The Guide to Pop Conventions
Comic Book
On T-Shirts and Comic-Con
Jul 17th
Oh yes, you will get many free t-shirts as swag while attending Comic-Con. Many you will wear at best once, if that, but you will try to get them all anyway, because they are free t-shirts you can only get at Comic-Con. That’s just the way it works. You will fight tooth and nail to get them, only for them to sit at the bottom of a drawer for eternity, because you can only get them at Comic-Con.
I have a theory that I could not pack any t-shirts to Comic-Con and survive from Wednesday’s Preview Night through the close of the show on Sunday without going topless. Unfortunately, I’m only going from Friday to Sunday this year, which isn’t nearly as impressive a feat, but one day, I will prove this theory, this I swear.
John Romita Does DC?????
Apr 8th
John Romita drawing DC characters for the Hero Initiative. It is simultaneously a beautiful and terrible thing, a creature of both science and myth that should not exist and yet does. John Romita does not do DC characters. The closest I can think of in any form that will ever be published is his son did the Punisher/Batman book in the 90s.
OK, not technically immediately convention news, although I am sure it will make an appearance at a convention with the Hero Initiative at some point. But seriously, this is too awesome not to display.
Couldn’t Make it to WonderCon? Watch it Anyway!
Apr 2nd
So I may have been a little hasty in saying that I wasn’t going to be posting any news. Granted, today is a day for trusting no one, but this little tidbit I can experience with my own two eyes. Did you want to make it to WonderCon this weekend, but couldn’t make the trip to San Francisco? It’s not quite the same thing as being there, but Marvel is streaming live from their booth. If you happen to catch this as I press send, I think John Dokes is about to start giving away freebies. Freebies which I usually have trouble getting because a: I’m not an adorable child, and b: John knows me because we used to shop at the same comic book store, so he knows for a fact he’s given me free stuff before.
Avenger Assemble and Other News
Mar 15th
Avengers Mansion at C2E2
Every once in a while, writing up convention news, I see an event where I’m honestly disappointed that I can’t attend. Don’t get me wrong, if I had a chance, I’d go to every con. But I’ve met Stan Lee a bunch of times, I’ve gotten drunk with Darwyn Cooke, Bruce Campbell has played with my lightsaber… and no that’s not a euphemism for anything. If I can find the picture later, I’ll post it. So if someone is attending a con across the country, there’s a good chance I’ve seen them before, or can see them at a more local one.
But at C2E2 next week in Chicago, the only time The New Avengers 100 will ever be shown as a single collection will happen, and I can’t go. Even more frustrating, members of the Hero Initiative Charity get an early look at the books – and for free! Of course, if you aren’t a member yet, you can sign up at the Hero Initiative booth at the show. And as if to rub it in my face, just to prove that this is the only time the collection will ever be shown as a whole, the first bunch of New Avengers 100 books will go on sale on eBay March 29. So go join the Hero Initiative, contribute to a great cause supporting the creators who built the comics industry, and get in to see Avengers Mansion at C2E2 for free. And while you’re doing that, go bug Jim McLauchlin and tell him Jeremy sent you.
And for the record, I had luchador mask hair that day.
- And now for a mess of Megacon news. First, the deadline for pre-reg for the Florida show is Saturday, so don’t dawdle.
- Second, the con’s schedule is now online.
- Third, Howard Chaykin has cancelled his appearance. Which I guess means it is safe for me to attend Megacon. Don’t ask why.
- Scott Pilgrim Party at Anime Conji in San Diego!
- Speaking of anime, Wondercon in San Francisco published their anime schedule.
Looks like Godzilla is giving Tokyo a break and smashing Albuquerque in the Albuquerque Comics Expo exclusive cover of IDW’s “Godzilla: King of the Monsters #1.” Pre-reg to get you one.- Anime Detour in MN rocks – they’re donating the proceeds of their auction this year to disaster relief in Japan. Which makes the above news item feel a little tacky, but oh well.
- PAX East just ended, so top bugging the Penny Arcade guys when PAX Prime tickets go on sale. Although it’s some time in April.
- Heroescon in Charlotte signed a bunch of indie artist guests - Paul Conrad, Joseph Carroll, Maris Wicks and Ron Salas.
- You like to go to sci fi conventions. Apparently, so does the Riverdale gang from Archie. Check out Sabrina the Teenage Slave Girl. Although Josie from the Pussycats as Catwoman might be a little too on the nose.
Help out Japan… and News Update
Mar 14th
I know this isn’t strictly convention news, but the situation in Japan keeps looking worse and worse. Put the power of Conmania to good use, make a donation somewhere.
- Huge bunch of news from Pittsburgh Comicon 2011 today. Want new guests? How about Marvel artist legend Ron Wilson and Big Barda voice actress (and “Wings” star!) Farah Forke? Want to go to panels? How about Q&A sessions with George Perez, Bob Almond, the cast of “Being Human,” and the guy who played Gary Gnu on “The Great Space Coaster?” Seriously, check out the website, there’s too much information to list here.
- Shevacon may be over for this year, but they’re running a poll on their Facebook page to see what weekend to run it next year.
- Fantasy author Patrica Briggs is the guest of honor at DemiCon23.
- Forgot to pre-reg for Nashicon in Columbia, SC? Don’t worry, you can still buy tickets at the door for $10.
- Nakamacon is cancelled. So don’t go there.
- Musical and improv duo Paul and Storm will be performing at CONvergence on Friday, July 1.
- Are you female? Like Star Wars? Going to All-Con in Dallas? Then you too can become Ms. Star Wars. Which for some reason has me thinking of Bea Arthur in the Holiday Special, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
- Dallas Comic-Con has announced an exclusive – a reprint of Amazing Spider-Man #1. Which is good, since Stan Lee is going to be there. And if you don’t have anything for him to sign, there are worse things than a copy of the book that helped revolutionize the comic book industry. The book is free for VIP and priority ticket holders and $5 for everyone else.
Me Grimlock Going to Supercon!
Mar 13th
You want to meet bestest Transformer ever? Me, Grimlock., no actually be at Florida Supercon, but him original voice artist, Gregg Berger, am being there! Him am being voice artist on many, many, many other voices, like Odie on “The Garfield Show” and Galactus in “Marvel Ultimate Alliance.” But them no am Grimlock! Grimlock is Grimlock!
Unless Grimlock is Swoop. Me am confused.
Before Reading This News Update, Help Out Japan
Mar 12th
Hey Conmaniacs, it’s hard to keep up the jokey tone today. As you should know by now, Japan was rocked by a 9.0 earthquake yesterday. At this point, the only bright side is that Japan is a country with strict building codes, because I can only imagine how many more people would have died unnecessarily had this not been something Japan had been planning for since they industrialized. That said, it is still pretty horrible and they can use our help. Click on the link for a list of places you can donate money by texting on your cell phone. It’s $10 less to spend on a statue of some anime character, but it’s better off supporting the people where that statue came from. And I’m sure by Monday, I’ll be back to making silly comments, but for right now…
- Lindsay “The Bionic Woman” Wagner will be in Kansas City for Planet Comicon.
- GIJoeCon in Florida is sold out of the American Hero Convention sets, but as of their last update, there were still four Golden Ticket American Hero sets left.
- Gem City Comic Con in Ohio posted their gaming schedule.
- ZomBcon in Seattle posted their special room rates at the Hilton Seattle Airport and Conference Center.
One last thing, I know times are tough right now, but at least you have power. Think about making a donation. You’ll feel better that you did.
An Eisneriffic Mini-Update
Mar 7th
Check it out, this weekend, Google has been honoring the man-god of classy comics, Will Eisner, with their doodle on their main page. Thumbs up to Google!
- Planning on going to PAX East? Better do it fast. They’re down to Sunday tickets only, and with only a few of those left at that. Expect them all to be gone within a couple of days.
- Speaking of selling out, the Cincinnati Comic Expo artist’s alley is completely sold out. Bad news if you wanted to buy a table, good news if you’re looking to get a commission sketch done.
Thank God it’s Friday Roundup
Mar 5th
The “Dragnet” reference isn’t too obscure, is it? It’s a fairly quiet day of news, but here’s what we’ve got.
- Top Shelf Productions announced their plans for the Toronto Comic Arts Festival 2011. Want to see Jeff Lemire, Kathryn and Stuart Immonen, Matt Kindt and Nate Powell, in addition to being the first to get your paws on the graphic novels “Chester 5000″ and “Liar’s Kiss?” Better get your butt up north.
- Forget to get tickets for the Los Angeles Twilight Convention? Good news, there are still tickets at the door.
- MTAC in Nashville revealed a veritable slew of guests. I don’t know any of them. Hopefully you do.
- Larry “G.I. Joe” Hama had to cancel out of Emerald City Comicon for health reasons. And now, because I have one, here is a picture of me with Mr. Hama and a G.I. Joe thermos I had him sign.
A Red Skull Roundup!
Mar 4th
Marvel released an image of Hugo Weaving as the Red Skull in “Captain America: First Avenger” today. I’ll be damned, he looks like the Red Skull. Yay! As opposed o looking like, I don’t know, Batroc the Leaper. AND ON TO THE NEWS!
- Good news to San Francisco-based fans of “Pedro and Me” and “Firearm,” Judd Winick and James Robinson are signed for WonderCon. What? You don’t remember Firearm? Robinson’s breakout book from Malibu? You all disappoint me so.
- Details are out for the Northwest Pinball and Gameroom Show in Seattle. Steve Weibe and Walter Day from “King of Kong” are going to be there.
- Going to C2E2? Check out the official afterparty on Friday. There’s going to be live band karaoke and burlesque.
- Anime Detour in Minnesota has put up their schedule of events.
