Light Dawns on Marblehead!

Well, it appears that some semblance of sanity has finally penetrated the management team of Wizard World, and they have moved the date of their NY comicbook show. Yep you read that right, This year’s Big Apple Comic Con will be held on Oct. 1-3 (instead of the same weekend as the previously booked NYComicCon). It was also announced that New England Comic Con is now Oct. 15-17 (in Boston), and the NJ Comic Con is also moving to a new date (to be announced later).

“We spoke with the publishers and their creators, and they worked with us to help facilitate new dates. They pledged their support, and we liked what they had to say,” said Shamus.

I’ll just bet he did. no one that I spoke to over the past several months could understand why Wizard chose to book a major event on the same weekend as one that was booked six months earlier for the same city. It seemed like a suicide move.

Well, I’m glad to see that sanity prevailed and they moved the date, as such a head-to-head mash-up would ultimately only hurt the industry.

Don’t hold back, “Kurt” tell us how you REALLY feel!

So, a couple of weeks back the folks from Wizard announced that their 2010 Convention was going to fall on the same date as NYComicCon 2010. I wrote about what a bad Idea that I believed this to be — that is to say, the fracturing of the industry by forcing fans, publishers, and businesses to choose between the two.

Well, apparently I was not the only one who thought it was/is a bad idea. Scott Kurtz over at PVP had some harsh things to say. Rather than attempt to repeat or paraphrase his comments, I’m just going to refer you over to his blog, and let him tell you himself.

And you thought I was upset.

Funnybook Friends

So, this past Thursday I went to a funnybook event in the city (NY Comic Cob's “One year out” bowling event) and met up with a bunch of my funnybook friends. While there, not only did my good buddy and artist on Springload & Renegade, Chris Torres, show up (and we chatted about where the characters are going), but Chris laid on me a box of Spidey cereal.

Seriously, he somehow still had his hands on an unopened box of Spider-Man I cereal. Which is really cool, because while I had purchased this cereal at the time (back on ‘01 or so), I never actually kept the box (I know, silly me, eh?)

Anyway, Chris had this box sitting around (yes, unopened),and well, figured that I’d really enjoy it. No, I’m rather certain that I’m not going to eat the cereal, but it is still cool to have.

Anyway, while at the event, I did meet up with a number of other folks, and came away with this very cool giveaway, a book by Guillermo Del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth), entitled The Strain (he co-wrote the book with Chuck Hogan). Well, now I have something on my reading list other than funnybooks.

I love these guys at NY Comic Con, as they certainly know how to build a following.

Well, next week is the Big Apple, Wizard show, and I’m also looking forward to that, but I still wnat to see how well those guys do. They have a ways to go to meet up with the bar that has been set pretty high by NY Comic Con.

Fun Time at Dave & Busters

So, I haven’t had the opportunity to post on this yet, but last week (two weeks ago?) I attended a Funnybook Happy Hour in Times Sq. that was thrown by the good folks who stage the NY Comicbook Convention. They have been doing this for a few months now, and promise to keep doing it until they get it right er, until the next NY ComicCon (next October, I believe).

Well, this one was very special for me, and not just because my favorite Marketing professional (Belkis) showed up, but because my son, Dylan, attended the event with me. Now, Dylan is normally not a funnybook buff, (he has attended shows with me in the past, but mostly when he was much younger), but as this was his last week before he began college @ Syracuse University, he chose to hang out with me for a bit.

One of the advantages of having Dylan with me was Dylan is a very lucky kid, and I don’t mean lucky in that he has me as his dad, but lucky because he keeps wining stuff. Needless to say, he won for me the nifty-cool comic that you see with this post (which was autographed by the artist, I believe). The comic is Darkness/Hulk #1. While I’m not a usual reader of either title, I am (obviously familiar with both characters, and did enjoy this very well-written and well-drawn comic.

Thanks Dylan, and don’t forget to buy that lottery ticket. I hear it is worth around a quarter-of-a-BILLION-dollars (Hey, you still have four more years to go, and I still have to put your sister through school when it is her turn!

Hey kids, it is the Last Fan Happy Hour of the Summer!

Brought to you by the NYCC folks they are having another Happy Hour at Dave & Busters in Times Square, NYC!

Here is the info you need!

Summer is almost over, so what better way to celebrate than a happy hour? Come by Dave and Buster's August 19th 6pm-9pm. Enjoy drink specials, half priced games and our spin the wheel raffle! We have so many prizes, I don’t know if they will all fit in this email:

• Goody Bags courtesy of Metal Machine Ent.
• Exclusive Ron English MC Super Size Keychains
• Limited Edition Jericho Aschans courtesy of Devils Due
• DC Comics Swag
• Tons of Swag from www.swearbear.com
• Surveillance DVDs and more from Magnolia Pictures
• Manga Kamishibai: The Art of Japanese Paper Theater
• The Art of Harvey Kurtzman
• 1 Pair of Tickets to the Toxic Avengers Musical
• Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monster Gift Packs and Posters

Have you heard of our new Podcast/Radio Show/Blogcast, Streaming Medium? Want to be on it? You'll have your chance at the NYCC Fan Happy Hour! All you need is your opinions and the willingness to talk to an NYCC Team Member,which means it's easy we hope. Want to hear our first show, check it out at streamingmedium.

Don’t miss out on your last chance to win amazing prizes and hangout with the NYCC Team this summer. See you On Wednesday!

The CAG Party is coming!

Hey Kiddies, time to buff up yer party shoes, and break out bestest duds, as the CAG Indy after-Party is coming to NYC! That’s right, after the NY ComicCon To be held in NYC on April 18 – 20.



Well, not only will CAG be there in force (look for our booth), but so will I (ask for me), and then come on out to our party at Twins Pub (421 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001, 212.564.7288) and hang with us.

Here is the info as I just received it from President Keith Murphey:

March 5th, 2008 Attendees of this years New York ComicCon (NYCC) are invited to celebrate the Third Annual Indie After-Party on Saturday, April 19th from 7-11 PM at The Twins Pub in New York City. This years event will converge on the entire venue, with free food on the first floor, a cash bar, and DJ and dance entertainment on the second floor. And what would a party full of comic book creators be without comic books? Well, party-goers will get the chance to see (and buy) some of the best around.

Premiering at this years Indie After-Party is a very special event the first annual Comicbook Artists Guild (CAG) Awards Ceremony! At this first-of-its-kind event, the leadership of this nationwide organization will induct honorary members and present awards in comic book excellence. Categories to be recognized include Best Writer, Best Artist, CAG-MVP, Best New Talent, and Special Award for Excellence in Production.Catch da Craze Podcast will be filming the event and conducting interviews in the new CDC corner at the party.

When asked to comment on the party, organizer Samuel Vera said The Indie After-Party has grown into a must-attend event at the NYCC. I am honored to be one of the original sponsors and the only podcast show to document the event year after year. Fellow Organizer and CAG President, Keith Murphey states This party is for the up-and-comers and the well-established veterans. Everyone is welcome here and this party will promise to bethe most entertaining yet! It continues to get bigger and bigger every year, as we continue to attract new sponsors.

Founded in 2000, the Comicbook Artists Guild is an organization designed to bring talented comic book artists together - be they writers, colorists, inkers, pencilers or all of the above - to collaborate on a project of their choice. CAG is also a great place to meet with other comic lovers to learn new tricks or techniques, or teach a few of your own! CAG is for anyone who loves comics and has the passion to create in any aspect of the field.

The Twins Pub is located just 3 blocks away from the New York Comic Con, midway between the 34th Street subway station and the Javitz Center.

Indie After-Party
Saturday, April 19th
The Twins Pub
421 9th Avenue (between 33 and 34 St.)

NY Comic Con, here we come!

That’s right kids, the NY Comic Con is coming up this weekend (Feb 23-25). I’ll be there at the Guild Works Production table talking to folks, so come on by.



Oh yeah, in case you haven’t seen it yet, there just might be a buncha cute girls out on the prowl at the con. Yeah, it seems as if some NY blogger knows that that the best way to meet nice guys is at comicbook shows.

Comic Book Conventions should be a great place to meet guys. We're talking about a virtually untapped market. In theory: for a smart, (somewhat) attractive girl, getting a date should be like shooting fish in a barrel, no? Thousands of men are gathered in one place (granted, some of them are taken; some are gay; some, undoubtedly, live in their mothers' basements) with a very small proportion of available women around. The statistics alone would lead us to believe there have got to be a few good men in this crowd.

The full post can be found here.

Well, it promises to be a good show, and — as stated — I should be there both Sat and Sun. So sewriously, swing on by, and say hey!