SoonerCon 28 Featured Guest

Matt Frank

Since 2011, Matt Frank has been known in both Japan and America as “the Kaiju King,” the fan-favorite artist for all things giant and monstrous!  Although drawing since childhood, Matt became a true professional artist around 2005.  His first official foray into the Godzilla franchise was a cover for Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters for IDW Publishing, and more covers for Godzilla: History’s Greatest Monster in 2012.  By 2013, he headlined the 25-issue series Godzilla: Rulers of Earth as story co-developer, cover artist, and lead interior artist; the series became an instant classic among fans.  Matt is also an accomplished Transformers artist, beginning with The Beast Wars Sourcebook as a character illustrator, and also providing interiors for Transformers Animated: Rise of Safeguard; Transformers Spotlight: Trailcutter; Mars Attacks the Transformers; and numerous titles for both IDW and Fun Publications. Matt has created four new Transformers characters, the Raptoricons, for the Official Transformers Collector’s Club in 2016.  His final Godzilla comic for IDW was the critically acclaimed Godzilla: Rage Across Time #1 in 2016; a shipping error made the issue an instant collector’s item.

The Texas artist’s work can also be found peppering G-Fan magazine; in Ray Harryhausen Presents from Bluewater Productions; and the novels of Jeremy Robinson, for whom Matt has helped design many creatures.

Matt is in the unique position of being an American artist known for working on Japanese properties on both sides of the Pacific.  In late 2017, he began working for the legendary Tsuburaya Productions, adapting the cult-classic hero Redman to comic form, published in Japan by Phase 6 and America by Night Shining, Inc.  Matt also finally got to create a new Gamera comic story for a Japanese release of the classic Dark Horse Gamera comics from the 90s.  As of 2018, Matt is an official Ultraman artist, with plenty more projects to come!

www.mattfrankart.net

Twitter.com/spankzilla85

Instagram.com/mattzilla85

Friday, June 7, 2019 3:00 p.m. | Location: Boomer B

Godzilla: King of the Monsters, King of the Box Office

Let's talk about what we all just watched last weekend: Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Panelists: Teddy Harvia, Blair Bartlett, Capt. Sean MacTaggart, Peri Charlifu, Matt Frank, Brian Trent

Tracks: Fandoms, Film & TV

Tags: Panel

Friday, June 7, 2019 6:00 p.m. | Location: Oklahoma H

Opening Ceremonies

SoonerCon 28's official opening. Toastmaster Selina Rosen will blast us all into Brave New Worlds.

Panelists: Selina Rosen, Kevin J. Anderson, Rachel Caine, Julie Dillon, Matt Frank, Dr. Lonnie Johnson, Larry Nemecek, Austin Tindle, Toni Weisskopf, Sarah Wiedenheft

Tracks: General Interest

Tags: Ceremony

Friday, June 7, 2019 7:00 p.m. | Location: Oklahoma B

Friends of SoonerCon Reception

Friends of SoonerCon membership-exclusive social event with SoonerCon 28 guests of honor and featured guests. Heavy hors d'oeuvres and beverages provided. Thank you to our Friends of SoonerCon supporters!

Panelists: Selina Rosen, Kevin J. Anderson, Rachel Caine, Julie Dillon, Matt Frank, Dr. Lonnie Johnson, Larry Nemecek, Austin Tindle, Toni Weisskopf, Sarah Wiedenheft

Tracks: General Interest

Tags: Reception

Friday, June 7, 2019 7:00 p.m. | Location: University C

VHS & CHILL Presents: "Godzilla Double Feature"

In honor of this summer's newest Godzilla film release, we're having a GODZILLA DOUBLE FEATURE at SoonerCon 28! In the first feature, Godzilla faces off against aliens who have taken control of Earth's monsters and are using them to exterminate the human race in the 1968 classic Destroy All Monsters! Then, time travelers use Godzilla in an attempt to destroy Japan which pits our favorite kaiju against one of his toughest opponents in 1991's Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah! Both films are rated for ALL AGES! Introductions by Godzilla artist Matt Frank!

Panelists: Sean Peel, Matt Frank

Tracks: Film & TV, Fandoms

Tags: Film

Saturday, June 8, 2019 Noon | Location: University C

Why Godzilla Matters

A conversation with Matt Frank, kaiju comic artist, about why Godzilla and the giant-monster genre is important and not just meaningless schlock.

Panelists: Matt Frank

Tracks: Pop Culture & Entertainment, Film & TV, Fandoms, Art

Tags: GoH

Saturday, June 8, 2019 8:00 p.m. | Location: Oklahoma H

Costume Contest

SoonerCon's 28th annual Costume Contest, sponsored by Bernina OKC and McKinley Design Studios.

Panelists: John Eads, Ryan McKinley, Rachel Couch, Carousel Costumes, Divine Creations Cosplay, Matt Frank

Tracks: Costuming & Fashion, Cosplay

Tags: Costume Contest

Sunday, June 9, 2019 11:00 a.m. | Location: Sooner B

The Defeated Foes of Godzilla

Rodan, Mothra, and King Ghidorah are just a few of the kaiju titans Godzilla has fought over the years. Who are your favorites, and how do they stack up?

Panelists: Caleb Haldane, Dan Erickson, Matt Frank, Nick Johnson, A. Lee Martinez, Terry Southard

Tracks: Film & TV, Pop Culture & Entertainment

Tags: Panel

Sunday, June 9, 2019 4:00 p.m. | Location: Oklahoma H

Closing Ceremonies

SoonerCon 28's official closing. Toastmaster Selina Rosen will launch us into SoonerCon 29, coming June 26-28, 2020.

Panelists: Selina Rosen, Kevin J. Anderson, Rachel Caine, Julie Dillon, Matt Frank, Larry Nemecek, Austin Tindle, Toni Weisskopf, Sarah Wiedenheft

Tracks: General Interest

Tags: Ceremony

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