U.S. ‘unsafe’ travel destination for Ontario-based comic creators

The ‘51st State’ sovereignty threats from U.S. President Donald Trump a year ago had Canadian comic creators concerned about travelling south of the border for conventions and other industry business, but still willing to wait to see what came next.

ICE agents deployed in major U.S. cities like Minneapolis and harassing citizens later in the year was another blow to confidence in U.S. travel for creators, with some still willing to visit if “really necessary.”

Today, with missile strikes turning the Middle East into a battleground for the next world war, the sentiment from Canadian artists and writers is clear: they ain’t going anywhere near America, and not anytime soon.

For Brampton-born, St. Catharines-raised and Oakville resident Mike Rooth (Red Sonja, Swamp Thing, Hellboy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), the decision to stay far away from the U.S. was made last year.

“It’s really a personal choice – there’s plenty of things to do up here … and I got a lot of books to move, he said, with conventions in Saskatoon, Brantford and Moncton already on his agenda.

“My line in the sand was the threats to our sovereignty.”

With lots of work doing covers for Dynamite Comics (Red Sonja) and Titan (Savage Sword of Conan), Rooth has no need to go far, but he admits he misses his American customers. “I hope I can go back one day. The American audiences are awesome.”

Independent creator Anthony Ruttgaizer (Heroes of Homeroom C, Last Stand in Open Country), said he started cancelling U.S. convention shows last year. He was briefly tempted this year, with Mark Hamil making an appearance at Fan Expo Anaheim in June, but the moment quickly passed.

“I don’t think there’s a safe way for a middle-aged Black man to go to the states,” he said. “I don’t think it’s safe for a person of colour in their own home.”

“I don’t want to win that lottery and I ain’t buying a ticket.”

A veteran of the local wrestling scene (he’s the reigning 365 Pro Wrestling champ and just returned from a bucket list trip to Japan), Ruttgaizer is content for now to do his own thing in Toronto but would certainly listen if bigger opportunities arose.

“I’d like to work for the big guys but I’ve had some bad experiences with publishing in the past. Comics have such thin margins too, but it be good for the resume.”

“I’d love to work with Scholastic or Penguin on some young adult stories.”

Burlington comic legend Ken Lashley

Comic legend Ken Lashley, who has worked extensively for both Marvel and DC on everything from Superwomen to X-Men and Black Panther for more than three decades, took a wait-and-see attitude to U.S. travel last year but is more resolute in 2026, noting the biggest change in the industry has been the negative influence of the Trump administration south of the border.

“American conventions won’t be happening soon,” the Burlington-based artist said, while adding he had been planning a business trip to Dubai before the bombs started dropping in the middle east. “The trip was planned and then the war starts.”

Scarborough cover artist Mike Del Mundo said he will be sticking to Canada this summer, with shows planned in Edmonton, Calgary and Niagara Falls. Super busy with cover work these days, including the DC K.O. storyline and a new not-yet-released title, Del Mundo is staying close to home because of the “troubles,” but is contemplating a trip to England.

Scarborough’s Mike Del Mundo

Fred Kennedy (‘Fearless Fred’ at his day gig as the afternoon drive DJ at Toronto radio station Q107) was at Toronto Comicon with James Edward Clark, his artist partner on his latest book, a campy tale of a Trump-like socialist and his soon-to-be cocaine-addled amusement park hippos called ‘Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre.’

“There’s lot of dark tales out there because these are dark times. I think that’s why our story is standing out.”

More than loosely based on Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar and the hippos he imported for his amusement that eventually went feral, the comic was released in February.

Kennedy (Dead Romans, Savage Sword of Conan) is also staying close to home this year, though the decision is more closely linked to the fact “family stuff” has eaten up much of his vacation time.

Oshawa-raised Ramon Perez (Hawkeye, Archie, Jim Henson’s Tales of Sand, Stillwater), who manages RAID Press, a café, art gallery and artist incubator in Toronto’s west end, is also staying in Canada for ther foreseeable future, with his collective of artists hitting up comic shows across Canada.

“It’s been great to try and break down barriers for local artists.”

‘Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre’ by Fred Kennedy and James Edward Clark