2011 Favorites and New Classics: A Panel with Vera Brosgol, Jennifer Hayden, Shannon Wheeler, Matt Phelan, John Hogan and Jeff Newelt

Sunday, Nov. 20, 11:00 a.m., Prometeo Theatre (Building 1, 1st Floor, Room 1101)

Author(s) and Guest(s)

Vera Brosgol

In author/artist Vera Brosgol's debut graphic novel, Anya's Ghost (First Second Books, $15.99), Anya is embarrassed by her family, self-conscious about her body, and has pretty much given up on fitting in at school. A new friend--even a ghost--is just what she needs. Brosgol is a storyboard artist. Her work can be seen in the recently released movie, Coraline.

Jennifer Hayden

Underwire (Top Shelf Productions, $9.95), collects the wise and witty autobiographical comics of Jennifer Hayden, politically incorrect mother of two. Hayden started writing and drawing Underwire as a webcomic, where it has since gained critical attention.

Shannon Wheeler

Shannon Wheeler, a legend in the indie-comix scene, is best known for his Eisner Award-winning series Too Much Coffee Man and his frequent New Yorker comics. His collection, I Thought You Would Be Funnier (Boom!, $19.99), billed as the best-of-the-best of what's left on the cutting room floor from Wheeler's cartoon submissions to The New Yorker Magazine, was, nevertheless, good enough to win another Eisner Award for Best Humor Publication.

Matt Phelan

Around the World (Candlewick Press, $24.99) is Matt Phelan's account of three turn-of-the nineteenth-century adventurers' attempt to circumnavigate the globe by any means possible, including a bicycle--the kind with a big front wheel! Matt Phelan is the author-illustrator of the highly acclaimed and award-winning graphic novel, The Storm in the Barn. He is also the illustrator of many books for young readers, including Always and I'll be There by Ann Stott and The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron, winner of the 2007 Newbery Medal.

John Hogan

John Hogan is the editor of the Graphic Novel Reporter. Previously, Hogan was the editor of Pages magazine, as well as a freelance writer and editor.

Jeff Newelt

Jeff Newelt aka JahFurry is the editor of The PEKAR PROJECT webcomics series, and the upcoming graphic novel Harvey Pekar's CLEVELAND. He is comics editor of SMITH, Heeb and Royal Flush magazines. He has been dubbed “NYC’s Favourite Freakscene Facilitator” (Warren Ellis). He uses PR and social media to relentlessly promote and connect artists as Minister of Hype for webcomix collective ACT-I-VATE.com and as consultant to literary, tech, music and art clients like Douglas Rushkoff, Paul Pope, Al Jaffee, Bill Ayers, Stan Lee, Blue Man Group, Molly Crabapple, DJ Spooky, and more.