FarleyCon Pop Culture & Comic Book Expo 2026

We’re thrilled to welcome Larry Hama, a Will Eisner Hall of Fame member, to JoeNooga — Presented by FarleyCon Pop Culture & Comic Book Expo! Larry’s name is virtually synonymous with the beloved G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero franchise, where he served as writer and editor. His groundbreaking storytelling not only defined the comic series but also gave fans a deeper connection to the characters through his work on the majority of the G.I. Joe action figure file cards. But Hama’s influence stretches far beyond G.I. Joe. His impressive resume includes memorable runs on Wolverine and contributions to Star Wars, Avengers, The Punisher War Zone, Venom, Nth Man: The Ultimate Ninja, Elektra, Batman, and many more titles. Beyond comics, Larry appeared on MAS*H and Saturday Night Live, and co-created the cult-favorite Bucky O’Hare, which inspired comics, toys, and an animated series. Today, he continues his legacy as the current writer of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero for Skybound and also created Mounties vs. Werewolves with artist Guy Dorian Sr. Larry Hama is more than a creator — he’s an icon who has shaped multiple generations of storytelling across comics, television, toys, and beyond. This is your chance to meet the man behind so many legendary characters and stories.

Michael Golden is an American comics artist and writer best known for his late-1970s work on Marvel Comics’ The Micronauts and The ‘Nam, as well as his co-creation of fan-favorite characters Rogue (Avengers Annual #10) and Bucky O’Hare (Echo of Futurepast #1 with Larry Hama). In 1978, Golden collaborated with Bill Mantlo to launch The Micronauts, illustrating the series’ first 12 groundbreaking issues. He went on to work on Doctor Strange, Howard the Duck, and Marvel Fanfare. His striking covers defined classics like G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Rom, U.S. 1, and The Saga of Crystar. Golden also served behind the scenes, working as an editor for DC Comics in the early 1990s and later as Senior Art Director for Marvel Comics. In the 2000s, he continued to influence the industry with covers for Nightwing, Superman: The Man of Steel, and Vigilante.

Renée Witterstaetter is an American comic book colorist, editor, producer, and writer whose career spans some of the biggest titles in comics. She began her career at DC Comics as an assistant editor working on Superman, before moving to Marvel Comics, where she worked on Silver Surfer and Conan. As a colorist, Renée contributed her talents to fan-favorite series including The Avengers, Spider-Man, Captain America, and G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #139. She is also widely recognized for her work as an editor with John Byrne on The Sensational She-Hulk, where she even appeared as a fourth-wall-breaking character within the series itself! Beyond her work at Marvel and DC, Renée has expanded her creative reach as a producer and writer, bringing stories to life across multiple mediums. Her influence on comics and pop culture continues to inspire fans and creators alike.

Please welcome Zack Hoffman to FarleyCon Pop Culture & Comic Book Expo presents JoeNooga! In 1982 Hasbro and Sunbow Productions debuted GI Joe the Real American Hero in syndication. Zack Hoffman provided the voice of Zartan, the evil mercenary who worked for gold and all things that glittered. A master of disguise Zartan eluded GI Joe at every turn. Zartan became a fan favorite, as he and his gang, The Dreadnocks, rode into the night to do Cobra Commander’s bidding. Zack started out dubbing Spanish Soap Operas into English for Telemundo. At the same time he was working with the Improv troupe “The LA Connection” and joined the Screen Actors Guild when Ingrid Bergman used his voice for a few characters in the English looping of the Oscar winning “Fanny and Alexander”. Occasionally Zack will step out in front of the camera as he did in films like “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” and “Untraceable”, or television show like “Highway to Heaven” and “The Fugitive”. He also got the privilege of being part of the Encarta Learning Language program for Microsoft creating the character Jack Butterfield. The interactive program was a big success in China and Japan. On the Stage Zack has created a critically acclaimed one man show called “Tuxedo Man” which he performed to audiences across the country. He is also remember as Father Mark in the long running Seattle production of “Tony and Tina’s Wedding”. Zack Hoffman has spent the last 30 years acting in the Pacific Northwest. His voice has been heard by everyone as he has worked in front of the microphone for companies such as; Microsoft, Tulalip Casino, Seattle Seahawks and Mariners, Lazy Boy Furniture, the Washington State Lottery and many more.