With its roots firmly based in comics, Portsmouth Comic Con prides itself on welcoming some of the finest artists and writers from across the industry to be a part of a stellar Artists Alley line-up each year, giving fans the chance to delve behind the scenes and meet the creators of their favourite works.
First to be announced for Artist Alley 2024, we are excited to welcome American comics writer, Tini Howard, who is best known for her work on DC Comics’ Catwoman and Marvel’s Excalibur and was recently announced on DC’s Harley Quinn with SweeneyBoo! Winner of the Top Cow talent hunt in 2013, her first credit was for Magdalena: Seventh Sacrament before going on to write on comic book iterations of Rick and Morty, Power Rangers, Barbie and more with her current personal project, Phenomenocity, a sci-fi neo-noir comic free to read online.
Next, following a break last year, we are delighted to announce the return of fan favourite Comic Con guests and Star Wars supremos, Russell Walks and Troy Alders.
Illustrator and designer Russell Walks calls America home but spends most of his time “off-planet” creating art for a variety of sci-fi and fantasy properties, including Star Wars, Star Trek, and Marvel’s Amazing Multiverse. His recent adventures include scouting locations on Dagobah, Jedha, and Jakku for a brilliant new series of travel posters, illustrating Captain Benjamin Sisko’s autobiography, and creating the key art for Major League Baseball’s London stop on their 2024 World Tour.
With over 35 years of experience as an art director and graphic designer in the industry, Troy Alders has won numerous awards, and had work exhibited across the US, Europe and Asia. He is highly commended for his work on the Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire multimedia project, among the many initiatives he’s led for Star Wars merchandise art development over the years. Conducting portfolio reviews, providing critiques and offering tips to budding graphic designers and illustrators, visitors are encouraged to bring a selection of their best work and let Troy see if they have what it takes to create for the ever-expanding Star Wars galaxy!
We are also delighted to welcome Roger Langridge who has been a comic book writer and cartoonist for over thirty years. He has worked on titles such as Thor: The Mighty Avenger, The Muppet Show Comic Book, Fin Fang Four, Doctor Who Magazine, Popeye, Mandrake the Magician, John Carter of Mars, Rocky and Bullwinkle, The Rocketeer, Gross Point, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, 2000AD, Deadline Magazine, The Goon, Bill and Ted Are Doomed, and no doubt others he’s forgotten, and maintained a steady output of his own work including his Eisner award-winning series, Snarked!
Also joining the Artist Alley line-up will be Jordan Thomas who hails from South of England but is currently living in Valencia, Spain. His first published comics work was the 1920s post-war, farm-based horror series, Frank At Home On The Farm. Since then, he has written a post-apocalyptic western, The Man From Maybe for Oni Press and the alien world crime story, Weird Work, at Image Comics, both with Shaky Kane.
Last but certainly not least, we will have the pleasure of welcoming Cian Tormey for the first time! He is an Irish artist, currently calling Spain home, whose work on DC’s Injustice with Tom Taylor introduced him to the world of comics as a great talent. Since then he’s drawn a legendary run on Superman: Son of Kal-El, as well as Batman, Catwoman and Nightwing, while his new series Alan Scott: The Green Lantern is looking to be one of the best comics of the year!
Portsmouth Comic Con, the largest family-friendly Comic Con of its kind presents the best in comic, film, TV and pop culture entertainment in a fully immersive and fun day out for all on Saturday 11th – Sunday 12th May 2024 at Portsmouth Guildhall.
