#comic-cons

[plugoarts]

Warriors & NYCC

This is the big New York Comic Con weekend! I admit that I’m feeling a bit of FOMO. A collage aged Patrick went to some comic conventions in New York City, many MANY moons ago. But that was all before comics & conventions became what we know them as today. However, the UNDEAD KUNGFU GHOST KILLER will be there in Spirit thanks to friend, author and Wuxia Warrior Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos – who’s…

Warriors & NYCC

[plugoarts]

Cape & Cowl Comic-Con

Cape & Cowl Comic-Con

[elliefriedrice]

How to avoid heartbreak if your cosplay includes a weapon or prop!

How to avoid heartbreak if your cosplay includes a weapon or prop!

The family that cosplays together…

I’ve been to a LOT of conventions, with my family, in various cosplays over the last 7 years, if you follow any of us on the Instant Grams you’ll know this. We’ve read each con guide, worked to abide by it, but still been caught out and had to surrender awesome props that really MADE our costume. Here are some tips for minimising your own chances of…

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[dang-gnats-blog]

Walt Jaschek and the Dang Gnats Comic-Con sign.

It’s not often the Dang Gnats, the comic strip starring “two outspoken insects with too much time on their wings,” get a table at Comic-Cons, but when they do, creator Walt Jaschek has this sign at the ready.

Dialogue on the strip:

Right Gnat: When fans see the stuff we’re selling, they’ll flock to out table in droves!

Left Gnat: They’ll “flock” in “droves?”

Right Gnat: Yeah!

Left Gnat:  [Sigh!] You dream big, gnat!

See more: danggnats.com

[laurelindebear]

Oh my stars and garters, I’ve never been to a con but I’ve wanted to go for ages. I check who’s coming around here every year and this year in London they’re gonna have Alan Tudyk and Phil La Marr and I thought, wow, I should totally go, and then I look at Birmingham and they’re gonna have freaking Ming-Na Wen!!! And also Carlos Valdes aka Cinnamon Roll Cisco! *flail* *flail* *flailing increases*

I wonder if I can afford to go to one/both/all. Mr. Bear HATES crowds and queuing so I’m not sure I’d convince him but...I would 100% wait in line to take a picture with Alan Tudyk holding some of my cuddly dinosaurs, and to be within like 10 feet of Mulan/Agent May/an amazing and inspiring woman are you kidding me, and to meet Samurai Jack, and also to see Cisco’s hair in person? (Yes I have a problem.)

*falls down*

[misl3dy0uth]

Essential Items to have for Comic/Anime Conventions

When I used to write for the now defunct website, Ani.Me, I always wanted to write a subjective list of essential items that people should take with them to comic and anime conventions. Though my first convention was San Diego Comic-Con in 2006, I have frequently attended conventions starting in 2009 and I felt that I had a good grasp on what items are essential to have while at conventions. With Anime Expo happening this week in Los Angeles, as well as San Diego Comic-Con the following week, I feel that I should finally get around to sharing what I believe to be essentials that all con-goers should have with them to better enjoy themselves.

Water & Snacks

If you have never been to a convention, let me warn you right now that food and water get expensive. Many people go to conventions to spend money on toys, figures, exclusive merchandise, artwork from your favorite artists. The last thing you want to spend your money on while at a convention is on overpriced food and drink. My recommendation is to take a bottle of water and some snacks. If you can take a reusable bottle, that would be best as many con centers have water fountains where you can refill. Stay hydrated because you will be moving around a lot, it will be hot and you do not want to get heatstroke. As for food, take snacks that will keep you full for a long while. My personal preference is a box or two of protein bars to munch on throughout the day (or days) at a convention. And if you are a good friend, you will carry extra waters and snacks for your cosplay friends who will definitely forget to stay nourished.

A Backpack

It would be wise to take a backpack along with you to the convention as there will be a bevy of swag that you will undoubtedly acquire during your trek through the convention hall. Remember that you only have two little arms on you, so a backpack will make it easier to store items that you take with you to con as well as any items you pick up at the con.

Comfortable Shoes

If you were paying attention during the first two essentials, you would have noticed I mentioned walking. You will be doing a lot of that! If you plan on trying to buy exclusive items, or get a Guest of Honor’s autograph, or you are trying to get into the infamous Hall H, you will also be doing a lot of standing. With very few places to sit at the con center, it is imperative that you wear a comfortable pair of shoes that you can walk on all day. The only people who will not heed to these words are cosplayers who will most likely be wearing the most uncomfortable shoes for their outfit because otherwise the costume is not 100% accurate.

A Camera

Having a dedicated camera, either a point & shoot or a DSLR, will come in handy to capture your fun moments at a convention. But whether you have a camera or your smartphone, you will undoubtedly take lots of photos throughout your day at a con. So be sure to pack extra memory cards or make extra space on your smartphone. You do not want to ask a Guest of Honor or a cosplayer for a photo and realize you are out of memory. Unless of course you are shooting with film, in which case, bring lots of film.

External Battery Charger (for smartphone)

Think about this for a moment: While at the convention on your smartphone you will call and text your friends, take many photos, upload said photos to Instagram, check the con website for schedules, turn on your gps to find food and before you know it, your phone’s battery will be at 10% and there is only a handful of sockets to charge your phone (if you remember to take your charger & cable that is). Nowadays you can pick up an external charger for under $20 on Amazon or at Fry’s and they will usually give your phone an extra charge or two. I have bought three of them in the last two years and I do not worry about having my phone die on me when I need it.

This is not a comprehensive list of everything that I would take with me to a convention, but if I sat here and wrote everything that I actually take with me, this list would be extremely long. And do not get me started on a list of essentials for cosplayers because that list would be even longer. I may periodically update this list as I see fit. For those of you going to Anime Expo this week and San Diego Comic-Con next week, be sure to have a great time and make sure to pack some if not all of these things in your bag.

[dianepascual]

Emerald City Comicon Recap

My last 4-5 weeks have been spent preparing for Seattle, now that its over I can finally breathe! There were a bunch of things that I had to do as far as putting together this new 2nd Edition. I had to look for all of my material that I wanted to include and so I ended up doing a lot of scanning, both drawings and dream writings and formatting them into the right file size for print. Many people at Emerald City Comicon asked whether I do all my own layouts, the answer is yes I do all of the editing as far as the book layout, placing all the files in InDesign and getting all the files ready for printing and proofing. I am a one-WOMAN show! It also helps that I studied Graphic Design and have worked in the field for a couple of years now. It was a lot of work to put this together, a lot of late nights, and a lot of love! This 2nd Edition was really revealing for me, I discuss a lot of personal things I went through and a lot of writing on personal dreams, etc. I hope you find it insightful! Emerald City Comicon was amazing! I met a lot of talented artists and creative professionals and really got a chance to talk to them about their process. I'm usually alone at these Comic-cons and Friday was hard to walk around without leaving my table too long so sadly I didn't get to meet all of the artists I wanted to talk to. Luckily, my friend Anthony came out and met me in Seattle and helped me man my table on Saturday! So Saturday I got to walk around and buy a few things from different artists. Some new people I met were Sarah Straub, Melanie of Crab Tank Small Press, David Mack, Erin Humiston, Georges Jeanty, the peeps at the Archaia booth and many more. I'm really happy to meet everyone who came to my table and showed interest in my work, it really means a lot to see other people excited about the work that I do! I am always open to talking to anyone about my work and my process. I really do love doing the smaller shows and Comicons, it's so much easier to talk to people and it's not always as crowded as San Diego International Comic-con. Sadly, I won't be making it out to San Diego Comic-con this year, its way too much for me and I've done it the last two years. I am however planning on going to the Chicago Con in August and quite possibly APE San Francisco in October. I will definitely keep you guys posted on another round of Dreamwalker prints. As of right now I won't be doing anymore printing, please sign up for my mailing list for more details on the next round of orders. I completely sold out at Emerald City Comicon! Seattle was an extremely lovely city to visit, its nice that it isn't as crowded as New York! Thanks again to everyone for showing me a lot of love and support in my work, I truly appreciate that people enjoy it! Now back to writing and finishing my novel version of Dreamwalker in the next 2 months! To view photos from Emerald City Comicon, please visit my FB FanPage here. xoxo Diane

[geektome]

This is the darkest timeline...

This is the darkest timeline…

I’ll never forget the day this happened. To set the scene up: I had been asked by the folks of Wizard World – the convention organizers – to moderate the “Star Trek Captains Reunion” panel at the WW Chicago Comic-Con a couple years ago. It was going to be one of the biggest events I’d ever be a part of at that point in my career as a “geek journo.” The panel included Avery Brooks(Captain Sisko…

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