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C2E2 Runaround

Published Thu, 15 Apr 2010 05:00:26 -0500

As we speak, sweaty men are putting together the largest comic convention Chicago has ever seen. With Marvel planning to announce even more projects than Bleeding Cool has leaked, and DC Comics seeing if they can still get away with not announcing things at conventions, and likes of Avatar and Dynamite sitting on stories that will see huge amounts of attention aimed their way, and Top Cow and Boom! issuing… perfume lines, this is going to be a big one.

So how is the local press reacting to the new intruder into downtown Chicago? The Chicago Tribune looks at perceived failings of Wizard World Chicago in preparation for the new C2E2 show.

The last straw was the surviving cast of "Diff'rent Strokes" signing autographs last year at the annual Wizard World Comic Con in Rosemont, at what had been billed as the largest, most-attended comic book convention in the Midwest. "I'm not kidding," said Brower, owner of Challengers Comics + Conversation on Western Avenue. "It was one of the first things you saw when you entered, and even worse, they had a musical guest! And it was Taylor Dayne! But I shouldn't be surprised. Wizard World hasn't felt like a comic book convention in a long time."

Even talkming about the new show can't avoid discussion about the other one.

"People I talk with do seem pretty excited," said artist Mike Norton, who lives in Logan Square and draws "Shazam" for DC. "It's clearly not going to be a bunch of wrestlers and '80s sitcom stars signing autographs." Indeed, panels include a discussion of the evolving role of superheroes in contemporary society (led by The Onion's A.V. Club), a premiere of the BBC's latest "Dr. Who" series and a discussion of the gay comic book scene in Chicago. The programming seems so thoughtful, said Chris Nesman, who co-founded the 2-year-old Windy City Comicon, that he doesn't even mind the competition.

"I think it can only help build the profile of comics in this area," he said. "I mean, they're going for pop culture too. But their mix just seems much smarter."

They do check in with the opposition though.

Gareb Shamus, chief executive of Wizard World Entertainment, said he isn't concerned about C2E2, either, though for different reasons. No. 1: Wizard World returns in August, with special guest William Shatner. And No. 2: "(C2E2) is a local comic book show. They cater to the trade. We're a pop culture convention that celebrates characters in TV, movies, video games and toys. It's very different."

They then run though their eight favourites for C2E2, including the Iron Man Prop And Costume auction

Bids start at $100 (for a pair of Gwyneth Paltrow's shoes) and zip into the $2,000-$5,000 range for Iron Man helmets, but it's the in-between goodies that are most compelling — a pizza box carried by Jeff Bridges ($100), Iron Man's blender ($200).

Chicago Reader also concentrates on the convention rivalry.

Wizard's domination is being challenged by a mighty foe rising from the east. Reed Exhibitions, a division of European information titan Reed Elsevier, is holding its own convention, the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, aka C2E2, this weekend at McCormick Place. It's but one battleground in a war the two powers are waging across the country—an epic struggle that some observers see as a contest between the forces of good and, well, not so good. Aficionados and dealers I've talked with suggest that this is a fight over the very nature of a comic-book convention, triggered by the encroachment of a broader nerd culture that embraces pro wrestlers and TV kitsch to the detriment of the art form the purists love. Or maybe it's just business as usual, with an entrenched operator under attack from a powerful upstart.

The paper gives a history of the comic conventions in Chicago and where the current rivalry stemmed from, and also quotes Shamus with a very similar line.

"They're a local comic-book show," he says. "We're a North American tour for pop culture. It doesn't affect our business." He maintains that last year's Rosemont convention was the best and largest they've had, with attendance of about 70,000.

The Daily Herald also mentions the rivalry in passing.

The arrival of C2E2 in Chicago means the area has suddenly become home to two major pop culture conventions. In August, the long-running Chicago Comic-Con (formerly known as Wizard World Chicago) will be held in the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Last year, that convention scaled back its emphasis on comics in favor of a greater number of TV and movie celebrities. (William Shatner is among the guests scheduled to appear this year.)

But mostly concentrates on the new show. And the statistics.

The floors will be packed with 200 booths occupied by comic-book publishers (Marvel, DC, etc.), dealers and professionals. There will be roughly 175 panel discussions and screenings throughout the weekend. More than 250 artists will sell their work and meet with fans in the "Artists Alley" area. There will be autograph sessions and appearances from TV and movie celebrities.

The Tribune also profiles Jeff Smith, Sony announce hands-on play of Iron Man 2, and Archaia's Steve Christy poses under the banners

Bleeding Cool will have reported on the ground, but feel free to tweet to @bleedingcool, email richjohnston@gmail.com or text me on 011447801350982 anything you guys and girls come across that's coolworthy.

I wish I was there.

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