Category Archives: Conventions

Anime NYC 2026: Manga Mavericks Books hosts Horon of the Closed Country manga creator Sen

Manga Mavericks Anime NYC 2026

Manga Mavericks Books has announced that it will host Horon of the Closed Country manga creator Sen at Anime NYC 2026.

Sen will make a guest appearance on the Manga Mavericks Books Industry Panel on August 21st and will focus on her career as a manga artist and the development of the Horon of the Closed Country series.

The full panel information can be found below:

Manga Mavericks Books Industry Panel featuring Manga Creator Sen

Friday, August 21
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm
Room: B01-03

Join the team behind Manga Mavericks Books and Sen, author of the fantasy adventure manga HORON OF THE CLOSED COUNTRY. Learn more about what it takes to publish indie manga for an English audience and how we work directly with manga creators to bring their work overseas. Catch a Q&A with Sen and behind-the-scenes stories about the development of HORON OF THE CLOSED COUNTRY. Plus, be the first to hear about our newest manga license announcements! We’ll have prizes, surprises, and lots more in store!

Sen Autograph Session

Sen will also participate in autograph sessions for Horon of the Closed Country at the Manga Mavericks / Independent Manga Alliance booth (Booth #2028). To receive an autograph, attendees must provide proof of purchase of the English print edition of Horon of the Closed Country Volume 1, which will be available for purchase at the Manga Mavericks / Independent Manga Alliance booth.

The autograph sessions are planned for the following times:

  • Thursday, August 20: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
  • Friday, August 21: 4:30pm – 5:30pm
  • Saturday, August 22: 4:30pm – 5:30pm
  • Sunday, August 23: 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Comics Legend Chris Claremont is a Baltimore Comic-Con 2026 Guest

Chris Claremont

Come to the Baltimore Comic-Con this September 25-27, 2026 at the Baltimore Convention Center in the Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Baltimore Comic-Con has announced the return of one of comics’ most influential writers, Chris ClaremontGet your tickets for the show online now.

Writer Chris Claremont has encountered more success than most writers ever dream of. He is a NY Times best-selling author, been awarded the prestigious Kellogg Award in Arts and Letters by Bard College, his alma mater, Italy’s Yellow Kid life time achievement award, and been inducted into the Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards Hall of Fame. His papers are collected in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library of Columbia University, New York.

Chris’s stories are trend-setters for the industry. Although best known for his work on Marvel Comics’ X-Men series where he created the characters of Legion, The New Mutants, Dark Phoenix, Rogue, Gambit, Sabretooth, Kitty Pryde, and Mystique amongst many others, he has also written seminal characters such as Batman and Superman, originated WolverineThe New Mutants, and Captain Britain for Marvel, and written several creator-owned series. Chris is published world-wide in many different languages. He has authored nine novels. He has spoken at Princeton, MIT, U Penn, and Columbia University, has taught at NYU/Tisch School of the Arts, and has appeared on television in the US and abroad. He is the subject of monographs and documentaries. His work has touched millions.

Chris’s initial unbroken 17-year run on Marvel Comics’ The Uncanny X-Men is the stuff of industry legend. During that tenure, he took a lackluster series and transformed it into the dominant, best-selling title in the industry. His run culminated with the launch of the new title, X-Men. The first issue sold over 7.9 million copies. No one has come close to breaking this record. It is a conservative estimate Chris has sold in excess of 750,000,000 comics world-wide.

Chris’s work on the X-Men has brought resounding creative success. The story arc “Dark Phoenix,” with its radical treatment of the story’s central character, paved the way for the reinterpretation of superhero mythos throughout the comics industry. The graphic novel God Loves, Man Kills examines morality in all its guises, adding a sophistication to comics theory, and is the subject of academic papers. He has made Wolverine a household name.

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

Chris is equally well-known for his ground-breaking stories that fight prejudice and speak out for inclusivity for all, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. These themes are highlighted in the “Genosha” story arcs in The Uncanny X-Men, and the “Mekanix” and “Intifada” story arcs in X-Treme X-Men.

Chris embraced mutants as a metaphor for all who are viewed as outsiders by the majority. Such daring real-word topics are rarely tackled in the conservative mainstream comics industry. Chris took this on at personal and professional risk.

The Summer of 2000 saw the release of the feature film X-Men, based largely on material created by Chris. The second Wolverine movie is based on the graphic novel Wolverine by Chris and Frank Miller. The X-Men movie Days of Future Past hews to his story arc. The trend-breaking TV series Legion is based on his characters, as is the movie The New Mutants. Chris’s stories are responsible for billions in movie profits.

Chris is especially proud of his creator-owned work, which includes the historic fantasies The Black Dragon and Marada, the She-Wolf (artist: John Bolton) and the comic book series Sovereign 7. Chris’s prose novels include the science fiction High Frontier series First FlightGrounded!Sundowner, the fantasy series Shadow MoonShadow Dawn, and Shadow Star (co-authored with George Lucas), and the dark fantasy Dragon Moon. Chris is hard at work on new projects for comics, prose, and film.

Small Press Expo gives an Update on the Union Boycott of the Montgomery County Conference Center

SPX 2026

Small Press Expo has sent an email regarding a Union issue concerning the Montgomery County Conference Center, where SPX is held every year.

In the spring of 2025, Montgomery County and the Marriott signed a contract to continue their operating agreement (Montgomery County owns the Conference Center and Marriott manages the facility). That new contract did not include a clause to allow collective bargaining. UNITE HERE Local 25, the union of hotel, restaurant, and casino workers in the DC area, has been seeking to unionize it for a year.

The Montgomery County Council approved a bill in September 2025 that would require any hotel or conference center supported by county funding to enter into labor peace agreements with employee unions and other labor organizations if they receive the county’s financial backing. That legislation doesn’t apply to the Conference Center SPX takes place in as there’s a 10-year contract with Marriot regarding its use which won’t end until December 31, 2034. The legislation would impact it after. Though, there’s hope that it might affect it before that date.

Due to the lack of a fair union organizing process UNITE-HERE Local 25 called for a boycott to protest the omission of the collective bargaining clause in the Conference Center contract. The boycott has gone national with the support of the AFL-CIO. There is no strike by the staff of the Conference Center and there are no collective labor issues under discussion between that staff and Marriott management. But, the boycott has cost the conference center with events being cancelled. It’s estimated that over $205,000 in revenue has been lost in 2026 alone.

While it is connected to the conference center, the boycott does not extend to the Marriott.

For the last 20 years, SPX has been held at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. With the boycott, the convention has been put in a tough position.

While it supports labor and the right of all workers to organize, bargain collectively, and advocate for fair treatment, it’s also bound by contracts and locked in to the location until 2029. To cancel its contract would cost the convention $85,787 in a cancellation fee which would be enough to close the convention. And, relocation would cause the costs to increase 30% or more for tables, badges, and hotel rooms.

The situation puts the convention in a tough spot and not long after it was impacted during COVID and its future was unknown. Like SPX, we hope that all parties can reach a fair agreement as quickly as possible.

You can read SPX’s position below.

The Small Press Expo is a 501(c) 3 non-profit that has been an institution in Montgomery County, Maryland for more than 30 years, drawing tens of thousands of people and international acclaim via our annual festival. For the last 20 of those years, we have been holding SPX at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, and we now consider it our home.

Our purpose throughout that time has never wavered. We exist to promote, preserve, and protect the labor of creative professionals. SPX further supports the right of all workers to exercise their fundamental right to organize, bargain collectively, and advocate for fair treatment. The ability of working people to act together is a cornerstone of a fair and equitable workplace.

At the same time, we want to be transparent about our own circumstances that do now allow us to participate in the boycott:

  • SPX has contracts at the Bethesda North facility from this year until 2029. If we cancel any one of those contracts, SPX does not have the financial resources to cover the cancellation fees that we would incur. The result of canceling any of the contracts, including the one for this year whose cancellation fee is $85,787, would be that SPX closes permanently.
  • Even if the cancellation penalties were to be paid, our show cannot relocate to another venue in the DC area. We have explored this possibility and relocating would mean a prohibitively large increase of 30% or more in prices for tables, badges, and hotel rooms; which would affect the overall affordability of the show to the SPX Community.

We recognize that some will be disappointed by that decision, but we believe it is important to be honest about the commitments we have already made rather than imply we can take actions that are not realistically available to us.

Our inability to join this particular boycott should not be understood as indifference to the issues at stake. Montgomery County is our home and we wish to see it prosper for those who live and work here every day. We continue to support the rights of workers to organize and to seek fair wages, safe working conditions, and dignity on the job, and we hope the parties are able to reach a fair agreement as quickly as possible. 

3, 2, 1, Let it rip! The 2026 Beyblade X Grand Prix North America Qualifiers Continue in Florida this Saturday

HasbroADK Emotions NY Inc., and T-Licensing Inc have teamed up with Amazon to host the Beyblade X Grand Prix, a series of tournaments across North America, which will continue this Saturday, August 8 at Dezerland Park.

When: Saturday, August 8
Where: Dezerland Park 
5250 International Dr,  
Orlando, FL 32819 

Participants can enjoy free play throughout the event, with on-site registration open from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET. Tournament play will run from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET. Onsite registration for ages 13+ will open from 2p.m to 3p.m ET. Tournament participation is limited to 128 competitors per age division. If more than 128 eligible participants are present when registration opens, a random lottery will be held to select participants—everyone present at the designated registration start time has an equal chance of being selected, and arriving early does not improve your odds.All times are local, and additional details, including official tournament rules and participating locations, can be found at Beyblade.com and will be updated periodically. 

Bladers will battle with Tops from Hasbro’s BEYBLADE X toy line as they compete against fellow Bey-fans for a chance to qualify for the U.S. National Grand Prix on September 5 at the Mall of America in Minnesota. The top Bladers from Nationals will then earn the opportunity to advance to the BEYBLADE X Final Grand Prix in Bangkok, Thailand, from December 12–13, 2026. 

Level up your skills and get tournament ready with Hasbro’s all-new BEYBLADE X SNEAK ATTACK BATTLE SET featuring a pop-up rail that creates high-speed Xtreme Dash action and explosive collisions, perfect for sharpening skills before battle. Fans can visit the BEYBLADE X store on Amazon.com for the latest tops and stadium releases. 

The 2026 Dragon Awards Nominees announced

DragonCon

The nominees for the 2026 Dragon Awards have been announced. The awards highlight the best releases from roughly labor day to labor day of the past year.

The awards are handed out each year during DragonCon which takes place in Atlanta, Georgia. These are intended as more fan awards, so voting is open to everyone.

Voting is now open until Friday, September 4th. You can register to vote here.

Congrats to all of this year’s nominees.

Best Science Fiction Novel

  • The Faith of Beasts by James S.A. Corey
  • Radiant Star by Ann Leckie
  • Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman
  • Slow Gods by Claire North
  • The Shattering Peace by John Scalzi
  • God’s Junk Drawer by Peter Clines

Best Fantasy Novel (Including Paranormal)

  • Red City by Marie Lu
  • Queen Demon by Martha Wells
  • Academy of Outcasts by Larry Correia
  • Hell to Pay by Sherrilyn Kenyon
  • The Lost Reliquary by Lyndsay Ely
  • Twelve Months by Jim Butcher

Best Young Adult / Middle Grade Novel

  • Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron
  • The Executioners Three by Susan Dennard
  • Hazelthorn by CG Drews
  • Ride or Die by Delilah S. Dawson
  • Sky on Fire by E.K. Johnston
  • Queen of Faces by Petra Lord

Best Alternate History Novel

  • Powerless by Harry Turtledove
  • World War 3.2 by John Birmingham
  • The Winds of Fate by S.M. Stirling
  • The Unnecessary War by Brian C. Thompson
  • A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan
  • No Man’s Land by Richard K. Morgan

Best Horror Novel

  • It Was Her House First by Cherie Priest
  • Play Nice by Rachel Harrison
  • Girl in the Creek by Wendy N. Wagner
  • The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
  • King Sorrow by Joe Hill
  • The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas

Best Illustrative Book Cover

  • Brigands & Breadknives, by Carson Lowmiller
  • The Ishtar Deception, by Dominic Harman
  • The Sapphire Heart, by Jeff Brown
  • Hemlock & Silver, by T. Kingfisher
  • Pretenders to the Throne of God, by Joe Wilson
  • The Second Death of Locke, by Anna Moshak

Best Comic Book / Graphic Novel

  • Absolute Batman by Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta
  • Absolute Wonder Woman, by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman
  • Something is Killing the Children, by James Tynion IV, Werther Dell’Edera
  • Daredevil, by Stephanie Phillips, Lee Garbett
  • X-Men: Elsewhen, by John Byrne
  • Absolute Superman, by Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series, TV or Internet

  • Strange New Worlds Season 3, Paramount+
  • Foundation Season 3, Apple TV
  • A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, HBO
  • Alien: Earth, FX
  • Fallout Season 2, Amazon
  • Plur1bus, Apple TV
  • The Boys Season 5, Amazon
  • Widow’s Bay, Apple TV

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie

  • Superman, by James Gunn
  • Project Hail Mary, by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
  • Disclosure Day, by Steven Spielberg
  • Predator: Badlands, by Dan Trachtenberg
  • Frankenstein, by Guillermo del Toro
  • Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, by Jon Favreau
  • Toy Story 5, by Andrew Stanton
  • The Sheep Detectives, by Kyle Balda

Best Digital Game

  • Hades II, Supergiant Games
  • Hollow Knight: Silksong, Team Cherry
  • Silent Hill f, NeoBards Entertainment
  • Ghost of Yōtei, Sucker Punch Productions
  • Forza Horizon 6, Playground Games
  • Battlefield 6, Battlefield Studios

Best Tabletop Game

  • Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûn, Wizards of the Coast
  • ACKS II Revised Rulebook, Autarch
  • Magic: the Gathering – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Wizards of the Coast
  • 7 Wonders Dice, Repos Production
  • Warhammer 40,000 The Maelstrom, Games Workshop
  • Wingspan Americas Expansion, Stonemaier Games

Small Press Expo 2026 announces more International Special Guests

Small Press Expo has announced Carol Tyler as a Special Guest, along with International Special Guest ILYA, and for the first time, International Special Guests from Taiwan for SPX 2026.

SPX 2026 is the first stop for the Taiwan Comics Showcase. A ee mi, Ding Pao Yen, Monday Recover, Crystal Kung, and Rio are part of a special D.C. area showcase organized by Fantom Comics and sponsored by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office.

The show takes place on Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, with programming and workshops about the amazing world of independent comics as well as an exhibitor floor featuring over 450 creators.

Carol Tyler

We are thrilled to announce that Carol Tyler is a Special Guest at SPX! Carol Tyler is a cartoonist who bridged underground and alternative comics with her debut in Weirdo magazine in 1987. She is a CXC Master Cartoonist and a Slate Studio Prize winner and was just inducted into the Eisner Hall of Fame. Her latest book, THE EPHEMERATA: Shaping the Exquisite Nature of Grief has been nominated for an Eisner Award, a Harvey Award, and a Ringo Award.

The show takes place on Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, with programming and workshops about the amazing world of independent comics as well as an exhibitor floor featuring over 450 creators.

Additional Special Guests will be announced over the next few weeks.

ILYA

British writer and artist ILYA is an award-winning graphic novelist, author of ROMO THE WOLFBOY (SelfMadeHero, 2026), ‘How to Draw Comics’ (in comic strip format!) and the ‘The End of the Century Club’ book series. ROMO’s globetrotting adventures and diverse, eccentric casting make it a Tintin or Asterix for the new age… and All Ages! In an unmissable workshop, lifelong comics practitioner ILYA takes you on an eye-popping journey through both time and space, using his latest graphic novel series ‘ROMO the WolfBoy’ as the prism. Don’t miss ‘Romo the WolfBoy: A Walk on the Wild Side’ at SPX.

A ee mi

A ee mi debuts two new titles making their North American premiere after releases in Taiwan in 2025 and 2026: MEOWNIVERSE and MEOWMEOWBAKERY. Originally serialized online in both Chinese and English, these comics explore the full range of human emotion & experience through the lives of A ee mi’s idiosyncratic characters meowmeowbug and lazylazydog. A surrealist mix of humor and melancholy.

Ding Pao Yen

NOT READY FOR REAL LIFE is Ding Pao Yen’s English debut, a collection of 4 short stories clustered around the idea of young adulthood in a futuristic yet nostalgic world. Vampires, kaiju, ancient fish eggs, and silent underwater cities, all overlapping with the vicissitudes and precarity of starting to find your way in the world.

Monday Recover

SEE YOU THERE, BEYOND THE OCEAN is her first U.S. release. Drawn by Monday Recover and written by Chiao Meow, See You There Beyond the Ocean is about a third grade girl, class outcast Wu Hsiao-jung—an introverted girl who hates going to school. So of course she’d have nothing in common with her cheerful, outgoing classmate Tung Ko-wei…right? As it turns out, both girls have a passion for drawing comics, and their shared love of creating brings the unlikely pair closer together. Thus begins the story of a beautiful, bittersweet friendship, the ups and downs of childhood, and a project left forever unfinished…

Crystal Kung

Crystal Kung‘s new full-color collection FOUR IN LOVE is her first U.S. graphic novel release–four short stories seeking to answer the question, “What is ‘love’ to you?” Is it the determination to find your soulmate, guided by the red thread of fate? Is it an ideal dream quashed by the pains of reality? Is it a quest to seek companionship in a virtual world? Or is it the bravery to hold hands when facing adversity?

Rio

UNEMPLOYED KILLERS SUPPORT GROUP is Rio’s debut English release: a razor-sharp, darkly hilarious noir-esque manhua–not your average self-help group. Selected by Taiwan Pavilion as a featured work to be showcased at the 2023 Angoulême International Comics Festival.

SPX reveals its 2026 Poster By Sanika Phawde

Small Press Expo has revealed the SPX 2026 poster. Sanika Phawde has designed this year’s poster, along with the convention’s flyer, and online banners.

SPX has also made sure to thank all of the creators from the comic and cartoon communities for giving them and Sanika permission to use their characters in this year’s very special poster.

A list of the characters and their permissions are below.

SPX 2026 Poster

In the center:

  • Nancy – courtesy of Andrews McMeel

On the right side from the top to the bottom:

  • Vladek from Maus – courtesy of Art Speigleman
  • Coyote Dog Girl from Coyote Dog Girl – courtesy of Lisa Hanawalt
  • Albo from Albo! – courtesy of Kruittika Susarla
  • Malaka Gharib’s character from I Was Their American Dream – courtesy of Malaka Gharib
  • Ignatz mouse by George Herriman – courtesy of Small Press Expo
  • Laura Dean from Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me – courtesy of Rosemary Valero-O’Connell and Mariko Tamaki
  • Marlys Mullen from The Greatest of Marlys – courtesy of Lynda Barry
  • Cathy from Cathy – courtesy of Cathy Guisewite

On the left side from the top to the bottom:

  • The mother’s shadow from Passing for Human – courtesy of Liana Finck
  • Siobhan Gallagher’s character from Full of Myself – courtesy of Siobhan Gallagher
  • Julia Wertz’s character from Bury Me Already (It’s Nice Down Here)- courtesy Julia Wertz 
  • Enid Coleslaw from Ghost World – courtesy of Daniel Clowes
  • Four Ears from Four Ears – courtesy of Anand Shenoy
  • Gabrielle Bell’s character from her autobiographical comics – courtesy of Gabrielle Bell
  • Krazy Kat by George Herriman – courtesy of Small Press Expo
  • Asterios Polyp from Asterios Polyp – courtesy of David Mazzuchelli
  • Aditi Mali’s character from her autobiographical comics – courtesy of Aditi Mali
  • Esther Feinberg from Unterzakhn – courtesy of Leela Corman
  • Prince Valdrinor AKA Skip, designed by Amy Reeder from Dimension 20’s Starstruck Odyssey inspired by the Starstruck comics series created by Elaine Lee and Michael Kaluta – courtesy of Dropout

Arthur Adams, Denys Cowan, Tom Derenick, Victor Farro, JG Jones, and Dave Wachter are coming to Baltimore Comic Con

The 2026 Baltimore Comic-Con occurs on September 25th-27th at the Inner Harbor’s Baltimore Convention Center. The Baltimore Comic-Con has announced Arthur Adams, Denys Cowan, Tom Derenick, Victor Farro, JG Jones, and Dave Wachter as comics guests of the 2026 event. Tickets are available for purchase online now!

Arthur Adams is an award-winning artist who became an immediate fan favorite as the penciler on the critically-acclaimed 1985 Longshot mini-series. His decades-spanning career has included cover and interior work on such titles as BatmanSupermanThe HulkAvengersFantastic FourSpider-ManX-MenNew MutantsGodzillaCreature from the Black LagoonExcaliburUltimate XGuardians of the Galaxy, and The Walking Dead. He’s the creator, writer, and artist on Monkeyman and O’Brien

Outside of comics, Arthur has done movie, toy, and game designs, book illustrations, and provided the artwork for an X-Men themed Spaghetti-O’s can.

Denys Cowan is an accomplished and celebrated comic and animation creator and illustrator. Founder of Milestone Media, which sold over 10 million copies of groundbreaking comic books, Cowan has numerous credits to his name, including: Black RacerDeathstrokeBlack Lightning & Hong Kong PhooeyBatman: Lovers & MadmenBlind JusticeBlack Panther: Flags of Our FathersThe QuestionHardware, and Static.

Static became one of the most beloved characters in the Milestone Universe, spawning a hugely successful animated series, Static Shock. During its run, the series was the only animated show not produced by Nickelodeon to dominate ratings. Denys directed and produced the series, which was nominated for an Emmy.

As Senior Vice President of Animation at BET, Cowan was responsible for the creation, development, and production of animated programming for the network. This included the development and production of the Black Panther animated series. Prior to his time at BET, Denys was instrumental in developing and producing the first season of the prime time animated series, The Boondocks. Serving as Senior Vice President of Motown Animation and Filmworks, he created and developed a number of shows with Fox, ABC, Disney, and Nickelodeon. Cowan also co-created the character of Henri Ducard, as played by Liam Neeson in Batman Begins.

Cowan drew the cover art of the GZA/Genius of the Wu-Tang Clan’s platinum-selling hip-hop album Liquid Swords. Denys illustrated the successful run of You Can’t Handle the Truth, a monthly full-page comic strip for Ebony magazine. More recently, Denys Cowan illustrated the Django Unchained graphic novel, which was inspired by the Oscar-winning film by Quentin Tarantino. Denys also created illustrated posters for Marvel’s Black Panther and John Wick 2.

Among comic book readers and collaborators, Denys Cowan is the stuff of legend. Denys Cowan’s comic books have gone on to sell millions. Cowan remains a prolific creator, illustrator, and producer. He is the recipient of the Humanitas Award, and he has been nominated for a number Eisner awards throughout his illustrious career. Denys is also featured in Robert Kirkman’s Secret History of Comics in the episode titled “The Color of Comics,” focusing on the history of Milestone Media.

Tom Derenick started his career on the Protectors for Malibu Comics. Later, he worked on DC’s Star Trek and at Marvel Comics, where much of his work was on the X-Men line. He returned to DC Comics on the Superman books then, doing runs on titles such as ShadowpactJLA, and Reign in Hell. In more recent years, he’s worked on the highly successful Injustice: Gods Among Us as well as Wonder Woman: Come Back To Me and Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong, as well as Mad Cave’s Flash Gordon and Endless Night.

Viktor Farro studied editorial illustration at the 2019 Illustration Academy in Kansas City and its Visual Arts Passage online program from 2020-2023. Through those two programs, he had the privilege of studying under Mark English, John English, Sterling Hundley, Gary Kelley, Edward Kinsella III, George Pratt, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Dale Stephanos, among others.

He also studied constructive anatomy in a year-long program with Steve Huston through his realist artist program, Draws From Life.

Farro’s work has been recognized nationally by 3×3Creative Quarterly Journal, and selected for American Illustration AI423×3 International Illustration Annual 20, and the Society of Illustrators Los Angeles’ Illustration West 62.

His clients include Marvel SNAP, OverPower card game, Image Comics, Mad Cave Studios, Massive Publishing, Skybound Entertainment, UDON Publishing, among others.

J.G. Jones, best known for the artwork that has graced the covers of such books as Wanted52, and Final Crisis, began taking over writing duties this month for DC Comics’ Doc Savage. In addition to the writing, Jones provided stunning cover art for the pulp hero’s monthly adventures, as well as art of the backup features in DC Universe Legacies.

Dave Wachter has been drawing comic books professionally for 20 years. He just teamed up with writer Tony Fleecs for their newest series, Uncanny Valley from BOOM! Studios.

He’s drawn a ton of Godzilla, and even more Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, for IDW. His creator-owned books include the critically-acclaimed The Guns of Shadow Valley and Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem, both for Dark Horse Comics. Recently, he’s been drawing the insides and outsides of all sorts of books for Marvel, including The PunisherPlanet of the ApesX-Men LegendsMs. MarvelVenomStar WarsGhost RiderAliensSpider-Man 2099, and Iron Fist. Dave lives with his family in Pittsburgh, and loves it.


This year’s confirmed guests for the show include: Jason Aaron (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Arthur Adams (Longshot), Joel Adams (Ms. Mystic), Zeea Adams (Deadman), Rafael Albuquerque (Absolute Green Arrow), Marty Baumann (Pixar artist), Brett Bean (D’Orc), Josh Blaylock (Mercy Sparx, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Carolyn Belefski (Curls), Russ Braun (The Boys), Jeffrey Brown (Hulk Teach, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Jeffrey Burandt (Gonad the Ballbarian), Jim Calafiore (NED, Lord of the Pit), Eric Canete (Absolute Superman), Joe Carabeo (The Legettes), Richard Case (Doom Patrol), Keith Champagne (Stranger Things), Howard Chaykin (Time Squared), Jo Chen (Runaways), Cliff Chiang (Paper Girls), Frank Cho (Harley Quinn), Taurin Clarke (Star Wars: Jedi Knights), Becky Cloonan (War), Michael W. Conrad (In Bloom), Steve Conley (The Middle Age), Amanda Conner (Harley Quinn), Denys Cowan (The Question), Olivia Cuartero-Briggs (The College Try), Paris Cullins (Blue Devil), Mike Decarlo (The Simpsons), Vito Delsante (Stray), Todd Dezago (The Perhapanauts), Colleen Doran (The Sandman), Scott Dunbier (DC Silver Age Covers and Stories Artist’s Edition), Steve Englehart (Captain America), Garth Ennis (The Boys), Victor Farro (Invincible Universe: Battle Beast), Trish Forstner (Feral), Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (DC Nation), David Gerrold (Star Trek), Chris Giarrusso (Mini Marvels), Randy Green (Witchblade), Che Grayson (Absolute Catwoman), Gene Ha (Mae), Bob Hall (West Coast Avengers), Cully Hamner (Blue Beetle), Scott Hanna (Amazing Spider-Man), Tony Harris (The Whistling Skull), Dean Haspiel (Chest Face), Glenn Hauman (They Keep Killing Glenn), Mike Hawthorne (Deadpool), Marc Hempel (Sandman), Jamal Igle (Superman), Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Infernal Hulk), Klaus Janson (Daredevil), JG Jones (Wanted), Joëlle Jones (Lady Killer), Dan Jurgens (Action Comics), Chris Kemple (Red Vengeance), Tom King (Wonder Woman), Peter Krause (The Power of Shazam, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Mike Kunkel (Herobear and the Kid), Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon), Creees Lee (Sorcerer Supreme), Jae Lee (Inhumans), Jim Lee (Batman: H2SH), Rick Leonardi (Spider-Man 2099), Tula Lotay (Bloodland), Nate Lovett (Commander Tomorrow), Kevin Maguire (Justice League), Anthony Marques (Superman Unlimited), Laura Martin (Nubia: Queen of the Amazons, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Shawn Martinbrough (Red Hood: The Hill), 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), Joshua Middleton (Aquaman), Al Milgrom (Spectacular Spider-Man), Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise), Mark Morales (Thor), Bill Morrison (The Simpsons), Drew Moss (Thundercats), 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), Jerome Opena (Uncanny X-Force), Ryan Ottley (Invincible), Jimmy Palmiotti (The Punisher), Dan Parent (Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Margeaux Pepoy (Simone & Ajax), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Pornsak Pichetshote (Absolute Green Arrow), Stephen Platt (Moon Knight), Andy Price (My Little Pony), Joe Pruett (Savage Sword of Conan), Tom Raney (Incredible Hulk), Afua Richardson (Kahhori: Reshaper of Worlds), James Robinson (Starman), Tone Rodriguez (Feral, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), Craig Rousseau (The Perhapanauts), Andy Runton (Owly), Ethan Sacks (Old Man Hawkeye), Stuart Sayger (Red Sonja), Joe Schmalke (We Don’t Kill Spiders), Erica Schultz (Rogue), Louise Simonson (The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special), Walter Simonson (Thor), Don Simpson (Megaton Man), Matthew Dow Smith (DC’s Misfits of Magic), Scott Snyder (Friday and Sunday only, DC K.O.), John K. Snyder III (Suicide Squad), Mark Sparacio (Liberty Girl Deluxe), Jim Starlin (Dreadstar), Joe Staton (Dick Tracy), Brian Stelfreeze (Black Panther), Karl Story (Batman & Robin), Martha Thomases (Dakota North), Frank Tieri (Absolute Batman: Ark-M), Peter J. Tomasi (The Rocketfellers), Billy Tucci (Shi), Jonathan Uribe (Spawn, courtesy of Comics and Collectibles R Us), Gus Vazquez (Sunfire and the Big Hero Six), Wade Von Grawbadger (Justice League), Dave Wachter (Godzilla), Mark Waid (Action Comics), Steve Walker (Pay the Devil), Lee Weeks (Batman/Catwoman Special), Mark Wheatley (Breathtaker), Bob Wiacek (All-New Wolverine, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Matt Wieringo (Stargate Atlantis: Gateways), Keith Williams (Web of Spider-Man), Ron Wilson (Marvel Two-In-One), Chuck Wojtkiewicz (Justice League, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Rich Woodall (Sgt. Werewolf), Kelly Yates (Doctor Who), and Thom Zahler (Long Distance).

Otakon 2026 Breaks Attendance Records with over 47,000 people

This year’s Otakon brought in 47,049 people, according to Otakorp, Inc.

This number is up 3,000 from last year’s roughly 43,000 total and tops the record-setting 46,000 for Otakon’s 30th anniversary celebration in 2024.

The attendance number includes total memberships/attendees, both pre-registered and at-door, as well as staff, dealers, artists, industry, contractors, guests, and registered press. The final number may be adjusted slightly after audits are conducted to ensure accuracy.

Thank you, everyone, for joining your fellow Otakon guild members this past weekend for another memorable, record-breaking year. Our adventure has concluded, and we hope you’ll join us for a spooky summer celebration, August 6-8, 2027.

-Victoria MacEntee, the 2026 Otakon Con Chair

Otakorp Inc. is also pleased to announce the first three guests on the Otakon 2027 roster: John Eric Bentley, best known as Barrett Wallace from Final Fantasy 7 Remake; Emi Lo, best known as Lucyna Kushinada from “Cyberpunk Edgerunners”; and Kaiji Tang, best known as Satoru Gojo from “Jujutsu Kaisen.”

Next year’s Otakon will be held from August 6 to 8, 2027, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The theme is Summerween.

Gen Con 2026: And the ENNIE Award Goes to…

Ennies

During Gen Con, the winners of the 2026 Ennie Awards were announced. The awards highlights some of the best in tabletop gaming over the past year.

The winners are in bold below and denoted what received “Gold” and what received “Silver.” Congrats to all of the winners.

Judges’ Spotlight Winners

  • William Beeson – Girl Frame, Anxious Mimic RPGs
    Author: Isabelle M. Ruebsaat
  • Hans Cummings– Trash to Treasure, Bright Bard Games
    Authors: Jon Boyle and Bri De Danann
  • Christopher Gath – RPG Zine Club: Year 2, Plus One Exp/Alchemical Ink
  • Fiona Katherine Taylor Howat – Tacklebox, Possible Worlds Games
    Authors: J. Walton and James Tadd Adcox
  • Tom King – Draconis: The Call of Adventure, Studio Agate
    Authors: Charlène ‘Chane’ Tabary and Yoan Rigot

Best Adventure – Long Form

  • SILVER – Historica Arcanum: Serenade for the Damned, Metis Creative
    Authors: Metis Creative Studio
  • Terra Antarctica, Edge Studio
    Authors: Leah Hawthorne, Keith Ryan Kappel, Brandon Perdue, Sam Stewart
  • The Spark Devil, H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society
    Author: Sean Branney
  • Tomb of a Thousand Doors, ManaDawn Tabletop Games and Plus One Exp
    Authors: Matthew Morris, Lux Taggert, Sky Svard, Antonio Buch, FriggingFrogs, Derek Mayne, Yar0d, Pulpee, Phybe, Kelly Bean, Kapithan, William Lambert, Owen McGauley, and Isaac Williams, Ellohir, Hugh Lashbrooke, Lancraft, Liam McCrickard, TabletobRPG, BohemiaSpielkunst, Relic913, Flindermouse, Rat’s Nest Games, Lesueur Benoit, Xenio, tim zee, Tumultous Tabletop, and Marcos_BM
  • GOLD – Vaesen – City of My Nightmares, Free League Publishing
    Author: Kiku Pukk Harenstam

Best Adventure – Short Form

  • Camp Snallygaster, Pandion Games
  • SILVER – The Bride of Pendle, Miskatonic Repository
    Author: Jayson Green
  • The White Horse of Lowvale
    Author: Tania Herrero
  • Tragedy at Zaya’s Theatre
    Author: Munkao
  • GOLD – Whispers of the Woods, Heltung Storytelling
    Author: Paweł Kicman

Best Aid/Accessory – Digital

  • Castle of the Vampire Lord, Axolote Gaming
  • SILVER – Pathfinder 2e and Starfinder 2e on Foundry VTT
  • Pocket Bard 3.0 , Pocket Bard Inc.
  • GOLD – The Crooked Moon Alchemy VTT, Avantris Entertainment
  • WestMarches.games, Grimoire AB

Best Aid/Accessory – Non – Digital

  • Game Master Screen, Peter Pauper Press
  • SILVER – Handouts – Ryoko’s lost notes, Loot Tavern Publishing
  • Making Enemies: Monster Design Inspiration for Tabletop Roleplaying Games, Gallery Books
  • Author: Keith Ammann
  • GOLD – The Crooked Moon Tarot Card Set, Avantris Entertainment
  • The Field Guide To Floral Dragons: Dragon Miniature Sets – Botanist, Florist and Gardener , Hit Point Press

Best Art, Cover

  • Book of Spirits, Beyond the Screen
    Artists: Aldo Domínguez, Fen Inkwright
  • SILVER – Historica Arcanum: Echoes of Renaissance, Metis Creative
    Artists: Belgin Kaya, Yağmur Kıyak, Beliz Baytok, Usame Bakar, Alper Bıçaklar, Taha Hakan Arslan, İshak Can Altun, Celia Tang, İlker Serdar Yıldız, Ege Satırcı
  • Mappa Mundi – An Exploration + Ecology RPG, Three Sails Studios
    Artist: Joel Kilpatrick
  • GOLD – The Crooked Moon Standard Edition Hardcover, Avantris Entertainment
    Artist: Xavier Collette
  • Totem – The Spirits’ RPG, Officina Meningi
    Artists: Francesco Biagini & Voidface

Best Art, Interior

  • Ecryme: Player’s Guide, Open Sesame Games, LLC
    Artists: Camille Durand-Kriegel, Émile Denis, Nicolas Fructus, Remton, Francois Schuiten, Sabrina Tobal
  • Household Volume II, Two Little Mice
    Artists: Daniela Giubellini, Antonia De Luca, Federica Costantini, Alessandro Paviolo, Ivana Abbate, Alessandro Cancian, Andrea Tentori Montalto, Arrigo Verderosa
  • GOLD – Legend In The Mist – Core Book, Son of Oak Game Studio
    Artists: Alejandra Pinal, Mariusz Szulc, Mark Hretskyi, Zach Causey
  • Mappa Mundi – An Exploration + Ecology RPG, Three Sails Studios
    Artist: Joel Kilpatrick
  • SILVER – The Field Guide to Floral Dragons Box Set, Hit Point Press
    Artist: Kin Wald

Best Cartography

  • SILVER – Collection of Fantasy Maps II, Open Sesame Games
    Guillaume Tavernier
  • GOLD – Dolmenwood Maps Book, Exalted Funeral Press
    Jonathan Newell, Glynn Seal, Arlin Ortiz
  • Pendragon Gamemaster Screen Pack, Chaosium Inc.
    Francesca Baerald
  • Pilgrims of the Murk Dome, Hollow Press
    Plastiboo
  • Tomb of a Thousand Doors, ManaDawn Tabletop Games and Plus One Exp
    Fernando Salvaterra, Felipe de Faria, Bruno Prosaiko, Alex Damaceno, Josiah Moore, QBR, Lux, and Sky Svard, Oddgob Games

Best Community Content

  • A Patch of Unfurled Green, West Coast Adventurers Guild
    Author: Marc “DM Mythall” Kassouf
  • Sprigs & Kindling Volumes 4:1
    Author: Amanda Mullins
  • SILVER – The Bride of Pendle, Miskatonic Repository
    Author: Jayson Green
  • The Severed Vault
    Author: Jeremy Cheong
  • GOLD – Triangle Agency Fan Zine

Best Family Game / Product

  • Crescent 2e, Mythworks
    Authors: Ema Acosta
  • SILVER – Dragon Town and the Darkness Below
    Author: JP Coovert
  • GOLD – Dungeons & Kittens Starter Set, Edge Studio
    Authors: Clement de Ruyter, Trickytophe, Francois Cedelle, and John Grumph
  • Mushie Missions, Bright Bard Games
    Author: Jon Boyle
  • PiCO, Mythworks
    Author: Felix Isaacs

Best Free Game / Product

  • GOLD – Daggerheart Quickstart Adventure: The Sablewood Messengers, Darrington Press
    Authors: Spenser Starke, Rowan Hall and Mike Underwood
  • SILVER – Legend In the Mist Learn-To-Play Comic Book Adventure, Son of Oak Game Studio LLC
    Author: Amit Moshe, Eran Aviram, Itamar Karbian, Kelly Black
  • SHIFT: Roleplaying Game Basic Rules (FREE RPG DAY), Hit Point Press
    Author: Graeme Fotheringham, Jordan Richer, and Carlos Cisco
  • Sprigs & Kindling Volumes 3-5
    Authors: Arrianna Abraham, Russell Anderson, Bjorn Ove Asprem (Boa), Hank Belanger, Irving Benitez, Justen Bennett, Ben Bisogno, Scott C. Bourgeois, Brendan (Khatyra), Devin R Bruce, J Carter, Tess Chappell, Alexander Thomas Guy Coursolle, Jim Crocker, Kirk Damato, Peter DeCraene, dión // isle in the heavens, Michael Dürr, Leigh Eldridge, Charlie Etheridge-Nunn, Pat Eyler, Mike Ferdinando, Rob Fletcher, Tess Fowler, Wes Franks, Jeremy Gaines, G F Greco, Cassidy Hadlock, Rebecca Hall, Jack Hargreaves, Sydney Hawkins, Lisa Imbryk, Chaotic Jamgochian, Rachael Jamison, Rhyme Jansen, Jazy, Igor Juraszewski, Andrea Klassen, Lukas Kristjanson, Bran Lavigne, MW Lindberg, Billy Lingar, Kevin Macku, Mags Maenad, Marc Majcher, Ben Mansky, Gabe McCormick, Brian Miranda, Amanda Mullins, Scout Munroe, Dori Murdock, Bartosz N (bartosso), J Evan Parks, Levi Phipps, Daniel Qualls, Mike Raichelson, Raymond Rich, Kim Riek, Gabriel Robinson, Nicolas Ronvel, Jesse Ross, Blake Ryan, Alex Rybitski, Brian Sago, salty, shaed, Aaron Sinner, James Smith, Clint Smith, Arkadiusz Stefański, Steph Infection, AJ Summers, Cameron L. Summers, Thwalee, Sean Tibbitts, Mads C Turley, Michael Van Vleet, Alton W, Arthur Wells, Nova Wurmson
  • Triangle Agency Fan Zine
    Authors: Kodasea, Corinna “Jude” Maria Liptáková, MarimoSelkie, Haasio, Sporadic Dialogue, L.S. Moon, fizzyware, DelcanRiven (Onion), Nathan Joseph, Pan, Me_ikko, VoiceoftheOoze, natanco, Nitroserum, Ro_drawzzz, Ash Yggdrasill, MegasomaMars, Wyllora, Ghost of Inks, Doomslug, the_pencil_head, Sleipnir, mntacuyan, iris lemony, Rhodocros, Zoe Traub, Yiu113, AlchemicalClown, SylkWeaver, Pidgeothy, Jack?, Koopstrooper, MGM_101, Robobuilder, Simon da Silva, Copper_KaBell, Boc, iCodeghost, Carbsta, Cinnabar, Totodile, Jazz Fox-Canning

Best Game

  • Coriolis: The Great Dark Core Rulebook, Free League Publishing
    Author: Kosta Kostulas, Nils Karlén, Martin Grip, Svante Landgraf, Shawn Tomkin, Matt Click
    Art: Martin Grip
    Editing: Tomas Harenstam, Mattiaas Johnsson Haake
    Layout/Design: Christian Granath
  • GOLD – Daggerheart Core Set, Darrington Press
    Author: Spenser Starke, Carlos Cisco, Rowan Hall, John Harper, Matthew Mercer, Alex Uboldi, Mike Underwood, Layla Adelman, Meguey Baker, Banana Chan, Chris Davidson, Rue Dickey, Felix Isaacs, Erin Roberts, Deven Rue, Rogan Shannon, Mark Thompson, Eugenio Vargas, Chris Willett
    Art: Nick Acuna, Juan Salvador Almencion, Mauro Alocci, Ana Amaral, Anthony Avon, Mike Azevedo, Zoe Badini, Diana Bakieva, Adam Barker, Eliot Baum, Paul Scott Canavan, Carlos Cardona, Edgar Cardona, Kristina Carroll, Stephanie Cost, Luísa Costa, Katya Cyan, Cybercatbug, Daarken, Nikki Dawes, Carlos C. Díaz, Benjamin Ee, Geoffrey Ernault, Letícia Freitas, Bear Frymire, Gaboleps, Laura Galli, Kristina Gehrmann, James Green, Grant Griffin, Arturo Gutiérrez González, Juan Gutierrez, Leesha Hannigan, Rick Hefner, Suzanne Helmigh, Hendry Iwanaga, Jessketchin, Anthony Jones, Jack Jones, KarrahE, Sam Key, Ivan Koltovich, Alex Konstad, Samantha Kung, Linda Lithén, Samantha B. Lucas, Danil Luzin, Dominik Mayer, Julia Metzger, Maxime Minard, Andrea Tentori Montalto, José Muñoz, Reiko Murakami, Laura Marie Neal, Irina Nordsol, Tamara Osborn, Mike Pape, Jen Estirdalin Pattison, Mila Pesic, Henry Peters, Rafater, Andreas Rocha, Ryan Christian Rodero, Joshua Rodriguez, Henrik Rosenborg, Ilya Royz, Allan Santos, Stanislav Sherbakov, Ernanda Souza, Fernanda Suarez, Jenny Tan, Mat Wilma, Maciej Wojtala
    Editing: Laura Hirsbrunner, Amber Litke, Sadie Lowry, Ashley Michaela “Navigator” Lawson, Scott Gray, Sebastian Yūe

    Layout/Design: Matt Paquette & Co., John Harper, Vee Hendro
  • SILVER – Legend In The Mist – Core Book, Son of Oak Game Studio
    Author: Amit Moshe, Eran Aviram, Itamar Karbian, Kelly Black
    Art: Alejandra Pinal, Marius Zszulc, Mark Hretskyi, Zach Causey
    Editing: Eran Aviram
    Layout/Design: Manuel Serrasáez
  • Sickest Witch Core Rulebook, Severed Books
    Author: Justin Sirois
    Art: Justin Sirois
    Editing: Spencer Ellsworth, Michael Hughes
    Layout/Design: Justin Sirois
  • Thieves of the Tome, First Pancake Studios
    Author: George Philbrick
    Art : Tom Lowell
    Layout/Design: George Philbrick

Best Layout and Design

  • SILVER – Berserkr, Slightly Reckless Games
  • Deadline: A Clockwork Press, The Wanderer’s Tome
  • Midnight Muscadines, Pandion Games
  • Voidheart Symphony (Revised Edition), Rowan Rook & Decard
  • GOLD – Warhammer: the Old World Roleplaying Game, Player’s Guide, Cubicle 7 Entertainment

Best Monster/Adversary

  • SILVER – Dolmenwood Monster Book, Exalted Funeral Press
    Authors: Gavin Norman with Kyle Hettinger, Amelia Luke, James Spahn, Brian Yaksha
    Art: Bianca Canoza, Pauliina Hannuniemi, Jana Heidersdorf, Aaron Howdle, Chris Huth, Tom Kilian, Jethro Lentle, Ellie Livingston, Kyle Patterson, Mish Scott, Ulla Thynell, Andrew Walter, Letty Wilson
  • GOLD – Monsters of Drakkenheim Ghostfire Gaming
    Authors: Monty Martin, Kelly McLaughlin
    Art: Maria Arteta, Mauro Alocci, Andreea Barbu, Clément Blum, Cristina Birtea, Isabell Bartnicki, Marius Bota, Augusto Costa, Alberto dal Lago, Andrei Dragoș Poițelea, Giuseppe De iure, Rafael Dantanna, Sorina Dana Ştefan, Anastassia Grigorieva, Andre Garcia, Isabela Homitchi, Suzanne Helmigh, Will Hallett, Andrei Iacob, Kurt Jakobi, Ona Kristensen, Cristiana Leone, Danil Luzin, Alina Magherusan, Derek Murphy, Fajri Muhammad, Giovana Marion, Guilherme Motta, Laura Marie Neal, Renan Maurilio, Toni Munteanu, Marzena Nereida Piwowar, Olha Nykytiuk, Elizabeth Peiró, Felipe Pérez, Vincenzo Pratticò, Mihai Radu, Oana Roxana Birtea, Renan Ribeiro, George Stratulat, Stephen Sykes, Gaga Turmanishvili, Andreia Ugrai, Rebeca Ungurean, Bianca Vrinceanu, Karin Wittig
  • Starfinder Alien Core, Paizo Inc.
    Author: Kate Baker, Lau Bannenberg, Rigby Bendele,Vishesh Bhartiya, Joseph Blomquist, Jeremy
    Blum, Tineke Bolleman, Brent Bowser, Michael Bramnik, Patrick Brennan, Charlie Brooks, Jessica Catalan, Brite Cheney, Jeremy Corff, Caryn
    DiMarco, Anthony Dollinger, Steve Fidler, Kim Frandsen, Andrew D. Geels, Basheer Ghouse, Sen H.H.S., Katrina Hennessy, Thurston Hillman,
    Joan Hong, Jenny Jarzabski, Sara Jeffers, Mikko Kallio, Lysle Kapp, Mike Kimmel, Dustin Knight, Cole Kronewitter, Mahpiya, Letterio Mammoliti,
    Randal Meyer, Jacob W. Michaels, Matt Morris, Dennis Muldoon, Quinn Murphy, Elizabeth V Nold, Chesley Oxendine, Emily Parks, Glen Parnell,
    Randy Price, Kyle T. Raes, Jessica Redekop, Erin Roberts, James Rodehaver, David N. Ross, Pidj Sorensen, Joel Southall, Kendra Leigh Speedling,
    Drew Taylor, Sam W Tennyson, Jalen Todd, Ruvaid Virk, Viditya Voleti, Christopher Wasko, Nicholas Wasko, Jackson Wery, Shan Wolf, and Basil
    Wright
    Art: János Brumár, Sol Devia, Daniele DiParma, Anna Duma-Baranowska, Miguel Regodón Harkness,
    Ivan Koritarev, Renan Maurilio, Sophie Medvedeva, Guilherme Motta, Guilherme Olivieri, Nikolai Ostertag, Pixoloid Studios (Mark Molnar, Gaspar
    Gombos, Zsolt “Mike” Szabados, Janos Gardos, Peter Lerner, and Almos Balogh), Jino Rufino, Alberto Saraiva, Arthur Enrique Olivera Silva,
    Melissa Spandri, and Veto Zomer
  • The Field Guide to Floral Dragons Box Set, Hit Point Press
    Author: Verity Lane, Chris Pinch, Jordan Richer, Sebastian Yue
    Art: Kin Wald
  • Wrath of the Kaiju, Loot Tavern Publishing
    Authors: Joao Araujo, William Earl, Dai Jia Rong He, Max Wartelle
    Art: Mohammed Bellafquih, Kwanpo “Ari” Cheng, Phan Tuan Dat, Aleksa Drageljevic, Tyler Grayson, Martin Kirby-Jackson, Roman Kuzmin, Rastislav Le, Michelle Mueller, Richard Nguyen, Mukhlis “Sinlaire” Nur, Ognjen Sporin, Rajaa Al-Subairi, Chaouki “Ciao” Titouhi, Souhaib Zekri

Best Online Content

  • GOLD – Designing Dungeons Course: Or, How to Kill a Party in 30 Rooms or Less, Joshua McCrowell & Warren D
  • Explorers Design
  • Golarion Mapping Project, Tabletop RPG Historical Society
  • Molten Sulfur Blog, Molten Sulfur Press
  • SILVER – Solo RPG List

Best Production Values

  • SILVER – Legend In the Mist – Ravenhome Slipcase, Son of Oak Game Studio LLC
  • Mappa Mundi – An Exploration + Ecology RPG, Three Sails Studios
  • Terra Antarctica, Edge Studio
  • GOLD – The Crooked Moon Ultimate Edition, Avantris Entertainment
  • The Spark Devil, H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society

Best RPG Related Product

  • Advent-ure Calendar 20: The Lost Labyrinth, Only Games, Black Oak Workshop
  • GOLD – Beyond the Witching Ring: Dolmenwood Soundtrack Album — 12″” Vinyl LP, Exalted Funeral Press
    Music: Tales Under The Oak
  • Dolmenwood Noble House Enamel Pins Set, Exalted Funeral Press
  • SILVER – Menagerie of Unbearable Things, Tania Herrero
  • Sickest Witch Belt Buckle, Severed Books

Best Rules

  • A Land Once Magic, moreblueberries
    Author: Viditya Voleti
  • GOLD – Daggerheart, Darrington Press
    Authors: Spenser Starke, Carlos Cisco, Rowan Hall, John Harper, Matthew Mercer, Alex Uboldi, Mike Underwood, Layla Adelman, Meguey Baker, Banana Chan, Chris Davidson, Rue Dickey, Felix Isaacs, Erin Roberts, Deven Rue, Rogan Shannon, Mark Thompson, Eugenio Vargas, Chris Willett
  • SILVER – Legend In The Mist – Core Book, Son of Oak Game Studio
    Authors: Amit Moshe, Eran Aviram, Itamar Karbian, Kelly Black
  • Sickest Witch Core Rulebook, Severed Books
    Author: Justin Sirois
  • Thieves of the Tome, First Pancake Studios
    Author: George Philbrick

Best Setting

  • GOLD – Dolmenwood Campaign Book, Exalted Funeral Press
    Authors: Gavin Norman, Chance Dudinack, Luke Gearing, Yves Geens, Noah Green, Greg Gorgonmilk, Kyle Hettinger, Clint Krause, Amelia Luke, Scott Malthouse, Jonathan Newell, Frances Northcutt Green, Amanda P., Doyle Wayne Ramos-Tavener, Glynn Seal, James Spahn, Andrew Walter, Brian Yaksha.
  • Ecryme: Player’s Guide, Open Sesame Games, LLC
    Authors: Alexandre Clavvel, Mathieu Gaborit, Samuel Metzener
  • Grim Hollow: Campaign Guide, Ghostfire Gaming
    Authors: Ben Byrne, Shawn Merwin, Jenn E. Adams, Andrew Bishkinskyi, Jacob Davis, Jackson DiCarlo, Benjamin Evans, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Benjamin Huffman, Chris Lindsay, Ginny Loveday, Pan Lyons, Greg Marks, Elliott Randall, Joe Raso, Kienna Shaw, Anne Smith, Marcello De Velazquez, Christopher Walz, Graham Ward, Ethan Yen
  • Household Volume II, Two Little Mice
    Authors: Ricardo “Rico” Sirignano and Simone Formicola
  • SILVER – Ryokos Guide to the Yokai Realms, Loot Tavern Publishing
    Authors: Joao Araujo, William Earl, Dai Jia Rong He, Max Wartelle

Best Solo Game

  • Odyssey of the Giant, Heltung Storytelling
  • Pirouette, InnocentGoblin TTRPGs
    Author: Michael Sweeney
  • Song of the Scryptwyrm, Almost Bedtime Theater
    Author: Dan Bronson-Lowe
  • GOLD – SPINE: A Dark Solo TTRPG About Losing Yourself in a Book, Backwards Tabletop
    Contributors: Asa Donald, Furt the Goblin, Nala J. Wu, Holly Freiberg
  • SILVER – The Bonsai Diary, Sticky Doodler
    Author: Gene Koo

Best Streaming Content

  • SILVER – Cozy RPG Reviews
  • GOLD – Get Your Sheet Together, Darrington Press
  • How’s My Driving?, The Panic Table & DNGN CLUB GAMES
  • One Shot: Last Train to Bremen, One Shot
  • The Good Friends of Jackson Elias podcast, Blasphemous Tomes

Best Supplement

  • GOLD – Legend In The Mist – Action Grimoire, Son of Oak Game Studio
    Authors: Amit Moshe, Eran Aviram, Itamar Karbian, Kelly Black
  • Mystified!, The Wanderer’s Tome
    Authors: Chelsea Sciortino and Fleur Sciortino
  • No Place Like Homebrew, Roll & Play Press
    Authors: Sam Barlett, Beth Davies
  • The Creative Game Master’s Guide to Extraordinary Locations (& How To Design Them), Bluestone Books
    Author: Duncan Rhodes
  • SILVER – The Painted Wastelands Player’s Guide, Agamemnon Press
    Authors: Tim Molloy, Christopher Willett

Best Writing

  • GOLD – Making Enemies: Monster Design Inspiration for Tabletop Roleplaying Games, Gallery Books
    Author: Keith Ammann
  • Piaga 1348, NEED GAMES!
    Author: Helios Pu
  • Pirouette, InnocentGoblin TTRPGs
    Author: Michael Sweeney
  • SILVER – Rapscallion, Magpie Games
    Author: Whistler, Elizabeth Chaipraditkul, Brendan G. Conway, Mark Diaz Truman
  • StoryBake, Tiny Ghost Chef Games
    Author: Dan Walter

Product of the Year

  • Coriolis: The Great Dark Core Rulebook, Free League Publishing
  • SILVER – Daggerheart, Darrington Press
  • Dolmenwood Campaign Book, Exalted Funeral Press
  • Legend In The Mist – Core Book, Son of Oak Game Studio
  • Menagerie of Unbearable Things Tania Herrero
  • The Bonsai Diary, Gene Koo
  • GOLD – The Crooked Moon Ultimate Edition, Avantris Entertainment
  • The Field Guide to Floral Dragons Box Set, Hit Point Press
  • The Spark Devil, H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society
  • The White Horse of Lowvale, Tania Herrero

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