Born in Hokkaido in 1937, Monkey Punch started contributing his manga works for local newspapers from his childhood. Influenced by the American comic book "MAD," he made his debut by Playboy Nyumon (Playboy School)with his original drawing style. 1967 was the year that his series work, "Lupin the 3rd" was published, and he, along with the work, came to fame. He also won the INKPOT prize at San Diego Comic Convention in 1981.

Monkey Punch got his interest in digital manga creation and in its potential about 20 years ago. He is now creating many of his works digitally. His other works are as follows: Isshuku Ippan (Bed & Breakfast), Gyaku Isoppu Monogatari (Reverse Aesop's Fables), Lupin Kozou (Lupin, the Kid), Shamu-neko (Siamese Cat).

Monkey Punch is also Chairman of the Digital Manga Association (http://www.dma-j.net/dma_page/index.html).  The goal of the organization is the sharing wisdom and knowledge about the technology necessary for creating cartoons based on digital expression; pursuing the methods of research and study to obtain more effective means of expression; and looking into copyright issues that will develop from digitization.

A BIG WELCOME to MONKEY PUNCH for his first visit to METROCON!

Johnny Yong Bosch made his debut as Adam, the Black Ranger on Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers.  He appeared in over 200 episodes and both big screen versions of the series.  He is also known for his voice acting work as Vash in Trigun, Kaneda in Akira, Reiji in Gate Keepers, Claus in Last Exile, Clair in Heat Guy J, Sakaki in Witch Hunter Robin, Mike in Please Twins, and Kiba in Wolf’s Rain.  Johnny has recently completed his directorial debut on a love action horror film called Devon’s Ghost with Artist View Entertainment. Johnny is also a part of the rock band Eyeshine.

METROCON welcomes Johnny Yong Bosch back for his second year in a row.

Luci’s happy to be back at Metrocon!  Her voice acting credits for ADV Films include Kaname Chidori in Full Metal Panic! and Full Metal Panic FUMOFFU!, Sasshi in Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, Ran Kotobuki in Super Gals!, Yukari in Azumanga Daioh, Duck/Princess Tutu in Princess Tutu, Mikura in Mezzo for TV, Margaret in Madlax, Tetsu in Peacemaker, Risa in DNAngel, Himeno in Pretear, Sarah/Kate in Kaleido Star, Degiko in Panyo Panyo DigiCharat, Mugimaru in Nurse Witch Komugi, and Luna in Gravion and Gravion Zwei.  For Funimation Entertainment, she’s played Psiren and Wrath in Fullmetal Alchemist, Rico in Gunslinger Girl, Komachi in Samurai 7, Louis Ft. Drake in Galaxy Railways, Kosuna in Desert Punk, and Asuna in Negima.  Luci lives in Houston with her trusty dog, Pacino.   

Luci Christian has attended METROCON four years in a row! Thanks Luci! You rock!

Chris is a voice actor for both ADV Films and Funimation Productions, and has voiced over sixty titles, including Full Metal Panic and Full Metal Panic: Fumoffu (Sousuke), Gravion (Eiji), RahXephon (Ayato), Pretear (Sasame), Princess Tutu (Fakir), Chrono Crusade (Joshua), Aquarian Age (Kyouta), Hello Kitty's Animation Theater (Dear Daniel), E's Otherwise (Kai), Angelic Layer (Ohjiro), Super Gals (Rei Otohata), A Tree of Palme (Shatta), and Gantz (Nishi). Chris is also currently voicing a role he can't name just yet in Fullmetal Alchemist, and has voiced characters for Case Closed, the latest Lupin 3rd movie, Princess Nine, Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, Excel Saga, Kekko Kamen, and many more.  Chris is also part of the band, PLID!

This will be Chris Patton's third appearance at METROCON.

This will be Greg Ayres's fourth appearance at METROCON.

Cynthia was first introduced to anime when ADV cast her in her first acting/voice acting role ever as the dragon slayer sorceress Lina Inverse in Slayers. Since then she has voiced a variety of roles such as Sora in Kaleido Star, Hermes in Kino's Journey, Poemy in Puni Puni Poemy, Hiroko in RahXephon, Mikako in Voices of a Distant Star, Yuna in Galaxy Fraulein Yuna, Hikaru in Princess Nine, Hikaru Amano in Nadesico, Harue in Super Gals, Mint in BASTof Syndrome, Meek in Panyo Panyo Di Gi Charat, Pike in Princess Tutu, and Kaho in Sister Princess. Other titles include Gravion, Aura Battler Dunbine, All-Purpose Cultural Cat-Girl Nuku Nuku, Azumanga Daioh, Excel Saga, Najica Blitz Tactics, Neo Ranga, Noir, Nurse Witch Komugi, and Those Who Hunt Elves.

METROCON is very happy to have Cynthia Martinez back for her second year. 

A native of Houston, TX John has been cutting his acting chops since the late 80’s.  He started out as an improv actor working at the famous (or infamous) Comedy Workshop in Houston.  This is where he started honing his vocal skills with different voices and character types.  From there he went on to work for several theater companies and formed a couple of improv groups.  It was during this time that he ran into a friend who suggested he try his hand at voice acting some anime. In 1997, he landed his first role with a company called AD Vision.  Since then, John has gone on to voice numerous shows and characters.  Not really the leading man type has actually given John the freedom to voice everything from Vulcan in Orphen to Ken in Kaleido Star.  Other favorite roles include Ban Bunnings in Aura Battler Dunbine as well as lead roles in the live action films 2009 Lost Memories, Conduct Zero, Yesterday, and the soon to be released Jungle Juice.  In 2004, John jumped to the other side of the “mic” to direct.  His first effort was Wandaba Style.  This followed with St. Seiya and Shinobi (live action).  Both at home in front of and behind the mic, John loves working in the world of anime and with ADV Films!  In addition to anime, John has voiced thousands of radio and tv commercials, not to mention some film work such as RAY and DAZED AND CONSUED.  There are too many folks to thank for all the success John has realized, so he will just thank two: mom and dad!

John Swasey is just so cool that METROCON had to have him back a second time.

Doug Smith is a Texas-based actor and artist who has been voicing titles at ADV Films for several years, most recently at their Austin-based Monster Island studios. In addition to his well-known portrayal of Kintaro Oe in Golden Boy, Smith can be heard as Doria and Pasta in Steam Detectives, the title character in Dragon Knight, Roger in Plastic Little, Kijima in Blue Seed, and as various characters in series such as Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040, Sorcerer Hunters, Those Who Hunt Elves and more.

This will be Doug Smith's third METROCON appearance.

But finally, the family moved back to the States and settled in Virginia.  Steve finished up high school, took some college courses, and ended up working at a bunch of different jobs.  He worked at King's Dominion amusement park (where he met his future wife Nikki), and he also worked in a Japanese restaurant, a video store, and ended up working in construction.

Steve's Interest in Military history lead him to take part in such movies as "Gettysburg" and various History Channel shows. Just look for him in the feathered gray slouch hat next to the soldiers in grey kepis!

About the time Steve and Nikki tied the knot (1994), Steve attended his first anime convention as a guest --Katsucon 1-- and finally remembered his true calling.  He started up Studio Ironcat, a Japanese manga publisher, in 1997 and quit his construction job.  Ironcat ran until 2004.  Although Steve enjoyed his time with Ironcat, the job kept him too busy to focus on his own art.  With the close of Ironcat, Steve was finally free to create his own comics, and get back into the artistic side of the industry.  Today, Steve is busier than ever at conventions, has two new webcomics on-line at http://www.stevebennettart.com/  ("Shakespeare Rodeo" and "Life With Steve") and is finally letting his creative juices flow!

(And Koala's are running rampant at Koala Klub too!)

Steve has been to numerous anime conventions over the years (too many to mention here!) and has also lent his talents to other venues, such as the American Movie Association, Loyola University in Louisiana, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Iowa Gallery of Art.Steve also won the 1996 Osamu Tezuka Award for outstanding American Anime/Manga artist, and has taught animation/cel painting instructional classes at Comic Anime and Anime Pavillion. Steve's many appearances and personal approach to teaching and talking with anime fans about anime/manga over the years and his involvement with charities American Cancer Society, The Lupus Foundation, and Make A Wish Foundation have earned him the sobriquets of "Anime's Goodwill Ambassador"

Steve's friendly nature will entertain and inform all folks big and small so wherever he appears next, just pull up a chair, sit back, shoot the breeze with him and enjoy the ride!

Christopher Sabat has worked in voiceover and audio production for over 10 years. Starting as a DJ, his voice has been heard on countless radio stations, TV and radio commercials, phone systems, toys, voice-guided safety equipment, and as a narrator on industrial and feature films. His experience in anime voice acting career began in 1998 when he was cast as Yamcha and Igor on the Dragon Ball movie, “Sleeping Princess In Devil’s Castle”. Soon afterwards, he was asked to join the anime giant FUNimation Productions to direct the Dragon Ball Z series. Since then, he has directed over 600 episodes of various anime,