Recap: Tidewater Comicon 2025

We are back from Tidewater Comicon in Virginia Beach! Curls Studio had a great time and enjoyed catching up with fellow exhibitors. Our booth was next to Ben Bishop, who we first met in 2008 at our very first New York Comic Con. It was great to reminisce with him and also say hello to the Kids Love Comics crew and even enjoy their programming (see pencil photo that matches my nail polish choices perfectly).

We did get to spend a short amount of time at the beach before the show on both days -- even after waking up early to enjoy that experience it was definitely HOT! It's always a cool opportunity to sell comics within walking distance to the Atlantic Ocean.

As with shows they must go on and roll with the punches -- one of the main guests Alan Tudyk could not appear due to plane flight issues with American Airlines. I didn't see any of the celebrities, but did get to walk around a bit to see the show floor. Big thanks to the crew and organizers of Tidewater Comicon -- we hope to be back in the future.

Tidewater Comicon is June 28-29, 2025

Good vibrations coming to Tidewater Comicon on June 28-29, 2025 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center with celebrity guests, comic book creators, voice actors, and much more. Children 10 and under get in free with the purchase of an adult pass. Excited for Curls Studio to exhibit at Tidewater Comicon to celebrate their 11th year!

Virginia Beach Convention Center
1000 19th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451

SHOW HOURS
Saturday: 10:30am-6pm (VIP entry 10am) Sunday: 11:30am-5pm (VIP entry 11am)

World Press Freedom Day Celebration 2025

On May 5 many DC area cartoonists gathered to celebrate World Press Freedom Day with a panel of legendary cartoonists out on the front lines of free speech — and for the announcement of the 2025 Robert Russell Courage in Cartooning Award by Cartoonists Rights.

The award was given to Zehra Ömeroğlu, a Turkish cartoonist who appeared on screen via pre-recorded video. She has been the target of criminal prosecution for a pandemic sex humor cartoon published in 2020 and faces a three year prison sentence (to give you an idea of the content think about a loss of taste and smell joke). I was surprised to not know about this cartoon and the cartoonist's work/life impact... until five years later and it's still going on.

Panel participants included Barry Blitt (The New Yorker) Kevin "KAL" Kallaugher (The Economist), Joel Pett (Tribune Content Agency), and Signe Wilkinson (Philadelphia Inquirer). The moderator was Roslyn Mazer (SU Alumna and Free Expression Champion).

Katherine Jacobsen of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) delivered a keynote address.

Event sponsored by: Cartoonists Rights, Committee to Protect Journalists, Freedom Cartoonists, The Herb Block Foundation

Spring Lot Con is this Sunday, May 18, 2025

Join us for the annual Spring Lot Con on Sunday, May 18, 2025 from Noon-4PM at Comic Logic in Ashburn, VA with a bunch of local creators, artists, writers, and crafters for a nice day hanging out in the parking lot. Food trucks will be around for lunch. There will also be balloon animals. We are excited to sell our comics and merchandise at Lot Con again.

Comic Logic is located at 44031 Ashburn Shopping Plz, # 281 Ashburn, VA 20147.

Recap: CulpeperCon 2025

I had a great time at CulpeperCon on March 22, 2025 hosted by the Culpeper County Library. Curls Studio came into town the day before to settle in since the keynote would start at 9AM. We got to see some of the town and visited two comic shops in the area (Collector's Den and Final Boss -- both locations had posters up to advertise CulpeperCon). Since the event coincided with the town's Restaurant Week, we got to take advantage of the incentive at Pinto Thai, where a robot served us our dinner meal! This is the first time I've had a robot bring meals to the table. 

My keynote was titled, "How Comics Shape Minds and Health" -- showcasing some of my portfolio in the beginning so people who don't know me have a background on what I've done so far, including some items I don't show too often. I showcased how reading comics enhance our brains and different ways of thinking and then went into my "Cartoonists First Aid" which focuses on nutrition and encourages physical movement. I provided stretches and mobility poses to implement for people who work desk and knowledge jobs. The keynote speech is available for watching on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7ELa3KbJ4k

After my keynote, many people came up to me saying they learned a lot and were going to try to take more breaks throughout the day. Some people were familiar with my work and still had no idea some of the work I showed from my portfolio in the beginning. I was good to get that instant feedback to know people got inspired to become healthy because if you aren't healthy you can't draw, write, or achieve your larger goals in life. 

At CulpeperCon I got my blood pressure checked at UVA Health's table, saw the robotics section, painted a rubber duck as Curls, saw the escape room table, and more. It was cool to have the whole library absorbed into a comic con event with activities and multiple tables filled with local businesses, artists, games, and more. Thank you to the keynote sponsor Fountain Hall and to Friends of the Culpeper County Library for putting this event on and thinking to ask me to be a part of the event.

Awesome Con 2025

Curls Studio will be at the 12th year of Awesome Con in Artist Alley Table C-38 at the DC Convention Center April 4-6, 2025. Say hi and peruse our original comics, stickers, prints, enamel pins, magnets, and more! We will have the debut of issue 22 of Magic Bullet, a large format comics newspaper featuring Washington, DC based creators.

Awesome Con Short Film Festival presented by Joe Carabeo with Astray Productions will have three days of programming (see schedule below) as well as an award show and filmmaker meet-up on Saturday at 4:45PM in Room 204 (with cake to celebrate). Check out the wrestling belts the winners receive! Hope to see you at Awesome Con.

Friday, April 4 | Action, Horror, Sci Fi | 2:00-4:30 pm
Saturday, April 5 | Comedy, Drama | 2:00-4:30 pm
Saturday, April 5 | Awards Celebration | 4:45-5:45 pm
Sunday, April 6 | And Beyond! | 2:15-4:45 pm

VOTE FOR 2025 AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
astrayproductions.com/vote

CulpeperCon 2025 Keynote Speaker

Join us at CulpeperCon for a celebration of graphic novels, pop culture, and storytelling -- connecting fans and creators through interactive events, art, and community. The event has many activities lined up: Bingo, Lego, Special Effects Makeup, Cosplay Contest, Games, Pokémon, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Scavenger Hunt, and more. 

I've been asked to be the keynote speaker at 9AM on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Hope to see you there!

Culpeper Con is Culpeper County Library's premier annual graphic novel and comic book convention, hosted by the Friends of the Culpeper County Library. Culpeper County Public Library is in the Southgate Shopping Center (271 Southgate Shopping Center, Culpeper, VA 22701).