Uticon (est. 1990)

R2-D2 and the 501st Legion

The galaxy’s favorite Astromech droid beeps, boops, and whirrs with fans.

Ample photo opportunities with Artoo as he glides throughout Uticon as only he can.

Artoo and numerous other characters from the Star Wars Universe will be seen throughout Uticon courtesy of the 501st Legion Garrison Excelsior, a professional costuming group serving Western and Upstate New York that takes great joy out of constructing movie accurate costumes from the Star Wars Universe.

Step into the eerie world of Hawkins with Upstate NY Entertainment’s Byers Living Room from Stranger Things, complete with flickering lights and nostalgic 80s vibes.

But beware — with the interactive Demogorgon wall, you might just find yourself face-to-face with something from the Upside Down!

BART SEARS has been drawing comics, toys and concept art professionally for four decades, working for DC, Marvel, Valiant, Image, Dark Horse, Hasbro, Toy Biz and a number of independent publishers and developers. A few of the many titles he’s worked on include Legends of the Dark Knight, XO Manowar, Turok, Captain America and Falcon, Blade and Justice League Europe. Bart has designed toys in the C.O.P.s, G.I. Joe, WWF and X-Men lines, and creates concept art for video games, most currently Limit Break.

Creator of the cult classic art tutorial column Brutes & Babes in Wizard Magazine, Bart has inspired a generation of artists. He has gone on to create an ongoing series of how-to-draw comics books called Drawing Powerful Heroes. Bart’s amazing artwork can be found in his creator-owned series “Maiden,” created with his writing partner, Michelle Sears, which first appeared in Heavy Metal Magazine.

Jessica Briarwood is a local author debuting her first novel at Uticon 2026.

A bit about her book: It’s the first in a series of fantasy novels (adult fantasy / sword and sorcery), set in a new world called Zerrah. Book one follows the story of Sylandra Dawnstar, a young girl living in the land of Elestaire, whose fondest wish is to make a mark of betterment in the world that’s living in a time of fragile peace. As she grows, attends officer’s school for the Academe of the Church of Velarion- a prominent god of the lands- and sets off on her first mission, along with her childhood best friend; she discovers truths that shake the core of her faith. She and her group of unlikely friends, spark to fruition a part of prophecy tied to everyone Sylandra holds dear.

Derek Bush, co-creator of Packrat and Thunderbunny, has been creating his own stories since he was a little kid. Be it making up backgrounds for his action figures or just creating new superheroes. Desperately wanting to be a werewolf when he grew up, he unfortunately discovered it wasn’t going to be very lucrative, or much of a career path, so he went to school for Creative Writing with English as a minor with the goal that he would teach his own Creative Writing course.

He instead used that learning to work in Law Enforcement as a New York State Senior Court Officer for the last 28 years. Not as cool as being a werewolf, but he can write some really nice reports.

He was also one of the founding members of The Writer’s Bloc, a small writer’s group run by John. He currently lives in Upstate New York with his ridiculously awesome, sometimes terrifying, imagination and his last remaining and amazing rescue pup, Jake.

Ed loves entrepreneurism, marketing, and pop culture. He’s currently edits RetroFan Magazine and works with AHOY! Comics.

In his secret identity as an Assistant Professor at Ithaca College’s School of Business, he helps manage ITHACON, the nation’s second longest-running comic con.

Ed’s also an artist, and for UTICON he will be bringing the newest Musketeers book, published by Airship 27, showcasing his artwork and offering a sneak preview of his newest comic project.

Andrew is the co-creator and artist of the Darby Pop Publishing all-ages graphic novel series Lacey & Lily,  about the adventures of a middle schooler and her dog turned superheroes,

His creation – The Indestructible Dink Boy – leapt onto Webtoon for audiences everywhere and is currently in its second season.

His work includes illustration for The Mike Wieringo Tellos Tribute with Todd Dezago, art for Patrick McCuen’s The Devil and Mr Gandhi with Ink Puddle Press, character designs and illustration work for Dark Tree Films, and co-creating and illustrating the comedy series Holidaze for Dandy Press,

Andrew’s artwork has also graced many a print and poster, including for the Albany All-Stars Roller Derby and the Syracuse Crunch hockey, along with numerous private commission pieces.

His art returns to the comic page in mid-October with the launch of the Kickstarter campaign for The Amazing Chuck – an all-ages comic book special about an inept magician trapped in a demon dimension and forced to play hockey for the fate of universes everywhere.

Dave Dellecese is a writer and author of children’s books, graphic novels, comics, and more.

He is the co-creator and writer of the all-ages graphic novel series Lacey & Lily from Darby Pop Publishing, co-creator and writer of the adult comedy series Holidaze, has written prose for AHOY Comics, and is the author of the children’s books The Little Lamp, Lucy and the Ghost take the Stage, and Look Out! Here Comes…the Mope!

He re-teams with Lacey & Lily co-creator Andrew Cieslinski this October for The Amazing Chuck – an all-ages comic book special launching on Kickstarter.

A former journalist and news anchor, he has lent his voice to The Brass Lantern old time radio adventure podcast playing former reporter-turned private investigator, Wam Dixon, and has voiced characters in the video game Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries.

Mariana Falletti (she/they) has been drawing ever since she was little, always looking to the medium as way to express the things she imagined. They graduated from SCAD with a BFA in Animation and a minor in Storyboarding and has recently completed their MFA in Illustration at Academy of Art.

Mariana has worked as a freelancer for many years, assisting clients with animation, illustration, and promotional materials for their VTubing brands. She herself is a VTuber as well!

They have experience making acrylic charms, buttons, stickers, and prints, but are constantly looking for new ways to design fun trinkets. They have been tabling at local artist events for 3 years and currently run a 3 year standing Etsy store.

Jay E. Fife is an Illustrator and commercial artist based in eastern Ohio who specializes in Illustrations of classic Monsters, Pin-up girls and more.

With over 25 years drawing for comics, book covers, film story boards, commercial ads, album covers, enamel pins and awards, and pinups of a variety of subjects, his art brings a dynamic and accessible style to some favorite characters.

Aside from commission and commercial work including art for album and book covers, there is the total production of the comic strip Mary Monster appearing in monthly in the comics publication A Kid and a Comic. There is also concept and promotional art for a motion picture in development by the creative team behind Sharknado.

Keith Haugen is a former student of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic art, currently residing in New York’s Capital Region. 

His credits include Ghost Investigator by Spirited Comics, Hudson Valley Zombie Apocalypse by Eagle Press, Yellow Squad by RATO Illustrated, Confirmed by Koan Comics, Jump by New Pain Productions, Argo5 by Argo Comics, Sketched Magazine, Quandary Magazine, Shriek by FantaCo Entertprises and his own Love/Hate and WTF (What The Freak) Comix featuring the alien helmet Chrome Dome.

Along with his published credits, Keith has also produced numerous commissions,
prints, and other assorted art

Myron Lauzon has been called one of the most prolific comic artists on the scene in the Greater Capital Region, having been in the art business since the early 90’s.

Myron is an alumnus of the Kubert School in NYC and has been publishing under his indie imprint, Psychofyre Productions, since 2017, having released to date 28 graphic novels, comic books and children’s books in that time. His two most recent releases are “The Passage of Persephone”, a tale of unconditional love and sacrifice between a cat and her girl and the hit graphic novel anthology from Dougside Syndicate called “The Bridge That Eats Trucks” (Myron is the cover artist and has two stories inside) about the infamous Glenville, NY bridge that is hit by trucks almost weekly. “The Bridge That Eats Trucks” became a local sensation, selling out its first printing, as well as being featured on the front page of The Schenectady Daily Gazette and on Channel 6 News.

Myron also freelances for Philbo Entertainment Publications. He currently resides in the Mohawk Valley Region of New York with his fiancée, Becca their Raven’s Haven homestead.

Kyle Lince’s first novel Magyra, has been called “a sophisticated blend of science fiction, precise character development, and masterful plot construction.”

His other works include the novel The Prodigal Outlaw, as well as Jack Zero and the Missing Man.

Also an Associate Professor of Web Development and Information Design in Upstate New York, he fills his time reading, writing, and hanging out with his kids. He enjoys genre entertainment, reads comic books, and loves watching cartoons.

Author of numerous books that include A Night in the Garden, Ethel’s Bane, The Veil Lifted, and the Avenzyre series, GB was born in a small town in Vermont, and grew up in the country and attending a rural school. She started telling stories from a young age, writing her first short story in second grade. She started writing her first novel in tenth grade which appeared in a regional magazine.

Her stories are often of the fantasy genre, because who doesn’t want to let their imagination travel as far as it can? But they’ve also been about real life: betrayal, suspicion, joy, war, triumph, self doubt, intrigue, all that good stuff…and unicorns and dragons!

Sean Ian Mills is the co-creator and co-writer of Gamer Girl & Vixen, a self-published LGBTQ+ comic series about two super-villains who meet cute on the rooftops of New York and use their powers to rob celebrities. 

Sean promised himself years ago that he would only return to Uticon when he had new comics to offer, and that time is finally here! Sean will be debuting the Gamer Girl & Vixen sequel at Uticon this year. So if you were a fan of the first story — or even just remember them — now’s your only chance to grab a copy of Volume 2. 

Sean’s other work includes short stories for The Cloakroom and The Museum of the Uncanny anthologies, and he’s working on another solo writing project, Cover Bard, for Very Big Comics.

Inspired at the age of eleven by the artwork of JOE SINNOTT in TREASURE CHEST and JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY, Joe Orsak launched a comic strip in the newspapers of Syracuse, NY in 1982 called THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN ‘CUSE. The strip ran weekly for eight years. 

Joe turned to sports comics in the 1990s, working on bios of MICKEY MANTLE, BROOKS ROBINSON  and DUKE SNIDER for MAGNUM COMICS.  These books gave Joe the chance to work with his inspiration… Orsak’s pencils were inked by Joe Sinnott!

In 2001 Orsak was picked by his friend ROGER STERN to pencil and ink a two-page tale for the 9-11 tribute book 9-11ARTISTS RESPOND for DARK HORSE. In 2008 he returned to comic strips with SALT CITY, another strip about his hometown, this time with a female superheroine, written by Douglas Brode. The comic strip drew the attention of people at MCFARLAND and Co., who asked Joe and Doug to launch their line of graphic novels. Joe and Doug created YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS the Myth of Emily Morgan and VIRGIN VAMPIRES for MCFARLAND Inc.

Joe is now working with AHOY Comics, including the recent series MY BAD, as well as several spot illustrations. He is involved with new comic book projects for STELLAR COMICS.

More of Joe Orsak’s artwork can be found at his website. 

While technically co-creator of Packrat and Thunderbunny John Fletcher Pasquini has created his first comic book in 2nd grade about a vampire with seven teeth having a birthday party with other classic movie monsters, he’s been writing regularly since the 5th grade.

An archaeologist by trade, he’s worked for the New York State Museum for over 30 years as the Archaeology Lab Director for the museum’s in-house cultural resource management firm.

Since 2007, he’s created and run a small writer’s group, The Writer’s Bloc, originally out of a local library in his area but, since the pandemic, it has evolved into a solely online enterprise after the library was forced to end all in-person gatherings. 

Andrea Raquel R. R. (she/he), also known to some as her online moniker Usaji, has been an artist with a passion for character art for as long as she can remember. Receiving training from a young age, he has been honing his craft for a long time.

She graduated with a specialization in Illustration and Animation from Central High School of Visual Arts in San Juan, Puerto Rico and went on to study Animation and Storyboarding at SCAD for 4 years. He has worked professionally as a character and concept artist as a freelancer.

Andrea has experience making stickers, acrylic charms, and buttons, but is eager to expand his catalog to other types of merchendise. She has tabled at conventions since 2015 and currently runs an 5 year standing Etsy store.

Dan Schmidt is a jack-of-all-trades comic creator who can skillfully take an idea through concept, writing, line art & coloring, lettering, design, and pre-print production.

Known for his keen storytelling and expressive art, Dan has created two graphic novels, Worms Crawl In and Worms Crawl Out. He works regularly with independent publishers such as Orange Cone Productions, Finish Line Comics, and Ben Kreiger’s Frontier Forever series doing lettering, art, and occasionally writing. Dan’s passion for comics extends to the real world as an art instructor teaching the next generation of manga, comics, and cartoon creators, and had his comic pages on display at the Allentown Art Museum.

Dan is currently working on numerous freelance comic book illustration projects and his third
original graphic novel.

Born and raised in the Mohawk Valley, he graduated from MVCC and Syracuse University with a BFA-Illustration.

Mike Tranvaag is from the Oneonta area and has been drawing for more than 40 years. He has recently been displaying and selling his artwork.

His art focuses on comic superheroes and villains as well as a touch of science fiction. He has started drawing iconic characters from video games and Anime as well.

You can check out his artwork on his Facebook Page as well as on Deviantart.

Edward Yancey is an illustrator and graphic designer who has brought numerous beloved and well-known comic book icons to life in a myriad of full-color prints.

He is also the writer and artist of the comic book “A Waste of Life: The Spencer Miller Cases” as well as the horror anthology, “Tales from the Sketch Club” and has also illustrated one of several tales in the Holidaze: All-Krampus Spectacular for Dandy Press.