Ever wonder what it’s like to go to school to learn how to be a comic book artist? Or being taught by comic book master Joe Kubert? These creators have all gone to the Kubert School and lived to tell the tale! Hear the stories straight from the X-Kubies through the years! Moderated by John Trumbull from the Atomic Junk Shop and Back Issue magazine (Kubert School Class of ’97).

Radi Lewis, Indie Comic publisher who developed a Fighting Game similar to Marvel Vs Capcom but starring Indie Comicbook Characters presents an in-depth look at what it takes to be a video game developer in today’s industry.

Once ubiquitous on newsstands and later comic shops, the funny animals of comics have practically disappeared from the sequential art form. With the popularity of Spider-Ham in the Spider-Verse animated movie, are funny animals on their way back from obscurity? Join the discussion with Steve Mellor, one of the original Spider-Han artists, Larry Hama, creator of Bucky O’Hare, Ren and Stimp Show co-creator Bob Camp, and Rat Bastard creator Cliff Galbraith.

Allison Kolarik interviews Ross Mullan regarding his roles on Dr. Who classics and life on the set of HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones.

Danny Fingeroth, author of the upcoming biography, A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee (coming this fall from St. Martin’s Press), talks all things Stan with Denis Kitchen, Denny O’Neil, and Jim Salicrup who worked closely with The Man over his amazing career that spanned close to 80 years.

Mark Dodson (Salacious B. Crum), Gerald Home ( Squidhead), and Simon Williamson (Max Rebo) talk about their time on the sets of Star Wars, one of the highest-grossing, most beloved film franchises in history. Moderated by the 501st Legion.

Join acclaimed comics pros Carl Potts, JIm Scalicrup, Danny Fingeroth, and Ann Nocenti for loose panel discussion as they provide insight into what it takes to be successful writer in the comics biz. Look for them to weigh in on all aspects of the writer’s role in creating comics, and share anecdotes and advice gleaned from their years of experience behind the keyboard. Moderated by Rob Smentek.

Join legendary Cosplayers Chris Calfa (@princesschriscosplay) and Sofia Sivan (@SofiaSivan) for a panel on cosplay, empowerment, and a how-to Q&A on how to be your best cosplay self!

Cosplaying since 2014, Chris has been recognized in the cosplay community for his male interpretations of iconic female characters from Cinderella to Rapunzel, from Princess Leia to Britney Spears. Chris‘s work has been featured in Pop Insider, Vanity Fair, DailyMail, and has been on Cosplayers Getting Coffee twice!

Brandon Montclare (Rocket Girl, Moongirl and Devil Dinosaur) interviews Simon Bisley about his covers for Heavy Metal Metal Magazine, Vertigo Comics, his irreverent run on Lobo, and his years in the comic book industry.

For decades Ernie Bushmiller’s Nancy fired-up controversy: readers either loved it or…didn’t. The Eisner Award-winning, How To Read Nancy, from Fantagraphics has been called by The Comics Journal, “The best book ever written about comics. No question.” The book’s authors, Paul Karasik and Mark Newgarden will look at and chat about Nancy and the art of Ernie Bushmiller with cartoonists Kaz (Underworld, Spongebob Squarepants), Denis Kitchen (Kitchen Sink Press, Nancy Eats Food, How Sluggo Survives, etc.), and Carol Tyler (Fab 4 Mania, Soldier’s Heart, etc.).

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In 2018, Black Panther by Marvel Studios exploded on the scene, became a pop culture phenomenon and would gain many nominations and awards. The filmmakers would credit the work of the comic book creators, including Don McGregor, who not just penned the “Panther’s Rage” storyline, but also co-created Black Panther’s antagonist, Killmonger. Hosted by Peter Melnick of The Marvelists, Don will reflect on the creation of his iconic run on Jungle Action and the impact the story had on the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Artist Drew Friedman discusses four decades of drawing old Jews, comics, sideshow freaks, and Donald Trump, in a visual talk moderated by author, editor, and historian Danny Fingeroth. Friedman was instructed at the School of Visual Arts by comics legends Harvey Kurtzman, Will Eisner, and Art Spiegelman, and his comics first appeared in Spiegelman’s RAW and in R. Crumb’s Weirdo. Friedman would go on to create monthly work for Heavy Metal, National Lampoon, and SPY, where he would first render a relatively still unknown short-fingered New York real estate developer. He created concept art for TOPPS, including the legendary BARFO candy, and has produced regular illustration work for TIME, MAD, BLAB!, The New York Observer and The New Yorker, among others. Drew Friedman will discuss the highs and the lows of an award-winning career as a comics artist. Drew Friedman’s comics and illustrations have appeared in countless publications over the last 40 years, many of which no longer exist. His work has been collected in six anthologies, the most recent being Drew Friedman’s Chosen People (Fantagraphics). He also illustrated Howard Stern’s two best-selling books. Steven Heller writing in The New York Times wrote of his three-volume portraiture of Old Jewish Comedians: “A festival of drawing virtuosity and fabulous craggy faces. Friedman might well be the Vermeer of the Borscht Belt.”His two-volume Heroes of the Comics were recently published by Fantagraphics, and the second volume has been nominated for an Eisner Award.

Throughout his acclaimed career in comics, Howard Chaykin’s work has spanned a wide array of genres, consistently demonstrating that the medium transcends the idea of heroes in capes. In his most recent work, Hey Kids! Comics!, the cartoonist takes a look at a subject that he knows well: The comics industry. Told through eyes of three golden-age creators, the mini-series chronicles the entire history of the comics industry, warts and all. We’ll talk with Chaykin about this ambitious series, and get his insight on the past and future of the comics biz. *Recommended for mature audiences. Moderated by Rob Smentek.

Andrew Ayden, author of the Eisner-award-winning “March”, which carries the narrative of the American civil rights movement, and Peter Bagge, creator of “Woman Rebel: The Margaret Sanger Story”, sit down for a discussion moderated by John B. Cooke regarding the role comics and art takes when decoding history.

Denis Kitchen discusses the life and groundbreaking artwork of Will Eisner, one of the most prolific and influential artists in the history of the medium. There is almost no one who has ever worked in American comics that hasn’t felt the influence of Will Eisner.

Bob Camp: Co-creator of The Ren & Stimpy Show, Story board artist for Spongebob Squarepants TV show, and comic artist.

Kevin Altieri: Acclaimed director of Batman: The Animated Series

Kaz: Writer for Spongebob Squarepants.

Andrea Romano: Casting and Voice director of a multitude of Warner Brother’s cartoons including Tiny Toons, Batman: The Animated Series, Animaniacs, and many more.

JJ Seidelmaier: SNL’s Saturday TV Funhouse, Director of Beavis & Butthead Pilot and Harvey Birdman:Attorney at Law pilot

Icon PJ Soles discusses her career in the films she’s acted in such as Carrie, Halloween, Rock N’ Roll High School, House of 1000 Corpses, and Stripes.

David Yost, famously known for his portrayal of Billy Cranston, the blue power ranger in the hit 1993 TV series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, will be sitting down with Mike Noren of Making It! as they do panel followed by a Q&A with fans of the show

To commemorate the debut of The Book of Weirdo, Drew Friedman, Peter Bagge, Carol Tyler, Paul Karasik, Mark Newgarden, Kim Deitch, and author Jon B. Cooke (plus other guests) join moderator Karen Green for a discussion of their involvement in Robert Crumb’s seminal humor comics anthology, Weirdo magazine. Sorry, no laughing aloud.

Join Kevin Conroy (Batman) Loren Lester (Robin, Nightwing), John Glover (the Riddler), Diane Pershing (Poison Ivy) Andrea Romano (Voice Director) and Kevin Altieri (Animation Director) as they recall their days making the greatest cartoon show ever. Moderated by John Trumbull of Back Issue Magazine.

Legendary radio icon Dr. Demento, and “Covered in Punk” creator/producer John Cafiero (of the band Osaka Popstar), discuss their #1 Billboard charting comedy-punk hybrid album “Dr. Demento Covered in Punk”. The ‘demented’ duo will share behind the scenes anecdotes about the project and discuss their respective careers in novelty music and punk rock generally. Joined by Andy Merrill, the voice of Cartoon Network and Space Ghost’s “Brak”, (who covers Suicidal Tendencies classic “Institutionalized” on the album—in character), and visual artist Stephen Blickenstaff who created many of the off-beat illustrations in the elaborate album packaging. The aforementioned art includes a reimagining of his famous 1984 Cramps album cover, with the likeness of Captain Kirk himself beamed in to commemorate William Shatner’s mind-blowing performance on this ‘Demented Punk’ extravaganza, and the cover illustration for Osaka Popstar’s punk-pop rendering of the #1 most requested song of all time on the Dr. Demento Show, the Barnes & Barnes cult classic “Fish Heads”. The panel and Q&A will be followed by an album autograph signing. Additional surprise guests are TBD and may also appear!

Legendary comic creators Jim Starlin, George Perez, Ron Lim, and Joe Rubinstein discuss their roles in the creation of the most epic, popular storylines and characters in the Marvel and MCU catalogue, which inspired a multi-billion-dollar film franchise.

Co-creator of Iron-Man, Ant-Man, The Mighty Thor and penciler countless comics and newspaper comic strips in a conversation with author, editor, and historian Danny Fingeroth.

Sam Jones & Melody Anderson of the classic film Flash Gordon talk about their roles in this iconic American film.

Denis Kitchen, John B. Cooke, and Mark Schultz discuss the 50 year history of the legendary underground publisher, Kitchen Sink Press.