STUMPTOWN COMICS FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2013 DATES AND SPECIAL GUEST BILL WILLINGHAM

The tenth annual Stumptown Comics Festival will be held April 27 and 28, 2013 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. Fan-favorite comics writer Bill Willingham, the creator of DC/Vertigo's multiple-award-winning series FABLES, is the first announced guest of the 2013 festival. Other guests and special events will be announced in coming weeks.

Stumptown Comics Festival's ten-year anniversary will be the kick-off celebration of the expanding vision of Stumptown Comics, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a wider appreciation of comics through education and public events.

"We are thrilled to announce Bill Willingham as our first guest for the show that will mark a decade of our commitment to the comics-loving community of Portland," said Kaebel Hashitani, Festival Director. "Bill's body of work reflects the spirit of creative diversity that Stumptown celebrates, from his earliest efforts as an indie cartoonist to his current position as the writer of one of the most successful author-driven franchises in comics. We're honored to celebrate his work at our 2013 convention!"

Shawna Gore, whose recent appointment as Chair of Stumptown Comics, Inc. reflects the organization's commitment to growth, adds that "The Stumptown Comics Festival was built from the ground up in Portland by a small but dedicated group of volunteers and professionals, and as it has grown over the years, the vision for the show has also grown. We're striving to bring more creators and publishers in from all corners of the comics world -- our guest list for the 2013 show will be exciting for Portland's comics fans."

Stumptown Comics Names New Chair, Secretary

Stumptown Comics, Inc. -- the Portland-based non-profit behind the annual Stumptown Comics Festival -- has elected two new officers to lead its board of directors in preparation for the festival's tenth anniversary in 2013.

Former board secretary Shawna Gore was elected to replace former board chair Joe Keatinge, who stepped down from his post in late August. Keatinge, a rising star in the world of comics writers, has resigned from the board to focus on his career. Replacing Gore as secretary is writer and business consultant Nicolle Farup, who played a major role in leading charity fundraising efforts as part of the 2012 Stumptown Comics Festival.

Of his departure from the board, Keatinge said, "It was a pleasure to serve with the Stumptown board as Chair. When I took on the role, I had a number of goals, and the board exceeded every single one of them. Despite my focus changing, I am ecstatic for where Stumptown Comics is headed and look forward to next year's festival."

Gore, a longtime editor and creative consultant, praised Keatinge for his work on the board of directors and forecast a bright future for the organization. "Joe did fantastic work on behalf of Stumptown," said Gore, "and he helped position us to expand the scope of our work in the years to come. Portland is arguably the richest city in America in terms of creativity and our profound love for the medium of comics, and the Stumptown Comics Festival reflects that. "

Stumptown Comics Inc.'s board of directors is currently considering applications for two additional board positions, and announcements about those additions will be forthcoming. Next year's Stumptown Comics Festival will be held at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland on April 27 and 28, 2013. Guest announcements and application information for that show will also be released in coming weeks.