Archie Comics’ Dan Parent Comes to Boston Comic Con 2014

Archie Comics writer and artist DAN PARENT makes his first appearance at Boston Comic Con for this year’s show!  A graduate of the Kubert School, Dan began working for Archie immediately after graduation. One of the most popular and prolific creators on the Archie roster, Dan is best known for creating the Riverdale gang’s first openly gay character, Kevin Keller. He has also worked on notable storylines including Archie’s first interracial romance with Valerie (of the Pussycats), and guest appearances by Barack Obama, KISS, George Takei, and the cast of Glee.

Previously announced guests include Jason Momoa, Jewel Staite, James Marsters, Eve Myles, Simon Bisley, Amanda Conner, Adam Kubert, Jeff Smith, Danielle Corsetto, Carlos Pacheco, Jimmy Palmiotti, Eric Powell, Gail Simone, Stan Sakai, and many more!

For the full guest list plus artist alley, exhibitor, and film fest registration please check out the Boston Comic Con website!

Online ticket purchases are available at the link! Tell your friends!

RSVP on Facebook!

About Boston Comic Con:
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 120,000 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. Next year’s convention will be held Friday August 8th, Saturday August 9th and Sunday August 10th at the Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Blvd, Boston, MA 02210. For more information please go to our website at www.bostoncomiccon.com and follow us on Twitter (@BostonComicCon) and Facebook!

CAPS Launches Stan & Sharon Sakai Benefit Auction on March 6th

**UPDATE** Auctions begin TODAY on eBay starting at 5PM PST/8PM EST at the link!!

Press Release:

CAPS TO LAUNCH ART AUCTION FEATURING ORIGINAL WORKS BY MATT GROENING, JACK DAVIS, MIKE MIGNOLA, J. SCOTT CAMPBELL, ADAM HUGHES AND HUNDREDS MORE TO BENEFIT FELLOW CARTOONIST STAN SAKAI AND FAMILY

On Thursday, March 6, 2014, Southern California’s CAPS, the Comic Art Professional Society, will launch an ongoing series of eBay auctions of original comic art. Its goal is to raise funds for medical care for Sharon Sakai, the wife of respected cartoonist and longtime CAPS member Stan Sakai, creator of the samurai rabbit USAGI YOJIMBO. Sharon has been battling a debilitating brain tumor for some time; after an extended hospital stay and convalescence, she is currently at home, but her condition requires 24-hour care and medicine that costs more than the Sakai’s insurance covers. 100% of the proceeds of these auctions will go directly to Stan and Sharon Sakai to help pay their ongoing medical expenses.

The CAPS auctions will be conducted through eBay.com beginning on Thursday, March 6, with a new set of auctions every following Thursday. Each auction, sold under the seller name of “CAPSauction”, will be ten days in length with twenty to forty items in each set of auctions. The donations of original artwork and collectibles (including newly created art unique to this event, vintage comic book pages, comic strips, illustrations, animation art, limited edition statues, and IDW Artist’s editions books) number over three hundred with new items arriving every day.

Contributors include: Adam Hughes, Alex Maleev, Arthur Adams, Batton Lash, Eric Powell, Jan Duursema, Jerry Ordway, Jordi Bernet, Matt Groening, Michael Allred, Mike Mignola, Paul Gulacy, Sanjuliàn, Scott Shaw!, Jim Steranko, Tim Sale, William Stout, Bill Sienkiewicz, Cameron Stewart, Dan Brereton, Daniel Parsons, Dave Gibbons, Dean Yeagle, Doug Sneyd, Dustin Nguyen, Bill Morrison, Tone Rodriguez, Sergio Aragonés, Fabio Moon, Francisco Francavilla, Gene Ha, Geof Darrow, Gilbert Hernandez, Jack Davis, James O’Barr, Kevin Eastman, Jeff Lemire, Jeff Smith, Kazu Kibuishi, Liam Sharp, Tom Richmond, Michael Jantze, Olivia, Oscar Martin, Paul Chadwick, Richard Corben, Tom Mandrake, Walter Simonson, Charles Vess, Dan Spiegle, J. Scott Campbell and many more.

Many of the pieces featuring Usagi Yojimbo will appear in a new oversized hardcover book from Dark Horse, THE SAKAI PROJECT: ARTISTS CELEBRATE THIRTY YEARS OF USAGI YOJIMBO, which will be released on July 23, 2014. All proceeds from this book will go to Stan and Sharon Sakai. Much of the custom Usagi Yojimbo art created for this book will also be sold as a part of CAPS’ online auctions.

These fund-raising auctions will be promoted through ComicArtFans.com, and the CAPS – COMIC ART PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY Facebook page where you will be able to see updated information such as when certain pieces will be auctioned.

Bone’s Jeff Smith Appears at Boston Comic Con 2014

Boston Comic Con is thrilled to welcome Bone creator JEFF SMITH to his first appearance st New England’s biggest comic book convention! The Bone series has entertained comic fans of all ages across the world and garnered heaps of accolades. In addition he has worked on SHAZAM: The Monster Society of Evil, created RASL, and currently writes and illustrates the webcomic TUKI, chronicling the journey of a prehistoric family. Be sure to catch this modern master of comics in a rare New England appearance! Tell your friends!

Previously announced guests include Jason Momoa, Jewel Staite, James Marsters, Eve Myles, Simon Bisley, Amanda Conner, Adam Kubert, Danielle Corsetto, Carlos Pacheco, Jimmy Palmiotti, Eric Powell, Gail Simone, Stan Sakai, and many more!

For the full guest list plus artist alley, exhibitor, and film fest registration please check out the Boston Comic Con website!

Online ticket purchases are available at the link! Tell your friends!

RSVP on Facebook!

About Boston Comic Con:
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 120,000 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. Next year’s convention will be held Friday August 8th, Saturday August 9th and Sunday August 10th at the Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Blvd, Boston, MA 02210. For more information please go to our website at www.bostoncomiccon.com and follow us on Twitter (@BostonComicCon) and Facebook!

Firefly’s Jewel Staite Comes to Boston Comic Con 2014

Boston Comic Con is excited to welcome JEWEL STAITE to our 2014 convention n August 8th – 10th! Jewel Staite is best known for playing Kaylee Frye, the cheerful ship’s mechanic, on Joss Whedon’s beloved space western series Firefly. Jewel made her feature film debut reprising the role in 2005′s Serenity. Since then she has gone on to portray Dr. Jennifer Keller on Syfy’s Stargate: Atlantis alongside fellow Boston Comic Con guest Jason Momoa. Jewel has also held roles on series including The Killing, State of Syn, Animism, The L.A. Complex, and Space Cases. Furthermore she has made appearances on several genre shows like Supernatural, The X-Files, and Warehouse 13.

Previously announced guests include Jason Momoa, James Marsters, Eve Myles, Simon Bisley, Amanda Conner, Adam Kubert, Danielle Corsetto, Carlos Pacheco, Jimmy Palmiotti, Eric Powell, Gail Simone, Stan Sakai, and many more!

For the full guest list plus artist alley, exhibitor, and film fest registration please check out the Boston Comic Con website!

Online ticket purchases are available at the link! Tell your friends!

RSVP on Facebook!

About Boston Comic Con:
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 120,000 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. Next year’s convention will be held Friday August 8th, Saturday August 9th and Sunday August 10th at the Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Blvd, Boston, MA 02210. For more information please go to our website at www.bostoncomiccon.com and follow us on Twitter (@BostonComicCon) and Facebook!

Dark Horse Announces The Sakai Project

Press Release:

The most amazing artists in the world have come together to celebrate thirty years of Stan Sakai’s marvelous samurai rabbit saga, Usagi Yojimbo, in a new oversized hardcover benefit book: The Sakai Project: Artists Celebrate Thirty Years of “Usagi Yojimbo”!

“It has been an absolute pleasure publishing Stan’s work over the years, and recently collaborating with him directly on 47 Ronin,” said Dark Horse’s president and founder, Mike Richardson. “With the thirtieth anniversary of his most beloved creation, Usagi, and in a time of need for Stan and his family, we are honored to publish this tribute to Stan and his work. We are donating all of the proceeds to Stan and his wife, Sharon. We hope you will join us in honoring one of the comics industry’s shining lights.”

The participating artists bring their own interpretations and their own styles to the subject, making this book a one-of-a-kind treasure.

The Sakai Project is produced in association with the Comic Art Professional Society (CAPS). All proceeds from this book will go to Stan and Sharon Sakai.

ADAM HUGHES | ALAIN MAURICET | ALEX MALEEV | ALLISON SOHN | ANDY GRENEN | ARTHUR ADAMS | BATTON LASH | BILL MORRISON | BRIAN CHING & MICHAEL ATIYEH | BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS | CARLOS D’ANDA & GABE ELTAEB | CHRIS SCALF | DAN PANOSIAN | DAVE GIBBONS | DAVID MACK | DOUG WHEATLEY | EDGAR DELGADO | ERIC POWELL | GABRIEL HARDMAN | GEOF DARROW | HOWARD CHAYKIN | JAN DUURSEMA | JEFF SMITH | JOYCE CHIN | MARK CRILLEY | MATT GROENING | MATT WAGNER | MICHAEL ALLRED | MICHAEL AVON OEMING | MICHAEL GOLDEN | MIKE KUNKEL | MIKE MIGNOLA | OSCAR MARTIN | PAUL GULACY | PAUL RENAUD | PHIL YEH | RICHARD CORBEN | SCOTT SHAW | SERGIO ARAGONÉS | STEPHANIE GLADDEN | TIM SALE | TOM MANDRAKE | TOM RICHMOND | WALTER SIMONSON | WILLIAM STOUT | & MORE!

Industry professionals, Dark Horse encourages your participation! The deadline for art submissions is February 20, 2014. For technical specifications and other information, e-mail Dark Horse at sakaiproject@darkhorse.com.

The Sakai Project will be released on July 23. Pre-order with your local comics retailer.

About Dark Horse

Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent, such as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, EVE Online, Halo, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.

 

Stan Sakai Announced as Keynote Speaker at MSU Comics Forum 2014

Press Release:

The 2014 MSU Comics Forum will take place on Feb. 21st and 22nd. The keynote address will occur on the first evening, Friday, February 21st, 2014, while the panel discussions and artist alley will happen the following day, Saturday, February 22nd, 2014. The location will be in Snyder/Phillips Hall on the campus of Michigan State University (the same locations as the past few years).

This year the MSU Comics Forum is proud to announce that award-winning comics creator, Stan Sakai, will be our guest of honor and keynote speaker on Friday, Feb 21st, 2014. Sakai is most known for his long-running anthropomorphic animal series, Usagi Yojimbo, which explores the culture and traditions of 17th century feudal Japan and has been published in 12 languages. Recently, Sakai completed an ambitious historical mini-series, 47 Ronin, a comics adaptation of Japan’s best known tale with publisher and writer, Mike Richardson. Sakai’s work has garnered him numerous Eisner Awards and in 2011 the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, CA presented a retrospective of his 30-year career.

Details at the website: www.comicsforum.msu.edu

Comic-Con International Announces 20 More Guests for SDCC 2014

Via the Toucan Blog:

SPECIAL GUESTS WAVE 2 IS HERE!

20 More Guests Announced for Comic-Con International 2014!

Comic-Con International introduces twenty more guests for the 2014 event, to be held July 24-27 at the San Diego Convention Center. This second wave of guests for 2014 includes creators from mainstream and alternative comics, graphic novels, manga, and mystery/thriller books, plus a pair of comics historians. For complete bios and larger photos of these guests, please click here to visit our CCI 2014 Special Guests page!

Confirmed for Comic-Con International 2014 are these additional special guests:

June Brigman, artist, co-creator, Power Pack

Mark Brooks, cover artist, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers

Colleen Coover, artist, co-creator, Bandette

Chuck Dixon, writer, Batman, Airboy

Francesco Francavilla, writer/artist, The Black Beetle, Afterlife with Archie

Brian Haberlin, artist, Witchblade, Anomaly

Gregg Hurwitz, author, Tell No Lies, Batman: The Dark Knight

Batton Lash, writer/cartoonist, Supernatural Law, The First Gentleman of the Apocalypse

Jim Lee, co-publisher, DC Entertainment; artist, Justice League, Superman Unchained

Paul Levitz, editor, former publisher, DC Comics; writer, World’s Finest

Sara Mayhew, writer/artist, Legend of the Ztarr

Michelle Nolan, comics/pop culture historian, Love on the Racks, Ball Tales

Denny O’Neil, writer/editor, Batman, Green Lantern/Green Arrow

John Picacio, artist, A Song of Ice and Fire, Elric of Melnibone

Mimi Pond, cartoonist, Over Easy

Stan Sakai, creator, writer, cartoonist, Usagi Yojimbo

Jeff Smith, creator, writer/artist, Bone, RASL, Little Mouse Gets Ready

J. Michael Straczynski, creator, writer, Ten Grand, Sidekick, The Adventures of Apocalypse Al

Maggie Thompson, writer/editor/comics historian, Comics Buyer’s Guide

Paul Tobin, writer, co-creator, Bandette, Colder

Stay tuned for more special guest announcements for Comic-Con International 2014, coming soon!

Boston Comic Con Returns in August 2014

Boston Comic Con has announced its initial details for next year’s convention! Following the phenomenal success of the 2013 show, the 2014 convention will again be held in August at the Seaport World Trade Center on Boston’s historic waterfront. The promoters have added an additional day to the convention which is scheduled to run Friday August 8th till Sunday August 10th. Joining the festivities this year is an all-star list of comic creators including: Rafael Albuquerque, Tim Bradstreet, Amanda Conner, Mike Kunkel, Jorge Molina, Dustin Nguyen, Jimmy Palmiotti, Carlos Pacheco, Ramón Pérez, Esad Ribic, Gail Simone, Cat Staggs, and many more! Additionally, the first media guests have been announced: Torchwood’s Eve Myles and Spike himself, James Marsters! More will be added over the coming months so be sure to follow Boston Comic Con on Facebook and Twitter!

For the full guest list plus artist alley, exhibitor, and film fest registration please check out the Boston Comic Con website! Online ticket purchases are available at the link! Tell your friends!

RSVP on Facebook!

About Boston Comic Con:

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 120,000 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. Next year’s convention will be held Friday August 8th, Saturday August 9th and Sunday August 10th at the Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Blvd, Boston, MA 02210. For more information please go to our website at www.bostoncomiccon.com and follow us on Twitter (@BostonComicCon) and Facebook!

OR – The Lure of the Samurai

Stan Sakai and Mike Richardson appear at the Portland Art Museum on Saturday, November 2, 2013 from noon till 3:00 PM!

RSVP on Facebook!

Press Release:

The Rabbit Samurai in Portland: Stan Sakai on Usagi Yojimbo

Whitsell Auditorium

Comic artist Stan Sakai, creator of Usagi Yojimbo, visits the Portland Art Museum to talk about his award-winning series and to share insights on his drawing techniques in a live demonstration. In 1984, Sakai created the beloved saga of the “rabbit samurai” Usagi Yojimbo, a character inspired by the life of the famous 17th-century samurai Miyamoto Musashi. Usagi lives without a master during an age of unrest and political intrigue, wandering the land on a musha shugyo (warrior’s pilgrimage), and occasionally selling his services as a bodyguard. Sakai’s stories and drawings include faithful references to Edo period (1603-1867) Japanese history and folklore, architecture, armor, and weapons. Usagi Yojimbo is also heavily influenced by Japanese cinema and includes references to the work of Akira Kurosawa (the title of the series is derived from Kurosawa’s 1961 filmYojimbo) and to icons of popular Japanese cinema such as Lone Wolf and Cub, Zatoichi, and Godzilla. Stan is the recipient of a Parents’ Choice Award, an Inkpot Award, an American Library Association Award, a Harvey Award, four Spanish Haxtur Awards, and several Eisner Awards. In 2003, he won the prestigious National Cartoonists Society Award in the Comic Book Division, and in 2011 Stan received the Cultural Ambassador Award from the Japanese American National Museum.

1:30 p.m.

The Lure of the Samurai: A conversation with Stan Sakai and Mike Richardson

Whitsell Auditorium

Two legendary figures in the comic art world, Stan Sakai and Mike Richardson, come together to talk about their passion for all things samurai. Why is the figure of the samurai such an enduring subject in the popular imagination, especially for comic artists and readers? Mike Richardson is the founder and president of Portland-based Dark Horse Comics. He and artist Stan Sakai recently collaborated on the short series 47 Ronin, among the best-known tales in Japanese history. The legend of the 47 Ronin and their epic mission to avenge their disgraced master epitomizes the samurai code of honor and has been endlessly interpreted throughout the ages. Learn more about how Richardson and Sakai brought their creative energies together for this critically acclaimed series.

1:00 p.m.
2:30 p.m.

Book Signings

Stan Sakai will sign copies of his books at 1:00pm and will be joined by Mike Richardson at 2:30pm following their conversation. Bring your own copies or visit the Museum Shop to purchase selected titles.

Download free Usagi Yojimbo video game

In conjunction with Samurai!, the Museum is pleased to present a special free version of Usagi Yojimbo: Way of the Ronin, a new video game based on the comic book. It is the first video game in 25 years featuring characters from the award-winning Usagi Yojimbo comic-book series by Stan Sakai. Players who visit Samurai! Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collectiongain access to a special passcode that will allow them to unlock a special level of the game. The video game was developed by Happy Giant in association with Dark Horse Comics. Developed exclusively for Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Licensed with permission.

Tickets $20, free for museum members. Ticket includes entry to both the noon and 1:30 talks, as well as admission to Samurai!and other Museum exhibitions. Purchase advance tickets online. This event is a partnership between the Museum and Dark Horse Comics.

Portland Art Museum
1219 SW Park Avenue Portland, OR 97205
503-226-2811

MA – Usagi Yojimbo & Way of the Ronin Lecture

Stan Sakai appears at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA on Saturday, May 11, 2013 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm! RSVP on Facebook!

Press Release:

Usagi Yojimbo comic series creator Stan Sakai and video-game company HappyGiant talk about the award-winning comic, new video game, and their creative processes.

*FREE tickets available, while supplies last, on the day of the event at 10 am, in person only, at any MFA ticket desk.  Please note capacity is limited.

The MFA has partnered with comic book creator Stan Sakai and video game company HappyGiant (in association with Dark Horse Comics) to develop in-game content for a special free version of its new video game based on the comic book Usagi Yojimbo: Way of the Ronin.  It is the first video game in 25 years featuring characters from the award-winning Usagi Yojimbo (“Rabbit Bodyguard”) comic book series, an epic saga about a masterless samurai (ronin) rabbit living at the turn of 17th-century Japan. Players who visit the MFA’s exhibition “Samurai!” gain access to a special passcode that will allow them to unlock a special level of the game.

About Stan Sakai:

Stan Sakai was born in Japan and, after spending much of his life in Hawaii, is currently based in Pasadena, California. In 1984, he created the saga of Usagi Yojimbo, a comic book inspired by the life of the famous 17th-century samurai, Miyamoto Musashi.  Usagi Yojimbo has earned four Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, a National Cartoonists Society Award, an American Library Association Award, and a Parent’s Choice Award. Usagi lives without a master during an age of unrest and political intrigue, wandering the land on a musha shugyo (warrior’s pilgrimage) and occasionally selling his services as a bodyguard. His stories include many references to Japanese history and folklore, and the architecture, clothes, weapons, and other objects are faithfully drawn to Edo period (1603–1867) style. Usagi Yojimbo is heavily influenced by Japanese cinema and has included references to the work of Akira Kurosawa (the title of the series is derived from Kurosawa’s 1960 film Yojimbo) and to icons of popular Japanese cinema such as Lone Wolf and Cub, Zatoichi, and Godzilla.

About HappyGiant:

Video-game creator HappyGiant, a Massachusetts-based company, was founded by veterans of the George Lucas Companies, Pileated Pictures, and Atari.  HappyGiant projects include high-profile work for Hasbro, Jay-Z, and its own app Dolphin Paradise: Wild Friends.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Avenue of the Arts
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-5523
617-267-9300

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