2021 Guests from Music City Multi Con
Billy Mitchell
Billy Mitchell is a former competitive video game player. He initially rose to national prominence in the 1980s when Life magazine included him in a photo spread of video game champions during the height of the golden age of arcade video games. Mitchell was subsequently recognized by Twin Galaxies and Guinness World Records as the holder of several records on classic games.
Mitchell’s achieved the first perfect score of 3,333,360 points on the original Pac-Man arcade on July 3, 1999. David Ramsey, writing for the Oxford American in 2006, described Mitchell as “probably the greatest arcade video game player of all time”.
Throughout the early 2000s and 2010s, Mitchell was an interview subject in several documentaries on competitive gaming and retrogaming, including Chasing Ghosts: Beyond the Arcade (2007), The King of Arcades (2014), and Man vs Snake: The Long and Twisted Tale of Nibbler (2015). Mitchell was a subject of the 2007 documentary The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007), which followed his attempts to maintain his high score on Donkey Kong after it was threatened by newcomer Steve Wiebe.
Ralph “Rags” Morales
Rags Morales is a veteran of the comic industry. Rags began his career with DC Comics in 1989 with the TSR licensed book Forgotten Realms. His first super hero series was “Black Condor”. He has since worked on countless titles for DC, most notably “Identity Crisis”. Other notable projects include: long runs on “JSA,” “Hawkman,” not to forget “Batman/Superman,” “Nightwing,” The New 52 and “First Wave”. Rags has also worked with Valiant, Dark Horse, and Marvel Comics from September to May. Rags also teaches at the Joe Kubert School of Cartooning and Graphic Art. He lives in eastern Pennsylvania.
Megan Hollingshead
Megan has voiced 100’s of characters in animation and games. Her first role was Nurse Joy in the original English dub of Pokémon, followed quickly by Yu-Gi-Oh!’s original Mai Valentine.
She is also well known as Rangiku in Bleach, Shizune (and Ton Ton) in Naruto, Re-L in Ergo Proxy, Lenneth in Valkyrie Profile, and Viletta Nu in Code Geass. Other memorable characters include Adiane in Gurren Lagann, Hilda in Eureka 7, Sala in Mars Daybreak, Gloria in Daphne in the Brilliant Blue, Dr. Abigail Finn in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, twins Mion (evil) and Shion (sweet) in When They Cry, Nemu in Bleach, Rose Marinade in Fighting Foodons, Kano in His and Hers Circumstances (watch the previews!) (oh wait — no! I mean don’t watch the previews!), Maharu and Ebi in Girls Bravo, Neneko in DearS, Captain Iruma in Ultraman Tiga, and Trixie in Ultimate Muscle. Other Pokémon roles include Cassidy, Whitney, and James’ mother as well as Annie in Pokémon 5: Heroes and Diane in Pokémon 6: Jirachi Wish Maker. In addition to Lenneth and Guild Wars’ smarty pants Glenna, Megan’s game roles include Ylgr and Yune in the newly released Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Ada Wong in Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, Shion Kasugai in Akiba’s Space Trip: Undead and Undressed, Viola in Eternal Sonata, Edy Nelson in Valkyria Chronicles, Autarch Kayleth in Warhammer 40,000, The Third Kiki DeWynter in Saints Row, Five in Drakengard 3, and Battle Nun in Brutal Legend.
She currently has projects in the works for Cup of Tea, Bang Zoom!, and Funimation.
Find her online at MeganHollingshead.com.
John Champeau
John Champeau is a game developer and founder of ChampGames. He has delivered a stunning assortment of new Atari 2600 arcade ports with more on the way. The list of games includes Avalanche, Conquest of Mars, Galagon, Lady Bug, Mappy, Scramble, Super Cobra, Wizard of Wor Arcade, and Zoo Keeper. Some of these titles can be purchased on cartridge at AtariAge.com.
His previous work goes back to 1991 with the founding of ChampProgramming. During that time he created updated DOS versions of arcade classics like Champ Kong and Pac-Em.
Jeremy Childs
Appearing Saturday and Sunday Only.
Jeremy Childs is an actor and writer from Nashville, TN. Childs recently played the role of Jody in AMC’s Preacher (TV series). Childs gained wide recognition as prisoner Cutbush, in the 2001 movie The Last Castle alongside Robert Redford and James Gandolfini. He featured prominently in the 2012 mystery drama film Deadline. Childs produced and starred in the horror film Closer To God where he played a genetic scientist and garnered much critical praise. He wrote and has performed in the comedy play Vampire Monologues, which played to a full house in Nashville on Halloween 2002 and 2004. Childs has also had considerable roles in various local and regional stage productions.
Dan Fraga
Dan Fraga is a director and comic book artist whose career as a storyteller started in late 1991 when Cable and Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld hired the 18 year-old to join Extreme Studios and the newly formed Image comics. Over the span of his 25-year career, Dan has worked on a number of the comics industry’s top titles. At Extreme, the titles included Bloodstrike, Youngblood, Supreme, Kid Supreme, and the Berzerkers. At Image, the titles included Witchblade, Darkness, and The Gear Station. For Marvel, Dan worked on Spider–man, Wolverine, What–if?! and Generation X. For DC Comics, Dan worked on Superman and The Power Puff Girls.
In 2003 Dan’s story telling career changed gears as he transitioned from comics to Television and Film, working as a storyboard artist, art director, and 2nd unit director for both live action and animated content. In 2010 Dan made his directorial debut on the HBO series The Ricky Gervais show, directing the 2nd and 3rd seasons of the animated series.
Since 2013 Dan has worked for Mattel as Supervising Director for the animated content for Monster High, Everafter High, Enchantimals, Hot Wheels and Max Steel. Dan’s personal work can be found on Instagram and YouTube under the name Couchdoodles where his goal is to illuminate and empower creativity in others through example. Dan lives with his wife and 3 kids in Georgia.
“I love chess, the Rubik’s cube, and freestyle rap. To some, these interests may sound like cliché nerd stuff, but I see them as exercises for pre visualization. With pre-visualization, you can theoretically time travel and create what you want for the future of your idea. With proper execution, the thing you pre-visualized will become a reality. These sorts of things thrill me.”
Brent Griffith
Brent Griffith is co-host of the Classic Gaming Podcast. The podcast covers everything from the golden age of arcade gaming to the newest pinball titles currently hitting the streets and everything in between. Add in technical talk segments, collecting and restoration stories, interviews and sit-in guests as well as game room updates, forum news, listener mail and twitter questions (with the occasional live streams) and you’ve got a couple hours of your life you’ll never get back!
Whitney Roberts
Whitney Roberts is co-host of the Classic Gaming Podcast. The podcast covers everything from the golden age of arcade gaming to the newest pinball titles currently hitting the streets and everything in between. Add in technical talk segments, collecting and restoration stories, interviews and sit-in guests as well as game room updates, forum news, listener mail and twitter questions (with the occasional live streams) and you’ve got a couple hours of your life you’ll never get back!
Dan Jolley
Dan Jolley started writing professionally at age 19. Beginning in comic books, he worked for most of the major American publishers, such as DC (Firestorm), Marvel (Dr. Strange), Dark Horse (Aliens), and Image (G.I. Joe), soon branching out into licensed-property novels (Star Trek), film novelizations (Iron Man), and original novels, including the Middle Grade Urban Fantasy series Five Elements and the Urban Sci-Fi Gray Widow Trilogy.
Dan started writing for video games in 2007, and since then has contributed storylines, characters, and dialogue to titles such as Transformers: War for Cybertron, Prototype 2, and Dying Light. Recently, he sold a pilot for a live-action TV series to Nickelodeon with co-creator Shawn deLoache. (More details on that as things progress.)
Steve Nutter
Steve is a Cathode Ray Tube Specialist set on saving CRTs for future generations to enjoy. His company, Retro Tech is dedicated to Preserving CRT Monitors, Televisions and other Vintage Technologies through the art of restoration on YouTube. For more information on repairs and to learn more about CRTs, check out Retro Tech on YouTube.
Follow on twitter: @usa_retro.
Ginger Oh Snap
Ginger Oh Snap has been cosplaying most her life, thanks to a background in theatre, dance, and renaissance faires, She is a self taught maker and entrepreneur. Ginger dedicates her days to creating costumes, performing, promoting geek culture, and pushing for a more inclusive and welcoming cosplay community. When not traveling around the world to conventions and events as a guest, she is live streaming on Twitch. Ginger loves sharing her passions and knowledge with the community. Ginger is also a burlesque performer, sharing her special brand of shapeshifting nerdlesque at theatres, conventions, and festivals across the U.S. She is best known for her cosplays as the Nuka Cola Girl from Fallout, Sarah from Labyrinth, and as Mary Jane Watson (riding alongside Stan Lee himself), in the 2017 DragonCon parade.
Billy Martinez
Billy Martinez began his career in the early 90’s as a freelance artist debuting his original comic series Wildflower in 1993 for Sirius Entertainment. Soon after he would write and illustrate books and stories for companies Peregrine Entertainment, Top Cow, Image Comics and Heavy Metal Magazine. In addition to his work in comics, he supplied artwork for Family Guy and Hellboy through Inkworks trading card company. In 1999 Billy formed Neko Press Comics and Publishing. The company went on to kickstart the careers of many up and coming artist and was a platform for Billy to continue to self publish his flagship titles Wildflower, Kickass Girl and graphic novels The Deepest Dark and his how to draw companion books In your Face and Body Movin’.
During this time Billy became interested in painting live at various clubs downtown in San Diego. There he would create 3 to 4 images simultaneously with bands and DJ’s such as Z Trip and Red Sonya on stage. He would sell his finished pieces right on the spot. It was a new and fresh avenue to get more individuals aware of the art scene in the San Diego and Los Angeles area. Through the years his art has been featured for Starbucks Coffee Company and in various galleries throughout the United States. He currently instructs and teaches art classes that range from sequential art to fine art painting and continues to create murals and performs live art shows throughout the country. He currently resides in Nashville Tennessee where he performs live art in Nashville’s historic Printers Alley and many venues throughout Music City.
Sam Payne
Appearing Saturday and Sunday Only.
Sam Payne is a pinup artist that draws inspiration from geek culture related themes such as comics and animation. His weapons of choice are Adobe Illustrator and Vectornator Pro with an occasional tweak in Photoshop.
His art can be found on variant covers for Archie Comics and promotional posters for various conventions in Nashville and neighboring areas.
Follow @paynless2011 on Instagram for regular updates and images of current projects.
Prints or comics can be purchased at sampayneart.com.
Mutant Glue
MutantGlue has been cosplaying since 2017. She is sponsored by a comic book company named SoveReignComics and has her own brand as well. Her cosplays range from Marvel to Anime with gaming and Disney sprinkled in between. “Reliving your childhood movies, cartoons, and games is so refreshing. It gives you a break reality and such a sense of nostalgia that it just fills your soul with joy.”