The White Plains Comic Fest returns @ the Galleria Mall, Saturday May 12, 2018.
Comic Historian, Arlen Schumer, returns to TWPCF to present
Jack Kirby's Black Panther.
ARLEN SCHUMER is an award-winning comic book-style illustrator for the advertising and editorial markets, a member of The Society of Illustrators and a recognized expert on American popular culture—ABC-TV's 2020 called him “one of the countryʼs preeminent authorities on comics and culture," and Comic Book Artist magazine said he was "one of the more articulate and enthusiastic advocates of comic book art in America”; his comic book art history book The Silver Age of Comic Book Art (Archway Publishing) won the Independent Book Publishers Award for Best Popular Culture Book. His other books are Visions from The Twilight Zone and The Neal Adams Sketchbook. www.arlenschumer.com
ADDITIONAL SPECIAL GUESTS
Other guest include:
Jerry Craft- "Mama's Boyz" creator
Jerry Craft has illustrated and/or written more than a dozen children’s books. His newest is a middle grade novel co-written with his two teenage sons, Jaylen & Aren Craft called: “The Offenders: Saving the World While Serving Detention!” — an action / adventure story designed to teach kids about the negative effects of bullying. It’s the story of 5 school bullies who get superpowers, but instead of turning into cool heroes, they take on the characteristics of the kids they pick on. Jerry is also the creator of Mama’s Boyz, an award-winning comic strip that was syndicated by King Features for more than 15 years. His work has appeared in national publications such as Essence Magazine, Ebony, and two Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Jerry has won five African American Literary Awards. He recently illustrated his first book for Scholastic called “The Zero Degree Zombie Zone,” written by Patrik Henry Bass. Check his website for newest releases and author / bullying workshops.
Paris Cullins- Artist
DC/ Marvel
Paris Cullins is co-creator of the DC character, Blue Devil along with Dan Mishkin, Gary Cohn and Peter Kupperburg. Paris has also drawn for DC's Mystic Murder, Secrets of Haunted House #42 (1981). House of Mystery, Ghosts, The Unexpected and Weird War Tales, Tales of the Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern #154 (1982), Justice League of America #212 (1983),The Daring New Adventures of Supergirl #7, Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe, Blue Beetle (1986 -1987), Jack Kirby's The Forever People and a revival of Kirby's The New Gods. (1989-1990). Cullins broke into Marvel Comics penciling two six-page High Evolutionary backup stories, one each in the 1988 X-Factor Annual #3 and Silver Surfer Annual #1. His other works include Penthouse Comics, Marvels Razor line, and Crusade Comics.
J.M Desantis- COMIC ARTIST
J. M. DeSantis is a writer and illustrator known for his work in the genres of fantasy, horror and humour. He is the author of a number of short stories, comic scripts and articles, and his art has graced the pages of various books, comics and magazines. He is also the creator of the Ancient Indian-inspired, fantasy heroine, Chadhiyana published by Rosarium Publishing.
Ray Felix-BRONX HEROES PUBLISHER
Ray Felix, is a Bronx native born in 1973, His comics include, "Bronx Heroes", "Bronx Heroes 2.0: Black Power, Enter: The Roach, Heavy Traffic", "Runaway Slave" , "Mawa: Keeper of the Ankh", "The Adventures of Baron Ambrosia", "World War Heroes" and "A World Without Superheroes". Ray Felix is also the Executive Director of the community based organization, Bronx Heroes Comic Con, which promotes literacy and education through the practice of reading and creating comics. Ray Felix is the winner of numerous awards and grants such a "BRIO- (Bronx Recognizes Its Own), 2002, CAG Award- (Community Arts Grant) 2011-2016, and NYSCA (New York State Council on the Arts) in 2011-2016.
BARON AMBROSIA aka JUSTIN FORNAL
Baron Ambrosia is the alter ego of Bronx-based underground filmmaker Justin Fornal. The character is a self-proclaimed "quaffer of culinary consciousness" and travels around New York City, mostly in The Bronx, documenting various ethnic cultures and their indigenous cuisines, represented typically by the small food establishments (including restaurants, food trucks, street vendors, andgrocery stores) he visits. Baron Ambrosia appeared in Fornal's self-produced video podcast Underbelly NYC, the public-access television cable TV channel BronxNet's Bronx Flavor, and "The Culinary Adventures of Baron Ambrosia" on the Cooking Channel. In 2012, Fornal won a New York Emmy (best on-camera talent: performer/narrator) for his portrayal of Baron Ambrosia
Alitha E. Martinez- Comics Queen
Alitha is a diverse comic artist and inker who has worked on a variety of comic book titles which range from selected issues of "Dc's new 52- Batgirl", Marvel's Iron Man ,Thor, Graphic Illustrators "My Boyfriend is a Monster" series and Archie Comics, "The Crusaders" , "Twisted Journey's" # 12 , "Black Panther: World of Waakanda" and " Kung Fu Masters". Alitha also illustrates and writes her own self published Manga series, "Yume and Ever" and"Foreigner". Alitha is also a professor at SVA teaching foundation anatomy.
N. Steven Harris- COMIC GURU
N.Steven Harris -In addition to creating and illustrating Brotherhood of The Fringe, and co- creating Ajala: A Series of Adventures, along with Robert Garrett, N. Steven Harris has had a career spanning 20 years in the comic book industry. His highlights include Aztek: The Ultimate Man, a character which he co-created along with Grant Morrison and Mark Millar, Batman: Officer Down, (DC Comics), X-Force101, Deadpool Annual „98(Marvel), "The Crush (Motown, Image Comics), L.A. Banks of “The Vampire Huntress Legends”, "Voltron" ( Dynamite) and is an Eisner nominee for Comixology hit, "Watson and Holmes".
David Quinn-Comic Writer
David Quinn is author of The Faust. He has also written for Razor, Lady Death, Purgatory, Ascension, Ghost Rider: Midnight Sons, Disney's Gargoyles, Doctor Strange, Carnage, Exiles, Nightman, and Gambit.
Quinn's main graphic novel Faust (with co-creator Tim Vigil) was adapted by Brian Yuzna as the 2001 movie Faust: Love of the Damned. The followup Faust: Book of M, was nominated for the 1999 Bram Stoker Award for Best Illustrated Narrative. His most recent project is the Littlest Bitch: A -not for children, children's book.
Quinn's main graphic novel Faust (with co-creator Tim Vigil) was adapted by Brian Yuzna as the 2001 movie Faust: Love of the Damned. The followup Faust: Book of M, was nominated for the 1999 Bram Stoker Award for Best Illustrated Narrative. His most recent project is the Littlest Bitch: A -not for children, children's book.
Jim Salicrup- Writer/ Editor in Chief
Jim Salicrup is an American comic book editor, known for his work with Marvel Comics and Topps Comics. At Marvel, he edited books such as The Uncanny X-Men, Fantastic Four, Avengers and various Spider-Man titles. At Topps, he edited books such as Bram Stoker's Dracula, X-Files and Zorro. Salicrup began his career at Marvel, where he worked for twenty years. In 1987, he became editor of The Amazing Spider-Man. Salicrup was the editor of Marvel Age magazine for eight years. He also wrote Transformers, Sledge Hammer, The A-Team, the Marvel Toilet Paper, Spidey Super Stories, and the child abuse prevention issue of Spider-Man. In 1992, Salicrup became the editor-in-chief of Topps Comics. He is now the editor-in-chief at Papercutz, publishers of Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Tales From The Crypt, Totally Spies!, and Zorro graphic novels. He is also a trustee at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art.
Regine Sawyer - Writer/ Publisher
Regine Sawyer is the founder of Lockett Down Productions. Lockett Down Publications is a multi-media company specializing in Comic Books and promotional apparel since December 2007. LDP pub has several properties in production: “The Rippers”, its signature series, “Ice Witch”, “Death Mask” and “Chimera”.
Benjamin Melendez is a real life Bronx Hero. The legendary founder of the Ghetto Brothers initiated the 1971 gang truce that led to the creation of hip hop in the South Bronx. His life is now turned into a graphic novel. In conversation with the author Julian Voloj, Melendez discusses growing up in the South Bronx, the events that led to the gang truce, and how it feels to be now in a graphic novel with art by Claudia Ahlering.