Can an animated children’s series REALLY teach you how to tell better stories? Absolutely! Avatar: The Last Airbender still has a massive worldwide fanbase twenty years after it debuted on Nickelodeon. Come for an interactive, upbeat discussion about what made the show so popular and enduring, and how it can help YOUR storytelling soar higher than any Airbender. Participants will leave with practical how-to's they can apply to any type of storytelling, from long-form writing to graphic novels. Led by author Daphne Tatum.

Grades: 6-12

Marvel! DC! Image! The biggest publishers have given us some of the most legendary heroes and villains in pop culture. But what does it take to create a universe of your own? Learn how to fill your pages with incredible world-building and craft a mythology that’s uniquely yours. Join our panel of powerhouse creators — Drew Edwards, Malcolm Harris, Kevin Garcia, and Gene Selassie — as they share insights on developing original worlds, unforgettable characters, and stories that stand the test of time.

Grades: 6-12

How well do you know your comics?  Think you know more than anyone else?  Well, attend this trivia game session and find out!  Put your comics knowledge to the test against other fans in this interactive trivia game session. (Sessions are separated by grade level; be sure to attend the correct one!)

Grades K-5 and 6-12

Unleash your creativity in this fun, hands-on comic-making session! Participants will take turns creating a comic together, with each panel drawn in just five minutes. Learn how to embrace spontaneity, collaboration, and storytelling on the fly! No drawing experience needed, just bring your imagination. Led by award-winning cartoonist Kat Fajardo.

Grades: K-12

Snakes are some of the most misunderstood and misidentified animals. Join Jessica Lee Anderson as she discusses the misleading portrayal of snakes in the media and in folklore, busts some common myths surrounding snakes, and shares her path from inspiration to publication for her NAOMI NASH chapter book series. Ambassador animals will be present for an opportunity to learn more about these unique creatures. 

Grades: K-12

Everyone wants to create a cool main character...but how do you do it? Come learn what it takes to make an awesome main character for your next story!

Grades: 6-12

Cosplay can be a lot upon first glance. This program, led by Len Nguyen, will take apart each component of an exceptional cosplay into easily digestible pieces to help attendees achieve the cosplay of their dreams! Topics will include making store bought costumes work, wigs and make-up, and bringing your character to life.

Grades: K-12

Critters, insects, and creatures!  Attendees will learn step-by-step how to draw the cute and stylistic designs used by Alejandro Juvera to create enamel pins. From insects, amphibians, and cute little rodents, join this session and walk away with your own drawing!

Grades:  K-12

Netflix' smash hit series spotlighted Dungeons & Dragons as played by kids from 1983-1989. How does one play Dungeons & Dragons? How did the D&D played by Will, Mike, Lucas and Dustin differ from the current game? What did Eddie bring to the table once they reached High School? Are gamer girls really as rare as Erica, Max and Holly?

The answers to these and other questions will be discussed in an interactive presentation about the 1983 Dungeons & Dragons rules, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, and the current D&D- including the official Stranger Things campaign!Led by Jeffrey Webb

Grades 6-12

Join this session for tips and simple tricks to present a good action scene with an emphasis on adding style and drama to the panel of shot.   Aspiring Artists and newcomers will be able to understand the importance of key poses and dramatic shots in a scene. Led by artist and animator Christopher Juarez

Grades K-12

Fandom and Career encourages those who enjoy fan-created works and communities to understand and utilize the pathways that fandom can lead to a professional career. In this presentation we will cover the history of fan-related work and its legitimacy in professional networks. Participants will gain an understanding between the relationship of fandom spaces and the pathways to a career in industries such as comics, animation, and film. Led by artist and writer Tanya Churchill.

Grades 6-12

This year's Gaming Hall will be held in the DragonLibrary.  Activities include tabletop gaming with the Royal Dragoon Guard and retro video gaming with David Jureka.

Grades: K-12

Ever wondered how to make your character truly memorable? Come listen to comic book creators who have studied pop culture for over 30 years and share what they have found creates a memorable character for any work of fiction. 

Grades K-12

Level up your character drawing skills in this no-experience-required workshop with a professional artist and game developer! By the end of this workshop, you'll know how to use basic shapes, measuring skills, and more to create great character portraits from your imagination. Whether you want to draw anime, manga, comics, cartoons, or realism, this talk is for you! Led by Chloe Janowski.

Grades 6-12

Join SPONGEBOB COMICS cartoonist Gregg Schigiel as he explains the ins and outs of drawing SpongeBob SquarePants (and friends). Follow along to his step-by-step instructions and walk away with your own drawing of SpongeBob and watch and learn how he draws SpongeBob's friends in Bikini Bottom. Participants will learn to draw SpongeBob with their own drawing as a souvenir!

Grades K-12

Horror Comics are a specific rules.  It's not like you can do a jump scare in four colors! Learn from the creative team of IPI's The Matron, as they walk you through how to create scary comics that chill and thrill readers.

Grades 6-12

Samantha M Clark has created brand new worlds with magical creatures, alien plants and scrummy food. Join her in this fun presentation where YOU too will create a brand new world with the power of your mind. 

Grades: K-8

Hands-on crafts and projects are available for students to make and take.

Grades K-12

Bryan and Selah Douglas of Pathway Comics will help you craft a four panel comic strip from scratch.  We cover character creation, character foils, reversal of fortune, bringing the micro stories of comic strips full circle, and much more. 

Grades: K-12

Interested in what goes into making art for video games, if this can be a career, what skills you need to learn and practice, and where to start?   Join presenter Alicia Andrew to discover how to make the worlds you love to explore. (grades 6-12)

Grades: K-12

David Bowles will discuss the graphic novel series TALES OF THE FEATHERED SERPENT that he and illustrator Charlene Bowles collaborate to create. Participants will learn the steps taken by David and Charlene in adapting myths and legends in graphic novel form. 

Grades 6-12

Hana Sperschneider presents a drawing workshop that provides a step by step guide for starting a human body and face, then ways to make it more your own. Participants will be able to understand standard proportion when it comes to humans as well as a few ways to change things up! 

Grades K-12

Learn the process of self publishing from someone who has done it to the point they decided to just become a publisher. Both the overall process and pains of self-publishing will be covered. Led by Malcolm Harris. 

Grades 6-12

Did you know you can read thousands of comics for free online (legally)? Did you know the first woman superhero and the first comic book made entirely by Black creators weren't published by Marvel or DC? Did you know you can use these characters to make your own stories - legally!? Learn about the public domain and superheroes! Led by Kevin Garcia. 

Grades 6-12

Think you're pretty good at solving puzzles? See if you can solve this escape room and UNLOCK THE HIDDEN CODE!  Based on PJ Hoover's book, The Hidden Code.

Grades 4-12

Participants will learn how to tell their own original story across multiple forms:  a comic, a book, a game, a song and a costume. With 3 sentences of your original story, Jan Bozarth will show you how to make it into 5 different things - a game, a costume, a song, a book, and a web comic. By thinking about your story in these ways you can tell your story to different people in different places.

Grades 6-8