John Pomeroy is an American animator, producer, writer, and painter. He attended Art Center College of Design from 1971-73, majoring in illustration. He was hired by Walt Disney Studios in 1973 as an animation trainee. It was here that he first met his two future partners Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. After six months in the training program, he was promoted to animator and worked on the 1974 featurette “Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too” under the supervision of veteran animator Frank Thomas. In the years that followed, John animated on “The Rescuers” in 1977 as well as “Pete’s Dragon,” “The Small One,” and “The Fox and the Hound.” He left Disney in 1979 with Don Bluth and Gary Goldman and started Don Bluth Productions. With Don and Gary, he animated and co-produced their first animated feature “The Secret of NIMN·” In 1983-84, he and his partners then produced and animated the arcade games Dragon’s Lair, Space Ace, and Dragon’s Lair 2: Time Warp.

In 1985, he and his partners teamed with Steven Spielberg to produce the very successful feature “An American Tail.” Spielberg then re-teamed with the trio, with the addition of George Lucas, to produce their next feature film “The Land Before Time.” In 1986, John, his partners, and their new CEO Morris Sullivan relocated their company to Dublin, Ireland, renaming it Sullivan Bluth Studios. There they began work on “All Dogs go to Heaven” followed by “Rockadoodle,” “Troll in Central Park,” “Thumbelina,” and “The Pebble and the Penguin.” It was also here that he met and later married his wife Cami Sorrentino. John returned to Disney in 1992 to design and supervise the animation of Captain John Smith in the animated feature “Pocahontas.” He also supervised animation on “Fantasia 2000,” “Atlantis: The Lost Empire,” and “Treasure Planet.”

In 2003, he worked at Dream Works Studios on Kung Fu Panda, and in 2004 on the feature Curious George. In 2006, John worked as supervising animator on “The Simpsons Movie,” and in 2007 worked at Disney Toon Studios on the Tinkerbell movie series. From 2013-2020, he worked as a storyboard artist for Disney TV Animation on “Sophia the First” and “Fancy Nancy.” He was also a character designer for Disney’s “Elena of Avalor.” John’s additional credits include Disney’s “Planes,” the “Tom and Jerry” animated movie series, “The Swan Princes” series, “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” the “Looney Tunes” show reboot, Netflix’s “Klaus,” and most recently the upcoming feature “Space Jam: A New Legacy.” John currently also makes several appearances a year at various conventions including, but not limited to, New York/ San Diego Comic Con, and CTN.

He also currently teaches as an animation professor at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN and also has appeared as a speaker at multiple educational institutions including Auburn University in Auburn, AL and Nemo Art Academy in Florence, Italy. He has continuously been an active member of the “Shorts and Animation” branch of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences since 1978. John lives with his wife Cami and three children in Brentwood, TN. John and Cami both came to Christ in 2000 and were baptized in 2001. They’re both active in the California based Christian outreach WOW International. John has been a member of the board of directors for WOW since 2003 and continues to use art and animation as his basis for outreach. The two most profound projects for his artistic ministry have been in working with Whitestone Media to animate the children’s bible series “Theo” from 2008-13 and his current work on Focus On The Family’s “Adventures in Odyssey.”

Sam Flegal has been an illustrator since 2009, with clients that include the History Channel’s “True Monsters” and “The Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse” from Paramount pictures, as well as working on roleplaying and card games including games like Warhammer 40K and Warhammer Fantasy.

Sam Flegal’s main artistic focus is “Fateful Signs,” a series of fantasy drawings and paintings that delve deep into the ancient lore of the Norse, bringing to light the insights of our ancestors in a way that connects to the emotional experience of modern people. Sam likes to create images with oil paint and with brush and ink, focusing on exaggerated expressions and fine detail.He lives in Nashville, Tenn., with his lovely wife and daughter.

Visit Sam’s website at samflegal.com.

Lary Stucker is a veteran comic book artist best known as the series inker for Young Justice and Teen Titans Go! His career spans decades of work with Marvel, DC, and Image Comics, where he has contributed to iconic runs on Wolverine, Iron Man, Avengers: Heroes Reborn, and hundreds of other well-known titles. In addition to his inking work, Lary has also earned writing credits on Young Justice: 80-Page Giant and Image’s Brigade.

In recent years, Lary has shifted focus toward nonprofit work and personal artistic pursuits, including an exciting new project soon to be unveiled at stuckerart.com. With a career that bridges superhero classics and fresh creative ventures, Lary remains a celebrated figure in the comics community.

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.

Jay Oliveras has contributed to several Sonic the Hedgehog comics for Archie Comics, both as a writer and inker. His credits include stories like “Cry of the Wolf” in Sonic the Hedgehog #113 and the fan-favorite “Ghost Busted” from Sonic Super Special #8, along with inking work on multiple issues throughout the series. With his unique storytelling voice and dynamic art contributions, Jay has left a lasting mark on the Sonic comic legacy that continues to resonate with fans today.

Spencer Waddell (Simply Samurai) is a professional swordsman, historian, and content creator specializing in Armored Medieval Martial Arts (AMMA) and historical combat education. As a premier AMMA fighter, Spencer performs live demonstrations, delivers engaging historical panels, and creates online content that blends martial skill with academic insight.

Spencer’s programming features armored combat showcases, deep-dive discussions on swords and historical martial arts traditions, and interactive fan experiences that connect modern audiences with the legends and techniques of the past.

Brent Griffith and Whitney Roberts are the co-hosts of the Brokentoken Classic Gaming Podcast, a long-running show that dives into every corner of the gaming hobby—from the golden age of arcades to the latest pinball machines and everything in between. With a mix of technical talk, restoration stories, collecting adventures, interviews, listener Q&A, and the occasional live stream, Brent and Whitney bring both expertise and humor to their show, making it a favorite among retro and pinball fans.

In addition to podcasting, Brent and Whitney are familiar faces at Music City Multi Con, where they lend their talents as panel moderators and keep the conversations flowing with knowledge, insight, and wit. Fans can also catch them as part of the convention’s longest-running and wildest tradition, the “Podcasters Unhinged” panel.

Mike is an Associate Game Developer at Stern Pinball, where he has helped shape some of the company’s most popular titles. He designed the rules for James Bond 007 and Stranger Things, and contributed to rule design on a wide range of Stern classics including Batman, Kiss, The Mandalorian, Guardians of the Galaxy, Deadpool, The Beatles, and many more.

In addition to rule design, Mike is also the creative force behind the stunning Expression Lights lightshows in Foo Fighters, Rush, and Led Zeppelin, bringing music and gameplay together in dynamic new ways. His impressive resume also stretches back to the arcade world, where he worked on legendary titles including Mortal Kombat.

Be sure to stop by the Tilt Amusements booth and challenge Mike to a game of pinball—you might just win some exclusive Stern swag!

MutantGlue has been cosplaying since 2017, quickly making a name for herself with her creativity, versatility, and passion for bringing beloved characters to life. Sponsored by SoveReignComics and building her own brand as well, she has become a recognized figure in the cosplay community.

Her work spans fandoms from Marvel to anime, with gaming and Disney favorites sprinkled throughout. For MutantGlue, cosplay is more than just a costume—it’s a way to revisit the joy of childhood stories. *“Reliving your childhood movies, cartoons, and games is so refreshing. It gives you a break from reality and such a sense of nostalgia that it just fills your soul with joy.”*

With her wide range of characters, vibrant presence, and dedication to the craft, MutantGlue continues to inspire fans and fellow cosplayers alike at conventions and online.

CatnipCosplays is a Body-positive cosplayer and an advocate for Mental health awareness. Catnip started cosplaying in 2008 and has honed her skills over the years. She loves creating cosplays, styling wigs, and showing folks the ropes on how to become their own wig wizards. Her passion for cosplay shines through in every project, adding a touch of magic to each costume.

Follow her on your favorite socials: https://linktr.ee/Catnipcosplays or everywhere @catnipcosplays

MindBlownFX, is a multi-talented entertainer whose work spans gaming, cosplay, professional wrestling announcing, and digital media. With a background in professional radio and digital media production, MindBlownFX combines strong communication skills with a dynamic presence that engages audiences both online and in person.

A dedicated cosplayer, MindBlownFX is best recognized for his portrayals of iconic characters such as Mortal Kombat’s Sub-Zero. He is a founding member of Dadbod Cosplay Crew, a cosplay group that promotes inclusivity, creativity, and body-positivity within the cosplay community. Additionally, he serves as an active member of the Tennessee Ghostbusters, appearing at conventions and community events to share fandom culture while supporting charitable causes.

Follow MindBlownFX on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindblownfx/

Suit up with TN Iron Man, one of Tennessee’s most recognized cosplayers and a fan-favorite at conventions across the region. Known for his incredible, screen-accurate Iron Man armor builds, TN Iron Man brings Tony Stark’s iconic look to life with jaw-dropping craftsmanship, attention to detail, and show-stopping presence.

Whether it’s striking a pose for photos, inspiring aspiring builders, or bringing smiles to kids and families, TN Iron Man has become a staple of the cosplay scene. His passion for costuming and fandom shines through every appearance, making him a must-see guest for superhero fans of all ages.

TN Iron Man is unable to make it this year, but he will suit up, and be back next year.