JoeFest appears, in a word, ubiquitous – an ever-growing collectors and comic con in Augusta that many fans do not want to miss.
JoeFest increasingly seems to have the pop culture outreach of an entity much more benign than Galactus coupled with the downhome feel of local talent of Smallville (and some of those are “Supermen” and “Superwomen” with their national outreach).
From June 20-22, several local creatives, will join big names like Sgt. Slaughter, actor Seth Green, Samantha Newark (voice of Jem), and Hasbro designer Carla Reiss in a veritable A to Z of Hollywood, comics, and action figure creator talent. They will be stationed around the two-story convention center at the Augusta Marriott.
2025 JoeFest Toy and Comic Convention is a pop culture event highlighted by international vendors and artists, according to Ed Schumacher, JoeFest coordinator.
Sgt. Slaughter is a crowd favorite, headlining the event for several years. The event features more than 200 vendors.
For several years, JoeFest Toy and Comic Convention has been about national and international G.I. Joe fandom and nearly all things as they relate to action figures, pop culture and the comics world. But it has also been about the regional talent in Authors and Artists Alley.
Local creative Travis Hollaway, who runs the CSRA Sequential Artist group page and organizes many events for other creatives, has volunteered with JoeFest for a number of years and will also be hosted at another creative’s table this year.
“Working the convention was something I used as an internship for me. I wanted to see how truly insane a convention can be just in case one day we jumped into the abyss of a convention.”
Throughout the years, he has done everything from handing out passes to being door patrol and even being a cheerleader to those who did not quite know what to think of things.
Hollaway said he would say things like, “Hey, you know all those toys your parents did not want you to have? They are inside, so be careful…(or) Why are you guys looking like it’s a Monday morning at work? There are toys everywhere, man, you guys have to enjoy this.”
Hollaway will also be signing and selling a two-in-one comic that involves Augusta Magazine and Athens Magazine art director and comics creator, Michael Rushbrook. Rushbrook, who will not be at the convention itself, will be hosting Hollaway for a while at his table which will be manned by his wife.
The reason for the hosting relates to collaboration on a comic.
“The Brothers of Justice and Sis. Smith is a Science Fiction Adventure created by Xavier Jones, D. K. Ware and myself a long time ago. The cast stars four Black protagonists whose life changes in a matter of minutes,” Hollaway said.
D.K. Ware said he contributed to the first issue by being an editor, and Hollaway said Rushbrook created the artwork for it.
Rushbrook affirmed in his credits, “I’ve teamed up with Travis, Darryl and Xavier to draw their story ‘The Brothers of Justice and Sis Smith’.”
Carolyn Rushbrook, Michael’s wife, will be representing him at his artist table while Michael is at HeroesCon.
“She loves anime and Manga in our culture and loves to go to comic and anime conventions with me. She’s been my biggest supporter and helped me with my comics and art,” said Michael Rushbrook.
Regional artist Jason Crosby has been a guest at JoeFest for three years.
“I’ve been a freelance artist since 2006 with the last 12 years in the trading card and comic sphere. My last project can’t be announced yet but will come out this Fall by Topps,” Crosby said.
Last year, he wrapped up two years of working on the comic, “Madballs vs. Garbage Pail Kids” by Dynamite Publishing.
He spends a lot of time juggling sketch card projects while working on larger base paintings and comics.
For many years, he worked in the publishing field in general. The trading card world has expanded his outreach.
“Since getting into the trading card world, I’d consider my work international since many of my pieces end up across the seas,” Crosby said.
CSRA artist Shelice Toomer will also be returning to JoeFest.
Toomer says she has been drawing as long as she could pick up a pencil. Like many creatives, she struggles with balancing her day job with her creative life.
“I do traditional manga style art… I mean, I am trying to make time to do digital but due to my job at the post office. I’ve barely had time, and I’m trying to adapt,” Toomer said.
”I mostly make small stickers in my spare time. I am trying to work on (my book) the Chronicles of Yume-chan. I’ve only finished one chapter again due to the job at the post office. I am trying to adapt and find time to sketch and work.”
Barnwell, S.C. author Ron Baxley, Jr. is a social media manager for Paula’s Family Restaurant in Bamberg, South Carolina, a correspondent for Augusta Good News, and a graphic novelist and screenwriter who is currently writing a series set in a small Southern town which he has codenamed “Project Neon.”
