Special Guests

We're bringing together some amazing guests from all over. It's a great chance to learn from the best, get creative, and meet others who love the same things you do.

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Last Updated: Jan 15, 2026, 04:21 PM

 

Photograph of Brad Moore in a black leather jacket and shirt against a dark background. In his hand is a black skull with a light at the top that illuminates his face from below.

Working in arcane worlds of subculture artistry, painter and comix artist Brad Moore has certainly been around the block.

A pioneer of both the original wave of outlaw comix mags, and the first wave of death metal album illustrators, Moore’s art contains a fusion of Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi, Gore, and legitimate Surrealism.

In 2006, Brad flew to Switzerland, to exhibit with the legendary H R GIGER, and he continues to exhibit paintings and drawings, worldwide.

Today, painting almost exclusively for death metal record companies, Brad Moore still devotes a great deal of energy to comix, and cryptid art, solidifying his belief that “The media is the gallery of the present.“

http://www.bradmooreartwizard.com


Photograph of Brian K. Morris, smiling whimsically and wearing a red fez with a yellow tassel, a rainbow-colored bowtie and holding a pipe.

Brian K. Morris is an award-winning author, editor, publisher, Facebook-famous YouTuber, occasional actor, and former mortician’s assistant. His work has appeared in many New Pulp publications, as well as his own Rising Tide Publications and Freelance Words imprints.

A prolific, in-demand multi-genre writer, Brian’s latest offerings include The Terrors, a socially conscious reinterpretation of the classic Black Terror comic book character, and the cornerstone of his Raceway City family of superhero books. His latest novel, Quest for the Delphi Oculus from Flinch Books, is a tale of international intrigue about a race to gain control of a powerful alien artifact to create a new world order.

In addition, BKM’s been published by Stormgate Press, Flinch Books, Blue Planet Press, Becky Books, Atomic Press, BEN Books, TwoMorrows Publishing, Hogan’s Alley, and many more. He’s also on the board of directors for CIL-Con, the Indie Author Book Expo, and Six-Gun Phoenix Publishing.

Brian won the 2023 Pulp Factory Award for Best Short Story (“Snow Ambition” for BEN Books) as well as another for not murdering the director of his first stage play.

An Illinois native, Brian now lives in Central Indiana with his wife, Cookie, who is also a freelance editor and book designer, along with no children, no pets, and too many comic books. Brian’s delighted to return to Saluki Con and looks forward to adding to your bookshelves. Plus, he LOVES talking about writing and publishing, so bring your questions.

For more information on what keeps BKM busy, please sign up for his free insider information email at www.RisingTide.pub and check out his twice-weekly blog, “Every Blog Deserves a Name,” only for his Patreon subscribers at www.Patreon.com/briankmorris


Photo of Camron Johnson smiling and wearing a black graphic t-shirt and ballcap with a red lanyard.

Camron Johnson is a creator/artist/author based out of Central Illinois. His work is featured in comics, books, and trading cards with companies & licensed properties such as Marvel, Spider-Man, DC, Upper Deck, Star Wars, Topps, IDW (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, GODZILLA, 30 Days of Night), VIZ Media (TMNT x NARUTO), DYNAMITE (Thundercats, Terminator), Destro(G.I. JOE), Battle Beast, (SKYBOUND), IMAGE Comics (The Lucky Devils) Hasbro, Warner Brothers, Middle-Earth (The Lord of The Rings + The Hobbit film trilogies), DC (Dark Nights: METAL), New Line Cinema, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Cryptozoic Entertainment, Adult Swim, Rick and Morty, Printed in Blood (Hannibal TV series), EVENT HORIZON, Paramount, Massive Publishing (Assassin’s Creed), Ubisoft, Source Point Press, Perna Studios, MERC, and Legends Publishing.

He is the Creator of the best-selling independent comic book series’ BONECHECK, MEDUSON, and FREEZER BURN.


Photograph of Zac Atkinson wearing a hoodie and illustrated ballcap. He has a small piercing on his right eyebrow.

Zac Atkinson is a comic creator residing somewhere in the corn of Illinois. He is the co-creator and artist for Omega Eleven, a sci fi comedy series published by Monstrous Books.

He has worked in the comic industry for over 20 years and has worked on over 300 titles, mainly as a colorist for DC, IDW, BOOM, and many others.

You can see his work in mainstream titles like Bruce Lee, Shazam, Marvel Action Spider-Man, Kolchak, Young Justice, Transformers, Soul Reaver Legacy of Kain, Farscape..and many more. https://allmylinks.com/zacsart