Award-winning director Hiroshi Nagahama will be a guest at Otakon 2024.
Nagahama started his career at Madhouse, where he worked on “The Cockpit” and “Azuki-chan” before becoming independent. He was the concept designer for “Revolutionary Girl Utena”; the story board, the director of animation, and the key animator for “Sexy Commando Gaiden: Sugoi Yo!! Masaru-san”; and the chief director of “Jubei-chan: The Ninja Girl — The Counter Attack of Siberia Yagyu.”
The titles where he was the director include “Mushi-Shi,” “Detroit Metal City,” “The Flowers of Evil,” which was done entirely with rotoscoping, and “The Reflection” from 2017, which was co-created by Nagahama and Stan Lee. In 2018, Nagahama participated as one of twelve directors in the short anime “Rinshi!! Ekoda-chan.”
His awards include the individual award from the 11th Animation Kobe.
Otakon 2024 will be held from August 2 to August 4 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Christophe Ferreira will be a guest at Otakon 2024. He is a director at Qubic Pictures.
Ferreira’s artistic journey began with a childhood passion for drawing, inspired by TV cartoons and comic books. His dedication led him to study animation at Gobelins in Paris, and after graduating in 1998, he embarked on a diverse career in France.
In 2001, a transformative workshop with Yasuo Otsuka prompted him to move to Japan to master Japanese animation techniques. Under the mentorship of industry giants like Otsuka and Kazuide Tomonaga, he honed his skills at Telecom Animation Studio before contributing to renowned projects across various studios.
Notable contributions include his work on “Bleach” for Studio Pierrot, “Genius Party” and “Crayon Shinchan” for Studio 4°C, “Napping Princess” for Studio Signal M.D., and “Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine” for TMS Studio, among others. Additionally, since 2012, he has made significant contributions to the French comic book industry, having illustrated 15 books.
He will direct the upcoming Qubic Pictures project, “Leviathan,” based on the books by Scott Westerfield.
Otakon 2024 will be held from August 2 to August 4 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
MIKAGE PROJECT, a trio of Japanese traditional instrument professionals, will perform at Otakon 2024. Their goal is to connect with the next generation, recreating folk songs from all over Japan in a modern style.
MIKAGE PROJECT was founded in December 2020. Mikage means the soul and the spirits of Shinto and Buddhism. The members are Koki Sato, who plays the Shakuhachi (bamboo flute); Sho Asano, who plays the Tsugaru Shamisen (Japanese stringed instrument); and Takashi Honma, who plays the twenty-five string koto (Japanese harp). In April 2021, they released their first EP, “MIKAGE PROJECT,” which included recordings of “Kokirikobushi” (a Toyama prefecture folk song).
They have appeared in the media multiple times. In October 2021, the group made a national broadcast debut on a show by the Japanese National broadcaster NHK, “Minyo Tamashii Furusato no Uta” (“Folk Song Spirit of Hometown”). Since then, they have appeared on various NHK shows, accomplishing such feats as a collaboration with a folk song legend, Naoyuki Harada, and Sho Asano winning accolades as a folk song concierge.
More recently, MIKAGE PROJECT released their second mini-album, “NEO BUSHI,” in May 2022. Also, they appeared in the Tokushima Prefecture Awa Odori Association New Year Performance in January 2022. Their efforts to create a new wave of Japanese folk songs are gaining support. Their fourth mini-album, “TOU,” will be released in June 2024.
Otakon 2024 will be held from August 2 to August 4 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Assemble, fans and creators, and get ready to dive into the exhilarating world of comics and Jewish culture! JewCE: The Jewish Comics Experience convention and the JewCE Awards are returning for their second spellbinding year. The excitement unfolds with the JewCE Awards on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at 6 PM, followed by the convention on Sunday, November10, 9 AM – 7 PM. Brace yourselves for a weekend of epic proportions!
Discounted Early Bird Tickets for this superpowered event are on sale now!
JewCE Awards
This year’s JewCE Awards will be chaired by the esteemed Roy Schwartz, CNN pop culture historian and author of the bestselling Is Superman Circumcised? The Complete Jewish History of the World’s Greatest Hero. The awards promise to be a night of triumph and celebration of Jewish narrative art. Roy’s extensive credentials, including winning the 2021 international Diagram Prize, make him the ideal leader to navigate the galaxy of this year’s groundbreaking talents.
The awards ceremony will offer attendees the opportunity to meet the creative forces behind this year’s nominated works, dive into their creative universes, and witness the crowning of this year’s comic champions. The judges for this year’s JewCE Awards are Paul Levitz, Jenny Caplan, Danny Fingeroth, Roy Schwartz, Samantha Baskind, Jeremy Dauber, Brian Michael Bendis, Karen Green, Barry Deutsch, and Rutu Modan.
JewCE Convention
The Jewish Comics Experience convention on Sunday will feature an array of attractions, including engaging with industry-leading comics creators and scholars through panel discussions and workshops, family-friendly activities, a silent auction of original art, and an expansive Artist Alley. Enthusiasts can explore the exhibit hall for exclusive comics, graphic novels, and unique merchandise, all celebrating the rich tapestry of Jewish culture.
Last year’s event brought comic legends like Frank Miller and Trina Robbins to the stage, and while this year’s lineup of heroes and creators is still under wraps, the promise of another legendary assemblage (with many returning guests) is on the horizon.
Generous support provided by: Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP – Attorneys at Law, Stand Up! Records, Torah Smash! The Podcast for Nerdy Jews, Be’Chol Lashon, and Dick Blick Art Materials.
The Jewish Comics Experience is dedicated to highlighting Jewish stories and celebrating Jewish contributions to the comic book industry through its annual JewCE Awards and convention. By bringing together creators, fans, and industry insiders, JewCE creates a vibrant forum for sharing stories, art, and inspiration.
Crunchyroll has announced a massive Anime Expo lineup alongside new film and series acquisitions! From July 4-7, Crunchyroll returns to Anime Expo with more than 20 panels and premieres, including early looks at the next wave of anime obsessions. Get ready for BOCCHI THE ROCK! Recap Films Part 1 and Part 2 coming to theaters.Plus, new episodes, series and seasons set to stream on Crunchyroll include: After-school Hanako-kun, Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian, Arifureta Season 3, MF GHOST Season 2, Narenare -Cheer for You!-, No Longer Allowed in Another World, and Witch Hat Atelier. All of the above and more is coming to fans at Anime Expo!
The 2024 Anime Award-winning slice of life music series BOCCHI THE ROCK! is coming to North American theaters as a two-part recap film (dates to be announced). The film, acquired by Crunchyroll and to be distributed by Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment, follows Hitori “Bocchi” (“Loner”) Goto, a lonely high school girl who does nothing except strum a guitar by herself at home. However, she happens to meet Nijika Ijichi, who is looking for a guitarist for her group “Kessoku Band.” In anticipation of the theatrical release, a special BOCCHI THE ROCK!Panel at Anime Expo featuring Director Keiichiro Saito and voice actor Yoshino Aoyama will bring fans behind-the-scenes.
Anime Expo attendees can trade their typical 4th of July BBQ for a one-day celebration of the best in anime when The Crunchyroll Stage at the JW Marriott returns! This time, the creative minds behind TRIGUN STAMPEDE will give a look back at the thrilling first season and an exciting sneak peek at what’s in store for the future. Sharing center stage will be the highly anticipated Witch Hat Atelier—look forward to new information about this upcoming series. The spotlight will also be on new premieres, including Senpai is an Otokonoko, To Be Hero X, and more!
This year’s Crunchyroll Stage at the JW Marriott has star power! Hear from the GRAMMY-nominated rapper Logic during the Crunchyroll X Logic panel on how the medium inspires his music. The Revenge of the BLERDS: Black Love of Anime panel brings NFL superstar and viral anime fan Jamaal Williams to Anime Expo to discuss the special relationship between African American culture and the medium.
Thought we were done? Well, catch your breath because Crunchyroll is bringing a 90-minute premiere of the highly anticipated Re:ZERO Season 3with voice actor Yusuke Kobayashi and key series staff. Elsewhere, eager fans can catch a sneak peek at OVERLORD: The Sacred Kingdom before it arrives in theaters. Plus, fans can come aboard for the English Dub premiere of the One PieceEgghead Island Arc.
Buckle up, Crunchyroll isn’t done yet! Rounding out the huge premieres from the Summer and Fall seasons are Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest Season 3, After-school Hanako-kun, MF GHOST Season 2, Tower of God Season 2, Quality Assurance in Another World, and more!
Crunchyroll and Aniplex will take fans behind the scenes of fan-favorite anime—with special surprises along the way! Don’t miss simply one hell of a Black Butler panel with Producer Yoshito Ito, Director Kenjiro Okada, and the renowned Japanese voice of the titular character Sebastian Michaelis, Daisuke Ono! The call is also going out to would-be Hunters and Solo Leveling fans as Taito Ban and Aleks Le, the Japanese and English voices of Sung Jinwoo respectively, will discuss the global hit with A-1 Pictures Producer Atsushi Kaneko.
On the show floor, Crunchyroll’s largest booth ever [#2526] will activate with scenes and sounds from hit anime, whisking fans away into beloved worlds. If you can’t find it…look for the 60ft screen!
Need to level up your Anime Expo? Enter The Solo Leveling Experience, where fans will find themselves immersed in moments from this year’s hit series. Need your merch itch scratched? The Crunchyroll Store is setting up shop with more than 70 items, including never-before-seen Crunchyroll Exclusive Merch.
This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Baltimore Comic-Con. Celebrate at the Inner Harbor’s Baltimore Convention Center on September 20-22, 2024! The Baltimore Comic-Con has announced comics guests Steve Conley, Bo Hampton, Sandy Jarrell, Jae Lee, Ethan Sacks, and Zoe Thorogood to our 25th Anniversary event! Find details at their website as well as ticketing information and more!
Long-time friend of the show, Ringo, Harvey, and Eisner Award nominee, and guest since our inception in 2000 (!), artist and writer Steve Conley has contributed to numerous comic titles, both printed and on-line. His Astounding Space Thrills was self-published, published by Image Comics, and collected as a trade paperback by IDW. He has been featured in titles such as JLA-Z from DC Comics, Star Trek: Year Four from IDW, and Michael Chabon’s Amazing Adventures of the Escapist from Dark Horse Comics. His self-published Bloop is available through his online store in print or soft copy editions, and you can find his Ringo and Eisner Award-nominated webcomic The Middle Age on his website, tapas.io, Line Webtoon, and GoComics, and hard copies and digital collections can be purchased from his online store.
A 30-year comics vet, Bo Hampton is known for Batman: Castle of the Bat, Moon Knight, Swamp Thing, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Riven, Batman: The Animated Adventures, 3 Devils, Demons of Sherwood, Verdilak, and much, much more. He was a former assistant to Will Eisner and Al Williamson, as well.
Sandy Jarrell got his start working with Jeff Parker on the creator-owned Meteor Men (Oni Press), and has continued drawing for DC Comics (Batman ‘66, Bombshells, Teen Titans Go!,Black Canary), Dark Horse (Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology), Image (Scrapper), Archie (Archie and Sabrina, Reggie and Me), and more. His work can also be found in author Alex Segura’s novels Secret Identity and Alter Ego (Flatiron Books) and their comics spin-off The Legendary Lynx.
He lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
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, Before Watchmen: Ozymandias, and Batman/Superman. Most recently, he returned to Image Comics and released a creator-owned book titled Seven Sons.
Pre-show commission orders may be placed through: JAELEE@aol.com
Ethan Sacks is best known in comics as the writer of Marvel’s Old Man Hawkeye, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Star Wars: Bounty Hunters. Most recently, he teamed up with his daughter, Naomi, and artist Marco Lorenzana for the acclaimed Image Comics/Syzygy Publishing series, A Haunted Girl. He also wrote the award-winning nonfiction comics COVID Chronicles and Climate Crisis Chronicles for AWA Studios, as well as several stories for DC Comics. Before comics, he was a 20-year veteran at the New York Daily News, covering film and geek culture. He also contributes occasionally to NBC News.
Zoe Thorogood is a comic creator and concept artist from the UK. She debuted in 2020 with The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott, which was both written and drawn by Zoe and published by Avery Hill. Billie Scott received an unprecedentedly positive reception for a first-time cartoonist and quickly established Zoe as an industry mainstay. In the subsequent years, she illustrated Haha and Joe Hill’s Rain at Image Comics. This led into another auteur production with the publisher, It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth, a groundbreaking autobiography released in late 2023. Lonely again garnered major critical and commercial success for Thorogood, earning her six Eisner Award nominations and winning her the Russ Manning Newcomer Award at San Diego Comic Con. She also took home the Best Original Graphic Novel Ringo Award later in the year. Most recently, Thorogood continued to collaborate with Image on Creepshow and Hack/Slash: Back to School. She has also written the Life is Strange: Forget-Me-Not miniseries at Titan Comics. In her (very limited) free time, Zoe enjoys playing video games and being incredibly powerful.
This year’s confirmed guests for the show include: Rodney Barnes (Killadelphia), Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl), Marty Baumann (Pixar artist), John Beatty (Marvel Super Heroes: Secret Wars), Rose Besch (Miles Morales: Spider-Man), Russ Braun (The Boys), Brett Breeding (Superman), Tom Brevoort (coursey of Hero Initiative, FCBD 2023: Avengers/X-Men), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Jim Calafiore (NED, Lord of the Pit), Richard Case (Doom Patrol), John Cassaday (X-Force), Castillo Studios, Keith Champagne (Stranger Things), Howard Chaykin (Time Squared), Cliff Chiang (Paper Girls), Frank Cho (Harley Quinn), Michael Cho (Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories–Qui-Gon Jinn), Amy Chu (KISS: The End), Matthew Clark (Adventures of Superman, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Steve Conley (The Middle Age), Katie Cook (Nothing Special), Todd Dezago (The Perhapanauts), Scott Dunbier (Jim Lee’s X-Men Artist’s Edition, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Ben Edlund (The Tick), Chris Eliopoulos (Ordinary People Change the World), Steve Epting (New Avengers), Trish Forstner (Feral), Franco (Teen Titans Go to the Library), Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (DC Nation), Ron Garney (BZRKR), Mitch Gerads (Mister Miracle), Sanford Greene (Bitter Root), Gene Ha (Mae), Bob Hall (West Coast Avengers), Bo Hampton (Batman: Castle of the Bat), Scott Hanna (Amazing Spider-Man), Tony Harris (The Whistling Skull), Dean Haspiel (The Red Hook), Glenn Hauman (They Keep Killing Glenn), Mike Hawthorne (Deadpool), Marc Hempel (Sandman), Kyle Higgins (Radiant Black), Dan Jurgens (Action Comics), Jamal Igle (Superman), Klaus Janson (courtesy of Hero Initiative, Daredevil), Sandy Jarrell (Batman ’66), Joëlle Jones (Lady Killer), Chris Kemple (Artist Alley Comics), Karl Kesel (Impossible Jones), Tom King (Wonder Woman), Barry Kitson (Amazing Spider-Man), Dan Krall (House of Night), Emma Kubert (Inkblot), Jim Lee (Superman, Friday only), Sam Maggs (Marvel Action: Captain Marvel), Shawn Martinbrough (Red Hood: The Hill), Mike McKone (Red Goblin), Bob McLeod (New Mutants), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), Adriana Melo (Action Comics), Al Milgrom (Spectacular Spider-Man), Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise), Mark Morales (Thor), Fabian Nicieza (courtesy of Hero Initiative, Deadpool), Tom Nguyen (The Switch), Jerome Opena (Uncanny X-Force), Dan Parent (Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Andrew Pepoy (Simone & Ajax), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Khoi Pham (Star Wars: Darth Vader), Nick Pitarra (Ax-Wielder Jon), Andy Price (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic), Tim Probert (Lightfall), Tom Raney (Green Lantern), Mark Redfield (Vampire Hunters Incorporated), Amy Reeder (Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur), Afua Richardson (Omni), Don Rosa (Uncle $crooge), Jennifer Rouse (Frankenstein Mobster), Craig Rousseau (The Perhapanauts), Ethan Sacks (A Haunted Girl), Alex Saviuk (Web of Spider-Man), Alex Segura (Secret Identity, courtesy of Hero Initiative), Liam Sharp (X-O Manowar Unconquered), Geoff Shaw (God Country), Don Simpson (Megaton Man), Louise Simonson (The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special), Walter Simonson (Thor), Matt Slay (Equilibrium), Matt Slay (Equalibrium), John K. Snyder III (Suicide Squad), Mark Sparacio (Omega Paradox), Joe Staton (Dick Tracy), Brian Stelfreeze (Black Panther), Joshua “Swayart” Swaby (Star Wars), Babs Tarr (Batgirl of Burnside), Martha Thomases (Second-Hand Rose), Zoe Thorogood (Hack/Slash: Back to School), Gus Vazquez (Sunfire and Big Hero Six), Mark Wheatley (Skultar), Jeremy Whitley (Navigating With You, courtesy of Mad Cave Studios), Matt Wieringo (Stargate Atlantis: Gateways), Stephanie Williams (Nubia: Queen of the Amazons), Marv Wolfman (What If…? Dark: Tomb of Dracula), Rich Woodall (Electric Black), David Yardin (Daredevil: Woman Without Fear), Leinil Francis Yu (Wolverine), Thom Zahler (Love and Capes).
The Vancouver Comic Arts Festival (VanCAF) board has resigned after a controversy over the banning of a creator from the convention. The festival released as statement last week that it had banned an Israeli-American comic creator due to her past service in the Israel Defense Forces.
Though not named, the artist was Miriam Libicki and the decision to ban her caused an uproar and charges of antisemitism against the show. As far as we know, no other members of the military have been banned due to their service. We reached out to the convention and have heard no response as of this article’s publication.
The original accountability statement released by VanCAF stated there was a “public safety” concern due to her prior role and that Libicki wouldn’t be allowed to return to the festival. It went on to apologize for “harm” it caused by allowing Libicki to exhibit. She has exhibited at every VanCAF up until 2023 when a exhibitor application deadline was missed. The 2 individuals who made the complaint in 2022 were also banned as stated by those with more insider information as to events.
Libicki was at the 2024 show to promote her graphic novel But I Live, which is a collection of work based on the experiences of survivors of the Holocaust. Libicki had agreed with VanCAF to just focus on that and not her graphic novel jobnik! which chronicled her military service during the second intifada and other previous graphic novels. The convention admits that after agreeing to it, it then did a 180 after the 2024 convention stating it “failed to take the correct precautions to ensure (its) community’s safety” leading to the first statement and Libicki’s ban.
The original “Accountability Statement,” which you can read above, was taken down after pushback and the convention went silent over the weekend.
VanCAF has released a new statement, not only apologizing for the original but their decision to ban Libicki and statements made. The current board of directors has resigned and only a few remain to hand over the convention to new leadership and staff. You can read the new apology below.
Renowned producer and editor Sandy King and legendary filmmaker John Carpenter present Storm King Comics at the 2024 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition from June 27 to July 2, 2024. Diehard fans of horror, scifi, and genre storytelling can find Storm King Comics at Booth #150 (Graphic Novel/Gaming Alley) in the San Diego Convention Center.
Horror fans can get an exclusive preview of the highly anticipated Summer and Fall 2024 releases from bestselling author Steve Niles and debut graphic novelist, Sian Mandrake.
Storm King Comics, home to the critically acclaimed imprints Dark & Twisted, John Carpenter’s Night Terrors,Tales of Science Fiction, and John Carpenter Presents Storm Kids, as well as the award-winning anthology series John Carpenter’s Tales For A HalloweeNight, will reveal exclusive previews of their upcoming graphic novels from an exciting array of creators.
THE KILLING HOLE by acclaimed horror author Steve Niles and artist Trevor Denham, with colors by Ryan Winn and letters by Janice Chiang.
Stuck in an isolated suburb in ‘70s Virginia, 14-year-old Stewart is a lonely and neglected child of divorce who slips through the cracks until, one day, he notices a new kid at school. Peter has it even worse than he does, and the two begin to form an inseparable bond in their mutual hatred of everyone and everything else. But as their friendship deepens, things take a very dark turn. In bookstores July 23.
THE GOD LIST, co-created by author Steve Niles and artist Scott Hampton, with colors by Jessica Lange and letters by Janice Chiang.
William is a vintage book dealer from Greenwich Village. Lydia is a mysterious agent for an otherworldly organization. Together they must match wits and do battle with sinister forces seeking to destroy… THE GOD LIST. Rumored to be a priceless collection of secret masterpieces commissioned by God herself, the List is so closely guarded that most scholars disagree on its origins, or even if it exists at all. In bookstores July 30.
BLOOD OF THE TAKEN created by debut graphic novelist Sian Mandrake (they/he), with letters by Janice Chiang.
Theo, a 500-year-old vampire, has made a new home in a small town in Western Massachusetts, stalking its residents in search of just the right humans to spirit away to replace her lost brood. Tonight she thinks she’s found the perfect pair with lifelong best friends, Ed and Liam. As the two companions find themselves suddenly plunged into Theo’s rotting nightmare of a world, they quickly come to understand running isn’t an option. After all, when you’ve become one of the undead yourself, where can you call home except with the creature who made you? Ed and Liam must learn to navigate Theo’s world if they want to survive it. In bookstores October 1.
On Friday, June 28, at 5:30 p.m., the publisher will host an Opening Night Wine Mixer at Storm King Comics Booth #233 (Graphic Novel/Gaming Alley), where horror fans can enter a raffle to win a deluxe edition foil embossed box set collecting five bestselling graphic novels from the highly acclaimed imprint John Carpenter’s Night Terrors, including fan-favorite graphic novels 13 Horsemen,Black Sparrow, Graveyard Moon, Second Nature, & Sour Candy.
Visitors to Storm King Comics Booth #233 throughout the weekend can also enter to win a rare deluxe edition box set of John Carpenter’s Tales for a HalloweeNight, collecting the first five volumes of the fan-favorite series, and signed by legendary filmmakers John Carpenter and Storm King Comics Editor-in-Chief Sandy King. Details at booth.
Storm King Comics will be showcasing an array of new releases and worldwide bestsellers ranging in genre from horror, science-fiction, and dark thrillers to tales for all ages, including, but not limited to:
JOHN CARPENTER’S TALES FOR A HALLOWEENIGHT is the bestselling horror anthology that includes stories by the legendary filmmakers John Carpenter, Sandy King, and a coterie of acclaimed writers and artists who bring fresh new horrors to life each Halloween.
Dark & Twisted presents DEATH MASK by Amanda Deibert and Cat Staggs about a young detective on the trail of a bizarre and gruesome serial killer that leads her to question her own feelings about justice and what it means to be “good” or “evil.”
Night Terrors presents USHER DOWN by Jason Henderson and Greg Scott tells the story of a psychic who joins a government expedition to explore the most legendary haunted house of all time, Edgar Allen Poe’s The House of Usher. The house is real, frozen in time below ground– but what the explorers find there is demonic, alive, and may well have called them for its own dark purposes.
Tales of Science Fiction presents THE ENVOY by David J. Schow and Andres Esparza about two former college best friends who engage in a fierce race to reach intelligent life first but encounter two very different contacts, each sparking distrust and fear of the other. Can the friends turned rivals figure out who to trust before it’s too late for humankind?
Storm Kids Presents FETCHBOOK 1: THE JOURNEY and BOOK 2: THE RESCUE by Mike Sizemore and Dave Kennedy is the highly acclaimed series following the adventures of young Danni as she braves the Underworld to bring back her best friend and beloved pet, Pirate, with the help of the legendary Ulysses and a few other figures from myth.
Skybound has announced its programming slate, product list, and talent participation for the upcoming ALA Annual Conference for 2024, which will take place this year from Friday, June 28th to Monday, July 1st at the San Diego Convention Center. This year marks Skybound’s first standalone appearance at ALA Annual, which will include panels, signings, giveaways, and more.
Skybound will be located at booth #234 on the exhibitor floor, and will have finished copies of bestselling books including Mr. Lovenstein Presents: Feelings by J.L. Westover, Ava’s Demon Book Two: Aftermath by Michelle Fus, Cobra Commander Vol. 1 by Joshua Williamson and Andrea Milana, Duke Vol. 1 by Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly, TRANSFORMERS Vol. 1 by Daniel Warren Johnson, Universal Monsters: Dracula by James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds, and Void Rivals Vol. 1 by Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici. Skybound will also have chapbooks available at the booth including LEGO® NINJAGO: Shatterspin #1 by Tri Vuong, Destro #1 by Dan Watters and Andrei Bressan, Scarlett #1 by Kelly Thompson and Marco Ferrari, Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives! #1 by Dan Watters, Ram V, and Matthew Roberts, Cobra Commander #1, Duke #1, and TRANSFORMERS #1. ALA Annual attendees will also get the chance to go back to the beginning of the hit series with copies of Invincible #1 (Image Firsts) available at the Skybound booth.
Skybound will also bring several giveaways available for convention goers, including the debut of the 2024 ALA-Exclusive tote bag featuring the Universal Monsters, bookmarks featuring Invincible, The Walking Dead, and the Energon Universe, prints featuring Ava’s Demon, pins featuring Mr. Lovenstein Presents: Feelings, and a slew of ribbons featuring Skybound properties.
Acclaimed Skybound talent James Tynion IV (Author, Universal Monsters: Dracula), Joshua Williamson (Author, Duke & Cobra Commander), Michelle Fus (Author/Illustrator, Ava’s Demon), and Tri Vuong (Author/Illustrator, LEGO NINJAGO: Shatterspin) will be attending the conference and will be participating in panels and signings throughout the weekend.
The full slate of Skybound talent appearances is below.
2:30 PM (PT) to 3:20 PM (PT) – Fostering Readership with Familiar Faces in Graphic Novels
Description: Join Skybound, Image, DC, and BOOM! Studios for an exploration of crafting stories of the characters we know and love for a brand-new age of readers. Some of the biggest creators discuss using beloved characters to introduce exciting tales and bring in both new and reluctant readers to graphic novels.
Talent: Tri Vuong (Skybound), Julio Anta (DC), Ethan Sacks (Image), Naomi Sacks (Image), TBD BOOM! Talent Moderator: Moni Barrette (Director, Collection Development-Comics Plus) Location: Graphic Novel/Gaming Stage Hosted By: Skybound Entertainment
Sunday, June 30th:
9:00 AM (PT) to 10:00 AM (PT) – Growing Up with Graphic Novels Panel
Description: We have kids’ graphic novels and YA graphic novels, but what about those readers who are in between? Join us for a lively panel discussion of publishers, creators, and public and school librarians as they share titles perfect for that middle school age range and ideas for finding and promoting them.
Talent: Tri Vuong (Skybound) Moderator: Jack Phoenix (Collection Development Manager, Cuyahoga Falls Library; Graphic Novel Selector, Brodart) l Location: Room 08 – San Diego Convention Center Hosted By: GNCRT
9:30 AM to 10:20 AM (PT) – From Online to On-Shelves: Must Read Webcomics Coming to Print Panel
Description: The fast-growing world of online comics has fans clamoring for print editions — and paving the way for even wider readership. Join Oni Press, Skybound and D.C. for a lively panel featuring Junepurrr, creator of the upcoming hit enemies-to-lovers political romantasy SubZero, Michelle Fus, creator of the high adventure sci-fi fantasy sensation Ava’s Demon, and Ngozi Ukazu, creator of the bestselling hockey romance Check, Please and new reimagining of beloved DC warrior, Barda.
10:30 AM to 11:20 AM (PT) – Becoming Your Best (Or Worst) Self: Growing With Graphic Novels Panel
Description: Discover graphic novels where character’s actions in times of survival can lead to irrevocable outcomes, not only for themselves but others around them. JAMES TYNION IV (Universal Monsters: Dracula), JOSHUA WILLIAMSON (Duke, Cobra Commander), MICHELLE FUS (Ava’s Demon) and TRI VUONG (LEGO® NINJAGO®, Everyday Hero Machine Boy) discuss crafting new stories for a wide range of readers, growth in graphic novels, audience Q&A, and more!
Talent: James Tynion IV, Joshua Williamson, Michelle Fus, & Tri Vuong Moderator: TBD Location: Graphic Novel/Gaming Stage Hosted By: Skybound Entertainment
1:30 PM (PT) to 2:20 PM (PT) – Inside the Comic Artists’ Studio with Image Comics (The Look of Books Stage)
Description: Ever wonder how an artist brings their imagination to the page? How authors collaborate to turn words into images? Iconic authors and illustrators take you behind-the-scenes in a visual presentation about the process of turning ideas into award winning comics art, from script, to thumbnail, to the finished product. Love your graphic novel collection and want to know more about how they’re made? Curious about what supplies you should be stocking up on for your comics making programming? This is the program for you!
Talent: Tony Fleecs (Image), Tim Seeley (Image), Geoff Johns (Image), and Michelle Fus (Skybound) Location: Graphic Novel/Gaming Stage Hosted By: Image Comics
1:45 PM (PT) to 2:30 PM(PT) – Skybound’s Graphic Novels: Invincible, The Walking Dead, TRANSFORMERS, LEGO NINJAGO: Shatterspin & More!
Description: Discover the biggest graphic novels of the year that readers of all ages will enjoy using their library card to check out! From Invincible and The Walking Dead to TRANSFORMERS and LEGO NINJAGO and even more from Skybound Entertainment (published by Image Comics). Presented by ALEX HARGETT (Director of Brand, Editorial).
SIGNINGS:
Offsite:
Friday, June 28th
4:00 PM (PT) to 7:00 PM (PT) – Joshua Williamson Signing at Now or Never Comics
Onsite:
Saturday, June 29th
11:00 AM (PT) to 12:00 PM (PT) – Joshua Williamson Signing at the Skybound Booth (Booth #234)
12:30 PM (PT) to 1:30 PM (PT) – Michelle Fus Signing at the Skybound Booth (Booth #234)
3:30 PM (PT) to 4:30 PM (PT) – Tri Vuong Signing at the Skybound Booth (Booth #234)
Sunday, June 30th
11:45 AM (PT) to 12:30 PM (PT) – James Tynion IV Signing at the Skybound Booth (Booth #234)
1:30 PM (PT) to 2:30 PM (PT) – Tri Vuong Signing at the Skybound Booth (Booth #234)
3:00 PM (PT) to 4:00 PM (PT) – Michelle Fus Signing at the Skybound Booth (Booth #234)
Hideo Ishikawa, a Japanese voice actor, will be a guest at Otakon 2024. He has voiced various roles in anime and games.
He is known for many roles such as Jushiro Ukitake in “BLEACH,” Itachi Uchiha in “Naruto,” Auron in “Final Fantasy X,” Cait Sith in “Final Fantasy VII,” and Squall Leonhart in “Final Fantasy XII.”
Otakon 2024 will be held from August 2 to August 4 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
