Conventions

Last year we did snarky annotations. This year we're too tired.

We've been to a few parties over at the Children's Museum in SD, located right across the tracks from the Hyatt—notably a concert by Cheap Trick a few years back—and often wondered why it wasn't used more by party-givers. Well, what with the original Tr!ckster venue going to the studios, and now this, it seems "right across the tracks" is the new DUMBO, as Cartoon Network is taking over the Children's Museum for an Adventure Time exhibit and a "fully immersive" Adventure Time experience! That won't be popular, oh no. The exhibit opens on Wednesday of the con.

Whoosh! HeroesCon just raced on by! We arrived late on Thursday, hit BarCon and the rest was just WHOOSH! So much fun, we barely had time to type about it at all. That isn't to say there weren't some snafus—all on our own part—but they came and went so quickly.

The local SD news confirms that there will be a crackdown on badge counterfeiting and trading at this year's San Diego con with the institution of random ID checks when entering the show—as well as the usual cosplay weapon checks.

Continuing their teasers for the CCI Amazing Spider-Man panel, here's the new one. Captain America, eh?

In the run-up to San Diego 2012, Marvel have released two teasers for an upcoming story called 'War'

Not much to report -- bar con was packed and buzzing last night. We got to hang out and talk about storytelling with old Beat pal Jaime Hernandez -- surely a convention year highlight. It's pretty incredible that this show has been running for 30 years! We're hoping to sit down with owner Shelton Drum at some point and get his thoughts on that. This year's convention booklet has a picture from the very first show -- with a bunch of bearded guys including Wolfman and Miek Zeck -- who are both back.

This weekend it's the 30th annual HeroesCon in Charlotte, NC. Wow 30 years! Not too many shows have that kind of heritage, but Shelton Drum's show has now settled down into the so-much-fun I-can't-wait-to-see-everyone good time con experience. We'll be quite busy with THREE panels as follows:

Even comics news is coming out in advance of Comic-Con—in this case, new HEROIC SCALED booth art for Image (#2729). As past con-goers may be aware, Image's booth is anchored by a huge 16' x 32' "Wall of Art" which now features more of the new mega-creator themed stuff like SAGA, MIND THE GAP, AMERICA'S GOT POWERS, and something called THE WALKING DEAD.

This past weekend's CAKE show in Chicago was important for a few reasons, but mostly because CHicago has a rich vibrant indie/mainstream comics scene, and having an event to take advantage of it is a boon to the entire Midwest. The show had a stellar guest list, so we've been eagerly awaiting word on how it did. So, from reading a few reports the word seems to be: great show, so-so sales but awesome atmosphere.

San Diego Comic Con is arguably the mecca of all comicons. It features the most robust programming schedule that any comicon can create. Comics, movies, kids, television, games, books and much, much more pack every minute of its crowded programming grid. It's what many, if not most of the comicon attendees look forward to each year. Attendees plan their schedules to the minute to make sure they get a chance to get a seat at their favorite panels. Some will go so far as to camp out in a panel room from early in the day, moving up as each panel lets out to ensure they have the best seat they can possibly get. Obviously this is the extreme case when it comes to comicon programming. The likelihood of having a programming schedule as massive as SDCC's is slim to none. Even New York Comic Con, one of the largest shows in North America after SDCC, doesn't feature a programming grid as vast. So what does this mean for your own comicon programming schedule? Probably, it means very little when it comes down to the details and content; however, overall it there are certainly some things you can look at and put to good use at your own show.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, while everyone is loin girding for The Big One in a few weeks, New York Comic Con, the other Big One, is also gearing up, and like San Diego Comic-Con, they are beginning to tighten things up. Press registration has just opened, but it's a far more arduous process than before and NO on-site registration this year.