The Guide to Pop Conventions
Posts tagged marvel
Anthony Michael Hall and Other News Updates
Apr 6th
I don’t know why, but I love when seemingly incongruous guests are invited to conventions. Take Anthony Michael Hall here. He’s going to be at Spooky Empire’s May-Hem. Now granted, he was the guy from the TV version of “The Dead Zone,” so really, he does fit. But it’s hard not to hear the name and think of him more as the nerdy one from “The Breakfast Club.”
- Speaking of special guests, Richard Horvitz, the voice of “Invader Zim,” will be at Florida Supercon. See, that makes more sense to me for some reason. So is Shawn Crystal, frequent drawer of Deadpool in a wide variety of titles for Marvel. Man, Deadpool has a lot of books.
- Also, Stern Pinball head honcho Gary Stern will be at the NW Pinball Show. And that makes the most sense of all. If anything, it wouldn’t make any sense to have a pinball convention without the one guy still making new pinball games.
- Finally, if you didn’t make it to Gem City Comic Con this year, you can still buy their swag for charity on Ebay. The charity being the Hero Initiative, so yay!
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.
The Batwing is Dusted No More, and Other News
Mar 18th
Sad news today as veteran actor Michael Gough, best known as Alfred Pennyworth from the Batman movies of the 80s and 90s, was reported dead today at the age of 94. If being Alfred isn’t enough for you, he also starred in a bunch of Hammer horror films, played some villains in “Dr. Who” and even married one of the actresses playing the Doctor’s companions. So I figure that’s a decent amount of geek cred right there.
- More guest announcements from Pittsburgh Comicon – Top Cow penciler Eric Basaldua, long-time George Perez colorist Tom Smith, and “guy who created Thanos,, amongst other things” Jim Starlin.
- Wondercon post its gaming schedule and portfolio review schedule. If your artwork gets rejected, you can console yourself with some Yu-Gi-Oh!
- Anime Expo is having an open house on March 19 in Anaheim to look for staff and volunteers.
- NW Pinball in Seattle is also looking for volunteers.
- Looks like Brian Michael Bendis leaked the the Marvel booth schedule at C2E2.
- The Stargate Convention is coming to Chicago on August 19-21, 2011. They’ve also added Paul McGillion to the guest list.
- J. Scott Campbell had to drop out of C2E2.
- Chris Sabat,, aka the angry sounding voice guy on Funimation cartoons, will be at EXPCon in Florida.
- Considering going to Texas Frightmare Weekend in Dallas? You might want to watch the video.
Oh My God, it’s Almost C2E2 and Other News
Mar 16th
Not a ton of news today, especially not compared to yesterday’s onslaught of information. But C2E2 in Chicago is almost upon us, so there are some last-minute updates coming out of the Windy City.
- Marvel Comics displayed some of the exclusive swag they’re going to be giving away at C2E2, including a new mixtape comic, some posters and some buttons that you can only get by attending Marvel panels. Part of me really wants those buttons. Another part of me remembers that I never do anything with buttons and they just end up as clutter in a desk drawer. That’s the problem with free con swag – it’s all shiny and I WANT IT NOW, but really, once you come home from the con, there’s only so much you can do with most of it.
- Avatar Press has up on their website their plans for C2E2, including attending staff, exclusive comics and merchandise.
- C2E2 put out some notes on their convention mobile app. There may be an update to the app, and if it does go wonky, the mobile version of the website should be working. Either way, I’d recommend downloading the app in advance.
- But enough about Chicago! Spokane Comicon is going to have animator Thomas Cook at the show, who worked on shows such as “He-Man,” “Super Friends” and “Scooby Doo.”
- San Japan in San Antonio is hosting Brad Swaile, English dub voice of Light from Death Note.
- Tekkoshokon in Pittsburgh put up their latest newsletter. I’m not entirely sure what is news in there, so you might want to take a look for yourself.
- Wondercon isn’t just Wondercon, it’s also the SF Bay Area International Children’s Festival, for which they just posted the schedule.
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.
Avengers Assemble at C2E2
Feb 18th
C2E2 attendees, don’t pass this one up. On March 19, from 6-8pm, Room 185bc will be transformed into Avengers Mansion, with every cover from the Hero Initiative’s “New Avengers 100 Project” on display. Top artists from around the industry were given blank covers of “New Avengers #1″ and told to sketch whatever they want. Take it from someone who has gotten to play with original covers from the Spider-Man, Hulk, Wolverine and Archie projects, they must be seen in person to truly be appreciated. $5 gets you in the door, mingling with some of the artists who drew the covers, and a raffle ticket to win a special New Avengers bottle of wine with sketches from the artists on it, with all the proceeds going to the Hero Initiative charity.
