The ZRock Team is also excited to announce that we are hosting our first set of Portfolio Reviews at San Diego Comic Con! You can find us in the Pavilion in Portfolio Review 01 and 02 (on 7/25 from 12-2 pm), in Portfolio Review 01 and 02 (on 7/26 from 3-5 pm), and in Portfolio Review 02 and 04 (on 7/27 from 3-5 pm).

Matias Timarchi is the director of Alien Books, which he has helped achieve 25 years of success! Through hard work and dedication, Matias has been able to attain publishing rights to Valiant Comics, which has been publishing comics like Bloodshot, Ninjak, and The Valiants since the late 1980s! Through his previous self-owned publishing. companies, Ovni (Argentina) and Moztros (Spain), Matias has held the license for major series like The Walking Dead, Sin City, and Hellboy.

Now running Alien Books, the largest publishing company in South America, Matias and his team focus on publishing the most cutting-edge comics they come across that will shake up the comics media. Regardless if you write horror, adventure, fantasy, or any other genre, if they think you can make an impact on the industry, they’ll be happy to give you a shot!

We are thrilled to have Matias participating in this year’s panel.

Rachel Pinnelas is an incredible editor who has done work with both of the big two comic book publishers, Marvel Comics and DC Comics. With DC, Rachel had a hand in working on multiple of the DC Presents titles, including Superman Team-Ups Volume 2 and Vandal Savage. For Marvel, she had worked on various of the Fear Itself titles, Captain America: Hail Hydra, The Thunderbolts, and even the graphic novelizations of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series. After editing for many years, Rachel now is making her name known in the writing aspect of the comic book industry with Mad Cave Studios. Here, she has been working on the Tales From the Cave series, currently having focused on Hunt. Kill. Repeat.

Outside of working with Mad Cave Studios, Rachel also works with Ashcan Press Comics as the Managing Editor, ensuring that the comics that come out of Ashcan Press are top-notch for fans and readers to dive into and enjoy!

We first met Rachel at Comic Con last year. In addition to contributing to our Panel, she will also be participating in two other panels this year - Comic Culture on Display: World of Pop Media and From Batman to Basquiat: Contemporary Art and Comics. We are glad she could make some availability for us.

If you are planning on making a break in gaming or comics, Jeromy is a priceless asset to have on your side! Jeromy shared fantastic advice on our Creating Comics WonderCon panel back in March, and we are thrilled to have him again.

Pat was a part of our Creating Comics panel back at last year’s Comic Con, and we are thrilled to have his participation again.

Not only does he do incredible work in the comic industry, but Zen is also a songwriter and vocalist for the band Illuminated! You can find some of his songs at hiconmedia.com!

Zen’s current projects include editing for Aspen Comics and running a successful Kickstarter campaign for the second issue of his original story Pink Power!

Zen has been a friend of Z-Rock for a long time, and we are grateful for his support and friendship. He has participated in our previous WonderCon and Comic Con panels.

As a San Diego company, featuring a bunch of San Diego creatives, we love the opportunity to participate in the world's biggest comic book convention (situated right in our backyard)! Much like our Panel at SDCC 2023 and WonderCon 2024, we will again be hosting Creating Comics: Ask the Pros. This “Ask Me Anything” style panel gives creatives in attendance, the opportunity to ask the professionals working in the comic book industry, how to jump-start their careers.

Naturally, I will be participating in the panel to share the perspective of a writer and business owner. This panel will be moderated by Z-Rock’s own Editor and Chief Publishing Officer - CP.

The ZRock Portfolio Review will be headed by writer Brock Smithy, Illustrator Zen Snowden, and Editor Christian Pedersen. If you want to take your art to the next level, bring your portfolios by Room 206B on 3/29 at 2PM!

We’ve done it again! ZRock Comics is proud to announce we returned to to San Diego Comic Con to host our first Comic Creation AMA (Ask Me Anything) panel! Those interested in learning more about creating, distributing, and selling comic books came and asked all their burning questions to some of the most experienced people in the industry!

Hosted by ZRock Comics, our panel included the “King of Kickstarter” , writer Pat Shand (Destiny, NY and Cheeky), Senior Artist and Art Director of Vault Comics Nathan Gooden (Barbaric and Dark One), Sales Representative and Owner of Knowhere Games and Comics Mathias Lewis, and Letterer/Artist/Editor Zen of Artist Elite! Writer of ZRock Comics Brock Smith (The Ferryman) also participated, and Editor CP served as the moderator.

Summary: In the ancient world of gods and mortals, the afterlife is governed by a clandestine pact. Meet Alika Eros, a valiant Athenian soldier whose fate takes a gripping turn in the wake of the Battle of Marathon. After death claims him, he finds himself on the shores of the river Styx in the shadowy realm of the underworld.

Waiting in the darkness, Alika learns of the Toll of the Ferryman. The enigmatic price required to cross the treacherous waters into Elysium. Without payment for passage to the afterlife, his soul is dammed to eternal wandering.

Yet, fate has other plans for Alika. Confronting Kharon, the stoic and enigmatic Ferryman of the Dead, he strikes an audacious bargain. Bound to Kharon as an indentured servant, Alika embarks on a thrilling journey, becoming the Ferryman's instrument of justice.

As the stakes escalate, Alika realizes that his actions will tip the balance between the worlds of both gods and men. Every choice he makes echoes through eternity, with the future of the living and the dead hanging in the balance.

Join Alika Eros in The Ferryman, an epic odyssey that intertwines mythology, fantasy, and destiny. Unravel the mysteries of the afterlife, battle malevolent forces, and walk the precarious path between life and death. The fate of the cosmos awaits, and the journey will leave yearning for more.

From the Writer: What happens after death? Is there a heaven? A hell? A purgatory? These are the questions I wanted to explore through The Ferryman. I wanted to explore the many plains of existence by following a character who could traverse the many frontiers of the afterlife.

From the Artist: I have always been interested in Greek mythology, so I was intrigued when Brock approached me about the story. What excited me most was the opportunity to explore the character of Kharon. A major figure in Greek mythology, but with very little was actually written about him.

When creating the visual style for The Ferryman, I was heavily influenced by SuperGiants’s game Hades. It’s a game about escaping the underworld, so that was my start. Combined with some dreary music, I was able to follow Alika through this new realm. I was also inspired by the game Hyper Light Drifter. While the game is not specifically based on classical mythology, the tone and color pallet used inspired my version of the Underworld. I was specifically interested in using color to trigger emotion in this color. Specific colors evoke emotional responses. I painted the Underworld in shades of green to create a sense of uneasiness and insecurity. I tried to use red tones to alter the audience to imminent danger. I want the reader to feel Alika’s feelings as he traverses the unknown.

We brought the whole team back again – writer Brock, Artists Zen and Maile, and Editor Kathleen. This time we also brought Operations Manager Christian Pedersen. The team shared their experiences in learning to overcome the challenges of balancing their creative lives and everyday lives to help inspire other future creatives. What is the cost of pursuing your goals? What does it take to make your dreams a reality? Or how do you approach practical development choices such as hiring a colorist without money, or building an achievable production schedule?

The goal was to inspire young creatives to find a practical way to pursue their projects. In the name of assisting young creatives, we were fortunate enough to conduct our very first portfolio review at WonderCon as well.

On Saturday, March 25^,, 2023, Brock, Zen, and Christian reviewed the artwork of creatives. The ZRock team offered tips, suggestions, and critiques for artists looking to break into the comic book industry. It was great to see emerging artists’ portfolios, and we cannot wait to see where these amazing artists land.

Finding the Balance: PreZented by ZRock Comics (Room 213AB, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm). ZRock Comics Portfolio Review (Room 206B, 1:30pm - 2:30pm)

As the seasoned members of Sham-Payne prepare to pass the torch to a new class of heroes, a series of heinous crimes unfold, bearing a chilling pattern that can only signify one thing—the resurrection of their archnemesis Mabis. Defeated long ago, he returns with a vengeance-fueled vendetta toward Sham-Payne.

As they confront their most formidable adversary yet, the fate of not only San Diego but the very legacy of Sham-Payne hangs in the balance. Will the heroes muster the strength and unity needed to vanquish Mabis and rid humanity of influence once and for all? Or will Mabis triumph and defeat the duo for good?

Prepare to join Sham-Payne on an electrifying saga that soars with superhuman abilities, unbreakable bonds, and a battle that will define the very essence of heroism.

From the Writer: I wanted to write a comic book that takes place in a city that I love. San Diego is beautiful and diverse. It is a city busting with adventure. As a creative, it is impossible not to find your imagination running wild here. I think. I can take them to real places, off the beaten path, and provide that extra layer of detail to make things feel real.

Now I have always been a huge DC Comics fan, so I find what I am about to say slightly ironic. The inspiration for Sham-Payne started with me wondering what a team-up between Spiderman and Wolverine would look like. That was it; with that and that image, Payne was born. I love the idea of two complete, polar opposite personalities fighting crime side by side. I think that dynamic is fascinating, funny, but more importantly, extremely lethal for any criminal masterminds out there. So far,, I have enjoyed seeing how these contracting dynamics influence and shape each other.

Payne is really a story about betrayal and mentorship. Some of the themes that I hope to explore in this story are the loss of a loved one, living through times of transition, and learning how to pass the torch to the next generation.

From the Artist: The best part about illustrating a story set in the city where I already live is that inspiration is everywhere. I can look out my window and see the locations where this story will be taking place. Also – I can add some pretty awesome Easter Eggs for readers who also live in the area. So, keep your eyes peeled!

We have seen plenty of superhero teams over the years in comics. My inspiration for Payne has been Shonen Manga. I wanted to create something with darker, more serious undertones. I illustrated the story with harsher shadows. And bolder lines. I used a drearier color pallet in contrast to the vibrant schemes used in most “superhero” comic books. As far as creating the look of superheroes, when have we seen so many over the years? I did a deep dive into the art design, and “Frankensteined” my characters from the aspects that I loved. I loved designing characters, and it is a nice challenge trying to design characters unlike any that already exist.

Check out a Preview of Payne: Holy Diver created for the WebToons Call to Action Contest: https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/payne/list?title_no=788213

On Thursday, July 21, 2022, the ZRock team was able to panel at San Diego ComiCon. This was huge; as a San Diego-based company, we know the tremendous impact that ComiCon has on comic books and pop culture. Some of our team members – Brock and Zen – paneled at previous ComiCon’s as part of previous projects they had been a part of, but nothing beats seeing your brand at SDCC. You feel like you made it!

This year’s panel was titled Why the Indie Route?  It featured writer Brock, artist Zen, Editor Kathleen, and new artist Maile Eusebio (illustrating the project Pebblz). The panel was a round table for creatives, and aspiring creatives, about why they decided to create an independent comic book company instead of taking their projects to some of the mainstream comic book bands. What are the challenges we encountered as an independent publisher? What have we learned about creating content outside of the established system?

ZRock Comics: Why the Indie Route? (Room 32AB, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm)

On Saturday (April 2, 2022) the ZRock team was invited to panel at WonderCon. This was our first convention panel since the creation of ZRock Comics. The panel was titled “ZRock Comics: A New Beginning”. As a new company, we thought WonderCon was a great opportunity to present ourselves to the world. Writer Brock Smith, Artist Zen Snowden, and Editor Kathleen Lewis discussed their background and experience in media and the comic book industry, the decision to create ZRock Comics, and upcoming plans for the years to come.

We discussed some of the upcoming titles we were developing, such as The Ferryman, which follows deceased Athenian soldier Alika as he becomes the servant of Kharon, reaping the souls who try to escape the afterlife. We also discussed Payne, the story of San Diego-based superhero due Sham-Payne, protecting America’s Finest City from some of the greatest foes.

It was a great opportunity to tell our story and connect with new readers interested in something different from mainstream media’s current offerings.

ZRock Comics: A New Beginning (Room 209, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm)

I am Zen Snowden, the “Z” in ZRock Comics. I started drawing as soon as I could pick up a pencil. It has been my passion and creative outlet. I always loved art and comics but never considered making it a career until about 2015.  I studied animation at Woodbury University.

I have always been drawn towards comic books and Mangas, especially ones in the fantasy and action realm. As an artist, many of my inspirations come from the older anime I watched when I was younger such as Akira, Gurren Lagann, Samurai Champloo, Bleach,, Casshern Sins, and Trigun (the original one – yes there is a newer one – but when I am talking about Trigun I mean the O.G. ‘98 version). And of course, Dragon Ball Z (but who doesn’t love that one).

My favorite part of illustrating comic books is designing characters. I love bringing them to life, creating personality through their physical features and style. Characters matter, and stories matter. I love using my art to create characters, that audiences can relate to and see themselves in.

I have been writing for years now, officially and professionally. But I created my first comic book when I was nine.  Along with a few of my friends in the fourth grade - in the Fourth Grade - Tyler, Alan, Jesse, and Alex – we created the superhero comic The Adventures of Stick Boy.  As a kid, I read plenty of comic books from the big guys – with Batman, Wolverine, and Green Lantern being some of my favorites.

My first introduction to comics came through the Calvin and Hobbs comic strip by Bill Watterson. I am an uncompromising fan of DC Comics. Some of my favorite stories include the Batman stories Batman: No Man’s Land and The Dark Knight Returns. I also love Green Lantern titles like Brightest Day and Green Lantern: Renegade. I have always been a Batman fan because he is one of the few superheroes that is closest to being realistic--a guy rich enough to travel the world to get the training and make the tech? Not likely something that will happen, but he is real and relatable. I have always thought that the Green Lantern was pretty cool, but I love what Geoff Jones did to the character. I have always taken mental health seriously and had recently been diagnosed with anxiety and bipolar disorder, and I felt totally lost, not myself. I got my hands on Blackest Night and Brightest Day; long story short, they helped me understand my mental disorder. So, thank you, Geoff, for helping me understand myself better!

What do I like to do when I am not reading or writing comic books? I am a Constant Reader of Stephen King, and The Dark Tower series is my absolute favorite of his works. I love disc golf, catching Pokémon, longboarding, and long, romantic walks on the beach.

Regarding ZRock, why did I want to launch my own comic book company? I am a storyteller, and I want to share my tales. If I can connect with even one person through my stories so they feel a little less alone, then all the work was worth it. More importantly, it felt to me that, at some point, the mainstream stories lost their sense of adventure that we all fell in love with as kids.

I started collaborating with Zen at a different comic book company a few years ago. I shared my idea for a story, The Ferryman. Greek mythology has always been an interest of mine. I was interested in telling a story with the character Kharon (often called Charon) because so little is written about him. In fact, that character’s origin can be traced even further back than Greek Mythology, which means that we can have a lot of fun telling his story.   

One of our flagship titles is The Ferryman, a gripping series that delves into the mythology of Kharon, the ferryman of the Underworld. Explore the uncharted territories of life and death as our protagonist navigates the mysterious realms beyond, encountering supernatural beings and facing personal trials.

Another exciting addition to our lineup is Payne, a thrilling comic that revolves around a remarkable team of superheroes in San Diego. Dive into a world of extraordinary powers, gripping adventures, and compelling character dynamics as this team battles against villains and protects their city from imminent threats.

With each release, we aim to push the boundaries of storytelling and artistic expression, delivering visually stunning illustrations and narratives to ignite your imagination. Join us as we continue to expand our universe, introducing new heroes, villains, and epic storylines that will keep you hooked.

Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey. Your support means everything to us, and we cannot wait to share our love for comics with you.