Give some love to comic book creators and comic books at FanX 2024 • Salt Lake Magazine

I love comics. There aren't many things I like to preach about, but I do love comics.

It's a medium that has existed in its current form for 100 years. Nothing seems to capture our imagination and sense of wonder, nostalgia, sentimentality and idealism like a comic book. Comics have the power to speak to something deep that grown people still have enthusiastic (and heated) discussions about. And I know it's not just me.

“Nothing against film or television, but comics are the greatest visual storytelling medium on the planet.”

I had the pleasure of interviewing one of my favorite comic book creators at San Diego Comic-Con. He has created some of the most popular comics of all time and developed several television shows and movies based on comics. He understands the many ways to tell a story and told me, “Nothing against film or television, but comics are the best visual storytelling medium in the world.”

I think everyone should have the chance to meet their favorite comic book authors. And if you're not a comic book reader (yet), a local comic book store is a good place to start. I only got into comics as an adult and couldn't believe that I hadn't been immersed in this vibrant CMYK world for so long. And who knows, maybe you'll meet your future favorite at your local comic book convention.

Some comic book authors will be at our local convention, FanX Salt Lake Comic and Pop Culture Convention, this week (September 26-28) at the Salt Palace Convention Centerand it would be a shame to miss the chance to talk to them, see their work, get an autograph, and thank them for their service. You can find many of them in Artist Alley.

Selected comic authors at FanX 2024

Afua Richardson

Afua Richardson is an artist who won an Eisner Award for her work on Black Panther World of Wakanda. Her Black Panther Art directly inspired the look of the subsequent Blank Panther Marvel film. She was one of the first indigenous/African-American artists to work for Marvel Comics as a penciler, inker and colorist. Her latest work is the title Aquarius, Book Mer and a Marvel Voices special celebrating Native American Heritage Month, Kahhori: Reshaper of Worldswhich will be released in November.

James O’Barr

Do you remember The Crow? Of course you know that – the remake literally just came out this year. Well, O'Barr is the guy who made the hugely influential and stylized “Gothic” comic that started the whole thing.

Ken Lashley

Ken Lashley is a long-time artist who has worked for Marvel, DC, Lucas Film, Mattel, and Hasbro, to name a few. Chances are he has drawn your favorite comic book character or super team in a book or on the cover, including: Excalibur, X-Caliber Age of Apocalypse, Black Panther, X-Men, Flash, JLA, Superman, Superman Doomed, Spawn, Spider-Man, Venom, Moonknight, And Wolverine versus predator.

Larry HamA

Larry Hama has written some of the wildest and most memorable comic book stories. He was constantly on Marvel's wolverine during the peak of Wolverine's popularity in the 80s and 90s, as well as the writing/drawing/editing of AvEnger, Conan, Batman, Wonder Woman, X-Men, Spider-Manetc., but Hama is perhaps best known for his work as an author GI Joe – The Movie– Creating the entire world, characters and story based on Hasbro toys.

Will ConraD

Another artist who has definitely drawn your favorite comic book character. Will Conrad's work as a Marvel exclusive artist includes X-Men, New Avengers, Black Panther, Elektra, Captain Americaand he has worked on the comics of Star Wars, Serenity, Conan, Batman, Action Comics, Green Lantern, Flash, Judge Dredd And Justice League.

Camron Johnson

Camron Johnson is an illustrator and cover artist for comic book publishers such as Image/Skybound, IDW and Dynamite. He is the creator of the successful independent comic book series “ Bone check, Meduson, freezer burnand is co-creator of ALL OLD GODS.

Tim Bradstreet (POSTPONED PERFORMANCE)
Tim Bradstreet is an Eisner Award-nominated artist and illustrator. Bradstreet has since drawn for hundreds of comic and game projects, including Activision's Vampire: Bloodlines Video game, Dark Horse's Hard looks, Another chance to get it right with the writer Andrew Vachss and star WarsClive Barker's Age of DesireMarvel's The Punisher And bladeand Vertigo Gangland, Unknown Soldier, Human Target and Hellblazeras well as covers for BAD PLANET with co-creators Steve Niles, Thomas Jane and Lewis Larosa.

Local comic authors at FanX

Doug Wagner
Doug Wagner is a Utah-based comic book writer known for his popular adult “Materials” books at Image Comics, including Plush, Vinyl And plasticHe is also the author of Clik Clik Boom, beware of Odin’s eye—an interpretation of classical Nordic folkloreLegends of the Dark Knight, World of Warcraft: Bloodswornand many more. Look for Wagner at FanX at the Utah Artists booth set up by local comic book shop The Nerd Store.

Chris Hoffman, Andrew Malin, Nataly Soto of Velleity Studios
Chris Hoffman and Andrew Malin are local comic book creators and co-founders of indie comics studio Velleity Studios. They will be signing their latest comics on Friday at FanX at The Nerd Store's Utah Creator's Booth with writer Nataly Soto.

Salt City Comic
Salt City Comic and creator of the satirical cartoon The mighty Utahn can be found at Booth E24 at FanX. If you can laugh at a few good-natured jokes at Utah's expense, be sure to check out The mighty Utahn.

Adrian Ropp
Adrian Ropp is an illustrator from Idaho (but he feels like a local institution at FanX) who will be at FanX this year in both the GAMING ROOM and the Artist Alley at booth A1309. He is an artist for Disney Villains Comics, Jughead And Little Archie Books, The Pink Panther And Outsider.

“Printed Garden” Graphic novel and comic book authors for all ages at FanX

Jess Smart Smiley
Jess Smart Smiley is a Utah-based cartoonist and friend of the magazine. Smiley is the author of Let's make comics! An activity book for creating, writing and drawing your own cartoonswhich regularly tops the bestseller lists on Amazon.

John Patrick Green
John Green is the author and artist of New York Times-Bestseller InvestiGATORS, a Graphic novel series for the middle class.

Joanna Taylor
Johanna Taylor is the creator of the YA graphic novel THE GHOST KEEPER and has worked on comics for independent publishers such as Limit Break Comics, EEP, and 2CGaming, as well as publishers such as Oni Lion Forge, Penguin Random House, and MIT Press.

Kimberly Johnson
Kimberli Johnson is a comic book author who writes comics for young readers and “draws cute critters and magical characters,” including Emilie: Knight in training for Oni Press.

BEFORE YOU GO TO FANX…

A few tips for both new comic convention attendees and returning champions:

• Check out the schedule in advance to plan your day at the convention. The program schedule is now available online.
• Download the FanX mobile app to have the most up-to-date conference schedule at your fingertips and receive notifications of changes.
• Read the rules! Whether it's about wearing cosplay and costumes at the convention or updated ADA protocols, they can save you headaches and heartache later.
• Ride TRAX, which is just blocks from the Salt Palace Convention Center, so you don't have to fight with 10,000 other people for a parking spot downtown.
• Book your tickets, photo sessions and autographs online in advance. This means fewer queues on the day itself.
• Consent is key. You want to take photos of activations, art, booths, celebrities, cosplayers, robots… but ask if the subject is okay with being photographed first!

For more information and tickets to the 2024 FanX Salt Lake Comic & Pop Culture Convention, visit fanxsaltlake.com.

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