Jonnie Allan
http://www.akacomics.com
 A
self taught artist and devout Christian, Jonnie Allan is the
creator/writer/artist/publisher behind the laugh out loud, all-ages
creation The Miscellaneous Adventures of STYKMAN™. Having
begun his “career” in comics in the mid 1990’s
working on several independent titles, Jonnie experienced numerous
disappointing attempts to see his work published by other companies,
Because of this, Jonnie decided to take things into his own hands
and venture in to realm of self-publishing for The Miscellaneous
Adventures of STYKMAN™; a title that was received with
much fanfare and critical acclaim, as well as being named one
of the top Independent comics of 2007 by WIZARD Magazine.
Marketing his comic directly to retailers and
fans through an aggressive “grass roots” approach,
Jonnie was able to catch the eye of such prominent players as
the aforementioned WIZARD Magazine, Comic Buyers Guide, silverbulletcomicnooks.com,
Golden House Entertainment and most importantly Diamond Comic
Distributors, Inc. It is for this reason that Jonnie is often
asked to help instruct aspiring comic creators in the ways of
comic creation, self-publishing and marketing.
In August of 2007 Jonnie was tapped by WIZARD Magazine
to kick off a new monthly column series by Independent professionals
covering topics from Marketing, Branding, Perfecting the pitch,
and comic creation.
Jonnie Allan resides in Tucson, AZ with his wife
Dawn and their son TJ.
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Mathew Atherton (a.k.a FEEDBACK)
 A
fan of Spider-Man since the age of five, Matthew Atherton realized
his dream last summer when he got the opportunity to participate
in the SciFi Channel's new reality TV show, "Who Wants To
Be a Superhero?" In 1997, Matthew was chosen to be an official
Marvel Spider-Man and couldn't believe that he had actually grown
up to become his hero. But fate had more in store for Matthew.
9 years later, the creator of Spider-Man, Stan Lee, chose to bestow "immortality" on
Matthew by making him his next great superhero: Feedback, and Matthew
emerged as the winner of the first season of "Who Wants To
Be a Superhero?" As Feedback, Matthew uses his "powers" for
good, and raises money for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
and the "Make-A-Wish" Foundation. To date, Matthew has
raised over $7,000 for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (www.rfbd.org),
and over $11,000 for "Make-A-Wish" (www.wish.org),
just through donations made by the true heroes that come to see
him at comic-book conventions!
Issue #1 of "Who Wants To Be a Superhero?" (the main
prize for winning the show, published by Dark Horse Comics and
written by Stan Lee) has sold out in comic book stores across
the United States, and plans are underway for a second issue
to give fans more Feedback! Matthew also appeared as Feedback
in the Sci Fi Saturday Night Original Movie, "Mega Snake",
and will have a Feedback action figure released by Shocker Toys
in the early part of 2008!
In his secret identity, Matthew lives in Rancho Cucamonga, California,
with his wife, Sarah, where he maintains his secret identity
and makes a living as a software engineer.
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The 501st
http://70thexplorers.com/
 The
70th Explorers Garrison consists of costumed members from the areas
of Kansas and Missouri and our mission is to help our local communities
through fundraising, charity and promotional events. We pride ourselves
on relationships with notable beneficiaries such as Toys for Tots,
Make-A-Wish Foundation, Boys and Girls Club, Dream Factory and
other notable organizations. Since we are an all volunteer organization
and make appearances at charity based events, we do not charge
a fee for our appearances. The 70th Explorers Garrison is committed
to helping our local communities through fundraising, charity and
promotional events.
The 501st 70th Explorers is promising to make this year's show
their largest turnout in the sate of Missouri. You don;t want to
miss this one!!!
You can view photos of last year's show HERE! |
Bill Blair
www.alienactor.com
 Bill
Blair was born and raised in Kent, Ohio where he attended Kent
State University graduating in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science
degree in speech-telecommunications. After several years performing
as a professional musician, Bill shifted his career in entertainment
toward modeling, and this led to acting. Bill studied at John Robert
Powers in Chicago and became an instructor there for the next two
years while pursuing his new career leading to a very eclectic
and fascinating filmography including such hits as Star Trek: Voyager,
Enterprise, The X-Files, The Invisible Man, Drew Carey, Family
Law, The District, Crossing Jordan, Providence, and more recently,
King of Queens, Will and Grace, "Yes, Dear!",
Friends, and now as a regular on "The
Division" and the new HBO Series "Carnivale" premiering
in the fall of 2003. You can also 'spot' Bill in the theater in
the films "Alex and Emma" this summer, and this coming
Christmas on TV in the TV movie " Secret Santa".
For more information visit Bill's website. |
Cullen Bunn
www.cullenbunn.com
 Cullen Bunn was born in the bleachers of Newton Grove High School
during an all so crucial Russian Chain match between Chief Wahoo
McDaniel and Ivan Koloff, the Russian Nightmare. Just as Ivan was
about to put “The Claw” on Wahoo, Cullen’s mother
screamed out, “Take this Ruskkie!” and hurled the infant
at the ring, striking Ivan’s bald head, then whipping the
baby back by the umbilical cord. Stunned, Ivan was unable to recover
before the count of three. The cheers of the crowd form Cullen’s
earliest memory.
All right. Maybe not. But it is a lovely dream …
Cullen grew up in (relatively) rural North Carolina, but now lives
in the St. Louis area. His fiction and non-fiction have appeared
in a number of magazines and anthologies. Somewhere along the way,
he founded Undaunted Press and edited the small press horror magazine,
Whispers from the Shattered Forum. He also managed to win the infamous
World Horror Convention Gross-Out Contest three times–an
honor for which he is proud, appreciative, and–at least a
little–ashamed.
The first issue of Cullen’s horror noir comic book, The
Damned, was released by Oni Press in 2006.
He’s always looking for a re-match with Ivan, should the
opportunity arrive. Bring it, Russkie! |
Rich Burchett
 Rick
has worked on many titles during his years in the industry. An
Eisner award-winning artist, he is now best known for his work
on the various titles based on the animated adventures of Batman,
including Batman Adventures, Batman & Robin Adventures, Batman:
Gotham Adventures and Batman: Beyond.
He has also worked on Pulp
Fantastic and the Batman/Huntress miniseries. Some of his most
recent work was on the crime-noir book Gravedigger: the Scavengers.
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Gary Friedrich
 Gary
Friedrich, creator of The Ghost Rider and longtime comic book writer/editor,
authored numerous scripts published by Marvel Comics in the sixties
and seventies, including many issues of SGT. FURY AND HIS HOWLING
COMMANDOS. He also scripted various issues of such titles as THE
INCREDIBLE HULK, CAPTAIN AMERICA, IRON MAN, BLACK WIDOW, NICK FURY
AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. and even MILLIE THE MODEL.
He was born and educated in nearby Jackson, Missouri where he read comics and
worked in the local movie theatre with fellow con guest/Marvel editor and writer
as well as longtime friend Roy Thomas.
In addition to his work for Marvel, Gary had scripts published by Skywald Publications,
Atlas/Seaboard Comics, and Topps Comics. He began his comics career writing BLUE
BEETLE for Charlton Comics with artist Steve Ditko under editor Dick Giordano.
He is currently working on new writing projects and does frequent personal appearances
and promotions through his company Gary Friedrich Enterprises LLC.
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Brian Hurtt
http://www.thebighurtt.com
 Brian
Hurtt is a comic artist currently residing in St. Louis, Missouri
(home of the toasted ravioli). He has been working full-time in
the comic industry since 2002 with his debut in Oni Press' Queen & Country
through his run on Steve Gerber's critically acclaimed Hard Time
from DC Comics. He's currently working with writer Cullen Bunn
on their creator-owned series, The Damned, from Oni Press. For
more information, go to http://www.thebighurtt.com/
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Tony Moran
 Tony Moran – “THE FACE OF MICHAEL MYERS”- Tony
is most recognized for his role as the original 'Michael Myers'
in "Halloween" and "Halloween II". It is his
face that is revealed during the unmasking in the finale of the
first movie. He was only 21 and 23 at the time he played the character.
The only adult actor to be recognized as "Michael Myers" Tony
fills the role with pride and enjoys meeting his fan's. He also
made guest television appearances on "CHiPs" and "The
Walton’s" and many other shows. Tony will be appearing
in “BEG”, “LUCKY BREAK”, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”, “DO
YOU GOT A MINUTE” and 2 other new films in 2008. Tony love’s
his fan’s and is humbled by the support and encouragement
that they give him. It’s not everyday that an actor receives
a role that place’s him in the status of ICON. |
Roy Thomas
 Roy Thomas is a comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first
successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best
known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian
to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of
Robert E. Howard's character and helped launch a sword and sorcery
trend in comics. Thomas is also known for his championing of Golden
Age comic-book heroes — particularly the 1940s superhero
team the Justice Society of America — and for lengthy writing
stints on Marvel's X-Men and Avengers, and DC Comics' All-Star
Squadron, among other titles.
Mr. Thomas has written comics for Archie, Charlton, DC, Heroic
Publishing, Marvel, Topps over the years. Thomas currently edits
the fanzine Alter Ego
Mr. Thomas won the 1969 Alley Award for Best Writer. He later won
the 1971 Shazam Award for Best Writer (Dramatic Division), followed
by a 1973 Shazam for Best Individual Story ("Song of Red Sonja",
with artist Barry Smith, in Conan the Barbarian #24), and a 1974
Shazam for Superior Achievement by an Individual. |
Lin Workman
www.bushitales.com
 SWM,
41, seeks fame and fortune by drawing funny! Lin was an artist
and screen printer in the t-shirt industry for almost 20 years,
and is currently a graphic artist designing monuments for West
Memorials in Memphis, TN. Lin has done mural work for Pancho's,
McDonald's and Fitzgerald’s Casino, and his artwork has
also appeared in The Memphis Flyer, Commercial Appeal, Airbrush
Action Magazine, Amazing Figure Modeler, Stargodz (comic book
with Conquest Studios), on Rock103 (Wake Up Crew web comic) and
The Outdoor Channel's websites, the MSCA (MidSouth Cartoonists
Association) comics It Came From Beneath The Drawing Board and
Overdrawn and Underwritten, and in author Christa Michael's first
book- Ramblings With Redde: Why Does My Life Seem Like A Bad "B" Flick?.
Lin has won two M.A.R.S. (Memphis Area Radio Stations) awards
for writing radio commercials. He was named the Memphis Ronald
McDonald House's Special Events Volunteer of the Year in 2001,
and again with RMH 'A-Team' co-horts Patrick French and Todd
Patton in 2002. Lin was the President of the MSCA (or ElPrez)
for over four years, but is feeling much better now as their
VP. He is 1/3 of Pencil Neck Studios with partners David Beaty
and Micah Stewart, and are all currently working on the comic
book series Bushi Tales.
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More to come... |
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