Special Guests
Dean Haspiel
Dean Haspiel is a native New Yorker and the author of super-psychedelic romances and semi-autobiographical comix who occasionally mangles franchise characters. Dean recently collaborated with Harvey Pekar on Vertigo's THE QUITTER, AMERICAN SPLENDOR, and is currently drawing various cool projects while manifesting weekly BILLY DOGMA web-comix for the online studio, ACT-I-VATE. Please visit: http://www.deanhaspiel.com/
The articles section features our exclusive Quick Questions interview with Dean Haspiel.
Brian Keene
Brian Keene is the two-time Bram Stoker Award winning author of sixteen books, including The Rising, City of the Dead, Ghoul, The Conqueror Worms, Fear of Gravity, and many more. Several of his books and stories are in development for film, comic books, and video games. Keene lives in Pennsylvania. You can communicate with him at www.briankeene.com or on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/brian_keene/. Independent Animation Panel
We have three animators joining us to show off their animated films and discuss independent production, the relationship to comics, and pitching to larger studios. We'll even be showing additional films before the panel and giving away prizes!
Aaron Romo writes and draws the successful online comic Fairview High and is currently preparing an animated series pilot to pitch to the networks. He graduated from the Classical Animation Program at world-renown Sheridan College, and has worked for several film/television companies, on projects including Anastasia and The Proud Family. Aaron was a special guest on the web comics panel at the first STAPLE! in 2005.
Evan Cagle is deep in production on a secret animated project that few have seen, but which his friends call "amazing" and "totally new." STAPLE! attendees will be among the first to see a segment from his new work. Evan also worked on Richard Linklater's A Scanner Darkly, and his independent film, "Honey", was featured with an interview on AnimWatch.com.
Lance Myers is an award-winning animator who's new online series, The Ted Zone, was recently featured on Cold Hard Flash. He was an animator on Richard Linklater's A Scanner Darkly, and has also contributed to Space Jam, Anastasia, and The Prince of Egypt.
Fiction Circus
It is the lack of substance that makes a blade sharp. To make a knife more powerful, you pare away metal — you do not add.
And nothing lacks substance like The Fiction Circus!
For years now, Austin creators Miracle Jones, Dr. Stephen Future, and Team Omega Awesome have been putting together live, terrifying fiction readings featuring rollicking piano accompaniment, theatrical performance, contests, puzzles, and the occasional unethical crowd experiment.
We have seen the future of literature, and it is bleak, cold, and bad. Before it gets here, see the explosions! See writers as mad bombers, musicians as dynamite, and stories as the critical mass that knock the foundations away from a structure that imprisons as it insulates — constricts as it defines — an enemy, a carnivore, truth, the American way, a hemorrhaging angel with stubby wings never meant for flying.
We stab, so you can eat! And stories!
More guests and special events to be announced soon. Continue to check the news section for more announcements.
Panel Schedule
11:00am - 12:00pm — The Fiction Circus! Wow to a display a daringly acrobatic literary lies, performed to musical accompaniment.
1:00pm - 2:30pm — Independent Animation! A panel of animators discuss the production of animated films, their relationship to comics, and how to pitch to large studios.
3:00pm - 3:30pm — Brian Keene! Renowned horror author Brian Keene reads from a selection of his chilling work.
4:00pm - 5:00pm — Dean Haspiel! Q&A with the artist of Billy Dogma and DC Vertigo's American Splendor. Moderated by Scott Hinze of Fanboy Radio.
Plus over 60 exhibitors
From 10am - 6pm we have two exhibitor rooms packed with great local and national talent selling their comic books, art, and more. See the full exhibitor list.
Party Details
Friday 7pm - 11pm: The STAPLE! Meet and Greet is Friday night at Austin Books & Comics, located at 5002 North Lamar Boulevard. This festive pre-party has quickly become a STAPLE! tradition that sets the tone for the whole weekend, and is a great way to meet your favorite creators in a casual atmosphere at one of the best comic shops in the country. Refreshments will be served.
Saturday 9pm - late: The fun continues into the night at the STAPLE! after-party — Fistful of Live Art! Head downtown to Club Deville at 900 Red River for live art by Jim Mahfood, Dave Crosland and the first ever Live Art Battle Royale between local Austin Living Artists and members of the San Antonio Artslam Crew! Music will be provided by 3Deep and admission is FREE!
The Animation Show
Well, if you survive all that and are still around on Sunday, check out our friends at The Animation Show, an annual feature-length compilation of the best animated short films from around the world, exclusively curated by Mike Judge (Beavis and Butt-Head, King of the Hill, Office Space) and Academy Award nominated animator Don Hertzfeld. Mike and Don will be on hand to MC the two shows at the Paramount Theatre that evening, which are certain to sell out. See more info and purchase tix at www.animationshow.com.