Full Event Lineup Announced for Planet Comicon 2014

Press Release:

Planet Comicon 2014 will have more programming than ever before, with five rooms of events stretching over three days. This schedule is presented for your convenience. All events, panelists, and other details are subject to change.

Friday, March 14

3:00 – 3:50 PM

Margot Kidder: Superman’s Lois Lane! Margot Kidder is most famous for her acclaimed performance as Lois Lane in four Superman films. ROOM 3501 (Upper level)

Webcomics: Inside Out Who needs ink on paper? Join a discussion of what it takes to create comics magic on the web. ROOM 2502 (Lower level)

Comics without Capes: Leading comics creators discuss crafting successful series outside the superhero genre.  Explore the worlds of cowboys, comedic teen soap opera, and even biographical comics. Moderated by Jai Nitz. ROOM 2504 (Lower level)

4:00 – 4:50 PM

Michael Dorn & Marina Sirtis: ST:TNG’s Klingon and Betazoid stars take the stage to take you behind the scenes of one of the greatest science fiction series in history.ROOM 3501 (Upper level)

Craft Your Fandom: Cosplay from Concept to Completion: Join leading cosplay and prop-builder experts in a look at where to start making your favorite prop or costume. Featuring Abby DarkStar, Zen Dragon, and more to be announced. ROOM 2502 (Lower level)

Vampires Don’t Sparkle: That’s right…we said it! We want our meat eating, sunlight obliterating, butt-ugly vampires back! Bram Stoker would be doing cartwheels in his grave is he saw what vampires have become.  We are taking it back, today!!! ROOM 2503 (Lower level)

Visual Storytelling Success: Artists discuss their approach to creating comics that tells the story and engages the reader. ROOM 2504 (Lower level)

Kansas City Comics Creators: Kansas City has one of the most vibrant communities of comics creators. Jason Aaron and Ande Parks lead a panel of the local talent. ROOM 2505 (Lower level)

Saturday, March 15

11:00 – 11:50 AM

Wil Wheaton: He’s back! One of Planet Comicon’s favorite guests has returned. You know him from ST:TNG, The Big Bang Theory, Stand By Me, and much more. – ROOM 3501 (Upper level)

Bad Karma: Bad Karma is a creative collective, whose members include Alex Grecian, Jeremy Haun, B. Clay Moore, and Seth Peck. Their first joint project was Bad Karma Volume One featuring five original, creator owned concepts in self-contained stories. Meet the creators and listen as they answer questions about the Kickstarter process, the concept behind the book and what’s next for Bad Karma. ROOM 2502 (Lower level)

Khemia Creations: The Art of Stage Combat: Come join Khemia Creations as we display a series of stage combat sketches that can be easily adapted into stage or video skits! After each showcase fight, a thorough dissection of the combat choreography will be given so that you can learn how it’s done. ROOM 2503 (Lower level)

Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Fandom – Destination: 221B Baker Street – Sherlock Holmes fandom has never been more popular. Join an interactive Q&A covering the Holmes and Watson in every media, from novels to television, movies to comics. The panel includes Rob Davis (Illustrator of Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective), Tammy Lynn Garrison (Editor of Investigating Sherlock Holmes), and Ellie Ann Soderstrum (Producer of Steampunk Holmes). ROOM 2504 (Lower level)

Star Wars Costuming: Meet and Greet – Get to know the local Star Wars Costuming Group Chapters: 501st Legion, Rebel Legion, Mandalorian Mercs, and The Dark Empire. ROOM 2505 (Lower level)

Noon – 12:50 PM

Jewel Staite: Everything’s Shiny! Jewel Staite portrayed Kaylee Frye in Firefly and Serenity, and Dr. Jennifer Keller on Stargate: Atlantis. –ROOM 3501 (Upper level)

Sexuality in Cosplay: A frank discussion of the role of sexuality in cosplay featuring prominent cosplay personalities. May not be suitable for all audiences. Parental guidance suggested. ROOM 2502 (Lower level)

Comic Geeks – A Web Series – A screening of the Comic Geeks pilot, a new series debuting in 2014. The story follows three friends at various stages of comic geekery: Dan, the die-hard weekly shopper, Jeff, the indie-only cartoonist, and Brian, who struggles with reading comics and acting like an adult. Together, the three try to figure out what makes a comic geek, and how to be an adult doing it. ROOM 2503 (Lower level)

Crowdfunding – Kickstarter. Indygogo. Rockethub. What’s crowdfunding all about? How can creators like you use it to feed their creativity – any maybe event their families? ROOM 2504 (Lower level)

Marvel: Your Universe – What’s happening now and next from Mighty Marvel? Leading Marvel creators take the stage. Featuring a roster of Marvel creators including Jason Aaron. Moderated by Marvel’s V.P. of Creator Development, C.B. Cebulski. ROOM 2505 (Lower level)

1:00 – 1:50 PM

Brent Spiner & LeVar Burton: Two of Star Trek’s most memorable performers tag-team on the Planet Comicon stage. Ask your questions of the actors who brought android Data and Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge to life. - ROOM 3501 (Upper level)

The Last Ride of Lee Salem, Editor of Calvin and Hobbes – Enjoy a Q & A with Lee Salem, the man who edited Calvin and Hobbes, For Better or For Worse, Doonesbury, The Far Side, Cathy, FoxTrot, The Boondocks, Cul De Sac, Lio and dozens of other comics. The industry icon is transitioning to the role of President Emeritus of Universal Uclick as of March 2014. He has a wealth of experience and stories that any comics fan and creator will find enlightening. Joining him will be those influenced by his work in the comics industry including Bill Amend, creator of Foxtrot. Plus, a there will be a reading of statements regarding his work provided by Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes), Lynn Johnston (For Better or For Worse), Jan Eliot (Stone Soup), Richard Thompson (Cul De Sac) and Mark Tatulli (Lio). ROOM 2502 (Lower level)

Zero Budget Filmmaking – The internationally awarded Brass Engine Productions team will give you tips and tricks to make your film or series without spending a lot of cash. Come and get a Q&A with Director Ben Watkins, and watch clips from the production’s web series and other projects done on a shoestring budget. - ROOM 2503 (Lower level)

Pencil, Brush, and Stylus: Comics Art Today – A panel of comics most popular artists discuss their projetcs, techniques, and inspirations. - ROOM 2504 (Lower level)

2:00 – 2:50 PM

Sylvester McCoy: The Tardis has landed… in Middle Earth? He’s Radagast the Brown fromThe Hobbit movies! He’s also Doctor Who‘s seventh Doctor! He’s one of the biggest fandom mash-ups ever! Moderated by theTraveling the Vortex podcast crew – ROOM 3501 (Upper level)

Researching Comics with the Grand Comics Database – Dive deep into comics and comics history! Leading members of the Grand Comics Database community will be discussing a bit of the history of the GCD and its roots in the early days of internet comics fandom, along with its current status and abilities in helping people research various comic books and comic book creators. - ROOM 2502 (Lower level)

Charlton Arrow – From the 40s thru the 80s, Charlton was the “other” comics publisher of  mystery, romance, and superhero titles. Join Paul Kupperberg and Rick Stasi, two of the creators of Charlton Arrow, for a trip down memory lane and an introduction to their new comics zine that celebrate some of Charlton’s lesser known creations. - ROOM 2503 (Lower level)

Deadpool Double Dare -Deadpool creators  display a dynamic dose of Deadpool discussion. - ROOM 2504 (Lower level)

Kids’ Costume Contest: It’s a cavalcade of cute! A special costume contest just for the younger set. – ROOM 2505 (Lower Level)

3:00 – 3:50 PM

Making of Archer – Discover the animation secrets behind FX’s hit series Archer. Featuring storyboard artist Kevin Mellon and the team from Kansas City’s own Trinity Animation. - ROOM 2502 (Lower level)

Breaking into Comics - How do you become a professional comic book or comic strip creator? Join a panel of editors who specialize in spotting new talent: C.B. Cebulski (VP of Creator Development at Marvel), Shena Wolf (Acquisitions Editor and Universal Uclick), and Joe Rybandt (Editor at Dynamite Entertaintment). - ROOM 2504 (Lower level)

John Ratzenberger: He may be most famous as Cliff Clavin from Cheers, but John Ratzenberger‘s nerd movie cred is truly amazing. “It’s a little known fact” that his filmography includes Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Superman: The Movie, Superman II, and every single Pixar movie ever made! - ROOM 2505 (Lower Level)

4:00 – 4:50 PM

Heroic Prose: Genre Fiction – Kings of the Keyboard and Princesses of Prose! A panel of prodigious purveyors of thrilling novels and short fiction reveal the stories behind their stories. - ROOM 2502 (Lower level)

Pros and Cons of the Shared Universe – SciFi4Me Radio’s H20 podcast tackles explore the ups, downs, ins, and outs of consuming and creating tales in shared universes. Hosts Jason P. Hunt and Tim Harvey interview Star Trek novelist Kevin Dilmore. - ROOM 2503 (Lower level)

Announcement coming soon - ROOM 2504 (Lower level)

Zoie Palmer: A lively Q&A with one of the stars of the Syfy series Lost Girl. – ROOM 2505 (Lower Level)

5:00 PM until who knows when!

Adult Costume Contest: Captivated by cosplay creativity? This is your event! – ROOM 3501 (Upper level)

Sunday, March 16th

11:00 – 11:50 AM

Femi Taylor: The delightful Femi Taylor is best known for playing Jabba the Hutt’s Twi’lek slave dancer Oola in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. She is a Nigerian-born British dancer and actress who spent years training with the London Contemporary Dance Company and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York. In addition to RotJ, she appeared in the original London cast of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s musical Cats! – ROOM 3501 (Upper level)

DC Universe: Best of the Best – A celebration of the best of DC Comics through the years, from the Golden Age to today. Join leading creators for a discussion of the DC Comics that inspired them! Moderated by long-time DC editor and writer Paul Kupperberg. - ROOM 2502 (Lower level)

Karate Chopping Robots & Killer Carnies: The Art and Science of Digital Comics and Games – Mobile-based comics and games are transforming the entertainment industry. Indie game and comic developers have more opportunity than ever before to make their mark and create some major waves. Join Kung Fu Robot creator Jason Bays and Burn the Lot co-creator Cameron Calder as they share their experiences in mobile-based interactive comic and game development. From concept to development to launch and beyond, these Kansas City-area veterans will offer their unique perspective to this exciting and ever-changing scene. - ROOM 2503 (Lower level)

 

Noon – 12:50 PM

David Yost  - The Blue Power Ranger has arrived! David Yost played Billy Cranston, the Blue Ranger, on the international television series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Power Rangers Zeo, and the film Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: the Movie. – ROOM 3501 (Upper level)

Timey Wimey Puppet Show – Direct from the YouTube web series and packed appearances at DragonCon and Gallifrey One, we’re pleased to present  this family-friend Punch-and-Judy-inspired Doctor Who comedy puppet show.  The show is for all ages! - ROOM 2502 (Lower level)

Khemia Creations: Cosplay Photography and Modeling – Whether you’re in front of behind the camera, this is the panel for you! We will be discussing techniques on how to make your cosplay photography go from a snapshot to a work of art! For those with camera in hand, we’ll tell you how to make the most of your environments, angles, and lighting to ensure you can capture the best images at every convention. For those wanting to show off their costume creations, we’ll give beginner modeling tips to offer your best side to camera every time! - ROOM 2503 (Lower level)

So you want to build an R2 Unit - Come join us for the in’s and out’s of building your own R2D2 or other Astromech droid. We will give you an idea of what it skills are needed, and the resources available to help you on your journey. - ROOM 2504 (Lower level)

Eddie McClintock: Eddie McClintock is best-known for his role as Secret Service agent Pete Lattimer on the Syfy series Warehouse 13. But, the actor is also an artist, who was inspired to purse his passion by comic books. He says, “It all started with Herb Trimpe andThe Incredible Hulk.” Now is your chance to meet Pete Lattimer and learn the answers to your Eddie McClintock questions. - ROOM 2505 (Lower Level)

1:00 – 1:50 PM

Lee Majors: The Six Million Dollar Man  - An actor of international importance, Lee Majors has  continually proven himself to be a favorite of audiences worldwide. Lee Majors’ performances and personas have made an indelible impact on television programs. From his initial role of Heath Barkley on The Big Valley to the Men From Shilo to Owen Marshall Counselor at Law to The Fall Guy and Raven. It was his starring role as Steve Austin on the overwhelmingly popular The Six Million Dollar Man that Lee became an icon and part of the American culture. - ROOM 3501 (Upper level)

How To Market Comic Strips Today – In previous decades, comic strips were the delicious and funny center of a reader’s daily dose of communication, placed in the middle of their newspapers and hearts. Today, comic strips and webcomics have enjoyed a strong renaissance in pop culture. How has this happened; how are cartoonists sharing their art and stories today? This panel will share the wide experiences of print, syndicated and web cartoonists alike. From viral marketing, presences at events such as San Diego Comic Con and Planet ComiCon, social media outreach, tours and more, we’ll hear from some of the engaging storytellers that are creating today. - ROOM 2502 (Lower level)

Star Wars in American Culture – Explore the influences and impact of the single most important film of the twentieth century. We will take a look at the many ways this pop culture phenomenon connects to our everyday lives. Presented by Dr. Bradley Will, Dr. Stephen Schleicher, and Dr. Scott Robson of Fort Hays State University. - ROOM 2503 (Lower level)

Dynamic Cover Design - Top artists reveal the tips and tricks that produce covers with a powerful pop. - ROOM 2504 (Lower level)

For the Love of Comics - What do you love about comics? Today’s top creators, including Jason Aaron, discuss the comics they love the most. Moderated by C.B. Cebulski. - ROOM 2505 (Lower level)

2:00 – 2:50 PM

Concept Design for Comic Books - Comic and concept artist Steven Sanders has designed a number of characters and locations for Marvel Entertainment, among other companies. Using examples from Marvel, he’ll explain how concept design in comics is different than concept design in video games or film, and will show what is needed to make good designs for comics. – ROOM 2502 (Lower Level)

50 Years of GI Joe – the first action figure – A history of GI Joe, the world’s first action figure, from its beginnings 50 years ago in 1964, to the present day. We will discuss the evolution of the brand from a 12 inch everyman solider to a modern team of hundreds of small action figures, as well as several odd and interesting detours and off-shoots along the way. We also will cover the brand’s current fandom, including online resources and fan projects. – ROOM 2503 (Lower Level)

DMC: Comics and Hip Hop - As a founder of Run-D.M.C., Darryl “DMC” McDaniels is a pioneer of hip hop culture. Now he’s turned his creative passion to comics! Already a hero to his millions of fans around the world, DMC’s accomplishments read like a laundry list of musical and cultural accolades: Grammy nominated musician, multi-platinum recording artist, Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame inductee and rap/rock pioneer who’s influenced music since the first time he’s ever touched a mic. Adding to his long lists of firsts, DMC is teaming up with some prominent fixtures in the comic book and music world to craft the first 100% authentic, unapologetic, indie, hip hop comic book. - ROOM 2505 (Lower level)

4:30 – 6:00 PM

TREKtacular ST:TNG Cast Reunion: This is a separately ticketed event. Seating is extremely limited! See this page to order tickets. – ROOM 3501 (Upper level)

Planet Comicon is Kansas City’s largest comic book and pop culture convention. Now in its thirteenth year! The convention will be held at the Kansas City Convention Center on March 14-16th. Please visit their website for the full guestlist, ticket information, and more!

Planet Comicon 2014 Releases Initial Schedule

Planet Comicon 2014 has released the initial schedule for panel events. This schedule focuses on event featuring media guests, including performers from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Wars, Firefly, and more.

We will be updating the schedule with additional panels and events as soon as details are confirmed.

Highlights of the schedule include:

FRIDAY, MARCH 14th:

• Margot Kidder (3:00 PM)
• Michael Dorn and Marina Sirtis (4:00 PM)

SATURDAY, MARCH 15th:

• Wil Wheaton (11:00 AM)
• Jewel Staite (Noon)
• Brent Spiner and LeVar Burton (1:00 PM)
• Sylvester McCoy (2:00 PM)
• John Ratzenberger (3:00 PM)
• Zoie Palmer (4:00 PM)
• Kids’ Costume Contest (2:00 PM)
• Adults’ Costume Contest (5:00 PM)

SUNDAY MARCH 16th:

• Femi Taylor (11:00 AM)
• David Yost (Noon)
• Eddie McClintock (Noon)
• Lee Majors (1:00)
• TREKtacular Star Trek Cast Reunion (4:30) – NOTE: this is a separately ticketed event. This event is close to being sold out. Find out more about tickets here.

Planet Comicon is Kansas City’s largest comic book and pop culture convention. Now in its thirteenth year! The convention will be held at the Kansas City Convention Center on March 14-16th. Please visit their website for the full guestlist, ticket information, and more!

IDW Booth Schedule for SDCC 2012

Press Release:

As the comics industry looks forward to another Comic-Con jam-packed with the industry’s greatest talents, IDW Publishing is excited to give fans a preview of the creators that will be available at booth #2643 throughout the show!

Without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, your IDW All-Stars!

Wednesday July 11th Preview Night

6:00 – 8:00  SPECIAL EVENT! Richard Starks’ Parker: The Score Launch Party – Darywn Cooke (*Check out the show exclusive hardcover!)

6:00 – 7:00  SPECIAL EVENT! Neal Adams’ Thrill Kill: Artist’s Edition Portfolio Launch Party  –  Neal Adams

 Thursday July 12th

11:00 – 12:00 Deadworld – Gary Reed

12:00 – 1:00 The Cape: 1969 – Joe Hill, Zach Howard (Check out the show exclusive Comic!)

1:00 – 2:30  Richard Stark’s Parker: The Score – Darywn Cooke (*Check out the show exclusive hardcover!)

3:00 – 4:00  Godzilla – Duane Swierczynski

3:00 – 4:00  Love and Capes – Thom Zahler (Check out the show exclusive Comic!)

4:00 – 5:00  TRANSFORMERS – Chris Metzen, Flint Dille, John Barber, Livio Ramondelli, Brendan Cahill, Andrew Griffith, Scott Mairghread, Priscilla Tromontano

5:00 – 6:00  30 Days of Night, Frankenstein: Alive, Alive – Steve Niles

6:00 – 7:00  Smoke & Mirrors – Mike Costa, Jon Armstrong

6:00 – 7:00  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Dan Duncan

Friday July 13th

10:00 – 11:00 Kill Shakespeare – Andy Belanger

11:00 – 12:00 Star Trek: TNG/Doctor Who – Scott Tipton, J.K. Woodward

11:00 – 12:00 Memorial  – Chris Roberson

12:00 – 1:00 The Cape: 1969 – Joe Hill, Zach Howard (Check out the show exclusive Comic!)

1:00 – 3:00  Richard Stark’s Parker: The Score – Darywn Cooke (*Check out the show exclusive hardcover!)

3:00 – 4:00  KISS – Gene Simmons, Chris Ryall, Jamal Igle (*ticketed signing – See employee for details)

4:00 – 5:00  Dungeons & Dragons  – Steve Ellis

5:00 – 6:00  Locke & Key – Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez (*Check out the show exclusive  hardcover & exclusive keys by Israel Skelton!)

6:00 – 7:00  Ghostbusters  – Dan Schoening, Erik Burnham, Tristan Jones, Luis Antonio Delgado, Nick Runge

6:00 – 7:00  Crawl to Me  – Alan Robert

Saturday July 14th

10:00 – 11:00  Night of 1,000 Wolves – Bobby Curnow, Dave Wachter

11:00 – 12:00  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Dan Duncan

11:00 – 12:00  Zombies vs Robots – Chris Ryall, Brea Grant, Jeff Conner

12:00 – 1:00  The Crow – John Shirley, Kevin Colden

1:00 – 2:00  Locke & Key – Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez (*Check out the show exclusive  hardcover & exclusive keys by Israel Skelton!)

1:00 – 2:00  Silent Hill – Tom Waltz

2:00 – 3:00 Star Trek: TNG/Doctor Who – Scott Tipton, David Tipton, J.K. Woodward

3:00 – 4:00  Star Trek: The Next Generation – Brannon Braga, Joe Corroney (Get a free limited signing card!)

4:00 – 5:00  Star Trek – Mike Johnson, Joe Corroney

5:00 – 6:00  Nevsky: A Hero of the People – Ben McCool, Steve Saffel

5:00 – 6:00  G.I. JOE– Mike Costa, Larry Hama (Check out the show exclusive Comic!)

6:00 – 7:00  True Blood – Michael McMillian, Joe Corroney

Sunday July 15th

11:00 – 12:00  Doctor Who – Mark Buckingham, Joshua Fialkov

12:00 – 1:00  TRANSFORMERS – Chris Metzen, John Barber, Livio Ramondelli, Andrew Griffith, Scott Mairghread, Priscilla Tromontano

1:00 – 2:00  Zombies! – Craig Yoe, Steve Banes

2:00 – 3:00  Smoke & Mirrors – Mike Costa, Jon Armstrong

3:00 – 4:00 Danger Girl  – J. Scott Campbell

*Look for more signings to be scheduled! Rocketeer! Joe Jusko! Amanda Conner! All this, plus Ashley Wood and the 3A crew signing all weekend!

Visit IDWPublishing.com to learn more about the company and its top-selling books. IDW can also be found at http://www.facebook.com/#!/idwpublishing and http://tumblr.idwpublishing.com/ and on Twitter at @idwpublishing.

Hero Initiative Hits MegaCon 2012 with George Perez and More

Press Release:

HERO INITIATIVE HITS 2012 ORLANDO MEGACON

George Pérez, original covers and top costumers are among the highlights

Los Angeles, CA (February 7, 2012) Hero Initiative, the non-profit organization that aids comic creators in medical and financial need, will be adding to the craziness at the Orlando MegaCon, February 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center located at 9800 International Drive in Orlando, Fla.

When you purchase your tickets for this amazing weekend, make sure you “Become the Hero!” and make a small donation to our cause. Down at the bottom of the page where it mentions, “Please support the Hero Initiative,” you can add in $1, $5 or $10 as you buy your tickets. Please purchase your tickets at: http://megaconvention.thundertix.com/orders/new?performance_id=57024

When you get to the convention, make sure you get your picture taken with the Hero Initiative costumers just inside the D1 lobby doors. These peeps know their stuff, and they’re some of the top costumers in the nation.

The one and only George Pérez will be at the Hero booth all weekend, located at #531. Make sure to get your sketches and signatures from George here! And while you’re waiting, you’ll have the first chance to see the NEW Fantastic Four #600 original covers, our newest “100 covers” project!

Art lovers will NOT want to miss the FINAL leg of Hero’s original JLA cover auctions! The last 34 covers go up on the block Friday, Feb. 17 at 6:30 PM in Room 240c. Be there!

And to top off your weekend, the Geeks of Comedy are there to tickle your funny bone. Check out their great comedy show Saturday, Feb. 18 at 10 PM in Room 221B&E.

Hero Initiative’s booth schedule, booth #531:

Friday, Feb. 17 (con hours 12-7)
All day: George Pérez
130-230: Nelson DeCastro

300-345: “100 JLA” book signing with Cully Hamner, Dan Jurgens, George Pérez, Mike Perkins, Alex Saviuk, Billy Tucci

 

Saturday, Feb. 18 (con hours 10-6)

All day: George Pérez

1030-1230: Allen Bellman

1240-130: Tim Sale

130-230: Phil Hester

 

Sunday, Feb. 19 (con hours 10-5)

All day: George Pérez

1130-1230: Darwyn Cooke

1230-130: Nelson DeCastro

130-230: Phil Hester

 

About The Hero Initiative

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book artists and craftsmen in need. Hero Initiative creates a financial safety net for yesterday’s creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.

Since its inception, The Hero Initiative has had the good fortune to grant over $500,000 to the comics veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today. For more information, visit www.heroinitiative.org or call 626-676-6354.

Hero Initiative Attending Long Beach Comic and Horror Con 2011 with Darwyn Cooke and John Carpenter

Hero Initiative And Eisner Award-winning Darwyn Cooke At Long Beach Comic and Horror Con!

World Premiere Release of Parker: The Martini Edition

And signatures by film writer/director John Carpenter

Los Angeles, CA (October 24, 2011) Hero Initiative, the non-profit organization that helps comic creators in financial and medical need, is proud to announce its attendance at Long Beach Comic and Horror Con, October 29^th and 30^th at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California. Hero will be hosting Eisner Award-winning writer/artist Darwyn Cooke, best known for his work on comics such as Catwoman, DC: The New Frontier, The Spirit and Richard Stark’s Parker.

And IDW Publishing’s Parker: The Martini Edition will be making its world premiere at the convention as well! This will be your first chance EVER to pick up a copy, and get it signed by the master himself! In addition, Hero Initiative will have Darwyn Cooke con-exclusive merchandise so make sure you make it to our booth, #213, and be a Hero by supporting our great cause!

And that’s not all! Legendary moviemaker John Carpenter, known for Halloween, Escape from New York, and They Live, will be doing his ONLY signing of the convention for Hero Initiative as well! John has generously agreed to autograph 250 items only. Signature vouchers will be available at the Hero Initiative booth Saturday morning, limit ONE per person, at $5 each. John will then sign at booth #913 at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. Don’t miss out!

And if you like free stuff, well…you can get a FREE Ultimate Spider-Man #100 Project softcover or Transmetropolitan: All Around the World hardcover if you sign up your Ralphs Rewards card for Hero at our booth, OR drop off your old printer cartridges, cell phones or small electronics for us to redeem with Funding Factory. Please note you MUST bring your Ralphs Rewards card with you—we cannot sign you up with your phone number alone!

To find out more about Hero Initiative, check out our YouTube videos, including our most recent video featuring creators we’ve helped with support from people like you!

http://www.youtube.com/user/heroinitiative

 

Hero Initiative’s booth schedule (booth #213):

SAT., Oct. 29 (con hours 10-7)

1030-1130: Gerry Conway

1030-1230: Jon Bogdanove

1100-100: Darwyn Cooke

130-230: Marv Wolfman

230-330: Mark Waid

 

SUN., Oct. 30 (con hours 10-5)

1030-1130: Albert Morales

1130-1230: Darwyn Cooke

1230-230: Mike McKone

230-430: Darwyn Cooke

 

About The Hero Initiative:

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strict to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterday’s creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment. Since its inception, The Hero Initiative has had the good fortune to grant over $500,000 to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today. For more information, visitwww.heroinitiative.org or call 626-676-6354.

HeroesCon 2011 Event Schedule

HeroesCon has released the full schedule for next week’s convention! HeroesCon takes place on June 3 – 5, 2011 at the Charlotte Convention Center (501 S. College St, Charlotte, NC 28202). For the full guest list and more details about the convention, please check out their website at the link!

Press Release:

THURSDAY, JUNE 2nd

PRE-REGISTRATION BOOTH OPENS
Attendees who have purchased advance 3-day passes may pick up their wristbands, badges, and other incentive materials at this time at the Pre-Registration booth located on the College St. Concourse in the convention center.

GUEST, SMALL PRESS, & EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION OPEN
Invited guests, persons who have purchased space in Artists Alley, and exhibitors may pick up their registration materials, including the badges they will need to get on the convention floor for setup, at the Pre-Registration booth located on the College St. Concourse in the convention center.

GUESTS, SMALL PRESS, & EXHIBITOR SETUP OPEN
The convention floor will be open until 8pm for SETUP ONLY. Only persons with the appropriate badges will be allowed onto the convention floor.

SETUP CLOSES
All persons must be done with their setup and OUT OF THE HALL by 8.00pm. NO EXCEPTIONS. All night security will be provided, but we strongly suggest that you make sure your booth is secure before you leave for the night.

REGISTRATION CLOSES
Registration for advance ticket holders, guests, exhibitors, etc., will reopen at 7.00am in the morning.

SETUP OPENS
Guests, Small Press, & Exhibitors will be allowed onto the floor for setup at this time. Only persons with the appropriate badges will be allowed onto the convention floor, and only once a member of the convention’s upper management is on-hand to open the doors, for security purposes. NOTE: All items MUST be out of the aisles before the hall opens to the public at 11.00 am. No exceptions!

HEROESCON DAY ONE OPENS TO ADVANCE 3-DAY PASS HOLDERS ONLY
Note this is ONLY for those who purchased a 3-day pass on or before May 31.

HEROESCON 2011 DAY ONE OPENS TO GENERAL PUBLIC
All ticket holders will be allowed onto the floor at this time.

SCAD-Visualizing Dynamic Anatomy
Room 201
SCAD Professor Dove McHargue and artist for the Oni Press book “All Saints Day” will be offering a workshop on Drawing Dynamic Anatomy. Dove will demonstrate how to use real world anatomy to make figures kinetic, and how to use anatomy to be able to create realistic figures that are unique and dynamic. Dove will also examine how to use those dynamic figures to effectively act in sequential art. Bring supplies to draw with and on and prepare to have fun!

Green Lantern Panel
Room 207BCD
Green Lantern has been around since 1940 and after thousands of comic books, Hollywood has finally come calling. Please join Joe Staton, Joe Quinones, Shane Davis, and Neal Adams as they discuss their various takes on the character and how he has remained popular over the years. NOTE: Anyone wearing yellow or wooden clothing will not be allowed to enter the auditorium for obvious security reasons. Nice try Sinestro.

Teaching Comics
Room 203A
In the past decade or so, Graphic Novels have invaded the syllabi of many colleges and Universities throughout the country. Join moderator Shawn Daughhetee and Professors Craig Fisher, Mike Kobre and Alan Rauch as they discuss what is involved in teaching comics at the college level. We will be taking attendance

Art of Akira
Room 209
Join Joe Peacock as he presents some exciting pieces from his massive collection of still art, storyboards and animation cells from the ground-breaking Anime masterpiece Akira.

Comic Twart
Room 206
Every monday one of the members of Comictwart picks a subject for the group to draw over the course of the week.  In the last year and and a half, using that very simple formula, Comictwart.com has become one of comics’ most popular art blogs.  Join “twartists” Dan Panosian, Francesco Francavilla, Ron Salas, Tom Fowler, Declan Shalvey, and Dave Johnson, with moderator Chris Sims of Comics Alliance, for an entertaining Q&A while the group sketches a subject taken from you the audience! All sketches to be donated to the HeroesCon Annual Art Auction!

Storytelling with Michael Golden
Room 208AB
Plan to spend an hour with one of the best storytellers in the business Michael Golden as he is interviewed by his biographer Renee Witterstaetter (Excess: The Art of Michael Golden)

QuickDraw
Room 203B
A HeroesCon tradition. We give you #2 pencils and Bristol board; you give us 20 minutes and your feverish inspiration. Then we have an Art Instructor judge the results and we, in turn, give the winner some fabulous prizes. It’s a win-win. Prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the following age categories 0-10, 11-15 and 16 to 99. Any participant over the age of 100 is an automatic winner! The Quickdraw is held on all three days, so we need those pencils back!! Be there!

Nick Cardy- A Golden Artist in a Silver Age
Room 207BCD
Come celebrate with us as we look back on the fabulous 60 plus year career of one of the great comic artist as we delve into an hour of all things Nick Cardy. Please join us as we say thanks and examine why his fabulous art endures! Join Moderator John Coates along with Nick himself, Todd Dezago, Tony Harris, Adam Hughes, Cully Hamner and others.

Taking over the Property- The Comic Books
Room 203A
Well, we can’t take a topic this juicy and just leave it for the comic strippers. So we are going to discuss the challenges involved in taking over and re-imagining existing comic book characters. Our list of creators is so exciting this panel requires no other descriptions : Richard Case (Doom Patrol), Tony Harris (Starman) and Jim Starlin (Warlock, Captain Marvel)

Everything ARCHIE
Room 206
HeroesCon All Ages Celebration continues on as Comic News Insider’s Jimmy Aquino brings together Paul Kaminski, Jon Gray, Ian Flynn and Jim Amash to discuss the creative process from the folks who bring us all things Riverdale as well as all things SONIC!!!!

Comics Goes to Movies: Working for the Movies and Television
Room 209
Hoo-ray for Hollywood! What’s it like working for the movies? Find out by joining The Beat’s Heidi MacDonald as she talks Tinseltown with Tommy Lee Edwards (Batman Begins) Nick Derington (Philip K. Dick’s A Scanner Darkly), Peter Krause (storyboarding) and Geof Darrow (The MATRIX)

SCAD-Composition & Clarity
Room 201
For a comic to succeed, artistically or commercially, it needs to read clearly, and at the heart of clarity in comics is strong composition. Chris Schweizer will teach you about clarity in composition, from using value to define planes and visually invest your reader in a scene, to identifying and avoiding any of the six types of compositional tangents that can pop up in even the best artist’s work to ruin a panel

Project: Rooftop –Superhero Fashion
Room 203B
Project: Rooftop is where cartoonists and illustrators bring their costume design skills to task in tribute to the superheroes and villains we’ve grown up with. P:R is intended to promote the idea of superhero costume redesigning as a skill, specific to superhero media.  Join Dean Trippe, Joel Carroll and Ming Doyle as they discuss why there’s more to looking super than wearing your underwear on the outside of your pants.
ALSO: Look to 4:00 PM for a special Project: Rooftop feature!

COVER ART: The ART of the First Impressions
Room 207BCD
What sells a comic? How do you incorporate 22 pages of story
and art into one single illustration? Dollar Bin’s Adam Daughhetee will ask a group of masters: Adam Hughes, Cliff Chiang, Chrissie Zullo, Skottie Young and Frank Cho. Looking at the HeroesCon Guest list, this particular panel topic became top priority for all. Be there.

Project: Rooftop-QUICKDRAW SPECIAL
Room 203B
Plan on joining us for a first time ever Project: Rooftop/Quickdraw where we civilians can try our hand at redesigning specific character. The winner will get their drawing posted on the Project: Rooftop web site.

Kickstarter: A New Way To Fund Personal Projects
Room 206
Kickstarter is the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world. Every month, tens of thousands of amazing people pledge millions of dollars to projects from the worlds of comics, music, film, art, design and other creative fields. Join Dustin Harbin, Tony Harris, Jay Potts, and Jeremy Bastian as they discuss their experiences using this new resource to publish comic projects.  www.kickstarter.com

Taking over the Property-The Comic Strips
Room 203A
The Comic Strips—As always, this is another great year for the classic comic strips at HeroesCon. How do you follow a cartooning legend and take those already established characters and work to make them your own? Mike Rhode will ask veteran cartoonists Jim Scancarelli (Gasoline Alley), Marcus Hamilton (Dennis the Menace), Alex Saviuk (Spider-man) and we will be joined by welcome veteran newbie: Joe Staton (Dick Tracy)

Heroes Discussion Group #30 Superman Earth One
Room 209
This was one of the best selling graphic novels of the past twelve months. Join the Heroes Discussion Group as we take the opportunity to pose as many questions as we can to the GN’s super-star artist Shane Davis! Copies of the book will be available after the discusion for brief signing.

SCAD-Mini-Comics: The Whole Package
Room 201
David Allan Duncan, cartoonist and professor of Sequential Art at SCAD-Savannah, offers insight, tips and instruction in the creation of one of the most popular stepping stones into the comics industry: mini-comics. David’s workshop focuses on the medium, production and distribution of mini-comics as well as the planning, storytelling, and drawing that goes into their creation. Materials will be provided, so come join the fun!

A Tribute to Joe Simon
Room 208AB
Join Titan Books Editor and special friend of HeroesCon Steve Saffel (Spiderman: The Icon, The Best of Simon & Kirby, Simon & Kirby Superheroes) as he discusses the career of Joe Simon. In addition to a ton of fun stories about Mr. Simon, Steve will present three short films about the life of this pioneer comic artist.

Drink & Draw Social Club Preview
Room 203B
The Drink and Draw Social Club will convene tonight at 7:30 PM at FUEL Pizza (right across the street from the convention center). Meet D.D.S.C. founders Dave Johnson, Dan Panosian and Jeff Johnson as they give a brief history of the club. Nobody is going to be driving, however drawing is a different thing altogether! Please draw responsibly.

HEROESCON DAY ONE CLOSES TO PUBLIC
At this time all ticket-holders must leave the hall for the evening. Hall will reopen to the public Saturday at 10.00 am.

HALL A LOCKED DOWN
All persons, including exhibitors, guests, and staff, must be off the hall floor at this time. Please be sure your booth is secured. We cannot be held responsible for your items, although we will provide overnight security for the hall.

DRINK AND DRAW SOCIAL CLUB
@ Fuel Pizza
Dave Johnson, Dan Panosian, and Jeff Johnson, the founders of D.D.S.C. invite everyone to join us across the street at Fuel Pizza for a night of drinking, drawing and who knows what else!

SCAD-Visualizing Writing
Room 201
There is a lot of information on how to structure story, but how do you get a reader to invest in your story? Good storytelling in sequential art starts with a written story that utilizes visualization and pacing, and results in writing to draw. Anthony Fisher will walk you through the steps of visualizing story in writing by using emotion, action and design of characters, as well as scene staging to visually pace story.

Richard Thompson: A Celebration
Room 209
Is Cul-De Sac the best comic strip being published today? Perhaps, but one thing is for certain, it is the best drawn and the funniest. Okay, that’s two things. Please join Mike Rhode and some fellow strip creators as we sit down and examine the art of Mr. Thompson. In addition to discussing craft and daily deadlines, we will see if Richard can provide any insight as to whether poor Petey will make it through the entire soccer season without having a psychotic breakdown. Ahhh, total Bliss (haven).

Heroes Discussion Group #31: Wednesday Comics
Room 208
The break-away hit from last year is being featured at HeroesCon 2011. Plan to join guest moderator Swain Hunt and creators Joe Quinones, Ryan Sook, Shawn “Cheeks” Galloway, John Arcudi and Brian Stelfreeze as they discuss the challenges of a unique page size, the pressure of a weekly deadline and how they approached their particular characters. Don’t miss this! Copies of the book will be available after the discusion for brief signing.

C’mon People: There’s a War Comic On
Room 203A
Pull up a bunk us and join the platoon as we examine War Comics in their myriad of forms. Joining moderator extraordinaire John Coates will be Nick Cardy (The Artist at War), Michael Golden (the NAM), Matt Kindt (Superspy) and Becky Cloonan (Northlanders)

Approaches to Humor
Room 209
Sure the convention is HeroesCon, but let’s never forget the funny side of the comic book world. Join The Beat’s Heidi MacDonald as she sits down with three of the very best cartoonists in the business. They are able to me us smile and even laugh out loud: Richard Thompson (Cul De Sac), Roger Langridge (The Muppets, Fred the Clown) and Evan Dorkin (Milk & Cheese, Yo Gabba Gabba!) are three of the wizards who put the comic in comic.

Matt Fraction: FEAR Itself
Room 207BCD
Join us for a scintillating conversation between HeroesCon’s very own Doug Merkle and the master-mind behind Marvel’s summer Magnum Opus Fear Itself, Matt Fraction. This will be a panel you’ll look back upon often as the summer wears on.

Color Me Talented
Room 203A
Join Dollar Bin’s Adam Daughhetee as he sits down with Laura Martin (Planetary, Astonishing X-Men), Rachelle Rosenberg (Captain America), Charlie Kirchoff (Hellraiser, Doctor Who), Matt Wilson (Thor), Brian Reber (X-Men) discuss this integral aspect of comic art—the coloring.

Frank Cho Draws Sexy Women
Room 208AB
Don’t be misled by the Title! This presentation is all about Frank Cho drawing sexy women. The audience selects a character for Frank to draw. Then Frank spends the hour drawing it and you the lucky audience gets to watch the creative process unfold through the miracle of A/V technology. The session ends with a live auction of the finished piece. Frank has done this in several other cities and it has always been a big hit. Charlotte will be no exception

Designing Comics
Room 203A
What is it that draws your wandering eye to one particular book on a shelf that is brimming with loud, look-at-me, multi-colored covers? It is the design of the book that makes that first impression count. Join cartoonist Rich Barrett (Nathan Sorry) as he dissects the art and function of Design with some of the most important and innovative names in the business: Jonathan Hickman (FF, The Nightly News), Chris Pitzer (all things Adhouse) Matt Kindt (Superspy) Drew Weing (Set to Sea) and Jim Rugg (Afrodisiac)

4th Annual Inkwell Awards        1st live awards ceremony
Room 209
Host: Bob Almond presents this year’s winners of the coveted Inkwell Awards. After the live presentation, there will be a special Q & A with the winners. Ethan Van Sciver will be our auctioneer for the previously mentioned small, live auction following the ceremony.

Heroes Discussion Group #32—Cinderella-From Fabletown with Love
Room 207BCD
Please schedule your weekend properly
so you will have time to join writer Chris Roberson and cover artist, Charlotte’s own Chrissie Zullo as they discuss everyone’s favorite secret agent and shoe provocateur. At last year’s HeroesCon we discussed Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall. This will be the perfect follow-up.
Copies of the book will be available after the discusion for brief signing.

SCAD-Creating Maquettes
Room 201
Maquettes are a large part of the entertainment industry in film, animation, video games, sequential art, toys, and toy design for all of these markets. Professor John Larison will talk about and show you the different media applicable to sculpting maquettes, and go over the basics of maquette building during his workshop. Sculpting is not easy, but it is definitely fun. John will let those who come to his workshop play with the material and tools and learn about the cost involved for each material.

Comics Alliance
Room 206
Comics Alliance is a comic website owned by AOL. If you’re not familiar with us, we’re currently the #1 most visited comics site in America and were awesomely nominated for an Eisner this year! Come see why this is one of the most popular site on the web.

The Master of Screaming Metal: A Tribute to Moebius
Room 209
He’s one of the greatest comics’ artists of all time, a man who’s given us vistas of the Old West and of science-fiction planets unsurpassed in their beauty and elegance. He’s Jean Giraud—pseudonym “Moebius”—and for this year’s Heroes Con, cartoonist Ben Towle and blogger Craig Fischer have teamed up to celebrate Moebius’ art and 50-year career. This “mega-panel” will include a number of events. First is a screening of Moebius Redux (Hasko Baumann, 2007, 70 minutes), a documentary chronicle of Moebius’ life that covers his role in Les Humanoïdes Associés and the radical revitalization of French comics in the 1970s and his contributions to such films as Alien (1979), Tron (1982), and Alejandro Jodorowsky’s unproduced adaptation of Dune. The panel will continue with Craig’s playful analysis of a scene from Moebius and Jean-Michel Charlier’s Blueberry—simply the best comic-book Western ever—and conclude with Ben interviewing stellar writer and artist Geof Darrow (Hard Boiled, Shaolin Cowboy), himself a friend and admirer of Moebius. Join us for a wild ride on an alien pterodactyl, won’t you?

FF: Retooling the Flagship
Room 208AB
Pull up a pew and join Heroes’ own Doug Merkle as he sits down with the dynamic creative team of Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting and they describe the challenges of retooling a legend: The Marvel Universe flagship the Fantastic Four or should we say, the Future Foundation? (Yes, yes we should)

Comics Goes to Movies–Adapted Work
Room 203A
Big Budget movies developed from comic properties is a cottage industry unto itself. But what do the comic creators really think about the adaptations of their concepts? Please join The Beat’s Heidi MacDonald as she questions Cully Hamner (Red), Roy Thomas (Conan), Jeff Parker (X-Men: First Class) and John Arcudi (The Mask) during this exciting hour.

QuickDraw
Room 203 B
A HeroesCon tradition. We give you #2 pencils and Bristol board; you give us 20 minutes and your feverish inspiration. Then we have an art instructor judge the results and we, in turn, give the winner some fabulous prizes. It’s a win-win. Prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the following age categories 0-10, 11-15 and 16 to 99. Any participant over the age of 100 is an automatic winner! The Quickdraw is held on all three days, so we need those pencils back!! Be there!

SCAD-Manga Studio
Room 201
From panel layout to finished inks, Manga Studio is the most powerful software there is that specifically caters to the needs of comic book artists. It has amazing tools to layout panels, its drawing and inking tools are extremely natural using a tablet or Cintiq, and you can create and manage entire projects with astounding ease. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Follow along with SCAD professor, Pat Bollin, as he demos his digital drawing techniques using Manga Studio, and discusses the pros and cons of using digital techniques vs. good old-fashioned ink on paper.

Costuming: How To Make It Work
Room 208AB
Open discussion about costuming; from character selection to reference to supplies to fabric choices to construction, and now that you have the costumes: storage, cleaning and maintenance. Chris Donio and Riki Riddle LeCotey will give a general  overview on how they approach costuming.

Portfolio Review
Room 203B
Bob Scheck is the Editor-in-Chief of Legendary Pictures’ new line of comics & graphic novels, Legendary Comics. Bob and Greg Tumbarello his Assistant Editor will sit down and take the time to look at your art
portfolios.

Taking on the Property—ICONOGRAPHY
Room 207BCD
Comic News Insider’s Jimmy Aquino sits down with Tim Sale, Ed McGuinness, Darwyn Cooke and Don Rosa as they discuss the challenges of taking a comics icon and putting their own original stamp on the characters yet still remaining true to the original vision. What a way to end HeroesCon Day Two!

HEROESCON DAY TWO CLOSES TO PUBLIC
At this time all ticket-holders must leave the hall for the evening. Hall will reopen to the public Sunday at 11:00 AM.

HALL A LOCKED DOWN
All persons, including exhibitors, guests, and staff, must be off the hall floor at this time. Please be sure your booth is secured. We cannot be held responsible for your items, although we will provide overnight security for the hall.

HEROESCON ANNUAL ART AUCTION
Westin Ballroom
The HeroesCon Annual Art Auction is one of the most well-known and enduring traditions on the convention circuit. Fans come from all over the country for the chance to bid pieces of original art not available anywhere else, donated by our guests to help defray the incredible cost of putting on the convention!
And best of all, the Art Auction is a great chance to hobnob with pros in a relaxed, fun environment–it’s just one of the things that have made us so popular with fans and pros alike! Event scheduled to begin close to 8.00–seriously!

The number of donations we get is so immense, this year we’re going to try and pick a representative group of pieces to take to the “live” Art Auction. But if you can’t make it to the Art Auction, you can bid on the other pieces in our new Silent Auction all weekend long! Check at the Info Booth or at the Art Auction stage for more details!

SETUP OPENS
Guests, Small Press, & Exhibitors will be allowed onto the floor for setup at this time. Only persons with the appropriate badges will be allowed onto the convention floor, and only once a member of the convention’s upper management is on-hand to open the doors, for security purposes. NOTE: All items MUST be out of the aisles before the hall opens to the public at 11.00 am. No exceptions!

HEROESCON DAY ONE OPENS TO ADVANCE 3-DAY PASS HOLDERS ONLY
Note this is ONLY for those who purchased 3-day passes on or before May 31.

HEROESCON DAY THREE OPENS TO PUBLIC
All ticket holders will be allowed onto the floor at this time.

Historical Comics
Room 203A
Blending real historical facts and humor based comics into something provocative and highly entertaining is no feat. Join Chris Schweizer (Crogan’s )as he leads the discussion with Ben Towle (Amelia Earhart), Matt Kindt (Superspy) and Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge) as they explain the intricacies of the creative juggling act.

SCAD–Story-Driven Character Design
Room 201
Well thought out character creation is essential to the comic making process. In this workshop SCAD Community Education Instructor, Rashad Doucet, will examine a variety of popular characters and show just how much strong, original story concepts are visually expressed in our favorite heroes and villains. Participants will also be given the fundamental processes needed to form and/or enhance their own creations.

WEB COMICS–Group Effort
Room 206
Meet the Small Press groups who have developed their own multi-strip brand: Curt Franklin, Chris Haley, Mike Maihack, Kevin Church, and Benjamin Birdie will sit down and talk to Comic News Insider’s Jimmy Aquino about creativity in the Small Press World.

HAMMER TIME (or more specifically it’s Mjolnir Time)
Room 207BCD
Did you hear there is a mega budget movie about The Mighty Thor featuring Oscar-winners Hannibal Lecter, Padme Amidala and directed by Professor Lockhart (on Amnesia leave from Hogwarts). Well, let’s remember that Thor started as a comic book long before the Nordic folk were offering tithes to the Nordic Thunder God. So plan to join Dollar Bin’s Adam Daughhetee as he sits down with Matt Fraction, Roger Langridge, and Jonathan Hickman to discuss their various takes on the superhero that is so popular they named Thursday after him.

Heroes Discussion #29–The Outfit
Room 209
A few years ago, the Heroes Discussion group covered Darwyn Cooke’s The Hunter and we had so much fun, we thought we should discuss The Outfit next. Join us as we discuss this fabulous graphic novel with its creator Darwyn Cooke! Copies of the book will be available after the discusion for brief signing.

Inking Panel
Room 208AB
The inker is the true MVP of any comic book creative team. They make the finished product look finished and professional. They need to add their own individual touch to the art but still maintain the flavor of the original pencil work. How do they accomplish this? Join Big Dog Studio’s Brandon Padgett along with Tim Townsend, Art Thibert, Mark Morales, Bob McLeod and Bob Almond as they discuss the fine art of the fine line; the tools they use, the challenges they encounter; the variety of penciling styles they need to negotiate. This panel will be a must see before…

Portfolio Review Portfolio Review
Room 203A
Bob Scheck is the Editor-in-Chief of Legendary Pictures’ new line of comics & graphic novels, Legendary Comics. Bob and Greg Tumbarello his Assistant Editor will sit down and take the time to look at your art portfolios.

Adam Hughes & Kevin Nowlan: One on One
Room 208AB
Let’s take two great artists, both known for their draftsmanship, their design and their pure drawing talent, put them in the same room and talk for an hour about their art. This will be one enlightening and entertaining conversation.

Family Friendly Comics
Room 209
This panel has become a yearly tradition at HeroesCon. We take pride in this convention being for the entire family and what better way to celebrate Shelton Drum’s vision than by spotlighting comics the entire family can read. Comic News Insider’s Jimmy Aquino will interview Andy Runton (Owly), Chris Schweizer (Crogan’s Vengeance), Chris Giarusso (Mini Marvels), Jamie Cosely (Cody the Cavalier) and come see what all the
buzz is about

Horror Comics
Room 207BCD
Horror comics are more popular today than practically any other genre (okay besides the spandex crowd). We are having a group of specialists sit down and explain to us why horror endures and what makes a great horror product. Join Dollar Bin’s Adam Daughhetee as he discusses with Bernie Wrightson (Swamp Thing), Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) what is under the bed and why we should fear it.

SCAD-Comics in PaintTool SAI
Room 201
Sarah ‘Pickles’ Dill, a sequential art graduate student at SCAD, will be demonstrating the advantages of PaintTool SAI, a comprehensive and affordable alternative for beginning comic artists. Using SAI, an artist can create comics of all sizes, styles, and colors. Coloring, sketching, inking, vector demos and instruction will be included.

QuickDraw
Room 203B
A HeroesCon tradition. We give you #2 pencils and Bristol board; you give us 20 minutes and your feverish inspiration. Then we have an Art Instructor judge the results and we, in turn, give the winner some fabulous prizes. It’s a win-win. Prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the following age categories 0-10, 11-15 and 16 to 99. Any participant over the age of 100 is an automatic winner! Last day—but we still need those pencils back!

THE WEB COMICS: Solo Shocker
Room 207BCD
Join Rich Barrett, Tom Scioli, Jay Potts and Drew Weing as they tell Dollar Bin’s Adam Daughhetee what it’s like go it alone making some of the most exciting Web comics out there in the ether.

ANIMATION NATION
Room 209
We have an unusually large amount of professional animators lurking in our artist alley. It is only fitting we ask them to join us to discuss the Animation Industry and what it’s like to earn a living in this fast paced exciting world. Plan to join Eric Canete, Sean Galloway, Jeff Johnson and Dave Johnson for a spirited (and animated—sorry) hour of conversation

SKETCH CHARLOTTE
Room 203B
Who are SKETCH Charlotte and what are they doing loitering in Showmars every Thursday evening? Find out as we wind down on Sunday afternoon as we are invited to eaves drop on a special meeting of the Queen City artists as they discuss Comics in general and HeroesCon 2011 in the specific. What a great way to end a memorable weekend.

SCAD: Breaking down Breakdowns
Room 201
The most important stage in the creation of sequential art is the development of breakdowns, where the visual planning of sequential art originates. To have successful breakdowns, a structured philosophical approach is necessary. Through this approach, Doug Dabbs wills show you how to create sequential art that is successful in telling a clear story that emotionally engages the reader.

Adapting Licensed Properties to Comics
Room 209
Since the era when the great EC Segar produced the Charlie Chaplin Comedy Capers comic strip for the Chicago Herald, licensed properties have been joined at the hip with comic books. Working with already existing characters and concepts create their own set of artistic challenges. Please join Roger Langridge (The Muppets), Amy Mebberson (Disney) and James Silvani (Darkwing Duck) Georges Jeanty (Buffy) as they enlighten us on the internal workings of this important comic niche. Moderated by Heroes’ in-house counsel Heather McKinney, we may have saved the best for last!

HEROESCON CLOSES TO PUBLIC
At this time all ticket-holders must leave the hall. Thanks for attending HeroesCon 2010. Before you leave, please be sure to pick up your advance tickets for Heroes Convention 2012 (Our 30th Anniversary Extravaganza!). You will be first in line for any incentives or other special offers we feature throughout the year!

LOADING DOCK OPENS
At this time the door to the Loading Dock (located on Stonewall between Brevard and College) will open for persons possessing dock passes. ACCESS TO THE DOCK WILL NOT BE ALLOWED DURING THE DAY! We strongly suggest that you begin queuing for the dock well before this time.

Boston Comic Con 2011 – THIS COMING WEEKEND!

Stop on by the Hynes Convention Center in Boston this weekend, April 30 – May 1! Stop and chat with me, Convention Scene’s News Editor Joe Fauvel, in Artist Alley 415. I’ll also be selling Knightshift Entertainment’s titles CRY and Assassins’ Guild.

Press Release:

Boston Comic Con 2011 – THIS COMING WEEKEND!

It’s here! The wait is over! The Boston Comic Con is back – bigger and better than ever. The convention will be held this weekend: Saturday April 30th and Sunday May 1st at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, Boston, MA from 10am to 7pm Saturday and 10am to 5pm Sunday.

Tickets are available at the door or online through the convention website. Prices are $20 for a single day pass and $35 for a weekend pass. Kids 10 and under get in free with paid adult admission!

The BCC guest list is best and most talked about guest list in the country this year. This is the largest and most talented collection of comic creators in New England ever! Check it out:

Neal Adams, Frank Quitely, Joe Kubert, Adam Hughes, J Scott Campbell, Darwyn Cooke, Arthur Adams, Frank Cho, Tim Sale, Dave Johnson, J.G. Jones, Mark Brooks, Mark Chiarello, Matt Wagner, Ryan Ottley, Sean Galloway, Stan Sakai, Stephane Roux, Terry Moore, Tony Harris, Khoi Pham, Howard Chaykin, David Mack, Greg Capullo, Gahan Wilson, Ryan Benjamin, Stephanie Buscema, Daixong Guo, Mark McKenna, and many more!

The Boston Comic Con is a 100% independently-run comic book show committed to bringing the biggest and best comic creators to New England. Run by fans for fans, Boston Comic Con is not affiliated with any other convention tour or corporate interests. Hosting over 40,000 square feet of vendors selling comic books, toys, posters, trading cards, and other pop culture memorabilia, this is a destination event for geeks of any stripe.

For more information please go to our website at www.bostoncomiccon.com and follow us on Twitter (@BostonComicCon) and Facebook!

Boston Comic Con 2011 Panel Schedule

Press Release:

Boston Comic Con is happy to announce the Panel Schedule for our 2011 convention! With some of the greatest creators in the industry attending these are sure to be standing room only! Tell your friends!

Saturday April 30, 2011

10:30am–11:15am – Comics In The Classroom

11:30am–12:15pm – Female Creators (Ming Doyle, Sara Richard, Stephanie Buscema, Allison Sohn)

12:30pm–1:15pm -  Spotlight on Howard Chaykin

1:30pm-2:15pm – Spotlight on Matt Wagner

2:30pm-3:15pm -  How to Draw Comics Like a Bad Ass With Frank Cho

3:30pm-4:15pm – Spotlight on Stan Sakai

4:30pm-6:00pm – Spotlight on Darwyn Cooke

6:00pm-6:45pm -  Spotlight on Terry Moore

(Please note the time changes on Darwyn Cooke and Terry Moore’s panels -ed.)

Sunday May 1, 2011

11am-11:45am – Spotlight on Joe Kubert

12pm-12:45pm – Spotlight on Frank Quitely

1pm-1:45pm – Spotlight on Tim Sale

2pm-2:45pm – Cover Artists (J. Scott Campbell, Adam Hughes, JG Jones, Dave Johnson)

3:00pm-3:45pm – Spotlight on Neal Adams

4pm-5pm – Costume Contest

Tickets are currently available online through the convention website. Prices are $20 for a single day pass and $35 for a weekend pass. Kids get in free with paid adult admission!

The Boston Comic Con is a 100% independently-run comic book show committed to bringing the biggest and best comic creators to New England. Run by fans for fans, Boston Comic Con is not affiliated with any other convention tour or corporate interests. Hosting over 40,000 square feet of vendors selling comic books, toys, posters, trading cards, and other pop culture memorabilia, this is a destination event for geeks of any stripe. The convention will be held from 10am to 7pm on Saturday April 30th and from 10am to 5pm on Sunday May 1st at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, Boston, MA. For more information please go to our website at www.bostoncomiccon.com and follow us on Twitter (@BostonComicCon) and Facebook!

RSVP here on Facebook!

Boston Comic Con 2011 – 30 Days and Counting!

Press Release:

J SCOTT CAMPBELL Added to BCC Guest List!

March 1, 2011 (Boston, MA) – J. Scott Campbell, one of the most popular artists in comics, has graciously accepted an invitation to Boston Comic Con 2011! One of the most requested guests for any convention, we are ecstatic to have the opportunity to bring him to meet his New England fans. Campbell first exploded on the scene in the 90s with his first book, Gen 13. His dynamic storytelling and reputation for illustrating some of the most attractive women in the industry continued wth his follow-up project, Danger Girl. His covers currently grace titles including Spider-Man, Wolverine, GI Joe, and many more! Be sure to catch his panel with fellow cover artists JG Jones, Adam Hughes and Dave Johnson!

Also joining Campbell at Boston Comic Con as recently announced guests are local writers Christos Gage, Christopher Golden, and Tom Sniegoski, The Walking Dead’s Cliff Rathburn, pencillers Sanford Greene, Keu Cha, Leo Leibelman, Mike Lilly, and a legion of inkers including Dexter Vines, Jack Purcell, and Mark Morales. Finally we are happy to welcome back stalwart supporters Craig Rousseau, Scott Wegener, Norman Lee, and Sara Richard.

Previously announced guests include Neal Adams, Frank Quitely, Joe Kubert, Adam Hughes, Darwyn Cooke, Arthur Adams, Frank Cho, Tim Sale, Dave Johnson, J.G. Jones, Mark Chiarello, Matt Wagner, Ryan Ottley, Sean Galloway, Stan Sakai, Stephane Roux, Terry Moore, Tony Harris, Khoi Pham, Howard Chaykin, David Mack, Greg Capullo, Gahan Wilson, Stephanie Buscema, Daixong Guo, Mark McKenna, and many more! Be sure to tell your friends! This is the largest and most talented collection of comic creators in New England ever!

Tickets are currently available online through the convention website. Prices are $20 for a single day pass and $35 for a weekend pass. Kids 10 and under get in free with paid adult admission!

Finally, don’t forget to pick up your tickets in advance on our website.

The Boston Comic Con is a 100% independently-run comic book show committed to bringing the biggest and best comic creators to New England. Run by fans for fans, Boston Comic Con is not affiliated with any other convention tour or corporate interests. Hosting over 40,000 square feet of vendors selling comic books, toys, posters, trading cards, and other pop culture memorabilia, this is a destination event for geeks of any stripe.

The convention will be held Saturday April 30th and Sunday May 1st at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, Boston, MA from 10am to 7pm Saturday and 10am to 5pm Sunday. For more information please go to our website at www.bostoncomiccon.com and follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Only 30 Days Left Until Boston Comic Con 2011!

Get your advanced tickets now on line at www.bostoncomiccon.com. $20 for a one day pass and $35 for a two day pass. Kids 10 and under are free.

The guest list is mind blowing and includes some of the biggest names in the comic book industry…Neal Adams, Frank Quitely, Joe Kubert, J Scott Campbell, Adam Hughes, Darwyn Cooke, Arthur Adams, Frank Cho, Tim Sale, Dave Johnson, J.G. Jones, Matt Wagner, Ryan Ottley, Sean Galloway, Stan Sakai, Stephane Roux, Terry Moore, Tony Harris, Khoi Pham, Howard Chaykin, David Mack, Greg Capullo, Gahan Wilson, and many many more! Be sure to tell your friends! This is the largest and most talented collection of comic creators in New England ever!

Also this year we have an amazing panel program for the fans. This year’s featured speakers include Neal Adams, Joe Kubert, Frank Quitely, J Scott Campbell, Adam Hughes, Darwyn Cooke, Tim Sale, Matt Wagner, JG Jones, Frank Cho, Stan Sakai, Terry Moore, Dave Johnson, and Howard Chaykin!

Danger Girl Creator Comes to Boston Comic Con 2011

Press Release:

J. Scott Campbell, one of the most popular artists in comics, has graciously accepted an invitation to Boston Comic Con 2011! One of the most requested guests for any convention, we are ecstatic to have the opportunity to bring him to meet his New England fans. Campbell first exploded on the scene in the 90s with his first book, Gen 13. His dynamic storytelling and reputation for illustrating some of the most attractive women in the industry continued with his follow-up project, Danger Girl. His covers currently grace titles including Spider-Man, Wolverine, GI Joe, and many more! Be sure to catch his panel with fellow cover artists JG Jones, Adam Hughes, and Dave Johnson!

Joining Campbell at Boston Comic Con are local writers Christos Gage, Christopher Golden, and Tom Sniegoski, The Walking Dead’s Cliff Rathburn, pencillers Sanford Greene, Keu Cha, Leo Leibelman, Mike Lilly, and a legion of inkers including Dexter Vines, Jack Purcell, and Mark Morales. Finally we are happy to welcome back stalwart supporters Craig Rousseau, Scott Wegener, Norman Lee, and Sara Richard. Check the website for full bios!

Previously announced guests include Neal Adams, Frank Quitely, Joe Kubert, Adam Hughes, Darwyn Cooke, Arthur Adams, Frank Cho, Tim Sale, Dave Johnson,  J.G. Jones, Mark Chiarello, Matt Wagner, Ryan Ottley, Sean Galloway, Stan Sakai, Stephane Roux, Terry Moore, Tony Harris, Khoi Pham, Howard Chaykin, David Mack, Greg Capullo, Gahan Wilson, Stephanie Buscema, Daixong Guo, Mark McKenna, and many more! Be sure to tell your friends! This is the largest and most talented collection of comic creators in New England ever!

Tickets are currently available online through the convention website. Prices are $20 for a single day pass and $35 for a weekend pass. Kids get in free with paid adult admission!

The Boston Comic Con is a 100% independently-run comic book show committed to bringing the biggest and best comic creators to New England. Run by fans for fans, Boston Comic Con is not affiliated with any other convention tour or corporate interests. Hosting over 40,000 square feet of vendors selling comic books, toys, posters, trading cards, and other pop culture memorabilia, this is a destination event for geeks of any stripe. The convention will be held from 10am to 7pm on Saturday April 30th and from 10am to 5pm on Sunday May 1st at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, Boston, MA. For more information please go to our website at www.bostoncomiccon.com and follow us on Twitter (@BostonComicCon) and Facebook!

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