The Guardian Project comes to life today at the NHL All Star game, on the Versus Network at 4 pm ET. This will be the kick-off of the largest group of new superheroes in comic history. Each team has their very own hero, with unique abilities. With 30 original superheroes, Stan Lee has truly mastered a huge undertaking. Today, we get to see what the very first mission is that the Guardians undertake to protect the world.
My Hometown Team!
Over the past few weeks, they have been releasing photos of their heroes on the Guardian Project Facebook page. Video clips of the heroes have also been seen on the Versus network. Each of these Guardians have been designed by the great Neal Adams.
This new universe keeps sounding better and better, and I am getting more and more excited. Go check out The Guardian Project now!
But not for the reasons you think. As you may remember, I'm a big V fan. I enjoyed the show's first season immensely. However, Warner Bros., who produces V, is ruining Season 2 for me.
I was so excited about the premiere. The spoiler clips I saw at NYCC this year were great, and the cast seemed so excited with what's to come. However, the night of the premiere, life got in the way and I missed it. Now I wasn't worried, I knew that I could watch it online. I waited until I had a chance to go on hulu to check it out.
Little did I know that Warner pulled the streaming rights for the show. Not even ABC can show it on their player. I even resorted to trying to get it illegally, but I all I got was a stinkin' virus.
Now, I'm no expert, but if you have a show on the bubble, don't you want to make it available to fans, not to mention, potential new viewers? It seems a little backwards to me to cut off fans. And this happening after the Buffy movie drama makes me think that Warner Bros is out to kill everything I love. Not that I'm paranoid......
Yes, the season premiere that I'm super excited about, V returns tonight!! Will Erica find Tyler, will Lisa take an active role in the Fifth Column, will Anna have babies?! Not to mention, Jane Badler as Diana! Find out when you tune in!
Back in November, I posted some spoilers for the upcoming season that I learned at the NYCC panel. If you want a small insight into what's to come, go read it. If not, just know that I saw some clips from the first few episodes and this season looks A-MAZ-ING!
Can you believe that 2010 is over?! We have been so lucky this year with the starting of [insertgeekhere] and we all want to say thank you for supporting us! Without readers like you, we would just be mindlessly babbling on a street corner. Again.
Here is a little recap of our favorite posts from 2010:
I love this post because its is not traditional geek. It was truly a great hour of television that covered a terrible event, and it deserved to be recognized.
My Epic Con Fails
Who hasn't had a wacky disaster or two happen at a con? I love this post because, not only are the situations funny, but I can also see them in a movie as a montage of the various mishaps which lead to the one con that proves to be the most perfect in every way one. Plus, regardless of what happened, Wilderowens got to talk to Wil Wheaton, and that by itself makes her and this awesome.
I'm a patient guy by nature, and it always annoys me when I see the uber-fan acting like a jerk and giving all us normal fans a bad name. I know we'll never get to the nerd-utopia that we all wish for, but it'd be nice if everyone would take a look at themselves and assess their own actions for once. Here's hoping for a friendlier fan in 2011.
From all of us at [insertgeekhere] we want to wish everyone a Happy & Safe New Year! We'll look forward to more geeky excitement in 2011!
I'm usually not a fan of end-of-year remembrances; in fact I never read them. However, I feel like this has to be put out there: Was 2010 the Year of the Zombie? I say this because I feel like zombies were so hip that they were shoved down my throat as they tried to rip it out.
In all fairness, it really started (for me at least) in July at SDCC. So this is really the six months of Zombie but year sounds better. Zombies were everywhere, from merchandise to the zombie march to costumed zombies to the giant The Walking Dead panel. Yes, TWD, I blame you. ;) Thinkgeek started pushing their huge amount of zombie merch and TWD books were flying off the shelves. NYCC was the same, if not worse. Now with the success of TWD, this will only continue. There are zombie web series, and humorous zombie holiday shorts. Soon, who knows?
To be honest, Zombies freak me out. I still watched The Walking Dead, and liked it despite the nightmares. My only fear/desire is that zombies will mainstream to the point that they sparkle. I would hate it but am damn curious to see how it can be done.
Prediction for 2011: Year of the Frankenstein. I need more evil resurrection in my life.
So I had a very interesting Thanksgiving with a very interesting dinner guest......Rorschach!
While he was a little cranky about being bothered on his vacation, he was nice enough to pick the two lucky winners of the "Con in a Bag" giveaway! And the winners are.....
Have you read Firebreather yet? It is the classic tale of the outcast kid in high school, with the nerdy best friend, the girl he has a crush on, his overprotective Mom and his demon of a father. Not to mention his government escort...and the fact that he is part dragon. Trapped between worlds, he fights to just find a place to belong. Duncan has the makings of the classic hero in training with a daddy complex.
Courtesy of Cartoon Network
I had the pleasure of meeting creators Phil Hester and Andy Kuhn briefly at New York Comic Con after only reading the one-shot of "The Iron Saint". It was one of those moments where I completely ignored both of them and just went straight for the book, excited to see this character I had just begun to learn about. They were both so excited to meet me (still have no idea why) and they encouraged me to keep reading, so I just got the latest issue today so I can keep up with this amazing series. While talking with them, they both seemed super excited about this film and reaching a whole new audience. Unfortunately, I missed the premiere at NYCC (grrrr) but I have my second chance tonight (yay!) at 7pm EST, when it premieres on Cartoon Network! This is Cartoon Networks first CGI movie, and it looks great. (I'm not 100% sure but I think that Duncan looks too humanbut I am going to hold off on complaining until I see the movie.) Tune in tonight!
Can you believe it's November already? As the 2010 Con year comes to a close, do you feel that you missed out? Well no worries, we have the "Con Experience" for you. At New York Comic Con, we got so much stuff that we created the ultimate NYCC gift bag, including everything and anything you might have picked up. Free comics? Check. Random Flyers? Check. T-shirt with weird advertising? Check. Pins? Big Check. That's not all! There is even more fun and randomness in the bag! Oh, did I say bag? I meant bags, because we have TWO to give away!!!
To enter, tweet the magic phrase "I want my "Con in a Bag" from @IGHInsider!"
@Wilderowens here with a little insanity break. I have been reading all of the NYCC reviews and recaps about other people's experiences. Everyone loves to talk about all of the awesome people we meet or the cool stuff we do at cons. Well, sometimes it isn't always so easy or fun for us. I personally can think of 5 things I wish I could do over at New York Comic and San Diego Comic Con. Please join me in lamenting over my Epic Con Fails:
5 - At my first NYCC, I thought I was so prepared. I had just made it into the Chronicles of Narnia panel and thought I had figured out all of the good stuff to do that day. I was so excited until I learned that I missed out on a easy to get into Seth Green signing. I had mistakely thought it was later in the day. The panel wasn't even that good.
4 - At this year's NYCC, I had a guaranteed Frank Miller bracelet for his signing. I thought that was so awesome considering that they are so hard to get. Except I couldn't find the person who had it for me in time.
3 - At my second NYCC, I had my research done (I learned from my mistakes), and had everything I needed when I walked into the Javits Center....except my ticket.
2 - At this years SDCC, I had another chance to meet Seth Green. I waited on line for two hours to meet him and was second in line. As you now know from above, I had been dying to meet him for years. Now I had my chance. Seth Green is a classy guy.... I'm not so classy. I was so tired at this point and so driven to get this autograph (since this really was years in the making!) that I kinda went crazy. I had given my camera to someone for a pic and they asked if we were ready. I said loudly, "Let's take a pic!" and proceeded to grab Seth Green and put my arm around him. I even pressed my cheek against his. When I walked away and began to calm down, I realized how crazy I was acting. I even considered going back to apologize, but that probably would have made it even worse. Now this isn't the first time I have met or even worked professionally with a celebrity, but this was the first and only time I lost control.
1 - At this year's SDCC, I made it to the Eureka screening, and sat through a weird Klingon play just to get in the second row. All for a good pic of Wil Wheaton. My friend, who didn't come, and I are both harboring huge crushes on him. Wil speaks and then sits down, right in front of me! I have brilliant plan of having him hold up a sign I wrote saying hi to my friend while I take a picture. I quickly write out a sign, turn on my camera and go up to him right before the screening starts to ask. For the record, Wil Wheaton is awesome. He says yes and holds up the sign. I step back to take the picture, my camera shuts down right then, the lights dim and his handler says "You have to return to your seat." Wil Wheaton hands me back the sign and says sorry. I had thought I might have a shot after the screening but he left early. That sucked so much, I thought I would die. I hate my camera.
After writing this, I am torn between laughing and crying at my exploits. Please share some of your embarrassing experiences too so I don't feel so lonely!
@Wilderowens here with more NYCC info. While at NYCC, the whole team was able to attend the Guardian Project Panel starring Stan Lee! (Unfortunately, we were not allowed cameras or recording devices, so I will do my best to explain what we saw through words and mime.) To be honest, we had no idea what this panel was about, just that there was a Stan Lee signing attached. That sold us. We were near the front of the line and waited for about two hours, just chatting with Deadpool and working on our schedules.
As part of this panel, we got limited edition numbered posters designed by Neal Adams, which is neat. So going in, we rush to get as close as we can to Stan..I mean, the stage. Still no clue what's going on. Then it starts....
I have to take a minute to talk about introductions. At these events, the moderator introduces each panelist with some small details. However, big names don't get introductions because everyone knows them. Stan Lee, well he hates being introduced as "the Man that needs no introduction", so he was kindly introduced as "The Man Who Loves People" Stan Lee!
The Guardian Project is a joint venture with the National Hockey League, but is not going to be a hockey story. The main protagonist will be a human boy who has the ability to summon a number of heroes with a wide range of unique powers. The heroes will be original creations from Stan Lee, each based on an NHL team. There weren't any clarifications made about the actual plot, but based on what we saw it seemed kind of like a Ben 10-esque action show targeting a younger audience.
Stan Lee talked about how he played street hockey as a kid and how excited he was to work on this. He was originally going to do this with another unnamed league but they dropped out at the last minute. He loves hockey so to do this with the NHL seems like his dream come true. Stan Lee was the one who brought Neal Adams in to create the art, which is spectacular.
We also heard from some staffers on the project and learned some fun facts. This project took eight years to figure out how to work a story around the teams. The NHL saw this as a great way to connect with their younger fan base. They truly wanted to be partners in this project. We got to see an exclusive trailer with the characters. (And this is where the mime begins.) We saw all 30 characters but they ran by very, very quickly for the most part. The one that really stuck with me was the San Jose Sharks hero, who was a regular guy with a shark head. He looked really cool. They also showcased the NY Rangers hero (way to play to the crowd) and he was an actually ranger! The one that they featured the most was the LA Kings, who appears to be the centerpiece of the NHL Guardians. In the video, they also talked about motion capturing actors to simulate the heroes, which leads me to believe that this might also be a TV series but nothing was clarified.
The initial reaction from comic book fans that I spoke with about this was a not-so-optimistic reaction. I have to admit, my first thought was similar, but after they kept talking about it, I began to change my mind.
1- They are creating brand new characters, not reusing the mascots.
2- The stories are told in the hockey world, but not about hockey.
3- These comics are not for you and me, they are being written for a youth crowd. That makes a lot more sense.
Their big reveal is on January 30, 2011 in Raleigh, NC. Stay tuned here for more updates.
As a fan of the comic, I was excited and a little apprehensive going into this panel. I wanted to know more about the movie but worried the movie, now with additional characters, was going to take away from what made RED so great.
I had thought the panel was going to be crowded so I left the panel I had been in, Intro to Animation Voice-over Acting with Stevie Vallance, a few minutes early, hoping to slip into the panel before RED. That panel was the Spotlight on Ne-Yo. Imagine my surprise when nearly everyone left after Ne-Yo was finished and the room was empty. Where were the hoards of people rushing to get a good seat? At the beginning of the panel there were, at most, a dozen people in the room. I was disappointed by the turnout.
The people who were going to be talking were Ben Abernathy, the editor of the comic, VP and General Manager, Hank Kanalz, and one of the men who brought the world of RED to life, artist Cully Hamner. I think they were a little surprised by the lack of people but once they started talking, it didn't matter.
Cully was asked how RED came into being. He explained how he and Warren Ellis had wanted to work together but never got around to it, and finally around '02 - '03, Cully whipped up a brief treatment of a story and sent it to Warren, asking what he thought. Warren responded by saying he was just going to get in touch with Cully because he had something else in mind. It was RED. After that, everything fell into place pretty quickly and they went to work.
A few of other interesting points:
According to Ben Abernathy, they liked the idea of a small miniseries and the three issue format of RED was something they were going to try with other stories/projects. I don't know if that ever really happened.
RED was the last project Cully worked on which was hand lettered. Lettering was done by John Costanza.
RED is currently in its third printing.
Cully is working on the prequel to RED, called Red Eyes Only. It tells the story of why Moses decided to retire. Cully knows it's late; he accepted the blame for it, but it's because he's putting his guts into it.
The reason for RED's unique three panel cover is because Cully felt that Warren Ellis' script was so movement oriented (it is!) he didn't want to use a single static image, and instead, opted to use three sequential panels.
They talked about the prequel comics that came out for the movie. Each one gives some background to the other characters. The art styles work very well for each individual character. My favorite comment during this was Cully saying the comic about Morgan Freeman's character was written so you could practically hear Morgan Freeman narrating the comic using his "Shawshank Voice."
After everyone had talked for a little bit, they showed an extended trailer for the movie, found out what RED stands for (see title), and then opened the floor up to questions. Some highlights were:
Was Cully surprised by the actors who were picked? More like flabbergasted. He said each week he'd get a call and another big name would be attached to the picture like Bruce Willis or Ernest Borgnine. He could believe such star power wanted to be a part of it.
When he draws, does he think about what he's working on could be eventually turned into a movie? No, he thinks cinematically but in terms of doing the comic justice. He never thinks past that. As Cully put it, "I'm a comic book guy."
How involved was he with the movie? (This was one of my favorite stories) Cully wasn't involved and at the time of the panel, had not seen the movie, but he did visit the set in New Orleans. When he got there he saw that the RED trade paperback was all over the set, being used for references, and on the back of all the set chairs was his art and logo. They even sent him his own canvas chair backing with his name and the logo on it.
Did Cully have anyone in mind when he drew Moses? Warren Ellis had dinner with Patrick Stewart one evening and remarked to Cully how impressed he was by how hard and fit Patrick was. So Moses is part Patrick Stewart with some Sean Connery thrown in and little bits and pieces of other guys Cully didn't mention. He said when he draws he tries to pull from faces he's familiar with and goes from there.
This wasn't the most exciting panel I went to during Comic Con but I really enjoyed it. Cully Hamner is a very interesting guy and I could listen to him talk about his process for a long time. By the end of the panel, there were more people listening but again, I was really surprised by how few people were there. I also wanted to yell at the people who had been there the whole time and kept asking Cully questions about the movie, even after he said he had not seen it.
The movie looks like it's going to be a lot of fun. It has a stellar cast and it appears as if they kept the tone of the comics. It opens tomorrow, October 15, and I hope many of you go to see it. - wysefyre
@Getsuyobi here for our third and final recap of our day at New York Comic Con. Sunday held a lot of special events at the con: Kid's Day, Movie Screenings, Special Panels and last but not least, our own personal Legends Day. As you may have read in our Friday recap, we scored not one or two but three tickets to the Guardian Project Stan Lee signing this afternoon. In addition to looking forward to that, it was also the day we planned on camping for signatures from the Romita family. How did it all go? Well... we had successes and frustrations, but in the end we escaped the day with our coveted autographs.
Before the drama, let's talk about what else was going on in Con-Land on Sunday. As I mentioned it was Kid's Day at NYCC and the young nerds-to-be were out in full force. Children under 12 got in free and there were plenty of activities planned to focus on this huge demographic of tiny people. Animated Heroes had a big presence with the premiere of Cartoon Network's "Firebreather", a Ben 10 Celebration for 10/10/10, Marvel's Super Hero Squad, and many more presentations and panels. There were also lots of constructive events like drawing lessons and lightsaber training. The best part of it all was probably the adorable costumes the kids got to dress up in. It looked like Party City's Halloween section exploded in the lobby. We got to see little heroes, Jedis and even what appeared to be a lightsaber toting hobbit (for real).
There were also plenty of "adult" events going on (not like that, perv!). With panels for AMC's The Walking Dead, the 10th anniversary of Unbreakable, a screening of the new full length Gundam 00 movie, and spotlights featuring the likes of John Romita Jr. & Sr. and the cult legend, Bruce Campbell. Many of these were on our schedule for the day, but unfortunately most were missed. As promised we have a tale of heartache and drama for the last day of Comic Con 2010.
It started as any other Con day would, masses of people of all ages walking to the Javits Center with their poster tubes and foam swords in hand. Our first priority of the day, mine especially, was the last Autograph Alley session with the Romita family. If you don't know who the Romitas are (shut your head in a door), they are a father and son duo who both have an amazing body of work in the comic industry. Most notably each penciled for Amazing Spider-Man in their respective generations. I was the first on line at the table at 10:30am for the noon signing. I got to speak with some other die hard fans while waiting, and wait we did... well past noon. Due to a scheduling snafu (yeah I said snafu) the Romitas were not aware that close to 100 fans were waiting on line to meet and greet them. The staff at the Alley and the team at the Marvel booth were very sympathetic and did everything they could to get people to another scheduled signing at the Marvel booth. The [insertgeekhere] team ran into a unique dilemma however; while we were promised places in line if we went to the Marvel booth, we now had only 15 minutes before the ticketed Stan Lee signing. Luckily, a very helpful NYCC Hero was able to work with us and alert the booth that if we could make it they'd let us in. So, dejected but still hopeful, we headed downstairs to meet Mr. Lee.
The Stan "The Man" Lee signing was a ticketed raffle event from the Guardian Project (more on that later, we promise) panel on Friday. As we waited on line we got to chat with some other lucky winners. One of whom was actually already a reader of IGH! Before we knew it the line began to move and we were all very excited, that is until the line kept moving past the room and up the escalator... confused glances were exchanged and questions to the staff went unanswered. Like lost sheep, we each followed the person in front of us hoping that our journey was not to a slaughterhouse. The line quickly dissolved as we were led through the main lobby of the Javits Center and some courageous leadership by our own @Wysefyre kept most of us together. We were led to a balcony meeting room and we all hastily formed a new line holding our tickets up so that others could find us in the crowd of the lobby. A little annoyed, but happy to have gotten through, everyone started to get out their various prints and books out for the signing. Then we were told by a staff member that Mr. "The Man" would only be signing the poster that was given out at the Guardian Project panel... the same one that many did not have on them because no such instruction was given at the panel. Annoyance turned to anger as we felt more and more like we were being toyed with. The angry fans who did not have a poster were able to negotiate a signature on their raffle ticket, but nothing more. Once the signing started it was a cattle drive through as guards took the posters from the fans and handed them to Stan, who in turn signed them and put them on the table to be retrieved. The whole event was being videotaped and photographed for their own PR and the already disheartened fans were asked to step aside and not block their shots of Stan signing like a robot.
After the Stan Lee debacle we raced to the Marvel booth, where the staff from Autograph Alley was able to get us to the front of the line. We all got our signatures from the Romitas as well as genuine apologies for the scheduling error that led to our morning drama. After surviving all of that the team was pretty much shot. We'd had a roller coaster ride of emotions and traveled the length of the jam-packed Con floor twice over. One last sweep of the floor to say hello to the Blind Ferret crew and the Tenacious Toys team and we decided that we'd take a lunch break and ended the day at Burgers & Cupcakes on 9th Ave. On the way out we were met with some karmic fortune and actually ran into Mark Waid, lead writer for multiple Marvel titles and the creator and writer of Irredeemable from BOOM! Expecting nothing more than to be able to gush a little and express our appreciation for his work we were all thrilled when he offered to sign something for us and even take a picture!
In much higher spirits we enjoyed a great lunch of custom burgers and gourmet cupcakes. I had a burger with cheddar and double-thick bacon, then for dessert a marble cupcake with chocolate and peanut butter ganache. With only an hour left of the Con we decided to lick our wounds (and cupcakes) and call it a early day. As we all dozed on the train home, we reflected on all the ups and downs of the day. It was by far the strangest close of a Con for any of us and we all will have lots more opinions and thoughts to share. Over the next few days, we all plan to review our notes and come out with some more in-depth reviews and commentaries, so please stay tuned for more. If you want to know when we do update, give us a follow @IGHInsider.
Wilderowens here with our Quickie Recap for Day 2.
We all overslept so we got to the hall around 11am. Getsuyobi went to wander the floor in search of comic book cover prints while Wysefyre and I went to the ReedPop resume session. I was able to talk with a member of their HR team about possible career opportunities and Wysefyre asked about volunteering. After that, Wysefyre started a crazy amount of panels, and I wandered the floor.
During my wanderings, I met so many great people, so here is the rundown. First up, Mike Cavallaro, the artist for The Life and Times of Savior 28 (and the number one thing I was looking forward to). It was awesome to talk with him and exchange contact info. I plan to write more about him and Savior 28 in the future. I learned about another project he worked on called Foiled and also met Jane Yolen, the writer. I got the first book and learned that they are working on the second one.
I met Matthew Dow Smith when I got a copy of the Supernatural comic signed for my sister. He also works on the Dr. Who comics, which I must start to read. I continued to wander and found a copy of Firebreather and got it autographed by Phil Hester and Andy Kuhn. They are premiering the Cartoon Network movie tomorrow! Finally, I got to hang with the great Georges Jeanty. He is the main artist for the Buffy comics and quite possibly the friendliest guy I know. Love him and his work!
While I was hobknobbing, Getsuyobi was at The Thing panel and Wysefyre was at a whole bunch of panels. She was in an amazing Voiceover panel that she hasn't stopped talking about, that was run by Emmy-winning vocal director, Stevie Vallance. She attended the LXD panel, which is an amazing dance group that has a web series. This group also includes our favorite Glee dancer, Harry Shum Jr. or as you know him, Mike Chang.
After lunch, I went to the V Panel (also on my list) and there was so much goodness in that panel that all I can say is wow. I promise to elaborate soon. :) Getsyobi and Wysefyre attended the Comedy Central panels:Ugly Americans and Nick Swardson's Pretend Time. I couldn't make it inside but I could hear the laughter and all I heard was how funny it was.
For tomorrow, we have Legends Day. We have our Stan Lee tickets and we are going to get on the line for the John Romita, Sr. & Jr. signing. If you are on the line, find us! We always love a good line party.
Day one of New York Comic Con is over and we are now slowly recovering and preparing for day two. We'll go into more details about the panels after NYCC but here's a brief recap of the day for the IGH team.
Getsuyobi and I got on to the exhibition hall around 12-12:15. We had all upgraded to the VIP passes and that alone made it worthwhile. Wilderowens, unfortunately, had to deal with her day job and joined us about an hour later. We walked around the somewhat empty floor, checking out the booths and picking up fun, free swag. Video games were tested, Yeti codes were looked for with blacklights over at the Animal Planet booth (check it out, it's awesome!), we got to see some amazing costumes and then we headed over to the Cultyard.
The Cultyard was cool. We saw a lot of great vendors. One of our favorites was the RockLove. Her jewelry is amazing. Wilderowens and I each got the Zydrate Gun necklace. We will be talking more about RockLove later on. We also got to make good on a promise to bring cookies to Marvel's own Jeff Suter. While on our quest to find him, we also got to meet Tim Dillon, which made me happy because I've been following him on Twitter for a long time and wanted to say hi. Then Wilderowens went in search for the elusive and coveted Frank Miller signing bracelet and Getsuyobi and I went downstairs to enjoy overpriced pretzels, sit and chat with tired Con goers and check out the panels.
This is the point of the adventure where we hit some troubled waters. Stan Lee was going to be doing a panel after one I had really wanted to go to. The plan had been to go to the X-Men panel and stay for Stan Lee. However, because the Stan Lee Guardian panel involved tickets to a signing with Stan, the room was to be emptied after X-Men. Since meeting Stan is a huge opportunity, the decision was made to give up X-Men and wait on line for Stan. Getsuyobi and I snagged a spot right at the front of the line and Wilderowens joined us shortly, her quest for the bracelet ending in disappointment. :( We camped out on the line for nearly two hours and made friends with several of the people around us, including the gal who will eventually become Slutty Big Bird and Deadpool.
The panel information says that in order to go to that signing, attendance at the Guardian panel was required, but no one knew how that was going to be handled. We had hoped that by getting on line early, they would be handing out tickets at the door and the first 60-100 people who got in would get the tickets. It turned out not to be the case. We were all let into the room and during the panel, told to check under our seats for a ticket. I don't know how we got so lucky but all three of us scored a ticket and we're going to meet Stan Lee on Sunday!!! We're so excited about this but do wish they had been a little clearer about what was going to happen.
After we got out and finished celebrating our ridiculously amazing good fortune, we headed over to catch the second half of the "Note to the Spiderman IV Movie People: Be True to Your Parker" with Tom DeFalco and, who I think was, Fred Van Lente. It was a fun fan forum-type panel that had a very funny crowd. Then we had hoped to learn more about how to be better bloggers at the Geek's Guide to Podcasting and Blogging panel but were disappointed to find it was a panel entirely about podcasting. Oh well. We were all starving at that point anyway, so we cut out early and went to Ben's Restaurant for dinner.
At Ben's, they were having a rehearsal for their new interactive comedy, The Bar Mitzvah of Harry Boychick. It was interesting trying to eat dinner with people coming up to you, trying to get you to participate but the best part was just as we were getting ready to head over to the Geek Girls Network tweet up, the drama started to unfold and getting out was a little difficult. We wanted to know what happened but we also really wanted to leave. It looks like it'll be a really fun show and we'll try to come back and see it.
The tweet up was held at Stitch Bar & Lounge and featured the music of Kirby Krackle. Lots of fun was had, though it was a little difficult to hear the person standing next to you. We got to meet new people and catch up with others we hadn't seen in a while. We then decided it was time for sleep and headed home, hoping to go to bed at a semi-respectable hour, so we'd be ready for day two of the con because day two is always more insane than day one. More people, more panels, more chaos, and more fun! We are doing our best to tweet when we can, so keep watch on our twitter @IGHInsider!
So if you are not at NY Comic Con or you are but looking for more fun stuff to do, make sure you follow our twitter @IGHInsider. We will be updating with NYCC goodness throughout the day and night. If there is something you hear about, or something you want more info about, send us a tweet. We will try to get you all of the information you want!
We have also created an ever-growing list of people that are tweeting during con, so make sure you follow that too for the latest info. If there is someone missing, let us know.
We hope to see you or hear from you for NY Comic Con 2010!
With less than one week to go, we're working out our final "plan of attack." We have different things we are going after, so we're sharing our top 5 picks.
Wilderowens Picks
1. Mike Cavallaro - The Artist for The Life and Times of Savior 28
I never enjoyed a comic book like I enjoyed Savior 28. This book tells the story of the fall from grace of the worlds favorite Superhero. The art reminds me of classic Action Comics or Captain America and the story is a haunting portrayal of what happens to those we admire, especially in America. This is the comic book that I truly enjoyed and can't wait to thank him for it.
2. The V Panel
One of the panels I wanted to see at San Diego Comic Con that I just didn't make it into. I think this is an awesome show that pushes some boundaries, especially for network TV. Since the show doesn't come back until November, there may be some great spoilers for the new season.
3. The Unbreakable Panel
This movie is my favorite Shamalayn movie, so celebrating it during con is a highlight for me. Yes, I know that this isn't really recent but sometimes it is a good thing to remember the past enjoyments. And, considering all those involved in the film, those "special surprises" could be pretty awesome.
4. Artist Alley
The best thing at NYCC is Artist Alley. It is huge, filled with artists from every area of the comic world and they are all willing to hang out with you. Every year, I pick up amazing pieces of art from artists that I love and artists that I just met. If you want to connect with the heart of the comic world, spend some time in Artist Alley.
5. The Cultyard
I am not really sure how this will turn out but I am excited. It is being billed as a eclectic grouping of vendors with a lot of artistic talent. With all of the vendors there, I foresee myself spending a lot of money.
Wysefyre's Picks
1. Stan Lee, John Romita Sr. and John Romita Jr.
I don't think I need to explain much about this. These men are icons and their words and art showed me a different way to tell a story and ultimately set me on the path to geekdom. I am willing to wait outside all night, if it means I get a chance to say thank you to any or all of these men. If not, I'll settle for seeing them in panel.
2. The LXD featuring John. M. Chu
The LXD are some of the most amazing dancers you will ever see and if you're a Gleek, you'll recognize Harry Shum, Jr. (Mike aka the other Asian)as one of their dancers. The dance series can be viewed on Hulu or their website. Director Jon M. Chu (Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up 3D) will be showing a sneak preview and answering questions.
3. Anime Press Your Luck
I grew up watching games shows and this was by far, one of my favorites. It was the Whammys. They got me every time. While I'm not a huge anime fan, I think it's a perfect fit for Press Your Luck and I'm really excited to see how Sonic Whammy Enterprises pulls this off.
4. Intro to Animation Voice-Over Acting with Stevie Vallance
As someone who's studied acting, voice-over work interests me for a variety of reasons. I'm dying to know more about the process and the chance to turn myself into a "Toon" and watch others do so is going to be fricking hilarious.
5. Bruce Campbell
The man is finally coming to NYCC. Not only is he the star of the Evil Dead movies and currently co-starring on Burn Notice but he's done oodles of movies, tons of voice work and is an accomplished author. He's Bruce Campbell. baby. Need I say more?
What are you excited about and what do you think we are missing?
We are less than one month away from New York Comic Con!! All of us at [insertgeekhere] will be attending this year. We all love NYCC and have been going to this con for years. As we get closer, we will be posting some of the highlights of the show and taking suggestions from those readers that cannot attend.
For all of the NYCC virgins, we have a list of important things that you might need:
Do your Research (and carry it with you) – There is a lot going on at this con, and you won’t get to see it all. Make sure that you go over the NYCC website and write down everything that you want to go to. Then, it can get tricky. In order to know all of the fun stuff going on, you need to do some searching online for everything that is not on the NYCC website. Some of the best stuff is happening at the booths, and it is only posted on their website. This includes NYCC exclusive items and many of the celeb appearances are at booths and not listed as well. The reason to carry it with you is that there are some things, no matter how long you wait, that you will not get into. Rather than be disappointed, you will have a plan of something else you want to go to.
Loud Alarm Clock – Are you heading to NYCC for autographs? Then you better get there early! The line for autograph tickets starts outside the Javits Center and for the right celeb, people will sit out there all night. If there is a must-have autograph on your list, make sure your alarm clock can wake the dead.
Layers of Clothes - The weather is becoming cooler in New York. Be sure to dress appropriately. It will get hot in the convention center but whether you’re waiting on line, outside at 4 AM for that coveted autograph ticket or you’re leaving the center at 11 PM when your panel lets out, you’re going to get cold. Bring a hoodie or something else you can easily remove.
Good Shoes – You will be walking a lot. While that can be said for every con, this one is in New York City. Chances are you will be walking everywhere. Take care of your feet.
Get a Metro CardThe closest subway/train stop is Penn Station on 34th St. & 8th Ave. The A, C, and E stop there as well as the 1, 2, & 3 (they involve a little extra walking). The Javits Center is three long avenues from Penn so pack your days things accordingly. If you have to bring several items such as half your comic book collection for signings or a sleeping bag, you can also take the bus from Penn. I've never done that but I've asked around and the best buses to take are the M32 and M42. They run crosstown on 32nd St. and 42nd St.
Pick a Meet Up Spot You're going to get separated from your group at least a few times during the con. Whether it's because you want to go to different panels or there are too many people in the exhibition hall, you're going to lose each other. While everyone is sure to have a cell phone, the reception isn't always the greatest and batteries can died so it's best to arranged a particular time and place for everyone. Speaking of phones.....
Good Phone and Charger – They charge for wi-fi access at the Javits Center. Bring an internet ready phone so you can get twitter updates. Many booths announce giveaways and celebrity signings during con. If you are draining your battery with all of your tweeting, try to charge during a panel or when you are taking a short break on the floor.
Extra Comic Bags and Boards – If you are going to stock up on all the great comics that will be there, pack a few bags and boards to protect them. You don’t want your brand new NYCC Exclusive Uncanny X-Force #1 to be wrinkled by a free junk toy you just shoved in your bag.
Poster Tube – You will have the opportunity to get all sorts of nice posters and amazing works of art. Protect Them! Make sure that you have something to put them in! If funds are already spent on the fun, keep your eyes out for freebie poster tubes. There are always one or two of the major booths giving them away.
Reusable Water Bottle and Protein-Packed Snacks – This can be said for every con but here it is again: DON’T BUY FOOD IN THE CONVENTION CENTER! It is always overpriced and frankly, not that tasty. There are a few places in walking distance but they will be packed. Make sure you have something to keep you going without leaving that panel.
Keep Clean - This shouldn’t have to be mentioned but it is in every article written about cons. You’re going to be in a crowded space with several hundred people. You’ll be racing from one end of the center to the other to get to that one panel you HAVE to see; everyone else will be doing the same thing. It’s going to get hot and sweaty. The last thing anyone needs to be subjected to is someone who decided to save time by not showering. Bring some moist wipes to freshen up during the day and don’t forget to shower each morning/night.
Show Respect for the Professionals - As a dedicated lover of comics and all things geeky, you, of course, have strong opinions about particular artists and writers. That’s great. The professionals who go to the cons want to hear from their fans but be sure to ask for permission before snapping a pic or going in for a hug. Also, if you see a professional whose work you dislike and you feel compelled to tell them, do it in a calm and respectful way. Most pros are open to hearing complaints provided they are intelligent, thoughtful and not just because you didn’t like it. Whatever you do, don’t be like the guy who walked up to Rob Liefeld last year, demanding an apology for Heroes Reborn and handed him a copy of How to Draw the Marvel Way. Not only is it disrespectful and mean, but it ruins the con for all the other sincere con goers who wish to show their appreciation. Keep in mind, the story will go viral and you will be subjected to ridicule and condemnation by not only the fans but the very professionals you so admire.
Find People to Walk WithNew York is definitely a safer city but if you're from out of town or you're being a lot of things with you or you're not familiar with the area, the walk to and from the Javits Center can feel a little lonely and isolating especially at night. If you came by yourself, try looking for groups of people leaving the Con and stick close (but not creepy stalker close), you might even make some new friends. If you're going with friends, it just makes sense to leave with some of them, if not all of them. It's more fun, you're less likely to get lost and less likely to get jumped & robbed of all your sweet Con swag.
Have Fun - You’ve done all your planing, you know exactly which panels and screenings you have to go to, you’re ready to wait all night to score a ticket to get Brian Michael Bendis’ autograph, and you’ve decided on the exclusives you must have, so now what? Now it’s time for you to take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy the con. You’re not going to be able to do everything you want and that’s okay. The most important part of the con is the experience and the celebration of all things comics.
With NYCC only a week away, I started reminiscing about the comic book movies of my youth. You know the kind. The silly, goofy movies that are so awesome when we're kids but now their awesomeness is in their cheese. Here are a few of my favs. What are yours?
I'll admit it - I love Howard the Duck. The movie is sooo campy and ridiculous. My only issue is the inter-species and interplanetary love that goes on... How does that work? Hmm, it's probably best if one doesn't delve too deeply into that.
Had a hard time choosing between this and Vanilla Ice's Go, Ninja, Go. Vanilla Ice is probably a lot cheesier but when I think of the Ninja Turtle movies, I automatically think T-U-R-T-L-E POWER!
When it first came out, I was little and thought Batdance was the coolest thing. It brought my two favorite things together - superheroes and musicals. Then as I grew up, I recognized this for what it really was. It's a giant WTF???!!! Prince was insane! This is one of the craziest things I've seen with superheroes and I still love it. With all it's crazy, must've been on drugs, nuttiness, I love it. (Guess this means my sanity is going to be questioned. Oh well)
We have less than two weeks to go and there are more and more amazing things getting announced. As we get closer, there are many fun events happening that need to be on your radar. As we hear of additional events, we will be updating this post, so keep checking back in!
Dave & Busters NYCC Fan Meet Up
Thursday Sept. 30th at 6pm
According to their tweet, there will be a chance to get tickets. This will also be a good chance to meet some fellow fans.
Nicholas Brendon Meet and Greet Dinner with Fans
Saturday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 pm
This is your chance to spend time with Nick Brendon face to face without a line of screaming fans behind you! There are still a few tickets available so get them quick! They are available on his website here.
The New York Comic Jam
Thursday, Oct. 7 at 7pm
At this event, they gather the best from New York's indie comics community to get drunk and draw comics. Sounds like a night to remember and a great way to kick off the con! This event is hosted by House of 12 Comics and you can learn about them here and here.
CBLDF NYCC Welcome Party
Thursday, Oct. 7 - 8 pm
Spend time with some of your favorite creators as you enjoy an open bar, free apps, and giveaways while supporting free speech. For more information, check out the Facebook link here.
GGN Geek Tweet Up @ NYCC
Friday, October 8 · 8:30pm
Have you ever wanted to meet all of those people you tweet with? Now is your chance! Geek Girls Network is doing a Geek Tweet Up during NYCC and it looks to be a great time!
Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers at Radio City
Friday and Saturday, Oct 8-9
They are showing the movie on a giant screen while playing the score live. They did this last year with the first movie and it was a hit! It is sponsored by NYCC and if you use special offer code of TTT to buy tickets, it includes a custom-designed poster, autographed by award-winning composer Howard Shore. Hurry, this special offer will end October 4th!
The wacky folks over at UGO Entertainment are having the be-all-to-end-all meet ups. Kick back with a brew, hang out with friends, make new ones, dress in costume, or get into Star Trek vs Star Wars debates.... anything goes. Find out more here
iFanboys Meet Up/Party
Saturday, Oct. 9
Meet the iFanboys. Explore Brooklyn, enjoy an open bar, and hang out with special guests GEOFF JOHNS AND FRANCIS MANAPUL! For more info check out their site, www.ifanboy.com
Rock Comic Con NYC's Nerd Rock Festival *updated
Saturday, Oct. 9
The premiere NYC Nerd Rock Festival featuring great, rockin' nerd bands, Kirby Krackle, .H2Awesome, Fortress of Attitude & Bedlam Rock! Find out more allthingsfangirl
Dark Horse Comics Night *updated
Saturday, October 9
Join Dark Horse Comics staff and creators for a special New York Comic Con celebration at St. Marks Comics on St. Marks Place, with the event featuring Q&A, trivia, giveaways and more! More info here.
Books of Wonder Signing
Sunday, Oct. 10
Eleven of 2010 debut tweens/teens authors will be on hand to talk about their books, take questions and do a signing. Some of those who will be in attendance are Emily Horner, Shaun David Hutchinson, Josh Berk, and AMBER BENSON. Join them and the rest at Books of Wonder and bring the kids!
Unofficial NYCC After Party*updated
Sunday, Oct. 10
A fan asked Lance Fensterman if there was going to be an after party and when Lance said no, this fan, Chris Pacicca, took matters into his own hands. Hang out at Perdition at 692 10th Ave starting at 9 until whenever.
You can check out our last post about New York Comic Con here.
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