Huge Comics Creator Gathering Of More Than 500 To Attend Wizard World Chicago Comic Con This Weekend

In what is believed to be the largest single gathering of creative talent ever at a comics convention, a total of 515 artists, writers and producers are scheduled to attend Wizard World (OTC: WIZD.PK) Chicago Comic Con, Thursday through Sunday at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. World-class creators, including Mike Deodato Jr. (Amazing Spider-Man, Wonder Woman), Jim Cheung (Avengers, Uncanny X-Men), Brian Azzarello (Flashpoint: Batman - Knight of Vengeance, 100 Bullets), Eduardo Risso (Adventures of Superman, Green Lantern) and scores of others will meet fans, sign autographs and sketch.

Among other superstar artists attending are Dave Johnson (Flashpoint: Batman - Knight of Vengeance, Deadpool), Humberto Ramos (Amazing Spider-Man, The Spectacular Spider-Man), Patrick Gleason (Batman & Robin, Green Lantern Corps: Recharge), Gregg Hurwitz (The Crime Writer, The Tower), Michael Golden (Batman, Spider-Man), Bill Sienkiewicz (Elektra: Assassin, Moon Knight), Gary Friedrich (Ghost Rider, Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos), Stuart Moore (Namor: The First Mutant, Wolverine Noir), Ariel Olivetti (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Last Avengers Story), Damion Scott (Batman, Spider-Man), Mike Grell (Green Arrow, Green Lantern), Arthur Suydam (Marvel Zombies, Army of Darkness), Carlo Barberi (Deadpool, Batman), Ethan Van Sciver (Green Lantern, Superman/Batman), Greg Horn (Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark, X-Force) and Mark Texeira (Wolverine, Spider-Man).

We are honored to have an unprecedented collection of the most talented creators from all over the world at Chicago Comic Con this weekend, said Gareb Shamus, Wizard World CEO. Their collective body of work encompasses the most well-known franchises in the world and a huge variety of genres and styles. No comic fan will want to miss out on this opportunity.

The list includes 37 Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards winners (21) and nominees (16). Headliners among the winners include Azzarello, Friedrich, Johnson, Moore, Risso and Sienkiewicz. Many Greater Chicago-based artists will be in attendance as well.

Other Eisner winners in attendance include Franco Aureliani ("Billy Batson And The Magic Of Shazam!," "Tiny Titans"), Art Baltazar (Tiny Titans, Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam!), Gabriel galvo Bautista (PopGun, Pulpo Anthology), Ian Boothby (Simpsons Comics, Futurama), Geof Darrow (Daredevil, Marvel Zombies 5), Dave Dorman (Star Wars, Batman), Pia Guerra (Y: The Last Man, Dr. Who: The Forgotten), Paul Jenkins (Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk), Peter Maresca (George Herrimans Krazy Kat: A Celebration of Sundays, Little Nemo in Slumberland), Nina Matsumoto (Yokaiden, The Last Airbender Prequel: Zuko's Story), Andrew Pepoy (The Adventures of Simone & Ajax, Fables), Nate Powell (Swallow Me Whole, Sounds of Your Name), Ken Steacy (Spawn, Star Wars) and William Stout (Paleontological Artist).

The full list of creators at Chicago Comic Con is available at http://www.wizardworld.com/exhibitors-ch.html.

Many of the artists will participate in informative and instructive programming panels, including the popular Wizard Art School and Wizard Writing School series, throughout the weekend.

Patrick Stewart, Bruce Campbell, Christopher Lloyd, Felicia Day, Academy Award Winner Lou Gossett Jr. and James Marsters top the list of celebrity attendees at Chicago Comic Con. The event will bring together thousands of fans of all ages and dozens of celebrities and industry professionals to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.