2025 ARTISTS & GUESTS
Marc Sumerak
NEO ComicCon is pleased to announce the return of Marc Sumerak:
Marvel Rivals narrative writer, comic book editor and Ambassador to Comics in Cleveland, Marc Sumerak, comes back to join us after a few years off the ComicCon circuit. One of the best guys NEO ComicCon has been lucky have as a guest over the years.
Marc Sumerak is an Eisner and Harvey Award nominated writer who has spent the last 25+ years contributing to the storyscapes of some of your favorite fictional universes, from Marvel and Star Wars to Invincible and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Sumerak’s work has been seen in countless comics, books, cookbooks, and video games. He is currently a Narrative Writer on the massively successful MARVEL Rivals, now available on PS5, Xbox, and PC.
Marc will autograph books and talk about all things geek on August 3rd.
DON SIMPSON
Neo ComicCon is proud to welcome Special Guest of Honor, Don Simpson. Don has been supporting our event and visiting with our attendees since our very first show ten years ago.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, Don graciously offered to create an amazing new poster for us, featuring the first ever team-up between Neo and one of Don’s most important creations, Megaton Man. Even more impressive is the fact that this year is the 40th anniversary of the Mighty MM’s first appearance in 1984!
This year, we’ll be producing a special, limited-edition poster which will be available at both the ticket booth and at Don’s table. Don is an amazing artist and storyteller and always has time for our attendees.
Along with Megaton Man, Don created Border Worlds and has worked on Marvel’s CRAZY!, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Splitting Image, Savage Dragon vs. Megaton Man, King Kong, and the DC Anthology series, Wasteland. Don also co-created In Pictopia with Alan Moore, which was recently re-released in a stunning new edition.
Don is also available for commissions and can be contacted via his Facebook page.
TONY ISABELLA - COMIC LEGEND!
NEO ComicCon proudly welcomes back the Chairman of the Board for Comic Book Culture in Northeast Ohio, Tony Isabella. Tony is a comic book writer, editor, and critic, known as the creator of DC Comics' first major African-American superhero, Black Lightning, as well as other ground-breaking characters like Misty Knight and Tigra.
As a writer and editor for Marvel Comics, Tony worked on several major titles, including Ghost Rider, the Champions, Daredevil, Captain America, and Luke Cage, Hero for Hire. He also published regularly as a columnist for the well-reknowned Comics Buyer’s Guide.
Tony owned and operated one of the most iconic comic stores in Cleveland, Cosmic Comics, located in the Arcade in downtown Cleveland. That shop is where this writer’s father bought him issues 141 and 142 of The Uncanny X-men. I read them in the backseat of the car on the way home and became a lifelong fan.
Tony continues to be one of the bright spots of our convention, and we hope that his grace and generosity of spirit will continue to guide us for years to come.
BILL KRAUSE
NEO ComicCon is pleased to announce a new guest 2024! Bill Krause is a custom model builder for film, television, and commissioned projects, specializing in the Star Trek Universe.
Bill has most recently been involved with Star Trek: Picard, Season 2 and 3, designing and building props for the show. The Season 3 ship, the U.S.S. Titan, is a modified version of an original design by Krause.
Bill built the new U.S.S. Stargazer, including the new ship model, the Sagan-class, He also built the gold-plated models seen in the back of the Stargazer's lounge.
Bill's 30-plus year career in Ohio saw him working in video production, editing, graphic design, and animation, as well as running his own company. He retired a few years ago, and pursued ship-building in earnest, which led him to Star Trek.
Bill is happy to talk all things Trek with fans, autograph pieces, and pose for photo ops.
DAN BERGER
NEO ComicCon is proud to announce that TMNT fan-favorite Dan Berger will be a special guest at our convention on August 4th at the Soccer Sportsplex in North Olmsted, OH.
Dan Berger began working in the mail room for Mirage Studios in 1990, sending out postcard replies to letters mailed to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures. Not too long afterwards, Steve Murphy and Ryan Brown hired Dan to be the inker on that series, where he had the pleasure of working on the pencils of Ken Mitchroney.
In 1991, Dan began inking the Turtles daily comic strip and eventually became the solo writer/artist. He created the action figure Merdude and produced TMNT licensing art for Chef Boyardee, Dell Publishing, Disney Magazine, Playmates Toys, and others.
In the late ’90s, Berger became the web master and designer for Mirage’s ninjaturtles.com site. He also contributed many scripts and drew several issues of Mirage’s Tales of the TMNT Volume Two and served as the managing editor for Mirage Publishing.
Dan was also the managing editor and graphic designer for Heavy Metal magazine and earned a Ringo Awards nomination for “Best Presentation in Design” for issue #300. Berger’s talents struck a power chord as the designer for Megadeth’s “Death by Design” and The Who’s “Life House” graphic novels.
Currently the production editor for Kevin Eastman’s "Drawing Blood" series being published by Image Comics, the multi-talented dude has been called one of the most approachable and friendliest guys in comics.
Jay FIfe
His work is mostly fully rendered pencil drawings of characters from all aspects of horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and comics. Specializing in customized pinups realistically depicting famous characters or compositions of favorite personalities from TV and movies, Jay brings personality to his images.
Jay recently has his art featured in the Harvey Award-winning Image comic Mice Templar Destiny and has been the subject of an artist spotlight along with a pin-up featured in Hustler Magazine. Jay’s art was also featured in Echo Immortalus Magazine and has been the cover of two issues of the Horror anthology The Willows. Jay did a cover for Heske Horror’s Cold Blooded Chillers, had art featured in Pin-Up Magazine, Eve-Vampire Diva from Arcana Comics and the cover for the SCCC exclusive for The Adventures of Mighty Moose from Hanging Chad Comics, which he also did the pencils.
Jay is known for his winning personality and amazing pin-up art. See some examples of his work in the slideshow gallery below.
Contact Jay if you are looking for something specific. He will bring it. He will be appearing at the NeoComicCon all day.
More 2025 ARTISTS & GUESTS
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TED SIKORA
Ted Sikora is a comic book writer and filmmaker. He is the president of Hero Tomorrow Comics, and the creator/writer of Tap Dance Killer. Punchline & the Vaude-Villians, Bloom, and co-creator/co-writer of Apama the Undiscovered Animal. The entire Hero Tomorrow Comics universe is set in Cleveland! He also directed the dark comedy indie feature Hero Tomorrow, and wrote the libretto, the principal music and lyrics to the horror show musical, Nothing Like Vaudeville.
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Born and raised in the Cleveland area, Rick has been producing professional comic book illustrations and commission artwork since 2008. His work with independent publishers includes Mask & Cape Comics’ American Knight series and HB Comics’ upcoming series Landslide. Rick is a featured artist for Akron Comicon and has appeared at comic conventions in San Diego, Philadelphia, and New York. Whether it’s professional, promotional, or freelance illustration, Rick’s art always reflects his unique talent and passion for the business. ricklozanoart.com
DAVE NESTLER
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For over 20 years artist Dave Nestler has enjoyed success as one of the most recognized names in Contemporary Pinup Art. Dave’s work has appeared in 5 published art books and graced countless magazines here and abroad. A regular on the convention circuit, He has appeared at over 350 conventions in North America and Canada.
10 years ago Dave was invited to contribute to George Lucas’ personal art book project: “Star Wars: Visions”. His inclusion caught the eye of Acme Archives Direct, one of the largest producers of officially licensed original art and fine art reproductions for the entertainment industry. Dave soon began producing art for franchises such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Kung Fu Panda, plus The Big Lebowski, and music brands: Iron Maiden and The Beach Boys.
In 2016 Acme turned to Dave to begin producing original character art for their Disney gallery partners in Asia.
Since then, Dave has traveled twice to Japan to do appearances, print signings, and live painting demonstrations in Tokyo, Osaka and 6 other major cities. In a short 3 year period, he has built up a big following among the Disney art crowd, and has produced, and sold over 130 pieces of original art.
davenestler.com
JESSE MARKS
An artist & illustrator from Cleveland – Marks’ art ranges from his favorite classic heroes & villains to Disney & My Little Pony. He is working on a web comic, Evolution Prime & a comic book for Underground Comixx. Also in the works is a project with Eric Cooper, creator of Knightseeker.
facebook.com/jamartsketchez
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Alex Abood
Alex Abood is an independent author from the Akron, Ohio area. Abood wrote the first draft of The Wizard at the age of fourteen, and self-published it during her senior year of high school. The Chronicles of Novun series is her first published work of fantasy, but certainly not the last.
Abood lives in Mogadore, Ohio with her parents, three sisters, three dogs, cat, and bearded dragon. She is currently pursuing an English degree, as well as her dream of being an author.
ALEX ABOOD
Caleb started his writing career as a filmmaker in Chicago. Over the past 6 years, Caleb has run 16 successful crowdfunding campaigns to create numerous comics, graphic novels, and children’s books that are not only entertaining but thought-provoking and timely.
His children's comic series, Supercats is part of Scout Comics all-ages imprint, Scoot. The Supercats characters also appear in a quality the quarterly magazine, Frontiers which features original all-ages comic strips and activities. His WWII ghost story Nook has recently been acquired by Source Point Press and will be hitting comic store shelves as a monthly limited series this summer! His new series, The Neverland is a modern Stand-Alone sequel to the original Peter Pan novel by J.M. Barrie set during the pandemic. Issue #1 was funded on Kickstarter in March with issue 2 planned to hit the platform later this year. He now lives in Hudson Ohio with his wife, son, two cats, and a daughter due in July!
CALEB THUSAT
Claude Raymond Design
Jen
I’ve always been known as a bit of a juxtaposition. Deep, insightful, and emotional with a wide streak of wit and quirky humor. You’ll find the same range within my photography. I see such profound beauty in the spaces that others have abandoned. Where “man” begins to decay and nature accepts it as one of its own. I also enjoy capturing “pearls of wisdom” graffiti. Be it blatant profanity, oddly encouraging advice or eyebrow raising verbiage….it all appeals to my vision as an artist.!
Steve
Claude Raymond Design was started by Steve in 2013 after he picked up his tools from a long hiatus . Throughout his time on the Orb called Earth I have been a model maker and sculptor.
I create life like fantasy creatures pulled from some strange bent place in my mind. Some are inspired by 80’s fantasy games, and others are my take on mythological/historical creatures from our past. You will also find creations that are original concepts that pop into our world as my fingers do what they are told by that bent place in his mind.
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These Artists are also attending
More To Be Announced!
More To Be Announced!
Due to unforeseen, unfortunate events - Some guests & scheduled events may have to be altered & even canceled. N.E.O. Comic Con sincerely apologizes in advance. N.E.O. strongly suggests one keep checking back to this website or its Facebook page for updates.
