Matthew L. Price is a writer, filmmaker, and comic-shop owner from Norman, Oklahoma. He and his wife, Annette, own Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman. Matt is a contributing writer and editor for Comic Shop News, a weekly newspaper distributed through comic-book stores, and is the writer of the comic book Team America Racing from CSN Press. Matt was a co-writer and producer of the indie superhero feature film The Posthuman Project, and the writer and producer of the pilot film The Grave, based on his comic book. Matt has written about comics, film, and geek culture as a journalist for more than two decades. His column about comics, "Word Balloons," ran weekly in The Oklahoman for 22 years; he continues to write it weekly for his own newsletter. Matt has been a journalism instructor for high-school and college students, and he has worked in higher education and marketing.
Join DC Comics artist Travis Mercer for a deep dive into the high-stakes world of modern illustration. From the streets of Gotham to the final frontier of Star Trek, Travis discusses his process for creating dynamic layouts and collector-favorite variant covers in today's fast-paced industry.
Are today's kids missing out by not having the ritual of Saturday-morning cartoons? Or are we just romanticising excessive Hasbro ads wrapped in subpar animation? Was there ever a good era for kids' TV, or do we all grow out of it for a reason?
Legacy characters are the backbone of modern comic storytelling. This panel looks at teams like the Teen Titans and the Green Lantern Corps—how they evolve, reinvent themselves, and stay relevant across generations. Creators discuss character arcs, redesigns, mentorship themes, and what it means to inherit a mantle in today’s comic universes.
Join legendary artist Sam de la Rosa /., (the hand behind the definitive look of Venom and Carnage) and modern DC/Marvel powerhouse Travis Mercer (Justice League, Green Lantern) for a deep dive into the darker side of comics. This panel explores the visual and narrative evolution of the Anti-Hero. Together, Sam and Travis will discuss how they use art to convey moral ambiguity, the challenge of redesigning classic villains, and why the anti-hero continues to dominate our pop-culture landscape.
Oklahoma has produced a wide range of creators whose work reflects the landscapes, cultures, and communities of the Sooner State. What perspectives emerge from growing up, living, or creating here? This panel brings together Oklahoma artists and writers to discuss how place influences their creative voice and identity. How does Oklahoma shape the stories we tell and the art we make?