{{short description|American graphic novelist, director and musician (born 1977)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Jim Demonakos | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1977}} | birth_name = James Demonakos | occupation = {{hlist|Film director|graphic novelist|writer|event coordinator}} | notable_works = The Silence Of Our Friends, [[Emerald City Comic Con]], [[Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters]] }}
'''Jim Demonakos''' (born 1977) is an American director, graphic novelist, and event organizer noted for his work in comic books, conventions, and documentary films. He is the founder of the [[Emerald City Comic Con]] and LightBox Expo, as well as the director and producer of the award-winning documentary film, ''[[Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters]]''.
==Early life== The child of Greek immigrants, Demonakos was born in Montana and moved to [[Seattle]], WA when he was six years old. He grew up in the food service world, working from his early teens in his parents' restaurants. After graduating high school, he enrolled at [[University of Washington|The University of Washington]], and then transferred to [[The Art Institute of Seattle]], where he graduated with a degree in computer animation.
==Career==
Jim opened his first comic book store, The Comic Stop, in March 2000, followed by a second store in 2002. Eventually the stores expanded<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-02-06 |title=Comic Stop expands comic book store chain in Seattle area |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/local-business/comic-stop-expands-comic-book-store-chain-in-seattle-area/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref> to a total of four locations, making The Comic Stop the largest chain of comic book shops in the Pacific Northwest. He also served as PR & Marketing Coordinator for [[Image Comics]] from 2005 to 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Comics Reporter |url=https://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/jim_demonakos_leaves_image_comics_joachim_regout_leave_slots_at_glenat |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=www.comicsreporter.com}}</ref>
He founded Seattle's [[Emerald City Comic Con]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Dyer |first=Oxley |date=March 12, 2018 |title=The PNW's reemerging geekonomy |url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/the-reemerging-geekonomy-today-so-far |access-date=July 21, 2022 |work=[[Cartoon Brew]]}}</ref> (ECCC) as a one-day event in 2003, with an attendance of 3,000 people.<ref>{{cite news |last=McInnis |first=Andrea |date=March 29, 2007 |title=Look! Up in Seattle! It's a comics convention |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/life/look-up-in-seattle-its-a-comics-convention/ |work=[[The Everett Herald]] |access-date=March 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Dyer |first=Oxley |title=The PNW's reemerging geekonomy |date=March 12, 2018 |url= https://www.kuow.org/stories/the-reemerging-geekonomy-today-so-far |work=[[Cartoon Brew]] |access-date=July 21, 2022}}</ref> He then spent over a decade growing and developing ECCC into the largest independent comic convention in the United States. Emerald City Comic Con was acquired by ReedPOP ([[RELX]]) in 2015<ref>{{cite web |last=Reed |first=Patrick |date=January 13, 2015 |title=Emerald City Comicon Joins The ReedPOP Family Of Conventions |url=https://comicsalliance.com/emerald-city-comicon-reedpop-acquisitn-interview-demonakos-fensterman/ |access-date=January 13, 2015 |work=Comics Alliance}}</ref> and Demonakos ceased being involved in the event as of 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |date=2017-04-25 |title=Jim Demonakos to leave ReedPop |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/jim-demonakos-to-leave-reedpop/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}</ref>
Alongside Mark Long, he wrote the New York Times Best Selling graphic novel, [https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250164988/thesilenceofourfriends The Silence of Our Friends],<ref>{{cite web |last=Wolk |first=Douglas |date=March 12, 2018 |title=ynda-barrys-blabber-blabber-blabber-and-more |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/books/review/lynda-barrys-blabber-blabber-blabber-and-more.html |access-date=April 13, 2012 |work=New York Times}}</ref> which was illustrated by National Book Award winner [[Nate Powell]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Erin |date=February 22, 2022 |title=Giving a voice to "The Silence of our Friends" |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/giving-a-voice-to-the-silence-of-our-friends/2012/02/21/gIQAOX9RTR_blog.html |access-date=February 10, 2012 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref> The graphic novel was awarded a Great Graphic Novel for Teens<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Silence of Our Friends {{!}} Awards & Grants |url=https://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/silence-our-friends |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=www.ala.org}}</ref> by [[YALSA]].
Jim is a founding member of the pioneering nerd rock band Kirby Krackle,<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Selinker |first=Mike |date=January 8, 2013 |title=Geek Love: Kirby Krackle, The Doubleclicks, and the soul of nerd rock |url=https://www.wired.com/2013/08/geek-love-kirby-krackle-the-doubleclicks-and-the-soul-of-nerd-rock/ |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |accessdate=2015-03-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=May 12, 2020 |title=Raise the Roof! 15 songs inspired by Superman, Hulk, and other comic book heroes |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/raise-the-roof-15-songs-inspired-by-superman-hulk-and-other-comic-book-heroes}}</ref> where he was the songwriter and lyricist from the bands start in 2009 until 2014, when he left the band.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Business 3x3: Jim Demonakos, Currently Enjoying Life |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/38927/business-3x3-jim-demonakos-currently-enjoying-life |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=icv2.com |language=en}}</ref>
He launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to bring back The Classic Comic Book Spinner Rack,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Comments |first=Jude Terror {{!}} |date=2018-04-04 |title=Emerald City Comic Con Founder Launches Spinner Rack to Compete with Diamond on Kickstarter |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/eccc-founder-launches-spinner-rack/ |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en}}</ref> including creating a variant which was specially designed to hold [[Certified Guaranty Company]] (CGC) graded comic books, which he manufactured and distributed from 2018 to 2021.
Demonakos co-founded [https://lightboxexpo.com/ LightBox Expo]<ref>{{cite web |last=Windsor |first=Harry |date=March 12, 2018 |title=Lightbox Expo (2022) |url=https://screenrant.com/lightbox-expo-2022-pasadena-program-panels-guests/ |access-date=November 10, 2019 |work=[[Screen Rant]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=LANG |first=JAMIE |date=March 12, 2018 |title=Lightbox Expo Returns To Pasadena With More Than 500 Confirmed Guests And 150 Panels |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/events/lightbox-expo-2022-concept-art-awards-221675.html |access-date=September 9, 2022 |work=[[Cartoon Brew]]}}</ref> which debuted in 2019<ref>{{cite web |last=Windsor |first=Harry |title=Lightbox Expo (2022) |date=March 12, 2018 |url= https://screenrant.com/lightbox-expo-2022-pasadena-program-panels-guests/ |work=[[Screen Rant]] |access-date=November 10, 2019}}</ref> and has already become a must-attend event among animation, illustration and concept art creators and fans.
Most recently, he produced and directed<ref>{{cite web |last=COUCH |first=AARON |date=March 12, 2018 |title=Documentary on 'Hellboy' Creator Mike Mignola in the Works (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/documentary-on-hellboy-creator-mike-mignola-in-the-works-exclusive-4139650/ |access-date=March 1, 2021 |work=[[Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> (alongside [[Kevin Hanna|Kevin Konrad Hanna]]) ''[[Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters]]'', an award-winning feature-length documentary about [[Mike Mignola]] and the creation of his comic book universe centered around [[Hellboy]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Muir |first=Nathaniel |title=[CFF '22] 'Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters (The Secret Origin of Hellboy)' review |date=June 29, 2022 |url= https://aiptcomics.com/2022/06/29/cff-mike-mignola-drawing-monsters/ |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |access-date=June 29, 2022}}</ref>
==Filmography== * ''[[Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters]]'' (2022) – director/producer
==Bibliography==
*''The Silence of Our Friends'' (art by [[Nate Powell]], written by Mark Long and Jim Demonakos. 1/12, [[First Second Books]] - ISBN 978-1250164988) *''The Complete Tales From The Con'' (created and edited by Jim Demonakos, art by [[Chris Giarrusso]], written by [[Brad Guigar]]. 8/18, Image Comics - ISBN 978-1534302907) *''The Lion and the Aardvark: Aesop's Modern Fables'' (edited by [[Robin Laws|Robin D. Laws]], short story written by Jim Demonakos. 8/13, [[Stone Skin Press]] - ISBN 978-1908983022) *''Skullkickers #12'' backup story (art by Joel Carroll, written by Jim Demonakos, Kyle Stevens. 11/11, [[Image Comics]]) *''Savage Dragon #12''9 backup story (art by Joe Largent, written by Jim Demonakos. 10/06, [[Image Comics]]) *''[[Shrapnel (Radical Comics)|Shrapnel: Aristeia Rising]]'' and ''[[Shrapnel (Radical Comics)|Shrapnel: Hubris]]'' (edited by Jim Demonakos. 01/09, [[Radical Comics]])
== Awards == * 2022: FilmQuest Film Festival: Best Documentary for ''[[Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters]]'' * 2022: [[Gen Con]] Film Festival: Best Documentary for ''[[Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters]]'' * 2022: [[Chagrin Documentary Film Festival]]: Best Documentary for ''[[Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters]]'' * 2022: [[Fantasmagoria]]: Best Documentary for ''[[Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters]]'' * 2022: [[Prague Independent Film Festival]]: Best Documentary for ''[[Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters]]'' * 2022: Hamilton Film Festival: Best Documentary for ''[[Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters]]'' * 2022: Shockfest Film Festival: Best Documentary for ''[[Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters]]'' * 2022: Oniros Film Awards: Best Documentary for ''[[Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters]]'' * 2022: Fantasmagoría - Festival de Cine Fantástico y de Terror de Medellìn: Best Documentary for ''[[Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters]]''
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Biography}} * [https://lightboxexpo.com/ LightBox Expo] {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Demonakos, Jim}} [[Category:1977 births]] [[Category:American graphic novelists]] [[Category:American male novelists]] [[Category:Comics retailers (people)]] [[Category:Comic book publishers (people)]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Artists from Seattle]] [[Category:Filmmakers from Seattle]] [[Category:Musicians from Seattle]] [[Category:Writers from Seattle]] [[Category:American songwriters]] [[Category:American male songwriters]]