First Guest Speakers Announced for April 13-14 'Wildcat Comic Con'

With a lineup that includes an Emmy Award winner, a National Book Award finalist and a recognized leader in introducing comic books and graphic novels to school libraries, the inaugural Wildcat Comic Con promises to deliver a host of cartoonists, authors and industry trailblazers to Pennsylvania College of Technology.

More than 30 talented writers, artists and experts in the fields of comics, graphic novels, animation and video-game development, as well as pioneers from the educational and library markets, are anticipated to be among the presenters and panelists at the groundbreaking April 13-14 event on Penn College's main campus in Williamsport.

""We will have programming developed for students, fans, teachers and librarians, and, as far as I am aware, Penn College is the first educational institution in the country to create such an all-encompassing approach to the comics convention format," said John Shableski, program organizer and publisher liaison.

What's really exciting about the speakers we have for this event is they will be seen not just as presenters, but teachers as well," he said. "Many of these attendees will be working with students who want a career in some aspect of the comics world, game development and even costume design for the film industry."

Registration will begin Nov. 1 for the Wildcat Comic Con, which will reflect the exponential growth in the use of comics in the K-12 classroom as teachers are discovering that comics allow more students to discover the joy of reading.

"At Wildcat Comic Con, we will be presenting programs that focus on the teaching and learning elements, as well as the pedagogy of the comics medium and graphic-novel format," Shableski explained. "Librarians will also find great programs created specifically for their profession. From the art of title selection to creating an effective collection development policy, there will be a wide variety of subject areas covered for them, as well."

Among the first speakers to commit are Dean Haspiel, who has played an influential role in the comics and graphic-novel world; David Small, an award-winning children's illustrator who splashed into the comics medium with his memoir, "Stitches;" and Barry Lyga, whose "Free Comic Book Day" led to a guest appearance on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered."