Shawn Toshikian
Owner & Creative Director for Stand Alone Comics.
Shawn Toshikian is currently the Supervising Technical Director for Cartoon Network’s Apple & Onion series. He has also work on Neopets, Larryboy The Cartoon Adventure, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Powerpuff Girls, The Ricky Gervais Show, Monster High, Super Best Friends Forever, How to Train Your Dragon, Iron Man and Captain America Heroes United, and Mighty Magiswords. Shawn was born and raised in Santa Cruz, CA. Where he grew up on a stable diet of Mego toys, the Six Million Dollar Man, DC Comics, and the GOODNESS of McDonalds. In college he was a triple major in Psychology, Philosophy, and Political Science. However, he could not escape his first passion…art. So off he went to the City of Angels to become a trained artist. This path led him to two schools, two degrees, two cities, and a greater understanding of the lack of understanding he truly possess.
Creator, Writer, and Letterer: Smart Bomb, Gods of the Dead, Mister Borrows, Hopscotch I.D.A, Dead Heroes Brigade, Doorways & Demons, Ebo, Smarty!, Future Past, When The Lights Go On, The Amazingirls, Ghost Slurp, Gunjinman, Gods of the Dead – The Osiris Tale, Fort Charley, Not So Far Away – A Documentary, The Misadventure of the Hogman, and The Misadventures of Hogman & Squealer the Weenie Boy. Writer and Letterer: Beepbeep! and Leo Ripley’s Unicornpie.
E-mail: sarkisart@hotmail.com
Michael Huang Jr.
Owner & Art Director for Stand Alone Comics.
Michael Huang is a freelance animator. He is the artist and creator of several series being produced by Stand Alone Comics. Michael Huang is an illustrator/animator who loves comics, manga, anime, cartoons, sci-fi movies, toys, midcentury furniture’s, wife and daughter in no particular order.
Creator, Artist, and Character Designer: Beepbeep!, Gods of the Dead, Dead Heroes Brigade, Doorways & Demons, Smarty!, Future Past, When The Lights Go On, Gunjinman, Gods of the Dead – The Osiris Tale, Fort Charley, The Misadventure of the Hogman, and The Misadventures of Hogman & Squealer the Weenie Boy.
E-mail: sleepyriot@gmail.com
Website: www.michaelhuangjr.com
Greg Araya
Creator and Writer of Smart Bomb
Greg Araya’s work has been featured in Harper’s and RES magazines and can be heard on various punk-rock recordings. He is an award-winning filmmaker whose animations have screened around the world. He is the writer and creator of a series being produced by Stand Alone Comics. The youngest of three latch-key kids, Greg Araya knew even then that the correct answer to “Ginger or Mary Ann?” was “Barris Batmobile,” that the Beta Capsule should have come with a lanyard, and that the Grantray Lawrence Marvel Universe would always be the best Marvel Universe. Greg worked for computers and television before they became the same thing. Now he is a teacher. His spirit animal is the Three Roses Club’s Assassin Cowboy Robot.
Twitter: @constipanimated
Nick Bertonazzi Jr.
Creator of Bumblebog, Booka Bandits, Lilygoon, and Yum Yum Boom
Born to a family of vegetable farmers in New Jersey, Nick was quickly exposed to the unique/hardworking lifestyle that farming demands. Playing video games and watching cartoons while growing up made him realize he had a passion for art and animation, which made him pursue that dream. Nick graduated from the Art Institute of Philadelphia in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in Animation. He is the creator of four on-line comics – Bumblebog, Booka Bandits, Lilygoon, and Yum Yum Boom.
Website: https://www.mumbaloop.com
Ryan Tengel
Creator and Writer of Ghost Slurp. Writer of Not So Far Away - A Documentary and Gunjinman.
Ryan was born in a small country town in North Carolina. After escaping the mob in an epic car chase, she ended up in Los Angeles California. She now blends in with society as a part of the animation industry. If anyone suspicious asks, you never met her.
E-mail: ryantengel@gmail.com
Stephen Sawran
Creator and Storyboarder of When The Lights Go On and Not So Far Away - A Documentary. Storyboarder of The Amazingirls and Leo Ripley’s Unicornpie.
Stephen Sawran is a Los Angeles based artist working in the industry. He’s worked in various parts of the industry ranging from story to animation. With over twenty years of experience, he’s worked on animated content from Cartoon Network, Disney, DreamWorks, Marvel, and Nickelodeon. He enjoys the creative challenges of the field and being surrounded by other talented and inspiring artists like those in this anthology.
Website: www.stephensawran.com
Amanda McCann
Creator and Writer of Fort Charley.
Amanda McCann has been writing for The Simpsons’ comic book series for the past 3 years. She’s also a professional comedic improviser with an L.A.- based company called, “Comedy Sportz.” Recently, she has gotten into animation production, as well as voice acting, and would like to continue down this path. One day she hopes to create a cartoon series of her very own! Amanda McCann is a professional writer, voice actor, and animation line producer from Los Angeles. Some of her writing credits include The Simpsons comic book series, Monster High webisodes, and Netflix’s Ask the StoryBots. Amanda has worked for Nickelodeon, Hasbro, and Frederator. Amanda also has an improv comedy background, performing on the main stage of Comedy Sportz LA and teaching improv as part of their high school league. When she is not doing all of that, she enjoys watching movies, doing escape puzzle rooms, and playing with her dog, a corgi-husky named Dobby.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-mccann-abba2a15/
Dana Gier
Creator and Writer of Mister Borrows.
Dana Gier’s first work in the comic book industry was writing, drawing and lettering the first and only issue of Rocket Man – when he was in 5th grade. A nice lady gave him $5 for it! Now, after a very long hiatus, he makes his triumphant return to comics with Mister Borrows. Dana lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Alec Megibben
Creator and Character Designer of Not So Far Away - A Documentary.
Alec likes to draw. He also like eating peanut butter, listening to Enya with all sincerity, and having deep existential conversations with friends. If you would like to get in contact with him, try looking somewhere in the San Gabriel Mountains.
ARTISTS
Anush Shaginian
Anush is a visual development artist and graduate of Art Center College of Design. She has worked as a background painter on Cartoon Network’s Mighty Magiswords and Infinity Train.
Chocorutt
Chocorutt is a professional bunny enthusiast, an illustrator and the co-creator for Pugi Buni. She has provided freelance work for an animation and illustrated character assets for a small visual novel game called Our Wedding Story. She especially loves exploring with digital art as well as watercolor and has a knack for illustrating girls with stars. Currently an artist at www.inspidea.com
Instagram: @chocorutt
Chris Grine
Chris Grine decided one day he wanted to be rich beyond his wildest dreams, so naturally he chose to make his fortune in comic books! Those make lots of money… right? It wasn’t long before he found out that he needed to cancel his order for his fancy tophat and monocle. Turns out comics are a labor of love. Chris is also the creator of the Eisner nominated GN series, Chickenhare and just a real swell guy.
Katherine Tsai
Kat Tsai is a Vis Dev Artist at Dreamworks TV with a passion for color, atmosphere, and capturing a moment in an illustration.
Jeff Wamester
Jeff Wamester’s secret identity works in IT in Connecticut to support nights filled with villains and heroes mired in grand epics. Supported by his wife Melinda, his trusty canine Jake and his son (side-kick in training) he hopes to draw on his special gifts to save all these worlds of wonder from peril.
Lila Gonzalez
Lila Gonzalez is a Mexican-American illustrator and character designer from East Los Angeles. She has a background in stop motion animation and puppet making. She currently lives and works in Los Angeles.
Instagram: @lilabandida
Mark Dos Santos
Mark has over 15 years’ experience as an illustrator that ranges from comics, character design, storyboarding, promotional materials and poster art. He has worked with independent studios, toy companies and advertising houses producing art on licenses for companies such as Fox Entertainment Group, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Dark Horse Entertainment and Lucasfilm.His natural eye for design and storytelling can be seen across his portfolio.
E-mail: markdossantos002@gmail.com
Miss Mindy
Miss Mindy has been a prolific professional artist for many years. She continues to paint commissions for her private collectors, and showcase her paintings and sculpture, whilst Character designing for animation studios like Disney, WildBrain, Warner Brothers and Cartoon Network. Aside from Animation, Miss Mindy also creates illustration and product for Mattel, Hard Rock café, Zippo, and many others. She has also written and illustrated two books with Baby Tattoo Books Publishing and recently designed her own line of vinyl toys with Disney Vinylmation.
Richard Lee
Upon arriving in Los Angeles from London in 2007 Richard realized that he had found an abundance of equally strange, eccentrically chic collection of people in the animation industry and knew at once that he was home! Richard has had the great fortune to work on a list of TV shows and Animated features, predominantly as a layout and bg painter-person. Being active in a team of creative people is a dream come true and is the force that keeps the industry alive, inspiring and so appealing for Richard!
Rob Romero
Robert Romero is an artist and producer in television animation. He has worked for Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Wildbrain, Sony and Warner Bros. Animation. His credits include digital clean up artist, background artist, background painter for Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, The Powerpuff Girls TV special, The Ricky Gervais Show, and The Tom & Jerry Show. He also has a shelter cat named Liam.
Shaun O'Neil
Raised by antelope in Limpopo, Africa, Shaun spent his childhood wrestling hyenas and fighting army ants… When civil unrest rocked his homeland, Shaun bought passage to the Americas to live with his rich uncle Pennybags. But he never made it…
Tan Lammy
A self-professed art mercenary, Lammy makes a living breaking people’s minds. She also enjoys creating and destroying things (and sometimes, worlds) in her free time. She is known to indulge in good films and good food and is one of the rare few to appreciate the wonders of storyboarding. Currently an artist at www.inspidea.com
Travis Fam
An aspiring digital artist who previously worked in the engineering field. Influenced by concept arts of popular media in western gaming and filming industry. Write comics in his free time. Currently an artist at www.inspidea.com
CONTRIBUTORS
James Mckinnie
James Mckinnie is an Irish-Mexican-American cartoonist and designer, who lives and work out of Burbank, California. He’s currently a post-production coordinator for The Simpsons.
Website: www.jamesmckinnie.com
Jeremy Tani
Over the past 2 decades, Jeremy Tani left his fingerprints in several industries including sculpting, comic books, animation, illustration and websites. Jeremy’s portfolio of websites include The Dark Knight (Film, 2008), Ice Age (Film, 2017), Spartacus (TV, Season 2 & 3), and Final Fantasy (Videogame, 2017-18). Clientele has included Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Columbia Pictures, Discovery Channel, Starz, Blizzard Entertainment, Square-Enix, Corsair Components, Konami, CrunchyRoll, ABC, and NBC.
E-mail: jeremytani@gmail.com
Website: www.jeremytani.com
Moriah Benton
Moriah Benton is a queer illustrator and comic artist living in Los Angeles with her partner, their dog Grampa, and their cat Gumball. Much of her work is inspired by her childhood growing up in Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and most influentially Arkansas, where she would get in trouble for drawing comics in church.
Website: www.moriahbenton.com
Tiara Little
Hello! I’m Tiara, and I’m a production coordinator for animation. I’ve worked at Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Disney, and when I’m not working in the studios, I moonlight as a k-drama enthusiast/ super fan in my spare time. Before this anthology, I had never drawn a comic in my life, so this was a fun challenge for me to break out of my comfort zone and try something new. Hopefully, everyone will enjoy the piece as much as I did working on it, and if they don’t, I’m calling the cops.
Website: www.nohiatus.org
Tom Riffel
Tom Riffel has worked in animation for ten years in a variety of roles. He also co-founded Toonocracy and is the creator of the smash internet sensations Sausage School and Super Sausage School. When not thinking about sausages, he spends his time thinking about hamburgers. His favorite shows are Clone High and King of the Hill. Tom lives alone with two cats.
E-mail: tommyrobot1981@gmail.com