'Phantom' artist to attend Oklahoma City convention

By Matthew Price | Published: November 9, 2012

Artist Terry Beatty. Photo provided by Oafcon

Popeye was created by E.C. Segar in the comic strip Thimble Theater, first appearing in January 1929. The muscle-bound sailor gets a boost of energy from eating spinach. Mars Attacks, meanwhile, began as a card series in 1962 with art by Wally Wood depicting a Martian invasion of Earth.

“We're both huge Segar Popeye fans, so are going into this with much love and respect for the original comic strip — and will attempt to stay as close to the classic version as possible,” Beatty wrote. “We're also both crazy for '50s sci-fi, Wally Wood aliens and the original Mars Attacks trading cards. Martin's script shows that affection — and I hope my art (now in progress) will do the same.”

Beatty, who lives in the Kansas City, Mo., area, was also the primary inker of the DC Comics “animated-style” Batman comics for more than a decade. Those titles included “Batman: Gotham Adventures,” “Batman Beyond,” “The Batman Strikes,” “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” and more.

Oafcon will feature a comic book creators' area to highlight local and regional comic creators, in addition to nationally known names.

This year's guests will include Jack and Carole Bender (“Alley Oop”), Kenneth Smith (“Creepy”), TV host Count Gregore, author Michelle Nolan, Larry Latham (“Lovecraft Is Missing”), Dustin Evans (“Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Hooligan”), John Wooley (“Shot in Oklahoma,” “The Miracle Squad”), Don Rosencrans (“Welcome to Ralton”), Mike Kennedy (“Celtic Knights”), Jackson Compton and Jerry Bennett (“Nadir's Zenith”) and more.

Go to www.oafcon2012.blogspot.com for the complete list of guests.

Page 2 of 2