Election 2012: The fannish connection
By Petrea Mitchell| January 27, 2012 | No Comments
While the term “science fiction convention” was inspired by political conventions, sf cons have had very little to do with the formal political world since. But now, it appears we have our first major presidential candidate with visible ties to fandom– no, not the president, despite his reputation for being a bit of a geek, but rather: Newt Gingrich.
The Washington Post chronicles some highlights of Gingrich’s space policy here, including:
1986: Gingrich proposed taking the money we spend on farm subsidies and investing it in space travel. Former farmers could get jobs in factories orbiting space stations, Gingrich said at the World Science Fiction Convention in Atlanta.
What was he doing there? Well, often a Worldcon will bring in a local dignitary, ideally one who’s also an sf fan, to say a few words at opening ceremonies. As Gingrich was a local congressman at the time, he would have fit the bill perfectly. A fuller account says that he had in fact already attended a Worldcon in 1983.
There appear to be no fannish sources online describing the speech, but there is the MidAmericon archive does have a photo here.
Does this mean that if Gingrich wins the Republican nomination, the science-fiction-fan vote might be actively contested by the candidates? Well, probably not. However, if Gingrich does keep invoking Asimov and the space race, those of you attending conventions between the nominations and the November election may wish to have an answer ready in case a reporter desperate for something new to write shows up looking for the sf angle on the election. Especially if you happen to be attending a large, highly visible convention located in a city strongly associated with one of the candidates, such as, oh, say, Chicago or Atlanta.
Tampa Bay goes 2day!
By Shawn Scott Smith| January 25, 2012 | No Comments
Con Gets Better Than Ever
January 25th, 2012 – The Tampa Bay Comic Con will return in March with greater grandeur than ever before with its brand new two-day format convention. On March 3-4, 2012, convention attendees will be able to experience a Tampa Bay Comic Con that offers more activities and special events than ever before, such as artist panels and after-hours events with convention guest creators and celebrities.
At the forefront of the convention additions will be an all-new, full-scale, video game tournament held by SuperCon 2k Series! For the first time, attendees will be able to go head-to-head with other attendees in games such as “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3”, “Halo Reach”, “Soul Calibur 5” and “Super Smash Bros. Brawl”.
The buzz and palpable excitement surrounding the Tampa Bay Comic Con’s success and expansion is perhaps only matched with their announced “guest of honor”: Jim Steranko. As an artist for many Stan Lee written comic book stories during the “Silver Age” of comic books (primarily Captain America, Nick Fury and X-Men), Steranko played an integral role in “modernizing” the genre to meet the changing and maturing tastes of readers during the turbulent late 1960s. Steranko single-handedly revolutionized the comic book industry when he employed artistic techniques never seen before in comics such as “op-art” (optical effects), “pop art” and surrealism. Read more
The Con-Fluence Cons of the Month: February Edition
By Shawn Marshall| January 25, 2012 | No Comments
Over the last year I’ve had an increasing amount of people asking for tips on cons. In addition, I’ve had an even larger amount ask me for tips on which cons to attend and what to look for in a con. Although I live in Southern California (AKA Con Capital of the World) and can’t make trips to every con, I do follow as many as possible. Admittedly, it is my addiction. So, I’ve decided to start sharing my analysis of cons here in a monthly column that reflects all the info I can get my hands on. Read more
Baltimore Comic-Con Brings Ron Marz to Maryland and Northern Virginia
By Shawn Scott Smith| January 24, 2012 | No Comments
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - January 24, 2012 -Continuing his 2012 road show, this weekend, Baltimore Comic-Con promoter Marc Nathan brings the Baltimore Comic-Con to his neighbors to the south — Northern Virginia! The second show of 2012 he is attending is the Shoff Baseball & Sports Card Shows & Comic Book & Nonsports Card Show this Sunday, January 29th. Marc is bringing friend, prolific comic writer, and latest 2012 Baltimore Comic-Con guest Ron Marz (Artifacts, Voodoo) with him to the DC suburbs, so make sure to stop by to meet Ron, chat with Marc about the show, and pick up some comics and cards! Marc will also have Exhibitor and Artist Alley forms for this years convention on September 8th and 9th.
Frank Quitely - All Star Superman, Batman & Robin
Walter Simonson - Thor, Legion of Super-Heroes, Avengers
Scott Snyder - Batman , Severed, Swamp Thing
Billy Tucci - A Child Is Born, Shi
Matt Wagner - Tower Chronicles, Mage, Grendel
Mark Waid - Daredevil, Incorruptible, Irredemable
Days of the Dead Atlanta
By Shawn Scott Smith| January 23, 2012 | No Comments
MEET YOUR FAVORITE HORROR STARS!
Experience a full weekend of movie screenings, parties, cosplay, collectibles dealers, panels, and other special events!
DAYS OF THE DEAD: ATLANTA VIP AND WEEKEND
PASSES ON SALE NOW! VIP ALMOST SOLD OUT! PRE-ORDER YOUR WEEKEND PASSES AND SAVE MONEY, GET LIMITED EDITION BADGE!
You can already pre-order your discount Weekend Passes and VIP Passes for DAYS OF THE DEAD: Atlanta!
VIP Passes for this show will once again be limited to only 100. Last year’s VIP Passes sold out well in advance, and this year’s VIP package has even more perks for the fans making it the best premium ticket on the convention circuit. DAYS OF THE DEAD: Atlanta VIP Passes include:
-
- Admission to all 3 days of the DAYS OF THE DEAD: Atlanta event
- - Entry to the event 1 hour before the general public (all 3 days)
- - Six (6) month subscription to Fangoria Magazine
- - One (1) FREE guest autograph of your choice
- - One (1) FREE DAYS OF THE DEAD: Atlanta, limited edition art print
- - One (1) FREE The Walking Dead inspired limited edition art print
- - Exclusive admission to the Saturday Night VIP Soiree
- - Exclusive DAYS OF THE DEAD VIP Goody Bag
- - Preferred seating and admission to all DAYS OF THE DEAD: Atlanta events throughout the weekend
- - Limited edition DAYS OF THE DEAD: Atlanta VIP T-Shirt
- - Limited edition DAYS OF THE DEAD: Atlanta Lanyard and Badge
- VIP Passes WILL. SELL. OUT. so don’t delay! You can get yours by visiting: Read more
19 2012 dates added!
By Shawn Scott Smith| January 23, 2012 | No Comments
Feb 3rd-5th, 2012
Supercon Hastings, MN
Feb 10th-12th, 2012
WTH Con Greensboro, NC
LTUE Provo, UT
Nov 2nd-4th, 2012
Orycon 33, Portland, OR
Nov 9th-12th, 2012
Omegacon Siren, WI
Tuscon Tuscon, AZ
Windycon Lombard, IL
SFContario Toronto, ON
Nov 16th-18th, 2012
Midwest Furfest Rosemont, IL
Southern Pinball Festival Orlando, FL
Super Megafest Framingham, MA
NC Comiccon Durham, NC
Nov 23rd-25th, 2012
Kollision St. Charles, IL
Chambanacon Urbana, IL
Chicago Tardis Chicago, IL
Darkover Timonium, MD
Loscon Los Angeles, CA
Starbase Indy Indianapolis, IN
Dec 7th-9th, 2012
Anime Crossroads Indianapolis, IN
Conventions This Weekend Jan 27th-29th, 2012
By Shawn Scott Smith| January 22, 2012 | No Comments
Jan 27th-29th, 2012
Conflikt Renton, WA
Conjour Clear Lake, TX
Creation Xena Burbank, CA
Cosine Denver, CO
Ohayocon Columbus, OH
Ganime Gattineau, QB
Setsucon Penn St, PA
Winter War Champaign, IL
Wizard World New Orleans, LA
11 2012 dates added.
By Shawn Scott Smith| January 20, 2012 | No Comments
April 20th-22nd, 2012
Blood on the Beach Virginia Beach, VA
Gnomecon Savannah, GA
Aug 19th-20th, 2012
Everfree NW Seattle, WA
Sept 15th-16th, 2012
Comikaze Expo Los Angeles, CA
Nov 2nd-4th, 2012
CarnageFairlee, VT
Nekocon Hampton, VA
Ubercon Edison, NJ
Youmacon Detroit, MI
Nov 8th-11th, 2012
Illuxcon Altoona, PA
Pentacon Ft. Wayne, IN
Nov 16th-17th, 2012
Nerdacon Columbus, GA
Wizard welcomes fan groups.
By Shawn Scott Smith| January 18, 2012 | No Comments
Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Steampunk Fan Clubs, Charities, Podcasters Among Special Groups To Attend Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, Jan. 28-29 At Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Organizations From Across The Southeast Enhance Wizard World Experience
NEW YORK and NEW ORLEANS, January 17, 2012 – Nearly 30 organizations from across the Southeast, from favorite genre movie and TV show fan clubs, podcasters and charities will be attending Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, Jan. 28-29 at New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. From cosplayers like the 501st Garrison/Bast Alpha Garrison, Louisiana Ghostbusters, Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus and NOLA Krewe of Pirate Wenches to podcasters such as the Down the Road Show and WGTR Radio to worthy charities like Comics4Kids, various groups will be on site, meeting attendees and enriching the Wizard World experience.
Some groups that fans will run into on site include:
- 501st Garrison/Bast Alpha Garrison, the Louisiana chapter of the 501st Legion, featuring the “bad guys” from the Star Wars Universe. The 501st Legion has over 4000 members from all 50 states and 22 countries around the world.
- Anne Rice’s Vampire Lestat, the official fan club for Anne Rice’s “Vampire Lestat,” the Vampire Chronicles and the annual New Orleans Vampire Ball.
- Barony of Axemoor, the local chapter of the SCA, an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-Century Europe.
- BayouCon, held in the heart of Southwest Louisiana, is Lake Charles’ original fan produced convention. This two event will offer new and exciting things in 2012 (June 30 – July 1), including a move to a better location, Exhibition Hall.
- Cast Aways Open Theatre Troupe, whose costumed volunteers perform at fairs, festivals, conventions, and charity events. They appear in parades and in films. New Orleans Comic Con attendees are welcomed to come and visit the Royal Court of Cast Aways and participate in the Quest for the King of the Realm. Read more
Anime St. Louis announces guests.
By Shawn Scott Smith| January 16, 2012 | No Comments
ANIME ST. LOUIS ANNOUCES NEW AND RETURNING GUESTS
St. Louis convention event invites new guests and old favorites
St. Louis, MO – January 14th, 2012 – Anime St. Louis is pleased to announce its first round of guests,
which include new faces to the St. Louis area and returning favorites.
The first guest announced is Steve Argyle, a talented artist who has done work for Magic: The Gathering,
Legend of the Five Rings, Dungeons and Dragons, and much more. Mr. Argyle will be having a booth in
the Artist Alley during the event, and will also participate in the convention’s programming. Fans old
and new can find out more about his works by going to his website at http://steveargyle.com/.
Anime St. Louis’s second guest of honor is the multi-talented voice actor Bob Bergen. Mr. Bergen
has provided voices for Spirited Away as No-Face, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro and Lupin III: The
Mystery of Mamo as Lupin III, and Robot Chicken as Luke Skywalker just to name a few. He is best
known as the voice of Porky Pig in a variety of Looney Tunes movies and shows, including Space Jam,
The Duck Dodgers TV series, and the new Looney Tunes Show. Bob Bergen will only be at Anime
St. Louis on Friday, April 20th. On April 21st and 22nd, he will be teaching an advanced voice-acting
workshop at Shock City Studios in St. Louis, MO. Details about the voice-acting workshop can be found
at http://animestl.net/guests/bob-bergen/. For more information about Bob Bergen, please visit his
website at http://www.bobbergen.com/. Read more
Worldcon deadlines: Hotels and Hugos
By Petrea Mitchell| January 15, 2012 | No Comments
For those planning to attend Chicon 7, this year’s Worldcon, or to at least vote on the Hugo Awards, some important dates coming up:
- January 16th (tomorrow) at 7am Central Standard Time (1pm UTC): Hotel reservations open. Read up on Chicon’s hotel here.
- January 31st: Deadline to register if you want to participate in Hugo nominations, if you weren’t a member of last year’s Worldcon (if you were, you already have nomination rights). It’s only necessary to register at the supporting level ($50) to vote on the Hugos.
- March 11th at 11:59 pm Pacific Daylight Time (March 12th at 6:59 am GMT): Hugo nomination deadline. If you have received an e-mail saying March 31st, this is incorrect!
If the nomination deadline seems unusually early this year, it is– because…
- Easter weekend (April 7th-8th), exact time TBA: Hugo nominees to be announced.
Potlatch 21 names Book of Honor
By Petrea Mitchell| January 15, 2012 | No Comments
Potlatch, a small literary-oriented convention, names a Book of Honor rather than a Guest of Honor. This year’s honoree is A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr.
Canticle, about a post-apocalyptic future in which artifacts of the present day become holy relics, won the 1961 Hugo Award for Best Novel. Potlatch asks: “Does this post-apocalyptic vision of the future still hold up today? Join the discussion at Potlatch 21.”
Potlatch 21 will be February 24-26, in Seattle.
Conventions this Weekend Jan 20th-22nd, 2012
By Shawn Scott Smith| January 15, 2012 | No Comments
Jan 20th-22nd, 2012
Chattacon Chattanooga, TN
Confusion Detroit, MI
Las Cruces Anime Days Las Cruces, NM
Mufreesboro Comiccon Mufreesboro, TN
Rustycon Seattle, WA
Convention Lookin: Space!
By Shawn Scott Smith| January 12, 2012 | No Comments
Ill be there this year too!
“SPACE (The Small Press & Alternative Comics Expo)
Ramada Plaza Hotel And Conference Center in Columbus.
4900 Sinclair Road Columbus, OH 43229
Off I71 at the Morse / Sinclair exit.
April 21 & 22, 2012
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Saturday & 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sunday
SPACE continues to be the Mid-West’s largest exhibition of small press, alternative, and creator-owned comics with
over 180 exhibitors, panels, workshops, and presentations.
Admission is $5.00 for one day and $8.00 for both. Special Rates are available On-line.
The new venue offers a restaurant, bar, free parking, a special hotel rate and air port shuttle service.
The website has been updated with over 120 exhibitors scheduled to appear so far.
More info soon at http://www.backporchcomics.com
SPACE—Columbus’ only locally owned and operated COMICS show!”
Baltimore guests.
By Shawn Scott Smith| January 12, 2012 | No Comments
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - January 12, 2012 - Baltimore Comic-Con promoter Marc Nathan is hitting the road in 2012, bringing a little bit of the Baltimore Comic-Con to you! The first show of 2012 will be the Philadelphia Comic-Con this Sunday, January 15th, and he’ll be bringing along his pal, JG Jones. Stop by to meet JG, talk to Marc about the show, and buy some comics while you’re there! Marc will also have Exhibitor and Artist Alley forms for this years convention on September 8th and 9th.
Josh Gates to C2E2
By Shawn Scott Smith| January 11, 2012 | No Comments
JOSH GATES TO APPEAR AT
CHICAGO COMIC AND ENTERTAINMENT EXPO (C2E2)
Star of SyFy’s Destination Truth is First Entertainment Guest Announced for Annual Midwest Pop Culture Convention
Norwalk, CT, January 11, 2012: Organizers of the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) have today announced that Josh Gates will appear at the annual pop culture convention where he will be the focus of a high profile panel and will also do a signing. Known as the “face of SyFy”, Gates is well-recognized as the host of the hit travel-adventure series, Destination Truth, a huge sensation which has garnered considerable attention and publicity, including an interview for Gates on The Today Show. Gates’ reputation as a pre-eminent Monster Hunter was firmly established when, on the season premiere of season two of Destination Truth, he and his team uncovered a series of footprints high in the Himalayas in search of evidence of the Yeti. Josh also hosts SyFy’s Ghost Hunters Halloween Live and other special events for the channel throughout the year and he has writtenDestination Truth: Memoirs of a Monster Hunter which was published by Gallery Books in October, 2011.
The Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo will take place April 13 – 15, 2012 in the North Building at the McCormick Place Convention Center.
Convention officials note that one of their main programming objectives is to provide a diverse range of panels by featuring guests from many walks of life with varied backgrounds, interests and accomplishments. “We look for guests who contribute to the growth and evolution of pop culture in its many forms,” notes Lance Fensterman, Group Vice President for ReedPOP and Show Manager for C2E2. “Josh Gates is a great example of someone from the entertainment world who also has a huge following in the pop culture arena. We are pleased and grateful that he has agreed to come to our show and I know our fans will be very eager to meet him.” Read more
Peter Mayhew going to New Orleans.
By Shawn Scott Smith| January 10, 2012 | No Comments
Wookiee Wonders: Original ‘Chewbacca,’ Peter Mayhew, Added To 2012 Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, January 28-29 At Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Actor Who Portrayed Beloved Character in Four STAR WARS Films Also to Read from his Children’s Book, ‘My Favorite Giant’; Joins Stars William Shatner, Stan Lee, Adam Baldwin, Mary McDonnell, James Marsters And Others Scheduled To Appear
NEW YORK and NEW ORLEANS, January 9, 2012 – Peter Mayhew, who brought the beloved character “Chewbacca” to life in four STAR WARS films, will attend the 2012 Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, January 28-29 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mayhew, who portrayed the loyal Wookiee in the original trilogy STAR WARS (1977), THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980), RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983), and the 2005 prequel REVENGE OF THE SITH, will meet fans, pose for photos, sign autographs, and perform a special reading of his latest children’s book “My Favorite Giant” during the show.
Mayhew, who stands 7’3″, was a hospital worker in his native England when he landed the role of Chewbacca. Between STAR WARS and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, Mayhew worked at Mayday Hospital in suburban London. He resumed this position after EMPIRE, only leaving the hospital again to join his colleagues on the set of RETURN OF THE JEDI. Interestingly, when writer/director George Lucas began searching for a tall actor who could accurately portray Chewbacca, he initially turned to David Prowse. The bodybuilder opted for the part of the sinister Darth Vader, leaving Lucas free to seek out Mayhew for the role of the Wookiee.
Mayhew will read from “My Favorite Giant,” which he co-wrote with his wife Angie Mayhew, on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 1 p.m., in Panel Room A. The book is intended to help little ones understand that being different doesn’t have to be a bad thing. The reading is part of full day of kids events on Sunday, which includes a costume contest, mosaic building workshop and a “passport” program in which kids complete activities all over New Orelans Comic Con. Read more
Amazing Arizona Comic Convention Recap
By Shawn Marshall| January 10, 2012 | No Comments
This last weekend my wife and I made the trek to Mesa, Arizona for the second annual Amazing Arizona Comic Convention (AACC). Although at first we had some trepidation about taking the five hour drive to the Phoenix area, we took the risk and made the trek…and I must say I’m very glad that we did. Just as advertised, AACC was a comic convention by the strictest definition of the term. With a focus on comic creators and vendors, the show focused heavily on the roots of the industry. If you were at the show, read on to see if you agree with my observations. If you missed the show, read on to see what you missed. Read more
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