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Events and Activities

COSPLAY COMPETITION

DATE: SATURDAY 9Th DEcember
TIME: 6pm - 9PM
Location: STORM STAGE
REGISTRATION STATUS: CLOSEd

PRIMAL SHOWDOWN CARD GAME

DATE: Sunday 10th DEcember
TIME: 1pm - 2:30PM
Location: STORM STAGE
REGISTRATION STATUS: CLOSED

ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS TOURNAMENT

DATE: SUNDAY 10Th DEcember
TIME: 2:45pm - 5:30PM
Location: STORM STAGE
REGISTRATION STATUS: CLOSEd

Storm The Block Panels

The STORM Stage

Friday, 8 th December
  • 3-3:45pm
Storming in from North America/Canada
Storm the Block is bringing over 50 international writers, artists and publishers this weekend. Let’s kick things off with our artistic friends from Canada! Find out how the Canadian way of life has any influence on their style and art. Learn how they each got their start what motivates them.

Talent: Soroush “Koteri Ink” Barazesh, Danesh Mohiuddin, Kevin Roditeli, Marcus To

Moderator: Andrew Alandy

  • 4-4:45pm
Storming in from North America/USA
Storm the Block is bringing over 50 international writers, artists and publishers this weekend. Next up, the US artists take center stage! Find out how being an American has any influence on their style and art. Learn how they each got their start what motivates them.

Talent: Greg Baldwin, Bernard Chang, Jorge Corona, Ben Harvey, Coran “Kizerilla” Stone

Moderator: Briana DeCoster

  • 5-5:45pm
Storming in from Europe/Spain
Storm the Block is bringing over 50 international writers, artists and publishers this weekend. Spain is well represented here! Find out how the Spanish way of life has any influence on their style and art. Learn how they each got their start what motivates them.

Talent: Iban Coello, Javi Fernandez, Alba Ballesta Gonzalez, Miki Montlló, David Orellana, Belén Ortega

Moderator: Khail Anonymous

  • 6-6:45pm

Storming in from Europe

Storm the Block is bringing over 50 international writers, artists and publishers this weekend. Big names from across Italy, France and the UK are here! Find out how being European has any influence on their style and art. Learn how they each got their start what motivates them.

Talent: Armand Erborio (France), Riccardo Federici (Italy), Mister Hope (UK), Paolo Pantalena (Italy)

Moderator: Andrew Alandy

  • 7-7:45pm
Storming in from South America
Storm the Block is bringing over 50 international writers, artists and publishers this weekend. South American artists will now take the stage! Find out how the South American way of life has any influence on their style and art. Learn how they each got their start what motivates them.

Talent: Karla Diaz, Juan Gedeon, Moises Hidalgo, Gabriel Picolo, Javier Robledo (plus translator)

Moderator: Khail Anonymous

  • 8-8:45pm

Storming in from Asia

Storm the Block is bringing over 50 international writers, artists and publishers this weekend. What a lineup from Asia! Find out how the Asian way of life has any influence on their style and art. Learn how they each got their start what motivates them currently.

Talent: Santa Fung, Ingo, Kim Jacinto, Ariela Kristantina, Kyu Young Lee, Zhi Lin Lim, Noel Rodriguez, Luigi Teruel

Moderator: Briana DeCoster

Saturday, 9 th December
  • 11-11:45am
Storming in from Africa

Storm the Block is bringing over 50 international writers, artists and publishers this weekend. Now on stage from Africa, some of the most diverse and talented artists! Find out how the African way of life has any influence on their style and art. Learn how they each got their start what motivates them currently.

Talent: Odunze “Whyt Manga” Oguguo, Pernille Ørum, Anand Ramcheron, Eslam Abo Shady

Moderator: Briana DeCoster

  • 12-12:45pm

Storming in with Essential Sequential

Storm the Block is bringing over 50 international writers, artists and publishers this weekend. Essential Sequential (with manager Jason Schachter) is home to some of the top artists in the business! Find out how they each got their start what motivates them.

Talent: Shawn Crystal, David Finch, Ramón Pérez, Matteo Scalera, Brian Stelfreeze

Moderator: Andrew Alandy

  • 1-3pm

Sketch Battles Showdown (Main, Saturday 1-3pm)

Come check out this tournament-style, one-on-one battle royale! It begins with random pairings where each battle will be, at most, 5 minutes long, and the subject to draw will be chosen randomly, as well. All sketches are to be projected on the big screen, live! Winner takes home the title of Sketch Battle Champion and AED 15,000!

Moderators: Briana DeCoster, Khail Anonymous

  • 3:15-4:15pm
Storming in from the UAE

The party continues with brand new publisher, Sandstorm Comics, as they introduce you to your new favorite comics with local creators and discoveries!

Talent: Noora Alawadi, Meera Almansoori, Fadel Almheri, Zaynab Matar Alremeithi, Andrew
Clemson, Omair Faizullah, Randall P. Girdner, Akbar Hassan

Moderator: Jeremy Atkins

  • 4:30-5:30pm

Superani Superstars

Meet the artists of global powerhouse, Superani! Discover the diversity of styles and how Master Kim Jung Gi influenced and inspired them.

Talent: Peter Han, Dong Ho Kim, Hyunjin Kim, Miss Jisu, Nicholas Nemiri, Jae Kwang Park

Moderators: Jeromy DeChant, Lim Hur (translator)

  • 6-9pm
Cosplay Competition
See the stunning display of local talent in this first annual cosplay competition with our friends from Cosplay AE. An overall prize pool of AED 30,000 will be distributed to the top three of each category: Crafting and Performance.

Judges: Cosplay AE, Jinxie, Maid of Might

Moderators: Andrew Alandy, Briana DeCoster

Sunday, 10 th December
  • 11-11:45am

Cartooning and Comics

Some of the world’s best cartoonists gather to share their stories and secrets to their successes. Hear what it takes to make it in this field.

Talent: Santa Fung, Randall P. Girdner, Alba Gonzalez, Kyu Young Lee, Zhi Lin Lim, Mister Hope, Danesh Mohiuddin, David Orellana

Moderator: Andrew Alandy

  • 12-12:45pm
Manga Influenced Artists
Discover how manga has inspired and drives these amazing artists. Find out what they love about manga and what their key learnings are from studying and adapting it.

Talent: Armand Erborio, Karla Diaz, Odunze “Whyt Manga” Oguguo, Anand Ramcheron, Zaynab Matar Alremeithi, Miss Jisu

Moderator: Briana DeCoster

  • 1-2:30pm

Primal Showdown Tournament

Registration may be closed but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the live battle taking place on our stage to find the Primal Showdown Champion! This new card gaming tournament is brought to you by Cation Arts and Sandstorm Comics, with a grand prize of AED 10,000!

Moderators: Shelfside

  • 3-5:45pm

Rock Paper Scissors Tournament

First-of-its-kind, rock-paper-scissor tournament with a grand prize of AED 10,000! Be here for the fun and spontaneity of this spectacle! Plus, there may be a surprise or two along the way!

Moderators: Andrew Alandy, Khail Anonymous

  • 6-6:45pm
Cover Story: The Art of a Great Cover
What does it take to create a great comic cover? Find out from the industry’s absolute best! Not to be missed!

Talent: Riccardo Federici, David Finch, Matteo Scalera, Brian Stelfreeze

Moderator: Briana DeCoster

  • 7-7:45pm
World Building

Discover what goes into creating and maintaining new worlds and ecosystems with people who have done it! Hear how they started, what went right and wrong, and what they would’ve done differently.

Talent: Meera Almansoori, Jacque Aye, Dan DiDio, Omair Faizullah, Alba Ballesta Gonzalez, Ron Marz, David Orellana

Moderator: Jeromy DeChant

The BLOCK Stage

Friday, 8 th December
  • 3:15-4pm
Draw Along with Kim Jacinto, Noel Rodriguez, & Luigi Teruel
The title says it all! Stationery and pencils will be provided.
Draw Along with Eslam Abo Shady
  • 4:15-5pm
Draw Along with Eslam Abo Shady
The title says it all! Stationery and pencils will be provided.
  • 5:15-6pm
Cosplay Secrets
Curious about the world of cosplay? Come find out how these top cosplayers got their start as they share with you their stories and journey.

Talent: Cosplay AE, Jinxie, Maid of Might

Moderator: Brianna DeCoster

  • 6:15-7pm
Secrets of Storytelling
Want to be a writer? This panel is the one for you! Veterans and up-and-comers share tips and techniques they’ve learned on their road to success.

Talent: Noora Alawadi, Fadel Almheri, Jacque Aye, Dan DiDio, Matt Hawkins, Ron Marz

Moderator: Jeremy Atkins

  • 7:15-8pm
Publisher Spotlight – Cryptozoic
Pop culture enthusiasts rejoice – Industry giant, Cryptozoic, in in the house! Here to discuss all the cool Cryptozoic things across tabletop games, trading cards and collectibles coming your way!

Talent: John Nee

Moderator: Kris Longo

  • 8:15-9pm
Animated Discussion with Animation Artists
Learn from the very best what goes into having a career in animation!

Talent: Eslam Abo Shady, Greg Baldwin, Kizerilla

Moderator: Jeromy DeChant

Saturday, 9 th December
  • 11:15am-12pm
Publisher Spotlight – In-Depth Conversation with and Ariela Kristantina
DSTLRY panel is tentatively now "In-depth conversation with DSLTRY and Ariela Kristantina” Description: Join the in-depth conversation with the dynamic new publisher, DSTLRY, and an international artist, Ariela Kristantina, coming from Jakarta, Indonesia, Explore their artistic collaboration and catch a preview of DSTLRY's exciting roadmap for 2024.

Talent: Ariela Kristantina, Sadé Paige

Moderator: Sadé Paige

  • 12:15-1pm
Kickstarting your Projects
Crowd-funding has changed the landscape of comics! Find out more from people who have helped launch successful crowd-funded projects!

Talent: Michael Calero, Kit Caoagas, Andrew Clemson, Kevin Roditeli, John Nee, Kuo-Yu Liang

Moderator: Andrew Alandy/ Jeromy DeChant

  • 1:15-2pm
Sandstorm Comics Art Direction
Sandstorm Comics is home to a brand-new line of comics! Find out more about them and the fantastic Art Directors behind the books.

Talent: Mo Abedin, Mo Alshaibani, Kim Jacinto, Paolo Pantalena, Noel Rodriguez, Luigi Teruel, Ozgur Yildrim

Moderator: Jeremy Atkins

  • 2:15-3pm
Card Sharks
Board and card games are back in a big way! Find out more about what is driving this revolution, and what goes into designing the next big thing!

Talent: Mohamed Alqadi, Soroush “Koteri Ink” Barazesh, John Nee, Jad Yammine

Moderator: Shelfside/ Jeromy DeChant

  • 3:15-4pm
Ink Masters
What does it take to become a good inker? Find out from these artists who have mastered the brushstroke to perfection!

Talent: Jorge Corona, Shawn Crystal, Mark Irwin, Dong Ho Kim, Matteo Scalera

Moderator: Jeremy Atkins

  • 4:15-5pm
Art of the Pitch
Talk with industry experts who can guide you on best approaches to pitch a project. Hear their advice on the do’s and don’t’s in putting together a pitch.

Talent: Michael Calero, Dan DiDio, Matt Hawkins, Mark Irwin

Moderator: Kris Longo

  • 5:15-6pm
ATW Tournament

The scorching-hot All Time Wrestling (ATW) Card Tournament comes to the UAE!

Moderator: Shelfside

  • 6:15-7pm

The Influence of Social Media on Comics

The rise of social media over the past few years has certainly impacted comics. These popular artists gather to discuss the positive effects social media has had on their careers, with keys to their successes and advice to impart.

Talent: Kyu Young Lee, Pernille Ørum, Gabriel Picolo, Whyt Manga

Moderator: Shelfside/ Jeromy DeChant

  • 7:15-8pm
Character Designing
Hear and see what goes into all aspects of character designing from the best in the business!

Talent: Greg Baldwin, Soroush “Koteri Ink” Barazesh, Akbar Hasan, Kizerila, Nicolas Nemiri

Moderator: Jeremy Atkins

  • 8:15-9pm

Sequential Storytelling

The art of sequential storytelling is a tough one to master. Luckily, we have some of the best on this stage to help you through the process! Learn the basics and get tips direct from the experts!

Talent: Bernard Chang, Iban Coello, Jorge Corona, Juan Gedeon, Belen Ortega, Marcus To

Moderator: Khail Anonymous

Sunday, 10 th December
  • 11:15am-12pm
Draw Along with Ozgur Yildirum
The title says it all! Stationery and pencils will be provided.
  • 12:15-1pm
Publisher Spotlight – Top Cow
Industry stalwart, Top Cow, is here to share with you the past, present and (near) future of Top Cow tales.

Talent: Ryan Cady, Matt Hawkins

Moderator: Kris Longo

  • 1:15-2pm
Publisher Spotlight – Massive Publishing
Our friends at Massive Publishing are here to share with you red-hot upcoming projects and stories you’ll want!

Talent: Michael Calero, Kevin Roditeli

Moderator: Khail Anonymous

  • 2:15-3pm
Prepping your portfolio
Make your first impression your best one! Get the jump on the competition with the advice from this all-star crew.

Talent: Bernard Chang, Iban Coello, Mark Irwin, Miki Montlló, Ramón Pérez

Moderator: Briana DeCoster

  • 3:15-4pm
Master Class – Painting
Painting is a difficult art to master. Luckily, we have some of the industry’s best to ever do it to impart their experience and wisdom to you!

Talent: Riccardo Federici, Ben Harvey, Jae Kwang Park, Brian Stelfreeze

Moderator: Jeremy Atkins

  • 4:15-5pm
Master Class – Concept Artists
Find out how these top concept artists do what they do and make it look so effortless!

Talent: Greg Baldwin, Soroush “Koteri Ink” Barazesh, Peter Han, Pernille Ørum, Anand Ramcheron, Javier Robledo

Moderator: Jeromy DeChant

  • 5:15-6pm

Publisher Spotlight – Mad Cave

Mad Cave celebrates 10 years in Publishing here with us! Find out what’s in store for them that people will hopefully be talking about for at least the next 10 years!

Talent: Mark Irwin, Kurt Nelson

Moderator: Jeremy Atkins

  • 6:15-7pm

Draw Along with Moises Hidalgo

The title says it all! Stationery and pencils will be provided.

  • 7:15-8pm

Draw Along with Ingo

The title says it all! Stationery and pencils will be provided.

SANDSTORM STUDIOS Workshops

Friday, 8 th December
  • 3-3:45pm
Karla Diaz – Shojo Comics as a Genre
Professional comic author and illustrator, Karla is an independent artist who has been drawing since childhood. Now working with Sandstorm Comics on one of our projects, join her as she shows you her pipeline process for digital drawing focusing on the Shojo style Manga.
  • 4-4:45pm
Mister Hope – Childrens Comics
An independent illustrator who specialises in children's comics, Mister Hope’s work is so whimsical and fun it will transport you into a world of imagination. If you'd like to explore what writing comics for children entails, then this one is for you!
  • 5-5:45pm
David Finch – Constructing a comic book panel
Eisner Award winning Comic book illustrator who is passionate about sharing his knowledge, David will provide a unique session on how to put a figure in perspective within a comic book panel.
  • 6-6:45pm
Shawn Crystal – Comic Inking
With over 20 years in the comic book industry, and many big titles and Publishers in his repertoire (DC, Marvel, Dark Horse etc.) Shawn is passionate about sharing his art for comic inking. Come see why he is so successful and well known in the industry and be prepared to be blown away by his skills.
  • 7-7:45pm
Matteo Scalera – Comic Cover Art
Matteo is a comic book artist whose professional career kicked off in 2008 and has since included works such as Batman, Secret Avengers, and Deadpool to name a few. Join him as he takes you through the specalised process of creating cover art for comics, general cover composition and what it takes to create impactful covers.
  • 8-8:45pm
Ron Marz – Process of Writing for Comics
Join veteran Comic book writer Ron Marz, known for his work on Marvel/DC crossovers, Batman/Aliens and Witchblade, to name a few, as he takes you through what's required to write a comic book and what the key elements are to building a story.
Saturday, 9 th December
  • 11-11:45am
Jorge Corona – Comic Book Fundamentals
Multi-award nominee Jorge is known for his works with DC Comics, Image Comics and creator owned BOOM! Studios. Join him as he takes you through the fundamentals of comic book creation.
  • 12-12:45pm
Zhi Lin Lim – Art of Cute
An independent artist with a variety of clients under her belt, Lim Zhi has illustrated children's books, mobile games, as well as her own IP Shiba Chan & Friends. To say her work is cute is an understatement. This workshop provides a different perspective on how comics don't just have to be about Superheroes and how you can find your place in it.
  • 1-1:45pm
Miki Montlló – European Comics
Join Miki, a Comic book artist who has worked with Blizzard and DC, and titles such as The Witcher, as he takes you through the differences between American comics and European Comics to show you how vast the world of sequential art is.
  • 2-2:45pm
Dan DiDio – How to Break into the Industry
A writer, editor, and publisher who has worked for some of the biggest comic publishers in the industry, and over 20 years of experience, Dan will teach you on what it takes to make it in the industry, what they look for, and what will get you in.
  • 3-3:45pm
Armand Erborio – Comic Colouring – Live colouring talk through
Self-taught artist with great skill to show for all his hard work and talent, Armand will be taking you through a live demonstration of how the colouring process looks like for a comic page.
  • 4-4:45pm
Bernard Chang – From Concept to Page
Professionally active in the comic world since 1992, Bernard has worked on many award- winning and nominated projects. His portfolio covers DC, Marvel, and Disney, as well as a variety of independent works. Join him on this workshop as he shows you how to go from thumbnail to a finished comic page.
Hear and see what goes into all aspects of character designing from the best in the business!
Sunday, 10 th December
  • 11-11:45am
Kizerila – The Art of Action
Join the well-established illustrator, character designer, and concept artist Coran in this focused workshop that looks at the art of action in Comics. With works that include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Spider Man, and Batman, you'll be blown away by his mastery in action poses and how he captures a scene perfectly.
  • 12-12:45pm
Belén Ortega & Javi Fernandez – Interior Art in Comic Books
Award winners Belén and Javier have worked with DC, Marvel, and Image Comics, across their portfolio, and have become well known interior comic artists. Join them to learn about what it takes to design and create detailed environments, how to better create a sense of mood and atmosphere through backgrounds, and how to have creative composition using the environment.
  • 1-1:45pm
Jacque Aye – How to Write a Comic Story from Start to Finish
A multi-published author with a great skill for storytelling, world building and unique Manga creations that draw inspiration from her personal experiences, Jacque will take you through a journey to show you the basics of how to write a story for comic books from start to finish.
  • 2-2:45pm
Whyt Manga – How to Make Creator Owned Comic
Apple Black creator, co-founder of MyFutprint Entertainment LLC, and YouTube sensation Odunze Oguguo, also known as Whyt Manga, presents what it takes to create a Manga by giving an overview of the fundamentals from concept to art.
  • 3-3:45pm
Gabriel Picolo – Social Media and Artists
Known for his Storytelling and atmospheric colours, Gabriel is not just an industry favourite but a fan favourite too. Having worked on projects with DC, Blizzard and BOOM!, join this session to see what inspires him, what drives his creative style, and how he connects with his community.
  • 4-4:45pm
Noora Alawadi, Akbar Hasan, Omair Faizullah – Breaking in – Creating Stories in Horror, Comedy and Adventure
Join our very own hand-picked regional artists and storytellers who are currently producing comics with Sandstorm, as they dive into how they created their stories and what makes them into an epic tale.
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