Our speakers
Howard Chaykin
Howard Chaykin is a comic book writer and artist with credits such as American Flagg!, Avengers 1959, and Divided States of Hysteria. He is an expert in comic books, comic book history, jazz music, and 1950s American Culture.
Gerry Conway
Gerry Conway has been a professional comic book writer and editor singe age 16. He is the co-creator of the Punisher, Ms. Marvel, Killer Croc, Vibe, Steel, Vixen, Firestorm, and many more. And yes, he will forever be "the man who killed Gwen Stacy." He is an expert in comic books and comic book history.
Denys Cowan is an accomplished and celebrated comics and animation creator, and one of the founders of Milestone Media. Cowan is also the former senior VP of animation at BET, and has illustrated album covers for GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan. He is an expert in comic books and animation.
Denys Cowan
Dave Gibbons
Dave Gibbons is a comic book writer and artist with credits such as Watchmen, The Originals, and Green Lantern. He is an expert in comic books and comic book history, with a special concentration in British comic books.
Christian Gossett
Christian Gossett is a longtime concept designer, writer, artist, and educator. He created the double-bladed lightsaber for the "Star Wars" universe, and was an art director on Tim Burton's 2010 "Alice in Wonderland." In comics, Gossett created the epic The Red Star graphic novel. He is an expert in art, animation, computer graphics, and comic books, with a special concentration in art education.
Rick Leonardi
Rick Leonardi is a comic book artist with credits such as Cloak & Dagger, Uncanny X-Men, and Spider-Man 2099. He is an expert in comic books and art.
Ron Marz
Ron Marz is a comic book writer with credits such as Green Lantern, Silver Surfer, and Witchblade. He is an expert in comic books and comic book history.
Mike Mayhew
Mike Mayhew is a comic book artist and commercial illustrator with credits including Star Wars, X-Men, and Avengers. He has created award winning ad campaigns for Cisco Systems, and book covers for Harper Collins and Scholastic. Mike is an expert in digital art techniques, as well as traditional watercolor and acrylic painting.
Kevin Nowlan
Kevin Nowlan is a comic book writer and artist with credits such as Batman: Sword of Azreal, Tomorrow Stories, and Superman vs. Aliens. He is an expert in comic books and art.
Dennis O'Neil
Dennis O'Neil is a comic book writer and editor with credits such as Green Lantern/Green Arrow, Batman, and Daredevil. He is an expert in comic books, comic book history, and the Catholic Worker movement.
Stephanie Phillips
Stephanie Phillips is a writer known for comics and graphic novels such as Butcher of Paris, Descendent, and Kicking
Ice from AfterShock Comics, Dark Horse, Image Comics, and
more.
Christopher Priest
Christopher Priest is the first African-American writer and editor to work in the superhero comics industry. His writing credits include Black Panther, Quantum and Woody, and more. He's an expert in comic books and editorial process.
Bart Sears
Bart Sears is a three-decade veteran of the comics business having worked on top titles for Marvel, DC, and more including Captain America and the Falcon and Justice League Europe. Bart has also worked extensively in the toy business for Hasbro and Toy Biz, and in the video game industry.
Andy Smith
Andy Smith is a comic artist who has worked on Wolverine: Weapon X, XO Manowar, and many other titles. His Drawing Dynamic Comics published by Watson-Guptill has been through seven printings. Andy has taught college art classes, and lectured frequently at libraries.
Ty Templeton
Ty Templeton has worked in the comics industry for 35 years as a publisher, editor, colorist, and letterer. Ty also teaches others how to make their own comics, through his Comic Book Bootcamp. He's worked on The Batman Adventures, Superman, Spider-Man, Mad Magazine, The Simpsons, The National Lampoon, the Avengers, and so many others.
Mark Waid
Mark Waid is a comic book writer and editor with credits such as Captain America, Flash, and Kingdom Come. He is an expert in comic books and comic book history, with a specialization in Superman history.
