2026

Special Guests

Dan Brereton 

Dan Brereton is a Northern California native, five time Eisner nominated, award- winning comics illustrator, cover artist, graphic novelist, and creator of such properties as NOCTURNALS, GIANTKILLER and THE PSYCHO.

He’s well-known for the Eisner-nominated BATMAN: THRILLKILLER, and LEGENDS OF THE WORLD’S FINEST for DC Comics, as well as JLA: Seven Caskets, and LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT. Since before finishing art school at San Francisco’s Academy of Art College in 1989, Dan has worked for every major comic book publisher including Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse and Image on characters like Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, Justice league, Red Sonja, and the X-Men.

He is known for his work in the Horror genre as well, including story and art for Vampirella, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the graphic novel adaptation of Clive Barker’s DREAD, which earned Dan an Eisner nomination. Dan’s penchant for monsters, ghost stories and Halloween has a tendency to show up in much of his work.

Dan has collaborated with Christopher Golden , Cullen Bunn, Howard Chaykin, Walter Simonson, and many other masterful authors. Freelancing clients include The Walt Disney Co, Hasbro, NBC, Topps, and musicians such as Rob Zombie and Toto. (Yes, really, Toto!)

You can find Dan and his work on both Meta platforms , Bluesky, his Patreon page, as well as annual Kickstarter projects. Dan’s books can be purchased from budsartbooks.com - Brereton23@sbcglobal.net


Jackie Kong 

Jackie Kong launched KONG COMICS, as The Creator of the first in a series of Horror Comics entitled SPEND THE NIGHT, Kong brings her own brand of sick thrills to comics.  ​

 Jackie Kong is a director, producer, and screenwriter known for irreverent comedy and over-the-top horror films. In 1983, she made her feature film debut as director with the low-budget drive-in horror film The Being, which starred Martin Landau and Jose Ferrer. In 1984, she followed up by directing and co-writing the breakout comedy Night Patrol, featuring Linda Blair, about a Los Angeles policeman moonlighting as a stand-up comedian. Kong received a Platinum Video award from the RIAA for Night Patrol, which became a college-party film staple. Night Patrol was a major worldwide theatrical success, setting the stage for Kong to direct the comedic cult horror film Blood Diner, released in 1987.

 Kong added her comedic flair to Blood Diner, changing the traditional horror film into a gore fest with outrageous effects and comedy, ultimately pioneering a new subgenre of horror film. It is now one of the most beloved horror films of all time. The fact that Blood Diner was directed by a woman blew audience’ and critics’ minds. She followed that with another comedy, The Underachievers.

 Kong’s films are always irreverent, inventive, shocking, and funny. Weirdly, she enjoyed making the horror films much more than the comedies. “Making a monster movie was actually more fun than making a comedy,” she says. “People watched the comedies and because they’re laughing, think it must have been so much fun, when in fact that was harder work than making a monster movie. There’s something about getting everyone in makeup and costumes and creating a hyper reality, that’s so much more fun. Both are tough crowds to surprise.”

 “Jackie Kong is a bad-ass,” says Etheria Festival Director “When we talk about inspiration, it’s not just the films, but the attitudes that we look up to.

 Kong’s unflinching determination to tell the stories that she wants to tell is so affirming to so many women. Combined with her having directed some of the most iconic genre films of the 1980s, this attitude makes her stand out as someone we would love to honor. She’s punk rock.” Etheria Film Festival is proud to be honoring Jackie Kong with the Etheria Inspiration Award on Saturday, June 11, 2016. The Inspiration Award is presented to people who have inspired women to write and direct genre films & TV. Past recipients include Jane Espenson (“Once Upon a Time”), Lexi Alexander (“Punisher: Warzone”), Jennifer Lynch (“The Walking Dead”), and Mary Lambert (“Pet Sematary”).​

 KONG's new Comic-ISSUE #1 of  "SPEND THE NIGHT - The Curse of One-Eyed Jenny" is being released Worldwide by Lunar Distribution to Comic book stores everywhere in 2023! 



Cat Staggs 

Cat is an artist best known for her work on the New York Times Bestselling title Smallville Season 11 from DC Comics and creator-owned titles Crosswind with Gail Simone for Image Comics and Dark and Twisted: Death Mask vol 1 and 2 with Amanda Deibert for Storm King Comics. Currently working on Death Mask vol 3 with Amanda Deibert(Storm King) and Joker/Harley Criminal Sanity-Secret Files #2 with Kami Garcia(DC Titles).  She has also worked on popular titles like the Ringo Nominated Through with David Dastmalchian (Z2 Comics), Eisner Award winning anthology Love is Love(DC Comics), Death of Superman with Louise Simonson(DC Comics), Adventures of Supergirl (DC Comics), Wonder Woman ‘77 (DC Comics), X-Files and Orphan Black (IDW), Sensation Comics featuring Wonder Woman (DC), The Vampire Diaries (DC), Phantom Lady and Doll Man (DC), Star Trek (IDW), Tales For A Halloween Night Vol. 1-12  (Storm King), and over 20 years in the Star Wars universe with Lucasfilm and over 12 years with John Carpenter. In 2017, a one of a kind original Wonder Woman piece was inducted into the Library of Congress by Lynda Carter along with Wonder Woman '77 Vol 1.


James Silvani 

James is a Hawaiʻi-based cartoonist and illustrator whose work spans beloved Disney comics, children’s books, and fine art. He’s worked on titles like DuckTales, Darkwing Duck, The Muppets, Animaniacs, Sesame Street, and Richie Rich, and created covers for classics including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Uncle Scrooge, Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Rescue Rangers, and more.

He’s also a talented writer and artist of books such as PIRATES: A Graphic History and DRAW-A-SAURUS: Everything You Need to Know to Draw Your Favorite Dinosaurs. James has collaborated with Disney, Pixar, Lucasfilm, DreamWorks, Hasbro, Mattel, and other commercial clients, bringing his playful, imaginative style to fans of all ages.

Michael Bair entered the comics business in 1982, first gaining attention for his pencil work on Eclipse Comics' Aztec Ace series.  Michael continued penciling until 1989's Catwoman mini-series.  He illustrated Marvel's Hellstorm, Spider-Man/Dr. Strange, Alpha Flight, Ghost Rider, X-Men and Harris Comics' Vampirella before settling in at DC, primarily as an inker.  His other credits include Ghost/Batgirl, JLA: Year One, Young All-Stars, JSA, Hawkman and Wonder Woman.  Michael makes his home in Baltimore.

Michael Bair