Category Archives: Conventions

Baltimore Comic-Con 2026 announces its Cosplay Judges

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Baltimore Comic Con Cosplay

The Baltimore Comic-Con and the Hard Rock Cafe Baltimore have once again joined forces to proudly present the 2026 Cosplay Contest! The Baltimore Comic-Con will be held the weekend of September 25-27, 2026 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Tickets for admission to the event are available now!

The convention has revealed the judges for this year’s cosplay contest.

Judges for the 2026 Cosplay Programming

Adult Contest

Alexandra Bowman

Alexandra Bowman is an award-winning cosplayer, editorial cartoonist, and arts journalist. She was BroadwayCon’s 2025 Cosplay Contest’s Best-In-Show, as well as a 2025 BroadwayCon Affiliate and 2026 judge. Alex is a Cats the Musical-centric cosplayer, and Andrew Lloyd Webber has said of her work, “well done.” Alex is a nationally syndicated editorial cartoonist and a Director of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, a Contributing Writer to DC Theater Arts — Washington, DC’s premier source of performing arts coverage for over 5 years — and a private humanities, admissions, and art educational consultant. Alex’s artwork has been published by BBC News, Politico, the National Wildlife Federation, Penguin Random House UK, and more. Her costume design work can be found at @abowmancostumes, and her illustration, journalism, and teaching-related work can be found at @alexandrabowmanart.

Sydney Fryer

Sydney is a cosplayer, costumer, and prop maker from Baltimore City who has been cosplaying for 7 years. She is the Track head for Balticon’s costuming and maker’s track, and a master level cosplayer with many awards under her belt, most recently winning Best in Show at Farpoint in 2025. She is a jack of all trades, having received multiple craftsmanship awards for her foam work and wig making. She is passionate about making cosplay accessible and enjoyable for all.

Liz Scott

Sew Ghostly Cosplay is a Baltimore-based disabled cosplayer with 20+ years of cosplay and competition experience. They have many cosplay competition wins under their belt, including Best in Show at Shore Leave 2023 and Best Presentation at Farpoint Weekend 2026. Specializing in recycled/upcycled cosplay as well as bringing to life characters for which no one asked, they are always advocating to make con and fandom spaces accessible for all. They are in it for the love of creation and the belief that nothing is impossible with a glue gun, a YouTube tutorial, and a disproportionate level of audacity. As their experience and time in the community has grown, they have leaned more into helping the next generation of cosplayers learn and improve, especially in an age where the loss of major stores like JoAnn Fabrics has created a void for accessible materials.

Kids Contest

Joe and Joeleen Torres

Crystal Soul Cosplay is a married cosplay duo comprised of Joe (Grimm6) and Joleen (Chaos Claire). Starting their cosplay career between 2004 and 2006, they have done over 50+ cosplays and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. When not cosplaying at a convention, they love bringing characters to life at hospital visits and bringing smiles.

Joe and Joleen love cosplaying from their favorite games, anime, manga, and more. Between the duo, Joe excels in arms and armor making, while Joleen excels in wig styling and sewing. Some of their favorite and award-winning cosplays are Barioth Bow Hunter and Hinoa the Quest Maiden from Monster Hunter Rise, Vigilante Deku and Ochaco from My Hero Academia, and Hiccup and Astrid from How to Train Your Dragon.

While at conventions, they love presenting panels and sharing their knowledge with everyone. They are known for their out-of-the-box-style thinking and willingness to help new or older cosplayers. If you see them, please stop them and say hi!

Niesha Wongus

SweetPea Cosplay is a Maryland-based cosplayer who got her first taste of con life over ten years ago at Baltimore Comic-Con. She has since gone on to attend many events throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond. She enjoys cosplaying characters from video games, comics, movies, and more. She considers herself a perpetual learner and is always eager to hone her existing skills or develop new ones. SweetPea is honored to return as a judge for this year’s event!

The Adult Cosplay Contest is being held on Saturday, September 25th at 4:30pm**. All participants must be registered for the contest to be eligible to compete. Adult Cosplay Contest registration is available online HERE. There will be no day of, in-person registration for the Adult Cosplay Contest.

Pre-judging will be happening throughout the day by appointment on Saturday, giving each contestant more time to spend on the show floor. Upon registration, an appointment will be created and can be adjusted upon request. The rules have been updated this year, so make sure to check out the webpage here with more details about this event.

Along with the Adult Cosplay Contest on Saturday, we are pleased to announce the return of the popular Adult Cosplay Showcase! The Showcase provides an opportunity for all cosplayers, regardless of whether or not they made their own outfit, to have a moment up on the Baltimore Comic-Con stage to strut their stuff for the audience and for the cameras. To register for this event, please visit the website. The event will start shortly before the Cosplay Contest.

The Children’s Cosplay Showcase will be held on Sunday, September 27, 2026, shortly before the Contest in the ballroom on the 4th floor. Alongside the Children’s Cosplay Contest will be the Children’s Cosplay Showcase, where anyone under the age of 18 can walk the stage and be celebrated for their work and their part in the cosplay community! Make sure to register online HERE to ensure your spot in the showcase! This event will start at 3pm**.

The Children’s Cosplay Contest will be held on Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 3:30pm** in the ballroom on the 4th floor. The Children’s Cosplay Contest registration is available online HERE. Kids 17 years and younger can register online OR day of for the event. In person registration will close at noon on Sunday, September 27, 2026. There will, however, be a limited number of slots and if you are able to have a build book available, please bring one.

Cosplay Contest/Cosplay Showcase Schedule**:

Saturday, September 26th

  • 10:00am – Children’s Cosplay On-Site Registration begins
  • 3:30pm – Showcase Registrants to Staging Area (4th floor)
  • 3:45pm – Cosplay Contest participants to the Staging Area (4th floor)
  • 4:00pm – Cosplay Showcase Begins
  • 4:30pm – Adult Cosplay Contest Begins

Sunday, September 27th

  • 10:00am – Children’s Cosplay On-Site Registration begins (Day 2)
  • 12:00pm – Children’s Cosplay On-Site Registration ends
  • 2:30pm – Children’s Cosplay Showcase Participants report to Staging Area
  • 2:45pm – Children’s Cosplay Contest Participants Report to Staging Area
  • 3:00pm – Children’s Cosplay Showcase Begins
  • 3:30pm – Children’s Cosplay Contest Begins

PRIZES

Adult Prizes

Overall Best Cosplay (Best in Show)
$1,000 Grand Prize in Cash for Adults

Advanced Individual:
1st place – $250 Cash
Runner Up – $125 Cash

Intermediate Individual:
1st Place – $225 Cash for First Place
Runner Up – $100 Cash for Runner-Up

Novice Individual:
1st Place – $125 Cash for First Place
Runner Up – $75 Cash for Runner-Up

Cosplay Photography:
1st Place – $150 Cash for First Place
Runner Up – $125 Cash for Runner-Up

Judges’ Awards:
$50 Hard Rock Cafe gift cards will be awarded to three adult contestants that the judges believe deserve special recognition

Kids Prizes

$100 Grand Prize in Cash for Kids Best in Show

Ages 5-11:
$50 Cash for First Place in category
$25 Cash for Runner-Up in category

Ages 12-17:
$50 Cash for First Place in category
$25 Cash for Runner-Up in category

Each winner will also receive free admittance to the Baltimore Comic-Con in 2027!

**Times are subject to change. Please check baltimorecomiccon.com for updated information.

The SPX 2026 Exhibitor List is Live!

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The Small Press Expo has revealed the list of over 500 (!!!) incredible exhibitors who will be tabling at SPX 2026! You can see everyone that’s exhibiting at the event and start planning.

SPX 2026 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. The convention takes place at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Rockville, Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC.

Small Press Expo (SPX) is the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels, and alternative political cartoons. SPX is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit that brings together more than 450 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers, and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini comics, and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. The expo includes a series of panel discussions and interviews with this year’s guests.

The Ignatz Award is a festival prize held every year at SPX recognizing outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning, with the winners chosen by attendees at the show.

The Amazing Digital Circus’ Gangle and Caine Come to Baltimore Comic-Con 2026

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The Baltimore Comic-Con will be at the Inner Harbor’s Baltimore Convention Center on September 25-27, 2026. Baltimore Comic-Con has announced the addition of voice talents Marissa Lenti and Alex Rochon as guests of the 2026 event! Get your tickets to the show and to meet Marissa and Alex!

Marissa Lenti, best known as the voice of Gangle (The Amazing Digital Circus), is a voice actor who you can hear in anime roles like Cocotte (Dragon Ball Super), Libra (Fairy Tail), Yuna (Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear), Arue (Konosuba), Gray Wolf (Kemono Friends), Momoko Hyakushiki & Kuu (NANBAKA), Chiaki Hoshinomori (Gamers!), Mistress Sadie (One Piece), Ilse Langnar (Attack on Titan), Yuzu Roromori (The Ones Within), Alicia Florence (Aria the Animation), Sister Jill (Cutie Honey), Kohaku (In Another World With My Smartphone), and Atusko Yoshida (Keijo!!!!!!!!), among others!

Alex Rochon is a Toronto-based voice actor, born and raised there since 1993.

A goofball known for his boisterous characters, before being cast as the wacky AI Caine in The Amazing Digital Circus, Alex acted in various fan projects, fan dubs, and YouTube videos for his own channel and others.

He also once voiced not one, but two talking pieces of poop in a series of toilet safety ads for the City of Hamilton… and he couldn’t be prouder.

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

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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

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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 Claremont. Get 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 Wolverine, The 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 Flight, Grounded!, Sundowner, the fantasy series Shadow Moon, Shadow 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

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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

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Hasbro, ADK 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

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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

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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.

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