Hero Initiative Brings Tom Raney & Rick Maygar to Phoenix Comic Fest 2018
May 21, 2018 by Colin Solan
Filed under Arizona, Comic Books, Convention News, Top Stories
Press Release:
Hero Initiative, the non-profit organization that helps comic book creators in need, is spending its Memorial Day weekend at Phoenix Comic Fest on May 24 thru 27 at the Phoenix Convention Center!
Hero will have TWO great artists exclusively at its booth #1485 – 1487: Avengers, Captain America, and Star Wars artist Rick Maygar will be joined by X-Men, Superman, and Incredible Hulk artist Tom Raney! Both will be signing and doing sketches all weekend, so make sure you bring your books and boards!
And Hero Initiative Ambassadors on the floor will be collecting for Hero when you get your books signed as well. Please swing by on Arthur Adams, Jim Calafiore, Joyce Chin, Katie Cook, Alan Davis, Mark Farmer, Scott Godlewski, Brian and Kristy Miller of Hi-Fi Design, Scott Kolins, Andy Kuhn, John Layman, Albert Morales, Marat Mychaels, Dan Panosian, Tony Parker, Brian Pulido, and Stuart Sayger!
About The Hero Initiative
The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly 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 $1 million to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today. For more information, visit www.heroinitiative.org or call 626-676-6354.
IL – Adventure Time 100 Project Signing
May 11, 2018 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Illinois, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Artists Gene Ha, Jenny Frison, and Tim Seeley appear at Challengers Comics on Saturday, June 2nd at 5:00 PM to sign Adventure Time 100 to benefit the Hero Initiative!
Challengers Comics
1845 N. Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 278-0155
Baltimore Comic-Con Spring Fling Returns This Sunday
April 24, 2018 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Comic Books, Convention News, Maryland, Movies, Webcomics
Press Release:
This Sunday, April 29th, the Baltimore Comic-Con Spring Fling returns for its 2nd annual event! Baltimore Comic-Con Spring Fling is a good old-fashioned comic book show with rows and rows of comic book dealers from around the country selling comics and collectibles from the ancient to the very modern, and some amazing comic guests as well — and admission is free!
We are very happy to announce the addition of Pixar and Disney artist, Marty Baumann to our line-up of guests for Spring Fling 2018!
Marty Baumann is an illustrator, graphic artist, and production designer. He has contributed to some of the most popular, Oscar-winning animated films of all time. Marty has worked as an artist at Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios as an illustrator, graphic artist, and production designer on such films as Toy Story 3, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Cars 2, Planes, Wreck-It Ralph 2, and many others. He also helped develop theme park installations, toy packaging, and Pixar corporate branding. Marty has rendered illustrations and developed characters for toy manufacturers, magazines, and newspapers, and illustrated children’s books, created logos, infographics, broadcast promotions, and presentation art for Hasbro, Universal Studios, National Geographic, Scholastic Books, Nickelodeon, and many others. Recent projects include his role as concept artist for the new Mystery Science Theater 3000 and the visual development of Sir Paul McCartney’s feature film, High in the Clouds.
Ringo Award winner and Harvey and Eisner award nominee Frank Cho launched his career as a comic strip artist at the University of Maryland-College Park student newspaper, penning University2, which was the predecessor of his creator-owned syndicated strip and comic series, Liberty Meadows. His body of work also includes Marvel Comics’ New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Shanna the She-Devil, New Ultimates, and X-Men: Schism, as well as Jungle Girl for Dynamite Entertainment. His recent work can be seen in BOOM! Studios’ Skybourne, and on covers from DC Comics’ Harley Quinn and Wonder Woman.
Long-time friend of the show, Ringo, Harvey, and Eisner Award nominee, and guest since our inception in 2000 (!), artist and writer Steve Conley has contributed to numerous comic titles, both printed and on-line. His Astounding Space Thrills was self-published, published by Image Comics, and collected as a trade paperback by IDW. He has been featured in titles such as JLA-Z from DC Comics, Star Trek: Year Four from IDW, and Michael Chabon’s Amazing Adventures of the Escapist from Dark Horse Comics. His creator-owned Bloop, is available through his online store in print or soft copy editions, and you can read his webcomic, The Middle Age, on his website.
John Gallagher is the award-winning artist and writer of graphic novels Buzzboy and Roboy Red (with Rich Faber). John teamed with sons Jack and Will to create a kids book, E.P.I.C. Bros., about two kids whose superhero dad is always out saving the world, and they pass the time using his gizmos for lovable mayhem. Jack and Will follow in the footsteps of big sister Katie, who teamed with her dad to create Zoey and Ketchup. John’s Buzzboy is back from American Mythology Productions in Buzzboy Go Digital Monster Mayhem, where he has also contributed to the recently relaunched Casper the Friendly Ghost and The Inspector. When not creating comics, John is executive director of Kids Love Comics (kidslovecomics.net) and works as art director for Ranger Rick magazine.
Mark Morales has established himself as one of the industry’s go-to inkers for major titles and events for the big publishers. He has inked a vast number of titles at Marvel Comics including, among many others, A+X, Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers vs. X-Men, New Avengers, Secret Invasion, Sentry, Siege, Thor, Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine, X-Force, and X-Men. He has also done work for DC Comics on titles like Action Comics, Batman/Superman, JLA, New Suicide Squad, Prez, and Superman: The Man of Steel. He was also awarded the Harvey Award for Best Inker in 2009 and 2011.
And, as a special Hero Initiative guest, Tom King. The Ringo and Eisner Award winner is currently the writer of Batman at DC Comics, where he has also written Mister Miracle, Grayson, The Omega Men, DC Nation, Swamp Thing Winter Special, and has a story in Action Comics #1000, not to mention his award-winning work at Marvel on The Vision. King’s first book, A Once Crowded Sky, a postmodern super hero novel, was recognized by USA Today as one of the best Graphic Novels of the year. He was named by the Hollywood Reporter as one of the five comic creators to watch in 2015.
Tom will be signing from 1pm-3pm at the Hero Initiative booth, accepting donations for signatures. Tom requests that no graded books be brought for autographs and appreciates his fans’ understanding.
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 19th year of bringing the comic book industry to the mid-Atlantic area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.
Baltimore Comic-Con Spring Fling 2018 Adds Tom King
March 27, 2018 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Convention News, Maryland
Press Release:
The Baltimore Comic-Con is thrilled to announce, as a special guest of the Hero Initiative, the addition of the Ringo and Eisner Award-winning writer Tom King to our already impressive guest list that includes Frank Cho (Wonder Woman), Steve Conley (The Middle Age), John Gallagher (Buzzboy), Mark Morales (JLA), and Brandon Peterson (Trinity). Tom King is currently the writer of Batman at DC Comics, where he has also written Mister Miracle, Grayson, The Omega Men, DC Nation, Swamp Thing Winter Special, The Sheriff of Babylon, and has a story in Action Comics #1000, not to mention his award-winning work at Marvel on The Vision. King’s first book, A Once Crowded Sky, a postmodern superhero novel, was recognized by USA Today as one of the best Graphic Novels of the year. He was named by the Hollywood Reporter as one of the five comic creators to watch in 2015.
Baltimore Comic-Con Spring Fling, our “thank you” event for our fans, is a good old-fashioned comic book show with rows and rows of comic book dealers from 6-8 states around the country, with comics and collectibles from the ancient to the very modern!
Baltimore Comic-Con Spring Fling takes place Sunday April 29. from 10am-5pm ET at the BWI Airport Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Linthicum, MD 20190, and as always, the Spring Fling is FREE! We will see you there!
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 19th year of bringing the comic book industry to the mid-Atlantic area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.
Return of the Baltimore Comic-Con Spring Fling
February 16, 2018 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Comic Strips, Convention News, Maryland, Webcomics
Press Release:
The Baltimore Comic-Con returns to the Inner Harbor’s Baltimore Convention Center this September 28-30, but so does our special “thank you” event to our fans: Baltimore Comic-Con Spring Fling returns for its 2nd annual event Sunday April 29, 2018 from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM at the BWI Airport Marriott!
Baltimore Comic-Con Spring Fling is a good old-fashioned comic book show with rows and rows of comic book dealers from 6-8 states around the country, with comics and collectibles from the ancient to the very modern…and we’re bringing in a few guests as well!
Ringo Award winner and Harvey and Eisner award nominee Frank Cho launched his career as a comic strip artist at the University of Maryland-College Park student newspaper, penning University2, which was the predecessor of his creator-owned syndicated strip and comic series, Liberty Meadows. His body of work also includes Marvel Comics’ New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Shanna the She-Devil, New Ultimates, and X-Men: Schism, as well as Jungle Girl for Dynamite Entertainment. His recent work can be seen in BOOM! Studios’ Skybourne, and on covers from DC Comics’ Harley Quinn and Wonder Woman.
Long-time friend of the show, Ringo, Harvey, and Eisner Award nominee, and guest since our inception in 2000 (!), artist and writer Steve Conley has contributed to numerous comic titles, both printed and online. His Astounding Space Thrills was self-published, published by Image Comics, and collected as a trade paperback by IDW. He has been featured in titles such as JLA-Z from DC Comics, Star Trek: Year Four from IDW, and Michael Chabon’s Amazing Adventures of the Escapist from Dark Horse Comics. His creator-owned Bloop, is available through his online store in print or soft copy editions, and you can read his webcomic, The Middle Age, on his website.
John Gallagher is the award-winning artist and writer of graphic novels Buzzboy and Roboy Red (with Rich Faber). John teamed with sons Jack and Will to create a kids book, E.P.I.C. Bros., about two kids whose superhero dad is always out saving the world, and they pass the time using his gizmos for lovable mayhem. Jack and Will follow in the footsteps of big sister Katie, who teamed with her dad to create Zoey and Ketchup. John’s Buzzboy is back from American Mythology Productions in Buzzboy Go Digital Monster Mayhem, where he has also contributed to the recently relaunched Casper the Friendly Ghost and The Inspector. When not creating comics, John is executive director of Kids Love Comics (kidslovecomics.net) and works as art director for Ranger Rick magazine.
Mark Morales has established himself as one of the industry’s go-to inkers for major titles and events for the big publishers. He has inked a vast number of titles at Marvel Comics including, among many others, A+X, Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers vs. X-Men, New Avengers, Secret Invasion, Sentry, Siege, Thor, Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine, X-Force, and X-Men. He has also done work for DC Comics on titles like Action Comics, Batman/Superman, JLA, New Suicide Squad, Prez, and Superman: The Man of Steel. He was also awarded the Harvey Award for Best Inker in 2009 and 2011.
Brandon Peterson has been a professional illustrator for over 20 years, working primarily as a penciller and inker, but often as a colorist, writer, editor, and art director. He has done a great deal of work at Marvel Comics, as the artist on books like AvX, Avengers, The Ultimates, Ultimate Vision, Ultimate Extinction, Ultimate X-Men, Astonishing X-Men, X-Men, and Uncanny X-Men. Brandon was also VP of Special Projects and Art Director of the now-defunct CrossGen Comics, where he created titles like Mystic and Chimera. He is also a veteran of Top Cow Productions, having worked on Codename: Strykeforce, Cyberforce, Ripclaw, Medieval Spawn/Witchblade, and his own book, Arcanum. His work is recently featured on IDW’s Revolution Heroes and DC Comics’ Trinity.
Additionally, the Hero Initiative will be in the room with us this year — stay tuned!
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 19th year of bringing the comic book industry to the mid-Atlantic area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.
Arizona Comic Mini Expo 2018 Charity Drink & Draw
January 31, 2018 by Colin Solan
Filed under Arizona, Comic Books, Convention News
Comic Creators Mike Norton, Tim Seeley, Mitch Gerads, Scott Godlewski, Ryan Cody, Ryan Quackenbush, J. Gonzo, and more appear at the Bonus Round in Phoenix, AZ on Friday, May 5th for the 2018 Arizona Comic Mini Expo’s Drink and Draw launch party from 7:00 – 10:00 PM. Professional artists will be doing sketches for fans and collecting money for the Hero Initiative and the Arizona ACLU.
Bonus Round
24 W Camelback Rd, Ste DE, Phoenix, AZ 85013
(602) 374-6936
Afterparty Schedule for Planet Comicon 2018
January 25, 2018 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Convention News, Missouri
Press Release:
As Planet Comicon Kansas City (PCKC) grows, there are an increasing number of after hours events popping up around the city! Most of these are within walking distance of the convention center. This means that your convention weekend fun can continue into the evening! This is a wonderful way to experience the many great restaurants and bars and other attractions in the downtown loop. Here is a list of events we know about.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15th
Battle for Midwesteros
A Game of Thrones themed pub crawl (5:00 – 9:30 PM)
[Credential pick-up and registration until 4:30pm]
Winter is here at Planet Comicon. We are teaming up with Boulevard Brewing Co. to bring Westeros to downtown KC creating a fun off-site excursion for Planet Comicon attendees. Four teams of 50 (Starks, Lannisters, Targaryens, and the Night King’s Army) will compete to take the Iron Throne. Each team will work together to conquer the Seven Kingdoms by completing tasks at each participating location along the KC Streetcar route to gain points. In addition to the small challenges, there will be costumed “characters” on the streetcar and an extra secret scavenger hunt element.
Elite Comics Drink and Draw
@ The Muehlebach Bar (6:00 – 9:00 PM)
Want to join some of the incredibly talented artists from Planet Comicon Kansas City for a Drink n’ Draw Party? Well here is your big chance! Meet us on Thursday night at The Muehlebach Bar connected to the Marriott Hotel for live drawing, drink and food specials, special promo items, and fun with The Elite Flight Crew, Planet Comicon staff, and the amazing talent of Artist Alley! Free to all PCKC members
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16th
Ultimate Geek Trivia Showdown Vol.2
@ Aladdin Hotel (6:30 – 10:30 PM)
[Registration & Check-in @ 6:30 PM // Game starts at 7:30 PM]
Bring your smartest and geekiest friends and win wonderful prizes. Cash! Passes to Planet Comicon! Random swag! Pure geeky glory and bragging rights! The event will consist of eight rounds of trivia ranging from comics to the cinematic/television universe. All fandoms are fair game. Entry fee is $10 per person with teams of up to 6 players. $15 at the door. Discounted price for a full team registration of 6 ($50) There will be complimentary snacks and drinks in addition to two full bars. A raffle benefiting Hope House will be happening throughout the night with a chance to win additional prizes. Space is limited, so make like the Flash and register your team now!
Join us for a fun night of comedy and music featuring Little Beard and The Scally Wags Pirate Comedy Show! Other acts include: Clearly Guilty, Crazy Boy Coy, Roscoe and Rose Red, Rum Runners and more! $5 for everyone
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17th
[FREE to convention attendees.]
It’s a Dance Party! Last year’s dance party was such a success that a bigger venue was in order! Elite Comics is kind enough to host this year’s dance party! This will be the party of the year! Starting directly after the costume contest, come downstairs and bust-a-move and get your groove on! Come as your favorite character or as yourself and dance the night away! DJ Joe and DJ Ice Kole are bringing their very best beats and light show and we doubt you will be able to resist jumping on the dance floor! Look for themed drinks, photo-ops, and plenty of space to relax and wind down before the final day of Planet Comicon 2018. It’s a Masquerade Parade! This year the Masquerade Parade will unfold during the party! Signups for the masquerade parade start at 9:45 and the parade begins at 10:30. The first 75 to sign up get to strut their stuff and show their cosplays to an adoring crowd! There are no prizes but this one is always fun! It’s a fundraiser! Donations to the Hero Initiative are being solicited all night long to help struggling comic book artists! (Read more about this wonderful charity here.) Be the hero!
CA – Sketch Benefit Fundraiser
December 4, 2017 by Colin Solan
Filed under California, Comic Books, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Press Release:
Collector’s Paradise Winnetka Invites you to join us on Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 7:00 PM for a SKETCH BENEFIT with special guest Ian McGinty, the artist on Welcome to Showside and new Rocko (Rocko’s Modern Life) series by BOOM! Studios, plus local artists, sketching to benefit Hero Initiative Comic Book Charity! Plus special guests Shannon Eric Denton, Chris Johnson, Tony Fleecs, Chris Burnham, and Rick Basaldua.
Sponsored by MacLeod Ale Brewing Co.
All art on Rocko’s Modern Life sketch cover variants will be sold on ebay with 100% of the net proceeds going to Hero Initiative
Collector’s Paradise
7131 Winnetka Ave, Winnetka, CA 91306
818-999-945
Hero Initiative Heads to Baltimore Comic-Con 2017 with Exclusive Creators Joshua Dysart, Dennis O’Neil, Khoi Pham
September 19, 2017 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Convention News, Maryland
Press Release:
Hero Initiative, the nonprofit that helps comic book creators in medical and financial need, is heading to Baltimore Comic-Con September 22-24 at the Baltimore Convention Center. And Hero’s booth, #1501, is the ONLY place to find creators Joshua Dysart (Living Level-3: Iraq) Dennis O’Neil (Green Lantern/Green Arrow) and Khoi Pham (Mighty Avengers). This amazing group will be signing and sketching all weekend to support out cause! Don’t miss out!
And Hero Initiative Ambassadors will be collecting for Hero on the con floor. Please swing by and say “hi” to: Reilly Brown, Mark Buckingham, Jim Calafiore, Richard Case, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Brian Haberlin, Phil Hester, JG Jones, Matt Kindt, Barry Kitson, Jay Leisten, Laura Martin, Dustin Nguyen, Jerry Ordway, Steve Orlando, Greg Pak, Jeff Parker, Andrew Pepoy, Brandon Peterson, Keith Pollard, Craig Rousseau, Stan Sakai, Bart Sears, Louise Simonson, Walt Simonson, Andy Smith, Joe Staton, Mark Waid, Marv Wolfman, and Rich Woodall. Stop on by and do the right thing!
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 $1 million 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.
Celebrate the Inaugural Ringo Awards with the Comics Industry
September 14, 2017 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Convention News, Maryland
Press Release:
The 2017 Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards will be presented on the evening of Saturday, September 23, 2017 as part of the fan- and pro-favorite convention, The Baltimore Comic-Con. This unique evening offers the opportunity to socialize, dine, and network with comic industry professionals, and watch as they celebrate recognition of their peers, coworkers, and competitors. A limited number of tickets are now available for purchase by the public.
Ringo Awards tickets include a full cocktail hour (cash bar), a full service dinner (featuring a Baltimore crab cake), the awards ceremony, and a gift bag, and are now available for $125. Please visit our website to purchase with credit card: baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets
Start your evening at our cocktail hour, meeting industry professionals and other fans, and enjoy our keynote speaker, David Petersen, best known as the multiple award-winning creator of Mouse Guard.
Presenters at the inaugural Ringo Awards include Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and Amy Chu, Walter and Louise Simonson, Terry and Robyn Moore, Kazu Kibuishi and Charlie Kochman, and Todd Dezago, Mark Waid, and Matt Wieringo.
Additionally, our friends at the Hero Initiative will be presenting their 2017 Hero Lifetime Achievement Award to Marv Wolfman, and their Giordano Humanitarian Award to Joshua Dysart.
We are also thrilled to present a fantastic gift bag to our first 300 attendees purchasing tickets for this comic event of the fall. This year’s gift bag is an amazing collection of books, including such treasures as March Trilogy Slipcase Set from IDW, Brom Sketchbook from Flesk Publications, and the brand-new Graveyard Shakes from Scholastic. In addition to these wonderful books, expect contributions from other publishers as well, including Abrams ComicArts, AfterShock Comics, Archie Comic Publications, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, IDW Publishing, Source Point Press, and Valiant Entertainment.
The Ringo Awards would like to recognize and thank our 2017 sponsors: AfterShock Comics, Baltimore Comic-Con, BOOM! Studios, Cards, Comics & Collectibles, Dynamite Entertainment, Painted Visions, South Carolina Comic-Con, and Valiant Entertainment.
About Mike Wieringo:
Michael Lance “Mike” Wieringo was known to fans and friends as “Ringo”, which is how he signed his artwork. His comics artist graced the pages of DC Comics’ The Flash, Adventures of Superman, Batman, and Robin, Marvel Comics’ Fantastic Four, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Sensational Spider-Man, and Rogue, and his co-creation Tellos. He passed away on August 12, 2007 at the young age of 44 from an apparent heart attack.
About the Ringo Awards:
The Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards is an annual celebration of the creativity, skill and fun of comics. The Ringo Awards recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories, and are the only industry awards nominated by fans and pros alike, with final voting by the comic professional community. Launched in 2017, the awards ceremony is held annually at the Baltimore Comic-Con. Further details are available at www.ringoawards.com.
About the Baltimore Comic-Con:
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 18th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com
