Comicpalooza Guest List Archive
Here you can find information on guests who have been a part of Houston's Comicpalooza in the past.
2008 Guest List | 2009 Guest List | 2010 Guest List
Comicpalooza 2010
Celebrities | Webcomics | Artists | Authors | Entertainers | Industry
Celebrities
Nicholas Brendon
Nicholas Brendon skyrocketed to pop culture fame after landing the role of Xander Harris, the wisecracking sidekick on the cult favorite television series, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” His acting credits also include numerous guest starring roles on television, including the Darren Starr series “Kitchen Confidential” ,“Without A Trace” and plays Kevin on “Criminal Minds.” His feature film credits include Psycho Beach Party, The Portal and Blood On the Highway (to be screened at Comicpalooza). Nicholas has recently appeared on stage in Los Angeles in productions of “Santaland Diaries” and the West Coast premiere of “Christopher Durang’s Why Torture Is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them.” Nicholas will be participating in the Comicpalooza Celebrity Breakfast Auction benefiting his charity OUTFEST.org.
Bruce Campbell **Saturday Only**
You know him, you love him, you can’t live zombie-free without him: Bruce Campbell is truly in a league by himself. Whether he’s fighting the evil dead in Army of Darkness or playing spy vs. spy on Burn Notice, you can always depend on Bruce to kick ass. But Bruce is more than an actor; he’s also a filmmaker, New York Times Best-Selling author and quite possibly the coolest man alive. There aren’t many living legends walking the Earth, but Bruce Campbell is one of them. Hail to The Chin, baby!
Francis Capra
Francis Capra was born in New York, and raised in the Bronx. Discovered by Robert De Niro and Chazz Palminteri when they were casting for the film A Bronx Tale (1993), he began to work as a child actor and moved to Los Angeles with his mother and siblings. Since then, Francis has starred in dozens of films including "Kazaam" (co-starring Shaquille O'Neal) and "Crank." In 2004, he landed the role of the lovable biker gang leader Eli "Weevil" Navarro on the cult-favorite television series "Veronica Mars." Francis has also guest starred on dozens of television series, including a recurring role on "Heroes." Don't let the tough exterior fool you, this star has a heart of gold and is a huge comic book lover.
Jason Dohring **Saturday & Sunday Only**
Fans of Veronica Mars will know actor Jason Dohring as the scene-stealing Logan Echolls. But As a child actor, Jason got his start in commercials before moving into guest appearances on TV shows, including Roswell, Cold Case and Boston Public. He also showed up in feature films such as Deep Impact. He’s even done some time with a vampire during his stay on the cult TV show Moonlight. Jason is currently preparing some more surprises for his adoring fans, so keep your eyes open.
James Hampton
From his first film, The Cliffdwellers, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Subject Film in 1962, to the multi-award winning movie Slingblade, James Hampton’s career as an actor, writer and director spans over 40 years. Along the way, he has been nominated for a Golden Globe for his role as Caretaker in the original version of The Longest Yard and has starred in such memorable films as Teen Wolf, China Syndrome, Hawmps! and Pump Up the Volume. On television, James was the tone-deaf bugler Hannibal Dobbs on the classic ‘60s sitcom F Troop and appeared in hundreds of TV show favorites like The Bob Newhart Show and Gunsmoke. James also worked as a writer/producer/director on Evening Shade and worked as a director on numerous successful sitcoms such as Grace Under Fire.
Dichen Lachman
Actress Dichen Lachman has led a fascinating life. Though she recently landed on the Joss Whedon show Dollhouse, playing Sierra, Dichen began life in Nepal. When she was 8 years old, her family moved to Australia, where she began acting. She started her career in commercials but later became nationally famous on the Australian soap opera Neighbours. Dichen recently wrapped production on the upcoming feature film Sunday Punch. From Nepal to Hollywood—what a long strange trip it’s been.
Peter Mayhew
Actor Peter Mayhew is probably better known by the name Chewbacca, Han Solo’s furry co-pilot and companion in the Star Wars movies. Before donning the Wookiee suit, he got his start playing the Minotaur in Ray Harryhausen’s 1977 film Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. When he’s not running around portraying mythic characters, Peter tours the country making appearances for his many rabid fans. Fun fact: Peter recently became an American citizen and had the good taste to move to the Lone Star state—just another reason to be Texas Proud.
Ray Park
Martial artist, stuntman, actor—Ray Park is a jack of all trades. Born in Scotland, Ray went on to win Great Britain’s Martial Arts National Championship at age 16 before finding work in Hollywood as a stuntman. His big break came in 1999 when he was cast as the nefarious Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Ray most recently appeared Edgar on TV’s Heroes and as Snake Eyes in the big-screen adaptation of G. I. Joe. Whether fighting Jedi Knights or evil agents of Cobra, the astounding Ray Park will always prevail.
Mike Quinn
You might not know Mike Quinn by name, but you definitely know his work. His first job was with Jim Henson and the Muppets, working as a puppeteer. Mike also built many of the puppets in The Dark Crystal and personally performed Slavemaster Skeksis in the film. He then moved on to the Star Wars universe, assisting Frank Oz with Yoda among other characters. Mike transitioned from the physical to the virtual when he went to work as an animator at Pixar, and then ILM with George Lucas. Always on the look for a new challenge, Mike is now directing, acting and always looking for the next new challenge.
Tracy Scoggins
Actress Tracy Scoggins might have gotten her start as a gymnast and a supermodel, but she is best known to sci-fi fans the world over as Captain Elizabeth Lochley on TV’s Babylon 5 and its various spinoffs. But Tracy has also appeared on such cult favorites as Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, The A-Team, Dynasty, Nip/Tuck, Highlander and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. She has also employed her athletic abilities to produce and star in motivational workout videos. Whether she’s kicking alien butt in space or kicking your butt through exercise here on Earth, the gorgeous Tracy Scoggins is always a joy to behold.
Webcomics
Phil Foglio
Phil Foglio is a prolific creator, perhaps best known for his sci-fi and fantasy comics work. In the late ‘70s, Phil won the Hugo Award for Best Fan Artist two years straight. He then went pro, writing and illustrating “What’s New With Phil & Dixie,” a comic strip for Dragon Magazine. After creating the popular character Buck Godot, Phil met his wife, Kaja, and the two have gone on to work as partners. Together, they founded Studio Foligo and produced the fantasy comic Girl Genius. Always ahead of the game, Phil has since transferred Girl Genius to the internet as a webcomic. Phil and Kaja run their burgeoning empire from their website, www.studiofoglio.com.
David Malki !
David Malki ! is the crazed mind behind the Eisner-nominated webcomic Wondermark, which he describes as “illustrated jocularity.” The Wondermark strips have been collected into collections titled The Annotated Wondermark and Wondermark: Beards of Our Forefathers. Truly a Renaissance man, David also designs and sells fine consumer goods for your consumption and has worked as a film editor. And in a pinch, he’s been known to train actors in the use of firearms. So remember, be polite.
R. K. Milholland
Texas-born R. K. Milholland is the creator of the webcomics Midnight Macabre, Classically Positive, Something Positive, New Gold Dreams and Super Stupor. His comics have so many fans, they managed to raise enough money to allow him to quit his day gig and become a full-time cartoonist. His work often covers topics related to gaming, geeks, goths and comics, which explains why his fans are so maniacally devoted. Sadly, R. K. had originally left Texas and moved up north—but that’s okay he moved back and currently resides in Dallas. We forgive him.
Joel Watson
Dallas-based Joel Watson is the creator of HijiNKS ENSUE, the thrice weekly webcomic that delves into the deepest recesses of geek pop culture searching for LOLs. Casual geeks and obsessed fanboys alike can appreciate HijiNKS ENSUE's unique perspective on TV, movies, sci-fi, technology and the internet. A little over two years ago Joel left his job in sales to pursue cartooning full time and hasn't looked back since. His efforts to turn his passion for cartooning into a real job have been dubbed "The Experiment" and are chronicled online at www.hijinksensue.com/experiment. His first print collection entitled "HijiNKS ENSUE Vol 1: Godspeed You Fancy Bastard" was released in 2009.
Artists
Brian Denham
Brian Denham is the artist of the "Angel" comic book from IDW. His diverse range of credits include; The X-Files, StarCraft, Iron Man: Hypervelocity, Nova, and Avengers. A Lucasfilm artist, his work was featured during the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars. He has also designed toys and merchandise for the Star Wars saga. Brian's trailblazing work in Adobe Illustrator has made him a digital comics pioneer. His work is featured every month as a cover artist for Antarctic Press' eclectic line.
Larry Elmore
A born illustrator, artist Larry Elmore has been creating fantasy and science fiction art for over 20 years. While working as a staff artist at TSR, Inc., he helped set the standard for gaming art in the role-playing genre. Though he has created cover art for Dungeons & Dragons, AD&D and other gaming books, he may be best known for his work on the Dragonlance series. He is also the creator of the Sovereign Stone series and the coauthor of Runes of Autumn. A fan favorite, Larry is a living legend in the world of fantasy art.
Christopher Joe
Please welcome Christopher Joe and Ronin Studios to this year's Comicpalooza event. Christopher is the creator and author of the Epsilon Realm mini-series. Christopher is also the author of several stories published by Ronin Studios Hope Anthologies benefiting our troops abroad as well as US citizens in need of aid such as Hurricane Katrina Victims. Be sure to drop by and pick up a Variant Copy of Epsilon Realm featuring Rob Liefeld's stunning depiction of Chris' Epsilon Realm Characters while at the convention and have it signed by both Rob and Chris.
Andy Kuhn
Multitalented Andy Kuhn has been drawing comics since 1989. But that’s not all he does. Andy pencils, letters, colors and inks—he’s even been known to write. He has worked on comics such as Spider-Man and X-Men for Marvel, Digimon for Dark Horse, The Flash and Green Lantern for DC Comics, and Savage Dragon and FireBreather for Image Comics, among many, many others. For more on Andy, check out his blog at http://kuhnart.blogspot.com/.
Rob Liefeld
Rob Liefeld is probably best known as one of the founding fathers of Image Comics. Over the course of his career, he is best known for creating popular fan favorite characters such as Deadpool, Cable, X-Force and Youngblood. With several movies in development at the moment, he has also recently become a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. One of the most controversial figures in comics, Rob is definitely making his mark on the entertainment world as a whole.
David Mack
Groundbreaking artist David Mack is best known as the creator of Kabuki, the innovative comic book series featuring surreal dreamscapes and imaginative artwork in mixed media. He has also worked on several Marvel Comics books, such as Alias, Daredevil and The New Avengers. David has toured the globe exhibiting his work in galleries and museums, receiving acclaim from all corners of the world of art, and now he’s currently developing a live-action film based on Kabuki—one more artistic medium for David to add to his palette.
Jim Mahfood
While probably best known for illustrating several Spider-Man projects or working with filmmaker Kevin Smith, Jim Mahfood also creates artwork for video game and record companies as well as a variety of magazines, including Playboy, Heavy Metal and Spin. Jim is the father of the art style known as Visual Funk, combining influences such as graffiti, manga and funk culture—in fact, he can be seen rocking the live mural art at funk and hip-hop shows across the country. His creator-owned comic books include Grrl Scouts and One Page Filler Man, and he recently finished a new Kick Drum Comix mini-series, published by Image Comics. With his finger on the pulse of popular culture, Jim is perhaps the comic creator to watch in the new millennium.
Marcus P. Meleton Jr.
(AKA Marcus Pierce Jr.)
Marcus Meleton is well known for his satire and humor books, drawing appearances nationally on Geraldo, Montel Williams, Leeza, Playboy Channel and other national and local television shows. Coverage of his books include USA Today, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Mens Fitness Magazine, Maxim, Dallas Morning News, San Francisco Examiner, Complete Woman Magazine, Publishers Weekly, Orange County Register, Fort Worth Morning Star, the National Examiner, and Washington Times.
Marcus is in high demand for interviews for his satire on relationships and politics. He has been interviewed on over a 1,000 radio shows internationally including US, England, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
Meleton’s background is wildly varied. He has a degree in Computer Science (a degree known for its rabid womanizers) from the University of Louisiana, MBA from the University of Georgia, and 30 years in the Aerospace industry including Rockwell International, Panasonic Avionics, and Texas Instruments. Employment even encompasses Air Force Officer, Editor of Home Business Magazine, and University Cop. Now he’s become highly successful at Coldwell Banker dealing in investment properties and travels nationwide while continuing interviews and publishing. His books include Nice Guys Don’t Get Laid, Hunting For Lawyers, Pete the P.O.’d Postal Worker and The Adventures of Liberal Man.
Marcus is married to Marjorie with four children (Brittany, Marcus III, Cole, and Anneleigh) and lives in Texas.
Chris Nicholas
Chris “Uncle Staple” Nicholas is the founder and lead organizer of STAPLE! The Independent Media Expo, the Southwest’s premier convention for independently produced comics, zines, art, crafts, toys, and games, held annually in Austin, Texas. In 2010 STAPLE! celebrates it’s sixth iteration with guests Guy Davis and Andy Runton. For more info on STAPLE! visit www.staple-austin.org
Chris also collaborates with artist David G. Lamplugh on two self published comics: You Chose Right The First Time, a crime noir graphic novel set in 60’s Chicago, and That Damned Cat, a supernatural black comedy inspired by the true story of the cat that knows when you are going to die."
Humberto Ramos
Mexico-based penciler Humberto Ramos has come a long way in the last 15 years. After being discovered by comics legend Walt Simonson at the San Diego Comic-Con in 1993, Humberto soon went to work on Impulse for DC Comics, penciling 25 consecutive issues. He also worked on DV8, the Gen 13 spin-off, for Image Comics imprint WildStorm. In 1998, Humberto co-founded Cliffhanger, the WildStorm imprint, with superstar artists J. Scott Campbell and Joe Madureira. He then created the vampire comic Crimson, which became the longest running Cliffhanger title. Since then, Humberto has drawn for Dark Horse as well as Marvel Comics, working on several Spider-Man, X-Men, Avengers and Wolverine titles. Always a fan favorite, we can’t wait to see what the next 15 years holds for Humberto Ramos.
Christopher Sperandio
Christopher Sperandio is an artist that’s hard to pin down. With Simon Grennan, he is one of the Kartoon Kings, a collaborative team whose work explores the margins between mass and museum cultures. Their work takes the form of comic books, television, painted installation and websites, among other media, and has been exhibited in museums and university galleries throughout the United States and Europe. But as an associate professor at Rice University, Christopher is also an unlikely member of academia. Which is the real Christopher Sperandio? We urge you to come by Comicpalooza and find out for yourself. Who knows, maybe Christopher will give you extra credit.
Dirk Strangely
Dirk Strangely is an artist in the truest sense. Drawing upon his taste for the bizarre, Dirk creates macabre reveries in many media. Whether painting, writing, creating music or making films, Dirk’s singular vision is indeed disturbingly beautiful. His work has been displayed at conventions, private shows and galleries. He has been published in magazines and newspapers as well. You can find his unique creations and all things Strangely at his website, dirkstrangely.com.
Ben Templesmith
Ben Templesmith has quietly become one of the more influential artists around today. While his gifts can be enjoyed in art books, gaming books, trading cards and movie posters, it is his work in comic books that is most well known. Ben has partnered with Todd McFarlane on Hellspawn and Warren Ellis on Fell, but his work on 30 Days of Night with Steve Niles is most likely his most influential. His dark, Gothic-inspired creations are both moody and beautiful—definitely the work of an artist with an uncommon vision. Ben has been nominated for multiple Eisner Awards and an International Horror Guild Award in 2008 for his solo horror book Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse. He also recently won a Spike TV Scream Award. Swing by his website (www.templesmith.com) to see what all the screaming is about.
Ethan Van Sciver
Whether he’s bringing super heroes back to life or using zombies and vampires to predict the winning presidential candidate, you can count on artist Ethan Van Sciver to be outspoken. Ethan burst onto the scene with Cyberfrog, a character he created as a teen. From there he worked his way up to DC Comics, drawing Impulse, The Flash, Batman and, perhaps most famously, Green Lantern: Rebirth. He is currently working on DC’s 2009 event: The Blackest Night. He also writes a blog for newsarama.com, where he holds forth loquaciously on any topic that catches his attention.
J. H. Williams III
Visionary comic book artist J. H. Williams III has worked on several high-profile projects, such as Son of Superman, Batman, Desolation Jones, Flash, Jonas Hex, Hellboy, Green Lantern, Justice League of America, Marvel Knights, Starman, Detective Comics, Wolverine and Uncanny X-Men. But what he might best be known for is his amazing work on Promethea, noted madman Alan Moore’s phantasmagoric look at the superhero mythos, filtered through a highly symbolic apocalyptic mysticism. It takes a truly superhuman talent to bring visual order to the creative chaos that is Alan Moore’s mind, and J. H. Williams III did just that—and lives to tell the tale.
Bernie Wrightson
Living legend Bernie Wrightson is one of the most influential illustrators to ever pick up a pencil. Though he has created art for the publishing industry as well as several major motion pictures, Bernie is most renowned for his work in comic books. He’s drawn Spider-Man, Batman and the Punisher and has worked for all the major comics publishers. But it’s Bernie’s achievements in horror art that are most admired. His pen-and-ink illustrations for Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein are widely considered to be the definitive visual interpretations of the material. He co-created Swamp Thing with Len Wein and has worked extensively with Stephen King. Bernie also worked for horror and fantasy magazines such as Heavy Metal, Eerie and Creepy. Recently, he has been collaborating with whippersnapper Steve Niles on The Ghoul for IDW. Bernie has been scaring us for more than 40 years now, and we hope he never stops.
Capstone Comics
Capstone Comics Publishing formed in 2007 as a collective of writers and artists coming together to fulfill a mutual dream of creating original comic books. Since then, we’ve self-published a few issues and a pair of anthologies, but we’re just getting started. Comprised of a core group of a dozen writers and artists meeting regularly in Austin supplemented by talent in Dallas, Houston, and Mexico, the group has reorganized into a publisher whose creators are hard at work on several ongoing, mini-series, and webcomics that will debut in the months to come. Driven by a furious passion and dedication to break into the industry that we love so much, Capstone Comics Publishing is one of the most exciting up and coming independent comic book publishers in Texas, which is to say, the world.
http://www.capstonecomics.com
Orang Utan Comics
Orang Utan Comics is a UK based independent comic book publisher working with a studio of creative talent from across the globe. Their debut title, Eleventh Hour, was nominated for an Eagle Award in 2008, and they followed that up in 2009 with exciting new titles including Alpha Gods and their new anthology Faster Than Light, (FTL). Representing Orang Utan Comics is Trey Wickwire, creator of the space opera Mamluk and author of several short stories in Eleventh Hour and FTL. http://www.orangutancomics.co.uk/
Authors
Catherine Asaro
Winner of the Nebula® Award for her novel, The Quantum Rose, Catherine Asaro blends space adventure, rich world building, romance and strong characterization into her fiction. Her latest science fiction novel is the paperback edition of The Ruby Dice, and her most recent fantasy novel is The Night Bird, which recently went into a second printing. She also writes thrillers, including Alpha and Sunrise Alley. Catherine’s latest science fiction hardcover, Diamond Star, is about a rock star in the future. The book’s release is also the culmination of what Catherine describes as “one of the most exciting collaborations I’ve ever done.” Working with the Baltimore rock band Point Valid, she recorded a CD that offers readers a soundtrack to the book. Starflight Music released the CD, also titled Diamond Star. With her hand in almost every area of the arts, Catherine is definitely a woman for all seasons.
Steven Brust
Steven Brust was born in 1955, and began writing in 1949. He was first published in 1938, and now has 25 novels, including /Making Things Up/ which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2044. Steven Brust died in 1927 from complications stemming from an internal mouth injury. He is survived by his doppelganger, which goes to conventions and plays drums, and his books, which aren't too bad, really.
Alexis Glynn Latner
Alexis Glynn Latner's science fiction novel HURRICANE MOON was published by Pyr in 2007. Her stories have appeared in the magazines Analog, Amazing and Sorcerous Signals and in horror and mystery anthologies. She lives in Houston, works in the Rice University library, and teaches creative writing through Rice University's Glasscock School of Continuing Studies.
http://www.alexisglynnlatner.com/
Mat Johnson
Educator and award-winning novelist Mat Johnson is a long-time comics fan. He published his first novel, Drop, in 2000 and followed that in 2003 with Hunting in Harlem, which won the Hurston/Wright LEGACY Award in the fiction category. Mat finally took a shot at comics in 2005, writing the mini-series John Constantine -- Hellblazer: Papa Midnite for DC/Vertigo. Vertigo then published his graphic novel Incognegro in 2008. Mat currently resides in Houston, Texas, and instructs for the University of Houston’s prestigious Creative Writing Department.
Ari Marmel
Ari Marmel works primarily as a freelancer for Wizards of the Coast, though he still does work for other companies now and again. His second novel, Agents of Artifice, came out from Wizards of the Coast in February of ‘09 as a the novelization for Wizards' Magic: The Gathering set Shards of Alara, and he’s signed a contract with Random House to publish two original novels over the course of the next couple of years. www.mouseferatu.com
John Moore
John Moore began writing science fiction while a student at the University of Houston and, to date, has had a dozen professional short story sales and has written five fantasy novels. A chemical engineer by day, John has no wife, children or pets and therefore leads a life free of care and responsibility. He has a terrible memory for names and faces, so if you’re not wearing your badge, he has no idea who you are.
Skyler White
Skyler White's debut novel, and Falling, Fly (March 2010) weaves vampires, neuroscience, dark subcultures and remote Irish locations into a "trippy urban fantasy, an esoteric battle between myth and science told in floods of evocative prose" (Publishers Weekly). Her explorations of mythic damnation took the Texan author back to Ireland to research the Golden Dawn occult movement for her Victorian time-travel/horror follow-up, In Dreams Begin (December 2010). You can learn more about Skyler at her website: http://www.skylerwhite.com
Entertainers
Air Ship Isabella
The Isabella Is a steam powered airship that through the use of advanced steam engineering and augmented magical technological wonders from different times carries her air pirate crew across the world in search for the most radical sound and visual technology. On top of being exquisite audio/visual entertainers, the crew are fine crafts folk who fabricate the most exquisite steampunk paraphernalia this side of the aether.
http://www.myspace.com/airshipisabella
Chanson de Vie
Chanson de Vie (CDV) dance troupe, based out of League City, Tx is a bellydance performance group that is unbounded by bellydance dance styles. The troupe mixes styles such as Egyptian, Gypsy, Steampunk, Gothic, and Tribal-inspired dances in their shows. Traditional Middle Eastern music, modern American pop music, and even cartoon theme songs are possible when the ladies of CDV are performing.
Troupe director Cahira has been teaching bellydance for 6 years at the Chanson de Vie Dance Studio and will be offering bellydance instruction classes at Comicpalooza*.
More information on Chanson de Vie troupe and classes may be found at www.chansondevie.com
DEAD P.A.
While DJs are known for bringing music to the party, DEAD P.A. is bringing the party back to music. With an emphasis on kickass music, blistering performance, and theme oriented sets the live electronic music duo has consistently won over even the "cliquiest" of music-lovers since 2003. An adrenaline fueled exchange with audiences has kept DEAD P.A. in demand from Miami to Los Angeles and everywhere inbetween. DEAD P.A. will be performing a COMICPALOOZA 2010 exclusive set in costume complete with superhero action-grip and Star Wars mash-up mayhem!
Ghost of a Rose
In 2007, Dene & Sundara met in a Filk circle at Apollocon, in Houston, and decided to sing together as a performing duo... thus Ghost of a Rose was born. Their debut performance was at Fencon IV, three months later. They have performed at SCA events, Coffeehouses, Apollocon, FenCon, Samhain & Beltaine celebrations, various Celtic celebrations, and the Houston Highland Games. They were the Musical Guests of Honor at Conjour 2 Fantasy/SciFi/Horror convention and this year they will be playing at the Comicpalooza.
The music Ghost of a Rose plays is eclectic…within the same performance you can hear Celtic music, SCA/Renaissance music, Pagan music, Filk music, or original pieces. Sundara received a BS in Theatre from Illinois State University and is originally from the Chicago Area, where she participated in filk circles at conventions and SCA events. Dene has been playing guitar and singing folk music since 1967, playing with several different groups over the years, performing everything from folk music to German Oktoberfest songs. Along the way he received a Bachelor's in Music Education and taught music for a year.
Houston Roller Derby
What is Roller Derby? Come and find out, on March 27th Comicpalooza attendees will be treated to 2 special demonstrations by Houston's Roller Derby Teams.
http://www.houstonrollerderby.com
Kim Infiniti
From Austin, Texas, Kim Infiniti is a Fusion Belly and Go Go Dancer who will be offering a beginners belly dance workshop demonstration. She will be showing some basics of the Egyptian style of the art, as well as some based in the Tribal Fusion style. Kim will be representing The Jezebelle Dancers/Performance Artist troupe at the convention, and is also a member of the Austin Dark World Music Collective, Hipnautica.
Kim has a childhood background in Ballet, Jazz, and Modern dance, and has turned her focus to belly dance within the past few years dancing at many events, concerts, and festivals."
The Intergalactic Nemesis Live-Action Graphic Novel
At the height of the Great Depression, an adventure begins....
When Pulitzer-winning reporter Molly Sloan and her intrepid assistant Timmy Mendez stumble upon a mysterious map, they find themselves in far over their heads and discover what might just be the story of the century.
The Intergalactic Nemesis Live-Action Graphic Novel projects 1,250 hand-drawn full-color action-packed comic-book panels one-by-one onto a huge screen while three actors, one foley artist, and one keyboard player perform dozens of voices, hundreds of sound effects, and a score that will sweep you away, LIVE!
The Intergalactic Nemesis Live-Action Graphic Novel is coming to the Wortham Center in 2011. Catch this special sneak preview only at Comicpalooza! This is one show you don't want to miss! http://www.theintergalacticnemesis.com
The performance is scheduled from 2 - 3 pm on Saturday, March 27th.
Industry
Kerry Beyer
Kerry Beyer is an award winning filmmaker and photographer. A semifinalist in the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, & winner of the SLAMDANCE Anarchy Film Showcase, his latest horror/comedy Spirit Camp is now available on DVD exclusively at SpiritCampMovie.com. His photography has been featured in VOGUE, ALLURE, LUCKY, NY TIMES...
Mark Chavarria
Mark Chavarria lives in Houston, but you’d never know it by looking at his resume. Mark has been a stunt man for some of the biggest movies to ever hit theaters, including “Iron Man,” “Pearl Harbor,” and “Terminator Salvation.” He recently worked on the Robert Rodriguez directed “Machete,” where get got to kick ass with the likes of Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin and Robert DeNiro. Mark is also very active in the Houston film scene, having served as stunt coordinator on numerous Houston-made indie films. We love this guy!
James Christopher
James Christopher can't remember a time when a moving and exciting characters didn't fascinate him. While in the womb, his mother reports that he jumped along with the famous notes from the Jaws theme. As a boy, he would often adorn his outfit with a red cape like Superman. A rope became his Indiana Jones whip, on his bike he was known as Maverick and his mind was blown away when Tim Burton brought BATMAN to life. In regards to his relationships, most of his lessons learned about women came from Lloyd Dobbler than any other source.
It was not until the movie the CROW, however, that Jim ever saw himself as a guy who could MAKE a movie. He was immediately sucked in to the dark world where an anti hero ruled the dark, rainy streets. He loved the imagery, the action, the emotion of that piece. It seemed perfect.
As often happens, the line connecting that fateful day in the movie theater to the day he first stepped behind the camera was not a direct one. Rather, it mirrored the plot of John Hughes movie. James joined the Army and served seven years as a forward observer. In that time, he got married, had a child and got divorced. He married again and after the Army, entered the University of Texas at Austin
With his wife's help and support, he finally put into motion his dream of telling stories. Finding the perfect business partner in Chris Copple, the two set off to do their "own thing" and not play the Hollywood game -- a couple of Mavericks if you will.
The guys shot a 21 page short in one weekend. With no crew. What began on that set has grown into TWITCHY DOLPHIN FLIX, a crazy experiment by for people who don't want to take no for an answer.
Mark DeAlessandro
Mark DeAlessandro has been a stuntman in Hollywood for over 25 years. Mark has doubled Sylvester Stallone for over 20 years. Mark is from the Texas area as well, Dallas to be exact. Mark has worked over 200 films/tv shows/ and music videos. Mark has worked on numerous sci-fi and action flicks as well. Including the "Pirates of the Caribbean 2 & 3", "Demolition Man", "Rocky Balboa", "Spider-Man", "Public Enemies", "Mission Impossible 3" and the upcoming “Green Hornet.”
Barak Epstein
Barak Epstein is a filmmaker and filmmaker's consultant, his credits include producing and co-directing BLOOD ON THE HIGHWAY, producing and directing the Women-in-prison comedy PRISON-A-GO-GO! and producing/directing CORNMAN: AMERICAN VEGETABLE HERO which premiered at SXSW in 2001. Barak was a producer on the 2010 SXSW premiere EARTHLING. Barak also works as a indie TV and film production and post gear consultant for Videotex Systems. He currently resides on the board for the Texas Motion Picture Alliance and the Lone Star International Film Festival.
Pearry Reginald Teo
Pearry Reginald Teo was born in Singapore, and is the first native Singaporean to direct a Hollywood movie. Pearry made his feature film directing debut on 2008's "The Gene Generation," a sci-fi film starring Bai Ling ("The Crow," "Crank 2") and Faye Dunaway ("Bonnie and Clyde," "Chinatown"). "Gene Generation" won the Grand Jury Prize in the SF Hole in the Head Film Festival and is now available through Lionsgate Films. Pearry's next feature, a horror film called "Necromentia," premiered at the 2009 Cannes Film Market, where it was well-received by critics and viewers alike. Pearry is currently in post-production on "Witchville," a SyFy Original film, which was shot near Beijing, China. "Witchville" stars Luke Goss ("Hellboy 2," "Blade") Andrew Pleavin ("300") and Sarah Douglas ("Superman") and is scheduled to air in mid-2010.
Celebrities | Webcomics | Artists | Authors | Entertainers | Industry
Comicpalooza 2009
Bikkuri (Clint Bickham)
Bikkuri is an ADR/comic writer, who has lent his talents to over 150 different episodes of anime and numerous manga series. His most recent project is a manga adaptation of the popular NHK/Nickelodeon series, Domo. His original manga short-stories, Devil's Candy and Kage no Matsuri have won acclaim in the US and Japan alike. In addition to his work as a writer, he has performed as a voice actor on numerous anime titles, such as Air Gear, Magikano, Project Blue and Xenosaga.
Ryan Burton
Ryan Burton went from winning the Comic Book Challenge at the San 2006 Diego Comic-Con to writing mini-series to taking the reins of 10th Muse for Bluewater Productions, Ryan Burton is quickly developing into a comic creator worth watching. Ryan's current project currently includes the title “Female Force – Stephenie Meyer” a biography comic about the author of “Twilight.”
Scott Chitwood
Scott Chitwood is the co-publisher and a writer for Red 5 Comics. He co-wrote Afterburn which recently had the movie rights picked up by Tobey Maguire and the producer of I Am Legend and The Fast and the Furious. Scott also wrote the upcoming series Drone which is previewed in their 2009 Free Comic Book Day issue. Red 5 Comics was nominated for two Eisner Awards for Atomic Robo and also had the movie rights for ZMD: Zombies of Mass Destruction picked up. Red 5 was also named Diamond New Publisher of the Year in 2008. Scott was also co-founder of the Star Wars fan site TheForce.Net and currently writes for ComingSoon.Net and SuperheroHype.Com.
Daniel Conner
Daniel Conner has worked in the comics field since 2002 in various ways, including as both a writer and writer/artist. He had short stories published in issues of The Megazeen, co-wrote and illustrated an educational comic/activity book and curriculum for the San Antonio Baptist Association, and began an internship with Antarctic Press. This internship led to him doing short stories in various issues of their Ninja High School, Gold Digger, and Pirates vs. Ninjas anthologies as a writer/artist and writer for Ben Dunn (creator of Ninja High School and the Marvel Mangaverse) and a staff position as a production assistant. He has also adapted Shankespear’s King Lear, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and The Tempest, into graphic novels for ABDO Publishing. His completed titles which will be published in 2009 include the Pirates vs. Ninjas: It Takes A Pillage anthology graphic novel, adaptations of Dracula, and The Picture of Dorian Gray. He is currently writing and drawing the webcomic/ashcan Meet @ Church and developing a few other projects.
Kelly-Sue DeConnick
Besides adapting manga titles such as Kare First Love, Black Cat, Sexy Voice and Robo, and Blue Spring to English for ravenous hordes of anime fans, Kelly Sue writes comic books. She co-wrote IDW's horror tale 30 Days of Night: Eben and Stella with acclaimed writer Steve Niles.
Doug Hazelwood
Doug Hazelwood's first regular inking job was on DC’s Animal Man, by Grant Morrison. Since then he has worked on many characters including Superman in the Death of Superman story arc, the Flash, Superboy, the Doom Patrol, Birds of Prey, and currently Secret Six.
Tom Hodges
In addition to spearheading the Clone Wars web comic project that appears each week on starwars.com, Tom Hodges has worked on numerous Star Wars web comics and trading cards, making him a key artist in the Star Wars expanded universe. He also created his own comic book character “Midnight,” which is printed under the Red 5 imprint.
David Hopkins
David Hopkins is a beloved Texas indie comic book writer. His work includes Karma Incorporated, Emily Edison (included in ALA's list of "Great Graphic Novels for Teens"), Astronaut Dad, an adaptation of Antigone, and regular contributions to D Magazine. David was recognized in the Dallas Observer's Best Of 2006 as "Best Local Comic Book Writer."
Mat Johnson
Mat Johnson is a critically acclaimed novelist who has already won prestigious awards such as the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Legacy Award for novel of the year in 2003 for Hunting in Harlem. His first comic work was for DC's Vertigo line, Hellblazer Special: Papa Midnight. His most recent Vertigo work, the detective story Incognegro, has marked Mat as a writer to keep your eye on.
Greg Jurls
When Greg Jurls started Hero Video Productions, it was the culmination of years of experience garnered around the world working for universities, production houses, Fortune 500 companies, and NASA. He produced and directed commercials, television shows, public service announcements starring Aerosmith, and he assisted the legendary Werner Herzog on one of his films. Jurls’s own films have earned numerous accolades and awards, including the Platinum Remi (top award) at Worldfest, the word’s largest film festival. “The Alchemy of Art: David Mack” is the latest film from Hero Video Productions and a movie with Jim Mahfood and Kevin Smith is up next.
Cary Kelley
Cary Kelley is the owner and founder of Red Handed Studios, a new publishing company focusing on exciting story with top notch art. In addition to running the company he does most of the writing chores, all the production and design work, and a great deal of the lettering on the books produced by Red Handed. He created the Fallen Justice universe along with Harold Edge and Steven Forbes, as well as creating Totem, The Kansas Hit, and several other forthcoming titles. He also lettered the first two issues of Sky Pirates of Valendor, wrote three issues of the Nifty comic The Cadre, and is the series letterer on the Zuda winning web comic Extra Curricular Activities. So he stays busy. Cary wanders the Earth a lot, but makes his home in south Texas. Fallen Justice, the current series being published by Red Handed Studios, tells the story of what happens when the most powerful hero in the world finds out he’s dying and has 3 months to live.
Andy Kuhn
Andy Kuhn has been a professional comics artist since 1994. He has worked for every major American publisher. His titles have included Marvel Adventures, Spider-Man Unlimited, and Marvel Team-Up (Marvel Comics), Blue Beetle, the Flash, Young Justice, and The Joker: Last Laugh (DC Comics). With writer Phil Hester he co-created the critically acclaimed series Firebreather for Image Comics. Cartoon Network is currently producing a Firebreather animated TV movie for the 2009/2010 season. Other recent works by Kuhn include the crime dramas Easy Way (IDW), and 10 (Boom Studios) and the short lived series Rex Mantooth: Kung Fu Gorilla with writer Matt Fraction.
Robert James Luedke
Robert James Luedke has been involved in the comic book/graphic novel industry for 15 years. As a life-long skeptic, who in 1999 discovered his faith, Robert, dedicated his God-gifted creative talents toward using the format of graphic novels to share the gospel story with young people. Since 2002 he has been creating the award-winning Eye Witness Tetralogy, which present the story of the birth of the Christian Faith sandwiched between a modern day action-thriller. Robert’s goal is to appeal to the teen to young adult reader, whom might never visit a church nor read the Bible...but loves comics, manga and graphic novels!
David Mack
David Mack is the creator, author and artist of Kabuki. He has also been the writer and cover artist for Marvel Comics' Daredevil. His distinctive and evocative style has made him a popular cover artist for Marvel, Image, and numerous other publishers. Mack's work has garnered nominations for the 1999 International Eagle Awards in the categories of Favorite Comic Artist (Painted) and Best Cover Art of the Year (Painted), the Eisner Award (America's most prestigious comics award) in the category of Best Painter, both the Harvey and Kirby Awards in the category of Best New Talent as well as many other awards and nominations. He was also the first American to be nominated for Germany's most prestigious Max-und-Moritz Award in the category of Best Imported Comic.
Kabuki has earned David international acclaim for its innovative storytelling, painting techniques and page design. The series is available in seven languages and there are over one million copies of Kabuki comics, paperbacks and hardcovers in print in the United States alone. David Mack’s books have been the subject of undergraduate and graduate university courses in Art and Literature as well as listed as required reading for classes. His work has been studied in graduate seminars at USC and hung in the Los Angeles Museum of Art.
Jarrod L. Perez (aka) "Toonzi"
“Toonzi” is the founder/owner of Milqtoast Comics, a company branded with high quality comics created by himself with stimulating and playful illustrations and stories touching anywhere from stoner adventures in strange lands to random humorous social commentaries by engaging colorful characters. Picking up a comic by Jarrod is the formula for intellectual and thought provoking comedy at its best. He is the creator of "Toonster Adventures, Screw Comics" and illustrator for "Enchanted By Darkness."
Nicholas Pitarra
Nicholas Pitarra is a local comic artist and University of Houston student. He recently got his breakthrough gig working with Marvel drawing the villain MOJO in the anthology Astonishing Tales. Nick's highly detailed humorous style has landed him runner-up honors in both the Wildstorm Talent Search and Comic Book Idol art contests.
Humberto Ramos
Discovered in 1993 at San Diego Comic Con, Humberto Ramos is not only known for creating his own comics such as Crimson and Out There, but also for his distinctive and extremely popular art on titles such as Wolverine, Impulse, X-Men, New X-Men, Runaways, and many more. Not merely popular with comic book fans, Humberto is on his way to rock star status with them. His energy-filled drawings have captured the imaginations of a generation of comic book readers.
Rodney Ramos
Rodney Ramos has been a professional comicbook artist for over 15 years. He started his career as an assistant to Mark Texiera. He next moved on to Marvel comics as a Romita Raider in the art bullpen for the Legendary John Romita. He started penciling for Marvel then on books like Thundercats, What If, Marvel presents and Psi-force. He then began inking for Marvel on titles such as the Punisher War Zone. Over the years he has worked at such companies as Marvel comics, Marvel U.K, Dc Comics, Valiant, Acclaim comics, Malibu, and Continuity Comics. His inks have graced many titles such as Spider-man, X-men, Iron-man, Peter Parker, Batman, Wonder Woman and the critically acclaimed Transmetropolitan with Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson. Currently he has worked at DC Comics on 52, Countdown, Green Lantern, Batman, Jsa, Green Arrow and the new mini series Bang Tango!
Rem (Priscilla Hamby)
Rem is an internationally-acclaimed illustrator known for her work on the manga adaptation of Harper Collin's popular Vampire Kisses series. Her one-shot titles, Devil's Candy and Kage no Matsuri have won awards in both America and Japan. In addition to her work as a comic artist, she has also provided character and environment designs for video games by Acclaim and Oni-Soft. She is currently working on the manga adaptation of NHK/Nickelodeon's Domo.
Steve Scott
Steve Scott began his career with his sequential print illustrations 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. Steve's work also appears in the pages of DC Comics' Shadowpact, the Creeper, 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, Creeper 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. Currently, Steve is working on She-Hulk and Hulk projects and will be working on a high profile Uncanny X-men project even as we speak.
Dirk Strangely
Like some dark elf spinning straw into gold, Dirk Strangely takes superstition and horror and the shadowy netherworld of our racial fears and spins them into a diverse body of artwork. His distinctive sometimes-surreal, sometimes-cartoony, sometimes-realistic style has made Dirk a rising star in the field of horror illustration and a favorite on the convention circuit.
Alain Viesca
Alain Viesca is a fantasy artist and illustrator who works and freelances for several small companies and exhibits his work through out the year. Holding in particular interest art, science, pinup art and of course, fantasy and sci-fi. Working his mojo professionally since 1990, he has incorporated digital matte painting and 3d modeling into his traditional techniques. Best known for his pinup fantasy work and his steam punk pieces, Alain currently runs his own studio, attending far too many exhibitions and conventions coast to coast.
Comicpalooza 2008
Ryan Burton
Ryan Burton went from winning the Comic Book Challenge at the San 2006 Diego Comic-Con to writing mini-series to taking the reins of 10th Muse for Bluewater Productions, Ryan Burton is quickly developing into a comic creator worth watching. Ryan's current project currently includes the title “Female Force – Stephenie Meyer” a biography comic about the author of “Twilight.”
Scott Chitwood
A life-long comic and Star Wars fan, Scott Chitwood’s geek status was upped a notch when he co-founded The Star Wars Page at Texas A&M and TheForce.net. He is a regular contributer to SuperheroHype and ComingSoon.net. Scott currently lives in Houston, Texas with his wife and three kids.
Marc Moorash and Heather Stanley
Marc Moorash and Heather “Spleen” Stanley are the creators of the comic book Polyglot and Spleen and the Goth Coloring Book which they self publish through their company Searaphemera Books.
www.searaphemera.org
Terry Moore
Terry Moore is the creator of Strangers In Paradise. For fourteen years, Terry wrote, drew, lettered and self-published 107 issues of SiP. The series came to an end in 2007 but remains in perpetual print for new readers. Currently Terry is publishing his second creator-owned series, Echo. He is also writing Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, and Runaways, both for Marvel Comics.
Terry has won numerous awards, including the Will Eisner Award, the National Cartoonist Society Award, A Comic-Con International Inkpot and two GLAAD awards.
Self Brothers (Rev. Chris Self & Michael A. Self)
The Self Brothers are the primary contributors to SackTap, a comic book published quarterly by the Rev. Chris's selfmadecomics.net. Fear, awkwardness, bad credit, involuntary cannibalism, and duck boogers are the usual themes of the cartoons, punctuated by Michael's tales of characters on the margins of society in a dizzying and senseless world.
www.selfmadecomics.net
Dirk Strangely
Dirk Strangely is a naturally gifted upcoming artist; his dark yet beautiful macabre work has a sense of feeling all of its own, drawing people into it. Dirk has an ability to take the disturbing and make them beautiful and appealing to the eye. Dirk is quickly becoming internationally known and has an incredible clientele that regularly follows his works following him from conventions, art shows, and gallery shows.
Dirk is a macabre fine artist and writer of both horror, and fantasy. Dirk has been published in mainstream magazines along with newspapers across the United States addressing his works of art. His books can be ordered on his website, Amazon, and can be found in some comic stores.
Trey Wickwire
Trey Wickwire is the writer/creator of the upcoming comic book Mamluk and a contributor to the Eleventh Hour anthology comic from Markosia Comics. Trey is also the North American Representative for the British comic studio Orang Utan Comics.
www.orangutancomics.co.uk
