I had a great time at Planet Comicon this year, here are the pictures from the trip that I took before my phone died
Planet Comicon 2015 Trip
Author: Chris Mosby
[PRESS] – DC ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES NEW BOOKS, NEW CREATORS, BROADER FOCUS FOR THE DC UNIVERSE
DC ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES NEW BOOKS, NEW CREATORS, BROADER FOCUS FOR THE DC UNIVERSE
Iconic Super Heroes & Super-Villains Universe is Diversifying
To Make Room for More Types of Storytelling, More Fans.
June Slate of Titles Includes Long-Awaited Return to DCU of Bryan Hitch, Garth Ennis; Gene Luen Yang & Ming Doyle Join Team of Top Talent.
This summer, DC Entertainment launches a bold new direction for the DC Universe (DCU) that is even more inclusive and accessible to a wider group of readers as the publisher continues to evolve comic storytelling for its next generation of fans. Award-winning, critically acclaimed writers are headlining the June 2015 slate of DC Comics’ new periodicals and graphic novels, including Gene Luen Yang, Bryan Hitch, Garth Ennis and Ming Doyle.
Beginning June 3rd, the DC Comics line of comic books will consist of 24 brand-new series that will begin at issue number one, as well as 25 on-going, bestselling fan favorite series that will continue without a break in the issue numbering. The total number of periodicals in the DCU will be 49, with additional new titles debuting throughout the year.
“This heralds in a new era for the DC Universe which will allow us to publish something for everyone, be more expansive and modern in our approach and tell stories that better reflect the society around us,” said DC Entertainment Co-Publisher Dan DiDio. “Whether you’ve been a DC fan your whole life, or whether you are new to comics – there will be a book for you beginning in June.”
DC Comics will be keenly focused on going back-to-basics with its legendary characters, like BATMAN, SUPERMAN and WONDER WOMAN, while also reinventing key characters, such as BLACK CANARY, BIZARRO, CYBORG and STARFIRE, with a new contemporary tonality to ensure a diverse offering of titles. Top writers and artists, as well as emerging fresh voices, are on board to help create an expansive lineup of comics that appeals to a broad audience of fans.
Depicting some of these iconic characters in a more contemporary light include National Book Award finalist Gene Luen Yang who will join artist John Romita Jr. in the ongoing adventures of SUPERMAN. Comic superstar artist Bryan Hitch will write and draw new tales of the world’s greatest heroes in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA. The pitch perfect team of Garth Ennis and John McCrea returns to DC Comics for a limited series called SECTION EIGHT featuring characters from their popular Hitman comic. VERTIGO creator Ming Doyle will be lending her talents to DC Comics, penning CONSTANTINE: THE HELLBLAZER along with newcomer artist Riley Rossmo.
“More than ever before, DC Comics fans are being exposed to our rich portfolio of characters through multiple sources, including an unprecedented number of highly successful TV shows, video games and upcoming major motion pictures,” said Co-Publisher Jim Lee. “We are looking to extend that experience within publishing to ensure there is a comic book for everyone. For example, fans of the ARROW television show may want more stories about BLACK CANARY. Now they can find modern, fresh takes on the character in the pages of her standalone series both in stores and digitally.”
Breakout star, Brenden Fletcher, co-writer behind the all new, highly successful BATGIRL book will also be writing the new BLACK CANARY series launching in June. Fan favorites Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti will be the creative team on new titles STARFIRE and HARLEY QUINN/POWER GIRL and will continue to helm the perennially bestselling HARLEY QUINN.
“Beyond character and creators, the June slate will showcase different styles and approaches to storytelling as we add offbeat, irreverently funny titles such as BIZARRO, BAT-MITE and PREZ,” said Lee. “Truly there will be something for everybody as we simultaneously celebrate our rich legacy while embracing new voices and concepts.”
A first look at upcoming storylines will be the focus of DC Entertainment’s Free Comic Book Day issue – DC COMICS: DIVERGENCE – available Saturday, May 2, featuring three 8-page previews for the June releases of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s BATMAN, as well as Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok’s launch of the Darkseid War within JUSTICE LEAGUE featuring the biggest villains in the DCU – Darkseid and the Anti-Monitor, and Gene Luen Yang’s DC Comics debut with celebrated artist John Romita, Jr on SUPERMAN. More than half-a million free issues of the DC Entertainment sampler will be given away at comic book retailers globally.
“In this new era of storytelling, story will trump continuity as we continue to empower creators to tell the best stories in the industry,” said DiDio.
To learn more about the June DC Universe slate, visit www.dccomics.com.
[PRESS] Wizard World, FansTang To Bring Comic Con Pop Culture Event To China, May 30-31-June 1, 2015
Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD), FansTang To Bring Comic Con Pop Culture Event To China, May 30-31-June 1, 2015
Partnership Combines North America’s Largest Comic Con Tour With China’s Largest Localized Western Digital Content and Analytics Business; Location, Guests To Be Announced
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., February 3, 2015 – Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) and FansTang, wholly owned by China Branding Group Limited, today announced a partnership to produce a pop culture convention May 30-June 1, 2015, in the People’s Republic of China. The event name, city location, venue, guests and additional partners will be announced as they become available.
The event will be the first venture outside of North America for Wizard World, which has scheduled 25 Comic Con events domestically in 2015.
“Producing an event in China offers limitless possibilities,” said John Macaluso, Wizard World CEO. “By partnering with a power player like FansTang we are best able to introduce Wizard World to fans there by producing the best possible event, opening the doors to many more opportunities worldwide.”
“FansTang is pleased to be partnering with WizardWorld on the introduction of Comic Con events in China, which will allow a massive fan base of Chinese and global comic related film, TV, toy and other properties,” said Adam Roseman, FansTang Founder & CEO. “We are excited to work with our local media partners and leverage our extensive reach of over 100 million young Chinese consumers to quickly increase the awareness of the new events coming to China.”
Wizard World Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, cosplay, comics, television, sci-fi, toys, video gaming, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.
About FansTang
FansTang, wholly owned by China Branding Group Limited, is the largest provider of localized international live events content, social media content and non-studio Hollywood and related video content into the China marketplace. FansTang also maintains the most robust international content data platform that services a growing portfolio of major clients including studios, Hollywood agencies, international ad agencies and brands.
About Wizard World
Wizard World (OTCBB: WIZD) produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, television, cosplay, comics, graphic novels, toys, video gaming, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. A first-class lineup of topical programming takes place at each event, with celebrity Q&A’s, the Wizard World Film Festival, comics-themed sessions, costume contests, movie screenings, evening parties and more. Wizard World also produces socialcon featuring social media stars and will be launching ConTV, a digital media channel in partnership with leading independent content distributor Cinedigm™ (NASDAQ: CIDM).
Wizard World 2015 schedule available at: http://wizd.me/PRSchedule2015.
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[PRESS] – BAD KARMA VOLUME ONE, A HARDCOVER ANTHOLOGY FEATURING TOP COMIC BOOK TALENTS ALEX GRECIAN, JEREMY HAUN, B. CLAY MOORE, SETH PECK, AND MANY MORE, WILL BE AVAILABLE IN APRIL 2015 FROM DYNAMITE
BAD KARMA VOLUME ONE, A HARDCOVER ANTHOLOGY
FEATURING TOP COMIC BOOK TALENTS ALEX GRECIAN,
JEREMY HAUN, B. CLAY MOORE, SETH PECK, AND MANY MORE,
WILL BE AVAILABLE IN APRIL 2015 FROM DYNAMITE
January 12, 2015, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce that Bad Karma Volume One, the highly anticipated hardcover anthology from such comic creators as Alex Grecian (Proof, Rasputin), Jeremy Haun (Constantine, Batwoman), B. Clay Moore (Hawaiian Dick, JSA Liberty Files: The Whistling Skull), and Seth Peck (X-Men, ’76, Sorrow), will be available for the first time in comic book stores and book retail chains in April 2015.
Celebrated as “a beautiful representation of collaboration at its best” by industry news site Comics Alliance, Bad Karma Volume One features 200 pages of original comic book and prose stories, plus pin-up artwork, by a huge selection of the industry’s up-and-coming creative people. At its core, Bad Karma highlights four separate, creator-owned concepts: Hellbent, by Peck & Tigh Walker; Old Dog, by Moore & Christopher Mitten; Middleton, by Grecian and Phil Hester; and Chaos Agent, by Haun and Mike Tisserand. The four aforementioned writers also collaborate on The Ninth Life of Solomon Gunn, with Jeremy Haun performing double-duty on art chores.
Additional Bad Karma contributors include Tony Harris, Ben Templesmith, Francesco Francavilla, Rebekka Isaacs, Chris Samnee, Jenny Frison, Shane White, Shaky Kane, Andrew MacLean, and many more. The first volume of this anthology series also features a fold-out gatefold by noted print-maker Mark Englert.
Each of the core Bad Karma writers summarized their experience in bringing this unique, innovative project to fruition:
- Clay Moore: “Bad Karmawas intended as a showcase for Jeremy Haun, Alex Grecian, Seth Peck, and me to launch new creator-owned concepts, utilizing the assistance of friends we’d always enjoyed collaborating with, or always wanted to collaborate with. Our goal was to produce as high quality a book as possible, focusing on content and design, and we did just that, from Jonathan Hickman’s hardcover design to Mark Englert’s fold-out Bad Karma print. There are five new concepts in the book, one of which the five of us created together. We also traded off on each other’s concepts, writing short stories based on the others’ concepts. Alex and I also contributed prose pieces. Everything was loosely linked together. We were lucky enough to have the support of a number of amazing talents, contributing art to the stories, as well as spot illustrations and pin-ups.”
Seth Peck: “Working on the book was the most challenging, exciting, and satisfying experience of my career. The chance to tell any kind of story I wanted to was extremely liberating, and really let me stretch myself creatively. Having complete creative control let us design the entire book from the top down, and let us produce the work exactly as we wanted to.”
Jeremy Haun: “Cover to cover this is a book I’m truly proud of. We had the opportunity to work with some of the most talented folks in the industry. It’s not often you get to completely craft every aspect of a project. We were able to build a book that came out exactly how we wanted, from the design, to the color, to the paper stock.”
Alex Grecian: “Bad Karma never should have been as good as it is. Four headstrong creators in complete control of a project as ambitious as this one? It’s a formula for disaster. But somehow it worked. And more than worked. It’s a book I’m proud of. And I plan to keep coming back to it, to build on my creations in it and to steal my own ideas (and those of my co-creators).”
Bad Karma Volume One came to realization thanks to fan support by way of the crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter. Since its successful campaign, the creators connected with Dynamite Entertainment for greater distribution and marketing opportunities. B. Clay Moore says, “We successfully crowdfunded the project, and the success of the project, and the enthusiastic response from readers, helped fuel our passion for the book. We’re especially grateful to Nick Barrucci and Dynamite for helping us expand the Bad Karma audience.”
“What’s so great about Bad Karma is that it can appeal to such a diverse audience,” says Keith Davidsen, Marketing Manager of Dynamite Entertainment. “Within its pages, readers will find gritty crime noir, Victorian mystery, gun-blazing Western action, tentacled monsters, mind-blowing pin-up illustrations, and more. Anyone can pick up this book and find something to love… and that’s just for starters, because the sheer high quality of this package, the considerable wealth of talent involved, will draw eyes to each and every page. We’re exceedingly proud to count Bad Karma as part of our release schedule for 2015.”
Bad Karma Volume One will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ February 2015 Previews catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in April. Comic book fans are encouraged to reserve copies of Bad Karma Volume One through their local comic book retailers, bookstores, or online retailers.
[PRESS] – Wizard World Presents Bruce Campbell’s Groovy Fest, August 22-23, Co-Locating With Wizard World Comic Con Chicago
Wizard World Presents Bruce Campbell’s Groovy Fest, August 22-23, Co-Locating With Wizard World Comic Con Chicago
Celebration Of All Thing Groovy Moving From Original March Dates Due To Filming; Tobin Bell, Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, Others To Join Campbell At Donald E. Stephens Convention Center; Event Formerly Known As ‘Horror Fest’
ROSEMONT, Ill., January 16, 2015 – Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) and Dangerous Entertainment today announced that Wizard World Presents Bruce Campbell’s Groovy Fest will co-locate with the 2015 Wizard World Comic Con Chicago, August 22-23 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. The event, formerly known as “Bruce Campbell’s Horror Fest,” is being moved to accommodate taping of Campbell’s new TV show, “Ash vs. Evil Dead.”
Those who had purchased admissions for the original event will receive full refunds, along with special offers. Additionally, fans with admission to Wizard World Comic Con Chicago, August 20-24, will also be able to attend the event with no extra admission fee. Single-day and VIP admissions will be available shortly.
“I’m very sorry for any inconvenience moving the event may cause and I appreciate your understanding,” said Campbell. “We’re excited to move the event, renamed ‘Bruce Campbell’s Groovy Fest’ — to highlight our groovy nature — until August so Wizard World Comic Con Chicago fans can enjoy the show too. There will be more exciting details to come in the months ahead, so stay tuned!”
In addition, all full-price Bruce Campbell’s Groovy Fest attendees will receive a limited edition exclusive variant cover “The Walking Dead” comic, drawn by one of Wizard World’s talented artist guests (to be announced shortly). Comics will be issued at registration while supplies last and VIP attendees will receive an additional black & white sketch version.
Wizard World Presents Bruce Campbell’s Groovy Fest show hours are Saturday, August 22, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Sunday, August 23, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
[PRESS] – Pop Culture Icon Bruce Campbell To Host New Original Series “Last Fan Standing” For Upcoming Digital Network CONtv
Pop Culture Icon Bruce Campbell To Host New Original Series “Last Fan Standing” For Upcoming Digital Network CONtv
Cinedigm And Wizard World’s New Network To Launch This February With Fan-Favorite Film, TV And Original Entertainment Geared Towards the Comic Con Community
(Los Angeles, CA) January 9, 2015 – The forthcoming digital streaming service CONtv has announced it will be kicking off production for a new original series, “LAST FAN STANDING,” a game show hosted and produced by fan-favorite actor Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead, Army Of Darkness). Created in partnership with Pop Quiz Entertainment, the series will be filmed live on the ground at Comic Con conventions nationwide with first show taping on Saturday, January 10 at New Orleans Comic Con. “LAST FAN STANDING,” engages event attendees through a proprietary audience response system, where all patrons plays along, competing for cash and prizes. The show culminates with the top four players vying for the coveted tilted as Campbell hunts for the “LAST FAN STANDING.”
Scheduled to launch next month, CONtv is a joint venture between Cinedigm, a leading independent content distributor, and Wizard World, a leading producer of live pop culture multimedia conventions. “LAST FAN STANDING” will be shot throughout various Wizard World events throughout 2015, and will premiere on CONtv later this year.
Wonder how much Thor’s hammer weighs? Or how much damage the Vorpal blade would inflict on a 5th-Level Cleric? Fans finally find vindication in their hours studying comics, films, movies and more with host and horror icon Campbell in this outrageous new quiz show. A collaboration between his own production entity and Pop Quiz Entertainment, this will be Campbell’s first digital series.
“At a live preview during Wizard World’s Chicago Comic Con last August, six hundred screaming fans could barely hold their seats! It was obvious to us that this would be a hit,” said Chris McGurk, CEO of Cinedigm Entertainment. “With a host as beloved in the fan community as Bruce, there’s no better fit for CONtv than ‘LAST FAN STANDING.’ We think of this series as a celebration of the pop culture obsession and fan engagement that makes the CONtv audience so special.”
“The audience went crazy for ‘LAST FAN STANDING’ when we debuted the game at Chicago Comic Con this summer! CONtv is the perfect place to reach true fans, and we can’t wait to challenge our audiences to find out who is the ultimate pop culture guru,” said Campbell.
“We love that CONtv will be bringing the excitement and action of our conventions to fans across the country,” says John Macaluso, CEO of Wizard World. “By shooting ‘LAST FAN STANDING’ on location, CONtv viewers will be able to join in on the fan experience even when they aren’t able to be at the convention in person.”
Steve Sellery, CEO of Pop Quiz Entertainment commented, “We created ‘LAST FAN STANDING’ to celebrate the excitement and the fandom of each audience member, while providing them the chance to compete in a live game show. This truly is a unique and highly experiential platform that we trust will become a ‘fan favorite’ well into the future.”
The new series joins the recently announced “FIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD,” a horror-competition series from Alpine Labs, BlackBoxTV and Revolver Picture Company. An unprecedented mash-up of the reality and scripted genres, “FIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD” follows a collection of online celebrities including Joey Graceffa, Jesse and Jeana (PrankvsPrank), Justine Ezarik (iJustine), and more, as they face challenges in an attempt to survive the undead’s relentlessly grisly, and frighteningly realistic onslaught.
Additionally, CONtv also recently announced an expansive portfolio of acquired film and television content available on the new digital network. Carefully selected for the passionate fans that make up the CONtv audience, the new partnerships enable the network to carry a deep catalogue of the best in pop culture obsession from pulse-pounding horror, to short-lived TV series, to cult classic films.
Upon its launch in February 2015, the digital service will be offered as a free ad-supported platform as well as a low-cost monthly subscription of $6.99/month with content exclusives, audience rewards, a dynamic second-screen experience, and ticketing bundle opportunities for Wizard World conventions. CONtv plans to launch across a wide spectrum of devices including Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox, PlayStation, Android, Samsung Smart TV, Windows, Mac OS, mobile, and tablet devices.
[PRESS] Valiant Entertainment’s BLOODSHOT #1 Arrives on Visionbooks App FOR FREE
Valiant Entertainment’s BLOODSHOT #1 Arrives on Visionbooks App FOR FREE
Valiant’s Best-Selling Superhero Series Springs to Life with Motion, Animation, and More
LOS ANGELES, November 4th 2014 – Visionbooks is proud to announce the FREE release of BLOODSHOT #1 – the debut issue of Valiant’s best-selling, critically acclaimed series from writer Duane Swierczynski (Birds of Prey) with fan favorite artists Manuel Garcia (Black Widow) & Arturo Lozzi (Immortal Weapons) – available now in the Visionbooks app!
Every mission is a suicide mission… Brought back from the dead and infused with cutting-edge nanotechnology, Bloodshot is the shade of gray that freedom requires. The perfect confluence of military necessity and cutting-edge technology. A walking WikiLeaks. A reservoir of dirty secrets that could set the world on fire. And he’s just been captured. Start at the beginning and see the adventures of Valiant’s most dangerous man-at-arms in a whole dimension as Visionbooks transforms BLOODSHOT’s action-packed first adventure!
Visionbooks revolutionizes comic book reading by transforming two-dimensional comic books into a digital animation experience. By combining traditional comics with cutting-edge technology, Visionbooks creates dimensional action like explosions, smoke, weather, character conflicts and action, all within static comic panels. Immerse yourself in the unrelenting action of Bloodshot through the innovative Visionbooks platform.
Praise for Valiant’s BLOODSHOT:
“A damn fine read… Bombastic and ballsy.”- Ain’t It Cool News
“Fires on all cylinders… Tons of intensity, intrigue and mystery…” – Bloody Disgusting
“The best action comic on the stands.” – Comic Book Resources
“One of the most entertaining books on the shelves right now.”- Comic Vine
“It’s spectacular stuff.” – IGN
For more information visit: http://www.visionbooks.co
Follow Visionbooks on Twitter: https://twitter.com/VisionbooksApp
Like Visionbooks on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VisionbooksApp
Check out Visionbooks on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/visionbooksapp
About Visionbooks: Visionbooks is a division of Visionborne Inc. Founded in 2012, Visionborne created a ground breaking technology that turns static editorial content into enriched, vibrant and skillfully animated format. Visionbooks believes in the universal language of comics and strive to provide artists and writers the best, most innovative means of getting their message across to others. Prior to launching Visionbooks, Francesco Scrufari and Simone Offredo, founded Ulixe, a well-recognized European provider of web-based services and international solutions for the banking and industrial sectors.
About Valiant Entertainment: Valiant is a leading character-based entertainment company with a library of over 2,000 characters, including X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Shadowman, Eternal Warrior, and many more. Established in 1989, Valiant has sold over 80 million comic books, and today its characters continue to be forged in publishing, licensing, film, video games, and beyond. Since its summer 2012 relaunch, Valiant has returned to the fore as one of the most highly regarded publishers in comics, winning a 2012 Diamond Gem Award for Comic Book Publisher of the Year. Visit them online at ValiantUniverse.com.