Oh my goodness, TWO updates today to the HeroesCon 2010 Guest List, back to back, suckazzz! First we’ll do the “edgy” update, featuring the return of some sweet peeps to HeroesCon’s already star-studded Indie Island. Behold more stars for the studding:

JIM MAHFOOD (his shirt from HeroesCon 2008 pictured at right), returns in triumph again this year. Jim’s been in comics a ridiculously long time for someone so young, with work including Felt, Grrl Scouts, Clerks, and more recently Carl, The Cat That Makes Peanut Butter Sandwiches.

ANDY RUNTON, the eternally smiling creator of the Owly series of all ages graphic novels, and a perennial favorite at HeroesCon, will be located within the Top Shelf Tower of Power™ somewhere within Indie Island itself. If you’re a fan of Lost, think of it like the Temple.

ROB ULLMAN is the creator of Atom-Bomb Bikini, Grand Gestures, Lunch-Hour Comix, and the upcoming Sellout–he’s also a prime stop on the vaunted Heroes sketch circuit, so you guys that collect original art and con sketches, don’t miss out of Rob’s brushy goodness!

ROB VENDITTI has returned (for now) from his sojourn in the land of “Hollywood”, where they made a big movie out of his graphic novel The Surrogates. He’s still just “Rob From The Block” though, and you can catch him along with Andy in the aforementioned “T.o.P™”.

JASON YUNGBLUTH, creator of the Weapon Brown webcomic (among others) will be making his HeroesCon debut this year in Indie Island, adding to the already ridiculous lineup of webcomics creators we’ve got this year.

Oh! That reminds me, speaking of webcomics, I have a few cancellations to announce in Indie Island. Unsuperfortunately for us, KC Green and New Reliable Press publisher Ed Brisson have had to pull out of this year’s show, more than likely because they don’t like me. Sniff! Hopefully we can have them back in future years, once we get rid of .. me! Also cancelling his appearance is “Dashing” Ryan North, although he has a way better excuse: he’s getting married this summer, and has had to cut back on his convention appearances as a result. As Miracle Max said, true love is like “a nice MLT, mutton-lettuce-and-tomato, where the mutton is nice and lean. So perky, I love it!” So congrats to Ryan and his presumably blushing bride!

Okay! I’d say more but I need to get the next update out still! Whew!

Hey Small Pressers! If you were one of the last few people to squeak in with a Small Press table purchase, or had something you needed me to change about your listing, those have been updated! I’m sure I probably missed a couple here and there, so if there’s something wrong or if I missed you, drop me a line and we’ll work it out. And thanks for your patience everybody!

Yessirree, this year 12 Gauge Comics is coming loaded for BEAR! Making his first ever trip to HeroesCon this year is former WWE, WCW, and TNA wrestling champeen Mick Foley, aka “Mankind,” aka “Cactus Jack,” aka “Dude Love” (my personal favorite). He’s also the author of a few New York Times bestselling memoirs. But you might be thinking–“hey–HeroesCon doesn’t usually have media-type guests, what’s the dealio?” Well rest easy friends: Mick will be announcing a brand new comic he’s writing for 12 Gauge at the show! The details are shrouded in mystery, but Mick will be writing it, and it looks suspiciously like Brian Stelfreeze will be doing covers. Looks like 12 Gauge is going for a repeat of the uber-swamped Rosario Dawson appearances of 2007 and 2008! Mick will only be appearing on Saturday, as he has wrestling engagements on Friday and Sunday (what a life!)…

But there all three days will be Rebekah Isaacs, who is the artist on the new DV8 relaunch from Wildstorm, penned by Brian Wood! Rebekah has also worked previously on Ms Marvel, Hack/Slash, and Drafted, but odds are she’ll be at the 12 Gauge booth talking about her upcoming creator-owned book Magus, written by Jon Price and David Norton, who will both be appearing with her. Whoa nellie!

And rounding up (alphabetically) this update is Rico Renzi, who actually confirmed months ago but who I just now remembered to add. Poor guy, but a patient guy too (fortunately). Rico is a colorist par excellence, recently coloring on Stumptown, Prelude to Deadpool Corps (over Dave Johnson art), the upcoming from 12 Gauge Loose Ends, and Perhapanauts. He’s also as giggly as a closet full of Tele-Tubbies. Love that dude.

Okay, still more to come! Plus two big chunks of news hopefully later this evening!

Goodness gracious it’s the wee hours but I SO MANY new HeroesCon 2010 Guest List names to announce this week. I hope these guys will forgive me for going super fast and not writing a ton about each of them, though they all deserve it. But I still need to get the Small Press updated before bedtimes! So without further ado:

PAUL AZACETA is an artist with work in books including Amazing Spider-Man (pictured above), Potter’s Field, B.P.R.D. 1946, and a bunch of others. He’s super tall too. #fact

JUNE BRIGMAN is the co-creator of Power Pack, and currently a professor at SCAD and the artist of Brenda Starr, which is coincidentally inked and lettered by her husband ROY RICHARDSON, who also joins the list today. He’s ALSO a professor at SCAD, and has worked in the past on books including Captain America, Iron Man, The Flash, Star Wars, and tons more.

TALENT CALDWELL is the penciller behind Fathom: Killian’s Tide and Fathom: Dawn of War, as well as more recently The Web and Batgirl. I do believe this is his very first time to HeroesCon, so be sure to stop by his table and welcome him.

ERIK JONES is another first-timer to the con, and we’re happy to have him. He works mainly as a cover artist, on books like NOLA, The Unknown, and Jennifer’s Body.

ALEX SAVIUK is no stranger to HeroesCon–no stranger at all! These days he’s the artist on the Spider-Man newspaper strip, but he’s also drawn for Web of Spider-Man, The Phantom, X-Files, Green Lantern, and the Eisner-nominated Feast of the Seven Fishes.

And new to the Indie Island list this week (also the main list, but you know)

DAVID MACK is new to HeroesCon, and is not the David Mack you’re thinking of, unless you’re thinking of THIS David Mack. A minicomic impresario of no small talent, the Athens resident has produced a TON of awesome minis, including Otto, Fifty Fearful Faces, Wolf City, and Some Things I’ve Dreamed.

JOEL WATSON is the creator and purveyor of the HijiNKS ENSUE webcomic, not to mention creator of t-shirts that get worn by such pop culture studs as J.J. Abrams, Wil Wheaton, Jonathan Coulton, and Edward James Olmos. I just call him “E.J.”

Okay! On to Small Press!

Today’s update to the HeroesCon 2010 Guest List comes packed with delicious, vitamin-fortified goodness — returning to the mighty halls of the Charlotte Convention Center will be Rantz Hoseley and Jason Levesque, the editor and cover artist, respectively, of the Eisner and Harvey Award winning Comic Book Tattoo anthology! When he’s not racking up comic awards, Rantz is also the CEO of Longbox Digital, a new comic book e-reading and digital download service that’s currently in beta-testing.

Jason, who prior to doing the Comic Book Tattoo cover was just an illustrator, is these days turning into a go-to comics cover artist, with work on The Many Loves of Spider-Man, X-Force, and more; not to mention a couple of artbooks (Girls Are Pretty and Pretty Gross). Awesome to have these two Tori Amos-loving dudes back in the hizzy.

Also back today is our old buddy Jim Amash, who if you get rushed for time getting sketches you should visit–Jim can draw in pretty much any style and is a hoot to chat with while he draws for you. Recently he’s been working on a number of all-ages books including Sonic Universe, Jughead, Scooby-Doo and more–plus his work as a writer/editor for Alter Ego and on books like Sal Buscema: Comics’ Fast And Furious Artist.

Tsunami Studios’ Robert Atkins returns this year–every year his resume gets a little more awesome; these days it includes GI Joe, Amazing Spider-Man, Ultimate Fantastic Four, and more. He’s also currently working on a creator owned project coming out from Ape Entertainment early next year. Robert’s joined by fellow Tsunamist Kelly Yates, who’s most recently been working on a myriad of different Doctor Who comics, including The Forgotten and Autopia. He’s also the creator of the Amber Atoms series from Image!

Doug Dabbs is another whose star is on the rise since his graduation from SCAD– besides work on Resurrection, Doug is currently illustrating his first graphic novel, Holiday, to be published by Oni Press. And last up this week is newcomer Corinna Bechko–a zookeeper by day and writer by night, Corinna’s recent comics work includes Heathentown and the Zuda comic The Crooked Man. Please welcome her to her first HeroesCon as a guest!

What are you kidding me? Brand new to the HeroesCon 2010 Guest List today is Pixar artist painter, cartoonist, and all around art stud Scott Morse, he of Magic Pickle, Noble Boy, Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!, Red Window, and a ton more. Like literally, a ton. And somewhere in the middle of all that he finds time to work on Pixar movies including Wall-E and Ratatouille. Gracious! This is Scott’s first time to HeroesCon, and he’s sure to be mobbed as much by other artists as by fans!

Also first-timing it this year is Nathan Fox, who just announced the collection of his Heavy Metal story Fluorescent Black! Nathan is another guy with a legion of drooling admirers–his lush wild style is insane, I could look at his stuff all day. Besides the new book, recently he worked on Dark Reign: Zodiac, Pigeons From Hell, and a bunch of others.

Another firstie this year is Ming Doyle, who has been making comics for a while but is really making a splash these days, from Girl Comics to Jennifer’s Body, Zombie Tales, and more. You guys you guys–her stuff is insane, do yourself a favor and get on her sketch list early, you will walk away crying tears of joy, this I swear..

Two non-new dudes just added to the list are Rick Spears and Ben Towle–Rick is the writer behind Teenagers From Mars, Black Metal, Pirates of Coney Island, and a bajillion others. Super nice to have him back–unlike Ben Towle, who is frankly a little hard to handle, what with his rages and his tantrums and his binge gambling. If you can catch him when he’s nice and calm though, he’s pretty awesome. This year will see the release of his new book Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean, which is about just what you think it is. Another feather in “Dangerous” Ben Towle’s cap, following the critical successes of Midnight Sun and Farewell, Georgia!

Whew! Man, this is going to be our biggest Indie Island ever–hope I can figure out where to stick all these people..

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! Heroes Aren’t Hard To Find has become famous across the country for throwing one of the most rip-roaringest, rootin-tootinest, BIGGEST Free Comic Book Day bashes anywhere! And this year we’re really going nuts!

FIRST: From 10-9 on Saturday, May 1st, we’ll  be giving away copies of select comic books! I don’t mean a few either–it’s around 2 dozen different titles! There’s no catch either–just show up to get your copies, while supplies last! We won’t be mad if you spend some money though, and we’ll have plenty to spend it on, with special stocks of dollar books on hand, sale items throughout the store, deals on books and toys and statues and whatever else Shelton has been collecting on his travels!

SECOND: From 1-5 pm we’ll be hosting all these guys, who’ll be participating in a MEGA signing, not to mention doing FREE sketches:

MARK BROOKS (Amazing Spider-Man)
CHRIS BRUNNER (Legends of the Dark Knight, Loose Ends)
NATHAN EDMONDSON (The Light, Olympus)
IAN FLYNN (Sonic the Hedgehog)
SANFORD GREENE (Wonder Girl, Method Man)
CULLY HAMNER (Detective Comics, Red)
ADAM HUGHES (Wonder Woman, Tomb Raider)
JASON LATOUR (Loose Ends, The Expatriate)
TOM LYLE (Amazing Spider-Man)
BUDD ROOT (Cavewoman)
ANDY SMITH (Nevermore, Superman Confidential)
ALLISON SOHN (Lord of the Rings: Evolution)
BRIAN STELFREEZE (Batman, The Ride)

Good gravy! NOTE that free sketches are at the discretion of the artists, and are in no way guaranteed. Many thanks to everyone for donating their time so kindly, but there will be A LOT of people there and they can’t do sketches for everyone. Some may choose to accept donations for different charities, so please respect that as well–I know Sanford collects for a charity on Free Comic Book Day, so don’t be shy about ponying up a little scratch for him.

And, if that wasn’t enough, THIRD we have an amazing POST-Free Comic Book Day celebration! We’ll be heading up the street to one of the coolest new night-spots in Charlotte, TWENTY-TWO, a gallery and wine bar that is s-w-w-w-wank! Besides the fact that the owners Rodney and Lise are friends of ours, they’re also hosting THIS:

SUPER! The Fine Art Of Comics is a month long art exhibit featuring original art from some of the biggest names at HeroesCons past and present, as well as some choice pieces from Shelton Drum‘s personal collection! Saturday night we’ll have the opening exhibition at Twenty-Two, and then the exhibit will run throughout the month of May, with the closing party scheduled for Friday, June 4–right after day one of HeroesCon! Just a few of the names who will have art hanging–Adam Hughes, Tony Harris, Brian Stelfreeze, Joe Jusko… the list goes on and on. This will be a perfect capper to an awesome day–hope to see you there!

New to the HeroesCon 2010 Guest List! Ben McCool, co-creator of the hit series Choker with fellow guest Ben Templesmith! Ben (McC, not T-smith) has been to HeroesCon before just to have fun, but this will be his first time as a full-on guest! He’s racking up a ton of credits lately too–besides Choker, he’s got the upcoming Memoir, and I think has a couple more secret announcements saved up as well! He’ll be accompanied by his bride-to-be, our buddy Heidi MacDonald, editor-in-chief of The Beat. Heidi’s always a welcome site around the convention center, rapping with people, sittting on panels, slapping playa-haytaz in the face, what-have-you. She’s good people!

Also new this week is first-time guest David Wohl, who’s worked for Marvel Comics, been President at Top Cow Productions, and is now Editor-In-Chief at Radical Publishing. His credits  include Executive Assistant: Iris, Witchblade, Aphrodite IX, and tons and TONS more–super awesome to have him!

Mike Lilly is also making his HeroesCon debut this year–artist on Black Terror, as well as a past artist on Vampirella, Quasar, Nightwing, and more. I BET he’d love to draw in your sketchbook at the show, all you sketchbook hounds. He’s joined on the list by Tsunami Studios members Jason Walker and Garry McKee, who between them have worked on numerous illustrations for trading card sets including the new Iron Man 2 series, and for gaming companies like White Wolf, Wizards of the Coast, and more!

Oh man. Such a massive update today to the HeroesCon 2010 Guest List. I wish I had more time to really go IN-DEPTH talking excitements about all these sweet peeps, but Free Comic Book Day is right around the corner! So I hope they and you will forgive me for hitting each one really quick so I can get back to the other six piles of work on my desk! Okay here goes:

REBECCA BUCHMAN is an inker with (I believe) Studio Revolver in Atlanta, who’s worked on Green Lantern Corps, Thunderbolts, Avengers: the Initiative, JSA and a bunch more.

RICH FABER is the inker and editor on the all-ages hit Buzzboy, as well as the creator of Roboy Red and others. He also has inked books including Green Lantern, Adventures of Superman, and more.

JANET LEE is making her HeroesCon debut this year, as the artist of Return of the Dapper Men from Archaia Studio Press. She’s also making her debut to comics, so make her feel welcome to both!

JAMES “DOODLE” LYLE is a HeroesCon mainstay who’s worked on a ton of books including the new Dark Candle, The PLUS, Turok, and more.

JIM MCCANN writes the ongoing Hawkeye & Mockingbird series, as well as writing and co-creating Return of the Dapper Men.

TOM RANEY (who did the pencils above) has penciled most everything, most recently Dark Reign: Hawkeye and Black Widow: Deadly Origin. And before that Thor, X-Men, Warlock & The Infinity Watch–like I said, tons of stuff.

CRAIG ROUSSEAU. Love this dude. Studly artist of The Perhapanauts, you might also have espied Craig on Iron Man: Armor Wars, the new Marvel Free Comic Book Day book, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, and more. You ask him yourself, why don’t you?

ROD WHIGHAM has most recently worked on GI Joe from IDW, although he’s still the artist on the syndicated Gil Thorp newspaper strip. He’s also known for work on The Punisher, The Shadow, and Justice League!

Okay! More to come, but that’s plenty for now, am I right?

Oh my goodness oh my goodness oh my goodness, new additions to the HeroesCon 2010 Guest List, including these guys:

Have you ever met Richard Thompson? Holy crap what a sweetie-pants. He was a guest back in 2008 and blew my mind he was so nice, just insanely a sweet guy. Although he’s a quiet talker, so you have to lean close. And he’s not a big guy, so you have to stoop down. I KID, I KID! Richard can afford a little smack-talk from lil ole me, because he gets nothing but accolades from anywhere else–besides being the creator of the incredibly well-loved Cul de Sac newspaper strip, he also has done the Washington Post’s “Richard’s Poor Almanack” column for years, and has done illustration for the Post, the New York Times, the New Yorker–whoever. You name it.

And he’s been nominated for the Reuben award more than once, including this year–next to the Pulitzer, the Reuben is about as big as it gets for a cartoonist. Imagine the Eisners but if there was a “The One Ring” Eisner called THE Eisner.” That’s THE Reuben. Just so you know (super proud of Richard) (did you guys get the Lord of the Rings reference?).

But enough about that guy–how about this:

Erika Moen is one of the most popular web cartoonists working today–she just wrapped up her long long LONGGGG-running diary strip “Dar,” in order (I think) to pursue new projects. Surely like a book or something right? Pretty sure that must be it. When she’s not publishing an insanely popular strip, she’s a member of Portland’s Periscope Studios, along with fellow guests Jeff Parker, Steve Lieber, and a bajillion others. Man that place, whoa. This will be Erika’s first trip to Charlotte, so I hope you guys will make her feel welcome!

But wait that’s not all! Also new to the guest list today are our buddies Pat Bollin, who besides his work on Oni’s Resurrection comic has some new secret unannounced graphic novel coming out next year that he can’t talk about.

Unlike Chris Giarrusso, who LOVES to talk about his G-Man creation, a popular series of all-ages friendly superhero digests. And you might know him as the writer and artists of the Mini Marvels, those round-headed versions of Marvel’s heroes!

Tariq Hassan is another of our chums–guys, we know like everybody–and a member of Georgia’s Studio Revolver. His work includes The Guild, Wizards of the Coasts books, and working as an artist on the Archer animated series on FX!

Harold Sipe is the writer of Screamland, as well as the writer of the new Garters & Ghouls series from IDW, an adaptation of the popular game–AND Harold is an old buddy of ours AND a North Carolinian AND a former customer in the store! No offense, but when customers make it into comics we are always super proud. If you were not a customer of ours, there is still time to buy something and rectify this.

Okay! Have a great weekend, everybody!