One of the most prolific and best-selling writers of American comics - indie and mainstream - Portland writer Brian Michael Bendis has taken on every topic from grim superhero noir (Powers), the quirky challenges of teenage superherodom (Ultimate Spider-Man), gritty crime thrillers (Jinx, Goldfish, Torso), to autobiographical exposes of the horrors of Hollywood (Fortune and Glory, Total Sell-Out).

One of the most controversial and beloved figures in comics today, Scott McCloud is the author of the groundbreaking books Understanding Comics, Reinventing Comics, and the recent - as well as classic superhero series Zot!. Fresh off his yearlong family book tour, Scott will take questions from the audience and discuss his next project.

Tired of the gravelike atmosphere of art school lifemodeling classes? Or have you never even gotten the chance to draw from a model before? Dr.Sketchy's is "what happens when cabaret meets art school" - a worldwide confederation of performers, models, and burlesque dancers bringing you some of the wildest and most offbeat life-modeling sessions on the planet. This two hour, costumed, all-ages workshop features some of Dr.Sketchy's best Portland talent. Bring your drawing pad and prepare to have fun!

Comics are not just for boys anymore, and nobody knows better than Raina Telgemeier - one of the biggest names in a generation of female cartoonists producing work that speaks to an all-ages, all-genders audience. In addition to autobio comics Smile and Take-Out, Raina has won acclaim as the creator behind the Baby-Sitter's Club comics adaptations. Raina talks about her career and her upcoming X-Men project with husband Dave Roman.

From publishing to retail, comics businesses are often small and personal - and notoriously difficult to run. Moderator Dylan Williams talks with local comics entrepeneurs Jeremy Tiedeman, Tim Goodyear, Bwana Spoons, Shannon O'Leary, and Francois Vigneault about their best moments and biggest challenges in a growing industry.

With the successful staging of The Refill, Portland's own "synthesis of the arts" has entered franchise territory. Join creator Shannon Wheeler and cast members for excerpts from the recent production, behind-the-scenes commentary on the staging process, and all sorts of TMCM extras sure to leave you buzzing.

You can't read American comics without coming across one of Periscope Studio's 21 members. Crammed into a downtown Portland office suite, these artists and writers avoid killing each other for long enough to produce everything from best-sellers with Hollywood movie deals (White-Out, Steve Lieber) to popular super-hero titles (X-Men: First Class, Jeff Parker) to independent web and minicomics. Join Special Guest Steve Lieber and his studio-mates to find out who leaves their dishes in the sink, how not to break into the industry, and why comics might or might not be the weirdest career on earth.

Bay Area cartoonist Jason Shiga's brilliantly deadpan library cop thriller, Bookhunter, swept last year's Stumptown Awards. Along with being the source of many a cartooning urban legend, he might also hold the record for the number of bizarre personal appearances in other people's comics. Who is this masked man, and why is Special Guest Derek Kirk Kim interviewing him?

Expanding on a presentation he gave at PNCA last year, Mike Russell ("CulturePulp") takes a look at webcomics that offer a sustainable income to their creators -- and identifies several web-site features and monetizing techniques these webcomics have in common. (He'll also recommend some books and websites for more in-depth reading.) If you're a novice looking to build an audience and an income for your online comic, this presentation is a great starting point for further study.

Comics are part of a well-established Western tradition in manipulating the masses. In this workshop we'll explore a wide sampling of rhetorically-charged works, ranging from the timid and subtle to the overt and outrageous.