SANDSTORM COMICS TO SPOTLIGHT REGIONAL STORYTELLING AND INDEPENDENT COMIC CREATION AT SHARJAH ANIMATION AND COMICS CONFERENCE

The Sandstorm Comics delegation will include:

• Mo Abedin, Editor-in-Chief

• Jane Pica, Senior Illustrator and illustrator behind ‘All Upon a Time’

• Noora Al Awadi, author and co-writer of ‘Tamtoom’

Sandstorm Comics’ participation at SACC 2026 will give audiences, creators and industry professionals the opportunity to meet members of its team and learn more about its work developing local talent, investing in home-grown intellectual property and bringing original stories from the region to life.

On Saturday, 24 October, Abedin will join “Independent Comics: From Regional Stories to Global Shelves,” moderated by Brent Black. The panel will explore how comics rooted in regional cultures can reach international audiences, covering stories inspired by the Arab world, publishers’ role in supporting talent and collaboration, and the journey from local inspiration to global distribution.

Abedin will be joined by Shannon Eric Denton, an artist, writer, director and producer whose work spans animation, comics, film, television and video games. His credits include X-Men, Spider-Man, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Deadpool, Spawn and Teen Titans, alongside major game franchises such as Valorant, League of Legends, God of War, Overwatch and Diablo.

The panel will also feature Marko Matijašević, Founder and Creative Director of Pigment Collective and its Argent Comics imprint, which develops limited-edition books and graphic novels focused on design, production and collectibility. Argent’s work includes officially licensed DC collector editions such as Batman: The Killing Joke.

Media opportunities:

Media representatives may be able to:

• Attend the panel “Independent Comics: From Regional Stories to Global Shelves”

• Interview opportunities with Mo Abedin, Jane Pica and Noora Al Awadi

• Learn more about Sandstorm Comics’ creators, titles and original intellectual property

• Capture photography and content from the conference, subject to event and speaker availability

Key Facts:

• Event: Sharjah Animation And Comics Conference

• Dates: 22–25 October 2026

• Location: Aljada, Sharjah

• Sandstorm Comics participants: Mo Abedin, Jane Pica and Noora Al Awadi

• Panel: “Independent Comics: From Regional Stories to Global Shelves”

• Panel date: Saturday, 24 October 2026

• Panel time and location: 1:45pm – 2:45pm, Conference Hall

Media Contact: ADGaming@BursonGlobal.com

About Sandstorm Comics:

Sandstorm is a dedicated comics studio that focuses on developing local talent, investing in new and unique home-grown IPs, advancing the work of content creators, and using the comic book platform to showcase authentic and unique stories from the region.

Headquartered at Yas Creative Hub in Abu Dhabi, Sandstorm Comics’ studio is a one-of-a-kind destination for comic enthusiasts to connect with a vibrant creative hub where original stories from the region are brought to life.