Sean Kelly

Sean Kelley is a cartoonist, illustrator and licensed veterinary technician living and working in New York’s Capital Region. He graduated from the Savannah College of Art & Design in 2006. He enjoys gaming, cycling, hanging out with his cats, playing intramural sports, obsessing over the Mets, and occasionally mucking around with Game Maker Studio. Sean’s previous work includes the mini-comics, Dream Machine: Jackpot! and Robird Segal: A Murder of Segal(s), Chapter One, with Jessica Wadleigh. Sean is currently working on new editions of both as well as the biweekly web comic, Life After Roy.

As a new creator to the Electric City Comic Con, what about the Electric City Comic Con appealed to you?

When I first found out about the Electric City Comic Con I was struck by its clear focus on indie creators. Second, I was drawn to the event being promoted for kids and families. I draw both for kids and adults, however, it’s much easier to connect with adults online, where most of my work is available. I’m looking forward to getting my work in front of children and families in person.

What was it about comics that got you hooked and what is it about the medium of comics that lends itself to encouraging kids to read?

I remember reading Scrooge McDuck comics in a local convenience store while my sister was at dance class. I was a visual kid; I spent a lot of time drawing, watching cartoons and playing video games. Comics were a natural extension for me. I didn’t really think of it as reading at the time. It was just another activity that I enjoyed doing.

I think comics are a lot less intimidating to children; they were for me. I was, and still, am, a notoriously slow reader. There’s an immediacy to comics that is hard to replicate with just the printed word, save for short fiction. But, you can read a comic book in 15 minutes and feel a real sense of accomplishment. There’s a lot of value in that, especially for a kid.

What can con attendees be able to get from you?

I’ll be selling a wide selection of comics I’ve made throughout the last 10 or so years. The highlights would be my two most recent mini-comics, Dream Machine: Jackpot! and Robird Segal in a Murder of Segal(s): Chapter One. The former is a short story about a child and a certain prize redemption game, and the latter is the first in a series of noir/humor books about a seagull. who may or may not know he’s a detective, and his partner, who may or may not know he’s working with a seagull.

What are you currently reading and what would you recommend for kids or older readers?

I haven’t read it yet but I just bought the second volume of The Time Museum, which is an all-ages book by one of my absolute favorite cartoonists, Matthew Loux. The last adult comic I read and loved was Descender, by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nyugen. Both of these titles have wonderful characters and art that makes me supremely jealous. And last, I can’t recommend Ms. Marvel enough. It is the most consistently poignant, inclusive and infectiously happy ongoing comic I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.

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Jennifer Dugan

Jennifer Dugan is an avid young adult and comic writer who writes the kind of stories that she wishes she had growing up. Her debut novel, Hot Dog Girl, was released April 2019 from Putnam/Penguin.

In addition to being a young adult novelist, she is also the writer/creator of two indie comics: Circadia and Gnaw.

As a new creator to the Electric City Comic Con, what about the Electric City Comic Con appealed to you?

I love that it’s a local con that seems to celebrate not just the comics medium but also the love of reading in general. It seems like such a positive, fun environment; I was really excited about the idea of being a part of it.

What was it about comics that got you hooked and what is it about the medium of comics that lends itself to encouraging kids to read?

I’ve always been a voracious reader, but my love of comics first started because of family camping trips! My mom would ban books because she felt they were too heavy to pack and there was too big of a risk of them getting ruined. (It’s true, I did lose a few books to mud before she made the rule!) So it became a tradition that she would load me up on Archie Comics to read during vacations, and I very quickly became obsessed.

Pretty soon I wasn’t just reading them during summer camping trips, but all the time.

I think comics can be a great way to get kids reading, especially reluctant readers, and it drives me up a wall when teachers say it “doesn’t count” as reading. Of course, it does! I think kids are really intrigued by comics—whether it’s seeing one of their favorite super-heroes saving the day or finding an indie comic and going on a new adventure. Comics can be an incredible vehicle for storytelling for people of all ages.

What can con attendees be able to get from you?

I will have copies of my new young adult novel, Hot Dog Girl, which follows Elouise Parker as she tries to win the heart of her crush, save an amusement park, and have the best summer of her life… all well dressed as a hot dog. I’ll also have the first four issues of my young adult comic Circadia, which follows a ballerina and a warrior as they try to untangle dreams from reality while battling monsters on both fronts. I’ll also have a variety of enamel pins and swag to go along with each title.

What are you currently reading and what would you recommend for kids or older readers?

I’m a little behind on my comic reading so I’m m currently getting caught up on the Darth Vader trades. I’m just starting volume 3 and really enjoying the run. I’m also reading the Shout Out anthology, which has work from so many incredible creators. In terms of YA novels, I’m currently reading Wicked Fox by Kat Cho and cannot recommend that enough!

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Phil McAndrew

Phil McAndrew is a cartoonist, illustrator and writer. He illustrated the Caveboy Dave series of graphic novels by Aaron Reynolds and Monster Science by Helaine Becker. Phil is also the author of Crying in Front of your Dog And Other Stories and has contributed comics and humor to MAD Magazine, The New Yorker, The Nib, Popula, and many other publications.

He currently lives in Syracuse, New York surrounded by countless books and house plants.

As a new creator to the Electric City Comic Con, what about the Electric City Comic Con appealed to you?

When I first got the email inviting me to be a part of the con this year, I was thrilled! I hadn’t heard about before, but reading up on the show it sounds like a fantastic event. I’m really looking forward to it.

What was it about comics that got you hooked and what is it about the medium of comics that lends itself to encouraging kids to read?

I’ve been hooked since early in my life, when I first saw comics in a newspaper back in the 1980’s. The funny drawings in old newspaper comics like The Far Side and Calvin and Hobbes caught my attention right away. Not long after that I discovered superhero comics and was instantly obsessed. I remember looking at old issues of the Fantastic Four and X-Men and thinking the drawings in those comics were so weird and imaginative and exciting. Even before I learned to read, the art in all these newspaper comics and superhero comics appealed to me, and having visual elements to go along with the stories or jokes in all these comics would get me really excited about reading. I desperately wanted to be able to understand what exactly the Incredible Hulk was saying and thinking as he smashed his way through buildings and bad guys.

What can con attendees be able to get from you?

I’ll have loads of books and mini-comics, including the two Caveboy Dave graphic novels. I’ll also have prints, bookmarks, postcards, and more.

What are you currently reading and what would you recommend for kids or older readers?

Right now I’m working my way through the Earthsea books by Ursula Le Guin (not comics, but they’re very good so far!), Leaving Richard’s Valley by Michael DeForge, and a collection of old Swamp Thing comics. For kids I recommend comics by Britt Wilson, Ben Sears, Frank Cammuso, Becky Dreistadt & Frank Gibson, John Martz…. Some of Joann Sfar’s comics are also great for kids, books like Sardine or Little Vampire. Also MAD Magazine. For more mature readers I recommend comics by Eleanor Davis, David King, Carta Monir, Jillian Tamaki, Steve Wolfhard, Lisa Hanawalt…. I could go on and on!

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Dave Ryan

Dave Ryan is best known for his Eagle Award nominee comic book series called War of the Independents and has other creator-owned titles called Penance, World Wide Warriors, Owlgirls and Bye BiPolar. He has also worked on other comic titles such as Deathlok, Hercules, Judge Dredd, RoboCop and Xenya.

As a new creator to the Electric City Comic Con, what about the Electric City Comic Con appealed to you?

As a former Art teacher, I love family orientated shows. Adults, as well as their kids, can experience comics and their creators with interaction. As a young convention goer myself, I reveled in meeting my favorite artists and getting their tips and advice. I try to inspire young artists to pursue creativity and apply it towards their ventures.

What was it about comics that got you hooked and what is it about the medium of comics that lends itself to encouraging kids to read?

I really couldn’t tell you my first comic. I can’t remember it. My parents had me hooked at a very early age and I was in Art school at the age of 5. I loved the storytelling and action of comics. Their moral compass taught us all many lessons as well as amused us. Comics are usually the first line of literature for children, so it’s important to keep that in mind as a creator.

What can con attendees be able to get from you?

I’ll have comics that I’ve created from Red Anvil Comics as well as prints of some of your favorite heroes. I’ll also have some original artwork available for collectors and art enthusiasts. My wife Nilda will be attending the show with me and she has an incredible Esty shop, which I know most of the teachers and women attending will want to check out. www.etsy.com/shop/ChampagneandIceCream



What are you currently reading and what would you recommend for kids or older readers?

I’m much more of a diverse reader than I was when I was younger. Much of that is because Marvel and DC are almost unrecognizable to me anymore. IDW is producing some nice versions of Marvel books for kids. I would recommend them. Personally, I keep an eye on a few creators and their titles. Such as Steve Orlando, Billy Tucci, Cliff Galbraith, Ulises Farinas, Richard Dominguez, Allan Goldman, Brian Quinn, Russ Braun, Alan Quah, Carlos Pacheco, Javier Cruz Winnik, Jeff Johnson, Joe Martino, Dan Sehn, Robert J Sodaro, CW Cooke, Gary Cohn and Paris Cullins, to name more than a few.

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Derick Jones

Derick Jones (formerly Skuds McKinley) is an illustrator, comic book artist and writer based in Philadelphia, PA. He has worked in the comics industry for 5+ years and also has experience in branding, logo design, album art, and more. His work has been published and supported by Boom!Studios/Archaia, IDW, Not So Super Comics, as well as Red Eye Vapor company and two successful Kickstarter campaigns.

Originally from Virginia, Jones loves a good biscuit, cats, and drives through the country.

As a new creator to the Electric City Comic Con, what about the Electric City Comic Con appealed to you?

My buddy Ulises Farinas hipped me to the con and it seemed cool and positive and a little different than the normal con.

What was it about comics that got you hooked and what is it about the medium of comics that lends itself to encouraging kids to read?

I was hooked on comics after reading, “Teenagers From Mars,” by Rick Spears and Rob G, I didn’t realize comics could be about anything other than superheroes so that was cool, plus I loved the misfits, Which the title of the book derives its name from. I think Comics is good for kids because its the best of both worlds, good writing and killer art will make kids never want to put them down. I wish I had been exposed to them at an earlier age because I would’ve read more books in general, now I’m playing catch up but I’m only hooked on comics.

What can con attendees be able to get from you?

New prints based on my city Philadelphia! I took a break to draw background images based on Philly, South Philly to be exact and it was a way for me to still work on my inking and comic book style but not actually drawing comics or people.

What are you currently reading and what would you recommend for kids or older readers?

Currently reading, Final Crisis, Descender and some old Chris Claremont Xmen stuff. I always recommend Naruto to anyone of any age, the funnest manga and has a super inspiring message behind it! Never give up!!!

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Also first time Con creators:

Allison Conway

Allison Conway is an illustrator and cartoonist living in Brooklyn, NY. She graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Illustration in 2016. She has worked with clients like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, and Yale University, and for over two years has published a comic strip in Vice about a pillbug named Millie. She is publishing her first graphic novel with Top Shelf Productions in February of 2020. She grew up in the woods of Lake Geneva, WI and has always had a passion for animals and living organisms of all sizes.

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Daniel Stalter

Daniel is a storyteller and a comic book writer based in Brooklyn, NY. He launched his first series Dream Crasher in 2015 with artist and frequent collaborator Reed Olsen. They have since published 4 of the 12 planned chapters, and have run two successful Kickstarter Campaigns. The first collected edition of the series was released in early 2018. He also writes for the Geeks OUT blog and is an organizing member of the Brooklyn Speculative Fiction Writers.