From 1999 to 2026: Adam Benet Shaw’s Comic-Con Tradition
A COMIC-CON TRADITION
From 1999 to 2026
Image courtesy of Comic-Con International. Source: Comic-Con Things to Do.
When artist Adam Benet Shaw returns to San Diego Comic-Con in 2026, he will continue a personal tradition that began in 1999.
More than 25 years of Comic-Con visits trace a remarkable creative journey—from comics and illustration to fine art, murals, portraiture, and the hand-painted pop-culture work now found at PopBrush. The mediums may have expanded, but the thread connecting them remains the same: a belief that art can turn stories and cultural icons into something deeply personal.
27 Years
From Adam’s first Comic-Con in 1999 to his return with PopBrush in 2026.
A Creative Meeting Place
Comic-Con is famous for major entertainment announcements, cosplay, gaming, films, television, and its packed exhibit hall. For working artists, it is also something more personal: a place to meet readers, exchange ideas with creators, and experience how audiences respond to art face to face.
Adam is an award-winning painter, illustrator, and comic creator whose work has appeared in publications from Dark Horse, Image Comics, Dynamite, and other publishers. His career includes graphic novels, book and magazine illustration, murals, figurative painting, and artwork for the entertainment industries.
The Road to PopBrush
PopBrush brings Adam’s training and decades of experience into direct conversation with fan culture. Its hand-painted denim, canvas art, and limited prints celebrate the musicians, characters, and creators who become part of people’s lives.
In many ways, PopBrush reflects the energy that has drawn Adam back to Comic-Con since 1999: serious craft with no wall between fine art and popular culture.
