Skybound Announces Programming Lineup for The American Library Association Annual Conference & Exhibition 2025

Tillie Walden, Matt Braly, Faith Erin Hicks & Brian “Smitty” Smith Headline Panel and Signing Schedule

Skybound will be located at booth #506 on the exhibitor floor, and will have finished copies of acclaimed books including Clementine Book Three by Tillie Walden, Family Force V Book One by Matt Braly and Ainsworth Lin, G.I. JOE Vol. 1 by Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly, Universal Monsters: Frankenstein by Michael Walsh, as well as new comics including Universal Monsters: The Mummy #1 and #2 by Faith Erin Hicks, Battle Beast #1 by Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley, Blood & Thunder #1 by Benito Cereno, E.J. Su, and Robert Kirkman, and ARCs of TRANSFORMERS: Worst Bot Ever – Meet Ballpoint by Brian “Smitty” Smith and Marz Jr.

Skybound will also bring several giveaways available for convention goers, including bookmarks featuring the Universal Monsters, lanyards featuring TRANSFORMERS: Worst Bot Ever, pins and bookmarks featuring The Book of Shame: An Extra Fabulous Collection, and a slew of punchy badge ribbons featuring Skybound properties.

Acclaimed Skybound talent Tille Walden (Author/Illustrator, Clementine Book Three), Matt Braly (Author, Family Force V), Faith Erin Hicks (Author/Illustrator, Universal Monsters: The Mummy), and Brian “Smitty” Smith (Author, TRANSFORMERS: Worst Bot Ever – Meet Ballpoint) will be attending the conference and participating in panels and signings throughout the weekend.

The full slate of Skybound talent appearances is below.

PROGRAMMING & SIGNINGS FEATURING SKYBOUND TALENT:

• Saturday, June 28th:
• 9:30am – 10:20am (ET) – We Control Our Own Fate: Great Expectations in Graphic Novels Panel
• Description: Whether it be fate, destiny, or expectations from others, the universe has a lot of opinions of how we should live our lives. Despite that, the characters in these graphic novels grab their destinies by the horns, regardless of the trials they face. Authors and illustrators discuss crafting stories for a wide range of readers, the road to embracing ourselves, audience Q&A, and more!
• Skybound Talent: Brian “Smitty” Smith, Faith Erin Hicks, Matt Braly, and Tillie Walden
• Moderator: Tabrizia Jones, Young Adult Senior Librarian for The New York Public Library.
• Location: Graphic Novel and Gaming Stage – Pennsylvania Convention Center
• Hosted By: Skybound Entertainment
• 11:00am – 12:00pm (ET) – Scary Sisters: Libraries Supporting Women Creators in Horror Comics
• Description: Horror often addresses “The Other,” that which is perceived as different, alien, or monstrous compared to the norm, invoking fear or revulsion. This panel will discuss how women comics creators, including writers, artists, and editors, use horror as a lens/mirror to reflect and critique societal issues about gender, race, sexuality, and other topics. Why do women create horror comics? Why do women read horror comics? The role of libraries in collecting horror comics can help highlight the influence of women creators in horror comics. By displaying their work, libraries help support these creators’ contributions to the horror genre, and how they challenge and redefine the genre. Libraries can also support independent publishers or self-published creators of women-created horror comics.
• Skybound Talent: Faith Erin Hicks and Tillie Walden
• Moderator: Lizzy Walker, Associate Professor, Metadata & Digitial Initiatives Librarian at Wichita State University
• Location: Room 112 AB – Pennsylvania Convention Center
• Hosted by: Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table
• 1:00pm – 3:00pm (ET)– GNCRT’s 2025 Magical Comics Tea
• Description: Come join the Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table for the upcoming 2025 Magical Comics Tea! Visit with creators and other comic loving library staff as we hear about upcoming titles and projects from your favorite publishers. Dress up as your favorite tea-time character (hats are especially encouraged) or just come as you are and share in the comics camaraderie!
• Skybound Talent: Matt Braly Attending
• Location: Room 202 AB – Pennsylvania Convention Center
• Hosted by: Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table
• 1:05pm – 1:35pm (ET) – Skybound’s Graphic Novel Book Buzz – TRANSFORMERS, The Walking Dead, Universal Monsters, and More!
• Description: Join Skybound Entertainment as we discuss the most anticipated graphic novel releases of 2025 from new and acclaimed voices in the industry! Plus, we’ll provide information on how these titles can be integrated into your library via displays, programming, and more!
• Skybound Presenter: Alex Hargett, Director of Brand, Editorial
• Location: Book Buzz Booth #138 – Pennsylvania Convention Center
• Hosted By: Skybound Entertainment & Book Buzz
• 1:30pm – 2:20pm (ET) – Booklist Graphic Novel Panel
• Description: Join Booklist for a #ReadGraphic panel featuring creators from your favorite publishers on Saturday, June 28 during ALA’s Annual Conference in Philadelphia.
• Skybound Talent: Brian “Smitty” Smith
• Location: Graphic Novel and Gaming Stage – Pennsylvania Convention Center
• Hosted By: Booklist

• Offsite:
• Friday, June 27th
• 7:00pm – 8:30pm (ET) – Tillie Walden and Matt Braly Signing at Brave New Worlds (55 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106)
• Onsite:
• Saturday, June 28th
• 10:30am – 11:30am (ET) – Brian “Smitty” Smith Signing at the Skybound Booth (Booth #506)
• 12:30pm – 1:30pm (ET) – Tillie Walden Signing at the Skybound Booth (Booth #506)
• 2:00pm – 3:00pm (ET) – Faith Erin Hicks Signing at the Skybound Booth (Booth #506)
• 3:30pm – 4:30pm (ET) – Matt Braly Signing at the Skybound Booth (Booth #506)
• Sunday, June 29th
• 10:00am – 11:00am (ET) – Faith Erin Hicks Signing at the Skybound Booth (Booth #506)
• 11:30am – 12:30pm (ET) – Matt Braly Signing at the Skybound Booth (Booth #506)
• 1:00pm – 2:00pm (ET) – Tillie Walden Signing at the Skybound Booth (Booth #506)
• 2:30pm – 3:30pm (ET) – Brian “Smitty” Smith Signing at the Skybound Booth (Booth #506)

Matt Braly will also be embarking on the Family Force V East Coast Book Tour in cities near Philadelphia, just before the convention begins. For more information, please visit the Skybound website.

Brian “Smitty” Smith

Faith Erin Hicks

Matt Braly

Tillie Walden

Blood and Thunder #1

Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #1

Clementine Book Three

Family Force V

G.I. JOE #1

Transformers: Worst Bot Ever: Meet Ballpoint

Universal Monsters: The Mummy #1

Universal Monsters: Frankenstein #1