SDCC Infographic Takes a Look at the Past as well as the Impact of Comic-Con

A timeline, masquerade winners, the economic impact and more are all highlighted on this SDCC infographic.


San Diego’s Colossal Comic-Con infographic brought to you by BuyCostumes.com.

Scene on the Web Weekly: May 13-19, 2013

Jonathan Hickman is added for NYCC 2013, folks get excited about Motor City Comic Con and Dallas Comic Con, some looks back at the Long Beach Comic Expo, and more.

Legendary Entertainment Purchases Global Marketing Company FIVE33; Company to Help Prep for SDCC 2013

Press Release:

Legendary Entertainment Acquires Renowned Marketing Company FIVE33, Forms Full Scale Marketing and Branding Department

Burbank, CA – May 16, 2013 – Legendary Entertainment has announced an agreement to purchase FIVE33, a global marketing company that specializes in developing innovative marketing programs to bring immersive awareness of tentpole movies and intellectual properties to audiences around the world. Through this deal, FIVE33 will now work exclusively with Legendary and its high-profile stable of filmmakers and storytellers to drive awareness of the studio’s brand and suite of properties via worldwide campaigns and multi-platform strategies.  The announcement was made by Legendary President and Chief Creative Officer, Jon Jashni and FIVE33 CEO and Founder, Emily Castel.

“Legendary now has a world-class strategic marketing team and contributor who will be accretive to our ongoing effort of delivering high-quality content to audiences everywhere. FIVE33′s unique skill set and pedigree will be of enormous benefit to Legendary as we deliver the full potential of our brand experience and IP slate,” said Jashni. “Emily and her team have an innate understanding of Legendary’s brand, and as part of the executive marketing team, they will cultivate what the Legendary entertainment promise means to today’s consumer across multiple platforms and experiences.”

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to become part of Legendary’s team, and to extend its product into immersive multi-platform universes,” said Castel. “We look forward to extending the lifespan in the market for Legendary properties, and maintaining the integrity, creative vision and consistency of all satellite products.”

With offices in Los Angeles and London, FIVE33 will offer a turn-key strategic marketing and development department that develops programs and experiences for Legendary’s IP. The company will join forces immediately with Legendary showcasing its work at the upcoming Comic-Con International in San Diego.

FIVE33 was founded in 2007 and has designed highly successful multi-platform campaigns for global entertainment Studios including Disney, Universal and Paramount. Their most recent projects include OBLIVION and STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS. The team is currently at work with Legendary for the studio’s upcoming PACIFIC RIM and GODZILLA properties. Through the deal with Legendary, FIVE33 will become fully integrated into the studio and focus solely on Legendary properties.

Head Smash Graphic Novel to Get a Sneak Peak at Motor City Comic Con, Debut at SDCC 2013

Press Release:

Head Smash is coming to Detroit

The Biggest Graphic Novel release of 2013 will make a stop in Detroit May 17 – 19

NEW YORK, May 16, 2013  – The Vladar Company is coming to Detroit’s Motor City Comic Con to promote the highly anticipated graphic novel HEAD SMASH, created by Vlad Yudin . Head Smash is slated for a July 31st release and is already being called – “The biggest graphic novel release of 2013.” The cover is created by a renowned comics artist and illustrator Tim Bradstreet (BLADE, THE PUNISHER, TRUE BLOOD). As the winner of multiple Eisner awards for Best Cover Artist, Bradstreet has created over 70 classic covers, including the 2006 Iron Maiden album cover ”A Matter of Life and Death.”

In collaboration with Arcana Comics, HEAD SMASH is a sci-fi, thriller, action story set in a fantasy filled, lurid city of Ares and centers on an orphan named ‘Smash’ who finds a safe haven with a brutal syndicate – The Horde. The thrilling graphic novel shares the ultimate story of betrayal, love, and loyalty.

Detroit Fans will be treated to an exclusive sneak peak of HEAD SMASH at this year’s Motor City Comic Con on May 17th – 19th at Suburban Collection Showplace.
Vlad Yudin and his partner Edwin Mejia will be present at the venue and host a panel on Saturday at 3pm. The final debut of the novel will be at this year’s San Diego Comic Con International 2013 (July 17-21).

About The Vladar Company:
Yudin, who founded The Vladar Company in 2008 along with partner Edwin Mejia , directed, produced and penned the script for LAST DAY OF SUMMER (2009), starring DJ Qualls (Hustle & Flow) and actress Nikki Reed (Twilight). The Vladar Company is a premiere media and entertainment company, that caters to the market’s growing need for entertainment content across multiple platforms and focuses on developing, financing and packaging a library of intellectual properties with its producing partners at leading Hollywood production studios. The company is becoming a leading producer of many genres and multiple mediums in domestic and international markets (www.VLADAR.com).

About Arcana
Arcana, founded by Sean Patrick O’Reilly in 2004, owns one of the world’s largest libraries of graphic novels and comics, with over 200 original intellectual properties, 300 graphic novels, thousands of comic issues and an ever-growing character list. Arcana has begun to adapt this library into live action feature films, animated features and episodic television series. Taking a transmedia approach to brand building and the development of intellectual properties, Arcana publishes graphic novels for North America in print, and now digitally as well. Arcana has been published and distributed in dozens different countries and translated into just as many languages across the globe.

Fans Have a Chance to Win a “BIG BANGtastic” Trip to SDCC 2013

Press Release:

THE BIG BANG THEORY BOLDLY GOES WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE WITH LIMITED EDITION CO-BRANDED THE BIG BANG THEORY/STAR TREK™ AND THE BIG BANG THEORY/DC COMICS MERCHANDISE

SUPPORTING THE NEW COLLECTIONS, WARNER BROS. TEAMS UP WITH HOT TOPIC TO OFFER THE BIG BANG THEORY ULTIMATE FAN GIVEAWAY IN THEIR SECOND ANNUAL COMIC-CON SWEEPSTAKES

Fans Will Have a Chance to Win a “BIG BANGtastic” Trip to Comic-Con International: San Diego And Other Great Prizes, Including $500 Gift Cards from Hot Topic

Burbank, Calif. (May 14, 2013) – In a bold twist to bring The Big Bang Theory to a new frontier, Warner Bros. and CBS Consumer Products are launching an exclusive, limited edition co-branded collection of The Big Bang Theory/Star Trek merchandise for the first-time ever that includes Leonard, Sheldon, Howard and Raj’s preferred version of “Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard Spock” themed product, as well as t-shirts and Funko bobble-heads featuring characters in Starfleet uniforms. This new co-branded collection of merchandise will be available only at Hot Topic stores nationwide and HotTopic.com from now until July. Hot Topic will also be the exclusive home to a new, limited edition The Big Bang Theory/DC Comics t-shirt, featuring Leonard, Sheldon, Howard and Raj in their favorite DC Comics Super Hero costumes.

In support of these exciting new collections, Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution have teamed up with Hot Topic to celebrate The Big Bang Theory airing 5 Nights a Week (check www.BigBangWeeknights.com for local listings) in off-network syndication. The partnership offers a second annual sweepstakes inviting fans to enter the “Ultimate Fan Giveaway” for an opportunity to attend the biggest pop culture convention in the world – the legendary Comic-Con in San Diego. Fans will also have the chance to win many great prizes, including the special edition DC Comics t-shirt and $500 Hot Topic gift cards. This year’s partnership is offering an even bigger bang with a larger collection of exclusive Big Bang merchandise at Hot Topic locations nationwide.

From Monday, May 20, through Friday, May 31, avid fans and pop culture junkies can enter the contest either by watching The Big Bang Theory every weeknight in syndication (in select markets) and identifying Sheldon’s special Hot Topic t-shirt online at www.BigBangContest.com or by visiting any Hot Topic store nationwide now through Sunday,
June 2, signing up to be a HT+1 rewards member and purchasing any The Big Bang Theory t-shirt, including the exclusive “Big Bang DC Comics” Comic-Con edition t-shirt only at Hot Topic. One lucky fan will receive an all-expenses paid, fun-filled getaway for two to Comic-Con in San Diego, CA – including two tickets to Comic-Con, round-trip airfare, three days/two nights hotel accommodations, ground transportation and special access to various events at the Warner Bros. booth.

“We’re excited to pay-it-forward to The Big Bang Theory’s legions of fans in this perfect alliance that brings together this pop-cult favorite with the iconic brands of Star Trek and DC Comics,” said Karen McTier, Executive Vice President, Domestic Licensing and Worldwide Marketing for Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “We had such a great fan reaction and experience with this promotion last year that we’re excited to team up with Hot Topic again to bring fans a bigger bang offering and more chances to win another out-of-this-world opportunity.”

“We are thrilled to renew our partnership with Warner Bros. on such an exciting merchandise program,” said Cindy Levitt, VP and General Merchandise Manager at Hot Topic. “We feel like we’ve created the perfect geek storm by combining The Big Bang Theory, Star Trek, DC Comics, Comic-Con and Hot Topic in this program and promotion, and we couldn’t be happier that we can make it happen for our customers.”

“We approach each and every initiative we endeavor from the perspective of giving back to the fans,” said Lisa Gregorian, Chief Marketing Officer, Warner Bros. Television Group. ”We know that fans of The Big Bang Theory and fans of Star Trek are going to go mad for this co-branded merchandise. We set out to deliver a truly unique co-branded opportunity and are thrilled to have gone where no man – or woman – has gone before.”

As part of the promotion, Hot Topic stores will also feature an exciting array of merchandise from The Big Bang Theory spanning apparel, accessories, gift and novelties, and toys, including Funko bobbleheads of fan-favorites Leonard, Sheldon and Howard in Starfleet uniforms.

The more viewers tune in to The Big Bang Theory 5 Nights a Week on broadcast television (check www.BigBangWeeknights.com for local listings) and go to a Hot Topic retail store, the more chances they have to win.

In addition to the trip to Comic-Con, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution and Hot Topic are offering viewers in 47 markets the opportunity to also win local prize packages that include $500 gift cards from Hot Topic. Markets include:

WPCH – ATLANTA, GA
KTBC – AUSTIN, TX
KBAK – BAKERSFIELD, CA
WUTB – BALTIMORE, MD
WTTO – BIRMINGHAM, AL
WCCB – CHARLOTTE, NC
WFLD – CHICAGO, IL
WSTR – CINCINNATI, OH
WACH – COLUMBIA, SC
KDFW – DALLAS, TX
KDVR – DENVER, CO
WKBD – DETROIT, MI
KFOX – EL PASO, TX
KMPH – FRESNO, CA
WWMT – GRAND RAPIDS, MI
WXLV – GREENSBORO, NC
WHNS – GREENVILLE, SC
WTIC – HARTFORD, CT
KHON – HONOLULU, HI
WTTV – INDIANAPOLIS, IN
WJXT – JACKSONVILLE, FL
WBXX – KNOXVILLE, TN
KVMY – LAS VEGAS, NV
KTTV – LOS ANGELES, CA
WBFS – MIAMI, FL
WDJT – MILWAUKEE, WI
WFTC – MINNEAPOLIS, MN
WNAB – NASHVILLE, TN
WTVZ – NORFOLK, VA
KOKH – OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
WOFL – ORLANDO, FL
WPHL – PHILADELPHIA, PA
KUTP – PHOENIX, AZ
WPGH – PITTSBURGH, PA
WPFO – PORTLAND, ME
WSJP – PUERTO RICO
WLFL – RALEIGH, NC
WFXR – ROANOKE, VA
KABB – SAN ANTONIO, TX
KICU – SAN FRANCISCO, CA
KCPQ – SEATTLE, WA
WCWW – SOUTH BEND, IN
KPLR – ST. LOUIS, MO
WMOR – TAMPA, FL
KQCW – TULSA, OK
WTTG – WASHINGTON, DC

About THE BIG BANG THEORY: Comedy has Expanded to 5 Nights a Week (check www.BigBangWeeknights.com for local listings)! The Big Bang Theory is the story of two brainy best friends who could tell you anything you want to know about quantum physics – but when it comes to dealing with everyday life here on Earth, they’re lost in the cosmos. Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) are brilliant physicists – wizards in the laboratory, but socially inept outside of it. Enter their beautiful, free-spirited neighbor, Penny (Kaley Cuoco), who aims to teach them a thing or two about life. While Leonard spends his days looking for love, Sheldon is quite content video-chatting with platonic partner Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik) or playing Star Trek 3D chess with their ever-expanding universe of friends, including fellow Caltech scientists Rajesh Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar), Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg), and Howard’s new wife, the adorable microbiologist Bernadette (Melissa Rauch). www.BigBangWeeknights.com

Created by Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men) and Bill Prady (Dharma & Greg), who also serve as executive producers along with showrunner Steven Molaro (The Class), The Big Bang Theory stars Emmy® and Golden Globe nominee Johnny Galecki (Roseanne), Emmy® and Golden Globe winner Jim Parsons (The Muppet Movie), Kaley Cuoco (Hop), Simon Helberg (A Serious Man), Kunal Nayyar (Ice Age: Continental Drift), Mayim Bialik (Blossom) and Melissa Rauch (True Blood). The Emmy®-nominated series is from Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television.

THE BIG BANG THEORY and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and ©Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
(s12)

About STAR TREK: With an over 45-year history and more than 700 hours of content from six television series and twelve movies, Star Trek is an entertainment and pop culture icon across the world. With its visionary philosophy and thrill for adventure, the Star Trek universe only continues to broaden into new territories. Star Trek is licensed by CBS Consumer Products.

™ & ©2013 CBS Studios Inc. STAR TREK and related marks are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

About Warner Bros. Consumer Products

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

About Hot Topic
Hot Topic is a mall- and web-based specialty retailer beloved by rebellious and expressive teens for more than 20 years. Hot Topic offers music and pop culture junkies band-related apparel and accessories, licensed merchandise, and fashion apparel and accessories. Hot Topic operates 621 stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico and an online store at hottopic.com. Find Hot Topic on Twitter (twitter.com/hottopic), Facebook (facebook.com/hottopic), YouTube (youtube.com/hottopic) and Instagram (instagram.com/hottopic).

About CBS Consumer Products
CBS Consumer Products manages worldwide licensing and merchandising for a diverse slate of television brands and series from CBS, CBS Television Studios and CBS Television Distribution, as well as from the company’s extensive library of titles, Showtime and CBS Films. Additionally, the group oversees online sales of programming merchandise. For more information, visit www.cbsconsumerproducts.com.

MeCAF 2013 Announces Schedule

The Maine Comics Arts Festival (MeCAF) has announced the schedule for their 2013 show! Guests include Jeff Smith, Raina Telgemeier, Sean Murphy, Brian Wood, Ming Doyle, Dave Roman, Rick Parker, Colleen AF Venable, John Green, Zack Giallongo, Jeff Pert, Joe Quinones, Maris Wicks, and many more!

RSVP on Facebook!

Press Release:

MeCAF will have panels and workshops on Saturday May 18th at the Portland Public Library and Sunday at the festival site at Ocean Gateway.

Saturday, May 18th
Portland Public Library – Rines Auditorium

1:00- A conversation with Jeff Smith, creator of Bone and RASL- We will be discussing Jeff’s past work and upcoming projects. (Please note that there will not be any book signings at the library. Jeff will be signing books on Sunday at the festival).

2:00- Rick Parker cartooning workshop: Join Cartoonist Rick Parker (artist of Beavis and Butthead, Harry Potty, Diary of a Stinky Dead Kid and many others) as he shares tips and techniques for drawing comics. This will be a demonstration where members of the audience will be encouraged to draw.

3:00- Raina Telgemeier! Raina Telgemeier, creator of Smile and Drama, and artist of the Babysitter’s Club series, discusses her current projects and gives a peek at her work process.

Sunday, May 19th
Ocean Gateway Terminal Maine Comics Arts Festival programming (please check back for updates as we finalize the schedule)

10:30- Jeff Pert Kid’s Cartooning Class

11:30- Colleen Venable, John Green, and Zack Giallongo

1:00- Lake Region High School Comic Class Project

2:00-TBA

3:00- TBA

Scene on the Web Weekly: May 6-12, 2013

MegaCon 2014 makes their first guest announcements, Geoff Johns hints at SDCC media announcements for DC, and Free Comic Book Day reports come in. All that and more in this week’s Scene on the Web!

Scene on the Web Weekly: May 6-12, 2013

Storified by Convention Scene· Thu, May 09 2013 06:56:48

2nd Annual ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con

Press Release:

Third Eye Comics of Annapolis, MD, Cards, Comics & Collectibles of Reisterstown, MD, Laughing Ogre Comics of Lansdowne, VA, and Comics & Gaming of Gainesville, VA, have all come together to support a charity convention being held this Saturday in La Plata, MD.

The ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con, which will be held on May 11, 2013, was founded in 2012 to benefit the Archbishop Neale School (ANS) in La Plata. The mission of the show is to create a fun and memorable event for fans and collectors of all ages that supports the educational and spiritual goals of ANS.

In its second year, the show will be expanding to feature more than 80 tables with more than 30 different vendors, as well as 13 artists from as far away as New York City, including Frank Cho, the creator, artist and writer of Liberty Meadows and the artist and writer of Marvel Comics’ new Savage Wolverine comic, who is being sponsored by Cards, Comics & Collectibles. In addition, Jerry & Penelope Gaylord and Brian Turner, artists on Boom! Studios’ Fanboys vs. Zombies, NFL Rush Zone, and Adventure Time, will be appearing courtesy of Third Eye Comics.

“We love seeing new conventions pop up, and the ANS Sci-Fi & Comic-Con in La Plata, MD is one of the most promising new shows we’re doing in 2013,” said Steve Anderson, owner of Third Eye Comics. “With superstar Frank Cho, and a retailer’s room of the best vendors the area has to offer, we know this is going to be the first of many awesome shows we do with ANS.”

“I knew of this show last year but was unable to go,” said Marc Nathan, owner of Cards, Comics & Collectibles and show promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. “Lots of my closest dealer friends had great things to say about the show and the cause. This year, we are coming full force with lots of product and we are all really excited.”

In addition to the vendors and artists, the show will also feature screenings of some rare and unusual films and a sneak-peak of the new documentary Plastic Galaxy – The Story of Star Wars Toys, with a special Q&A session with director Brian Stillman, as well as a game demo of the Conquest Tactics CCG by developer Andy Niggles. Additional programming includes: panels and presentations, silent auctions, door prizes, great food, and the 501st Legion!

“I am really looking forward to this event,” said Gary Dills, Owner of Laughing Ogre Comics. “Any time you can put great people together with a great cause, everyone wins. I am happy to be involved with such an endeavor!”

“We’re looking forward to a great show with an even better cause,” said Tim Chillemi of Comics & Gaming.

The Archbishop Neale School is located at 104 Port Tobacco Road, La Plata MD, 20646. Convention hours are from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, and admission is $5 for adults and children over 10 (children 10 and under are free). All proceeds from admissions, vendors fees, and silent auctions directly benefit Archbishop Neale School.

For more information and to register, check out the ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con’s Facebook page or visit the show’s website at www.anscomiccon.com.

Jim Lee to Appear at Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con in June 2013

Industry legend and Superman Unchained artist Jim Lee will make a special appearance at the Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con on June 15th, 2013, along with other industry legend Stan Lee!

Other comic creators attending Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con include Batman artist Greg Capullo, Skottie Young, Humberto Ramos, Ryan Stegman, Rick Remender, Gerry Duggan, and many more! You can find out more info about the show as well as purchase tickets at their website listed below.

http://amazinglasvegascomiccon.com

With Just Days to Go, Long Beach Comic Expo 2013 Still Adding Guests

Scheduled for Saturday, May 11, the Long Beach Comic Expo has announced the following new guests:

• Joe Benitez – Lady Mechanika, Soulfire, Detective Comics, Supergirl, JLA, The Darkness, The Magdalena
• Brian Buccellato – Screenwriter currently co-writing The Flash, colorist on The Flash and Superman relaunch
• Keu Cha – Witchblade, Rising Stars, Hex: The Lost Tribe
• Trent Kaniuga – Twilight Monk, Creed, Ghost Rider, Video Game Artist

For the complete guest list and more information, visit their website.

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