Malta’s Wicked Comics are clearly pulling out all the stops this year for their 2014 Malta Comic Con at the end of November, with a growing line-up of internationally renowned creators now announced. Here’s a run down of the most recently-revealed guests, who will be joining Yishan Li, Rufus Dayglo and Andrew Wildman on the island…
“The Malta Comic Con is an amazing event,” said Sonia Leong of the event back in 2012. “It’s held in a spectacular setting, the crowd are so enthusiastic and friendly and engaging! There was a fabulous display of skill and creativity from foreign and local creators so lots for attendees to get their teeth into. I was incredibly well-looked after by the staff, who made such great effort to ensure that I had everything I needed and ensured I had a great time both at the convention itself and outside sight-seeing and sampling local cuisine! I can’t recommend it enough.”
Cliodhna
Clíodhna is an animator, illustrator, and occasional Comic Book Tourist, with a first name that few people outside of Ireland can pronounce or spell. Her parents named her after a lifeboat on the Aran Islands where she was born for which she feels slightly jibbed as boats are usually named after people not the other way round.
She studied animation at Ballyfermot College in Dublin and comics at the School of Visual Arts in New York. Her film credits include The Secret of Kells and The 99 Unbound and she has contributed to several comic book anthologies including War: The Human Cost, Ink+paper and The Whores of Mensa as well as editing the charity anthology I’m sorry I can’t take your call right now but I’m off saving the world.
• More info: http://maltacomic-con.com/guest/74 Official Web Site: www.ztoical.com
Mike Collins
Creating comics for over 25 years, starting on Spider-Man and Transformers for Marvel UK, Mike has worked for Marvel, DC, 2000AD and a whole host of other publishers. In that time he’s written or drawn pretty much all the major characters for each company – Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman, Flash, Teen Titans, X-Men (where he introduced Gambit to the Marvel Universe), Captain Britain, Judge Dredd, Slaine, Rogue Trooper, Darkstars, Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt and more. He currently draws a series of noir crime fiction graphic novels –Varg Veum – in Norse.
However he is best known as the penciller on the Panini Doctor Who Magazine comic strip and, since the TV show’s triumphant return, he had the longest uninterrupted run as artist on the strip, and pencilled the debut stories of each of the three new Doctors – Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant and Matt Smith. He still draws the flagship strip, alternating with Martin Geraghty. He illustrated two successful BBC original Doctor Who graphic novels, and has drawn for the US IDW Doctor Who comic book series.
He’s also the creator of the first ever Welsh language graphic novel Mabinogi, a companion piece for the Cartwyn Cymru animated film of the Celtic myths. His adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (script Sean Michael Wilson) for Classical Comics was cited as one of the top ten graphic novels of 2010 by The Sunday Times.
Mike is also committed to using comics as an educational tool, running workshops in schools and libraries throughout Wales and was heavily involved in the Read A Million Words In Wales initiative.
He also provides storyboards for TV and films, including Doctor Who, Warhammer 40K, Igam Ogam, Claude, Hana’s Helpline and Horrid Henry.
Outside of comics he has provided graphics and/or storyboards for clients as diverse as the Daily Telegraph, Coca-Cola, Hyundai, Lifebuoy and Colmans. He recently illustrated a music video for Agnetta and Gary Barlow.
“Mike Collins was amongst the guests of the inaugural Malta Comic Con, and his invaluable input has certainly helped us shape the show to the must attend event that it is today,” said Chris Le Galle co-founder of Wicked Comics. “We’ve been in touch with Mike ever since and we’re really happy that we’re finally in a position to welcome him back to our shores. We’re also glad to provide an opportunity to the local comic fans particularly those of Doctor Who to catch up with Mike.”
More info: http://maltacomic-con.com/guest/20 Official Web Site: www.freakhousegraphics.com
Shaky Kane
Shaky Kane emerged on the UK comic scene in the mid-1980′s, drawing for such publications as NME, Escape, Deadline, 2000AD, Judge Dredd the Megazine and Revolver. He is one of a group of artists who have grown out of late twentieth century pop culture influenced by Punk Rock, Comic Books, American Pop Culture and Late Night TV.
Often described as both hallucinatory and psychedelic, Kane’s work pushes at the limits of taste, dragging a scalpel down the veil of illusion making you see the world as it really is.
Shaky came to comics via the work of artist such as Ed ‘Big Daddy’ Roth, Savage Pencil, Jack Kirby, Brett Ewins and Brendan McCarthy. He was influenced from a young age by the Punk Scene- Not just the music, but the distinctive flyer and poster art which advertised the shows.
His most recent work – The critically acclaimed The Bulletproof Coffin (Image Comics), a collaboration with UK based writer David Hine, has found the artist at the top of his game, and finally in full control of his artistic direction.
More info: http://maltacomic-con.com/guest/79 Official Web Site: www.shakykane.com
John-Paul Kamath
John-Paul Kamath is best known as the writer and publisher of London Horror Comic. Since appearing on the scene in 2006, London Horror Comic has become the UK’s most critically acclaimed horror anthology, culminating in it winning “Best Horror Anthology” in the Horror News Network awards. The book which is currently in its 8th year of publication has drawn praise from within and outside the field of comics for its mix of comedy and humour drawing kudos from the likes of Garth Ennis, Comedian Stewart Lee and The Horror Channel in the UK.
More info: http://maltacomic-con.com/guest/75 Official Web Site: www.londonhorrorcomic.com
Mickey Lam
Mickey is a London-based illustrator who also self publishes his own comics ranging from a school teacher who fights aliens to a banana and a strawberry who become best friends.
More info: http://maltacomic-con.com/guest/76 Official Web Site: http://illustratorlam.wix.com/illustratorlam
Guillermo Ortego
A Spanish creator currently residing in London, Guillermo first started inking comic books professionally after studying History at university. Also working as a freelance illustrator on the side, he rapidly moved into the US scene breaking into Marvel Comics alongside Paco Díaz Luque on titles such as Wolverine Vs. Thor, Dark Wolverine and Wolverine: Mr. X.
Then he moved to DC Comics with a Green Arrow and JLA 80 Page Giant and back to Marvel with Italian artist Emanuela Lupacchino on Peter David’s X-Factor and, after a successful year run on the book, on Brian M. Bendis and Kelly-Sue DeConnick’s Castle graphic novel, based on ABC’s acclaimed TV show. After its release in October 2012, they started working on the second story arc for Valiant Comics’ recently re-launched Archer & Armstrong to move onto Bloodshot and the H.A.R.D. Corps on the summer of 2013.
Apart from his monthly covers for Dynamite Comics with penciller Ardian Syaf, he’s recently collaborated on Marvel’s Infinity #6 and Original Sin #0 with Jim Cheung and DC’s Justice League Dark #25-#27, Nightwing #30, Batman Eternal #13 and Grayson #2 with fellow Spaniard Mikel Janín.
“There are a chosen few conventions out there that are something else,” says Guillermo of comic events, “something where money-making is left aside in order to champion human interaction, but still achieve the same level. No distinction between super-hot artists and retired old-glories, no distinction between superhero pencillers and small press manga artists. It’s all about the people. People talking comics, people reading comics, people making comics, people discussing comics as if they were deep philosophy.
“Avilés, in the north of Spain, was the first place where I experienced this, and Malta, was the second. And it’s these kind of shows, these kind of people, that make all the long working hours, the missed weekends and holidays and the angry girlfriends/boyfriends worth our while.”
More info: http://maltacomic-con.com/guest/44 Official Web Site: http://willortego.com
Steve Scott
In his over 18 year career, US creator Steve Scott has illustrated titles such as Batman, X-Men Forever, JLA, Marvel Adventures, Hulk and many more. His work has been published by DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Image, Dark Horse, London Knight Studios, Malibu Comics and several independent publishers.
Steve has also worked in TV, Film, and most recently in video games. His work for television was aired in episodes of the popular TV series Smallville and ABC Family’s Kyle XY. In films, Steve illustrated the only adaptation of the 2008 Oscar winning film Batman: The Dark Knight and his work was overseen and approved by director Christopher Nolan. This artwork was part of the packaging offered with the Special Blue Ray edition of Batman Begins. In the same year, George Lucas approved Steve to be the artist for Indiana Jones and the Tomb of the Gods. This series, written by Rob Williams, was very popular with Indiana Jones fans and the majority of the art from the series was purchased by Mr. Lucas himself and is now part of his permanent collection.
Steve has also provided graphics for Cognito Comics for their revolutionary interactive graphic novel Operation Ajax and in video games he is currently providing work for The Bane of Yoto from Leviathan Games.
His most recent work can be found in the upcoming adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s, The Graveyard Book. Steve was handpicked to be one of the few illustrators involved with this project. Additionally, he has been doing art chores on the IDW series Judge Dredd.
More info: http://maltacomic-con.com/guest/78/steve-scott Official Web Site: http://stevescott.deviantart.com
Dave Taylor
Touring rock drummer turned comic book creator Dave Taylor has worked on many mainstream books with many highly respected writers including Batman with Matt Wagner, Alan Grant, Karl Kesel and Chip Kidd, Judge Dredd with John Wagner, Alan Grant, Robbie Morrison and Ian Edginton, Arzak with Jean Moebius Giraud and Prophet with Brandon Graham.
His Batman: Death by Design, with Chip Kidd, is a New York Times best seller…twice! Taylor has also contributed design work for computer games, TV and Film.
He is currently working on the first Doctor Who comic book from Titan Comics to feature the new Doctor, Pater Capaldi, written by Robbie Morrison.
More info: http://maltacomic-con.com/guest/80 Official Web Site: http://d-taylor-comics-music-ford-mustangs.blogspot.com
Christian Ward
Christian Ward is a London-based illustrator, comic artist and writer.
Alongside being the main cover artist on Dynamite’s Dr Spektor with Mark Waid, he’s also a regular cover artist at Marvel. Past comic book projects include Image Comics’ best seller The Infinite Vacation with Nick Spencer and Olympus with Nathan Edmondson. He’s also worked with Matt Fraction on ‘The Time Ben Fell In Love’ a DHP Short and Kieron Gillen on Young Avengers. This April he was featured as part of the Guardian and British Library’s Comic Unmasked project, collaborating on a new comic with Margaret Atwood.
This November sees the release of ODY-C – a new Image ongoing with Matt Fraction.
More info: http://maltacomic-con.com/guest/82 Official Web Site: www.cjwardart.com
“Both Dave Taylor and Christian Ward have been heavily recommended to us by previous Malta Comic Con guests and we’re glad that we finally found the opportunity to welcome them to our show, says Chris Le Galle. “We have no doubt that the combination of talent and pleasant personality that both these creators posses will have a positive impact on this year’s event.
“Similarly, John-Paul Kamath has been recommended to us by one of this year’s guests and considering how much the public enjoyed the presence of T-Pub and their flagship anthology Twisted Dark last year we are certain that London Comic Horror would leave its mark in Malta.
“The presence of Taylor, Ward and Kamath as well as that of the other guests has us all enthusiastically looking forward to the Malta Comic Con 2014 and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their participation and look forward to hosting them here.”
As customary, Wicked Comics have designed a number of packages for fans wishing to travel to the Malta Comic Con from abroad, which include heavily discounted accommodation rates and local transport from hotel to convention centre. Similarly Wicked Comics have a number of packages tailored for foreign creators who wish to exhibit at the Malta Comic Con including heavily discounted tables.
• Malta Comic Con (MCC) 2014 will be held on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th November at St. James Cavalier (all floors), Valletta, between 10am – 6pm on Saturday and 11am – 7pm on Sunday.
Travel Packages Information:
For Fans: www.maltacomic-con.com/post/525/travelling-and-accommodation-packages-for-fans-m
For Creators: www.maltacomic-con.com/post/526/travelling-and-accommodation-packages-for-creators
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
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