People of all ages came out in full force and costume for the 2011 New York Comic Con, from Thursday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 16.
Many of them were gracious enough to pose, but this reporter was able to snap many of them as they walked among us…
Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson signed autographs from 1:30 to 2:30 on Saturday, Oct. 15, in the Dark Horse booth, which really delivered this year.
The booth offered free T-shirts, Hellboy masks, an assortment of small buttons, posters, bookmarks and a chance to spin a wheel for prizes in the form of digital comics. The table often had an artist or a writer signing for lines that were kept organized and moved quickly.
The line for Dorkin and Thompson was long–so long, it kept them busy for the entire hour and Dorkin was unable to do sketches to ensure that everyone in line got their items signed. This reporter hopes to see those two in a Dark Horse panel next year. Anyone who’s ever been treated to Dorkin sitting a panel knows he is rapid-fire funny, candid and witty. Certainly, both should be signing at the booth for more than one hour on one day.
Still, Dark Horse was on the ball this year, bringing along copies of the duo’s Beasts of Burden hardcover, as well as copies of Thompson’s Scary Godmother collection. Fans in line had an assortment of books for one or the other or both to sign, and this reporter brought along her vinyl Milk and Cheese figurines, which Dorkin signed. The pair also signed a free copy of the Hellboy/Beasts of Burden crossover for everyone in line.
There are murmurings of a new project for the duo, presumably Beasts of Burden-related. Meanwhile, Milk and Cheese fans are looking forward to the January 2012 release of Milk and Cheese: Dairy Products Gone Bad, a hardcover collection of every comic ever made from 1989 through 2010, plus a notable amount of supplemental material.
Follow Dorkin and Thompson on Twitter at @evandorkin and @thejillthompson for more on upcoming projects.
Organizers distributed tickets to the first signing by Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 14, sending a few fans scrambling for a coveted spot in that always long line. Unlike last year’s free signing, this free signing, which took place between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., was far more organized. The duo sat inside one of the panel rooms, both wearing sunglasses as fans toward the front of the line speculated how late they must have stayed up the night before.
Fans brought a variety of items for the pair to sign, including DVD covers and merchandise that was on sale all weekend on the show floor, such as toy maker’s Bif Bang Pow‘s Rusty Venture Lunch Box, or tin tote, $45, which features action figures of a young Rusty Venture and Dr. Jonas Venture Sr. inside. The lunch box appeared in Season 2 episode “Escape to the House of Mummies.”
This reporter, who remains smitten with the show’s first two seasons, brought along a blue windbreaker, which the duo signed in silver Sharpie as Doc went into character and said, “Get me my blueeeeee windbreaker!”
The banter between the two was ongoing. If they were tired and if they didn’t want to be there, they certainly didn’t show it. Enthusiastically chattering away and smiling warmly for photographs with fans, they signed and engaged in badinage with each fan and with each other, prompting one fan in line to exclaim, ”Look at them now! They’re fucking ROCK stars!” One does not get the sense that the banter is forced or staged, either. These guys, despite having achieved rock star status, are genuine, remain down-to-earth and make their fans feel included, as if they were all in their living room, chattering about a show they all love.
That the pair successfully makes fans in line for signatures and photos feel as if they are being treated to a live version of their DVD commentary is notable. It was a sentiment echoed by Hammer in the Venture Bros. panel at the 2009 New York Comic Con and it speaks to their character that they remain committed to having that warm, intimate connection to their fan base even as they get bigger and bigger every year.
Adult Swim has renewed the show for two more seasons and production on Season 5 begins soon. According to a recent blog post by Publick, the budget and schedule are all set.
Actor Chad Michael Murray, most notable perhaps for his role as Lucas Scott in the CW drama One Tree Hill, has written a graphic novel entitled, Everlast, published by Archaia Entertainment and illustrated by Trevor Hairsine (X-Men), Andrew Huerta (Batman Beyond), Robbi Rodriguez (Moon Lake), J. K. Woodward (Fallen Angel) and Daniel Zezelj (Luna Park).
In this pre-apocalyptic tale, protagonist Derek Everlast has been chosen to guide others to a place of rebirth for mankind known as Haven. He’s received a gift–an instinct called the Nudge–from a higher power, which he uses to guide a little girl named Melissa to Haven before the End of Days, sweeping readers along on their wild and harrowing journey.
Books were available for purchase at the Comic Con, and Chad Michael Murray, photographed here on Friday, was on hand signing as he chatted with fans and posed for photographs with them. Although he did ask that fans neither hug nor kiss him nor request any body parts be signed, which to this reporter seemed fair enough and sensible, he was quite friendly and personable. Books are currently available for purchase via Murray’s official website’s online store.
Doctor Who was well represented at the 2011 New York Comic Con, where many arrived decked out in costumes honoring everything from video game characters to superheroes to blog and television series characters.
Fezzes were most definitely cool:
[[Show as slideshow]]The Doctors were in the house at the con:
This reporter was even encountered a couple of TARDISes…:
[[Show as slideshow]]…as well as a Dalek:
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For those wondering the whereabouts of Waldo, he was spotted at the 2011 New York Comic Con.
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Zach Weiner braved a cold and dense crowds lining up to see him and the fellers from Cyanide and Happiness–all whom shared a booth on the show floor at the 2011 New York Comic Con, from Thursday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 16. There were a few T-shirts for sale as well copies of his first book, Save Yourself, Mammal!: A Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal Collection, which features more than 200 comics from the first 10 years of SMBC.
Fans who visited the booth on Saturday and Sunday got a chance to purchase the second book, The Most Dangerous Game, which features comics hand-selected by Weiner from his entire catalog through Sept. 2011. The book also includes a mini Choose Your Own Adventure section with more than 120 entries. Those who didn’t get to buy a copy at the NYCC can pre-order one via the comic site’s online store. Books are scheduled to ship Nov. 1. Both titles are published by Breadpig.
What fans will not get to pre-order were the limited-edition Gentleman’s Single-Use Unlubricated Monocle. By the time this reporter got to purchase hers on Sunday, there were only nine left. Inspired by an old SMBC comic, the monocles were rendered reality for the con by engineer Ben Peters and steampunk artist David Malki! and sold for $5 apiece.
Breadpig donates 100 percent of all non-sustainable profits generated from the sale of both books to the Khan Academy.
Zach Weiner has agreed to an interview with Non-Productive.com, as soon as he has a few days to unwind from the con and his cold. Stay tuned.
Images courtesy of BreadPig.com
The 2011 New York Comic Con has expanded to four days, a bold move from a convention that debuted in 2006, running from Thursday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 16. Panels open to press and professionals began at 12 p.m. on Thursday and the show floor, including Artist Alley, opened to all with a limited 4-day badge, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Far from empty, the floor did not feel overwhelmingly crowded.
One fan was appreciative of the extra three hours to get shopping done and out of the way. Though the general vibe at this year’s con seemed a little off, perhaps colored by the tension gripping the city currently, people certainly seemed to have a good time. There was the usual crowd of costumed visitors, though not nearly as many as on Saturday, the con’s busiest day.
Indeed, Saturday saw crowds so thick it was difficult to maneuver on the show floor and in Artist Alley. Despite the dense crowds, however, this year also saw notable improvements in organization. Even lines that got especially long were not unwieldy or merging with lines for separate signings, as was the case last year when a few people ended up on the wrong lines and opportunists cut in easily.
DC, heavily promoting the New 52, saw their booth crowd with onlookers and people in line waiting for autographs from writers and artists and sketches from a few of the artists. Amy Reeder (Batwoman) was sketching for fans and was particularly gracious with one fan who got choked up upon watching her work and being able to talk to her.
Marvel, heavily promoting the upcoming movie, The Avengers, which releases May 2012, likewise saw its booth packed with people. Their lines were a little more chaotic, with lots of jostling and pushing; however, it was still an improvement from last year’s overall experience. They were giving out free posters and T-shirts, and artists and writers, including Matt Fraction, Kieron Gillen and Stuart Immonen signing at one table, often at the same time. The Avengers cast members Cobie Smulders and Clark Gregg also signed posters at the Marvel booth on the show floor on Saturday afternoon.
Missing this year were Darwyn Cooke and Gail Simone, but returning were Garth Ennis (Crooked, The Boys), Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson (Beasts of Burden), Jim Lee (the driving force behind the New 52 and the man responsible for erasing the Oracle), and David Lloyd (V for Vendetta). Also returning were Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer (Venture Bros.), who in addition to their usual panel did two signings, as did Seth Green and the Robot Chicken clan. A very hoarse Felicia Day was spotted in the vicinity of the Dark Horse booth.
The only hiccup that drove some fans a little nutty was the lack of signal at the Javits Center, which prevented them from using plastic to make their purchases. Not helping was the fact that the few ATMs inside the center were out of order, so that lines for the few that worked rivaled lines for Cyanide and Happiness and Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, who shared a booth, which were pretty darn long, even on Sunday.
Overall this was a good, solid show, which focuses heavily on artists, a plus in this reporter’s opinion. Although it will be a few more years before it reaches San Diego-level status, this year puts organizers on the right track toward achieving its goal.
