STAPLE! 2025 Guests & Speakers
Kazu Kibuishi is the writer and illustrator of the Amulet graphic novel series. He is the editor of the FLIGHT and EXPLORER comics anthologies. Kazu is also the creator of the graphic novel Daisy Kutter: The Last Train and the webcomic Copper. In 2012, he illustrated the covers for the 15th anniversary edition of Harry Potter for Scholastic. He lives and works in the Texas Hill Country. https://www.boltcityproductions.com/
Kazu will be appearing on Sunday only.
Brian Blomerth is an illustrator, cartoonist and musician based in Brooklyn whose previous publications include the wildly popular visual histories Brian Blomerth’s Bicycle Day (2019), Brian Blomerth’s Mycelium Wassonii (2021) and Brian Blomerth’s Lilly Wave (2025). A veteran of the underground music and arts scene whose work has graced numerous album covers, posters, and clothing lines, Blomerth is also the author of the zines Cornhatch’s Party Patch, Xak’s Wax, iPhone 64: A User’s Guide, and Hypermaze. brianblomerth.com ///Instagram///.
Julia Kaye is a cartoonist best known for the critically acclaimed webcomic Up and Out. She’s the author of the award-winning comic memoirs Super Late Bloomer, which The Beat listed as one of the 100 best comics of the 2010s, My Life In Transition, and the recent minicomic It Was So Warm. For the past decade Julia has worked as a story artist in the tv animation industry at major studios and also voiced the character of Snapdragon on High Guardian Spice. Julia lives in Los Angeles. https://www.juliakaye.com/
Dale Wallain is a designer, illustrator, writer, and the Art Director of FÖDA, an award-winning brand consultancy in Austin. He spent a whole entire decade drawing caricatures at an amusement park and a year as an editorial intern at Marvel Comics while attending Sarah Lawrence College. Dale holds an MFA in Design from the University of Texas and has served as an Adjunct Design Faculty member at St. Edward’s University. Though he is currently working in New York City, Los Angeles, Aspen, Houston, San Antonio & Menlo Park, his favorite shop, Austin Books & Comics, has kindly let him hang out on the payroll for nearly twenty years. Dale is a co-creator of the infinitely hiatal Misprint Magazine.
Michelle Habecker – Senior Industry Relations Specialist
Texas Film Commission / Office of the Governor
Michelle began her career in the Entertainment Industry working primarily for Sony Music Entertainment in both New York and Los Angeles. She also has experience working in fashion retail, wholesale, sales, and marketing. In 2012 Michelle relocated to Austin, Texas and joined the incentives team working at the Texas Film Commission. Her responsibilities expanded to include facilitating engagement opportunities for industry partners, including education and outreach opportunities for a variety of stakeholder groups. Michelle currently manages the Film Friendly Texas Program, a statewide program that connects media industry professionals with skilled community liaisons to provide local expertise and production support.