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Cliff Chiang, Mike Hawthorne, Adriana Melo, Bob McLeod, Bill Morrison, and Joseph Schmalke are coming to Baltimore Comic Con

Posted on April 10, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team Leave a comment

The Baltimore Comic-Con returns on September 25-27, 2026 to the Inner Harbor’s Baltimore Convention Center. Baltimore Comic-Con welcomes Cliff Chiang, Mike Hawthorne, Adriana Melo, Bob McLeod, Bill Morrison, and Joseph Schmalke as guests of the 2026 event! You can purchase your tickets online today!

Cliff Chiang’s artwork has been hailed for its “fluid and confident storytelling” and “sweeping linework and nuanced style.” Graduating from Harvard University with a joint degree in English Literature and Visual Arts, he worked in editorial at Disney Adventures Magazine and Vertigo/DC Comics before making the leap into freelance illustration. Best known as the artist of the New York Times best-selling Wonder Woman (with writer Brian Azzarello) and Eisner Award-winning Paper Girls (with writer Brian K. Vaughan), his most recent work is the acclaimed Catwoman: Lonely City which he both wrote and drew.

Mike Hawthorne has provided the artwork for various comics, including a record setting run on Deadpool as well as Daredevil, Spider-Man, Hulk, Superman, and more. His work has been nominated for Harvey and Eisner Awards. Outside of comics, Mike has done storyboard and conceptual art for Epic Games, Marvel, Fox, Illumination, and Universal. Archaia/BOOM! Studios recently published his autobio-comic Happiness Will Follow.

Adriana Melo has worked for Marvel, DC, Image Comics, and Titan Comics. Some of the books she has worked as a penciler/artist are: Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Silver Surfer, Amazing Spider-Man, Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Jackpot, Star Wars: Empire, Rose & Thorn, Witchblade, Miss Marvel, Birds of Prey, Catwoman, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, Female Furies, Plastic Man, Dr. Who: New Adventures of the Ninth Doctor, Harley and Ivy Meet Betty and Veronica, Marvel Voices, and Trial of the Amazons. You can find her most recent work in the DC Comics series Wonder Girl with Joelle Jones, and in Superman: Action Comics.

Bob McLeod is best known for co-creating and illustrating The New Mutants for Marvel Comics. He began his career with Marvel’s Crazy magazine, penciling, and inking movie and TV satires and the Teen Hulk strip. He has pencilled or inked all the major characters for Marvel and DC, including Spider-Man (most notably Kraven’s Last Hunt), The X-Men, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, GI Joe, Star Wars, The Hulk, Conan, and many more. Bob also wrote and illustrated a children’s alphabet book, Superhero ABC, published by HarperCollins, which received starred reviews. He edited and wrote articles for Twomorrows’ Rough Stuff magazine and taught art at the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design for many years. He’s currently doing occasional variant covers for Marvel and commissions for his fans, along with occasional freelance jobs and personal projects. His website is www.bobmcleod.com.

Award-winning cartoonist, writer, and illustrator Bill Morrison began his career in Detroit, Michigan as a technical illustrator, but his dream was to be a cartoonist. When Bill decided that he had rendered his last diesel fuel pump, he moved to Southern California with his wife, Kayre. He began working immediately in motion picture advertising where he painted dozens of movie posters, including many for Walt Disney Pictures such as The Little Mermaid, Bambi, Peter Pan, Cinderella, and The Jungle Book. For several years, Bill spent most of his waking hours on various projects related to The Simpsons. For that iconic property, he has created thousands of drawings for t-shirts, video games, posters, toy packaging, books, calendars, limited edition prints, etc. When The Simpsons creator Matt Groening founded Bongo Comics, Bill was hired on as art director and realized his cartoonist dreams when he drew the very first Simpsons comic. He quickly took on the role of Creative Director, editing Bongo’s entire output, and writing and drawing stories and covers as time permitted. Bill also worked with Groening on early character designs for the TV show Futurama and served as the series art director. He also recently served as Artist and Designer on Groening’s Netflix series, Disenchantment. In addition to his work on The Simpsons and Futurama comics, Bill has written and drawn his own comic book series, the four-time Eisner Award-nominated Roswell, Little Green Man, and co-created three other comic book series: Heroes Anonymous, Dead Vengeance, and Lady Robotika (the latter with Jane Wiedlin of the legendary all-girl rock band, The Go-Go’s). Morrison also created a 96-page graphic novel adaptation of The Beatles Yellow Submarine for Titan Comics. Most recently, Bill was the Executive Editor of the relaunched MAD Magazine, and also served as Art Director for Seriously’s “Best Fiends” animated shorts.

Joseph Schmalke is a comics creator, writer, and illustrator, and is the publisher of Midnight Factory, a comic line focused on horror, sci-fi, and the bizarre. Joe’s credentials include: Seven Years in Darkness, We Don’t Kill Spiders, Murder Hobo (created/written by), One Last Trick (created/written by), Prophets of Doom (created/written by), The Infernal Pact, Cherry Blackbird, Phantom Starkiller (co-writer/artist), and The Electric Black (co-creator/writer and artist). His artwork has been featured on variant covers for Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, Vault Comics, Mad Cave, Behemoth/Sumerian Comics, Source Point Press, Archie Comics, and IDW. You can also find his artwork on exclusive Marvel Entertainment merchandise.

This year’s confirmed guests for the show include: Jason Aaron (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Marty Baumann (Pixar artist), Josh Blaylock (Mercy Sparx, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Russ Braun (The Boys), Jeffrey Brown (Hulk Teach, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Jim Calafiore (NED, Lord of the Pit), Richard Case (Doom Patrol), Keith Champagne (Stranger Things), Howard Chaykin (Time Squared), Jo Chen (Runaways), Cliff Chiang (Paper Girls), Frank Cho (Harley Quinn), Steve Conley (The Middle Age), Amanda Conner (Harley Quinn), Olivia Cuartero-Briggs (The College Try), Paris Cullins (Blue Devil), Todd Dezago (The Perhapanauts), Colleen Doran (The Sandman), Garth Ennis (The Boys), Trish Forstner (Feral), Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (DC Nation), Chris Giarrusso (Mini Marvels), Randy Green (Witchblade), Torunn Grønbekk (Catwoman), Gene Ha (Mae), Bob Hall (West Coast Avengers), Larry Hama (GI Joe: A Real American Hero), Tony Harris (The Whistling Skull), Mike Hawthorne (Deadpool), Jamal Igle (Superman), Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Infernal Hulk), Dan Jurgens (Action Comics), Peter Krause (The Power of Shazam, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Mike Kunkel (Herobear and the Kid), Jae Lee (Inhumans), Kevin Maguire (Justice League), Laura Martin (Nubia: Queen of the Amazons, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Ron Marz (Green Lantern), Jose Marzen Jr. (Y: The Last Man), Mike McKone (Teen Titans), Bob McLeod (New Mutants), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), Adriana Melo (Fantastic Four), Pop Mhan (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe), Al Milgrom (Spectacular Spider-Man), Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise), Mark Morales (Thor), Bill Morrison (The Simpsons), Trevor Mueller (Bat Pat), Sarah Myer (TMNT Saturday Morning Adventures), Phil Noto (Fantastic Four: First Foes), Kevin Nowlan (Batman: Sword of Azrael), Patrick Olliffe (Untold Tales of Spider-Man), Ryan Ottley (Invincible), Jimmy Palmiotti (The Punisher), Dan Parent (Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Margeaux Pepoy (Simone & Ajax), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Khoi Pham (Star Wars: Darth Vader), Tom Raney (Incredible Hulk), Afua Richardson (Kahhori: Reshaper of Worlds), Tone Rodriguez (Feral, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), Craig Rousseau (The Perhapanauts), Joe Schmalke (We Don’t Kill Spiders), Erica Schultz (Rogue), Mark Schultz (Xenozoic Tales, courtesy of Flesk Publishing), Louise Simonson (The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special), Walter Simonson (Thor), Matthew Dow Smith (DC’s Misfits of Magic), Scott Snyder (DC K.O.), Brian Stelfreeze (Black Panther), Gus Vazquez (Sunfire and the Big Hero Six), Mark Waid (Action Comics), Bob Wiacek (All-New Wolverine, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Matt Wieringo (Stargate Atlantis: Gateways), Chuck Wojtkiewicz (Justice League, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Rich Woodall (Sgt. Werewolf), Kelly Yates (Doctor Who), and Thom Zahler (Long Distance).

Conventions

Anime Boston 2026: Manga Mavericks Books Announces New Manga Licenses

Posted on April 6, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team Leave a comment

Manga Mavericks Books announced two newly licensed titles during its panel at Anime Boston that will be added to its catalog in Q4 2026 and Q1 2027.

The latest releases include the girls’ love school drama series ONI & DAWN: BAKUMATSU HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS by Hana Ikuta (published in Japan by TWO VIRGINS), the first volume of which is scheduled for release in print and digital formats in October 2026, and the award nominated queer drama BALL & CHAIN by Minami Q-ta (published in Japan by MAGAZINE HOUSE), the first volume of which is scheduled for release in both print and digital in a 2-in-1 omnibus format starting in March 2027.

ONI & DAWN: BAKUMATSU HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS, VOLUME 1

by Hana Ikuta ∙ Print SRP: $14.99 / Digital SRP: $6.99
176 pages ∙ ISBN: 9781968054403 ∙ For Readers 13+ ∙ Available October 2026

Pack your bags and grab your sword, because class is now in session for this dramatic GL series.

Somewhere in Japan, very special students have gathered at Koharu Girls’ High School. What makes them special, you ask?

Sakamoto, Takasugi, Katsura, Katsu, Hijikata, Okita, Kondo…

All these girls possess the souls of the great samurai from the Bakumatsu period! Living as teenage girls with their memories intact, they must navigate modern society, deal with messy historical baggage, and fight for love in a school that forbids romance.

ONI & DAWN: BAKUMATSU HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS is a 3 volume series published in Japan by TWO VIRGINS.

Manga Mavericks Books will be releasing the series in single volumes at A5 (5.83″ x 8.27″) size.

ONI & DAWN: BAKUMATSU HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS, VOLUME 1

BALL & CHAIN, OMNIBUS 1

by Minami Q-ta ∙ Print SRP: $19.99 / Digital SRP: $9.99
320 pages ∙ ISBN: 9781968054465 ∙ For Readers 13+ ∙ Available March 2027

“Maybe I could have chosen something different…”

Keito is a late-20s company employee who’s planning to get married as a “woman,” despite not feeling cemented into a specific gender or sexuality.

Meanwhile, Aya is a married woman in her 50s who continues playing out the role of “wife” despite being in a marriage that’s long since gone cold.

They both struggle with a gender that was decided upon birth and the “wife” role that became nothing more than a pantomime at some point.

This is a story of two queer people who harbor doubts about how they’ve been treated and shoved into a “normalized” box, and try to take back their true selves.

BALL & CHAIN is an ongoing series in Japan published by MAGAZINE HOUSE, and is currently nominated for the 30th Annual Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.

Manga Mavericks Books will be releasing the series in a 2-in-1 omnibus format at A5 (5.83″ x 8.27″) size.

Sakura-Con 2026: Yen Press Ignites a Fateful Fall with Eight New Licenses

Posted on April 5, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team Leave a comment

At Sakura-Con 2026, Yen Press announced eight new title acquisitions with exciting continuations from beloved series, new releases from beloved mangaka, and more.

Releasing in October 2026, the debut list of eight manga includes Fate Rewinder: All Great Feats Require Time; Fate/Prototype: Fragments of Sky Silver; The Dragon School Is Atop the Mountain; In Such a Small World; Elden Ring: Become Lord; Non and Akari; Meiji-Era Master-and-Servant Tungsten; and How to Keep a Human.

Fate Rewinder: All Great Feats Require Time

By Futa Kimura

Meet the Spacetime Strategic Enforcement Unit, an organization dedicated to rescuing people from terrible destinies and tragic deaths. The unit’s nickname, “The Fate Rewinders,” is well earned—armed with Retry Eyes, micro–time machines implanted in their eye sockets, agents of the SSEU are equipped to stick around until they solve the case, whether that means trying once, twice, or ten thousand times!

Fate Rewinder: All Great Feats Require Time

Fate/Prototype: Fragments of Sky Silver

Art by Tsuta Suzuki
Original Story by Hikaru Sakurai, TYPE-MOON

Tokyo, 1991. Seven mages gather to summon seven heroes from history, myth, and legend to do battle in a great ritual. The last ones standing will obtain the Holy Grail—a font of limitless power said to be able to grant any wish. One such Master is Manaka Sajou, a young maiden with immense expectations placed on her. But when she lays eyes on the one she summons, what she sees is not her Servant but the fairy tale prince of her dreams!

The Dragon School Is Atop the Mountain

By Ryoko Kui

A hero moves back in with their parents, a middle school angel is stressed about entering high school, and a centaur finds work pulling a cart. From Ryoko Kui, author of Delicious in Dungeon, comes a collection of fantastic tales where the extraordinary is just another part of ordinary daily life!

In Such a Small World

By Natsuki Takaya

Sometimes love doesn’t happen in a flash or a bang or a sparkle of fireworks. From time to time, it’s a culmination of all the little, ordinary moments of perfectly average days—that seems to be the story of Sui Onodera’s life. More specifically, it changed for the better when Sui’s rather attractive neighbor knocked on the door to retrieve his incredibly adorable puppers, Tino, from the balcony! And so, romance with a handsome heart-throb blossoms in such a small world…

From the author of the bittersweet coming-of-age love story featuring all kinds of furry and not-so-furry zodiac animals, Fruits Basket, Natsuki Takaya presents a new mini-series featuring not only a cute couple but another furry friend…!

Elden Ring: Become Lord

Art by Tegekiken
Original Story by 21g

Following the guidance of grace, a Tarnished has arrived in a cursed land—but the path ahead is perilous indeed, for the shardbearers will not relinquish their power without a fight. Experience the world of Elden Ring in this beautiful full-color retelling of the battles that decided the fate of the Lands Between!

Non and Akari

By Neruko Nichinichi

Akari isn’t wild about moving into an eerie old house…until she meets Non-chan, a cursed doll! And what’s this? Non-chan says she wants them to be together forever?! (And maybe something else about “haunting” and “eternal regret”? That’s probably not important.) Akari, as bewildered as she is, accepts Non-chan’s proposal. Now Non-chan seems confused, too, but no matter. Akari just knows she’s found her new BFF!

Meiji-Era Master-and-Servant Tungsten

By Mio Tatsumoto

In the final years of the Meiji era in the early twentieth century, demand for electricity has skyrocketed following the Russo-Japanese War. Ryouji Saeki, a young engineer, has just returned home from Europe, and as he helps plan for the construction of a hydroelectric power plant, his daily life has taken a feverish pace. By his side is the loyal attendant Edward, who Ryouji took under his wing two years ago. Little by little, how does their relationship as master and servant begin to shift…?

How to Keep a Human

By Pieta

Every few years, a human appears out of nowhere in the world of demons and monsters! You have to be careful with them—their stomachs can barely handle demon food, their bodies are fragile enough to break from a little fall, and even turning up the heat by a few dozen degrees will make them wither away…But they’re also cute, loyal, and clever in a way une (dogs), nosa (cats), and eshig (rabbits) just can’t compare! How could you not want to keep a human?

Sakura-Con 2026: Ize Press Unveils Four New Webcomic Print Editions

Posted on April 5, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team Leave a comment

Ize Press, the Korean-content imprint of Yen Press, announced the acquisition and upcoming print publication of four internationally popular webcomic series at the anime convention Sakura-Con: Special Civil Servant, On the Way to Meet Mom, Reunion, and Merry Marbling. The English print editions of all four titles will release beginning in late 2026.

Special Civil Servant

Art by ch
Original Story by Sora Kwon and Jaewon Seo

Maru Han is your typical twenty-nine-year-old guy—socially anxious, broke, and desperate for a stable job. Things aren’t looking up, though, considering he just failed the civil service exam for the fifth time! But fate has a funny way of giving us what we want… When a trip to the mountains turns into an encounter with some strange, human-eating creature, Maru finds himself recruited into the “Special Civil Service.” His lucky break, right? Wrong! So, so, wrong! Everything is a mess—this secret task force is threatening the very safety he longed for, the monsters they fight are weirdly drawn to him, and the people on his team are total nutjobs! Will Maru be able to adjust to his new life as a public defender, or will he crash and burn alongside the earth itself?

Special Civil Servant is an ongoing mystery thriller series that offers a gripping blend of supernatural action and workplace drama. With beautifully detailed art and plenty of comedy, the story centers on a struggling job seeker recruited into a secret government division tasked with fighting deadly creatures threatening humanity. This bloody fantasy comic is digitally serialized on the WEBTOON platform with over 12 million views. It’s perfect for readers looking for action-packed horror, enjoyable characters, and some fan service for muscle lovers.

On the Way to Meet Mom

By GOMYANG

After he is found in an abandoned building, a strange feral child named Mori is taken to an orphanage where he finds friends, shelter, and even a patron. He has all he needs to be happy and content in his little corner of the world—or so he thinks, until one day, his best friend’s mother returns to bring her home. Watching their reunion, Mori begins to wonder if he, too, has one somewhere out there… Surely, he must, right? So begins one little boy’s perilous journey across the lands to find his mother!

On the Way to Meet Mom is a found-family fantasy adventure about a young boy on a journey to find his mother, encountering new friends, dangers, and life-changing revelations along the way. Originally released on WEBTOON, On the Way to Meet Mom has resonated with readers for its imaginative worldbuilding, adorable protagonist, and heartfelt exploration of family, identity, and belonging. This touching series has garnered millions of views and a dedicated global fanbase since its English-language debut in 2025. The English print edition will be complete in two volumes.

Reunion

Art by Deulsum
Original Story by 2coin

Seven years ago, Hakyung Lee accepted an offer to impersonate a dead girl. The plan was simple—he would pose as his childhood friend, Jiyoung Han, and convince a rich grandpa on his deathbed he wasn’t a fraud. It’d only be for one summer, and once it was over, Hakyung would walk away with the funds to pay for his mother’s hospital care and medication. And everything seemed to be smooth sailing—until Yoonsung Jang rushed to his grandfather’s side, determined to expose Hakyung as a fake. Except he doesn’t…and as the two spend more time together, the carefully placed walls between them begin to crumble. Now, in the present day, Yoonsung steps into the very bar where Hakyung works.

Digitally serialized on the Manta platform, Reunion offers a deeply emotional and character-driven romance with themes of cross-dressing, memory loss, and regret. What begins as a calculated act quickly spirals into something far more complicated as the lines between performance and reality begins to blur. Complete in five volumes, this BL (Boys Love) series will captivate readers with its slow-burn storytelling, layered narrative, and poignant exploration of love, memory, and second chances. Volume 1 is set to release in October 2026.

Merry Marbling

By PENGKI

Ian Ha has been in the spotlight since he was a child, heralded as an angel after an act of kindness makes local headlines. He’s perfected his public persona as the ever-popular impeccable model student, and high school seems to be no different—that is, until the arrival of a boy unlike anybody he’s ever met before. Not only is Yugun Baek unmoved by Ian’s kind and friendly gestures, but his prickly and brash nature seems to draw out all the worst sides of him! The two are like oil and water…so why do they keep getting mixed up with each other?!

Complete in six volumes, Merry Marbling is a wholesome BL series that is digitally serialized on the Lezhin platform. The story follows the evolving, often comical relationship between two high school boys as they overcome their traumas and limitations. With plenty of emotional moments, fluffy romance, and character growth, Merry Marbling will capture readers as the frail yet cynical Yugun’s attempts to unmask Ian’s perfect persona develop into a desire to protect Ian from the immense pressure put upon him.

New Nonprofit Brooklyn Organization Dedicated to the Endurance of the Graphic Arts launches with Brooklyn Expo of Comics

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team Leave a comment

A team of comics publishers, creators, and industry leaders including James Tynion IV, Bryce Gold, and Courtney Menard have launched the Brooklyn Organization Dedicated to the Endurance of the Graphic Arts (BODEGA), a new nonprofit dedicated to supporting and sustaining comic and graphic arts in Brooklyn and the greater New York area. Publisher, editor, and talent executive Bryce Gold serves as Executive Director. New York Times bestselling writer and producer James Tynion IV will serve as Chair of the company’s Board of Directors, alongside Gold and Production Director, illustrator, printmaker, and cartoonist Courtney Menard.

BODEGA’s inaugural initiative is the Brooklyn Expo of Comics (BEC), a two-day comics festival taking place November 14 and 15, 2026, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn at Our Lady of Mount Carmel church. BEC will spotlight exceptional comics talent from New York and around the world while sparking newfound appreciation for independent comics and zines. The festival will feature a varied slate of panel discussions with leading creators and industry voices, alongside a convention where over one hundred artists will showcase and sell their work. Courtney Menard and Bryce Gold will co-direct the Brooklyn Expo of Comics. Chris Ware and Lisa Hanawalt will attend the debut convention as guests, with more guests to be announced in the coming months.

BEC will also debut the BODEGA Comic Arts Trophy (CAT), honoring standout publications presented at the convention with a mid-convention award ceremony, and launch the Brooklyn Annual of Graphically Elevated Literature (BAGEL), a new magazine showcasing comics storytelling and talent from New York-based cartoonists, with future editions premiering annually at BEC.

BEC is only the beginning of BODEGA’s initiatives. BODEGA will continue to champion comic artists and audiences through exhibitions, independent educational programming, live readings, artist talks and signings, and direct financial grants for New York creators and community-driven comics projects. BODEGA honors the legacy of comics legends from New York who instigated the comics industry, including trailblazing legends like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, and Harvey Kurtzman, and follows in the tradition of Brooklyn-based cultural institutions like Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) and The Center for Fiction, which underscore the importance of the borough’s lasting impact on culture and creation.

BODEGA stands as a monument to the birthplace of comics, and a spotlight on the future talent that will inherit New York’s comics heritage. By connecting artists, publishers, and readers, BODEGA aims to strengthen Brooklyn’s comics ecosystem at a time when rising costs and limited infrastructure increasingly challenge creative sustainability. BODEGA’s mission is to ensure comics remain a vital cornerstone of New York’s cultural landscape.

BODEGA and BEC will operate with a solid support staff. Illustrator and educator Christina Lee joins BODEGA as Communications Manager. Comics literary agent Paloma Hernando will serve as Outreach Manager. Desert Island Comics founder and Smoke Signal publisher Gabe Fowler joins as Panel Coordinator for BEC. Menard previously worked with Fowler on Comics Art Brooklyn, or CAB, an annual independent comics festival run by Desert Island which operated from 2013 to 2019.

BODEGA and BEC are supported by an initial donation from James Tynion IV. Tynion is CEO & Founder of the independent multimedia production house Tiny Onion, which oversees the creation of comic book publications for many of the industry’s top publishers including Image Comics, Dark Horse, and Penguin Random House. The company operates out of Brooklyn, NY, where Tynion lives and works.

BODEGA Comics Group, Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Those interested in supporting BODEGA can go to bodegacomics.org, or email hello@bodegacomics.org.

The 2026 Lake Como Comic Art Festival Announces More Perks including an Exclusive Silver Surfer Fine Art Print by Alex Ross With Every Entry

Posted on April 2, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team Leave a comment

The Lake Como Comic Art Festival is just weeks away. The celebrated event will take place at the historic Villa Erba in Cernobbio, Lake Como, Italy on Saturday, April 25th and Sunday, April 26th with an opening reception overlooking the breathtaking lake and gardens on Friday, April 24th. The festival is a unique and intimate event that brings together elite collectors, industry luminaries, and art lovers for three days of original art, exclusive portfolios, VIP experiences, and cultural programming.

This year the Lake Como Comic Art Festival is excited to announce that all festival attendees will receive an exclusive Silver Surfer 11×17” fine art print by renowned artist Alex Ross and all VIP ticket holders will receive a Silver Surfer print, signed by Alex Ross. The Silver Surfer image will appear in his new book, Marvel Dimensions. Written and illustrated by Ross, Marvel Dimensions twists the Marvel Universe in ways readers have never seen before and will be available this September from Abrams ComicArts.

If you can’t make it to LCCAF this year, there will be a chance to win one of three Silver Surfer fine art prints signed by Alex Ross. Head over to AlexRossArt.com for details and to enter the online giveaway.

Alex Ross will not be in attendance at the Lake Como Comic Art Festival. Guests include: Alan Davis, Alexander Lozano, Alex Maleev, Alvaro Martinez Bueno, Andy Belanger, Brian Bolland, Carmen Carnero, Dani, David Mack, Dike Ruen, Dustin Nguyen, Elsa Charretier, Enrique Breccia, Enrico Marini, Esad Ribic, Frank Cho, Gabriele Dell’Otto, Gary Frank, Geof Darrow, German Peralta, J Scott Campbell, James Stokoe, Joe Chiodo, Jordi Bernet, Joshua Cassara, Juanjo Guarnido, Kevin Maguire, Laurence Cambell, Liam Sharp, Mahmud Asrar, Mark Brooks, Mark Raats, Matteo Scalera, Miki Okazaki, Monte Michael Moore, Olivier Vatine, Paolo Rivera, Patrick McDonnell, Pepe Larraz, Pepe Valencia, Pierangelo Boog, Rachta Lin, Riccardo Federici, Richard Case, Régis Loisel, Rick Leonardi, Sanjulian, Sara Pichelli, Scott Hampton, Simone Bianchi, Stanley Artgerm Lau, Sylvain Repos, Tanya Lehoux, Terry Dodson Warren Louw, and Yannick Corboz.

Tickets for the 2026 festival are available for purchase.

Conventions

ITHACON 49: Early Buyers Score Exclusive Swag Bags

Posted on March 31, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team Leave a comment

The Comic Book Club of Ithaca is thrilled to announce that tickets are officially on sale for ITHACON 49. Scheduled for April 25th and 26th, 2026, at Ithaca College’s Emerson Suites, this year’s convention continues its decades-long tradition of celebrating comics, pop culture, and fandom.

This year, ITHACON will be giving away free comics, graphic novels, and even hardcover books from a variety of publishers. Fans receive swag bags each morning (first-come, first-served). Although ITHACON is a small convention, the long relationships and strong reputation from over the years engender support from so many top publishers, including Archie, AHOY, Titan, Waxing Gibbous, Dynamite, A Wave Blue World, and more!

ITHACON 49 will feature an impressive lineup of guests and activities, including:

Renowned Creators: Appearances by Chris Condon (Ultimate Wolverine, Green Arrow) and Matt Bors (Toxic Avenger, The Nib).
Premier Publishers: On-site presence from Dynamite, AHOY Comics, and A Wave Blue World.
Interactive Events: The signature Cosplay Runway, live sketching sessions, and a special Supergirl Showcase for 2026.
Family Programming: Dedicated gaming areas, kids’ activities, and panels for fans of all ages.

The convention remains a unique collaboration between the community and academia. It is managed by Ithaca College students enrolled in the “Promoting and Managing ITHACON” course led by Professor Ed Catto. Students handle everything from guest coordination and registration to social media and public relations, gaining hands-on experience in event management.

New this year will be ITHACON’s Supergirl Showcase! Exhibiting a long time Supergirl fans collection of merchandise and comics to prepare fans for the summer blockbuster movie.

Buy your ticket now to secure your spot today at www.ithacon.org!

Conventions

The Ringo Awards reveals its 2026 Jury

Posted on March 31, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team Leave a comment

The Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards is an annual celebration of the creativity, skill, and fun of comics. The awards will be presented on Saturday, September 26, 2026 as part of The Baltimore Comic-Con. The Ringo Awards is currently in the midst of the 2026 nomination process, which is inclusive of fans and comic book professionals alike. Submit your nominations before voting closes at midnight on May 28, 2026.

The Jury

An esteemed jury of comics professionals will participate in the nomination process, selecting favorite works across 18 categories. The 2026 jury was chosen as a representative cross-section of the comic book industry, with members representing seasoned and venerated retailers, distributors, and creators across numerous genres.

Cliff Chiang’s artwork has been hailed for its “fluid and confident storytelling” and “sweeping linework and nuanced style.” Graduating from Harvard University with a joint degree in English Literature and Visual Arts, he worked in editorial at Disney Adventures Magazine and Vertigo/DC Comics before making the leap into freelance illustration. Best known as the artist of the New York Times best-selling Wonder Woman (with writer Brian Azzarello) and Eisner Award-winning Paper Girls (with writer Brian K. Vaughan), his most recent work is the acclaimed Catwoman: Lonely City which he both wrote and drew.

Colleen Doran is a New York Times bestselling cartoonist. From her first work with on The Sandman, she also adapted the short stories Troll Bridge, Snow Glass Apples, and Chivalry, winning two Eisners, The Bram Stoker, Locus, and Ringo Awards, and nominations for Best Penciler/Inker Eisners, Reubens, the Excelsior, Rondo, and Tripwire Awards.

Other works include American Gods, Norse Mythology, and the adaptation of Good Omens with Terry Pratchett, at that time, the most successful comics crowdfund in Kickstarter history at over $3.1 million.

She taught Syrian refugees for the US Embassy and the Athens, Greece National Library, and contributed to Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds to benefit Ukrainian refugees. The project is an Eisner winner.

She’s illustrated works by Alan Moore, Margaret Atwood, Anne Rice, J Michael Straczynski, Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Amazing Fantastic Incredible Stan Lee, and graphic novels for The Doors, Blondie, Melissa Etheridge, and Tori Amos. In Balmain Dreams 10R, she created an original story for the French fashion house Balmain for designer Oliver Rousteing.

She’s had multiple solo shows at the Society of Illustrators, The Museum of Cartoon Art, and the San Diego Comic Con Museum. She’s also exhibited at shows in Milan, Rome, Portugal, and Germany.

Other credits: Action Comics, Conan, Detective Comics, Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America, Guardians of the Galaxy, Jessica Jones for Netflix, Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Vampire Diaries, and Wonder Woman.

Zander Fajertag is the Comic Department Purchaser and Customer Service Representative at Universal Distribution. With eight years of experience, they have worked in every stage of the distribution process, from picking comics to managing purchasing and claims. Zander also supports the gaming purchasing side of the business and has contributed to booth designs for past conventions, bringing a well-rounded perspective and deep industry knowledge to their role.

Sarahti Gassmalla has about a decade of working in comics retail. Starting as an intern, she is now a part owner and co-manager at Fantom Comics. She is involved in inventory ordering, event coordination, and representing the store at events such as Baltimore Comic-Con, ComicsPro, New York Comic-Con, and Small Press Expo. She runs the Fantom Comics’ recurring Queer Book Club, occasionally interviews creators for author events, and manages the weekly Final Order Cutoff.

Her relationship with sequential art began at a young age as a regular reader of Pearls Before Swine, Mutts, and other Washington Post Sunday comic strips. These days, reading the “Sunday comics” means reading the newest chapter updates of her favorite Shonen Jump titles — Akane Banashi, Blue Box, Ichi The Witch, and One Piece to name just a few. Her western comics journey started with reading the original Runaways at the library and borrowing a friend’s copy of Young Avengers. Visiting Fantom Comics the first time before she worked there is what introduced her to single issue comics, collecting titles like 4 Kids Walk Into a Bank, Joyride, and Monstress. If she is not reading, she’s doodling, finding new ways to get at least ten friends in a room together, or binging crime thriller TV. Sarahti was born and raised in Washington, DC where she still resides.

Award-winning cartoonist, writer, and illustrator Bill Morrison began his career in Detroit, Michigan as a technical illustrator, but his dream was to be a cartoonist. When Bill decided that he had rendered his last diesel fuel pump, he moved to Southern California with his wife, Kayre. He began working immediately in motion picture advertising where he painted dozens of movie posters, including many for Walt Disney Pictures such as The Little Mermaid, Bambi, Peter Pan, Cinderella, and The Jungle Book. For several years, Bill spent most of his waking hours on various projects related to The Simpsons. For that iconic property, he has created thousands of drawings for t-shirts, video games, posters, toy packaging, books, calendars, limited edition prints, etc. When The Simpsons creator Matt Groening founded Bongo Comics, Bill was hired on as art director and realized his cartoonist dreams when he drew the very first Simpsons comic. He quickly took on the role of Creative Director, editing Bongo’s entire output, and writing and drawing stories and covers as time permitted. Bill also worked with Groening on early character designs for the TV show Futurama and served as the series art director. He also recently served as Artist and Designer on Groening’s Netflix series, Disenchantment. In addition to his work on The Simpsons and Futurama comics, Bill has written and drawn his own comic book series, the four-time Eisner Award-nominated Roswell, Little Green Man, and co-created three other comic book series: Heroes Anonymous, Dead Vengeance, and Lady Robotika (the latter with Jane Wiedlin of the legendary all-girl rock band, The Go-Go’s). Morrison also created a 96-page graphic novel adaptation of The Beatles Yellow Submarine for Titan Comics. Most recently, Bill was the Executive Editor of the relaunched MAD Magazine, and also served as Art Director for Seriously’s “Best Fiends” animated shorts.

Fan and Pro Nomination Categories

Best Cartoonist (Writer/Artist)
Best Writer
Best Artist or Penciller/Inker Team
Best Letterer
Best Colorist
Best Cover Artist
Best Series
Best Short Story
Best Original Graphic Novel
Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel — Ages 11 and Under
Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel — Ages 12 and Up
Best Anthology
Best Humor Comic
Best Webcomic
Best Humor Webcomic
Best Non-fiction Comic Work
Best Comics-Related Publication
Best Presentation in Design

Perennial Jury-Only Nomination

The Mike Wieringo Spirit Award

Fan-Only Favorite Categories

Favorite Hero
Favorite Villain
Favorite New Series
Favorite New Talent
Favorite Publisher

Hero Initiative Award (selected by the Hero Initiative)

The Hero Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award
The Dick Giordano Humanitarian Award

Garth Ennis, Torunn Grønbekk, Tony Harris, Jae Lee, Mark Schultz, and Gus Vazquez are coming to Baltimore Comic-Con

Posted on March 30, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team Leave a comment

The Baltimore Comic-Con returns to the Inner Harbor’s Baltimore Convention Center on September 25-27, 2026. Baltimore Comic-Con welcomes Garth Ennis, Torunn Grønbekk, Tony Harris, Jae Lee, Mark Schultz (courtesy of Flesk Publishing), and Gus Vazquez as guests of the 2026 event! Purchase your tickets today!

Garth Ennis broke into the American comic scene in 1991, taking over the writing reins on Hellblazer. After a successful four-year run, Ennis moved on to create Preacher, a 66-issue epic that ran from 1995 -2000. In addition to these two ground-breaking series, he also had lengthy runs on DC’s The Demon and Hitman. Most recently, Ennis wrapped up The Boys, a 72-issue story which began at DC’s Wildstorm imprint before moving to Dynamite Entertainment with issue #7, and is now a hit series on Amazon Prime.

Torunn Grønbekk is a Norwegian comic book writer and portrait painter. She is best known for her work for Dynamite and Marvel, like Red Sonja, Thor, Punisher: War Journal, Valkyrie, and Venom. She lives and works in Norway (and sometimes in her cabin in the Swedish woods).

She has recently worked on Realm of X, Venom, Red Sonja, and Carnage.

Tony Harris is a comic book artist. He is also a commercial illustrator, painter, sculptor, designer, and prop builder. Tony has worked for DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Disney, Lucasfilm, Universal Studios, Chevy, 20th Century Fox, New Line Cinema, Aftershock, Hasbro, Cartoon Network, Heavy Metal, Malibu Comics, Verotik Comics, Caliber Comics, First Comics, and many, many others. Tony has worked on properties such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Flash, Justice League, JSA, Starman, Ex Machina, The Whistling Skull, Lazarus 5, Obergeist, Doctor Strange, Iron Man, Hulk, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Wolverine, X-Men, Avengers, Deadpool, Captain America, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Maleficent, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Mummy, Aliens, Predator, Classics Illustrated’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Invisible Man, The Master of Ballantrae, and many, many more. Tony has won the highest award given in the comic book industry, the Eisner for Starman and Ex-Machina and has been nominated 19 times. Tony is currently compiling material for The Marvel Comics Art of Tony Harris from Clover Press/Marvel.

Jae Lee is a Korean-American comic book artist, known for his dark style. In 1990, he became one of the youngest artists ever to work for a major publisher. He is an Eisner Award-winner for his work on Marvel’s The Inhumans. His art can also be seen in Stephen King’s Dark Tower and Batman/Superman. Jae is also the co-creator of The Sentry for Marvel Comics.

Official Website: jaeleeart.com
Instagram: @jaeleeart
Pre-show commission orders may be placed through: JAELEE@aol.com

Since entering the world of cartooning in the mid-1980s with the science-fiction adventure series Xenozoic Tales, Mark Schultz has slowly but consistently produced a very diversified body of work. He has created illustrations for Robert E. Howard’s Conan stories, scripted four years of Superman, composed a science guide to genetics and DNA, created the Stormforce 10 adventure SubHuman with paleontologist Michael J. Ryan, and written the novella Storms at Sea, which he also illustrated. Currently, he scripts the comic strip Prince Valiant and, in his free moments, continues to work on a new Xenozoic graphic novel as well as a sequel to Storms at Sea. Flesk, who are presenting Mark’s appearance at this year’s Baltimore Comic-Con, has been his proud publisher since 2005 and continues to regularly release collections of his sketches, commissions, and personal works.

Gus Vazquez is an illustrator who has worked in nearly every field, including comic books, trading cards, storyboarding for music videos, commercials, animation and film, logo design, character and toy design, and more. He started his career in comic books working as an assistant to comic book artists Adam Pollina on X-Force, and Kevin McGuire on Trinity Angels. He got his first solo gig at Marvel Comics drawing the covers and interiors for Sunfire and Big Hero 6, the series that introduced the characters featured in Disney’s Oscar winning Big Hero 6. He has worked on such Marvel titles as Deadpool, X-Force, Spider-Man, What If? Civil War, What If? Back in Black, The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, and more. For DC, he has worked on such titles as Green Lantern, JLA, Blue Beetle, and most recently on Flash, Suicide Squad, and Green Arrow. Gus was the artist on several issues of Claudio Sanchez’s (of rock music group Coheed and Cambria) The Amory Wars, and was instrumental in helping bring together the creative team of his friends, David Atchison (writer) and Tony Shasteen (illustrator), and his niece, film and TV actress Rosario Dawson on 12 Gauge’s The O.C.T. More recently, Gus has been working for DC Comics on The Sasquatch Detective, a backup story which can be found in the pages of Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles, as well as DMC (Daryl Makes Comics) and on La Borinquena. He is also working on his creator-owned book, Fang.

This year’s confirmed guests for the show include: Jason Aaron (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Marty Baumann (Pixar artist), Josh Blaylock (Mercy Sparx, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Jeffrey Brown (Hulk Teach, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Jim Calafiore (NED, Lord of the Pit), Howard Chaykin (Time Squared), Jo Chen (Runaways), Cliff Chiang (Paper Girls), Frank Cho (Harley Quinn), Steve Conley (The Middle Age), Amanda Conner (Harley Quinn), Olivia Cuartero-Briggs (The College Try), Paris Cullins (Blue Devil), Todd Dezago (The Perhapanauts), Colleen Doran (The Sandman), Garth Ennis (The Boys), Trish Forstner (Feral), Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (DC Nation), Chris Giarrusso (Mini Marvels), Torunn Grønbekk (Catwoman), Gene Ha (Mae), Larry Hama (GI Joe: A Real American Hero), Tony Harris (The Whistling Skull), Mike Hawthorne (Deadpool), Jamal Igle (Superman), Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Infernal Hulk), Dan Jurgens (Action Comics), Peter Krause (The Power of Shazam, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Mike Kunkel (Herobear and the Kid), Jae Lee (Inhumans), Kevin Maguire (Justice League), Laura Martin (Nubia: Queen of the Amazons, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Ron Marz (Green Lantern), Jose Marzen Jr. (Y: The Last Man), Mike McKone (Teen Titans), Bob McLeod (New Mutants), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), Adriana Melo (Fantastic Four), Pop Mhan (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe), Al Milgrom (Spectacular Spider-Man), Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise), Mark Morales (Thor), Bill Morrison (The Simpsons), Sarah Myer (TMNT Saturday Morning Adventures), Phil Noto (Fantastic Four: First Foes), Kevin Nowlan (Batman: Sword of Azrael), Patrick Olliffe (Untold Tales of Spider-Man), Ryan Ottley (Invincible), Jimmy Palmiotti (The Punisher), Margeaux Pepoy (Simone & Ajax), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Tom Raney (Incredible Hulk), Afua Richardson (Kahhori: Reshaper of Worlds), Tone Rodriguez (Feral, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), Craig Rousseau (The Perhapanauts), Mark Schultz (Xenozoic Tales, courtesy of Flesk Publishing), Louise Simonson (The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special), Walter Simonson (Thor), Matthew Dow Smith (DC’s Misfits of Magic), Scott Snyder (DC K.O.), Brian Stelfreeze (Black Panther), Gus Vazquez (Sunfire and the Big Hero Six), Mark Waid (Action Comics), Bob Wiacek (All-New Wolverine, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Matt Wieringo (Stargate Atlantis: Gateways), Chuck Wojtkiewicz (Justice League, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Rich Woodall (Sgt. Werewolf), and Thom Zahler (Long Distance).

Conventions

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Videogame Celebrates Free Comic Book Day with Comic Tie-In, Arriving May 2

Posted on March 30, 2026 by Graphic Policy Team Leave a comment

Warner Bros. Games, TT Games, DC, and The LEGO Group have announced the LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight comic book tie-in, a new, standalone LEGO Batman story based on the upcoming videogame, that will be available on May 2 in celebration of Free Comic Book Day.

The story, titled The LEGO Batman Returns, follows a day in the life of LEGO Batman as he returns to Gotham City after a hiatus and encounters a variety of familiar DC characters, paying homage to the Dark Knight’s history in media, with references to past films, television shows, and comic books, combined with signature LEGO humor.

Today marks the anniversary of Batman’s first appearance in Detective Comics #27, released on March 30, 1939. As a callback to the inaugural issue, the beginning panel artwork in The LEGO Batman Returns story depicts the iconic image of the Caped Crusader swinging over the Gotham City skyline, which is inspired by the classic cover image – one of several nods to DC lore sprinkled within the comic tie-in.

Fans can pick up a free physical copy of the LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Comic Book Tie-In at local participating comic shops (while supplies last) as part of Free Comic Book Day on May 2. The comic will also be available for free digitally via the DC UNIVERSE INFINITE app on the same day.

The LEGO Batman Returns is written by Ivan Cohen, with art by Paul Lee.

Free Comic Book Day is an annual event held on the first Saturday of May when comic shops around the globe give away free comics from publishers across the industry. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight launches worldwide on May 22, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store).

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