Steampunk Boba Fett (John F. Strangeway) is one of the most recognized figures in both the Steampunk and Star Wars fan communities.  He had the idea for a Steampunk variation for quite some time but lacked the resources to build the suit to match his vision. That changed at AnachroCon 2009, where he met Matt Silva of Penny Dreadful Productions. A few months later, PDP began work on the suit, which debuted at Dragon*Con 2009 to overwhelming acclaim.  John and PDP are featured prominently in the PBS documentary “Four Days at Dragon*Con.”

The few, the proud, the completely deranged. The Crew of the Titilus has been cobbled together as an eclectic assortment of skilled vagabonds from across the bounds of time, space and alternate dimensions. Captained by their wrangler, A Count Named Slick-Brass, they’ve been assembled to swindle, coerce or otherwise entice you into their sundry panels, exhibitions and shows … including this Con. Bad Pun Intended, but disavowed by the management. Come be amazed, amused or simply appalled!

Best known for her behind-the-scenes work as director of Steampunk programming and exhibits at conventions throughout the Southeast, Paige “Ex Libris” Smith is regularly recognized for her award-winning automaton costumes. A dedicated champion of ‘re-purposing’ garb and gear with Steampunk vision, Paige is a prominent advocate of Steampunk as a subculture in various media and her writing and interviews appear regularly in on-line and publishing outlets. As director of “The Steampunk Exhibition” at Dragon*Con in Atlanta, she is full committed to bringing the most talented builders, makers and designers of Steampunk and Victorian futurist gear to the attention of a broader, appreciative audience. Paige can also be found dumpster diving for new inspiration behind the finest hotels at conventions across the U.S.

Tome Wilson is the founder and editor of Dieselpunks, an online magazine devoted to the dieselpunk movement and the growing steampunk art community. Spotlighting the best in film noir, WWII/alternative history, Lovecraftian fiction, streamlined machines, and the masterworks of Art Deco style, Dieselpunks continues to grow and welcome punks of all stripes (steam, diesel, atomic, and otherwise).

If you’re friends with Mugsy (and know the secret password), you can meet Tome at Friday night’s sold out “Speakeasy-in-the-Sky”, The Engine Room, where he’ll be spinning a hot jump mix of big band, jazz, and swing classics alongside modern shots of dieselpunk music.

Should you be sober by Saturday, Tome will be presenting the ins and outs of dieselpunk at “What the Pulp is Dieselpunk,” a presentation focusing on the music, movies, history, and fashion distinctive to the aesthetic. We promise it will be the cat’s pajamas and the bee’s knees!

Ay-leen the Peacemaker is the founding editor of the multicultural steampunk blog Beyond Victoriana, which had won the 2010 Last Drink Bird Head Award, a prize widely recognized in the greater science fiction & fantasy community. For the past few years, Ay-leen has been involved with the steampunk communities in the New York metro area and New England. Her upcoming published work will be included in the fashion academic anthology Fashion Talks: Undressing the Power of Style from SUNY Press in 2012. She has also been interviewed about steampunk and its evolving subculture for many steampunk and sci-fi sites and for the books The Steampunk Bible (Abrams Image, May 2011) and Steampunk: Reloaded (Tachyon Publications, 2010). Ay-leen is also the social media manager for Tor.com – Steampunk on Facebook and torsteampunk on Twitter.

Jaymee Goh is a writer of speculative fiction and scholar/blogger of critical theory. She has contributed to Tor.com, Racialicious.com, the Apex Book Company Blog, Beyond Victoriana, and Steampunk II: Reloaded (Tachyon Publications, 2010). Her fiction has been published in Expanded Horizons and Crossed Genres, and she has co-written an essay on steampunk fashion and race for Fashion Talks (SUNY Press, 2012). She graduated from Saint Mary’s University (Halifax, Nova Scotia) with an Honours degree in English and is currently working on an MA in Cultural Studies and Critical Theory at McMaster University. Her blog explores issues of marginalization and culture, and she analyses steampunk literature from a postcolonial perspective at Silver Goggles.

Over the last 7 years, Laura, the Cyborg Seamstress, has been creating costumes of her favorite characters for showcase at anime, gaming, and sci-fi conventions. In 2007 she began creating original steampunk character designs with Outland Armour, an artist collective that she continues to collaborate with today. As a returning guest to the Steampunk World’s Fair, Laura is again looking forward to sharing her expertise in costume design and craftsmanship through the presentation of panels and workshops.

Epiphany Blackwood is a Thread Alchemist who received her training as a seamstress at the finest sweatshops in Savannah. When she’s not creating clothing for epic adventuring of the up-most quality, Epiphany enjoys the life of a vigilante for Emperor Joshua Norton I, and living the life of a socialite. She will be coordinating The Costume Extravaganza as well as panels on historical costuming. She does adore her admirers, and begs that you approach her for conversation. Mundanely, she is a student of Historical Costume and Textiles at the University of Rhode Island.

The Red Fork Empire is a Multi-Dimensional Empire whose enemy is the Dull. It is a collective of people who want to express themselves creatively, not necessarily as professionals but because using your imagination and being creative is what makes life enjoyable. The Empire encourages this in everyone even if they do not wish to be a part of the Empire. Those who do not join now will eventually in time. To help spread this message the Emperor and his citizens perform as their personas, speak on event panels, run Imperial games, and contribute creative works in the name of the Empire.

Thee Bluebeard Show is the improv comedy late night talk show matinee!  The pirate Bluebeard in all his pirate regalia interviews . . . well . . . you!  Or the guy next to you or the girl behind you or the little kid with the hulk costume on.  All from the audience.  The questions are real.  The comedy is unscripted.  The pirate hat is huge.  Bring a spatula! Thee Bluebeard hails from Chicago, Illinois and is a cancer/leo pirate improv comedian.  His show has been seen across the country and has been picking up steam at various conventions and venues for the past few years.  The late night talk show format where audience members are interviewed is a genius blend of improv comedy, audience interaction, piracy and random people talking about themselves in public.  Also, you can buy a tee-shirt to prove you were there or lie and say you were.

Tip your hat to a returning guest! Jake von Slatt is a maker, tinkerer, and all around techno dilettante living and creating just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. Jake is interested in the blending of 19th century aesthetics and technology with the modern world and showcases projects of that ilk on his website at http://steampunkworkshop.com. While he eschews the temptation to rigidly define the term “Steampunk,” he does know that it has something to do with the intersection of technology and romance. Among other reasons why Mr. von Slatt is wonderful, he shall be bringing along his modified bus and giving tours of it once more- and perhaps even a few extra goodies in tow! Let’s all cross our fingers!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfJ2xa9nzmw