MARK MARIANO
Mark Mariano is an award winning cartoonist and creative whirlwind that loves to tell stories through comics and picture books. His books include LOUD COW, PUDDLETON FARM, and FAR OUT FIREHOUSE. As proud organizer of the traveling Kids Love Comics pavilion for several comic conventions, Mark assembles the roster of super-talented artists, and creates the programming. Being an advocate of comics in the classroom, he enjoys visiting schools and sharing his love of art and storytelling.
CHRIS MARIANO
Chris Mariano is the co-creator of the award winning children’s book, CLAIRE LOST HER BEAR AT THE WORLD’S FAIR. As a pop a culture archaeologist, Chris loves to study and research the history of old toys, movies, video games, amusement parks, and anything out of the ordinary. His love of pop culture and imagination was the foundation for his popular Web Series, THE CHRIS O>MATIC SHOW, which ran for 186 episodes. Chris’ enthusiasm for the arts is contagious when he dons the famous blue jacket and becomes the ringmaster and creative coach for family events and workshops at many comic conventions.
JOHN GALLAGHER
John Gallagher is the art director of the NWF’s “Ranger Rick” magazine, cofounder of “Kids Love Comics” (an organization that uses graphic novels to promote literacy), and leads workshops teaching kids how to create their own comics. John lives in Virginia with his wife and their three kids.
NICK DAVIS
Nick Davis is an Englishman in the USA and the writer and occasional artist of the Night Guardians, the ongoing adventures of heroic kids and cuddly toys who bump back against the bumps in the night and their master, the Boogeyman.
Once upon a time in a green and pleasant land far, far away, Nick labored as a feature writer and production assistant on Games Workshops’ Monthly Hobby Magazine White Dwarf during the Paul ‘Fat Bloke’ Sawyer years with a small stint on the USA version of the magazine – it was a golden time and inspired Nick to create Alt World Studios, an independent creative voice for storytelling on the interwebs.
Post Games Workshop, Nick works as a digital web marketing architect, graphic designer, storyteller, and sometimes artist. Occasionally, he can be found plodding away on a worn out keyboard or attempting to draw or playing with Lego while he explores the tea-powered worlds of his imagination.
Adventures ahead!!!
CHRIS FLICK
Chris is a professional illustrator, cartoonist, caricaturist and UI/UX web and graphic designer working in the Washington, DC area.
In 2007, he created the webcomic Capes & Babes featuring Roy the Werewolf and has published five books on Amazon.com. You can read all 1,100 strips at
Chris attends several conventions throughout the year where he primarily draws people as cartoon werewolves and other monsters, sells mash-up posters, coloring books, stickers and so much more. He also recently published a guide to tabling at conventions called “Conventional Wisdom”. You can also listen to him on the brand new Nerd Salad podcast wherever you download your podcasts from.
CAROLYN BELEFSKI & JOE CARABEO
Carolyn Belefski creates and publishes original comics and illustrations, including her comic strip Curls. She is artist of the comic books Black Magic Tales, French Fry Club, and The Legettes. Carolyn is a visual communicator, cartoonist, designer, and illustrator whose credits include work for The Obama Administration White House, Clorox, United States National Wildlife Federation, and many others. Carolyn has hosted workshops for Kids Love Comics, AIGA, United States National Archives, and more to teach others about comics and unlock creative abilities. Carolyn designs and produces wearable art such as bandanas, buttons, and enamel pins. She serves as Washington, DC chapter chair of the National Cartoonists Society.
Joe Carabeo is an award-winning filmmaker, photographer, and writer. Throughout his career Joe has injected his style of characters, world building, and social commentary into films that have been played at many festivals. He’s also written comic books that have seen print around the country and has produced photography that has graced the pages of magazines of all formats and genres. Joe and Carolyn Belefski created “The Carolyn and Joe Show” one of the first and longest running podcasts hailing from Washington, DC area. Joe constantly aims to always be on the fringe, to zig when people zag, and to pour his guts on the table for people to see, because he believes that is true storytelling.
