrated the first issue of the JLA/JSA crossover storyline "The Lightning Saga", and then went on to be the penciller for Superman/Batman for issues #44-49. In 2008, Davis was tapped by writer Geoff Johns to be the artist for a Final Crisis tie-in one-shot entitled Rage of the Red Lanterns, which featured a lead-up to a story in the main Green Lantern title and its 2009 crossover Blackest Night. Davis' next project will be with writer J. Michael Straczynski on an original graphic novel starring Superman entitled Superman: Earth One.

Dan DiDio

Comic Guest

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.

David Finch

Comic Guest

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.

Geoff Johns

Comic Guest

Geoff Johns is one of the most the most prolific and popular of contemporary comic book writers. He has written highly acclaimed stories starring Superman, Green Lantern, the Flash, Teen Titans, and Justice Society of America. He is the author of the New York Times bestselling graphic novels Green Lantern: Rage of the Red Lanterns, Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps War, JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA: THY KINGDOM COME, and Superman: Brainiac and Superman: New Krypton.

Johns was born in Detroit and studied media arts, screenwriting, film production and theory at Michigan State University. After moving to Los Angeles, he worked as an intern and later an assistant for film director Richard Donner, whose credits include Superman: The Movie, Lethal Weapon 4 and Conspiracy Theory.

Johns began his comics career creating and writing Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. for DC Comics. Geoff received the Wizard Fan Award for Breakout Talent of 2002 and Writer of the Year for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 as well as the CBG Writer of the Year 2003 thru 2005 and 2007 and 2008 and CBG Best Comic Book Series for JSA 2001 thru 2005.

After acclaimed runs on Flash, Teen Titans and the bestselling Infinite Crisis mini-series, Johns co-wrote a run on ACTION COMICS with his mentor, Donner. In 2006, he co-wrote 52: an ambitious weekly comic book series set in real time, with Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid.

Johns has also written for various other media, including the acclaimed "Legion" episode of SMALLVILLE and the fourth season of ROBOT CHICKEN. He is writing the story of the DC Universe™ Online (DCUO)massively multiplayer action game from Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE)

Johns currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

For more information about Geoff Johns and his upcoming projects, visit http://www.geoffjohns.com/.

Jim Lee

Comic Guest

Acclaimed comic book illustrator Jim Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea in 1964. Today, Lee is the Co-Publisher of DC Comics and the penciller for many of DC's bestselling comic book and graphic novels, including All Star Batman and Robin, The Boy Wonder, Batman: Hush, and Superman: For Tomorrow. He also serves as the Executive Creative Director for the upcoming DC Universe Online videogame. In his spare time, Jim enjoys a good laugh or two.

Francis Manapul

Comic Guest

Francis Manapul is a comic book artist living in Toronto, Canada currently working for DC Comics. His list of credits include the forthcoming Adventure Comics, and Superman Batman. In the past, he's worked on titles like Legion of Super-Heroes, Iron and the Maiden, Necromancer, Sept Guerrieres, Tomb Raider, Darkness, G.I Joe and Witchblade.

Dustin Nguyen

Comic Guest

Dustin Nguyen is a comic book artist who has worked for DC Comics and WildStorm since 2000. He has since worked on such titles as Jet with Dan Abnett, Wildcats v3.0 with Joe Casey, Batman with Judd Winick, Manifest Eternity with Scott Lobdell, and the latest revamp of The Authority, The Authority: Revolution, with Ed Brubaker. Recently, he was the artist on a six-issue arc of Superman/Batman entitled "Torment", with writer Alan Burnett. With issue #840, Nguyen became the regular ongoing artist with writer Paul Dini on one of DC's flagship titles, Detective Comics until issue 852. He is now the ongoing artist along with Derek Fridolfs and writer Paul Dini on the new series Batman: Streets of Gotham.

Ivan Reis

Comic Guest

Ivan Reis, born 1976 in São Paulo, is a Brazilian comic book artist. He is known for his work on books such as Green Lantern. For three years, Reis worked for Mauricio de Sousa in Brazil. He began his international career for Dark Horse working on titles such as Ghost, starting with issue 17 and acting as regular artist until that title finished at issue 36. There, he also worked on The Mask, Time Cop and Xena. Later, he worked for Lightning Comics. At Vertigo, he pencilled an issue of Grant Morrison's The Invisibles. He became better known for Lady Death (Chaos! and CrossGen). Since 2004 he's an exclusively DC Comics artist and has worked on Action Comics, Teen Titans, Rann-Thanagar War, Superman, and Infinite Crisis. He's currently pencilling Green Lantern vol. 4. Reis' left Green Lantern with issue #38, after he provided the artwork for the miniseries Blackest Night and its follow-up, Brightest Day.

Freddie Williams II

Comic Guest

Freddie E. Williams II is an American comic book artist best known for his work on DC's Robin and for working almost entirely in digital formats. Williams has said that after reading a copy of the Uncanny X-Men issue 272 with art by Jim Lee, he was inspired to become a comic book artist from the age of 15. While attending the 2005 San Diego Comic-Con Williams submitted a portfolio to the DC talent search. As a result he was hired to do a Seven Soldiers issue featuring Mister Miracle, and some fill in issues for Aquaman. In 2006 Williams signed an exclusive contract with DC Comics. He became the regular artist on Robin from issue 149 in 2006. In early 2008 he started illustrating the Flash comic. Williams trained in traditional art methods but now works almost exclusively in digital format with only special commissions and a few pages being done with pen and ink.

Darwyn Cooke

Comic Guest

Cooke left a successful career in animation 10 years ago to concentrate his creative energies on his first love -- the sequential storytelling of comic books. Cooke was soon taking the industry by storm with his work on Selina's Big Score, DC: The New Frontier, and The Spirit. Not surprisingly, hard-boiled crime novels, particularly Richard Stark's Parker, have been a source of great creative inspiration. Cooke has received Eisner awards, the industry's highest honor, twice for Best Single Issue of the year and once for Best Limited Series of the year. In 2008, his best-selling opus, DC: The New Frontier was released as a DVD, for which Cooke shared an Emmy Award-nomination.

Rick Parker

Comics Guest

Rick Parker is known world-wide as the artist of MTV’s Beavis and Butt-Head Comic Book. He most recently illustrated the graphic novel parody, "Harry Potty and The Deathly Boring" written by Stefan Petrucha from Papercutz. He currently draws the Introductory Pages of Tales From The Crypt, featuring The Crypt Keeper, The Vault Keeper and The Old Witch. Rick recently self-published his first original graphic novel, "Deadboy" on blurb.com. Rick illustrated the hit graphic novel, “Diary of A Stinky Dead Kid” which was selected for the Children's Choice List for 2010. Rick illustrates stories for Harvey Pekar, The Pekar Project and SMITH Magazine. Rick teaches cartooning/comic art in the after school programs of various public schools and privately and his students have won first place in national and local contests. Rick enjoys meeting people who love comics.

Alexis Frederick-Frost

Comics Guest

Alexis Frederick-Frost is a part of the three-headed cartoonist that created Adventures in Cartooning and the Adventures in Cartooning Activity Book.  The other two heads of this cartoonist are James Sturm and Andrew Arnold.  Alexis is a graduate of CCS and a winner of the Xeric Award; he lives in New Hampshire, and works at a library. 

Andrew Arnold

Comics Guest

Andrew Arnold is a part of the three-headed cartoonist that created Adventures in Cartooning and the Adventures in Cartooning Activity Book.  The other two heads of this cartoonist are James Sturm and Alexis Frederick-Frost.  Andrew is a graduate of CCS; he lives in New York, and works in publishing. 

Ann Telnaes

Comics Guest

Ann Telnaes' animated editorial cartoons are posted every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on The Washington Post's website.

Telnaes' work was shown in a solo exhibition at the Great Hall in the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress in 2004. Her first book, “Humor's Edge”, was published by Pomegranate Press and the Library of Congress in 2004. A collection of Vice President Cheney cartoons, “Dick”, was self-published by Telnaes in 2006. Her work has also been exhibited in Paris, Jerusalem, and Lisbon.

Telnaes attended California Institute of the Arts and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, specializing in character animation. Before beginning her career as an editorial cartoonist, Telnaes worked for several years as a designer for Walt Disney Imagineering. She has also animated and designed for various studios in Los Angeles, New York, London, and Taiwan.

Awards include: - The Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning (2001) - The National Press Foundation's Berryman Award (2006) - The Maggie Award, Planned Parenthood (2002) - 15th Annual International Dutch Cartoon Festival (2007) - The National Headliner Award (1997) - The Population Institute XVII Global Media Awards (1996) - Sixth Annual Environmental Media Awards (1996)

Her television and radio appearances include: - The Newshour with Jim Lehrer - C-Span - NPR - BBC radio - The Editors, World Affairs Television, Canada

Telnaes is a member of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, the National Cartoonists Society, The International Women's Forum (Washington DC affiliate), and the American Newswomen's Club.

Brad Guigar

Comics Guest

Brad Guigar is celebrating ten years of doing a daily comic strip this year. "Evil Inc" runs every day at www.evil-inc.com and also appears in front of an estimated 1.5 million newspaper readers a week.

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.

Dave Roman

Comics Guest

Dave Roman was until recently a comics editor at the late, great Nickelodeon Magazine, where he worked with many of the great cartoonists and great kids franchises of our time. He edited and contributed work to the Agnes Quill anthology series, which is now in development as a major motion picture with "Wimpy Kid" director Thor Freudenthal at the helm. Roman has also written licensed comics and manga for X-Men and "The Last Airbender" - an M. Knight Shamalan adaptation of the Nickelodeon cartoon, which hit the screens summer 2010.  His next graphic novel, Astronaut Academy, will be published by First Second Books in 2011. 

Deborah Harkness

Comics Guest

Deborah Harkness is a professor of history at the University of Southern California. Her publications include works on the history of science, magic, and alchemy. Her most recent scholarly book is The Jewel House: Elizabethan London and the Scientific Revolution (Yale UP; 2008). She has received research fellowships from the Fulbright Association, the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Humanities Center, and the American Council of Learned Societies, among others. Harkness is cited in Wikipedia for her real-life discovery of a lost manuscript at the Bodleian; she is also a noted wine critic and blogger. She lives in Los Angeles.

Dexter Vines

Comics Guest

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.

Eric Maruscak

Comics Guest

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.

George O'Connor

Comics Guest

George O'Connor is the author of several picture books, including the New York Times bestseller Kapow!, Kersplash, and Sally and the Some-thing. His debut graphic novel, Journey into Mohawk Country, was published by First Second, as was Adam Rapp's Ball Peen Hammer, which O'Connor illustrated. He is currently working on a series of mythology graphic novels, the first of which, Zeus: King of the Gods, and Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess, came out in 2010. 

JD Arnold

Comics Guest

JD Arnold is the award nominated author of BB Wolf and the Three LP's, as well as some of the greatest unpublished works never to see print. A fan of comics since his mother used them to diaper him as an infant, JD hopes to continue working in the field well into his Golden Years… or until something better comes along. He lives in Santa Cruz, CA, and enjoys the anomalous distinction of being neither a hippie nor a surfer.

Jeff Lemire

Comics Guest

Award-winning Canadian cartoonist Jeff Lemire is the creator of the acclaimed comic book series Sweet Tooth. He is also the writer of both Superboy and The Atom for DC Comics.

His past work includes The Essex County Trilogy of graphic novels (Tales From The Farm, Ghost Stories, The Country Nurse), which were published by Top Shelf Productions, and have been nominated for multiple Eisner and Harvey Awards.

In 2008 Jeff won the Schuster Award for Best Canadian Cartoonist, and The Doug Wright Award for Best Emerging Talent. He also won the American Library Association’s prestigious Alex Award, recognizing books for adults with specific teen appeal.

Recently named one of Wizard magazines 25 “rising stars” Jeff is also hard at work on a new graphic novel for Top Shelf called The Underwater Welder.

He currently lives and works in Toronto with his wife and son.

Mark Brooks

Comics Guest

Brooks has worked on Marvel Age, Cable & Deadpool and Ultimate X-Men. He provided cover art for the Spider-Man spinoff Araña, and later worked on The Amazing Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #1 and 2, and New X-Men, and Avengers: The Initiative. Recent works include providing the art for Dark Reign: Young Avengers with Paul Cornell.

Rich Buckler

Comics Guest

Rich Buckler is an American painter and comic book artist, penciller, inker, writer and editor best known for his work on Marvel Comics' The Fantastic Four, Avengers and Black Panther in Jungle Action in the mid-1970s.  He is also the creator of Deathlok, the first cyborg in comics which debuted in Astonishing Tales #25 (1974) and co-creator with Roy Thomas of D.C.'s All-Star Squadron.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Rich moved to New York City at the recommendation of comics legend Jack Kirby.  He has drawn virtually every major character at Marvel and DC, and illustrated hundreds of comic book covers.

In the mid-1980s he had a memorable run on the title Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man with writer Peter David, where they produced the "Death of Jean DeWolff" storyline.

Other notable work includes his collaboration with Roy Thomas on Saga Of Su-Mariner and Saga Of The Human Torch.

He is the author of the trade book "How To Draw Dynamic Comic Books" (Vanguard Productions).  Rich will be signing autographs and drawing sketches at Artists' Alley, and also see him at the Vanguard booth.

J Michael Straczynski

Comics Guest

J. Michael Straczynski is the only comics writer in history to win the Eisner Award, the Hugo Award (twice), the Inkpot Lifetime Achievement Award, SFWA's Ray Bradbury Award and be nominated for a British Academy Award for Screenwriting (for Changeling).  As a comics writer he has written The Amazing Spider-Man, Superman, Wonder Woman and Thor, among others; as a writer for TV and film, his credits include Ninja Assassin, Babylon 5, Jeremiah and Twilight Zone.  He's worked with Clint Eastwood, Ron Howard, Steven Spielberg, Paul Greengrass and others.  His current in-development credits include Forbidden Planet (for Warners), Shattered Union (for Disney/Bruckheimer), and Lensman (for Universal)  More projects will be announced at NYCC.  He never sleeps.

Faith Erin Hicks

Literary Guests

Faith Erin Hicks is the illustrator of Brain Camp, a graphic novel of summer camp, zombies, and parental issues.  She has previously drawn two graphic novels, Zombies Calling and The War at Ellsmere, both published by SLG Publishing.

Jane Yolen

Literary Guests

Jane Yolen is the author of over 300 books, including Owl Moon, The Devil's Arithmetic, and How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight. Her books and stories have won an assortment of awards--including two Nebulas, a World Fantasy Award, a Caldecott, the Golden Kite Award, two Christopher Medals, and a nomination for the National Book Award, among others. Six colleges and universities have given her honorary doctorates.  Foiled is her first graphic novel. 

Laurence Klavan

Literary Guests

Laurence Klavan wrote the novels "The Cutting Room" and "The Shooting Script," both published by Ballantine Books, and has also written screenplays and teleplays for Tri-Star, Warner Brothers, Viacom, and the USA Network.  Brain Camp is his second graphic novel; his first, also written with Ms. Kim, was First Second's City of Spies

Matt Madden

Literary Guests

Matt Madden has been in the comics scene since the early '90s, and his 99 WAYS TO TELL A STORY helped create the market for a full-fledged textbook.  He teaches comics courses at the School of Visual Arts, is the creator of the seminal comics textbook, Drawing Words and Writing Pictures, and co-edits the Best American Comics series with his wife, Jessica Abel.   

Mike Cavallaro

Literary Guests

Mike Cavallaro is originally from New Jersey. He has worked in the New York comics and animation industries since the early '90s. Mike is a member of the web-comics collective, ACT-I-VATE, where he contributes weekly web comics, including the true-life historic memoir, Parade (With Fireworks), a 2008 Eisner Award nominee. His most recent graphic novel is Foiled, written by Jane Yolen.  He lives in Brooklyn. 

Susan Kim

Literary Guests

Susan Kim has written for more than three dozen children's TV series, including Reading Rainbow and Are You Afraid of the Dark? and received four Emmy nominations. Ms. Kim teaches dramatic writing in the MFA program at Goddard College. Brain Camp is her second graphic novel. Her first, also written with Mr. Klavan, was First Second's City of Spies.

Tracy White

Literary Guests

Tracy White (www.traced.com) is a webcomics pioneer who began publishing her work online in 1996. A native of New York City, Tracy has made comics for gURL.com, AOL, and Oxygen TV, as well as a docu-comic for the Lower East Side Tenement Museum about the experiences of immigrant teens living in New York. Her webcomic has been nominated twice for an Ignatz Award. Tracy is currently an adjunct professor at the Interactive Telecommunication Program, which is part of NYU's TISCH School of the Arts. How I Made It to Eighteen is her first book.

Mike McKone

Comics Guest

Mike McKone has penciled many major titles including Teen Titans, Fantastic Four, Green Lantern, Punisher War Zone, Justice League of America and Exiles. Mike has recently worked on Amazing Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel and New Avengers. He has also contributed covers for Deadpool: Suicide Kings and Punisher. Currently Mike is penciling and inking Marvel's Avengers Academy.

Peter David

Comics Guest

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."

George Pérez

Comics Guest

George Pérez is a multi-award winning, highly respected comics artist who has drawn many landmark comics in his long career, including The New Teen Titans, Crisis on Infinite Earths, History of the DC Universe, JLA, Fantastic Four, Wonder Woman, The Avengers, JLA/Avengers, Sachs & Violens, Hulk: Future Imperfect and the current hit Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds. 2009 marks Mr. Pérez's 35th year in the comics industry and the New York Comic Con is his first comics convention appearance since April 2007. George is also a chairman of the Hero Initiative, a comics industry charity which is sponsoring his appearance and to whom George is donating proceeds. Born and raised in the Bronx in 1954, George currently lives in Florida with his wife of 27 years, Carol Flynn.

Bruce Campbell

Media Guest

In 1979 with his Detroit friends, Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert, Campbell raised $350,000 for a low-budget film, Evil Dead, in which he starred and co-executive produced. Completed piecemeal over four years, the film first gained notoriety in England where it became the best-selling video of 1983, beating out The Shining.  After its appearance at Cannes, Stephen King dubbed it “the most ferociously original horror film of the year.”

Campbell quickly gained a foothold in the industry, producing or starring in diverse films like Crimewave (written by Ethan and Joel Coen), the Maniac Cop series, Lunatics: A Love Story, and Mindwarp, a post-apocalyptic Jeremiah Johnson, during whichhe met his wife-to-be, filmmaker Ida Gearon. Campbell rejoined his Detroit colleagues to star and co-produce the second and third films in the Evil Dead trilogy, completing 12 years of work on the cult favorite.

This rough-and-tumble background was a plus as Campbell made his foray into television, first starring in the highly touted Fox series The Adventures Of Brisco County Jr., then recurring on the hit show Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.  Bruce expanded his range on television with lead roles in the Disney's TV movies Gold Rush and their update of The Love Bug.  He teamed up with Fox again for the hit TV film Tornado!, and starred in NBC's top-rated In The Line of Duty: Blaze of Glory. 

At the invitation of ABC, Campbell ventured into the world of sitcoms with a recurring role on their Emmy-nominated Ellen, participating in one of the three touted “out” episodes, followed by decidedly dramatic turns on the acclaimed series Homicide and X-Files. With these under his belt, Bruce easily made the transition to director, helming numerous episodes and recurring as the “King of Thieves” in the #1 syndicated Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, andits follow-up phenomenon, Xena: Warrior Princess.  

But Campbell didn't abandon his film roots. During that time, he had featured roles in Michael Creighton’s Congo, John Carpenter's Escape From LA, and Sam Raimi's blockbuster Spider-Man trilogy. Campbell’s recent work includes the fun-filled Disney hit, Sky High, and the title role in MGM's cult sleeper Bubba Ho-Tep. His feature directorial debut, Man with the Screaming Brain premiered on the Sci Fi Channel, and the follow up, My Name is Bruce (a spoof of his B-movie career), is currently in release across the country.

Breaking into the multi-media industry, Campbell enjoyed provided voices on cutting edge video games for Activision, THQ and EA, as well as characters for Warner Brothers’ The Ant Bully, and Sony’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

Bruce is currently co-starring on the runaway hit Burn Notice, USA’s #1 show, and the highest rated on cable TV.

Perhaps Campbell’s most challenging role is that of author, with back-to-back New York Times bestsellers: a memoir entitled If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor, and his first novel, Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way.

Campbell continues to share his filmmaking experiences, lecturing at universities, which include Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon and Stanford.

He currently resides with his wife, Ida Gearon, in Oregon.

Jai Nitz

Comics Guest

Jai Nitz is an American comic book writer who has written for Marvel, DC, Disney, and other publishers. He is currently writing Kato Origins for Dynamite Entertainment and Tron: The Betrayal for Disney. He wrote El Diablo and Blue Beetle from DC comics. He won the prestigious Xeric Foundation grant in 2003 for his self-published anthology, Paper Museum. He won the Bram Stoker Award in 2004 for excellence in horror illustrated narrative for Heaven's Devils from Image Comics.

C.B. Cebulski

Comics Guest

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 now serves as Marvel Comics' international talent scout. Crisscrossing the globe month after month, C.B. is always on the hunt for the best and brightest new artists the world has to offer. He also use his time abroad to indulge in his love of food, writing about his international eating adventures on his blog, Eataku, http://eataku.tumblr.com. When not traveling, sampling exotic cuisines or creating comics, C.B. spends his time trying to beat the world record on Dig Dug.

Tony Lee

Comics Guest

Tony has spent over 22 years as a writer, much of that was as a journalist for magazines and newspapers. As a comic writer since 2004, he's written for a variety of publishers including Marvel Comics (X-Men, Spider-Man, Amazing Fantasy), Titan Publishing ( Wallace & Gromit, DreamWorks Tales), Panini Comics ( Doctor Who), Rebellion Publishing (2000AD, Judge Dredd: The Megazine) and AAM/Markosia (Starship Troopers, Hope Falls, Midnight Kiss, From The Pages of Bram Stoker's Dracula: Harker) among others. He has been the 'showrunner' of IDW Publishing's Doctor Who license, writing the critically and commercially acclaimed mini series Doctor Who: The Forgotten and all issues of the subsequent ongoing IDW Doctor Who series. His creator owned book for Walker Books, Outlaw: The Legend Of Robin Hood, has also been a critical and commercial success, and has been a Junior Library Guild Fall 2009 selection, an American Library Association and New York Public Library 'Best of 2010' for teens and a Children's Choice Awards 2010 finalist. His creator owned book for AAM/Markosia, From The Pages of Bram Stoker's Dracula: Harker, was the first graphic novel sequel ever to gain an endorsement from a member of the Stoker family. In May 2010, his adaptation Pride & Prejudice & Zombies: The Graphic Novel became a New York Times Best Selling List #1 Graphic Novel. In 2011, he already has several projects lined up including a true-to-canon series of Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars for Hachette Children's Books and Agent Mom, co-written with Stargate Universe's Alaina Huffman.

Jason Pearson

Comics Guest

A professional in the industry for twenty years. Past highlights - Legion of Superheroes, Savage Dragon, and Body Bags. Present projects include an X-Force Special starring Wolverine, Punisher Annual 2010, Deadpool: Wade Wilson's War mini-series, covers for the regular Deadpool ongoing series, and now an upcoming Astonishing X-Men mini-series. Currently Jason works at Studio Revolver in Atlanta with Georges Jeanty and Dexter Vines.