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/
Jason Poland is a cartoonist and tabletop games illustrator who has delighted fans with his heartwarming and hilarious work for the past two decades. His breakout comic series, Robbie and Bobby, spanned over a thousand strips. He has illustrated for the tabletop games Your Friend is Sad: A Game by Shen & Friends, Swords: Cut the Deck, Heck: A Tiny Card Game, and the upcoming Cat Vs Human. Currently, he makes the fang-tastic webcomic, My Dad is Dracula in Houston, Texas. http://www.mydadisdracula.com
Zach Cranor is the cartoonist behind the wildly popular webcomic Last Place Comics, a comedy strip known for its surreal and unpredictable humor. In addition to his own work, Zach has contributed as a guest artist and writer to well-known webcomics such as Cyanide and Happiness, Litterbox Comics, and Swords. He also contributed to the book Mr. Lovenstein Presents: FEELINGS.
https://lnk.bio/SORu
https://lastplacecomics.com
Mad Rupert is a comic artist and writer who got her start in self-publishing over ten years ago. She authors two ongoing webcomics and has worked extensively on comic adaptations of Cartoon Network properties including Adventure Time, Regular Show, and Steven Universe. She was the artist on BUNT!, an original graphic novel written by Ngozi Ukazu and published by First Second. “Mad” is short for “Madeline,” she’s not actually angry. https://linktr.ee/madrupert
Ro Higashi is an American manga artist and storyteller specializing in horror-fantasy. They are the creator of Half of the Crown, a supernatural series blending Filipino folklore with eerie, action-packed storytelling. The comic follows students gifted with radiant light powers as they battle cryptids and dark forces, with a unique body-swapping twist. The first volume sold out its initial print run, and more installments are on the way. https://linktr.ee/rohigashi
T. Shirley is a Houston-based freelance tabletop illustrator and cartoonist who has illustrated for independent tabletop RPGs such as BEACON by Pirate Gonzalez Games and VKILLER by Weird Age Games, in addition to multiple third party supplements for LANCER, the Mech RPG by Massif They are currently working on their own independent RPG projects, a graphic novel, and multiple smaller comics to self-publish later this year. https://moiddoesart.com/
Kennon James is a freelance illustrator, concept artist, cartoonist, writer and game designer whose work has appeared in many different mediums including feature film & television projects, role-playing & board games, children’s books, and video games. He has self-published several art books including “3X3: A Post-It Note Collection”, “The Funky Fish Book” and “MONSTERS”- a collected work of RPG monster illustrations along with a line of coloring books. In addition to freelance work, Kennon is currently working on a card game and an old school style role-playing adventure and campaign setting. He lives in Hutto, Texas with his wife, kids, dogs, cats and some fish.
https://linktr.ee/Kennon9
Anton W. Blake is a multimedia cartoonist, illustrator, and ttrpg designer. He is the creator of the science-fantasy comic book series Zethia Space Witch, published by Cosmic Lion Productions. His art has also appeared in G.H.O.S.T. Agents, Wizerd, Image Grand Design, and Pirate Borg’s Cabin Fever. He is also the creator and designer of Eat the Lich: a fantasy rpg about seizing the means of magical production. Anton is based in South Austin.
https://www.antonwblake.com
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.
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.
Kevin Garcia is a certified educator and professional writer whose work has appeared in the Associated Press and Marvel Comics. He gives a variety of workshops, moderates panels, and teaches journalism and graphic design at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin. His work can be found at www.KevinGarcia.com or www.Monomythic.com.
Nico Rodriguez writes and draws comics. His work includes self-published and small press comics such as, West, Not South, Brew Monsters, and The World Is a Funny Page. He also makes zines and is one of the organizers behind Houston Comics Scene.
Danny Flores is a designer by trade, comic illustrator by choice. Working as a designer for the last 20+ years has provided him with a lot of opportunities both artistically and creatively. However, being a lifelong lover of comics and the artists that help to craft those stories made him want to venture out and dive into the deep end of comics – help with the launch of an entire universe. It hasn’t killed him yet, so he’ll keep going! https://pluswacocomics.com
Miguel Myers is a podcast host trying his luck at writing horror comics. He likes horror movies and Ice Nine Kills. Follow him at Miguel_Myers_Atx.
Kat Fajardo is an award-winning cartoonist and the creator of Miss Quinces, a National Indie Bestseller, and its Spanish edition, Srta. Quinces, which received a Pura Belpré Honor. She is also the artist for the chapter book series The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class and has illustrated various middle-grade book covers. Kat loves creating playful and colorful illustrations, zines, and comics that celebrate self-acceptance and Latine culture. She is definitely not two dogs in a trench coat. www.katfajardo.com