Guests of Honor

Lady Mechanika

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Joe Benitez is the creator, writer, and artist of the steampunk graphic novel series Lady Mechanika. His previous work has included art duties on hit comic books such as Titans, JLA, Supergirl, and Superman/Batman for DC Comics; Weapon Zero, The Darkness, and Magdalena for Image Comics; and Soulfire for Aspen Comics. In 2015, Joe finally fulfilled a lifelong dream and launched his own company, Benitez Productions, where he continues to produce and develop his creator-owned properties including Lady Mechanika, the urban fantasy Wraithborn, and the post-apocalyptic cyberpunk title Panda Girl Assassin.

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Marcia M. Chen is Joe Benitez’s longtime writing collaborator and editor-in-chief of his company, Benitez Productions, where she has the daunting task of trying to get his books out on time. Marcia has followed a somewhat eclectic (or perhaps just confused) career path: she graduated from a performing arts high school with a focus in music, studied screenwriting at UCLA while earning her Masters Degree in electrical engineering, worked for a weapons manufacturer and then an IP law firm, and now writes comic books while training in Krav Maga. Some of her previous writing credits include Wraithborn, Magdalena, and Ascension. She is currently working on the steampunk comic Lady Mechanika.

Updated: June 10, 2022