Special Guests

Frank Miller began his career in comics in the late 1970s, first gaining notoriety as the artist and later writer of Daredevil for Marvel. Next came the science fiction samurai drama Ronin, followed by the groundbreaking Batman: The Dark Knight and Batman: Year One. Next he fulfilled a lifelong dream by doing an all-out crime series for Dark Horse: Sin City, an instant success that spawned two blockbuster films, which he co-directed with Robert Rodriguez. His multi-award-winning graphic novel 300 was adapted into a highly successful film by Zack Snyder. Recently, Miller, alongside Dan DiDio (former Publisher of DC Comics) and Silenn Thomas (CEO of Frank Miller Ink), launched Frank Miller Presents (FMP), an independent publishing company focused on creating and curating a line of comics that will capture his visual and visceral style of storytelling.

Writer Steve Niles is best known for 30 Days of Night, Criminal Macabre, October Faction, Simon Dark, Mystery Society, Frankenstein Alive Alive, Monster & Madman, Winnebago Graveyard, Batman: Gotham County Line, and recently A Town Called Terror. His work has been published by Dark Horse, DC, IDW, Image, Marvel, and Storm King. His comics series The October Faction was made into a Netflix show in 2020, while 30 Days of Night was released as a major motion picture in 2007. Other comics by Niles that have been optioned for film include Remains, Aleister Arcane, and Freaks of the Heartland.

Barbara Randall Kesel’s comics career started in the mid-1980s at DC Comics, where she went from freelance writer to editor before heading west. She joined Dark Horse Comics in the early ’90s as an editor before returning to the freelance life. An unexpected meeting at Comic-Con led to the challenge of helping to start up CrossGen Comics in Florida in 2000. A few freelancing years later, she’s now working for a tech startup (Urus Entertainment—watch for the comics app!) that's creating a new twist on comics.

For 50 years, Scott Shaw! has created underground comix (Fear and Laughter), mainstream comics (Captain Carrot, Sonic the Hedgehog, Simpsons Comics), children’s books (Marooned Lagoon) syndicated comic strips (Bugs Bunny), graphic novels (Annoying Orange), TV cartoons (Jim Henson’s Muppet Babies), advertising (Post Pebbles cereal), toys, trading cards, video games, packaging art and more. He's known for his Oddball Comics Live! show (the book is coming soon) and playing Quick Draw! with Mark Evanier and Sergio Aragonés. Scott was one of those who created San Diego Comic-Con.

Jeff Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of the award-winning series Bone, which is published in over 30 countries and is among Time magazine's Ten Best Graphic Novels of All Time. Bone was a pioneer in comics publishing for kids when it launched Scholastic’s graphic novel imprint Graphix Books in 2005. Smith’s other award-winning and acclaimed comics include SHAZAM! The Monster Society of Evil, RASL, Little Mouse Gets Ready!, ROSE and Bone: Tall Tales. Smith splits his time between Columbus and Key West with his wife and business partner, Vijaya Iyer, where he is working on his current project TUKI.