Controversial as it may be, the Wizard World Tour kicks off tomorrow and you can finally see what all the fuss is about. The Toronto Comic Con runs March 26-28 at the Direct Energy Center. The main website is here, with guests and programming. The comics lineup includes many locals — Toronto being a comics hot-bed and all — and Dale Keown, Phil Jimenez, Max Brooks, Adi Granov and Gail Simone. Media guests include Costas Mandylor (SAW), Betsy Russell (SAW), Magda Apanowicz (Caprica), David Richmond Peck (V), Doug Jones (Silver Surfer, Abe Sapien), Luciana Carro (BSG).
In addition, Hero Initiative will be at the show with a full guest lineup. Details here.
It’s not exactly a huge megawatt list, but it sounds like a good enough sized show for the local comics scene. We’ve been bombarded over the last few weeks with PR regarding various Wizard shows and cross media promotions, and this one is no exception. For instance, IRON MAN 2 will be promoted at the show:
The Sony booth will feature a display of exclusive, never before seen Iron Man 2 signage, as well as cuts from the movie soundtrack. For a fun and interactive experience, fans can take a picture with a life-sized AC/DC cut out standee and retrieve their images off the AC/DC Web site.
Fans under 10 will be given a free Gogos Crazy Bones toy, courtesy of Toronto-based Irwin Toy, givan out at registration while supplies last.
It’s been a few years since we were at that venue, and at the time, our main worry was getting food, since it’s kinda in the middle of nowhere. It’s safe to assume Wizard will have better catering, but you might want to pack a light snack just to be sure.
The Wizard World Tour dates are now set as follows:
March 26-28 – Toronto Comic Con – Direct Energy Centre
April 16-18 – Anaheim Comic Con – Anaheim Convention Center
June 11-13 – Philadelphia Comic Con – Pennsylvania Convention Center
August 19-22 – Chicago Comic Con – Donald E. Stephens (Rosemont) Convention Center
October 1-3 – New England Comic Con (Boston) – John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center
October 7-10 – Big Apple Comic Con (New York) – Pier 94
October 15-17 – New Jersey Comic Con – New Jersey Convention and Expo Center, Edison
November 12-14 – Austin Comic Con – Austin Convention Center
December 1-3 – Atlanta Comic Con – Cobb Galleria Centre
Yet to be scheduled: Nashville, Cleveland and Cincinnati.
As the first event for this ambitious slate of shows, Toronto may be closely watched. It’s also taking place in a very competitive con territory — the Hobbystar Fan Expo Canada is a huge show that has an exclusive on most of the big media guests for the area. In fact, Hobbystar has a similarly titled “Toronto Comicon” scheduled for early in June. Talk about Con Wars!
Of course, anyone who wants to send us any news or observations from the show knows where to reach us.
Oh Heidi…
The 6TH ANNUAL 2-day Toronto ComiCON Fan Appreciation Event (June 5-6) dates were announced back in August 2009… that’s long before Wizard announced their March 2010 dates back in October last year.
Peter Katz and the Shamuses were certainly aware of that when they told me at the Big Apple show on the weekend they announced their Toronto dates. They said they had tried to select dates that didn’t conflict with our comic shows.
Anyway, research will show that Hobbystar does three Toronto ComiCONs a year – 2 single day shows in November, February and again in the spring. The last one was on Sunday, February 28th. It’s no secret that Hobbystar has been doing these smaller comics only shows under the name Toronto ComiCON for years – even before Dixon and I launched what would become the Paradise Toronto Comicon in 2003.