2023 EXHIBITORS

The 2023 Latinx Comic Arts Festival
Exhibitor Biographies

ALEX SCHUMACHER is an author/illustrator whose notable work includes the webcomics Decades of (in)Experience and Mr. Butterchips. A collection of the latter was released in July, 2020 by SLG Publishing, and the indie comics luminaries relaunched the feature for a new era on May 5th, 2021. Alex has also written for industry outlets such as Comicon.com, The Comic Book Yeti, and Monkeys Fighting Robots Magazine as well as appeared in several anthologies including FairSquare Comics' Mutiny Magazine. Alex is represented by Allison Hellegers of Stimola Literary Studio and his debut middle grade graphic novel is currently in production. Visit https://linktr.ee/AJSchumacherart

AMBER PADILLA is a cartoonist and illustrator based in Oakland, CA and holds an MFA in Comics from California College of the Arts. She has published work in various anthologies and is the illustrator for The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Graphic Retelling of The Secret Garden. She is also the creator of the forthcoming YA graphic novel Sugar Coated. At her current day job she hobnobs with Snoopy and the Peanuts gang over at Charles Schulz Creative Associates. You can find her at: www.amberpadilla.com, IG FB Twitter: @candymistakes

ANDREA ROSALES is a 3rd generation Mexican-American comic artist and graphic designer based in Portland, Oregon. Andrea received her degree in graphic design and animation from Loyola Marymount University and has since worked as a graphic designer, co-created webcomics, had her work published in multiple anthologies, had her work showcased in gallery shows, won multiple art grants, and received the Joan Eliot Sappington Award for her short comic “Conchas Y Chocolate”. In 2022 Andrea was selected as a member of the inaugural DC Comics/ Milestone Initiative talent development program. Follow her IG/Twitter: @andrealrosales

CARLOS SALDANA is the creator, writer, artist and publisher of BURRITO comic books. He is a member of the National Cartoonist Society and the Comic Art Professional Society (CAPS) for over 30 years in-good-standing. Carlos studied graphic arts at Los Angeles City College. Born and raised in Eastside of Los Angeles CA. “Burrito jack of all traders” comic books are available on Amazon.com or comic book conventions. Website: https://www.toonist.com Facebook: @carlossaldana72

CATHY CAMPER is the author of the Lowriders in Space graphic novel series, Ten Ways to Hear Snow (and Diez Maneras de Escuchar la Nieve -Spanish edition), Arab Arab All Year Long, and Bugs Before Time: Prehistoric Insects and Their Relatives. She is also a librarian, zinester, and mosaic seed artist from Portland, OR. Visit www.cathycamper.com.  IG, Twitter: @cfastwolf FB: facebook.com/cathy.camper

CLAUDIA RAMOS is a Graphic Designer/Product Designer who has worked for companies like Hasbro, American Greetings, and Forever2. This work has led creating Hola Mijas Bonitas (Hello Beautiful Daughters), a cute Latinx stationery brand that shows how diverse and beautiful we are. Seeing the lack of representation in the stationery/planner world, she created characters with different skin tone, inspired by her Asian/Latina daughter. Claudia gives back by collaborating with non profit organizations like CHIRLA (The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights) and MAIA (an organization led by and for Indigenous women). MAIA empowers generations of young women through a holistic educational model focused on academics, culture, and identity. Claudia was featured on Despierta America, Buzzfeed, L.A. Times, N.Y. Magazine, and The Strategist. Visit: www.holamijasbonitas.shop IG: @HolaMijasBonitas and @ClaudiaRamosdesigns, Tik Tok: @ClaudiaRamosdesigns

CHRISTIE SHINN is an illustrator and Ringo Award-winning comic creator who lives in Los Angeles. She draws funny, mean stuff like Demon Bitch and other terrible illustrations and comics showing the world in its vapid, gross entirety, plagued by a completely self-serving bunch of losers who only are in it for themselves. She is currently the President of CAPS- Comic Arts Professional Society, founded by esteemed cartoonists Sergio Aragonès and Don Rico, and writer Mark Evanier - and wants to promote, nurture, and network artists and writers in the sequential and non-sequential art aspects of the comic arts. Visit: https://linktr.ee/horatorastudios Social: @horatorastudios CAPS: http://www.capscentral.org/

COMADRES Y COMICS PODCAST is a podcast hosted by three Latinas dedicated to highlighting women and the Latinx presence in the comic book industry as creators, characters and fans. Visit: www.comadresycomics.com.
IG, YouTube, TicTok: @comadresycomics FB, Twitter: @ComicComadres

COMICWEB is a comic book reader and reseller for over 20 years. The love of this media is what drives him. What an amazing time we live in today when so many comic book properties are now entering the mainstream in television and film. The driving force is the 28+ films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, He loves to share his knowledge of not only the mainstream Marvel and DC properties, but all of the independent publishers as well.

CRYSTAL GONZALEZ is a Chicana independent comic artist and 2D animator. She earned her Masters (MFA) at The California College of the Arts and is best known for her ongoing indie graphic novel, “In The Dark”. The series is a dark comedy about a man named Fibble who gets trapped in the underworld and has to escape. Along the way he meets hellish demons who have modernized themselves to stay relevant in society. Fraught with demons who are addicted to coffee, love the internet, and worship mass consumerism…the book takes a satirical edge on religions, social mores, and modern culture. www.inthedarkcomics.com, Twitter and IG: @Comickpro

DON NGUYEN is a designer, comic book and storyboard artist. He created Pablo the Gorilla, Jupiter the Space Pug, and co-created Kindle #1 Inktober book Siren's Song with writer Andy Nordvall. He designed the BLM Skull Fist for Punisher co-creator Gerry Conway's #SkullsforJustice fundraiser and is a sketchcard artist for Marvel Upper Deck. Don has participated in almost twenty Kickstarter campaigns including Nightmare Theater, Holiday Spirits, Battle Grapple Rebel, Retro, and Cthulhu Invades Oz. His work has been featured in Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Screenrant.com, and BoingBoing.net. Visit: www.NguyeningIt.com. IG, Twitter, TikTok: @NguyeningIt

DUSTIN GARCIA is a Cuban-Nicaraguan multi-disciplinary artist and art educator committed to developing, practicing, and facilitating creative projects and art educational spaces centering on building community accessibility, equity, justice, and belonging.

EDDIE deANGELINI is a long time comic book fan and collector. His love of comics began at a young age and continues to this day and his webcomic Collectors is loosely based on his own life, marriage and comic collecting obsession. Collectors is a love letter to the pop culture phenomenon of comic books and to all the wives who trip over longboxes all over the house! The comic can be found at CollectorsComic.com as well as in seven collected print volumes.

FANBASE PRESS is an Eisner Award-nominated comic book publisher and geek culture website that produces new and distinctive works, as well as daily reviews, interviews, and podcasts that span the pop culture spectrum and give voice to the themes, ideals, and people who make geekdom so exceptional. Visit: www.fanbasepress.com. Twitter: @Fanbase_Press, Instagram: @fanbasepress: Facebook: @FanbasePress1.

FERNANDO RODRIGUEZ is the writer, producer and artist of the 2nd Mexican-American comic book superhero in the history of comic books titled Aztec of the City which features the Super Chicano, Mestizo, Adelita, El Valiente y El Borracho as well as Cruz The Christian Warrior.

FREDERICK LUIS ALDAMA, aka Professor Latinx, is an award-winning author of fiction, comics, and scholarly books. His children’s books include The Adventures of Chupacabra Charlie (English 2020; Spanish 2021) and Con Papá/With Papá (2022). He’s also an award-winning author of over 48 nonfiction books, including the Eisner award-winning Latinx Superheroes in Mainstream Comics. He is producer and co-creator of the animation short, Carlitos Chupacabra, that is on a worldwide film festival tour. He was recently inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters. Finally, he holds the Jacob & Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at the University of Texas, Austin.

GLADYS OCHOA is an illustrator/cartoonist who enjoys drawing animals and people in peculiar situations. When she isn't drawing something ridiculous she works at the Cartoon Art Museum as Museum Associate and as an instructor. Her work can be found on Instagram as Drawinkstudio

GLORIA TOSCANO is professional dollmaker and owner of Siempre Viva Dolls where she creates beautiful handmade dolls for her Latinx community. In her down time from dollmaking, she stays busy building a miniature dollhouse, learning Procreate, and creating reels for her business. Her dolls are nostalgic and modern and reflect the millennial Latinx experience. View her dolls: https://www.siemprevivadolls.com. IG, FB @siempre_viva

JAIME CRESPO is a native Californian who has been a published cartoonist for 40 years and has had his comics appear in several anthologies over the decades (Monkey Wrench, Buzzard, Tales From Mi Vida, Backwoods, X-Ray Bagazine, Lampoon, White Buffalo Gazette, Deadbeat Magazine to name a few) as well as in many magazines and weekly papers. He is also part of the Latinx Comics Art Festival, Latino Comics Expo, BCAF and Sol-Con. Crespo primarily focuses on bio/auto bio stories (ala Harvey Pekar) but is not limited to this format. Crespo has returned to self-publishing an on-going title, Tortilla in which he may tell longer stories outside of the four-panel comic strip format. Currently, Jaime is in the midst of his much-anticipated first graphic novel, Sinners & Saints, which focuses on his time spent as a janitor/maintenance man in a San Francisco Tenderloin District SRO hotel during the mid-1980’s. IG: @the_real_comixvato, FB: jaime.crespo.73, Twitter: @Yaqui_Jaime

JAVIER CRUZ WINNIK is an illustrator turned author. After 6 years of selling his art and commission's, he created a graphic novel series titled A Reason to Smile! about a little Puerto Rican girl from NYC who uses her creativity & imagination to help people find the bright side of life! There are 4 books in the series, with more on the way, and each book has been funded through Kickstarter.com! The series has sold over 3,600 copies & has allowed him the opportunity to write & illustrate stories for Puerto Rico Strong (LionForge) and Ricanstruction (Somos Arte & DC Comics)!

JAVIER HERNANDEZ is a cartoonist, educator and co-founder of the Latino Comics Expo. 2023 marks the 25th Anniversary of his independently published comic book series El Muerto. In 2007 a live action film adaptation of El Muerto was released. Javier teaches comic book classes at schools and libraries, and lectures on his comics work at universities and museums. Today he continues creating new works, for which he both writes and illustrates the stories.

JANDRO GAMBOA is a writer and English teacher from Santa Maria, CA. He is also a distance runner and cat enthusiast. His Monty Gomez series is about halfway done. The first storyline, Monty Gomez is the Luchador is available as a trade paperback. Find him online at https://labishka-ink.square.site and on IG: @montygomezcomic

JAVIER SOLORZANO is a writer and artist from Bell Gardens, CA. He is the creator of Luchisimo and Super Lucha Cats. Super Lucha Cats follows a family of lucha libre cats who defend their neighborhood from monsters and sinister forces.

J.M. HUNTER hails originally from Southern California but now resides outside Columbus, Ohio with his family. Hunter creates with multiple mediums and formats including zines, comics, cartoons, painting, and illustrations. Even when creating in multiple genres, Hunter’s focus is on memoir, cultural connections, social justice and adhd/neuro divergence and graphic medicine subjects such as mental illness and auto immune disease. Hunter also teachers comics, digital arts, and design in Underserved communities and schools.

JORGE GARZA is an Illustrator/Storyteller known for his Aztec art and pop culture mashup style called, Azteca Pop. His artwork has exhibited at the National Museum of Mexican Art. In 2022 his first children’s book, Sábado was published by Lil’ Libros. He also writes and and draws his own comic book creations.Visit: www.qetza.com IG and Fb: @qetzaart

JOSE GUILLEN is an established artist with an impressive body of work, including comic books, animation, and Hollywood projects where he has worked as a storyboard and concept artist. He has also worked as a visual development artist for Darkstorm Studios, Miramax, Landmark Entertainment Group, and Heart Communications, among others. Many of the film projects he has worked on are still in development and under wraps. Prior to Hollywood, he credits his start to the work as an artist/inker on many comic book projects with major publishers such as Image, Marvel, and Top Cow. Jose is proud to have worked on iconic projects that involve well known characters such as MachinaREX), Harry Potter, Deadpool, Witchblade/Elektra, and The Darkness, and Tomb Raider, to name a few.

JUAN CARLOS OVALLE is a photographer who specializes in capturing the best Lowrider action from Modesto to Mexico! Introduced to the scene by his father since birth, he wouldn’t be where he is without him. Juan Carlos’ main focus is Just Lowriders. He came up with the name and has been using it since 2013, building the brand, the name, and the following! Visit IG, FB, and YouTube @justlowriders and shop online to order merchandise: www.Justlowriders.com

LANEHA HOUSE (pronounced La-ney-ha) is a family run small press run by cartoonists Lawrence Lindell, and Breena Nuñez. Laneha House is built on the foundation of family, love of comics, zines and coffee. Projects include comics, graphic novels, art books, zines, music and cartoons.

LINDSEY PEREZ is a nonbinary Tongva Gabrielleno artist, part time barista, and student currently studying art at Portland Community College. Native to Southern California, Lindsey seeks to inspire decolonization in others by sharing personal anecdotes of self discovery through their webcomic “Awakening”, zine comics, and short animations on Tiktok. Their work emphasizes the importance of learning one’s ancestry, connecting with community, and healing through reclamation of traditional spiritual practices such as drumming, singing, chanting, earth medicine, and creative self expression. As the current Communications Manager for WIA PDX (Women in Animation) and storyboard artist for the animated series “Haisley”, Lindsey seeks to bring a unique perspective to the animation industry where queer, indigenous voices are underrepresented. Visit them on IG,TikTok, or Twitter @LindzenatorDraws

MANUEL MARTINEZ was born of immigrant parents, educated by the public system and is dedicated to art, all of which has led to becoming an illustrator for hire. Manuel is a Graduate of San Francisco State University SFSU and is an Academy of Arts alum. His clients vary from Warner Bros to local Indie Press. Manuel is currently freelancing with steady work in the tech industry as well.

MAXI RODRIGUEZ is a Latina body positivity cartoonist and multimedia designer who self-publishes the comics Chronicles of a ChubbyBunny, Plus Size Girl Magic, BrownGirl Awkwardness, and ChibiBunny’s Rules of Boundaries. A native of Long Beach, CA, Maxi’s works–comics, stickers, bookmarks, prints–center body positivity, mental health, and the dynamics of a mixed size relationship. Maxi has a BA in Graphic Design from CSU Dominguez Hills, and an MFA in Comics from California College of the Arts. She is currently based in Southern California with her partner, in-laws, and her dogs.

THE MISSION ART AND COMIC EXPO (MACE) celebrates the rich zine culture of San Francisco and highlights artists of color and within the LGBTQ community. MACE is committed to uplifting comic artists in the Mission and beyond. Learn more about the 2023 MACE, to be held at Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts on May 7th by following us @missionartandcomicexpo

NATHANIEL OSOLLO lives somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd dimension. He self-publishes comics, creates public art installations, and dabbles in augmented reality. Most recently, the creator has been crowdfunding comics starring his original character, Dark Mouse. Visit: www.eyedraugh.com. IG, Twitter: @eyedraugh

OSCAR ROMERO Born in El Salvador and raised in California, Oscar studied under David Hardy at The School of Classical Realism in Oakland, CA. Some influences include artists such Jerome Witkin and Käthe Kollwitz, who are able to capture the human experience. Most recently he is exploring story adaptation in the comic book medium through his self-published comic, Dreadful Analekta, a horror/suspense series released July 2021. Find him at poormansart.com.

PACO GARCIA is a tattoo artist, painter and illustrator from Oakland, CA. His passion for everything from comics to his culture plays a huge part in all his work from comic book illustration to murals to tattoos. His goal is to create art that connects with people and creates an exchange of energy. He believes the art of illustration and tattoos are very much a medicine and feels honored to have found his way of helping people. Visit @pacogarciajr on instagram or www.thepacoshop.com

PAUL MEYER is the youngest of nine children and hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He left his hometown after high school and has been “doing time” in Hollywood ever since. In addition to stints as an actor (General Hospital, CSI) he has delved into filmmaking and self-publishing. He recently penned the cult-hit comic book SOD, and the graphic novel, Under the Cottonwood Tree. As a proud Nuevomexicano, he strongly desires to shine a light on his people and culture. Most days you will find him clunking away at his computer, still in search of his 15 minutes. UTCTBook.com

PEPE MELAN lives in southern California and has worked as a freelance artist since 1987. His style is a mix of comic book art, surrealism, and urban art. Over the years his talent has earned him credit on  the cartoon P.J. Funny Bunny, among others, and as a graphic designer for the musical artist Prince. Currently, he is working on expanding his company Unique Realm by producing the anthology series UNIQUE REALM ILLUSTRATED. Visit: pepemelan.com, IG: @uniquerealm, Fb: @pepemelan, Twitter: @pepemelan

RAFAEL NAVARRO is classically trained in illustration and fine art. Rafael works as an animation storyboard artist for various major studios, earning him a daytime Emmy. His work can be seen on shows such as THE BATMAN, SCOOBY DOO, RUGRATS, MUCHA LUCHA, JUSTICE LEAGUE, TUTENSTEIN, STRIPPERELLA and MARVEL SUPER SQUAD, Lego’s HERO FACTORY, and WACKY RACES to name a few. His first love is COMICS! His Xeric Award Winning cult classic SONAMBULO is still going strong after 25 years, published in English, Spanish, French, and Croatian. His latest book, GUNS A’ BLAZIN’ co-created with Mike Wellman, a science fiction western, is slowly becoming a revered classic. Check him out on Facebook: @rafael.navarro and IG: @rafael_navarro007.

RODRIGO PENICHE-AMANTE is a full-time professor at Psychology School, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). He has collaborated in various organizations and consulting firms as a specialist in Human Capital for 25 years. Believe it or not, he’s also a psychoanalyst. He is the writer of ¡El trabajo me quema!, a comic-book about Burnout Syndrome, illustrated by Emmanuel Peña and published by UNAM. He belongs to the first generation of the Medicina Gráfica Master. Loves to travel and watcH movies with his wife Mariana, good food and of course, comics! You can find him on Twitter: @rodpeniche and IG: @rodrigopenichea

SOFIA S. MOLINA, owner/artist of Blue Ixi'im Creations, is an East Bay, California-born and raised Chicana modern/contemporary artist who expresses her creativity in various forms, but her true passion is putting her art on canvas. She has been a creative force throughout her life and enjoys uplifting people through her artwork and personality. Her inspiration comes from her family, culture, heritage, music, quotes, poems, spirituality and history of Latin America. You can find her selling her original pieces, prints, stickers, colorful boxes and ceramics at various festivals, events, or on Instagram.
Follow her on http://Instagram.com/blue_ixiim_creations or https://www.facebook.com/blueixiimcreations/

STEVEN PRINCE is the writer and creator of MONSTER MATADOR. Previously, he worked in the toy industry, where he managed and developed animation and toy lines for Puppy in My Pocket, Stink Blasters, and Power Buggz. He was also named #3 on Soda and Telepaths' list of 51 INDIE COMICS CREATORS YOU NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON. Twitter: @thestevenprince and @monstermatador

DR. THERESA ROJAS (DocTeeRoh) is a Professor of English and Modesto Junior College’s first Professor of Ethnic Studies. Her work focuses on post-1945 visual culture and comparative media with a specialty in multi-ethnic comic studies and graphic medicine. She is an artist, poet, editor and Super Tia. She is the Director of the Latinx Comic Arts Festival. IG: @DocTeeRoh

TRAVIS “WEBBWERX WEBB is a former rave promoter and nightclub owner; if you partied in the Pacific Northwest in the 2000’s, you probably partied at one of his events (or went to Club Motor). In 2010 he retired Webbwerx, sold off his events, and focused on pursuing his passion for writing. Originally taking one-off gigs as a consultant on true-crime novels, television, and film, he now works steadily as a writing consultant.

YVONNE SALDANA is a Mexican-American artist from Stockton, California. Her work consists of anthropomorphic beings depicted with the inspiration of Mesoamerica civilization and Japanese animation. She works with various mediums and is currently building up a portfolio for future schooling. Visit www.midoriwolfart.wixsite.com/website.  IG@midoriwolfart, Facebook: @MidoriWolfArt