Onsite at Comic Con: San Diego Comic-Con 2026
Krista Carnegie, of Andrews McMeel, shares a look at CBC’s Leap into Action-Filled Graphic Novels panel!
Hello lovely readers! I was lucky enough to attend the MECCA of all cons, San Diego Comic-Con, thanks to our friends at the Children’s Book Council. First things first, we had to get our professional badges from the convention center, and the process was a breeze! (Shout-out to Sommer Wissner)
Next up, we headed over to the San Diego Central Library, where our panel “Leap into Action-Filled Graphic Novels” had Penthouse views and impeccable attendees. The moderator, Danielle McKechnie (she/her/hers) – Otto Normal’s Monsterton (Andrews McMeel), did an incredible job of guiding the conversation and topics between the creators. Asking where they were pulling inspiration from, how they got their start in the industry, and the differences between creating a new IP and working on an existing one.
It was amazing to hear that Arianna Irwin (she/her/hers) – Penelope’s Escape From The Platypusary (Mad Cave Studios / Maverick)- pulled her inspo from a real story about a platypus escaping the Bronx Zoo in 1957. Going in the complete opposite direction was Katie Longua (she/her/hers) – Agent Cupcake (Oni Press) – who let her imagination run wild while creating the magical crime-solving unicorn that is Agent Cupcake.
Simón Estrada (he/him/his) – Otto Normal’s Monsterton (Andrews McMeel) – & Mike Maihack (he/him/his) – Spider-Man: Mighty Mayhem! (A Mighty Marvel Team-Up) (ABRAMS / Fanfare) – had a great dialogue about what it’s like working on big-brand IPs and having to stay within the guidelines given.
The panel wrapped up with great advice from the panelists to future writers, illustrators, and creators in the audience hoping to one day also become published. Everyone spent more one-on-one time with the authors for a signing on the balcony overlooking beautiful San Diego!
So grateful for CBC and all they did for this event.
Check out more Graphic Novel Committee News.
