Hey there, comrades!
Will you be one of the tens of thousands attending Salt Lake Comic Con next week? Me too!
Got your panels mapped out? Autographs? Photo ops? Booth budget?
If you’re like me, you’re counting the days for our second annual, record-breaking celebration of a dedicated and thriving community. We have an exciting line-up this year and, much to my delight, an emphasis on the whole reason why the con exists: comic books! (Crazy, I know). With over 200 guests scheduled and double the available floor space at the Salt Palace, navigating through the masses can be arduous and result in being trampled in a stampede. Fortunately you’ve come to the right place and I’m honored to assist in your Con experience!
The film and television industries have done some great things for funnybooks over the past decade. From Dark Horse’s Hellboy to Marvel’s brilliant work establishing a shared media universe with plans to release films through 2028 and the behemoth that has become The Walking Dead, comics sales have definitely received a boost. Paying heed the “comics” aspect of the con, I’d like to highlight some of our prominent comic book artists, whether through their legendary contributions to the medium or through proximity to this place we call home.
With that said, let’s jump in!
Neal Adams
Neal Adams is nothing short of a legend in this industry. Born in New York City, 1941, Adams began his career shortly after high school, writing, illustrating, inking, and lettering for Archie’s Joke Book Magazine. He went on to work with Ben Casey, Batman, Superman, Green Lantern and so much more. He and Dennis O’Neil are responsible for the shift of tone in Batman comics, making a departure from the shtick of the 1966-68 ABC television series. A pioneer in creator rights in the 1970’s, Neal Adams created the Comics Creators Guild in 1978 and helped Jerry Seigel and Joe Shuster receive recompense for their work in (and creation of) Superman.
In 1998 he was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame as well as the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1999.
Why you should care:
- X-Men (1969-70)
- Batman (1970-74)
- Alongside Dennis O’Neil, created the villain Ra’s al Ghul (Batman #232, June 1971)
- Green Lantern/Green Arrow (1970-72)
Where you can find him:
Black Cat Comics:
Wednesday, September 3rd — 5-8pm
Salt Lake Comic Con:
Artist Alley: Red 21/22 — All three days
Elizabeth Breitweiser
Elizabeth Breitweiser is a comic book artist and colorist with an impressive resume, having worked with Marvel for years, coloring the pages of Captain America, Hulk, and Winter Soldier. “Bettie” has lent her palette to titles such as Velvet and Fatale for Image Comics as well as the new Robert Kirkman series, Outcast. She and her husband Mitch Breitweiser run Breitweiserhaus.com, a creative development company that offers a range of brand image marketability and sequential art partnerships.
Why you should care:
- Velvet (2013-ongoing)
- Fatale (2012-2014)
- Outcast (2014-ongoing)
Where you can find her:
Artist Alley: Purple 39/40
Panel: – Comics School 101: Breaking In and Staying In
Saturday – 6:00pm Room 150D
Jim Cheung
Jim Cheung is one of Marvel’s leading artists, his first entry being Force Works #15 (September 1995). Eventually Cheung started penciling for X-Force, his run spanning from #82-98 (1998-99). He has lent his skill to Marvel’s Uncanny X-Men, Young Avengers, Cable, Iron Man, Elektra: The Hand and more.
Why you should care:
- X-Force
- New Avengers: Illuminati
- Scion
Where you can find him:
Artist Alley: Yellow 6
Chad Hardin
After growing up in Las Vegas, NV, Chad moved to Cedar City, UT, earning a Bachelor’s in Art. He broke into the scene with his work in Bloodrayne #1 and Bloodrayne: Primal Cuts #1. Chad has also worked with Stan Lee and Mark Waid on The Traveller, published out of Boom! Studios. In March 2014, he began illustrating DC Comics’ Harley Quinn.
Why you should care:
- Harley Quinn
- Dragon Age: The Silent Grove
- Utah comic artist
Where you can find him:
Panel: DC Comics: The Best & Worst in the New 52
Thursday, September 4th: 8pm — Room 151G
Tyler Kirkham
Tyler Kirkham was born in Utah in 1982. He started drawing at a young age and after moving to LA, he landed a job as an artist for Top Cow studios where his art caught the attention of Marc Silvestri. In 2010, he began working on Green Lantern Corps. When DC launched The New 52 in 2011, Kirkham joined the Green Lantern: New Guardians series. Tyler has contributed to comic works such as Tomb Raider, The Darkness, Ultimate Fantastic 4, Teen Titans, and more.
Why you should care:
- Green Lantern Corps
- Tomb Raider
- Screwed miniseries
- Utah comic artist
Where you can find him:
Artist Alley: Yellow 25/26
Ryan Ottley
Another of our own here in the Beehive State. Ryan Ottley got his start after his job as a warehouse worker didn’t pan out. Seeing this as an opportunity rather than a setback, Ryan built a name for himself primarily through digitalwebbing.com and penciljack.com. It was through the latter that Ottley caught the eye of Robert Kirkman and so a star was born; Ottley became the penciller for Invincible and the rest is comics. Ottley is also part of the initial creative team responsible for Haunt published through Image Comics.
Why you should care:
- Invincible (2003-ongoing)
- Haunt (2009-10)
- Utah comic artist
Where you can find him:
Artist Alley: Black 11
Whilce Portacio
If you don’t know who Whilce Portacio is, you know nothing of comics. Arguably his greatest achievement is the creation of Image Comics (alongside Jim Lee, Marc Silvestri, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Erik Larsen, and Jim Valentino….and almost Chris Claremont). Together with Jim Lee and John Byrne, Whilce helped Bishop burst into the Marvel universe with Uncanny X-Men #282. Whilce eventually left Marvel and helped found Image Comics as well as a new creator-owned series, Wetworks under the WildStorm publication banner. In 2008, Todd McFarlane announced his return to Spawn with the illustrative wizardry of Whilce which ran for ten issues.
Why you should care:
- Co-founder of Image Comics
- X-Men (1990-92; 2010)
- Co-creator of Bishop, temporary member of the X-Men.
- Wetworks (1994-96)
- The Punisher (1988-89)
Where you can find him:
Artist Alley: Yellow 4
Panel: Masters of Comic Books
Saturday, September 6th: 3pm Room — 151G
Chris Bodily (aka “Hatrobot”)
Hatrobot is an artist & illustrater based (hurray!) out of Salt Lake City, UT. As far as his contributions to comics, Chris Bodily illustrated a short story called “Hellskate”, a violent adventure in the roller derby underbelly. His art has a haunting and acidic cuteness to it; something torn from the picture book nightmares of a care-bear. He’s been on the scene since at least 2006 and making quite a name for himself, with contributions to SLUG Magazine covers and concert posters. Stop by his booth and check out his prints.
Where you can find him:
Booths 119 & 121
Panels:
“Laying Out a Comics Page”
Friday, September 5th: 12pm — Room 150D
“I Learned to Read Because of Comics”
Friday, September 5th: 2pm — Room 150D
“Saturday Morning Cartoons”
Saturday, September 6th: 11am — Room 251A
“Artist’s Tools”
Saturday, September 6th: 5pm — Room 150G
I’d like to make a quick plug to local artists Dustin Foran and Cait Fahrenkamp. You can see some of their work at their respective websites:
– dustbot3000.deviantart.com
– penguinflightstudio.net
Check them out at Artist Alley: White 6 during the con!
Well guys, I hope this provides an introduction of what awaits you this week! Hope to see you ’round the booths!