Posted in: Comics | Tagged: comic con, Comics, san diego, sdcc

San Diego PR Runaround – Electric Man, Poyo, Udon, Walking Dead And More

Here's a quick runround my inbox from the last few hours…

Electric Man

"The Maltese Falcon meets The IT Crowd" – Allan Hunter, Screen Daily.
"Really f**king funny" – Screened
"Quirky little comedy gem." – Media Muppet
"An intelligent and well choreographed storyline" – Cinehouse

Electric Man, the micro-budget comedy shot in Edinburgh, has been selected for the prestigious San Diego Comic Con International Film Festival on July 13th – and is the only UK feature film to play at the world famous comic convention this year. Shot on a micro budget, the film has already gained BAFTA New Talent Awards nominations for its script and score as well as being shortlisted for Best Feature at the Celtic Media Festival. Selection for San Diego Comic Con places the film with the industry big hitters. Director David Barras explains:
"This is a game changer for us. We had already planned for digital distribution later in the year but we were going to limit that to the UK. Comic Con is enormous and we're now looking to give the film a global launchpad."
The movie was selected as only one of three feature films to play this year's festival from over 200 initial entries.
"As a small independent movie we have to pick and choose where we go. But San Diego was the holy grail for us. Yes, it has blown a massive hole in the budget but we would be mad not to go. Who wouldn't want to be at the same convention as Iron Man 3 and the new Superman movie?"
Cinema goers in London will have the opportunity to see for themselves what all the fuss is about on Sunday 8th July, when the film plays at The Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Place. The film has already played to a sold out audience at the cinema in May but the team are bring it back to coincide with the London Film and Comic Con and give the capital's movie goers a sneak peak before they fly to California for the film's big night at Comic Con. Director David Barras will be joined by members of the cast, the writer and the composer to introduce the film and take part in a Q & A. And there'll be a few giveaways on the night.
Electric Man is already a UK success story but the movie is far from your typical British fare. In an industry that is used to producing Scottish films that are usually about shooting up or shooting grouse, Electric Man is a distinct change of pace. Billed as 'The Maltese Falcon meets Clerks' the film makers have produced something set in the UK but with a definite American flavour.
The film is still seeking distribution and is looking for sponsors to support a planned UK tour of independent cinemas in the autumn.

About Electric Man
The movie was shot in Edinburgh in late 2010 and made ready for release during 2011. It premiered at the Glasgow Film Festival in February 2012 and had a successful tour of Scotland thereafter.
The film tells the story of Jazz and Wolf, two cash-strapped comic shop owners who need £5,000 in a hurry if they are to save their comic shop in Edinburgh. As luck would have it they chance across a copy of Electric Man issue 1 which just happens to be worth £100,000. But there are other people after the comic and it is soon lost, stolen, switched and switched again as Jazz and Wolf try to save both their business and their love lives.

Further info

Electric Man was produced by Dugbus Ltd. The trailer, stills and background information can be found on:
Web: www.electricmanmovie.com
Twitter: @electricmanfilm
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Electric-Man/
Youtube:

2000AD:

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 will be truly Dredd-ful this year as we celebrate the impending release of DREDD 3D in September. We'll have top Dredd artist, Jock, all to ourselves, while we're also entertaining Greg Staples, Pat Mills, and Clint Langley! We'll also be revealing the details of the new Dredd series with IDW, plus unveiling some exciting news about 2000 AD's future. All signings take place at Booth 2806, with details of the panels below.

Wednesday

Masters of the Web — featuring Karl Urban, with artists Jock and Greg Staples, the panellists include some of the top online bloggers and journalists. Room 24ABC, 4.30pm – 5.30pm

Thursday

EXCLUSIVE Jock sketching/signing: 11am – 1pm

EXCLUSIVE first screening of Dredd, Reading Cinemas Gaslamp on 701 5th Ave., San Diego – 10pm

Friday

Clint Langley sketching/signing: 11am – 12pm

IDW's Chris Ryall, Dredd movie concept artist Jock, 2000 AD's Matt Smith and Ben Smith, and some very special guests join moderator Douglas Wolk to announce the creative team of IDW's series, talk about the return of the Dark Judges, and much more. Room 8, 12.30pm – 1.30pm

EXCLUSIVE Jock sketching/signing: 2pm – 4pm

Saturday

Clint Langley sketching/signing: 11am – 12pm

Greg Staples sketching/signing: 1pm – 2pm

EXCLUSIVE Jock sketching/signing: 2pm – 4pm

Sunday

Pat Mills/Clint Langley dual sketching/signing: 11am – 1pm

Camilla d'Errico

Camilla d'Errico returns to SDCC 2012 in person at Exhibition Hall booth 4723 Wednesday July 11 – Sunday July 15. As usual, SDCC is a show to feature new Art Prints, newly published Tanpopo Hardcover graphic novel, Volume 1 from BOOM! Studios, SDCC exclusive clothing, and new designer tote bags and purses.

This year Camilla will be featuring an extremely limited offering of her Darkhorse collaboration Limited Edition No Ordinary Love Fine Art Statue. These available fine art statues are extremely limited in number, and for the first time ever will be available in advance of the Darkhorse international collectible retail release.

In keeping with previous years, Camilla will be contributing original artwork to this year's Comic Book Legal Defense Fund fundraiser art auction as well as participating in a panel packed with lead female creators speaking about censorship from the female artist and writer perspective. The panel, titled, "Censorship and the Artist" will be held Thursday July 12th in room 11AB from 12:00-1:00 pm.

Silent Hill: Revelation

 1:15pm-                   SILENT HILL: REVELATION 3D Panel in Hall H 

1:45pm                     Panel Include:        Adelaide Clemens, Kit Harrington and director    Michael J. Bassett

Based on the groundbreaking video game franchise, SILENT HILL: REVELATION 3D is the sequel to the hit film SILENT HILL, which opened to number one at the U.S. box office and took in nearly $100 million at the worldwide box office.  Featuring an unparalleled horror experience, Konami's Silent Hill franchise has captivated fans for more than a decade and has spawned a hit comic book series, graphic novels, collectible action figures and numerous soundtracks from rock bands.

In SILENT HILL: REVELATION 3D, Heather Mason (Clemens) and her father (Bean) have been on the run, always one step ahead of dangerous forces that she doesn't fully understand.  On the eve of her 18th birthday, plagued by horrific nightmares and the disappearance of her father, Heather discovers she's not who she thinks she is.  The revelation leads her deeper into a demonic world that threatens to trap her forever.

CAST:  SEAN BEAN (HBO's Game Of Thrones, Lord Of The Rings), DEBORAH KARA UNGER (The Game, 88 minutes, The Samaritan), RADHA MITCHELL (Man On Fire, The Crazies, upcoming The Frozen Ground), ADELAIDE CLEMENS (X-Men Origins, upcoming The Great Gatsby, No One Lives), KIT HARINGTON (HBO's Game Of Thrones), CARRIE-ANNE MOSS (The Matrix, Disturbia, NBC's Chuck), MALCOLM MCDOWELL (A Clockwork Orange, The Artist)

DIRECTOR:  Michael J. Bassett (Solomon Kane, Deathwatch),

PRODUCERS:  Samuel Hadida, Don Carmody

RELEASE DATE: October 26^th, 2012

Walking Dead Compendium

Fans of THE WALKING DEAD got a sneak peek at the hardcover edition of THE WALKING DEAD Compendium, Volume One at Emerald City Comicon in March, and now they'll get a second chance to purchase one of the coveted tomes at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

The one hundred copies of the gold-stamped, hardbound edition brought to Seattle sold out in a matter of minutes, leaving 900 copies left to sell at Comic-Con, which takes place in the San Diego Convention Center on July 11-15. The hardcover Compendium collects issues #1-48 of THE WALKING DEAD by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard, and Cliff Rathburn, and is $100.

Because of the limited quantity, attendees will draw tickets at the Image Comics/Skybound booth (#2729) for a chance to purchase a Compendium. Attendees will draw from a bowl of tickets, and if the ticket they draw is a winner, they will get to purchase one copy of the Compendium. A limited number of Compendiums will be sold each day and are limited to one copy per person. Each attendee may draw tickets only once per day. The tickets will be available each day at the opening of the convention, beginning on July 11 (Preview Night), and will be available until all of that day's compendiums are sold out.

A paperback edition of the Compendium will also be available at the Skybound for $59.99. A second paperback THE WALKING DEAD Compendium, collecting issues #49-96 was announced today at USA Today.

Course of the Force and SHOEBACCA.com

Course of the Force is excited to announce a partnership with SHOEBACCA.com, a leading online retailer focused on "active lifestyle" footwear, for its inaugural five-day lightsaber relay which begins at the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday, July 7^th. Participants in Course of the Force will come dressed in their favorite Star Wars^TM or popular culture-themed costumes and hand off a custom Hasbro Ultimate FX Lightsaber at quarter-mile markers to the next runner. The relay finishes in downtown San Diego, home of the San Diego Comic-Con International®.

The partnership with SHOEBACCA.com specifically includes an opportunity for fans to meet Peter Mayhew ("Chewbacca" from Star Wars) in the SHOEBACCA.com hospitality area. Mayhew will greet Star Warsand SHOEBACCA.com fans alike and autograph pictures.  Donations for Peter's autographed picture will benefit Make-A-Wish®. On a recent visit to SHOEBACCA.com's warehouse and corporate offices, Peter remarked, "You know…when I first heard of Shoebacca, I couldn't help but bring a smile to my face."

The Course of the Force/SHOEBACCA.com partnership will also include the debut of SHOEBACCA.com's newly refurbished 20-foot long, 11-foot tall "Big Shoe" at hospitality areas. The "Big Shoe" had once been used as a prop in the Walt Disney Pictures film series Honey I Shrunk the Kids. The "Big Shoe" will be on display during each of the Course of the Force conival exhibits. "It should come as no surprise that Guinness World Records is now involved," says Tim Siemers, Marketing Director, SHOEBACCA.com.

Peter Mayhew will autograph pictures of himself beside the "Big Shoe" at the SHOEBACCA.com hospitality areas at the following times and locations:

·       Saturday, July 7th 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Santa Monica Pier

·       Sunday, July 8th 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Huntington Beach Pier

"SHOEBACCA.com wanted to partner with Course of the Force because this fun event highlights the cool nature of the Shoebacca name, the company's active lifestyle product assortment, and its long-standing commitment to giving back to community," says Clarence Schwab, Board Member at SHOEBACCA.com and Managing Partner of Schwab Capital Management, an independent sponsor and advisory firm.

All fans are invited to enter to win the SHOEBACCA.com GALACTIC GIVEAWAY Sweepstakes, accessible at www.shoebacca.com, beginning Saturday, July 7^th through August 31^st, 2012. The Grand Prize winner will enjoy a full year's supply of shoes from SHOEBACCA.com, a framed and autographed print of Peter Mayhew and a complete set of Shoebacca branded merchandise to share with his or her family. Other prizes include $100 SHOEBACCA.com gift vouchers and SHOEBACCA.com T-shirts, hats and accessories.

Gary Spitalnik, Founder of Cabana Five LLC, is helping activate this event for SHOEBACCA.com.

The Course of the Force is for Star Wars enthusiasts to celebrate their love of the Saga and is held in partnership with Lucasfilm, Ltd., Nerdist Industries and Octagon to raise proceeds for the Make-A-Wish®.

On July 7, Course of the Force will kick off with an event at the Santa Monica Pier at 10:00 a.m. The relay will start later at 1:00 p.m. and end that night at the Redondo Beach Pier (Daily Schedule per chart below). Other planned stops include Huntington Beach Pier, Oceanside and Crystal Pier at Pacific Beach. Fans have the opportunity to participate in the historic lightsaber relay by registering online now at CourseoftheForce.com.

Giving Course of the Force a true fan's touch, Nerdist Industries' founder Chris Hardwick will be joined by co-hosts Ashley Eckstein of Her Universe and Alex Albrecht and Alison Haislip of Nerdist. They will follow the action from the Course of the Force lead vehicle, a replica of Jabba the Hutt's sail barge, and broadcast to fans across the world on StarWars.com  and the Nerdist YouTube channel (youtube.com/HYPERLINK "http://www.youtube.com/nerdist"nerdist). They will be joined by special guests from the Saga and pop-culture to put on an epic celebration for both the fans in attendance and watching online.

DAILY RELAY SCHEDULE

 

Day	Start Time	Start Location	End Time	End Location
Saturday, July 7	1:00 p.m.	Santa Monica Pier	7:00 p.m.	Redondo Beach Pier
Sunday, July 8	7:00 a.m.	Redondo Beach Pier	4:30 p.m.	Huntington Beach Pier
Tuesday, July 10	7:00 a.m.	Oceanside Pier	5:30 p.m.	Crystal Pier, Pacific Beach
Wednesday, July 11	9:00 a.m.	Crystal Pier, Pacific Beach	12:30 p.m.	San Diego

 

James Bond

Featuring A Classic Bond Vehicle Each Day With Props From the Bond Archives
Plus A First Look at BOND 50 on Blu-ray Disc

See 007 Make His SDCC Debut At Booth #3528

WHAT:
In celebration of James Bond's Golden Anniversary, MGM and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment in partnership with EON Productions are bringing 007 to Comic-Con. Fans will be able to get behind the wheel of one of four famous vehicles featured in a past Bond film, with a new vehicle featured each day of the convention, and see props from the Bond archives representing 50 years of the iconic franchise.

Using RFID technology, attendees will be able to take a photo with the vehicle and have it instantly uploaded to their social media profile. Each day will feature a different Bond vehicle, so fans will have to check back in at booth #3528 with their RFID bracelets to see what's new!

Fans will also be the first to get a sneak peek of the BOND 50 Blu-ray collection available September 25, 2012. Fans who pre-order the set on-site at Comic-Con will get an exclusive limited edition Bond 50th anniversary t-shirt.

BOND 50 features all 22 classic films on Blu-ray neatly packaged into one cool, sleek collectable box-set. The collection marks the debut of nine James Bond films previously unavailable in high definition Blu-ray and comes with a dossier of more than 122 hours of bonus features.
WHERE: BOND 50 Booth #3528
MGM and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Comic-Con International at the San Diego Convention Center
WHEN:
Wednesday, July 11 – Sunday, July 15, 2012

Please note: There will be two version of this book, a standard version and a retailer incentive/SDCC exclusive "pink foil" edition limited to 700 copies in San Diego, and sold by Layman and Rob at the Image Booth.

Grab your thesaurus. You are going to need every goddamn superlative in the English language, and then some, and STILL not be able to adequately express this book's pure awesomeness. And don't forget to check out the all-star Poyo pin-up gallery at the end of the book. You MAY need to wear an adult diaper before you attempt to read this book cover to cover. Fair warning.

Nerdist

Nerdists of the world will unite in San Diego as Chris Hardwick brings the Nerdist Channel to Comic-Con International in a live panel discussion with friends, laughs and surprises. Hear the founder and Chief Creative Officer of Nerdist Industries Chris Hardwick talk about all Nerdist-centric goings on for 2012 and beyond.

The afternoon's agenda will include a lively walk through the Nerdist Channel on YouTube (www.youtube.com/nerdist) with an exclusive look at upcoming programming for all in attendance. Find out more about new shows coming from the minds of Neil deGrasse Tyson, Gary Dell'Abate, Neil Patrick Harris, Rob Zombie and more.

The Indigo Ballroom of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel will become the Nerdist Ballroom for an hour of comedy, insight and fun at 12:00pm on Saturday July 14^th.

Come to the panel and hear from Nerdist Channel luminaries, such as:

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson – StarTalk host and noted astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson will make his very first Comic-Con International appearance on the panel.

Gary "Baba Booey" Dell'Abate – They Call Me Baba Booey host and Howard Stern show producer Gary Dell'Abate will also be making his San Diego Comic-Con International debut.

Alex Albrecht – Host of 4 Points and a co-host of Course of the Force, Alex returns to Comic-Con to talk about what viewers can look forward to on 4 Points and more.

Alison Haislip – Co-host of 4 Points and Course of the Force for the Nerdist Channel, Alison is a San Diego Comic-Con International staple. Come see what she has planned for her Nerdist shows and beyond.

Please note all times, dates and locations are subject to change. 

Saturday, July 14th 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Nerdist Channel Live! w/ Chris Hardwick – Location: Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

The host of BBC America's The Nerdist and AMC's Talking Dead, Chris Hardwick will host a lively discussion with special guests from the Nerdist Channel on YouTube. Join Chris and friends for a no-holds barred conversation and some surprise announcements plus all of your must ask quemments!

 Marvel Television:

Next week, Marvel Television returns to Comic Con International in San Diego and they're coming with the biggest Super Hero television exclusives of the summer! Join Jeph Loeb, Head of Marvel Television, for the Marvel Television Presents panel as he unveils the world premiere first look at Marvel's Avengers Assemble, the most anticipated new animated super hero series of 2013! Plus, check out an all-new Marvel Mash-Up featuring the Fantastic Four, experience Hulk and The Agents of S.M.A.S.H., and watch a full, all-new episode of Ultimate Spider-Man before it airs on Disney XD! You'll also learn what's coming next in the world of Marvel Knights Animation…and it's astonishing!

 

Fans attending this panel will also receive one of the limited edition Ultimate Spider-Man button, available only at this panel and while supplies last!

 

"Marvel Universe on Disney XD has been a huge success thanks to our devoted fans and we want to make sure they get the first look at the future of Marvel Television," explained Loeb. "And if you're not a Marvel fan yet, I promise you'll be one after we're done showing you all this cool animation!"

The Marvel Television Presents panel is on Saturday, July 14 at 10:30am in Room 6BCF. Please note that no video or audio recording equipment may be used at this panel during any time.

The Winx Club

WHAT: The Winx Club is taking over Comic-Con 2012! Fans of all ages can take photos with Winx Club costume characters at the Nickelodeon Booth (#4113) on Sunday, July 15 between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm! Exclusive Gold Edition Bloom dolls will be given away to lucky fans at the Nickelodeon booth at 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm every day! Additionally, Limited Silver Edition Bloom dolls will be on sale at the Nickelodeon Booth daily, while supplies last (only 500 available).

WINX CLUB: The hot new Nickelodeon show, "Winx Club," is an animated modern fantasy adventure series that follows six best friends – Bloom, Stella, Flora, Musa, Tecna and Aisha – as they attend Alfea College, the finest fairy school in all the realms. When trouble arises, the Winx Club transform into beautiful fairies and use their unique magical powers to fight villains and save the world from evil. Fans of the series can soon collect each fairy and relive their magical adventures with the new line of dolls, play sets and role-play items.

EXCLUSIVE GOLD EDITION BLOOM GIVEAWAYS:

Thursday, July 12 – Sunday, July 15

1:00 pm AND 5:00 pm

Nickelodeon Booth (#4113)

Gam3rCon

Gam3rCon, the first local event dedicated to celebrating the world of video games and interactive
entertainment, will host a concert fundraiser for the Get-Well Gamers
Foundation on the rooftop of the 10th Avenue Theatre. Heading into
its 3rd year, Gam3rCon is THE place to play for gamers, geeks, and
gaming industry members during the week of Comic Con International.

Taking place on Saturday, July 14th, the evening concert will feature
live filk music from Eben Brooks, Allison Lonsdale, and Mark Kramer,
former member of the Canton Mudders, with his new band the FIZGIGS.
There will be no cost to attend, but cash donations will be accepted
at the door to provide gaming systems to hospitalized children.

"I had such a good time performing at last year's show that I jumped
at the chance to do it again this year," said Eben Brooks. "I'm
thrilled that our filkers from last year are returning," said
Gam3rCon co-chair, Walter G. Meyer. "I mean, who can say no to a
summertime rooftop concert in San Diego, especially when it's for a
good cause?"

Gam3rCon features four floors of gaming entertainment, including:
• Coleman University Video Game Arena- free play and tournaments
for cash and prizes on the latest games and systems, including xBox
360, PS3, WII, and LAN play.
• Live Theatre- geek-inspired productions "GAM3RS: The Play,"
"I Wish My Life Were an RPG," and "Spider Baby, the Musical,".
• USAopoly Tabletop Gaming Lounge- the latest in tabletop, dice and
card games.
• Panels- gaming industry professionals share their knowledge with
attendees.
• Gaming Art Exhibition- curated by local collective 8-Bit Cubist.
• Top of the 10th- daily happy hour gaming sessions and rooftop
parties with live entertainment, food, drinks, and an amazing view of
the San Diego skyline.

Joining Title Sponsors Coleman University and USAopoly are several
new programming partners, including the UCSD Winter Gamefest,
myNerdRage.com, 760 LANS, LanDiego.com, Horrible Imaginings, and
Wiggity Bang Games. Product and prize support is provided by MadCatz,
Papa John's, Mek-Fu, WowWee Games, ONE Coconut Water, popchips, and
Gamer Grub.

Open from noon to midnight, Gam3rCon is an all-ages event celebrating
the earliest traditions of dice and cards to the latest innovations
in digital gaming experiences. One day passes are $10 and week-long
passes are $30 (available online). For more information, please visit
www.Gam3rCon.com.

Prism Comics:

BOOTH SIGNINGS AND APPEARANCES

Prism Comics' triple booth (#s 2144, 2146, and 2148 in Hall C) is the de facto LBGTQI Center of Comic-Con, with a full house of indie creators and small presses who are partnering with Prism: Paige Braddock ("Jane's World"), Justin Hall ("No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics"), Jeff Krell ("Jayson"), Ed Luce ("Wuvable Oaf"), Steve MacIsaac ("Shirtlifter"), Desmond Miller ("Robinson Crusoe in the 6^th Dimension"), Ivan Velez Jr. ("Tales of the Closet"), Sean-Z ("Myth") and other members of Bent Con, Dave Zelman ("Al-Qaeda's Super Secret Weapon"), Charles "Zan" Christensen's Northwest Press, Scuttlebutt Ink, and Fanboys of the Universe, which is helping to support Prism Comics' creator signings throughout the Con.

The latest Creator Signing Schedule is below (check prismcomics.org for the latest schedule and information):

Alison Bechdel: Thursday, July 12, from 4:30-6pm
Walter Meyer ("Rounding Third"): Friday, July 13, 10-11am
David Reddish ("Sex, Drugs & Superheroes"): Friday, July 13, 2-3pm
Chip Kidd ("Death by Design"): Friday, July 13, 3-4pm and Saturday, July 14, 2-3pm
Paul Charles (the Gay Comic Geek): Friday, July 13, 5-6pm and Saturday, July 14, 3-4pm
Brian Anderson ("So Super Duper"): Saturday, July 14, 12-2pm
And more to be announced!

Prism is also kicking off the submission cycle for this year's annual Queer Press Grant! The Queer Press Grant was established by Prism to encourage the publication of new LGBTQI comics. For those applying to the Grant, Prism is offering portfolio review sessions each day of convention (check the website or the booth for the latest schedule). Reviewers tentatively scheduled to advise potential applicants this year include: Phil Jimenez, Gail Simone, Bob Schreck, Justin Hall, and Charles "Zan" Christensen. Check the prismcomics.org for the latest schedule. Before arriving at the Con, applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the submissions guidelines at prismcomics.org/grant.php.

PANELS

There will be six Prism-sponsored or Prism-related panels this year focusing attention on queer characters and creators, with some of the biggest name in comics including Phil Jimenez, Alison Bechdel, Gail Simone, Eric Shanower, James Robinson, Dan Parent, Nicola Scott, Marjorie Liu, and many more.

Thursday, July 12, 4-5:00, Room 8, "Spotlight on Andy Mangels". Best-selling author and Comic-Con special guest Andy Mangels has been extraordinarily active in the entertainment field for 28 years: as a pop culture journalist for magazines ranging from "Amazing Heroes", "Wizard", "SFX" and "Back Issue" to "Holywood Reporter", "The Advocate" and "Weekly World News"; as a comic book writer and editor for projects such as "Nightmares on Elm Street", "ElfQuest", "Star Trek", "Star Wars", "Gay Comics", "Bloodwulf", "Dragon's Lair", and books for DC, Marvel, Image, and other companies; as the author of over 20 books including Star Wars, Star Trek, Roswell, X-Files, and Iron Man novels and non-fiction tomes; as an award-winning special features producer and documentary director/writer for over 40 popular DVD projects; as the man behind raising over $136,000 for Domestic Violence shelters with his Women of Wonder Day charity events; and as a respected panelist at Comic-Con for 25 years! Now, Andy Mangels sits down with interviewer Roger Klorese (Prism Comics Publications Chair) for a look at his career, and discusses writing for almost every major licensing company, his renowned social and humanitarian activism, and having the most famous moustache in comicdom. Plus, find out about his September 2012 book from TwoMorrows, "Lou Scheimer: Creating the Filmation Generation", and what's next for Andy! Questions from audience members will be welcome.

Thursday, July 12, 5-6pm, Room 32AB, "Northwest Press". How does a small comic book publisher succeed in today's market? Northwest Press opened their doors in 2010, braving a recession, the rise of digital media, and the disappearance of specialty shops and bookstores to create a publishing company specializing in a niche market: lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender comics. Two years later, Northwest is still growing. Come and join in a lively discussion about how to operate on a shoestring while looking like a pro, how to leverage social media and connections, and how to succeed as a small press. Moderated by Chance Whitmire ("Fanboys of the Universe"), and featuring the owner of Northwest Press, Charles "Zan" Christensen ("The Mark of Aeacus", "The Power Within"), as well as four of the creators he's published: Dylan Edwards ("Transposes"), Justin Hall, Steve MacIsaac, and Leia Weathington ("The Legend of Bold Riley"). Sponsored by Prism Comics.

Thursday, July 12, 6-7pm, Room 32AB, "Rewriting the Rules on Queers in Comics". Depictions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters in comics are breaking from the purely positive "role model" portrayals that were common over the past decade. Some creators aren't shying away from sex, stereotypes and bad behavior in their pursuit of intriguing and well-rounded characters. As comics readers clamor for more explicit, more outrageous, and more extreme comics—and hail them as victories over timidity and political correctness—is it time to rewrite the rulebook on queer characters? Join Oliver Nome ("Fathom: Kiani"), James Robinson ("Earth 2", "Justice League"), Nicola Scott ("Earth 2", "Secret Six"), Gail Simone ("Batgirl", "Secret Six"), Ivan Velez Jr., and moderator Charles "Zan" Christensen for a lively, irreverent discussion about the wild frontier of queers in comics. Sponsored by Prism Comics.

Friday, July 13, 2-3pm, Room 25ABC, "No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics". Queer cartooning has been one of the most vibrant artistic and countercultural movements of the past 40 years, tackling complex issues of identity and changing social mores with intelligence, humor, and an irreverent imagination. "No Straight Lines", a massive anthology published by Fantagraphics Books, is the most definitive collection to date of this material, showcasing everything from lesbian underground comix, to gay newspaper strips, to bi punk zines, to trans webcomics. Join the editor of the book, Justin Hall, as he moderates an all-star panel of some of the true greats of LGBTQI comics: Alison Bechdel, Paige Braddock, Ed Luce, Trina Robbins ("Wimmen's Comix"), and Eric Shanower ("Age of Bronze"). Signing will follow from 3:30-5:50pm at the Fantagraphics booth. Sponsored by Prism Comics.

Saturday, July 14, 1-2pm, Room 25ABC, "Northstar: From Coming Out to Getting Married!" Northstar, the first openly gay superhero in mainstream comics and a member of both the X-Men and Alpha Flight, came out of the closet 20 years ago… and this year he ties the knot! Northstar has lead a challenging life, facing villains, personal challenges, family rivalries, disease, death, and accusations of being put back in the closet. Now Northstar starts a major new chapter in his life, with a high-profile wedding. Join Prism Comics as we celebrate Northstar and explore how he and the comics community's attitudes toward LGBTQ characters have changed over the years. Moderator Chance Whitmire (Fanboys of the Universe) delves into the past and the bright future of everyone's favorite gay mutant with guests David Gabriel (Vice President of Sales, Marvel Comics), Phil Jimenez ("New X-Men"), Marjorie Liu ("Astonishing X-Men"), Scott Lobdell ("Uncanny X-Men"), and Jase Peeples ("The Advocate"Magazine).  Sponsored by Prism Comics.

Saturday, July 14, 5:30-7:00pm, Room 6A, "Gays in Comics: 25th Year Celebration!" The comic world's longest-running panel celebrates its silver anniversary with an incredible all-star panel and celebration which will spotlight creators, comics, and fans from 1988 to the present. It was once unthinkable that mainstream companies such as DC, Marvel, and Archie would have best-selling and award-winning titles frontlining gay characters such as Batwoman, Northstar, and Kevin Keller. Now, they hire top-level gay or gay-friendly creators, and independent publishers and creators are publishing unequivocal content spotlighting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender characters, to the cheers of the thousands of fans who are out of the comic book closet and those who welcome diversity among comic book protagonists. This year, founding moderator and best-selling author Andy Mangels will chair a new form of panel, a live documentary that will unfold for the audience, featuring a mixture of commentary, images, music and other surprises!

Showcased with live appearances and video messages will be an army of awesome creators who have appeared on the previous 24 panels, including: Howard Cruse, creator of "Stuck Rubber Baby" and "Barefootz", founder of "Gay Comix", and godfather of the gay comic movement; Roberta Gregory, creator of "Naughty Bits" and "Bitchy Bitch" and the godmother of the gay comic movement; Phil Jimenez, amazing artist of "Fairest", "Astonishing X-Men", and "Wonder Woman"; Alison Bechdel; Charles "Zan" Christensen, founding member of Prism Comics, and publisher of gay-themed Northwest Press; Gail Simone; Eric Shanower; Joan Hilty, creator of the weekly comic strip "Bitter Girl" and past DC editor; Ivan Velez, Jr.; Paige Braddock; Joe Phillips, artist and publisher of "Joe Boys", "Star Trek", and "The Heretic"; Trina Robbins, remarkable writer and artist whose work on behalf of women in comics has helped redefine the industry; Dan Parent, writer and artist for "Archie" and "Betty & Veronica" and creator of Archie's new gay character, Kevin Keller; Wendy Pini, the creator of "ElfQuest"and "Masque of Red Death"; Chip Kidd; Patty Jeres, past DC Comics director of marketing communications, and past Prism Comics co-president; Joe Palmer, awesome webmaster of GayLeague.com; Ed Luce; Jeff Krell; Robert Triptow, legendary cartoonist and past editor of Gay Comix; Justin Hall, Prism Comics Talent Chair; Marc Andreyko, author of the fan-favorite "Manhunter" series and "Captain America and Bucky"; Sean-Z; Steve Englehart, industry legend, and creator of comics first out gay super-hero Extrano in 1987's "Millennium"; Jon Macy, award-winning writer and artist of "Teleny and Camille" and "Fearful Hunter"; Ted Abenheim, the new president of Prism Comics and heroic and tireless fundraiser for LGBTQI organizations; and Roger Klorese, a past president of Prism Comics and longtime comics and internet trailblazer! This panel will be chock-full from beginning to end, so be on time or you'll miss some awesome surprises that we aren't announcing yet!

Afterward, stick around for the "Gay Comic Fan Mixer and Prism Comics Silent Auction!" with prizes, one-of-a-kind comics items, and surprise special guests!

EVENTS

Besides the Prism's annual "Gay Comic Fan Mixer and Prism Comics Silent Auction!" and the "Heroes and Villains Party", this year will see the most queer comics-related events ever held in conjunction with San Diego Comic-Con.

Thursday, July 12, 8pm-1:30am, "Oso Oro" Pecs Bar. Ivan Velez, Jr. is bringing his long-running "Oso Oro"party to San Diego at Pecs Bar.  Flex your artistic muscles at "Oso Oro", a multimedia celebration of international bear pop culture with Japanese bear bara manga, raffles for bear prizes, limited edition t-shirts, and best bear model contest. Attendees are encouraged to draw bear models and also pose onstage themselves.  Ivan is also bringing "Oso Oro"to the "No Straight Lines"release party, details below.  Pecs Bar is located at 2046 University Avenue, San Diego, CA.

Friday, July 13, 8-10pm, the Fantagraphics "No Straight Lines" Release Party at Trickster. Along with appearances from creators who contributed to the anthology, the event will feature a "Drink-And-Draw" in conjunction with Ivan Velez, Jr.'s "Oso Oro", where artists will sketch live queer-themed figure drawing models and sell their art (all sales will be donated to the Prism Comics Queer Press Grant!). Stay tuned at trickstertrickster.com for details. Trickster is located at 795 J Street, San Diego, CA.

Friday, July 13, 10pm-2am, "Heroes and Villains Party", Rich's Dance Club. Attend Hillcrest's number one Geek party, which returns to Rich's for the 8th year! Geek Knight Production's Ned Cato Jr. (Cub Club San Diego) is bringing back sexy Heroes and Villains for what will be one of the hottest parties of the year with Super DJ Marcel Hetu. The party will feature go-go dancers, laser show, LED wall, and costume contest hosted by Glitz Glam, which will have nearly $200 in cash and prizes. Ronnie Mena and his crew are returning for face and body paint. Meet queer comics creators including special guest Sean Z who will show off his latest masterpiece book "Myth". Rich's Dance Club is located at 1051 University Avenue, San Diego, CA.

Saturday, July 14, 7:40pm, Reception Joe Phillips' "Joe's Boys", Alexander Salazar Fine Art. The exhibit of Joe Phillips' artwork from "Joe's Boys" will run from July 12 through July 15, with the reception on Friday the 13th. The Alexander Salazar Fine Art Gallery in downtown San Diego is within walking distance from the Convention Center and is open from 11am-6pm. Alexander Salazar Fine Art is located at 640 Broadway, San Diego, CA.

Saturday, July 14, 7-8pm, "Gay Comic Fan Mixer and Prism Comics Silent Auction!" San Diego Convention Center, Room 6A. Happening directly after the "Gays in Comics" panel, the fan mixer and silent auction is hosted by and benefiting Prism Comics, the nonprofit organization that supports gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered comics, creators, and readers. Mingle with comics fans and creators plus stay for the special drawing of "Comics Gift Basket" and the silent auction of incredible comics items, including original art and more!

Papercutz:

Papercutz announced an unprecedented 425,000-copy first printing of LEGO® NINJAGO #4:
"Tomb of the Fangpyre" today, in response to record sales and continued interest from LEGO fans of all ages. The
second and third volumes of the series launched at #1 on the New York Times Best-Seller list, a rarity for children's graphic novels. The book will be available on August 21, 2012.

"Demand for these titles has only gone up since our nearly 200,000-copy initial printing of the first book sold out,
and we can't be happier as the best stories are yet to come!" said Papercutz Publisher Terry Nantier. "'Tomb of the
Fangpyre' will be the first to feature Jolyon Yates's amazing artwork — we can't wait for LEGO Ninjago fans to see
it."

Yates will be a special guest of Papercutz at this year's Comic-Con International in San Diego, where he will be
drawing free sketches for fans at Booth #2546 on Sunday morning from 10:00 to 11:00. A show-exclusive print
from Yates will also be available as a free gift with purchase, limited to the first 1,000 attendees.

"I'm glad we'll be able to have something unique for LEGO fans at the show, and I hope they will enjoy the print,
which pays tribute to a martial arts classic," Yates said. "It was a fun challenge to follow on the artwork by Paulo
Henrique and learn how to draw the LEGO Ninjago world, and I'm looking forward to meeting our readers!"

LEGO NINJAGO #4: "Tomb of the Fangpyre" (64pp | Paperback ISBN: 9781597073318 / $6.99 | Hardcover ISBN:
9781597073325 / $10.99) is written by the LEGO Group's story architect Greg Farshtey (BIONICLE) and illustrated
by Jolyon Yates (Revvvelations). Papercutz graphic novels are available at all major retailers, bookstores, comic
book stores, and digitally on comiXology.com.

 Udon

Return to the Netherworld with one of UDON's most hotly demanded art books of all time… DISGAEArt!!! Disgaea Official Illustration Collection!  Compiling over 600 illustrations including character designs, box art, advertisements, pin-ups, short comics, and much more from all four flagship Disgaea video games, DISGAEArt!!! will make its English language debut on Preview Night of San Diego Comic-Con 2012, at the UDON Booth (#5037)!

With over 1.7 million video games sold around the world, not to mention anime, manga, and novel spin-offs, the Disgaea series has an incredibly strong worldwide fandom, and DISGAEArt!!! Disgaea Official Illustration Collection is truly the ultimate art book for Disgaea fans!

Primarily featuring the artwork of Takehito Harada, character designer for the Disgaea series, DISGAEArt!!! collects concept art, cutscenes, and an assortment of illustrations from the Disgaea universe, allowing fans to track the development of beloved characters from 2003's Disgaea: Hour of Darkness all the way to 2011's Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten.  The collection then goes even further, revealing rare materials from the entire world of Disgaea, including artwork from novels, soundtracks, manga, DVD packaging, telephone cards, and even more – you'll have to see it to believe it!  An extensive index wraps up this collection, pointing out where every illustration made its original appearance!

DISGAEArt!!! Disgaea Official Illustration Collection is an exhaustively compiled and stunning compilation of art, and no fan of Disgaea — or gorgeous art books — will want to be without it!

KEY FEATURES:

• Collects over 600 illustrations from across the Disgaea video game series and the larger Disgaea universe of anime, manga, novels, and more!
• Most of the illustrations are by Takehito Harada, character designer for the series and a fan-favourite!
• Over 1.7 million Disgaea games have been sold!
• Disgaea games have appeared on the PlayStation® 2, PSP®, Nintendo DS™, PlayStation® 3, and PlayStation® Network.

DISGAEArt!!! Disgaea Official Illustration Collection
Debuting at San Diego Comic-Con 2012, Wednesday July 11th!
In stores July 2012.
Price (U.S.): $39.99
Diamond: MAY121308
ISBN: 1926778502
ISBN-13: 978-1926778501
Format: Softcover
Page Count: 192, Color
Size: 8.25″ wide X 11.75″ long

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