Wizard World Philadelphia
Jun 25“So, did you see any wizards there?” I’m asked last night, causing me to miss a very important minigolf putt. Let me put this one to bed before I say anything else about this particular con: although some of the participants may tell you differently, there are no real wizards at Wizard World Philadelphia.
As the lone Alert Nerd in the northeast, it is my lot in life to attend WW Philly instead of Heroes Con, which was in fact haunted by a vast majority of our internet friends.
There is a marked difference between Philly and the Reed shows that I cover each year – NYCC and Baltimore Comic Con - a larger focus on retailers, retired professional wrestlers, and what erudite nerds consider to be the detritus of our collective consciousness than on the big four publishers, none of whom had booths at the show despite some heavy hitters appearing on the Marvel and DC panels. This is an accurate criticism, but it undeniably caters to a large section of the fanbase. As someone that primarily attends cons to catch up with friends, browse Artist’s Alley for new talent/things to buy/people I want to work with, and watch the panels, this is easy to forget despite the truthiness of the statement. Wizard World is still alive and well and still giving a certain segment of the fans something they want.
However, it would be unfair to dismiss the reports that WWP is a con in decline. It clearly is. While I didn’t do a headcount, the Saturday crowd was slighter than last year, and some of the standout artists on the Alley – Kevin Maguire, J.G. Jones and Khoi Pham enjoyed moments of relative solitude (only once did I see Jones with a substantial line). One of the lower-profile artists there affixed a sign reading “Desperate For Your Attention” to the top of his head. Another called out, all carnival-barker-y, “Don’t you want to know more about [NAME OF COMIC REDACTED]?” when they saw my press wristband. The answer, unsurprisingly, was no.
The other unfortunate news about the Philly con was the snub it received from Newsarama. As a former Newsarama contributer, I was asked by several parties (who I will not name) if I was indeed going to be covering the show for the ‘Rama this year.
I sat in on Marvel’s Dark Reign panel and DC’s DC Nation panel on Saturday, and the two panels perfectly denote the contrast between the publishing giants in terms of tone and fan interaction.
Marvel’s panel was standing room only. Former CBR correspondent and current Marvelite Arune Singh moderated the panel, which featured cosmic editor Bill Rosemann, Spidey author Dan Slott, the Incredible Hercules writing team of Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente, Agents of Atlas assistant editor Lauren Sankovitch and Molly Lazer (the former assistant ed. on Thunderbolts, who left Marvel last year to pursue graduate school). The panel focused on some upcoming Dark Reign tie-ins, including War Machine #9, which Greg Pak joked would be 1,000 pages in length, feature the return of Jean Grey, and incorporate every major storyline in the Marvel Universe. At least, I think he was joking. Also upcoming is a fill-in issue of Thunderbolts penned by Rick (Fear Agent, Punisher) Remender that will strain the friendship between Iron Fist and Luke Cage as it examines what happens when Osborn uses his clout to force heroes to work alongside his team of villains. The tone of the panel was jovial, due mostly to Slott and Van Lente being absolute smartasses (Slott once again asked the crowd if they wanted to bring back chromium covers – which actually garnered what I think was non-ironic applause amid the throngs of boos).
The creators took turns hinting that Jean Grey would come back in their respective books, discussed the rising price of single issue comic books, and revealed the second half of the Dark Reign: The List one-shots due in shops this fall. The Philly List included Wolverine, Spider-Man, Daredevil and Hulk, each by their respective regular creative teams.
In comparison, the DC panel seemed to consist of Dan DiDio leaping on grenades for about an hour, especially when a fan cried out that Battle For the Cowl was “the worst comic book” he’d ever read. “If you don’t like it,” DiDio said, “it’s my fault.” It’s a sentiment that the Executive Editor has expressed before; Dan once told me that part of his job was taking the hits for his creators’ unpopular decisions. But Dan continued to needle the fan for the remainder of the panel and deflect criticisms of the mainstream DCU with similar generalizations. The panel had a much more confrontational tone than the Marvel panel did. Some tidbits were revealed, like Sam Kieth working on a new Lobo story, the possibility of a Freedom Fighters backup story should the co-feature initiative perform well, some intriguing teasers about the new Doc Savage project by Brian Azzarello and Rags Morales (which Rags is incredibly enthusiastic about, so much so that it bears italicizing), and an intriguing nonanswer by Shane Davis to a question about a possible White Lantern: “Technically, black, white and gray aren’t colors.” Bob Wayne also showed off Issue #1 of Wednesday Comics, which looks absolutely gorgeous.  Still, the thing that leaves the biggest impression from the panel is the defensive snit that the EE had with a disgruntled fan. I guess this is why DiDio asked that nobody Tweet or blog the panel.
While I agree that Philly is a con in decline, I think the mock funeral held for the show is a bit premature. Though not as large as last year’s (a rarity in the cons I’ve seen this year, where there’s been a booming ‘shadow economy’), there was still a lot of foot traffic and, despite not having the megabooths that they do at other shows, the DC and Marvel presence was bolstering. Whether it continues to get the nurture it needs from Wizard in light of its recent acquisition of NYC’s Big Apple Con remains to be seen, however.
Back In the Summer of ‘89
Jun 23Today’s the 20th anniversary of the release of Tim Burton’s Batman.
To describe this film as “seminal” in my development as a geek, a movie fan, and even a HUMAN BEING is to understate its importance. It also involves using the word “seminal” which just always reminds me too much of the word “semen.” Aside from its reproductive capabilities, I have little use for semen. But then, who does?
I was absolutely fucking OBSESSED with Batman in 1989. Totally out of my goddamned head. I don’t even remember when that obsession began, how it infiltrated my consciousness and took possession of my soul, but I knew that by early June I was rabid for this movie. I was DYING to see it. Even now, every year around June 23, I remember, “Hey, this is when Batman came out.” I probably always will remember.
I finally got my chance to see the flick a few days after opening, when my dad came home from work early one day and took me and my weird friend John to see it at the River Oaks Theaters near my ancestral home in South Holland, IL. It was a monumental event in my life. Well, the movie was the movie; it was the movie as a HAPPENING that I think really rewired my brain.
Donny and Marie Star Wars
Jun 22How did this stay dormant so long? While the Star Wars Holiday Special survived in legend, lore, and VHS bootlegs for years, Donny and Marie’s Star Wars tribute episode of their variety show apparently sat in some basement somewhere. I wouldn’t call myself the biggest Star Wars fan out there, but I’m no lightweight, Han-come-lately, and this was new to me. Did I miss out? Was there a memo? Or is this truely, out-of-the-blue new?
Suffice to say that, for all its Donny and Marie glitz, it can’t hold a candle to the effects and set-filled Holiday Special. It parallels it in so many ways, inviting Paul Lynde to be an Imperial Commander and sing a tune about rockets. Kris Kristopherson stands in as Han. And just to blow your mind, Chewie, R2, and C3PO are loaned out, giving the event a certain thumbs-up from 20th Century Fox, if not George Lucas himself. One might say the Donny and Marie tribute makes the Holiday Special look like Empire Strikes Back.
Warning: You can’t un-see this, so bear that in mind before you press play.
[VIA BoingBoing]
Under the Radar Week: Jan’s Atomic Heart
Jun 22In honor of all the great comics I’ve been reading lately, I’m launching a goddamned theme week here at Alert Nerd: Under the Radar Week. I’ll be writing about five comics that you might not be reading, and try to explain what I think is so goddamned great about them. Hopefully my compatriots will have some time to chime in as well.
Next week, I’m going to slip off the grid to infiltrate security at the Smithsonian and try to steal Mister Rogers’ sweater. DON’T TELL ANYBODY.
Geeks know the drill; there’s basically two versions of the future. There’s the shiny, bright, clean Star Trek version, and the bleak, desolate, apocalyptic Terminator/Mad Max version.
What’s interesting is the space in between, where tiny extrapolations of technology create fictional worlds that feel just real enough to seem possible…yet remain different and strange. Movies like Blade Runner and Minority Report occupy this space; so does Jan’s Atomic Heart, a new graphic novella by Simon Roy that shifts the landscape of the present in small, meaningful ways in service to a story that’s grounded in human emotions like paranoia, fear, and betrayal.
The Zombies' Guide To Comic Con
Jun 19[Yes, yes. I know. Blood from a stone and whatnot. – Jeff ]
This July in San Diego, when there’s no room in the hotels, the dead will walk the earth at the 2009 Comic Con International. For four days, the undead and the nerdy unwashed will shamble from panel to panel, comb through back-issue bins for the last crucial piece of their Darkhawk collections and clumsily assault cosplayers. Can’t tell the difference? Neither can we, but in case you’re a Romero-friendly con-goer that doesn’t know Tom Peyer from Tom Brevoort (Brevoort is plumper and therefore slower, wears a pork-pie hat) and can’t tell the difference between the Shield and the Fighting American (honestly, we’re stumped too, but Jack Kirby created one of them), our interns have created a handy guide to help you get the most out of your SDCC experience.
1. BRAINS
No matter what kind of comics or movies you like, zombies, there are plenty of braaaaains to be had. Delicious braaains. Argh. Those sheltered fanboys and insecure fangirls won’t know what to do when you start tearing into one of their friends’ juicy skulls to eat those delicious braaaaaaains.
2. BRAAAAAAINS
While the geeks are debating what kind of zombie you are – fast or slow – you can get the drop on them and suck out their delectable gray matter. You might even be able to eat a celebrity’s brain (If they have one, LOL M I RITE?!)!
3. TWILIGHT
Robert Pattinson is simply dazzling. And he’ll be there. If you’re close enough, you might be able to touch him, and what about Taylor Lautner? I’m not sure if he’ll be there, but he probably will. Team Jacob represent! More like hungry FOR the wolf, if you take my meaning, and I think you might. Rawr! They are probably going to show some footage from New Moon and then everybody will freak out a bit.
4. BRAAAAAAINS
Argh. Urr. Brains. Braaaaaains. Urk. BRAINS.
