COLLABORATE OR PERISH!

Eben Burgoon has been creating comic books independently since 2007, starting first in webcomics with Eben 07: Covert Custodian, and then pursuing creator-owned series B-Squad: Soldiers of Misfortune and Tiny Wizards.

Eben began collaborating on various publishing projects with the Burbank-based animation studio, Starburns Industries, best known for their development of Rick & Morty and the Oscar-nominated stop-motion feature, Anomalisa.

Eben specifically aided the early development of their boutique publishing division, Starburns Industries Press, which produced numerous graphic novels, cassette tapes, and art books before sunsetting amid wake of the pandemic. During this time, both B-Squad and Tiny Wizards were being positioned to be developed as an animated series via Adult Swim, Netflix, and FX. In 2019, the re-issue of B-Squad #1 was selected for release as a 50th Anniversary San Diego Comic Con exclusive.

As a devoted advocate for the use of comics in schools as literature and art, Eben developed a suite of curriculum for teaching comic book storytelling to youth in 3rd grade and up. In early 2014, he worked alongside a Sacramento non-profit 916 Ink to produce two youth-written, but adult-illustrated comic books. Ultimately, Eben began bringing these workshops across the state, country, and even globally including a 22-workshop campaign through the weeks-long Sharjah International Book Festival in 2019. He has notably taught about comic books on behalf of the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento History Museum, and numerous comic conventions, libraries, art institutions, schools, and universities around the globe.

Eben also collaborated with the Crocker Art Museum in 2013 to establish “CrockerCon” an annual celebration of comic books at the nationally accredited art museum in Sacramento. Starting as a 500-person program, by 2025 CrockerCon saw over 7000 tickets, a dozen speakers, and almost 75 exhibitors and special guests working in comics field. Burgoon has also support comic book exhibitions at the Crocker Art Museum in 2019 and a retrospective on Sam Kieth in 2026 as well as comics-focused exhibitions & installations at the Arden Fair Mall, Cartoon Art Museum, the Urban Hive, and other spaces.

Burgoon championed a successful civic campaign to strikedown a 75+ year old comic book ordinance that effectively bans comics in Sacramento. His efforts ultimately led to overturning the ordinance with the support of the Sacramento City Council. He is pushing to continue this celebration by establishing a Sacramento Comic Book Week.

In addition to comics and storytelling, Eben remains an accomplished international sculptor using masking tape to create fantastic creatures and other assorted sculptures. His artwork has been a featured part of art and maker events in Berlin, China, Lithuania, Rome, and Cairo — in addition to many exhibits in the United States including New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco.

Eben is based in Sacramento, California with two cats, three elderly dachshunds, and his very special lady of over 20 years.