Comic Con '09 - Thursday

Another great day at the Convention. After doing my best to get my hands on some toys for work, me and Richard finally got our hands on armfuls of Hasbro stuff. Of course he left me to purchase the one My Little Pony exclusive this year. So that is the second year in a row that i purchased a My Little Pony at Comic Con. Of course it wasn't with my own money, but still, i had to go up and ask for one.

After work was done for the day, i headed down to Artist Alley and met up with Beth and Jorge. Beth was looking for artists for her new book. I think i give that project a go, if i am good enough. We headed over to the Image booth to check out some things and Mike Allred was hanging out at the booth with his son Han. Mike's eyes lit up when he saw Jorge so i introduced them. It was a pretty magical nerd experience, to say the least. Mike quickly handed Jorge a copy of Red Rocket 7, Madman Atomic Comics vol. 1 as well as Madman Gargantua. Quite a haul!!

After some wandering around, i headed over to the Oni Press booth and got my copy of You Have Killed Me signed by Jamie and Joëlle. They are the coolest folks! Jamie signed my book with an anti-Blackest Night message on it. I laughed when i got back to the hotel and read it. I will have to thank him!

For dinner i went to this place called the Broken Yolk. They serve breakfast all day long and i had a killer Monti Cristo as well as two large ice teas! It was at dinner when i realized that i fucked up big time. I was so busy and having so much fun that i forgot to go to the Digital Bits panel. In all of my years coming to Comic Con, i have NEVER missed that panel and i am pissed that i did.

After dinner we headed down to the convention center and in to Ballroom 20 for a screening of Green Lantern: First Flight!! Kirk and Laurie met up with us and i talked their ears off about Food Network for about an hour. Bruce Timm came out to introduce the movie, but before it started he made all 2,600 people in Ballroom 20 stand up and recite the Green Lantern Oath!! He followed up with, "we are officially the nerdiest place in the convention", which made everyone cheer! WE DID IT!! Since i had my camera with me i decided to record the giant Oath Reciting Event on my camera, unfortunately my camera did not record the audio, which pretty much makes the footage completely useless. Oh well, maybe i will post it anyway.

At the end of the night i hung out front of the hotel for a bit, while Jeremy and Lenny went on a scavenger hunt for Flynn Lives and ended up at Flynn's Arcade, which apparently has playable Space Paranoids as well and a full size lit up Lightcycle rotating on a turntable. I did not go to Flynn's Arcade because my poor legs were super tired. Maybe it will still be open tonight.

Ran into Brian Posehn again, that makes 5 years straight!

Talk to you folks tomorrow, i can't believe it is only Thursday!

Comic Con '09 - Preview Night

Well, the time has finally come, i am at San Diego Comic Con! So far it has been pretty eventful. The first people i came across was Jay and Jack from The Lost Podcast as well as Ryan and Jenn from the Transmission as well as a slew of old friends from the LOST podcasting community. I ran into Geoff Johns, the gang from Geekscape.net and Michael Cerna of all people.

I got to check out some cool booths, including James Cameron's Avatar. I got to see a full sized Batpod from The Dark Knight at the Lego Booth and a ton of awesome comic creators at the Image Booth. Ryan Ottley is my hero!

I spent money during Preview Night on the few things that i came to Comic Con for. I snatched up limited prints from Kevin Dart and Chris Turnham from FleetStreetScandal.com ! They are awesome!! Pictures to come soon.

I also picked up a numbered copy of Jamie S Rich and Joëlle Jone's book You Have Killed Me. I have not had a chance to read it, but it is a beautiful hardcover crime book that looks absolutely amazing. Can't wait to meet them tomorrow and have the book signed. I picked up the limited Comic Con edtion number 13 of 50. Seemed like a cool number to have.

After being foiled by the exclusives i was supposed to pick up for work, i got the chance to roam the Exhibit Hall and see a bunch of awesome sites! Check out my Facebook page and see all of the incredible nerd things that i was lucky enough to take pictures of!!

One of the coolest things i got to see was the Larry "Buster" Crabbe Flash Gordon figure from GoHero.com , that i had pre-ordered last November! The figure was behind glass so all my pictures turned out blurry. I will try to get some better shots tomorrow.

After i had left Preview Night, i hung out in front of the Hard Rock Hotel (which is where i am staying) and saw a whole bunch of famous people. I had a discussion about Steve Weibe with Adam Sessler from G4 TV's X-PLAY, which was really great! He loves Weibe and is definitely rooting for him to dethrone Billy Mitchell!

While i was sitting out front, i also saw Harry Knowles, The entire gang from TheDigitalBits.Com, Richard Hatch (BSG, not Survivor), Jim Lee, stupid Rob Leifeld, Stryker from KROQ, Tyrese Gibson and Andy Samberg all within the span of 45 minutes! It was pretty amazing.

I have only been in San Diego for 10 hours and it is already shaping up to be a great Comic Con.

Be back with more stories tomorrow!!

COMIC CON '09 - Awesomecon!

Ok, for the past couple years i have promised myself that i would go to Tim and Eric's AWESOMECON! But something always gets in the way! I really hope that i have a chance to meet Tim and Eric!!

THIS YEAR I PROMISE THAT I WILL GO!!!
(unless Jay and Jack's panel gets in the way)
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OMG, I'M SO EXCITED - AWESOMECON ITINERARY!!
Have you been doing your stretches? Hope so, because Awesomecon is BACK and we wanna see you at your tip-top physical peak! Below is a break down of how the day will go:

12:00 p.m.
WELCOME!!!! Come rub elbows with some of your favorite cast members, sing your favorite Awesome Show tunes and sign up for the trivia contest! Special performances by Sire, James Quall, David Liebe Hart plus a Richard Dunn kissing booth!

1:15 p.m.
WHEEL BARROW RACE!!!
It's between to you and your Chipster who will be the wheel barrow. Better do some practice runs!
Prizes = HATS!

1:30 p.m.
EGG TOSS!!!
Bring your soft hands and come catch some baby eggs!
Prizes = HOODIES!

2:00 p.m.
TIM & ERIC SIGNING
Your chance to meet the creators of Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Have them sign your friend!

2:15 p.m.
COSTUME CONTEST!!!
Wear your costume and come sing/dance as your favorite Awesome Show character
Prizes= WINNERS ARE AUTOMATICALLY ENTERED IN THE TRIVIA CONTEST + SPECIAL PRIZE!

2:30 p.m.
LIGHTING TRIVIA QUIZ ROUND!!!
Come sign up for a chance to enter the trivia contest were fans go head-to-head to see who really knows their Awesome Show... DUNN DUNN DUNNNNNNN
3rd Place Prize = T-SHIRT!
2nd Place Prize = YOUR VERY OWN ANSWERING MESSAGE FROM TIM OR ERIC, YOU CHOOSE!
1st Place Prize = SUPER SWEET WAVE RUNNER RIDE W/TIM & ERIC!!!!!!!!!!

+..+..+..+..+..+..+..+..+..+..+..+..PLUS!!!!!!!!!!!

WHERE'S MY CHIPPY TREASURE HUNT!!!! (Prizes!)

AWESOMECON '09
WHEN: Saturday July 25th, 12 - 3 p.m.
WHERE: San Diego, Embarcadero Marina Park North (next to Seaport Village, behind the Marriott Hotel)

GREAT JOB, EVERYONE!

COMIC CON '09 - Green Lantern: First Flight

Press Release

Green Lantern: First Flight, the highly-anticipated fifth entry in the popular DVD series of DC Universe animated original PG-13 movies, will have its world premiere at Comic-Con in San Diego on Thursday, July 23, 2009.

More than 4,000 fans will have the opportunity to see Green Lantern: First Flight on the big screen five days before the latest DC Universe film is distributed on DVD and Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def. The film will premiere in the San Diego Convention Center’s Ballroom 20 at 8:00 p.m.

A panel comprised of filmmakers and voice cast will be presented on the following day, Friday, July 24. Details on that panel and its participants will be announced next week.

Acclaimed actor Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) fills the lead voice of Hal Jordan aka Green Lantern. Meloni is joined by fellow Emmy Award nominee Victor Garber (Milk, Titanic) as the villainous Sinestro, Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) as the voice of Boodikka, and Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs) as Kilowog. The cast also includes Juliet Landau (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), John Larroquette (Night Court), Kurtwood Smith (That ‘70s Show), and David Lander (Laverne & Shirley).

Produced by animation legend Bruce Timm, Green Lantern: First Flight is helmed by heralded director Lauren Montgomery (Wonder Woman, Superman Doomsday) and scripted by four-time Emmy Award-winning writer Alan Burnett (The Batman).

Green Lantern: First Flight finds Hal Jordan recruited to join the Green Lantern Corps and placed under the supervision of respected senior Lantern Sinestro. The earthling soon discovers his mentor is actually the central figure in a secret conspiracy that threatens the philosophies, traditions and hierarchy of the entire Green Lantern Corps. Hal must quickly hone his newfound powers and combat the treasonous Lanterns within the ranks to maintain order in the universe.

COMIC CON '09 - Spolight on Mike Allred

FROM MIKE'S MESSAGE BOARD -

"Just found out today I will have a spotlight panel:

Spotlight on Michael Allred
Friday, JULY 24
10:00-11:00am
ROOM 8

Plus Han will be manning a table at the Image booth for strangecandyink.com where we'll have the art prints on water color paper (veddy veddy nice). Many new designs, plus THE PUKE cover signed by both Dave Cooper and myself and a couple signed by me and Darwyn Cooke. The modified Popgun cover art is a personal favorite too. There'll also be several t-shirts available and original art.

We also hope to spend some hang time at the Oni Booth and we have some events with DC/Vertigo in the works."

You guys can count on me being there!!

ralph-

COMIC CON '09 - THE LOST PODCAST

A couple years ago, Jay and Jack over at the Lost Podcast got their own panel! I was lucky enough to get a chance to moderate this event and last year i actually sat in on the panel.

I hope that Jay and Jack return for another Lost Podcast panel. I always have a blast talking about Lost and the Lost Panel at the Jay and Jack panel. I do not think that i will participate on the stage this year, unless Jay asks me to moderate.

Either way, i am looking forward to hanging out with all the people that make up the Lost Podcast community!!
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Saturday, July 25
2:00-3:00 The Lost Podcast with Jay and Jack— Father and son team Jay and Jack Glatfelter have one of the oldest and biggest podcasts dedicated to ABC'S Lost. Discuss the gripping season finale, and learn about the huge dedicated online community for TV's most mind twisting drama. Room 24A

COMIC CON '09 - THE DIGITAL BITS

Back in 2005, i decided to check out a panel called The DVD Producers Panel. I had never been to comic con and it seemed like something that i would be interested in. I did not know until i showed up that the panel was brought to me by the guys who run one of my favorite websites, The Digital Bits!

This panel usually happens on Thursday and i never miss it!! If you have an interest in seeing what is coming up in the world of Blu-Ray and home video, this panel is for you! The panel consists of the guys from the Digital Bits and a butt-load of DVD producers, who are usually the guys who create the extra features on the discs. The guys are super cool and usually have some awesome behind the scenes footage that usually does not make it to the dvd.

For the lay person, it may seem like a technical power point presentation that is boring, but for me it is a glimpse into a magical world full of nerd shit!

The DVD Producers panel is the best place to touch base with me at the beginning of the Convention!

**UPDATE** from thedigitalbits.com

Finally today, we have an announcement of our own: We WILL be returning to Comic-Con down in San Diego next month with our usual panel event. The panel will be held on Thursday afternoon (7/23). Here are the details:
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2:30-3:30 - DVD/Blu-ray Producers 2009: Now in Glorious High-Definition! - Join Bill Hunt, Adam Jahnke and Todd Doogan (of The Digital Bits.com), as they talk about the latest DVD and Blu-ray developments with some of the leading special edition producers in Hollywood! Panelists will include Robert Meyer Burnett (The Hills Run Red, Free Enterprise: The Wrath of Shatner), Laura Gross (Coraline, 9), Charles de Lauzirika (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Ridley Scott's Robin Hood), David Naylor (Fringe, Bad Lieutenant) and Cliff Stephenson (Crank 2: High Voltage, Gamer) for inside talk, Q&A and a sneak peek at great upcoming discs! ROOM 7AB

COMIC CON '09 - LOST

As you probably know already i am a huge fan of LOST. I have gone to the LOST panel every year since 2005 and this year will be no different.

So far i have seen panels with Damon and Carlton, Josh Holloway, Maggie Grace, Jorge Garcia, Daniel Dae Kim, Harold Perrineau and Matthew Fox! The LOST panels are always a blast. Damon and Carlton, no matter how lame they are, always have a blast dodging answers and giving some tid-bits that get the ol' noodle working during those long hiatuses.

This year's LOST panel should be pretty fantastic! This is the last Comic Con panel for LOST before the final episode. I know that first LOST panel back in 2004 was a huge success and that all of the cast was there. I am hoping that this years panel is the best event of the entire con!!

CLICK HERE - to see footage that i took during the 2005 LOST panel.

CLICK HERE to see me ask a question at the LOST panel in 2006!
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Saturday, July 25
11:00-12:00 Lost: The Final Season Begins, with Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse— In appreciation of all the fan support through five seasons of Lost, co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof and executive producer Carlton Cuse will pay homage to all the fans at their final Comic-Con appearance for Lost. Questions will be answered. Fun will be had. And you won't want to miss the surprises in store for the audience! Hall H

COMIC CON '09 - FLEET STREET SCANDAL

I am not sure how many booths there are at Comic Con and i am not sure how many of those are dedicated to talented artists, but in 2006 i found these guys! Kevin Dart (left) and Chris Turnham (right) make up the super duper art duo known as Fleet Street Scandal and i am glad that i found them!

I met these guys, my second year attending comic con. Stevi and i had been walking around the exhibition hall looking for cool artists. We found this guy named Ragnar. Ragnar had this huge corner booth area that was set up like a mini gallery. Ragnar had some really really cool pieces. They were a bit pricey, but they were definitely tempting. When we went looking for someone to answer some questions we had, Ragnar was nowhere to be found. A little disappointed, we ventured on our way to the next billion artists. Sorry Ragnar.

Among the people we saw, we really took a liking to Chris and Kevin's art. They were like a mix of Mary Blair and Robert McGinnis. It was a small booth that was lined with prints, Kevin's on the right and Chris' on the left. It was a small booth and there were no fancy frames. The art was fantastic and completely affordable. The best thing about the guys from Fleet Street Scandal is the fact that they stood at their booth the entire duration of the convention. This is what Comic Con is all about! Artists who not only love what they do, but are appreciative towards people who come up and visit their booth. They don't try to sell you on anything and they are completely humble.

Since 2005, we have picked up several prints from them and will continue to do so for as long as they are at comic con. Other than the 3 pieces of original Allred art and a Fight Club poster, our house is lined with beautiful prints from Fleet Street Scandal!

COMIC CON '09 - MADMAN

Back in 1994 i started to get sick of comic books. I was a junior in high school and would rather create comic books as opposed to reading whatever Big Boobs, Big Guns and Big Shoulder Pad characters were doing at the time. Every comic book seemed to have characters with giant guns, with a billion shell casings spilling all over the page. All of the comic pages were filled with so much "detail" that it would turn everything into a giant sketchy mess.

It got to the point where i was reading magazines about comic books, which is when i came across a new book from Dark Horse. The creator was Michael Allred and his creation was MADMAN, a comic book that had a "pop art" style that brought back the comic book art style of the good old silver age! Over the last 15 years i fell away from comics and back again, a few years ago MADMAN returned to IMage comics and the new series has been really great. No matter how much the world of comic books have changed over the years, MADMAN has pretty much remained the same. There is that great pop-art and light hearted existential adventure stories. Sometimes it gets a little heavy, but for the most part it is a ton of fun.

A year ago, i had the opportunity to interview the creator Mike Allred for Geekscape (click here to download the audio version). After years of reading his books, i could not believe that i had the chance to actually talk to my favorite comic book creator. I was excited at how easy it was to get a long with Mike. He is a very down to earth guy.

Last November Stevi and i had the opportunity to meet Mike and his wife/colorist, Laura, in San Francisco at an artist signing at a comic book store called Neon Monster. Once again, we were welcome with open arms. Mike and Laura had signed my copy of MADMAN Gargantua as well as a copy of Madman Atomic Comics #3 for my friend Ryan.

For those of you going to Comic Con this year, Mike and Laura are going to be there doing some book signings, as well as making some big announcements for the future of MADMAN. Be sure to hit up their table and meet these awesome people!