Comic Fest 2026: Saturday, May 30
10th Annual Comic Fest
Saturday, May 30 | 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Pickerington Main Library
Celebrate the beginning of Summer Reading with all things comic at Comic Fest 2026! Fun for all ages, with crafts, activities, artists, and superhero-themed activities. Visit our vendors and artists and grab a bite to eat from local food trucks. Come dressed as your favorite character; this is the perfect time to break out the cape! We are excited to be welcoming new and returning vendors and artists.
Vendor Spotlights
Alex M. Clark
Alex M. Clark has called Ohio home for 22 years, but his stories travel far beyond “Smallville.” He’s the creator of the indie comic series Lost in the Shuffle, has illustrated multiple children’s books, and regularly visits local schools to share his art (and probably his secret origin story). Indie comics, kids’ lit, and cape-worthy creativity all in one!
Arley Owens, Eco-Storyteller
The Green Visionary: Arley Owens is a force of nature with a storyteller’s soul. As Founder and President of Earth Team Green, Arley paints a sustainable future using a vibrant palette of community action and ecological wisdom. He’s a gardener of ideas, turning complex environmental issues into narratives that spark grit and hope. Now, Arley is leveling up his mission, crafting family-friendly eco-thriller comic books that transform stewardship into a high-stakes adventure. With a witty spark and unwavering passion, he makes “going green” feel like a superhero’s journey. Arley doesn’t just share a message; he invites us all to be heroes.
Canada Keck
Canada Keck writes and draws autobiographical comics that they self-publish, and have edited anthologies and curated art exhibits. Canada Keck enjoys talking to people and encouraging them to be creative and to tell their stories.
Carl Lucas
Carl Lucas is a Cartoonist, Illustrator and Art Instructor residing in Columbus Ohio. Carl has self-published several graphic novels including Shogun Bear: In the House of Horrors and Shogun Bear: Fights All Monsters. Carl has taught various workshops on comics, character design, and storytelling at Columbus College of Art & Design, Thurber School, and a few other institutions and museums. You can find his work at www.carllucasdraws.com.
Carl will also be leading the Comics Demystified! program on May 16 at Pickerington Main Library.
J.M. Hunter
J.M. Hunter is an MFA in Comics graduate, writer, artist, painter, and advocate for the arts and comics, especially dealing with memoir and speculative fiction amidst marginalized groups and people. He continues to advocate for space as well as pursue hybrid mediums and expression.
Junior
Junior is an animated illustrator and an expert of unexpected cute. Their works include The Divine Intervention, Growing Up Gerudo, and currently A Reptile Dysfunction.
Michael Fehskens, The Rex Complex
Michael is a children’s book author born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and living in Springfield, Ohio. He is the author of Sam Hay’s Spooky Day, The Travels of Tabby Timbuck, and a whole lot more! Michael loves books, animals, and the beauty of nature.
Penny’s Squish & Soap
Penny’s Squish & Soap Shop LLC is a newly founded small business created by 9-year-old kidpreneur Penny. With creativity and confidence beyond her years, Penny designs fun, hands-on sensory products that spark joy and imagination.
Her shop specializes in colorful, customizable slime and foaming hand soaps in a variety of scents, textures, and playful themes. Each product is thoughtfully made to provide a calming, screen-free sensory experience while encouraging creativity and self-expression.
Penny’s innovation and entrepreneurial spirit have already gained recognition. Her business pitch was selected as a First Round Winner in this year’s Mott Million Dollar Challenge, highlighting her creativity, effort, and strong performance.
Penny’s Squish & Soap Shop is more than just fun products. It’s a young entrepreneur’s vision brought to life.
Instagram: @psquishandsoap
Facebook: Penny’s Squish & Soap Shop
Phoenix Productions
Phoenix Productions is an independent small-press comics and zine publisher producing original titles, anthologies, and pop-culture FANzine content. Known for projects like Strange Times, Heroes Now, and the Phoenix Hero Universe, the imprint blends classic DIY comics energy with modern digital distribution through print, PDFs, and regular FANzine Live video programming. A multi-award winner at the United Fanzine Organization Awards (2023–2024), Phoenix Productions focuses on creator-driven storytelling, spotlight features on artists, and archival collections that celebrate fandom, cartooning, and underground comics culture.
RAW!
RAW! is a cartoonist based in Pickerington, Ohio. He blends genres and styles to tell over-the-top, character-driven stories packed with emotion and style. His artwork is bold, colorful, and expressive, drawing inspiration from street art, animation, manga, and vinyl toys.
Calling All Comics Creators
Vendor Application deadline: March 15
Creator application for Comic Fest 2026 is closed.
Applications will be reviewed, and accepted creators will be contacted no later than March 22.