Beginning on Thursday and concluding today, this convention was hosted in Rosemont, up in Chicago. Compared to earlier this year’s New York Comic Con, WizardWorld was a more laid back experience, where speakers and company reps spoke more candidly and seemed less stressed. This was a far better fan experience than New York, and while writers and such qualified every secret with “We’ll be revealing in San Diego”, there was less showmanship - sensationalism geared at new projects - and more reflection on the medium, at least in the sessions.

I saw the hilarious Robert Kirkman and a retrospective on Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev’s Daredevil. I also got to see the Marvel and DC panels, as well as the first ever Marvel & DC panel, where Bendis, Brian Reed, and C.B. Cebulski sat with Gail Simone and Geoff Johns to talk about what they liked about the other company. I would have seen more, but I could only attend Friday, as some of my friends were so inconsiderate that they just had to get married this weekend. Read the rest of this entry »

Hey kids! Sorry for not updating for a few days - the Convention was amazing! There was so much to see, so much to do - everything vaguely nerd was there - from Japanese designer toys to trading card games to comics. Walking around, there was so much going on you actually forget to eat and drink. You bump into famous people and realize they are human beings, or hear them speak and become more convinced they are a literary god. I’m still absorbing the events, but I’ll share with you some of the cool news I picked up. Read the rest of this entry »

Off On The Road To New York City

By the time you read this, I’ll be in sunny Manhattan attending the legendary New York Comic Con, one of the biggest conferences during the convention season, next to San Diego.

I’m going to be away from the internet for a few days, but I’ll have plenty of pictures and news to post when I return. I’m not taking the trusty laptop, because if TV has taught me anything about New York - I will be mugged, I will get murdered, and I will have to run from a giant monster, maybe not in that order, but you know what I mean. Plus I don’t want to check a bag with all this plane rescheduling that’s been going on in the news, so I have to travel light.

Talk to you soon!

Damian Duffy and John Jennings, the writer and artist of Hole: Consumer Culture will be speaking at the Urbana Free Library, 210 W. Green St, Urbana Saturday, from 1 to 3PM. Topics include, of course, comics!

For more info, visit here >>>>

I went to the event today. It was sellers with various back issues and some collectibles. These trade shows are designed to help fans and newcomers alike find back issues to complete their collections or look for older stories with their favorite characters, artists, or writers. I found a 1973 issue of Shazam! #2 and was surprised at all the other series and collections I came across. And of course, talking to other fans and sellers is a big part of this community. I was able to have a conversation with the seller from Marble Comics about the Kiss cameo in Howard the Duck. One of the best parts of comics are the fans. Sure you get the hatemongers, know-it-alls and message board trollers, but beyond them you get a group of nice people passionate about their hobby. It’s a great community. The comic industry is trying to kill it. Read the rest of this entry »

For once, comic nerds won’t have to travel to San Diego, New York, or even the fabled shores of Chicago to immerse themselves in fandom.

At 10AM at 1907 N. Cunningham Ave., Urbana (The Eastland Suites) this Sunday, come check out the booths and look for the collectibles and comics you’ve been craving!

more info >>>

I just came across this event. It is about comics and homosexuality/women, things I have touched on in my columns. Hope to see you there!

Women & Queers In Comics
Time: 12:00pm, Thursday, December 13, 2007
Venue: Illini Union
Address: 1401 W. Green St. , Urbana
Venue Details: Office of LGBT Resources, Room 323 Read the rest of this entry »