Tag: san diego comic con

San Diego Comic-Con Random Thoughts Part III

Jul. 22 Conventions, News no comments

It is time to finish up my series of random thoughts about the San Diego Comic-Con International announcements. You can read the first in the series here, and the second in the series here.

  • There is too much to go over about the Marvel Avengers Alliance announcements, so check this out.
  • Nightcrawler is coming back to Marvel NOW! I had a feeling my favorite blue character would not be dead for long.
  • Michael Jai White is going to join the cast of Arrow. I met him at Detroit Fanfare last year. That is all I am going to say.
  • IDW Publishing is almost done with Dr. Who. I wonder if someone else will pick up the comic or if it will float around in time for ages.
  • There will be another Summer of Valiant next year. Well, since I missed this years, maybe I will check it out next year.
  • George R.R. Martin believes comics are one of the main reasons for his success in TV and film. Not sure about that. I always thought it was because he was such a great writer. I am not saying this to discredit comics…only to give credit where it is truly due.
  • Nice to hear that Bishop will officially be in X-Men: Days of Future Past. It is fitting he will be in the movie.
  • Deadpool vs. Carnage? Not really sure how this one will play out. For some reason, Deadpool has been getting stale for me, but that is just my opinion. We will see how the cross plays out.
  • John Romita Jr. might take on Superman. This one bothers me to no end. I love Romita Jr.’s work, but Superman? Why put him on a title with my least favorite character? Why? DeDiiiiooooo!
  • I should have put this in the first part of this series, but I am very happy to see San Diego Comic-Con International take a zero tolerance approach to harassment of any kind. Good for them. This might help to bring all conventions into line against harassment and with admitting it takes place and realizing it needs to stop.
  • Marvel NOW Two – Marvel is going to relaunch and/or renumber more titles. The first time saw a huge sales increase for the top publisher. Hopefuly, they stick with renumbering and relaunching previous titles and not current ones. I would much rather see a new Excalibur #1, New Mutants #1, or Alpha Flight #1 than a new X-Men #1 or another Superior Spider-Man #1.
  • ComiXology is having a sale this week. Isn’t that the only way they can get people to read digital comics now?
  • So, Hank Pym is not going to be in Avengers: Age of Ultron? Ultron is going to be created by another member? Well, obviously, it would be Tony Stark who would make the android, but I do see this as a loss for the character of Hank Pym. Ultron is an integral part of his character and leads to integral ways of understanding the character. We will just have to see how this plays out.
Tags: ,

San Diego Comic-Con Random Thoughts Part II

Jul. 20 Conventions, News no comments

Between every breath we take, more news comics out of San Diego Comic-Con International. This is the second part of my series of picking out my favorite news bits from the convention and giving my opinions. To see the first part of this series, please follow this link. Part three can be found here.

  • Batman and Son will come out some time next year and be the animated premiere for Damian. With this being a New 52 continuity movie, I am looking forward to seeing if DC Comics will kill Damian off in an animated format.
  • Congrats to all of the Eisner winners including Challenger Comics in Chicago. I also want to send congrats to Green Brain Comics, since it is based here in Michigan and a friend of this website and our store, for making it so far in the running. We look forward to the day when we win ours.
  • Happy to see Saga claen up at the Eisner’s. The wins were well-deserved.
  • The new My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and Transformers mini-series from IDW Publishing are sure to help the publisher bump up sales and move closer to helping it solidifying its position in the Top 4 for market share.
  • The Walking Dead Season 4 preview is one of the top items at San Diego Comic-Con International. I think it looks awesome, and has me gearing up for the new season. One issue, though. At the end of the preview, some of the survivors are seen in a car and a voice comes over the radio talking about “sanctuary.” I was immediately reminded of the recording coming across the radio talking about Safe Haven in the Deadworld series. Is this something else “borrowed” from Gary Reed’s zombie apocalypse series?
  • Sadly, the Harley Quinn Suicide Squad figure just does not do it for me. I might end up having to pass on it. The original costume black and white figure coming out in 2014, that will be on my list for May.
  • So the Trinity War is the end of Phase 1 of the New 52. How many phases are we going to get? Was this simply an introduction phase?
  • So much talk about Booster Gold, but wasn’t he supposed to have his own show on SyFy? What every happened with that? It might have actually meant there would have been something good on SyFy which didn’t have to do with sharks. If you get the chance one day, stop in the store and ask me why SyFy hates me.
  • Ragnarok from IDW Publishing has me excited. It will be interesting to compare and contrast the use of Norse mythology in that comic and the use of Norse mythology at Marvel.
  • DC Comics is making MAD Magazine and their All Ages comics returnable in from October. Interesting. I have mixed feelings about returnable comics. While it helps the retailers out, why would publishers create products they did not have full faith in? If a product is stupendous, it never has to be returned.
  • J. August Richards will be portraying Slapstick on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Some might be discouraged by this, but at least we don’t have any Howard the Duck.
  • The big battle for interest at San Diego Comic-Con International is between Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Walking Dead Season 4, and Villain Month/Forever Evil. Interesting three-way fight. The fight is still too early to declare but it is interesting that there are two fighters on TV and one in the stores.

Harley_Suicide_Squad_figure

Tags: , , ,

Why I am Happy I am Not at San Diego Comic-Con International

Jul. 18 Conventions Comments Off on Why I am Happy I am Not at San Diego Comic-Con International

I have to say that I am of the minority when I say that I am happy I am not at San Diego Comic-Con International right now. I will occasionally go to large comic book conventions, but I prefer the smaller ones when they come up.

Comic-Con International

Comic-Con International

I Will be Saving Money

Since I am not going to San Diego Comic-Con International this year, I will be saving money which I can spend at smaller conventions and shows later this year (like King Kon on Auguest 3 and Detroit Fanfare). I don’t have to worry about the ticket price or the airfare. I don’t have to worry about figuring out how I am going to buy everything I might want and still have money left over for food. These worries will be foreign to me when discussing San Diego Comic-Con International.

Not Getting Bumped Around

If you have met me, you know that I am not a big guy. Granted, I am six feet tall, but I am around 175 and get bumped around often at bigger conventions. I prefer the smaller conventions where I can look through long and short boxes or check out booths without drowning in a sea of people while trying to hold my footing on the floor of a convention like San Diego Comic-Con International.

No Lines

There were issues earlier this year when there were conventions plagued with long lines. The funny thing is, this is something which has become expected at San Diego Comic-Con. International. Nope, instead of waiting an hour in line for a hot dog, I can go into the kitchen and make one for myself (at a fraction of the cost).

Yay!

Tags: , , ,

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and San Diego Comic-Con International

Jul. 05 News, TV & Movies Comments Off on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and San Diego Comic-Con International

Bar none, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. needs to be the talk of the town come San Diego Comic-Con International. With the show launching within months on ABC, the network and Marvel need to make sure that you hear about the show at every turn.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. does have a cool logo

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. does have a cool logo

Other Announcements

Of course, there will be a myriad of other announcements made at San Diego Comic-Con International. Companies will be announcing movies, different shows, and new toys and video games will be prepped for a holiday release. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. needs to be the center attraction to ensure that people are hungry for the new show.

In Marvel’s Favor

There are a few aspects in Marvel’s favor. First off, The Walking Dead does not come out until October, so Image is not as pressed to make a major impact. Secondly, the rumors have been flying around the Internet as to who it is in the trailers and which characters might be seen on the show. Finally, ABC has been pushing hard to make sure that ABC fans see as much as possible of Clark Gregg and the other stars of the show. The network has built a frenzy which now needs to be cashed in upon. Marvel is able to strike while the iron is hot.

Time

There have been many months since the official announcement of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., so the company has had a long time to prep for San Diego Comic-Con International. If you think that the publishing companies start thinking about San Diego Comic-Con International within the last few weeks before the convention, you are wrong. They start planning a year in advance or more. I would not be going out on a limb by saying that Marvel was probably prepping announcements for this year’s San Diego Comic-Con International before officially announcing Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The ball is in Marvel’s court when it comes to the announcement of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. at San Diego Comic-Con International. I can’t wait to see what announcements they make, and how those announcements make the other publishers squirm.

Tags: , , ,