Comic Book Creator Panel Members Announced

Join several Michigan comic creators as they discuss their work and their approach to the art of comic book storytelling.  The Comic Book Creator panel takes place on Saturday, March 28, from 3:00 PM-4:00 PM in the Spartan Room, International Center, Michigan State University.

Panel members will include:

Xeric Grant winner Gary Scott Beatty read his first comic book, a beat up old Tin Tin hardcover, in his grade school library some time before the ’60s Batman craze. The first alternative comic he produced (They were called “underground” then) was on his high school’s mimeograph maching, after hours, without permission. Nearly three decades later  the tools and format have changed, but Gary is still producing printed  pieces that communicate and entertain. His coloring and lettering for 3 Boys Productions’ “Students of the Unusual” has appeared since the  popular indy comic’s first issue – now his logo design graces each cover. The controversial “Wedding of Popeye and Olive” Gary colored  for Ocean Comics was discussed on Good Morning America, in “The New  York Times,” “Time” magazine and “Newsweek.” His work with nationally syndicated cartoonist Aaron Warner included coloring “Adventures of Aaron” Sunday strips, producing the “Sparky and Tim” collection cover and typography and coloring for much of Aaron’s advertising studio work. His cover coloring for Scott Rosema’s “August” are now definitive of the character. His production assistance in Omega7’s “America’s Forgotten Children” publication helped lead to the recovery of several missing children. He letters for Viper and for Kaso Comics, has written scripts for Nicky Cruz Outreach and, locally, produces a full color, monthly entertainment magazine.

His current Aazurn Publishing projects include Xeric Grant Winner “Jazz: Cool Birth,” “The One” with “Adventures of Aaron” artist Aaron Warner, “Seductions” with Oz artist Bill Bryan and “Adam Among the Gods” with James Lyle. Lengthy articles detailing every step in Aazurn Publishing’s birth are cataloged at www.aazurn.com. Gary can be found at www.garyscottbeatty.com.

Ryan Claytor is a comics artist and professor living in Lansing, Michigan. In 2007, he earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from San Diego State University with an emphasis in multimedia, researching autobiography in comics. Claytor’s achievements have included a Cartoonist in Residence position at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco, California, visiting lecturerships at the Dallas Museum of Art and Michigan State University, an internship with Marvel Comics in New York City, and judging the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailing Award in 2007.  In early 2009 the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco featured an exhibition of his work and Claytor began teaching the first “Comics and Visual Narrative” class in Michigan State University’s history.  As a creator, Claytor is most widely known for his self-published, autobiographical, comic book series And Then One Day. Although the series has undergone several format changes and incarnations since its inception in 2004, And Then One Day readers are consistently treated with Claytor’s thoughtful and entertaining personal anecdotes immaculately packaged with a designer’s eye for production detail. Most recently, in the summer of 2008, he released a republication of his Master’s Thesis on autobiography in comics entitled Concatenations. For more information about Ryan Claytor or any of his work, visit his website www.ElephantEater.com

Jason Howard is a comic book artist whose most notable work is illustrating The Astounding Wolf-Man – written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics.  Jason’s website can be found at http://jasonhoward.blogspot.com

Mouse Guard creator David Petersen was born in 1977. His artistic career soon followed. A steady diet of cartoons, comics, and tree climbing fed his imagination and is what still inspires his work today. David won the 2007 Russ Manning Award for Most Promising Newcomer. In 2008, David won the Eisners for Best Publication for Kids (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 & Winter 1152) and Best Graphic Album – Reprint (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 Hardcover).  David and his wife Julia reside in Michigan with their dog Autumn. David’s website can be found at http://www.davidpetersen.net/