UTICON 2020 GUESTS
Join us for Uticon 2019 on Sunday, September 20 from 10 am - 4 pm at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica!
CONOR HUGHES
Conor Hughes is an artist living in Hopewell, NJ.
After working as a graphic arts assistant for the UN he has been freelancing since 2013 as a cartoonist and illustrator. Hughes is a winner of the 2016 Millarworld art contest and is currently working on the Fantasy Romance comic White Ash. |
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JOE ORSAK
Inspired at the age of eleven by the artwork of JOE SINNOTT in TREASURE CHEST and JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY, Joe Orsak launched a comic strip in the newspapers of Syracuse, NY in 1982 called THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN 'CUSE. The strip ran weekly for eight years.
Joe turned to sports comics in the 1990s, working on bios of MICKEY MANTLE, BROOKS ROBINSON and DUKE SNIDER for MAGNUM COMICS. These books gave Joe the chance to work with his inspiration… Orsak's pencils were inked by Joe Sinnott! In 2001 Orsak was picked by his friend ROGER STERN to pencil and ink a two-page tale for the 9-11 tribute book 9-11ARTISTS RESPOND for DARKHORSE. In 2008 he returned to comic strips with SALT CITY, another strip about his hometown, this time with a female superheroine, written by Douglas Brode. The comic strip drew the attention of people at MCFARLAND and Co., who asked Joe and Doug to launch their line of graphic novels. Joe and Doug created YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS the Myth of Emily Morgan and VIRGIN VAMPIRES for MCFARLAND Inc. Joe is now working with AHOY Comics doing spot illustrations and is involved with new comic book projects for STELLAR COMICS. More of Joe Orsak's artwork can be found at his website. |
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THE BRASS LANTERN PODCAST
Modernizing the format of old time radio dramas, The Brass Lantern, created and written by A.G. Devitt and produced by Matt Powers and the LiFT Theater Company, is available on Spreaker, Spotify, iTunes and more.
A.G. Devitt is a New York Times bestselling author and creator of the Brass Lantern Podcast (produced by LiFT Theater). He is also the vocal talent behind the show's protagonist, a pulp style vigilante with blinding light, blazing guns, nerves of steel, and a mask of brass. In addition to writing, consulting, and voice acting, Devitt is an award winning college professor and nascent curmudgeon. He has no pets. Matt Powers is the creator of LiFT Theater (Little Falls Theater) and professor at a local college where he teaches writing, Shakespeare, and British Literature. When he isn't directing, editing, or producing, he is spending time with his wife and twin boys, or working on his homebrew Dungeons and Dragons campaign. More information may be found at: https://www.facebook.com/thebeaconofjustice |
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JOHN CASTELLO
John Castello, AKA Chipmunk Jones, is a children's book author known for Speranza and The Adventures of Chipmunk Jones
A picture book with a comic book feel to it, The Adventures of Chipmunk Jones the book follows the antics of Richard "Chip" Jones, based on Castello's own childhood growing up in Utica, NY from 1974 to 1980. Speranza is the story about a fairy who was born without wings. Her name is Speranza, which means "hope" in Italian. Illustrated by syndicated comic strip artist Phil Juliano, the book shows how being a kid is very much an adventure in itself! |
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ANDREW CIESLINSKI
Andrew is the co-creator and artist of the Darby Pop Publishing graphic novel Lacey & Lily, the story of a middle schooler turned superhero and her dog,
He is also co-creator and illustrator for Dandy Press' Holidaze, about the after-hours lives of mythical icons when they’re off the clock and at their favorite watering hole. His artwork has graced the pages of The Mike Wieringo Tellos Tribute by Todd Dezago, Ink Puddle Press' The Devil and Mr. Gandhi, the Made in Utica 2018 Passport, as well as character designs for Mad Angel Films. Andrew's artwork has also been seen on posters for the Albany All-Stars Roller Derby and the Syracuse Crunch hockey and numerous private commission pieces. |
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DAVE DELLECESE
A former journalist and news anchor, Dave Dellecese writes a variety of books and comic books, and blogs about parenthood at thedorkydaddy.com.
Collaborating with artist Andrew Cieslinski, Dave co-created the middle schooler turned superhero graphic novel Lacey & Lily from Darby Pop Publishing, and the after-hours life at the bar comedy Holidaze from Dandy Press. In 2019 he released his first children's picture book, The Little Lamp. Dave also lends his voice to the The Brass Lantern old time radio adventure podcast, playing former reporter-turned private investigator, Wam Dixon. |
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BRIAN LABELLE
Brian R. LaBelle is an illustrator and graphic designer.
With a four-year degree in Computer Art from SUNY Oneonta, he focuses mostly in comic book and realism artwork. Currently, Brian is working on his own noir detective comic, The Swine Detective. |
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KYLE LINCE
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Kyle Lince's first novel Magyra, has been called "a sophisticated blend of science fiction, precise character development, and masterful plot construction."
He has currently finished his second novel, The Prodigal Outlaw, and is busy completing his third novel titled: Jack Zero and the Missing Man. Also an Associate Professor of Web Development and Information Design in Upstate New York, he fills his time reading, writing, and hanging out with his kids. He enjoys genre entertainment, reads comic books, and loves watching cartoons. |
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G.B. MACRAE
Author of numerous books that include A Night in the Garden, Ethel's Bane, The Veil Lifted, and the Avenzyre series, GB was born in a small town in Vermont, and grew up in the country and attending a rural school. She started telling stories from a young age, writing her first short story in second grade. She started writing her first novel in tenth grade which appeared in a regional magazine.
Her stories are often been of the fantasy genre, because who doesn't want to let their imagination travel as far as it can? But they've also been about real life: betrayal, suspicion, joy, war, triumph, self doubt, intrigue, all that good stuff. ...And unicorns and dragons! |
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LEN MIHALOVICHLen Mihalovich is a writer, colorist, letterer and... whatever else he needs to be to get an Indie Comics out these days. In his "spare time" Len is also saving endangered comics with his initiative RescuedComics.com RescuedComics.com turns “worthless” comics into “PRICELESS” comics.
Len has worked for various Independent Comic publishers creating super-hero adventures. A few years back Len founded Lenovations Press who've brought you The Adventures of Track Suit Man. The hit 90s comics series Section 12 has been re-released by Lenovations Press across 3 titles - Section 12 (Flashback), Section 12 (Declassified), Section 12 (Lost Adventures). At Uticon 2019 Lenovations Press will be releasing Section 12 (Lost Adventures) #3 for the first time EVER. This issue brings back the character of FlyGuy from CV Productions. We haven't seen him around since 1990, so pick up a copy of Section 12 (Lost Adventures) #3 and see what FlyGuy has planned for his first ever Section 12 story. |
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PHIL MILLER
A talent local to the Utica area Phil Miller has been working hard for Lenovations Press creating the fantastic artwork in Section 12 (Flashback) and Section 12 (Lost Adventures). Phil is also one of the driving forces in providing amazing original cover art for RescuedComics.com.
Phil is a commercial artist who has too many credits to list here. He artwork adorns everything from toy packaging to investment portfolios. His past comic credits include: Section 12 from Mythic Comics, Adventures of Track Suit Man from Lenovations Press, 401Comics, Johnny Lightning Comics, and an educational series from Graphics Library found on Amazon. At Uticon 2019 Lenovations Press will be releasing Section 12 (Lost Adventures) #3 for the first time EVER. Get your copy signed by artist Phil Miller. |
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DAN SOPP
Dan Sopp is a fiction writer from upstate New York and author of the Eon Chronicles, an ongoing serialized epic. The Eon Chronicles tells the story of Toria Kayden, an individual evolved beyond mortal limits. Her tale spans the globe with many allies and enemies, along with secret organizations.
This action series is a blend of urban fantasy, and high fantasy, chronicling the struggles she must overcome for a better world. |
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BYRON DANE TURNER
Byron Dane Turner is a writer, illustrator and stage actor from Saratoga Springs.
Byron started his own comic book label Wildfire Comics back in 2002 and began works on such titles as Jupiter Child, Spectrum, and Dark Tempest. Then he became a dad, and five years ago created the groundbreaking children's book series The Caped Costumers Costumed Capers! Now his kids are older, and so is the story. This past June, he debuted The Caped Costumers Costumed Capers comic book series for all audiences, old and young alike! Follow Byron on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or online. |
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EDWARD YANCEY
Edward Yancey is the writer and artist of the comic book "A Waste of Life: The Spencer Miller Cases" as well as the horror anthology, "Tales from the Sketch Club."
An illustrator and graphic designer, he has also brought to life numerous beloved and well-known comic book icons in a myriad of full-color prints. He also illustrated one of several tales in the Holidaze: All-Krampus Spectacular for Dandy Press. |
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