Gareb Shamus's Super Awesome Philly Star Trek Party A-Go-Go 2010
Gareb Shamus's Super Awesome Philly Star Trek Party A-Go-Go 2010
Jun 18I ducked into the Wawa on Arch Street as I was walking back to my car after my trip to Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con, and as I stood in line to check out with several con-goers, including one cosplayer who looked like the Snooki Polizzi version of the Silk Spectre, I saw that one of them was wearing a “Wizard World Tour” shirt from 2005, listing a titanic FIVE dates. Today, the slate is upwards of one dozen shows. My, how times change.
While Wizard has changed their branding to ensure that easily confused rubes will think they’re buying tickets for Reed Exhibitions’ (the promoter who produces New York Comic Con, Chicago’s C2E2 and the epic nerd pilgrimage that is San Diego Comic Con) shows, they have not done much to put the ‘comic’ into Philly’s con. Only Zenescope and Avatar had a presence at the show that was outside of individual creators’ tables in Artist’s Alley. Instead, a large swath of the show floor was populated by TV and film stars – James Marsters, Ernie Hudson, Brent Spiner and John DeLancie being the biggest draws and having corresponding mobs of fans in their wakes, not to mention the massive queue for Sir Patrick Stewart’s signing. Vendors appeared to be doing a brisk business as well, and I myself made off with about $200 worth of comics for a fraction of that price. I also grabbed some forthcoming commissions from Jaime Fay (of the third volume of Sentinels and the upcoming NeverMinds, both with Rich Bernatovech) and Avengers Academy artist Mike McKone.
Though I heard I several complaints about the length of the line to get in the door and some ire about increased ticket prices, this year boasted the largest Saturday crowd I’ve seen at this show in the past three years. The lines for the marquee panels, like the Bruce Campbell Q&A or the Star Trek: TNG panel, were expansive. Again, the big draws in the panel programming had little to do with comics apart from Raven Gregory’s “Writing Comics” panel. As someone that generally goes to cons for the programming and not for the celeb autographs or the shopping experience, it feels a bit like this show isn’t ‘for me’ anymore, but the majority of the con-goers seemed to think Wizard is doing something right. The crowd had some inventive costumes on display – with lots of Ghostbusters love, too.
As part of the vaunted ‘Con Wars,’ Wizard’s shows are changing their character, but the change just might be for the better in terms of turning attendance and engagement around.
Cool! (Come to HEROES next year. It is about COMICS! /subliminal)
So what commissions did you get?
Jaime is doing a Ben Grimm for me. He asked me if he could work on it at home b/c he hasn’t drawn Thing before. I thought it would be cool to have something of his that wasn’t an X-woman.
The McKone sketch is another one I’m going to wait for. I’m actually picking it up at NYCC, just got the wheels turning for it in Philly. Mostly because I was only in Philly for one day and wouldn’t be back on Sunday to pick up the finished sketch. So I have some breathing room to figure out what I want. Maybe Wolverine or Jean. I don’t think I’ve seen him draw either of them. Dude must be sick of drawing Batman and Spidey.