Featured Artist Alley/Writers Way Guests
Karl Kesel
Appearing Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Karl Kesel is a comics writer and inker whose works have primarily been under contract for DC Comics. He is a member of Periscope Studio and is best known for his collaborations with fellow artist Tom Grummett on The Adventures of Superman, Superboy, and Section Zero, as well as the first Harley Quinn comic title.
Kesel’s first work for DC Comics appeared in New Talent Showcase #4 (April 1984). He soon became the inker on Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Kesel worked on the lighthearted ‘Mazing Man series, as well as providing inks over the pencils of George Pérez on History of the DC Universe and John Byrne on Legends and Superman vol. 2. With Barbara Kesel, he co-wrote a Hawk and Dove miniseries in 1988 which was drawn by Rob Liefeld. Kesel and artist Tom Grummett are the creators of the modern Superboy character, Kon-El, who debuted in the “Reign of the Supermen” story arc, starting from The Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993). An ongoing Superboy series was launched by Kesel and Grummett in February 1994. In 1996, Kesel and artist Stuart Immonen produced The Final Night limited series. Kesel was one of the many creators who contributed to the Superman: The Wedding Album. Kesel wrote the Batman and Superman: World’s Finest ten-issue limited series (April 1999–Jan. 2000) which explored the Post-Crisis history of the two with each of the ten issues taking place one year after the other. He and artist Terry Dodson launched a Harley Quinn ongoing series in December 2000.
Kesel’s first work for Marvel Comics was inking a Vision story in Avengers Spotlight #23 (Oct. 1989). He inked Mark Bagley’s cover art for the Japan-exclusive Super Famicom video game The Amazing Spider-Man: Lethal Foes in 1995. Kesel wrote Daredevil issues #353–364 (June 1996 – May 1997) and in 2002 wrote the story “Remembrance of Things Past” in which it was revealed that Ben Grimm, the Thing of the Fantastic Four, is Jewish. Kesel wrote and drew a “lost” Captain America comic strip from the 1940s which was published on Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited. In 2011, he scripted a Hulk and the Human Torch story which had been plotted by Jack C. Harris and drawn by Steve Ditko in the 1980s. It was published by Marvel as Incredible Hulk and the Human Torch: From the Marvel Vault #1 (August 2011).
Kesel worked with comic book illustrator Brandon McKinney on issues #6 and #13 of the comic series Aliens: Space Marines published by Dark Horse Comics, which accompanied alien figures in the first line of Alien figures released by Kenner in 1992. In 2000, Kesel and his former Superboy collaborator Tom Grummett created Section Zero as part of the Gorilla Comics, imprint at Image Comics.
Mark Spears
Appearing Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Mark Spears is an award-winning artist who is currently creating covers for Action Comics, World’s Finest, Green Lantern War Journal, Kneel Before Zod, Power Rangers, Spawn, Gunslinger Spawn, King Spawn, Scorched, Deadly Tales of the Gunslinger, Rat City and Sam and Twitch. His artwork made an appearance in the 2022 “Spirit Halloween” movie while also doing the artwork for the movie’s poster. His work has been featured on multiple trading card series from Marvel and DC Comics and his concept art was used to design a line of Marvel and DC statues and figurines. He is the creator of Mark Spears Monsters and has released three trading card series under this brand. Mark won the Rondo Hatton Horror Awards “Artist of the Year” in 2020 for was runner up the following year. His artwork was also nominated three years in a row for “Best Magazine Cover”. Mark was picked by MeTV to be a Svengoolie Featured Artist for the month of July 2023 and was the Artist Spotlight Artist for Todd McFarlane in March 2023, appearing on all 4 Spawn title covers in one month.
Zach Howard
Appearing Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Zach Howard is a freelance professional illustrator of 24 years. His most notable employers include Marvel, DC, Image, Nickelodeon, IDW, Boom, Simon & Schuster, and Steve Jackson Games. Zach’s most popular projects are Hellboy: The Return of Effie Kolb, Wild Blue Yonder, Shaun of the Dead, TMNT, Spiderman, Hulk, Wolverines, GI Joe, The Cape, and Detective Comics . He has been nominated for an Eisner and multiple Indie awards, along with receiving an Amazon Book of the Month selection for Wild Blue Yonder. In addition to his professional work, Zach is passionate about supporting young artists and has dedicated much of his time to helping nurture the next generation of creators.”
Social:
IG: @spacefriend_z
FB: https://www.facebook.com/zach.howard.359/
Deviant Art: https://www.deviantart.com/spacefriend-krunk
Todd Aaron Smith
Appearing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
After studying animation in art college, Todd Aaron Smith worked as a professional animator and storyboard artist on projects like The Adventures of Superman, Batman: The Animated Series, Spider-Man, The Avengers, Family Guy, Godzilla, Pokémon and countless others.
Todd has also illustrated many well-known properties for trading cards, including Star Wars, DC Comics, Marvel Comics, The Hobbit, Star Trek: The Original Series, Ghostbusters, Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD, Warcraft, ALIEN, Stranger Things, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sharknado (no kidding!) and others.
Todd is currently creating artwork for Topps Major League Baseball cards. While working on his third set, he attracted the attention of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. The Acquisitions Committee met and voted to make three pieces of Todd’s art a part of the Permanent Collection of the Hall of Fame. His art is now in the same collection as works by Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, LeRoy Neiman and many other great artists.
Todd lives in Kansas, where he always has a sketchbook in one hand and a pencil in the other. You can find him at www.ToddAaronSmith.com.
Todd loves to meet and makes sketches for people, so be sure to visit his table. Don’t miss your chance to meet a Hall of Fame artist who was one of the first to ever draw Harley Quinn professionally!
Edward Gross
Appearing Friday, Saturday and Sunday
EDWARD GROSS is the author of Voices from Krypton, the complete 85-year oral history of Superman. He is a veteran entertainment journalist who has been covering film, television, comic books and more for the past 40 years while serving on the editorial staff of such publications as Cinescape, Starlog, Movie Magic, Cinefantastique, Femme Fatales, Life Story, Super Hero Spectacular, Film Fantasy and Geek Monthly. Additionally, he was US Editor, Empireonline; Film/TV Editor for closerweekly.com, lifeandstylemag.com, intouchweekly.com and j14.com; and Nostalgia Editor for doyouremember.com. He has written two dozen non-fiction books, among them seven previous oral histories, including titles on Star Trek (the two-volume The Fifty-Year Mission), James Bond (Nobody Does It Better), Star Wars (Secrets of the Force), John Wick (They Shouldn’t Have Shot His Dog) and Stargate SG-1 (Chevrons Locked). On top of all of that, he’s spent the vast majority of his life as a fan of the Man of Steel.
Artist Alley/Writers Way Exhibitors
Victor Ku
My name is Victor and I am a Freelance artist since 2017, I have worked on indie comic cover SAVAGE: The Legend of Blue Raven and I’m known as the Snyder Cut Movie poster winner. I travel around the country and meet fans at various conventions and hope to inspire the new generation of young artists to create art. As the Winner of the Snyder Cut movie poster contest in 2020, I was invited to the behind the scene of the ZSJL Joker scene with Zack Snyder. I am also known for my giant artwork collecting all the Super Smash Bros Ultimate fighters in one giant piece!
Ron Braun
Ron Braun is an Indiana-based cartoonist and the artist/writer behind Once Upon A Platypus, an all-ages sci-fi/fantasy tale about a young girl whose discovery of a talking platypus with amnesia plunges her into a wild and dangerous adventure. Eight issues and a graphic novel collection featuring the first five have already been released with a ninth issue due out in the Spring of 2024. Ron is also the author of the children’s book, Josh and The SpaceBots.
Jim and Lora Pinkstaff
Jim and Lora Pinkstaff are artists based out of Terre Haute, IN. They specialize in superhero, rock and roll, sci-fi, and spooky art. Jim and Lora attend several comic and pop culture conventions as visiting artists throughout Indiana and Illinois. They are also active members in their local art and music communities.
William Hood
William (Bill) Hood is an illustrator from Louisville, KY. He began drawing at the early age of “very young” and has taught character design, comic inking, creative writing, and art over the years. Currently finishing a graphic novel for his own Dream In Color Entertainment and working on stories for InDELLible Comics he brings his art to Metropolis for the third year in a row. Stop by and say hi.
Trevor Hawkins
Trevor believes that art can and should be made based on what the artist perceives as relevant. Taking an image that moves him and then applying his own style, he creates art that goes several steps beyond the original subject. The worlds of science fiction, comic books and animation offer vast visual inspiration for making serious artwork. Popular culture is a rich playground for his images. Working in mostly acrylic paint and mixed media, He uses a process method of building images.
Peter Melonas
Many artists choose a particular medium to create their artwork. While others might prefer a different approach and many artists’ choice affects the expressive possibilities of the piece to the viewer. There are as many art styles in the world as there are artists. What is quite evident throughout is his passion for rendering Black-and-white drawings. Peter Melonas has a love of detail that is evident throughout his meticulous line work. His artwork demonstrates a particular style and skill.
Carl Wilson
Carl Wilson is an artist and illustrator based in Taylorsville, Kentucky. “I’ve been creating art most of my life in some form or another. I love the process that goes into creating a piece of art. I like to focus on subjects that make me happy and also that make others happy.” Carl works in a range of mediums including graphite, ink, and oil paint creating works featuring wildlife, pets, people, science fiction, and comics.
Todd Black
Todd Black is a creator of comics and novels and has been making his library of books for ten years. He’s created works in superheroes, sci-fi fantasy, mystery novels, and more. He loves telling stories with deep characters and fun plots, and he won’t stop until he’s got all his ideas out of his head!
