Influential and fan-favorite DC Comics artist Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez is the latest addition to the star-studded Lehigh Valley Comic Convention.
Garcia-Lopez joins a guest lineup that includes actor Ja’Siah Young (Netflix’s Raising Dion), voice actress Erica Schroeder (Pokemon), Archie Comics artist Jeff Shultz, artist Will Torres, and veteran writer-artist Bob Budiansky, best known as the main writer of Marvel Comics’ original “Transformers” comic book series.
Lehigh Valley Comic Convention will be held Feb. 8 at Lehigh Carbon Community College in North Whitehall Township. Convention hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Garcia-Lopez illustrated the 1982 “DC Comics Style Guide” for the publisher’s licensing merchandise — most famously DC’s popular “Super Powers'“ line of toys, puzzles, and collectibles. Nearly 40 years later, the guide is still used by DC Comics for various licensed merchandise.
His debut work for DC was an Atom back-up story in 1975’s “Action Comics” No. 448. Two years later, Garcia-Lopez and writer Michael Fleisher launched the “Jonah Hex” series for DC. Throughout the late-’70s, Garcia-Lopez rose to prominence as a cover penciler and interior penciler and inker on “Superman” and “DC Comics Presents.” In his more than four decades in the business, Garcia-Lopez has lent his talents to such titles as “Wonder Woman,” “Batman,” “New Teen Titans,” “Deadman,” “Atari Force,” and the Eisner Award-nominated series “Twilight.”
Garcia-Lopez’s breadth of work includes the Superman versus Wonder Woman story in 1978’s “All-New Collector’s Edition” and the Batman versus Incredible Hulk story in “DC Special Series” No. 27.
Budiansky’s credits include “Ghost Rider,” “Sleepwalker,” “Daredevil,” and “Spider-Woman” for Marvel.
Lehigh Valley Comic Convention admission costs $10 at the door; $9 with college ID. Admission is free for children ages 12 and younger.