BoroughCon 2017 Announced for Memorial Day Weekend
April 13, 2017 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Collectibles, Comic Books, Convention News, Cosplay, Movies, New York, Other, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Television, Top Stories, Video Games
Press Release:
Superhero, animation and gaming fans will soon converge on Utopia Parkway for a four-day celebration in a park-like setting.
St. John’s University will host BoroughCon, a new pop culture convention, over Memorial Day Weekend 2017, May 26-May 29. The event, which is expected to draw up to 20,000 attendees, will appeal to enthusiasts of heroic stories in film, television, gaming and graphic formats, as well as to those who enjoy anime and manga –animation and comics, respectively, in the Japanese tradition.
BoroughCon programming will include panels and autograph sessions with celebrities, gaming tournaments, screenings of both classic and as-yet unreleased films and TV shows, a vendors’ room and an artists’ alley. In addition to special programming for youth and children as well as their parents and grandparents, there will also be a cosplay competition.
“Cosplay is the performance art of creating costumes based on your favorite media characters, then embodying those characters for the audience,” BoroughCon CEO Matthew Goodison-Orr explains. “It has become a staple of these conventions, and cosplay is always one of the most popular draws.”
Media guests are currently being announced on BoroughCon.com and Goodison-Orr says, “BoroughCon will be able to deliver at least a couple of household names, as well as several actors well-known to everyone from all walks of life within the nerd community.”
Current guests include:
• Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings, The Goonies)
• Khary Payton (The Walking Dead, Young Justice, Teen Titans)
• Dante Basco (Hook, American Dragon: Jake Long)
• Steven Blum (animated voice of Wolverine, record holder for most video game credits)
• Cree Summer (Codename: Kids Next Door, Inspector Gadget)
• Jess Harnell (Crash Bandicoot, Animaniacs)
• Grey DeLisle (Scooby-Doo, Avatar: The Last Airbender)
• Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (Star Wars: Rebels, Ghost in the Shell)
• Chester Rushing (Stranger Things)
• Johnny Brennan (Jerky Boys, Family Guy)
• Grizz Chapman (30 Rock, The Lair)
The nerd community, he said, includes fans of comic books, manga, gaming, and science fiction/fantasy movies and television shows—and a great many self-professed nerds live in underserved neighborhoods of Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island. Comic creators appearing include Marv Wolfman (Teen Titans), Mike Grell (Green Arrow, Jon Sable), Tony Bedard (Supergirl, Birds of Prey) Mark McKenna (Combat Jacks, Exiles).
“Surprisingly, New York City and the surrounding area runs short of adequate event space despite the world-class sports and concert venues,” says Goodison-Orr, who, when he served three years as CEO of Orlando’s KnightroKon, catered to up to 40,000 fans a year. “None of the hotels have anywhere enough meeting space for a convention of BoroughCon’s size, and the Javits Center is already home to New York Comic Con, with which we have no desire to invite comparison. So my partners and I chose to focus on the Four Boroughs, and St. John’s became the clear choice.”
The decision to embrace the outer boroughs required very little persuasion.
“Queens has roughly the same population as Houston, and Brooklyn is almost the size of Chicago. Both those middle-American cities host multiple ‘cons’ annually. So why would we want to be the second-biggest-by-a-mile in Manhattan when we can build something new and different here?”
What will set BoroughCon apart, according to Goodison-Orr, is the degree to which fans will enjoy direct access to well-known guests.
“If you come to BoroughCon, you’ll get a chance to meet, shake hands with or get an autograph from someone whose work you admire,” he said. “BoroughCon will be for regular fans – the con for the rest of us.”
For up-to-date information, visit boroughcon.com.
Massive Comic Con 2017 Artist Alley is Stacked With Talent
March 27, 2017 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Comic Books, Comic Strips, Convention News, Massachusetts, Movies, Other, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Television, Video Games, Webcomics
The MASSive Comic Con returns to the DCU Center in Worcester, MA on Saturday June 24th & Sunday 25th for more comic book and pop culture fun!
Artist Alley is packed with the some of the best talent in the comics industry, including Writers, Artists and Publishers. Our guests will be available for sketches, commissions and autographs, as well as participating on panel discussions and workshops! Guests include:
- Amanda Conner; artist/writer Harley Quinn, SuperZero
- Jimmy Palmiotti: writer Harley Quinn, SuperZero
- Stephane Roux; artist Zatanna
- Megan Hutchison; artist Rockstars
- Tim Townsend; artist/inker Doctor Strange
- Dave Johnson; artist DC, Marvel
- Paul Mounts; artist/colorist DC, Marvel, Image
- Cully Hamner; artist Blue Beetle, Red
- Billy Tucci; artist/writer Crusade Fine Arts, Shi
- Nelson Faro DeCastro; artist DC, Marvel
- Frank Tieri; writer DC, Marvel
- Ming Doyle; artist DC, Marvel
- Jonathan Glapion; artist/inker Reborn
- John Gallagher; artist The Flash
- Robert Pope; artist Peanuts
- Robert Atkins; artist GI Joe
- Alex Saviuk; artist Spider-Man
- Agnes Garbowska; artist DC Super Hero Girls
- Amanda Deibert; writer Wonder Woman ’77
- Cat Staggs; artist Adventures of Supergirl, Crosswind
- John Timms; artist Harley Quinn
- Kenneth Rocafort; artist Superman
- Mark McKenna; artist Combat Jacks
- Christy Blanch; writer Aw Yeah Comics
- Franco; artist Tiny Titans
- Scoot; artist Aw Yeah Comics
- Brian Atkins; artist Family Graves
- Ed Smith; artist Tellos tribute book
- Ben Bishop; artist The Aggregate
- Sal Otero; artist TMNT, Until We Sleep
- Ron Leary; artist Heavy Metal
- Hyunsung “Creees” Lee; artist Freelance art & Design
- Scott Hamilton; artist Custom Caricatures
- Chris Campana; writer/artist First World
- Bill Walko; artist The Hero Business
- Bob Salley; writer/creator Salvagers
- Jeff Kline; writer/producer/publisher Darby Pop Publishing
Watch the Facebook Page and www.massivecomiccon.com for updates!
NJ – Combat Jacks #1 Signing
September 22, 2016 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, New Jersey, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Press Release:
Mark McKenna makes his triumphant return to East Side Mags for the re-release of Combat Jacks #1 but this time – it’s the Director’s Cut! He’ll be signing copies of Combat Jacks #1, sketching on blank covers and hanging out from 1pm-5pm on Saturday, October 15!
About Combat Jacks #1:
In the 23rd-century, a space marine squad is sent to investigate the disappearance of prison terraformers on newfound planet Maia. What they find is much worse then they imagined. The oxygen-rich atmosphere created by the planet’s pumpkin-like vegetation makes Maia a perfect place for settlement – and the perfect flytrap!
About Mark:
Mark McKenna is a 30 year veteran of the comic book industry. In that time he has worked on Batman, Wolverine, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and more recently on Star Wars, counting over 550 comics in all.
Mark’s more recent work can be seen in Legendary Picture Books PACIFIC RIM movie prequel, Dark Horse Comics Star Wars-The Old Republic: The Lost Suns. In 2012 his work on the online web comic titled “Star Wars: Blood of the Empire“ was collected into an 84 page trade paperback and was the lynchpin for the 2012 released Bio-ware online video game, The Old Republic.
His children’s book series Banana Tail and Friends is a labor of love that he created when his daughter was four and had a newborn son. His most recent Banana Tail project, The BOOnana Tail Halloween Special was released for Halloween 2014 and was treated as an “all ages” comic project that continues to grow with children that had the original storybooks read to them as younger children. The other Banana Tail titles include; Banana Tail’s Tales and Activities, Banana Tail’s Colorful Adventure and the soon-to-be-released Banana Tail and the Checkerboard Jungle
Mark has also created, written, inked and published the Sci Fi/Horror COMBAT JACKS comic book mini series. COMBAT JACKS #3… “The Saga Continues” was recently published and is now available under Mark’s Banana Tale Press imprint.
East Side Mags
7 S Fullerton Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
(862) 333-4961
NJ – East Side Mags Signing
July 8, 2016 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Comic Books, New Jersey, Signing and Appearance Profiles, Television
Tony DiGerolamo (The Travelers, Everknights) and Mark McKenna (Combat Jacks, Banana Tail) appear at East Side Mags on Saturday August 6th from noon till 6:00 PM, signing copies of their various comics and hanging out with fans! Mark will also be sketching for customers so make sure you get here early!
East Side Mags
7 S Fullerton Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
(862) 333-4961
NY – Creating Comics w/ Mark McKenna
September 15, 2015 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, New York, Other, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Long time comic book illustrator Mark McKenna, who works for Marvel and DC Comics and whose credits include The Hulk, Spider-Man, and Justice League and most recently Star Wars: The Old Republic for Dark Horse Comics, appears at the Guilderland Public Library on Saturday October 3, 2015 at 11:00 AM to demonstrate the process of creating comics in a 90-minute presentation. With a hands-on approach, Mark explains the jobs and atmosphere surrounding a freelance comic illustrator including what it takes to put a monthly comic book together, via a 25-minute PowerPoint presentation.
Register for this event online here, or call 456-2400 x 2
Registering for an event automatically enters you into a raffle to win a print or book from the presenting artist. Artist prints and books will be available for purchase at each artist event.
Guilderland Public Library
2228 Western Ave, Guilderland, NY 12203
518-456-2400
MA – Star Wars: Lost Suns Signing
May 26, 2011 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Massachusetts, Other, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Artist Mark McKenna signs on Friday June 10th at Rubber Chicken Comics from 6pm to 8pm!! Mark is currently working for Dark Horse Comics on Star Wars-The Old Republic: The Lost Suns (ships June 8th). Recently his work on the online web comic titled “Star Wars: Blood of the Empire“ was collected into an 84 page trade paperback.
MARK MCKENNA: artist/inker/Creator of Banana Tail. His newest project is Star Wars: Lost Suns and his bio is huge with so many titles ranging for years of amazing work on Amazing Spider-Man, Aquaman, Archie and Friends, Avengers, Batman, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Betty and Veronica Double Digest, Big Town, Black Panther, Excalibur, Exiles, Fantastic Four, Green Lantern, Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, JLA, Nightwing, Silver Surfer, Star Wars, Thor, Wolverine, X-Men and many more.
Mark will be signing books, selling his work and talking to fans about the Comic Biz, So come on down and get some books signed!
Rubber Chicken Comics
15 North Main Street, Bellingham, MA 02019
