A whole army of inspiring artists, makers, and other experts are ready to host interesting workshops and reveal their secrets in Q&A panels and presentations. Check this page to see in which field you’d like to hone your skills!
Artist Alley panels & workshops
This date is over! - Kenny Rubenis about the end of the Dating for Geeks comic
Who: Kenny Rubenis
When:
Saturday: 12:00h – 13:00h
What:
For a full decade, this Dutch cartoonist and FACTS mainstay has toiled among the nerd relationships & tribulations of his popular characters of Dating for Geeks. And now that the final lines are on paper, it’s time to reminisce and find out what the future has in store for Kenny.
Where:
Pen-and-ink Palace: Hall 4
Stripped Bare with Klaus Janson, Brian Stelfreeze & David Finch: A talk about the bare essentials of craft, art & beauty
Who:
– Klaus Janson
– Brian Stelfreeze
– David Finch
When:
Saturday: 14:00h – 15:00h
What:
These three masters of the comics-making craft talk about what makes them tick, while looking at beautiful work that inspires them. What boils the blood, what elevates the work? Find out in this masterclass.
Where:
Pen-and-ink Palace: Hall 4
The Klaus Janson Career: Stories from the Copper Age to the Modern Era
Who:
– Klaus Janson
When:
Saturday: 16:00h – 17:00h
What:
From the Copper Age to the Modern Era, Klaus Janson has done, seen & lived it all. Inker, penciler, artist, writer, lover, fighter, creator, trainer, innovator. We pick the master’s brain for all the juicy stories.
Where:
Pen-and-ink Palace: Hall 4
Art workshop 'Anatomy in art': drawing muscles & bodies with DC artist Romano Molenaar
Who:
– Romano Molenaar
When:
Saturday: 13:00h – 14:00h
What:
The human body contains around 600 muscles and Romano Molenaar will teach you how to make them ripple on the page. Turn your characters into the most powerful they can be!
Where:
Flex 1/2 (areas beyond the balcony of Hall 1)
Lectrr on co-creating the apocalyptic show Trizombie
Who:
– Lectrr
When:
Sunday: 12:00h – 13:00h
What:
Cartoonist & FACTS mainstay Lectrr has applied his unique talents to television, co-creating the apocalyptic show Trizombie. What happens when a zombie plague breaks out and affects everyone, except those with Down’s syndrome? Join us for an in-depth, intelligent discussion!
Where:
Pen-and-ink Palace – Hall 4
The career of David Finch: From Top Cow to Top Dog, charting a course to comics superstardom
Who:
– David Finch
When:
Sunday: 14:00h – 15:00h
What:
His pencils have graced the pages of some of the most character-defining runs in the modern era. Few of his contemporaries have such a storied resume: reinventing Moon Knight, tackling The Dark Knight, and reassembling the Avengers!
But how did Finch chart a course to comics superstardom? Join this talk with the master.
Where:
Pen-and-ink Palace – Hall 4
Kevin J. Anderson: Writing for Other Franchises like Star Wars & Dune
Who:
– Kevin J. Anderson
When:
Sunday: 15:30h – 16:30h
What:
From distant galaxies to the far-flung futures of Arrakis, Kevin J. Anderson has contributed extensive lore to some of the biggest cinematic and literary franchises of all time! He breathed new life into the Star Wars galaxy, expanded the Dune universe, and even brought it to a close. Let’s walk the golden path together and delve deep into this writer’s storied career.
Where:
Pen-and-ink Palace – Hall 4
Art workshop 'How to layout a comic page'
Who:
– Romano Molenaar
When:
Sunday: 13:00h – 14:00h
What:
The comic artist’s ultimate goal: crafting a page which is both exciting and readable. It takes some insight to accomplish such a feat. There are more than a few guidelines and rules to follow, but it is also an exciting, creative process! Romano Molenaar will initiate you in the magics of dynamic comics page composition.
Where:
Pen-and-ink Palace – Hall 4
Writing & fandom workshops
How to draw a fantasy map
Who:
– Robin Rozendal
When:
Saturday: 14:30h – 15:15h
What:
Zilverspoor author Robin Rozendal (Levende steden, Werelden ontwaken, Luguberg: talentenjacht) will show you how to create a believable world with realistic topography and interesting landmarks.
Where:
Flex 1/2 (area reachable beyond Hall 1, beneath the balcony)
Great character development
Who:
– Kelly Van der Laan
When:
Saturday: 11:30h – 12:15h
Sunday: 11:00h – 11:45h
What:
Zilverspoor author Kelly Van der Laan (De prijs van water, Verloren zielen, Lentagon) explains what makes a character click with an audience, moving from a flat character to a well-rounded fictional person.
Where:
Flex 1/2 (area reachable beyond Hall 1, beneath the balcony)
Self-editing: tips & tricks
Who:
– Anaïd Haen
When:
Sunday: 12:00h – 12:45h
What:
Seasoned Zilverspoor author Anaïd Haen (Avonturium, Begeesterd, Wraak op het spoor, Er zal eens…, Decadentia,…) shows aspiring writers how to whip out a red pen, kill your darlings, and streamline a story to perfection.
Where:
Flex 1/2 (area reachable beyond Hall 1, beneath the balcony)
Season of the Witch: The evolution of witches in popular culture and literature
Who:
– ReadMore Publishing
When:
Saturday: 16:00h – 16:30h
What:
From wart-infested hermits with crooked noses to brave high-school students, the term ‘witches’ has had quite the evolution in pop culture history.
Where:
Flex 1/2 (area reachable beyond Hall 1, beneath the balcony)
How to write believable non-human main characters
Who:
– ReadMore Publishing
When:
Sunday: 14:30h – 15:00h
What:
What if your story’s protagonist is a non-human character? A seasoned author gives you tips & tricks on how to make him appeasing and unique.
Where:
Flex 1/2 (area reachable beyond Hall 1, beneath the balcony)
Make your own wizard props by The Compendium
📹 The Compendium is back with its DIY workshops! Craft everything a wizard or witch desires:
- Wandmaking workshop
- Spellbook workshop
- Potions workshop
- Scribe feather workshop
and much more!
Place: Fan Village (Hall 8)
Timing: Both days, all day long!
Start to LARP
⚔️ It’s dangerous to go alone, take this workshop! The Live-Action Role-Playing experts of Statera Mundi University will grant you passage into the wonderful world of LARP.
Place: Fan Village (Hall 8)
Timing: Both days, all day long
Gunpla workshop
🤖 Red Comet, a group of experts on Gundam, will show you how you can make your own awesome Gundam mobile suit replica. Warning: once you’re hooked on this ‘gunpla’ activity, you may never view the world the same again!
Place: Fan Village (Hall 6)
Timing: Both days, check for details at the Red Comet booth
Learn how to play D&D
🎲 Being a Dungeon Master for Dungeons & Dragons is a mix of game knowledge, story-telling, and enjoying having counter-spells to an immense amount of funny facepalm moments. D&D Belgium is happy to show you how it’s done. Time for some vitamin D&D!
Place: Spellenspektakel
Timing: Both days, all day long
Historical fencing & lightsaber duels
⚔️ The world’s oldest fencing club, Sint-Michielsgilde De Hallebardiers, will show you how to wield a lightsaber on one stand, and historical weapons in another. Sci-fi and history meet!
Places: Hall 1
Timing: Both days, all day long
Superhero mask workshop
Ranger Nation is giving you the opportunity to make your own superhero mask, in addition to a ‘meet your hero’ photobooth, a trick or treat table, Sinterklaas/Santa letters, and more!
Places: Hall 6
Timing: Both days, all day long
Fandom talks & workshops
DINOMANIE:
DINOSAURS IN OUR POP CULTURE
🦖 Whether you drive around in a Ford Raptor or have seen the first Jurassic Park film 17 times: everyone has had dinosaurs in their lives. But what kind of impact have they had on pop culture, in games, movies, series, and comic books? What was the world’s first dinosaur park? And where can you buy dino turds? Speaker Harald Scheerlinck provides a list of interesting insights and did-you-knows.
Place: Cosplay Stage
Timing: Sunday: 12:30h – 13:00h
START TO LARP!
⚔️ It’s dangerous to go alone, take this workshop! The Live-Action Role-Playing experts of Statera Mundi University will grant you passage into the wonderful world of LARP.
Place: Fan Village (Hall 8)
Timing: Both days, all day long
GUNPLA WORKSHOP
🤖 Gundam Fans Benelux, a group of experts on Gundam, will show you how you can make your own awesome Gundam mobile suit replica. Warning: once you’re hooked on this ‘gunpla’ activity, you may never view the world the same again!
Place: Fan Village (Hall 8)
Timing: Both days, check for details at the Gundam Fans Benelux booth
LEARN HOW TO BECOME A DUNGEON MASTER
🎲 Being a Dungeon Master for Dungeons & Dragons is a mix of game knowledge, story-telling, and enjoying having counter-spells to an immense amount of funny facepalm moments. D&D Gent is happy to show you how it’s done. Time for some vitamin D&D!
Place: Board Game Zone in Hall 1
Timing: Both days, all day long
JOIN THE LIGHTSABER FIGHT WORKSHOPS!
⚔️ The world’s oldest fencing club, Sint-Michielsgilde De Hallebardiers, will show you how to wield a lightsaber. That might sound odd, but rest assured: these people know how to cut a Dathomirian Zabrak in half.
Place: Star Wars Zone in Hall 8
Timing: Both days, all day long
LEGO DESIGNER PANEL
🧱 Meet Belgium’s first official LEGO designer on Sunday, April 7th! Amber Veyt, who designed LEGO’s Hocus Pocus set (Disney) will do signing sessions at the booth of Starbrick in Hall 1. And yes, you can also buy the set there.
Place: Pen-and-Ink Palace (Hall 4)
Timing: SUNDAY: 15:45h – 16:30h
Artist Alley workshops
DRAWING WORKSHOP:
HOW TO DRAW THE MARSUPILAMI
Participants:
– Batem
Timing: Saturday: 11:00h – 12:00h
What is it about?
Batem himself has been drawing the mysterious Marsupilami since 1982 and is more than willing to pass down his know-how to you, at FACTS!
Place: FLEX 1
(French spoken, but Dutch translation available)
HOW TO WRITE A GRAPHIC NOVEL
A MASTERCLASS BY BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Participants:
– Brian Michael Bendis
Timing: Sunday: 13:00h – 14:00h
What is it about?
The graphic novel features the unique marriage of words and pictures that has seeped into every facet of popular culture. This one time special class, led by legendary comic author Brian Michael Bendis (Marvel, DC, Dark Horse) will focus on all the storytelling elements that create the written word of this unique medium.
Place: FLEX 1
WORLD-BUILDING TECHNIQUES
Participants:
– Mathias Maho (Ruiters van de Nacht)
– Morgan Blade (Muse Academy)
– Petra Doom (Overstekers)*
– Pen Stewart (As moderator)
Timing: Saturday: 11:00h – 12:00h
What is it about?
Effective worldbuilding can captivate audiences and draw them deeper into the story, making it an indispensable tool for authors, game designers and other creators.
TO BUILD A CONVINCING CHARACTER
Participants:
– Morgan Blade (Muse Academy)
– Mathias Maho (Ruiters van de Nacht)
– Pen Stewart (Windercode)
– Petra Doom (As moderator)
Timing: Sunday: 11:30h – 12:30h
What is it about?
Whether it is a beloved main character in a novel or a powerful wizard in a tabletop RPG, memorable characters are key to building a loyal fan base.
GEEKY PUBLISHING
Participants:
– Dimitri Balcaen (uitgeverij ReadMore)
– Jelmer Panman (Helden op Papier)
Timing: Saturday: 17:00h – 18:00h
What is it about?
Whether it’s exciting fantasy novels or epic D&D campaigns, geeky publishing is all about expressing your creativity and expertise with a community that shares your passion.
- Workshop: Tegenslag versus conflict in een verhaal
- Workshop: Korte verhalen schrijven
- Workshop: Dieren in een verhaal
- Workshop: De ingrediënten van een goed verhaal
These sessions will be held in Dutch on both days, by Uitgeverij Zilverspoor, in the Workshop area. Check the schedule for time slots.
Even more
40 Years Return of the Jedi by TeeKay-421
Star Wars episode VI: Return of the Jedi turns 40 this year. Leave it up to the experts of TeeKay-421 to gather some interesting trivia and facts about this iconic movie.
Saturday: 12:30h – 13-30h
LIVE PODCAST: The Thompsons Talk Futurama
The Thompsons: A Simpsons Podcast is back with more uncommon trivia and unbridled appreciation of Matt Groening’s creations. Now with special guest Lectrr. Next up: Futurama!
Sunday: 11:30h – 12:30h
Live on the Cosplay Stage
Kids and videogames: guidance for safe and responsible videogame play
David Verbruggen of FLEGA (the Flemish Games Association) is going over the pros and cons of children playing video games at an early age. Will they turn out to be superhumans? Or hopeless gaming addicts? Or something in between? Lets find out at FACTS!
Saturday: 12:15h – 13:00h
Live on the Cosplay Stage
