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

More than 20 Eisner Winners Plus Dozens Of Notables Including Mike Deodato Jr., Jim Cheung, Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso Among 515 Scheduled To Appear

NEW YORK and ROSEMONT, Ill.– 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 Herriman’s 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.

Chicago Comic Con is the seventh stop on Wizard World’s 2011 North American tour. Hours are Thursday, August 11, 5 – 9 p.m.; Friday, August 12, noon – 8 p.m.; Saturday, August 13, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; and Sunday, August 14, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets are available in advance online at http://www.wizardworld.com/chicago.html at a savings over tickets purchased at the door. Advance adult single-day tickets are priced at $25 ($35 on site); four-day all-session tickets are $50 ($60 on site), and tickets are free for children age 10 and under when accompanied by a paid adult (limit two children per adult). VIP packages with special entry and exclusive items are also available on a limited basis.

About Wizard World:
Wizard World produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests. Wizard World also produces Wizard World Digital, an online publication covering new and upcoming products and talents in the pop culture world, and is distributed on a weekly basis to online and iPad users worldwide.

The full event schedule can be found at www.wizardworld.com.

***** SAVE THE 2011/12 DATES *****
August 11-14, 2011 – Chicago Comic Con
September 24-25, 2011 – Los Angeles Comic Con
October 22-23, 2011 – Mid-Ohio Comic Con
November 11-13, 2011 – Austin Comic Con
January 28-29, 2012 – New Orleans Comic Con
March 24-25, 2012 – Toronto Comic Con
April 28-29, 2012 – Anaheim Comic Con
May 19-20, 2012 – Big Apple Comic Con
June 1-3, 2012 – Philadelphia Comic Con
October 2012 – New England Comic Con
December 8-9, 2012 – Miami Comic Con