Wicked Comics are proud to announce that guests Dani, Michael Dialynas, Nigel Twumasi (mayamada), Phil Elliot, Samuela Cannata (Umas Lady) and Valentin Secher as well as exhibitors Dejan Kostic, Joseph Bugeja, Marianne Scicluna Lauri, Jean Luc Portelli, Peter Magro, Ivan Mallia, Marianne Galea and Toy Town Collectables will be joining the previously announced guest and exhibitors amongst the highlights of Malta Comic Convention (MCC) 2017. Wicked Comics are also proud to unveil the official poster for this year’s event magnificently designed by guest creator Dani and edited by Wicked Comics’ Kenneth Micallef.
The 9th edition of the Malta Comic Con (MCC) will be held on Saturday 2rd December (10am-6pm) and Sunday 3rd December (11am-7pm) 2017 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta.
Dani
Dani was born in Athens, Greece in 1992 and studied sculpturing in Athens School of Fine Arts. For the past 3 years she has been self-publishing her own creator owned series Tales from the Strips and is now finishing the final instalment of the series. Dani recently drew a short story for 2000AD’s Free Comic Book Day 2016 issue and is currently providing backup stories in IDW’s Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency: The Salmon of Doubt, written by Arvind Ethan David.
Michael Dialynas is a comic artist residing in Athens, Greece. In his native tongue he has published the graphic novel Trinkets: An Attic Full of Stories and the series Swan Songs, (Comicdom Press) but he is more known for his work on Amala’s Blade (Dark Horse Comics), Spera (Archaia Entertainment), Superior Spider-Man Team Up Special (Marvel) and a few issues of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW). He has recently finished work on The Woods (Boom! Studios) and Gotham Academy (DC).
Nigel Twumasi is the co-founder of mayamada, a British manga brand featured in NEO Magazine, Mashable, Vogue, and GQ Magazine among others. Mayamada is set in their own television network universe full of amazing characters. Nigel and co-founder Lao write manga-style comics, design streetwear clothing, and host their own industry recognised social gaming event GamePad. They also give talks and deliver creative comic story workshops.
Phil is a UK artist who has been active in the comic book industry since the mid-70’s. He launched and co-edited the Fast Fiction fanzine in the ’80s where he introduced his bequiffed character, Gimbley. Phil was a regular contributor to the influential Escape magazine and his other work includes Illegal Alien and Bluebeard written by James Robinson; Lucifer with Eddie Campbell; writing Absent Friends for Paul Grist; Tupelo with Matt DeGennaro; The Real Ghostbusters and illustrating Glenn Dakin’s Greenhouse Warriors, Mr Night and The Rockpool Files.
Samuela Cannata graduated in 2004 from the Moda Burgo Institute in Milan and today she has over 17 years of experience in styling clothes. Her work has been exhibited in various fashion shows in Sicily and Italy for which she has won numerous awards including Premio Sicilia in 2008. Also known as Umas Lady, Samuela become a cosplayer in 2010. Her cosplay has also won various awards which include Premio Etnacomics 2011 and she was also chosen at Romics 2012 to represent Italy in Eurocosplay 2013 which was held in London where she placed 10th.
Born in 1988 in France, Valentin Secher graduated in 2009 from the Pivaut Art School. Soon after graduating, Valentin met prolific comics creator Jean-Luc Istin whom offered him the opportunity to create a space opera comics series with writer Stephane Louis: Khall, 2 books published in 2011 and 2016 in French by Soleil, and in 2017 in English by Titan Comics. Valentin followed that series by tackling the legendary character of the Metabaron for Humanoids, starting with The Metabaron Book 1 published in 2016. He is currently working on Book 3 of the same series, expected in 2018.
Born in Belgrade, Serbia in 1979, Dejan developed a keen interest in comics and comic art from a very early age. During his high school years he focused his studies on graphical and architectural design which widened his knowledge on drawing and painting techniques. A fan of the traditional inking technique, Dejan enjoys developing illustrations and comics featuring various types of characters raging from western to superheroes.
Joseph Bugeja holds a Diploma with Distinction in Fine Arts. After participating in collective exhibitions, he held his first solo exhibition titled ‘Immagina’ at St James Cavalier in Valletta, 2006. All the 36 pieces of artwork were based on Maltese history or folklore, but what made them stand out was the artist’s twisted interpretation. Joseph has also created and self published two issues of Hal Mudlam comic, and illustrated the first issue of The Tsar comic written by Joseph P. Farrugia.
Marianne is a self-taught artist who started drawing anime, however as she got older she developed different styles and started using different media such as digital, acrylics, water colours and ink. She still occasionally draws anime and original characters as well. She experiments with zentangle, which started as doodles on her diary but eventually turned into full scale drawings. She also paints abstract landscape paintings with acrylics.
Jean-Luc is a local independent illustrator and graphic designer with a varied background. He is self-taught, and has worked on a variety of personal and small-scale illustration projects for comics, games and promotional material for events. He is also an avid gamer and studied for his Masters in Digital Games as a game designer. They are often a great source of inspiration for his artwork, and he even experiments with making them himself from time to time.
Peter Magro is a full time teacher and illustrator of the local graphic novel S.T.E.A.M. Island Under Siege, written by Ashley Eric Peschel. Although digitally literate, Peter prefers to work in traditional media. His approach is flexible and he tailors his style to suit the client’s need. A veteran exhibitor at the Malta Comic Con and a big fan of comic art, Peter is currently collaborating with GNLM on a project aimed at adolescents.
Ivan Mallia is a Close-Up Magic Performer and Entertainer. He has been involved in magic for more than 18 years, where he has performed his unique brand of magic in various places around Malta and entertained thousands of people of different nationalities. His magic is highly visual, baffling and memorable. Ivan specialises in Close-Up magic, the most intimate form of magic, performed for small groups of people, but he also performs for larger audiences, on the street, in bars and other venues. While Ivan is not a children’s entertainer and his performances are geared towards mature audiences, his magic is enjoyed by everyone, regardless of age or nationality.
Marianne Galea is a showgirl, model, dance choreographer and cosplayer. She started dancing at the age of 5, and modelling at the age of 15. After dancing and modelling professionally for several years she took a short break to focus on her family. She restarted with a bang creating The Fantasy Showgirls dance troupe. While resuming photo modelling she moved away from fashion and focused on themed photo shoots which led her to cosplaying. Besides cosplaying and performing with The Fantasy Showgirls Marianne will also be running short dance workshops during the Malta Comic Con.
Run by Mark Grech, Toy Town Collectables is a shop located in Birkirkara that specialises in the sale of toys and collectables. Their stock ranges from vintage to new items and they are always open to buy, sell and trade to suit their client’s needs. In their shop one will find a mixture of brand new and second hand items such as comics, action figures, character toys, tin toys, trains, diecast, classic anime related toys and collectables, dolls and more.
Phase 2 Super Saver tickets are now available online from the Malta Comic Con website (http://www.maltacomic-con.com/product-category/tickets) and offline from Pandora’s Box Collectables (Tarxien), Toy Town (Birkirkara) and RC World (Naxxar) at €10 for 1 day and €14 for 2 days.
Wicked Comics are also offering a number of travelling and accommodation packages for foreign fans who wish to join the Malta Comic Convention. Details can be found on the Malta Comic Con website through the following links:
Dani
Michael Dialynas
Nigel Twumasi (mayamada)
hil Elliot 
Samuela Cannata (Umas Lady)
Valentin Secher
Dejan Kostic 
Joseph Bugeja
Marianne Scicluna Lauri
Jean-Luc Portelli
Peter Magro
Ivan Mallia 
Marianne Galea
Toy Town Collectables 
