2025-guest

Illustrator / Graphic Designer

Chiara Bautista is an Illustrator and Graphic Designer based in the southwest. Her work is recognizable for her characters and narrative. Chiara pulls inspiration from many things in the world, from religious iconography and Lucha Libre masks (a nod to her Mexican heritage) to music. You can find her on her website link and Facebook.

Comic Book Writer

Award-winning creator of The Crow

James O’Barr is the award-winning creator of The Crow, and writer of the two hit series Curare and Skinning the Wolves from IDW Publishing.

James likes to lament that he was born in a trailer in Detroit just in time to see Marilyn Monroe and John Kennedy die, but claims no responsibility for either. He spent his first seven years in an orphanage and foster care where he spent most of his time drawing. When he was adopted, he brought along his crayons and has been using them ever since.

While stationed in Berlin in the late 70’s, he created The Crow as an attempt to deal with the death of his fiancée at the hands of a drunk driver. It took nearly ten years to finish and no publisher was interested in it (“too gloomy, too confusing”) until, on a whim, Caliber published the first issue in 1989. It is currently the best-selling independent black-and-white graphic novel of all time with over one million copies sold.

In 1993, his book was adapted into the cult film of the same name starring Brandon Lee. He would like you to know that nearly all of the money made from the film was donated to children’s charities and he had nothing to do with the subsequent 3 sequels or TV show, but is currently a consultant on the new Crow movie in theatres this August.

James has worked for every major publisher. In Italy, 1995, he won the Academy Award for Comics and the Yellow Kid Award for Best Storyteller.Recently returned from a record-breaking signing tour for the Italian Edition of The Crow, his most recent book is James O’Barr: Uncofined, a new sketchbook from Eva Ink Publishing.

Comic Book Writer

Green Lantern, Silver Surfer, Witchblade

Ron Marz has carved out a long and acclaimed career in the comics industry, starting with a lengthy run on Silver Surfer for Marvel. Since then, he has worked for virtually every major publisher and compiled a long list of credits, including Thor for Marvel, Green Lantern and Superboy for DC, Star Wars for Dark Horse, and the historic Marvel vs. DC crossover, among many others. 

Marz’s long credits list also includes his legendary run on Witchblade for Top Cow/Image, the Skylanders series for IDW, the Justice League: Endless Winter crossover of DC, a triumphant return to one of his signature characters in Silver Surfer Rebirth, and Swamp God for Heavy Metal magazine. Marz has also written for video games, including multiple Skylanders titles, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, and Spider-Man 2. He is currently part of the Diablo narrative team at Blizzard. 

Comic Book Creator

Hack/Slash, Revival, G.I Joe

TIM SEELEY is one of those “slash” people…a writer-slash-artist. He has drawn a number of different comic book series including G.I JOE, HALLOWEEN, WILDCATS and ANT-MAN & WASP. His writing work includes NIGHTWING, MONEY SHOT, SUPERMAN vs. LOBO, the critically acclaimed REVIVAL,  and the NY TIMES bestselling HACK/SLASH.  He resides in Chicago, Illinois with his wife, daughter and 80s action figure collection.

Comic Book Creator

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Crow, Heavy Metal Magazine

Born in Portland, Maine in 1962 Kevin Eastman began drawing at a very young age, copying children’s books, and reading comics. Inspired by master storyteller Jack Kirby, and later by self-publishing creators Richard Corben, creating his own characters and comics became an obsession.
Born in Portland, Maine in 1962 Kevin Eastman began drawing at a very young age, copying children’s books, and reading comics. Inspired by master storyteller Jack Kirby, and later by self-publishing creators Richard Corben, creating his own characters and comics became an obsession.

In the late 70’s and early 80’s, self-published “Mini Comics” became a main artistic outlet, and while soliciting illustration work from local fanzines in Northampton Massachusetts, he met like-minded creator Peter Laird and the partnership studio, Mirage Studios was formed. Less than a year later in the middle of a late-night drawing session, Eastman doodled a new character he dubbed a “Ninja Turtle” to make Laird laugh—several sillier sketches and a final drawing of four characters later “Eastman and Laird’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” had officially entered the universe!

Self-published in May of 1984 the first issue sold out of its 3000 copies overnight and quickly became a fan favorite. Catching the eye of Merchandising Agents and Hollywood Producers, Eastman and Laird maintained full control of their creations while guiding them through Toy Licensing, TV Series adaptation, as well as Feature Films, and by early 1990 the TMNT’s were number one in all three categories.

In between TMNT projects, Eastman launched a creator friendly publishing company, “Tundra Publishing” where projects like “The Crow” “From Hell” “Madman” and “Understanding Comics” first flourished, as well as purchased and published the world renowned “Heavy Metal Magazine” for more than twenty-five years.

In 2020 based on an original 1987 concept by Kevin and Peter, Kevin adapted and launched The Last Ronin with longtime TMNT Writer/Co-Writer Tom Waltz. The epic tale quickly became the TMNT publishing event of the decade, both a critical success, and a New York Times Best Seller. The series continued with The Last Ronin: Lost Years in 2023 and 2024The Last Ronin II: Re-Evolution.

When not having way too much fun writing and drawing on new TMNT projects, he launched a new maxiseries with Image Comics entitled, Drawing Blood as well as companion limited series the Radically Rearranged Ronin Ragdolls, with co-creator David Avallone, and artists Ben Bishop and Troy Little.  

Thanks to “THE BEST FANS ON THE ENTIRE PLANET!” according to Eastman, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles continue to find their way into the hearts and imaginations of kids, large and small more than four decades later. Cowabunga!

In 2025 Kevin, his wife Courtney and Team Eastman will be visiting comic conventions and signings around the world, ensuring they are always accessible and able to connect with fans as we all continue to Shellebrate the awesome legacy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

For complete details keep up with Kevin Eastman at:

www.KevinEastmanStudios.com
Facebook: Kevin B. Eastman
Twitter: kevineastman86
Instagram: kevineastmantmnt

Popular Hashtags for Kevin: #TMNT #LastRonin #TMNT40 #Shellebrate40 #TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles #TeamEastman #KevinEastman #Cowabunga