BACC "HOLIDAY CON" SATURDAY, NOV. 22 2025 **********************GUESTS***********************

With our friends at <strong>Crash Media Partners, </strong> a very special guest, <strong>Al Kahn</strong> Al is a giant, he has had an enormous influence over the toy industry, the way we see the world of comics and games, and on most of our lives. As a licensing executive, Kahn brought <strong>Pokemon</strong> out of Japan and then continued with the <strong>Cabbage Patch Kids, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, James Bond and Yu-Gi-Oh.</strong> But let's let Al speak for himself: "I ran a company called <em><strong>4Kids Entertainment,</strong> </em>which was responsible for producing and licensing some of biggest kids’ properties in history – <strong>Pokémon, Yu Gi Oh!, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, World Wrestling</strong> <strong>Federation, Nintendo, Super Mario Bros, Zelda, Donkey Kong, and Monster Jam,</strong> just to name a few. <strong>I</strong> <strong>actually discovered Pokémon in Japan when it was still Pocket Monsters and changed the name to</strong> <strong>Pokémon before bringing it outside of Japan</strong>. Before my days at 4Kids, as the head of Coleco Industries, I found and renamed Cabbage Patch Kids, which set industry records for toy sales in North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand following its launch. I’m in both the <strong>Murray Altschuler</strong> <strong>Licensing Hall of Fame and the Kidscreen Hall of Fame.</strong> I’ve dedicated my life to improving the lives of children and families all over the world&quot;.

<div dir="ltr"> Amanda Madison is a welcome new friend of BACC. An up and coming creative writer, she will be signing copies of her acclaimed debut novel, <i>Program 38: Sparks </i>at Big Apple Comic Con. Amanda was raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania where she spent her childhood dreaming of magic and saving the world. Fresh out of her creative writing bachelor’s degree at Western New England University, she plans to do just that: writing stories that inspire people to find the good in themselves. Driven by her family and close friends, Amanda strives to bring a sense of found family everywhere she goes. Book Synopsis: <span lang="EN">Kelsey Clay is running from a past she wants no part of, but can’t escape her powerful destiny. Fear led Kelsey to hide her superhuman abilities, hoping she could forget about them while attending Sherman University. When she’s accepted into the mysterious Program 38, her powers—and apprehensions—will be thrown front and center. She can’t escape a part of herself she’s born to embrace.</span> <span lang="EN">Join Kelsey as she learns about herself in a chaotic world of lies, mysteries, and supervillains. With her new friends, she realizes studying for exams is the least of her problems. As a corruptive force consumes the student body, the superheroes of Program 38 must determine why it’s happening and who’s the villain behind it. The answers they find plunge them into a rabbit hole of Sherman’s shadowy past.</span> <span lang="EN">War is coming; Kelsey must choose to deny who she is or accept herself in this harrowing chronicle, <i>Program 38: Sparks</i>.</span> <div></div> <div dir="ltr">Amazon link:</div> </div> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span id="m_-4096825083448732642m_5767586960171257000ydp2949badcTSRSpan_1"><img /></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Program-38-Sparks-Amanda-Madison-ebook/dp/B0D8D3H28K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3A8A6VBKRILNK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nzFh3rNDRnm_bkN2X8PTz4ErjpQ6LSpHfN0BailGaSgC3GVeLVKeVgAHLlPEuxhX1UtWDOVNtynmJOho61YiQaQGfa16rfm7QVmTTCJVceZTLeDO2EdpClm6ltf_NycKcN9EtopalI7orynhiflAag5ecLkgGo7JX-Z1r7VhG7fDsmeFhtdjYXRs-GTzjzjXtYjf5FNQU4qAWasCrvQ3y5jRYBRh4DM5-GIkgf4fzkM.Rp_sWHiXX0n-qjZqm0ab3d1MYwjEyzDU60e5XYOXigY&dib_tag=se&keywords=program+38&qid=1729830825&sprefix=%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/Program-38-Sparks-Amanda-Madison-ebook/dp/B0D8D3H28K/ref%3Dsr_1_1?crid%3D3A8A6VBKRILNK%26dib%3DeyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nzFh3rNDRnm_bkN2X8PTz4ErjpQ6LSpHfN0BailGaSgC3GVeLVKeVgAHLlPEuxhX1UtWDOVNtynmJOho61YiQaQGfa16rfm7QVmTTCJVceZTLeDO2EdpClm6ltf_NycKcN9EtopalI7orynhiflAag5ecLkgGo7JX-Z1r7VhG7fDsmeFhtdjYXRs-GTzjzjXtYjf5FNQU4qAWasCrvQ3y5jRYBRh4DM5-GIkgf4fzkM.Rp_sWHiXX0n-qjZqm0ab3d1MYwjEyzDU60e5XYOXigY%26dib_tag%3Dse%26keywords%3Dprogram%2B38%26qid%3D1729830825%26sprefix%3D%252Caps%252C94%26sr%3D8-1&source=gmail&ust=1731519282002000&usg=AOvVaw0yKBTszxIB-VpvnDYQaJzI">Program 38: Sparks</a></span>

Amy Chu is an American comic book author who runs the comic imprint Alpha Girl Comics as well as writing comics for other publishers. She wrote the six-issue miniseries Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death and a few Wonder Woman issues for DC. She published three collections of short stories under Alpha Girl Comics titled Girls Night Out from 2012 to 2014. Chu has been writing Red Sonja for Dynamite Entertainment since late 2016. She also started working on Dynamite's KISS in 2016. Chu took over writing duties for Dynamite's Green Hornet beginning with the 2018 run. Writing a comic adaptation of Carmilla titled Carmilla: The First Vampire set in 1990s New York City she went on to win the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel.

Inkpot Award recipient Billy Tucci is an cartoonist best known for his modern-day samurai saga Shi. Through his company, Crusade Fine Arts, Shi has been printed in five languages and sold more than 3 million comic books. The graduate of New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology has earned the prestigious Diamond Comics Gem Award and has been nominated for four Eisner Awards. In addition to his own creations, Billy’s DC Comics’ graphic novel, Sgt. Rock: The Lost Battalion, was awarded the Military Writers Society of America Gold Medal for its depiction of the highly decorated, real-life 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which was comprised of Japanese- American soldiers. His earnest retelling of the Christmas story in A Child Is Born has quietly turned into an international blockbuster, winning the Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award.  Billy’s critically acclaimed Miss Fury: Joy Division saw the return of the Golden Age Icon for Dynamite Comics. Billy has recently released Shi: Return of the Warrior, Shi: Haikyo, Shi: Omnibus Edition and Zombie-Sama via Kickstarter and Indiegogo uniting backers from over fifty countries and bringing Crusade Comics’ exclusive crowdfunding campaign totals to over $1,000,000.00.

Brian Pulido is the founder and publisher of Coffin Comics, an independent comic book company that produces the &quot;Coffinverse & quot; line of graphic novels. This line features titles such as Lady Death, La Muerta, Hellwitch, Lady Satanus, Chaotica, Lady Gunfighter, Mike Morgue, and various other supernatural comic books and merchandise. He has raised more than eleven million dollars for comic book projects through crowdfunding. His www.coffincomicshop.com acts as a crucial direct-to-customer platform, averaging twenty-six promotions annually over the past five years. Pulido’s dedicated fan base is called “The Sworn.” In the 1990s, Pulido served as the publisher of Chaos! Comics, where he created, designed, and wrote the Chaos! Universe, which features Evil Ernie, Purgatori, and others. He has also published or written comics based on A Nightmare on Elm Street, Chucky, Friday the 13th, Halloween, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Megadeth, Insane Clown Posse, WWE, and many more. Marvel Comics hired Pulido to create and write “The Supernaturals.” He serves on the fundraising board of The Hero Initiative and has received the Defender of Liberty Award from the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, along with the Inkpot Award from Comic Con International, for his contributions to the comic arts. Pulido has been reading Marvel’s Captain America on a monthly basis since July 1974. For more info: www.CoffinComics.com

My name is Hyunsung Lee, but most people call me Creees. I recently graduated from SVA, School of Visual Arts in New York City, and I learned the ancient ways in becoming a comic artist. People often ask me how long I've been drawing and my answer is, "basically my whole life." I still have a drawing from when I was 3 or 4 years old hung up on my wall. My childhood was all about drawing Dragonball Z characters and Batman...it was a pretty good childhood. Even though I stopped drawing Dragonball Z characters, I still continue to draw superheroes. Drawing is something I do because it literally keeps me alive; I can't imagine life if I wasn't able to draw. Now, I'm striving to become an awesome DC or Marvel comic artist...you know, like Jim Lee? Jim Lee is one of my greatest inspirations as well as the incredible Kenneth Rocafort. Other inspirations of mine are Klaus Janson, who was also my mentor at SVA, Matteo Scalera, and Sean Murphy. Their works are amazing and I hope that later I will have the same impact on others as they did for me.

Dan Parent is an American comic book artist and writer best known for his work for Archie Comics. A graduate of The Kubert School, Dan has been working at Archie Comics for 35 years.  Dan won the 2013 GLAAD award for outstanding comic book (Kevin Keller) and is also a Harvey Awards nominee. He is the creator of Kevin Keller, Archie's first openly gay character. <div></div> <div> <div class="yj6qo"></div> <div class="adL"></div> </div>

DANNY FINGEROTH is a cultural historian and commentator. His books include Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us About Ourselves and Our Society and Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero. His 2019 biography of Stan Lee, A Marvelous Life, tackles the many controversies surrounding the Marvel co-creator. Fingeroth’s most recent book, 2023’s Jack Ruby: The Many Faces of Oswald’s Assassin, chronicles the history- shattering Ruby’s bizarre life. Danny spent eighteen years as a writer and Group Editor at Marvel and has lectured and taught at institutions including the Smithsonian and Columbia University. He created and edited Write Now magazine for TwoMorrows, has consulted on comics exhibitions, and is Chair of Will Eisner Week, an annual series of worldwide events celebrating the legacy of the comics innovator.

A special appearance A legend in his own time Jim Steranko changed the direction of comic book art in the 1960's. This master, artist, publisher, writer, historian, needs no introduction, he is simply the best. <a href="http://www.thedrawingsofsteranko.com/aghp.html">http://www.thedrawingsofsteranko.com/aghp.html</a>

Kristen Gudsnuk is a comics writer and illustrator. She got her start with the webcomic <a href="https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/3006-944/Henchgirl-TPB-Expanded-Edition">Henchgirl</a>, which was later published by Scout Comics in single issue and Dark Horse Comics as a collection. Her other works include the middle grade graphic novel series Making Friends from Graphix, the Minecraft: Wither Without You trilogy, co-illustrating Amelia Aierwood: Basic Witch by Emily Hampshire, and illustrating Modern Fantasy by Rafer Roberts.    

Nik Virella is a native New Yorker and School of Visual Arts alumnus. Her previous work includes The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones graphic novel, IDW’s G.I. Joe, and Marvel titles such as Return of the Living Deadpool, 1872, Hyperion, All-New Wolverine, Star Wars &amp; Black Widow. In addition, she’s had her work featured in Marvel’s QuickDraw, VOGUE Italia, and Entertainment Weekly.  <a href="https://www.artstation.com/nikvirella">Check some of Nik's work out here</a>

Paul Blake is best known for portraying Greedo in <em>Star Wars. </em>His friend, Anthony Daniels recommended him for the role when Lucasfilm was seeking actors for the cantina scene. He has played many roles on film and in the theater.

<div dir="auto"> <hr /> Peter Kuper is a regular contributor to The New Yorker<em>,</em> The Nation, Rolling Stone, Charlie Hebdo and MAD magazine where he has written and illustrated <em>SPY vs. SPY</em> since 1997. He has produced over two dozen books including <em>The System</em>, <em>Diario de Oaxaca, Ruins </em> and adaptations of Franz Kafka's works into comics including <em>The Metamorphosis</em><em>. </em> Peter has won the Eisner and Reuben Awards for best graphic novels and the 2024 Kennedy award for cartooning. <strong><em>INSECTOPOLIS</em>,</strong> his graphic novel history of insects and the people who have studied them, will be published in 2025. His latest book <p class="product-single__title"><strong><em>Wish We Weren't Here: Postcards From the Apocalypse, </em></strong>will be out at the end of October and will be available at the show.</p> He has lectured around the world and teaches comics at Harvard University. </div>

<div>Ryan Dunlavey is an New York City based illustrator best known as the artist of multiple award-winning non-fiction graphic novels including ACTION PHILOSOPHERS, ACTION PRESIDENTS, THE COMIC BOOK HISTORY OF COMICS, DIRT CANDY and GROWING UP FARLEY. He also contributed to THE ILLUSTRATED WEIRD AL, wrote and drew MODOK: REIGN DELAY for Marvel Comics and self-publishes the one-person comic anthology MY BULLSHIT. His comics have been published by Dark Horse, Dynamite, IDW, Image, Marvel, Webtoon, Z2, HarperCollins, Penguin, Scholastic, Taschen, Random House and MAD magazine and his illustration clients include Disney, Warner Bros, Hasbro, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, World Wrestling Entertainment, The New York City Department of Education and his mom. He's allergic to cats.</div> <div>website: <a href="https://www.ryandunlavey.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ryandunlavey.com/&source=gmail&ust=1748729589736000&usg=AOvVaw3ILbIRI7U0CMbZumaA-2MM">https://www.<wbr />ryandunlavey.com/</a></div> <div> <div></div> </div>

Sean Chen's career took off after he was discovered by Barry Windsor-Smith.  At Valiant Comics, Chen penciled their flagship title, X-O Manowar, as well as Bloodshot, Harbinger, and Rai and the Future Force. After Valiant, Sean moved to Marvel Comics, where he drew Iron Man. His other works include Wolverine, Avengers Academy, Elektra, and the maxi-series X-Men: The End. Chen is the regular artist on the monthly Nova series from Marvel. He is currently working on EVERMIND a Sci-Fi Saga with Daniel Wu & 247 Comics.