Comic Guests
Christa Diehl
Christa D has been a freelance illustrator for over a decade. She’s a fan artist that has worked with many companies including Hasbro, Cartoon Network, Wizards of the Coast and Dreamworks. Most recently she’s drawn sketch cards from The Goonies and Marvel Comics for the Upper Deck Card Company.
Cheyenne Osborn
​Cheyenne is a young writer and creative storyteller with a huge imagination and a love for collaborative worldbuilding. Since learning to write, she has spent countless hours creating stories and characters with her friends. After her liver transplant, her Make-A-Wish dream was brought to life through the creation of a fully illustrated comic based on her original Transformers universe and characters.
Jason Martin
Jason is a creator and artist based in Beaverton Oregon, with over 100 books published through comic book shops. Recent works include my Pulp Girls concepts, and the long-running monthly series Vampblade.
He previously worked with Action Lab Entertainment as Editor In Chief of their mature readers imprint (where he also worked as a creator and writer). He's also worked as a freelance artist and has done work for clients such as Adult Swim, Topps, Upper Deck and more.
Izzy Medrano
Izzy is a veteran lead concept designer, illustrator, teacher, and art director with a specialty in narrative development and writing skills. He has contributed to dozens of projects including; Magic: The Gathering (The Animated Series), League of Legends, DOOM (2016), Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, God of War: Ascension, Starhawk, Magic: The Gathering (TCCG), God of War III, Dungeons & Dragons, and many more.
After several years of developing original IPs and adventuring in Mexico aboard his sailboat, Izzy has settled back in his home country of the United States. Now based in Beaverton, Oregon, Izzy continues to be an avid traveler, writer, gamer, and reader. He is developing new stories, comics, and art including continuing to work on his original series “COLLAR”, and recently completed the first printing of the dark sci-fi short "Solar Siren".
Keith Tucker
An Emmy Award-winning veteran of the animation and comics industries, Keith boasts a prolific career spanning some of the most iconic franchises in pop culture. His extensive storyboard credits include legendary series like Animaniacs, Transformers, X-Men, and DuckTales, while his film work ranges from special effects on Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan to storyboarding for RoboCop 3. A versatile illustrator, Keith has also spent years as a cover artist for Disney Comics and has contributed to numerous graphic novels and magazines. With a portfolio that bridges the gap between Saturday morning classics and cinematic favorites, he remains a cornerstone of professional visual storytelling.
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Kelly Sue DeConnick
Ms. DeConnick is best known for reinventing Carol Danvers as “Captain Marvel” at Marvel and for the Black Label standard-setting Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons at DC. Her independent comics Bitch Planet and Pretty Deadly (both from Image Comics) have ranked as New York Times best-sellers. Ms. DeConnick’s screen work includes stints on Captain Marvel and 2023’s The Marvels with Marvel Studios; in addition to having consulted on features for Skydance and ARRAY, and developing television for NBCUniversal, Legendary Entertainment, Amazon Studios, and HBOMax. Her most recent stage work is the mythic spectacle AWAKENING, which opened at the Wynn Resort Las Vegas in November 2022.
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Only at Westside Comic Con on Saturday, May 23
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Matt Fraction
Matt Fraction lives with his wife, the writer Kelly Sue DeConnick, and their children and their dogs in Portland, Oregon. He co-created the New York Times bestselling books SEX CRIMINALS and HAWKEYE. He co-created and worked as a writer and executive producer on AppleTV's MONARCH: LEGACY OF MONSTERS. He currently writes ADVENTUREMAN at Image Comics and BATMAN for DC Comics.
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Only at Westside Comic Con on Saturday, May 23
Warren Montgomery
Based in Portland, Oregon, Warren is a seasoned freelance artist and publisher with 38 years of experience in the comic book industry. A prolific letterer and colorist, he has collaborated with major houses like Dark Horse, Scholastic, and Boom! Studios on popular titles such as Adventure Time, Lumberjanes, and Sweet Valley Twins. Beyond his technical work, Warren is an accomplished cover artist for Airship 27 Productions and the head of Will Lill Comics, where he publishes titles like John Kirby: Firefox. Whether he's crafting fan art of Godzilla or working on high-profile crossovers, Warren remains a versatile staple of the indie and mainstream comics scenes.
Cosplay Guests
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AbbyCat Cosplay
AbbyCat Cosplay is a professional and award winning cosplayer who has been cosplaying for 6
years. She is the moderator for the SheProp! Presentation Panel Series And frequent
contributor to Team Totoro Cosplay. AbbyCat is known for her upcycled approach to gathering
materials as well as a love for whimsical and comedic cosplays and characters. Her goal is to
make amazing cosplay from surprising materials, make people laugh, and have fun while doing
it.
Beverly Downen
Beverly Downen is the founder of Downen Creative Studios and a respected creator, educator, and voice in the international cosplay and maker communities. She’s known for her detailed EVA foam work and pop culture–inspired builds. Her collaborations include brands like Marvel, Worbla, Smooth-On, Siser, Surebonder, and Plasti Dip, with whom she helped launch Craft, a product line created for cosplayers. Her instructional book Cosplayer’s Ultimate Guide to EVA Foam was featured as one of Adam Savage’s "Favorite Things" in 2023. Beverly has led over 40 workshops across the U.S. as a dedicated cosplay educator. She is the founder of SheProp, a community supporting female, non-binary, and transgender makers. She also served as Associate Producer and a featured cast member of the docuseries Alter Egos, now available on Amazon Prime.
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Sign Up for Beverly's Build-A-Totoro Workshop here.
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Buck Potter (Cancelled, Will attend next year!)
Based in Eugene, Oregon, Buck Potter is a multidisciplinary maker and theatrical designer who has spent over a decade bridging the gap between the stage and the comic book world. With a background in Technical Theatre Design—specializing in sets, lighting, and props—Buck brings a professional level of craftsmanship to the cosplay scene. He is best known for his inventive mashups and gritty reinterpretations, including his signature "Mandalordian," Grog Strongjaw from Critical Role, and Steampunk Beast. A seasoned creator and tabletop enthusiast, Buck is thrilled to join the 2026 Westside Comic Con as a guest, panelist, and judge this May.
Tehdy B
Tehdy B is an International award winning master craftsmanship cosplayer from Southwest West Ohio. They have competed on the local, regional, and international stages including winning a Best in Show and Best Master at contests at Dragon Con, and most recently Best in Show at FanExpo Cleveland. They were recently named Cosplay department head for a local convention, and has helped behind the scenes running both Craftsmanship and Masquerade contests and as an Emcee. Tehdy B loves learning new techniques when it comes to their cosplay with a strong emphasis in needlework and leatherwork, but also being versed in other mixed media. Always learning always growing. Tehdy B has also performs as drag artist Anna Mae Ceres, having raised over $100k for local to them LGBTQ+ charities and organizations.
Pirate Guests
Pirate Guests
Pirate Guests
Iron Dragon Trading Company
Iron Dragon was started in 2014. Since then they have been at events up and down the West Coast and even Las Vegas. They provide immersion, displays, interaction, education, and entertainment with a focus on family events. The crew is led by the charismatic Admiral Bun Bun, and is often firing full size artillery for enthusiastic onlookers.
Bee Bee Sanchez
Bee Bee Sanchez is the bodacious babe with the bountiful body and biting wit. This mercurial minx is an International Showgirl, Femmecee, and Artistic Director for Querencia and Bee Bee’s Cabaret Supper Club. She is a member of Sasshole, Portland’s queer fat fierce fusion dance crew. She defies expectations on the stage, behind a mic, or with a pen in her hand. This force of nature is a purveyor of multiple spicy arts, including curator of hot sauce - that’s why she’s the Rose City’s hot sauce hottie!
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Buy Geeklesque Tickets Here, Separate Ticket Required
Burlesque Guests
Kisa von Teasa
Kisa von Teasa is an international award winning performer, producer, educator and MC. Kisa started their burlesque career in 2005. In 2007 they created Knoxville, Tennessee’s own award winning Salomé Cabaret, and the Salome Cabaret Burlesque Academy. As a founding member of the Knoxville Burlesque scene they helped carve out a place for burlesque performers for almost 20 years. Kisa has performed and MC'd from BHoF to Jamaica, Colorado to Canada, and New Mexico to New Zealand. They have had the opportunity to be a part of many touring productions such as Stripclub Time Machine, Grab My Junk, and Dangerous Curves on the Go-Go, and produced the Tease n' Tassel Tour and Senectitude Burlesque. In 2022 they moved to the PNW and have been diligently keeping it weird in Portland through their own performances and productions like Blackbeard's Burlesque and Other Delicacies and Scary Stories to Tell After Dark shows. Kisa enjoys reading science fiction and fantasy with a nice tumbler of rye whiskey, exploring their obsession with the color purple and stealing the love of your pets.
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​Buy Geeklesque Tickets Here, Separate Ticket Required
Mismonsta
Mismonsta sometimes feels like a fever dream of shimmies on account of her busy schedule.
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Her fusion bellydance style "Belly Drag" has been seen within the Drag and Burlesque communities with unhinged glee in shows such as Kaleidoscope Cabaret, Azúcar, The Belle Supper Club, Burlynomicon, Metalesque Fest, and many more. She is a co-producer of the darkly decadent festival "Umbrae Noctis" and a "Horseman" of Offbeat Bellydance.
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When she's not dancing, she's at home working on paintings and illustration commissions while watching archeology shows. Cause bones are cool.
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Buy Geeklesque Tickets Here, Separate Ticket Required
Nina Nightshade
Known by many as “Oregon’s First Lady of Burlesque”, The Infamous Nina Nightshade is celebrated internationally for her unique mix of grace, cheek, and impeccable costuming. Nina has headlined in Canada, spent a month performing nightly in Edinburgh, graced the Burlesque Hall of Fame stage both as a soloist and in other’s acts, and has been mentored by Living Burlesque Legends. She is currently the Presenter Liaison for Burlycon and has held numerous “Very Important” titles including SDBF Ambassador of Burlesque 2024, Miss Yard Bird 2016 and Bridesmaid of Jake the Alligatorman 2014. Like the chameleon, she is able to adapt to her performance environment and is just as comfortable on a nerdlesque stage as she is on a classic stage. Infamous in Portland and beyond as a performer, producer, costumer, and headmistress of the Nightshade Conservatory, The Infamous Nina Nightshade is a bittersweet poison you simply cannot put down.
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Buy Geeklesque Tickets Here, Separate Ticket Required
Obscura Fox
Obscura Fox, (she & they) The Unseelie Queer of Scare-Rousal, is a mesmerizing force, weaving together years of experience and deep-rooted cultural rhythms. With over a decade of experience in American Fusion Bellydance, she brings a unique blend of movement to the stage, seamlessly weaving in the rich, soulful rhythms of their Caribbean heritage. Obscura's work is a spellbinding fusion of dark, mysterious, and sensual artistry. As a first-generation Bajan-American, dark-skinned, fat, queer, femme, they embody powerful authenticity, and their performances captivate with an alluring mix of mystery and magic. Obscura has performed all across the Pacific Northwest, a few states to the east, and internationally. Obscura is a show & festival producer, dance instructor, and Board member at The Burlesque Hall of Fame.
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Buy Geeklesque Tickets Here, Separate Ticket Required
Rummy Rose
Hair stylist by day, conjurer of hair-nados by night. This wild child is an award-winning creative force who lives at the crossroads of high glam and raising hell. With a deep love of heavy metal, rock ‘n’ roll, and all things occult, she brings electric energy with an unconventional style.
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A seasoned performer across burlesque, dance, aerial, pole, drag, and fire, she is also the co-producer of Sign of the Beast Burlesque and Metalesque Fest—the world’s first metal-themed burlesque & performing arts festival in Portland, Oregon.
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Buy Geeklesque Tickets Here, Separate Ticket Required
The PDX Broadsides
Nerdy pop-folk trio The PDX Broadsides weave a harmonious sound to bring you funny and touching songs about space, science, Shakespeare, and things that don't start with "s." They've shared their blend of fandom and feelings for 15 years all over the US and Canada and as musical guests at DragonCon, OryCon, and ECCC, amongst others. They've been featured in The Oregonian and The Mary Sue, and have been nominated several times for The Pegasus Award for Excellence in Filk Music. Currently, they are working on their sixth studio album and, well, probably singing at you right here, right now.
Musical Guests
Film Guests
Kelly Hughes
Kelly Hughes is the visionary pioneer of Grungeploitation, a raw cinematic style that fuses the DIY punk ethics of the Pacific Northwest with the grit of low-budget exploitation film. Rejecting the polished mainstream version of the 90s Seattle scene, Hughes uses grainy aesthetics and underground icons to capture the authentic, "ugly-beautiful" spirit of a subculture defined by distortion and nihilism.
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As a filmmaker and archivist, Hughes has built a cult legacy through visceral projects like The Kurt Cobain Portraits and his notorious public access work. By prioritizing sweat and grit over commercial glamour, he remains the definitive chronicler of the Seattle underbelly, preserving the unwashed energy of a disappearing era.
Kevin Glover
Perhpas best known as the producer of USA Cable's stone-age comedy, Dinosaur Valley Girls, Kevin also had featured acting roles in cult classics Assault of the Party Nerds, Venus Flytrap, Love Bites and is quite proud of his stint as a rubber-suited B-movie monster in Syngenor. A true multi-hyphenate with a passion for horror, Kevin spent decades as a producer, director, screenwriter and video editor in Hollywood. Ten years ago he started Scary Tales Publishing, creating a full line of indie horror and sci-fi comics including Monster Smash-Ups, Fractured Scary Tales, They're Heeere! and Lady Frankenstein and the Mummy's Brain. Most recently gravitating to the stage, he has won multiple awards for his horror plays The People vs Frankenstein and Elementary Dear Watson, He's a Vampire! People vs had its world premiere in Masachussets receiving rave reviews and playing to packed houses.