Emerald City Comicon 2013 is almost here!
Pop Culture Icons: Patrick Stewart, Adam West, Burt Ward, Billy Dee Williams, Gillian Anderson. Dirk Benedict, Carrie Fisher, Christopher Lloyd, Walter Koeing plus stars of True Blood, The Walking Dead, Stargate and Supernatual!
Comic Book Legends: Chris Claremont, Denny O’Neill, Neal Adams, Howard Chaykin, Kurt Busiek plus writers and artists of today’s most popular comic books.
Seattle (my home) becomes geek paradise for lovers of comics, cartoons, gaming, sci-fi, horror and cosplay! (This was my favorite cosplayers from 2012!)
Still on the fence (tickets are going fast) or not sure what to expect? Here’s a flashback to Emerald City Comicon 2012: This Geek’s Odyssey! Enjoy!
Emerald City Comicon is here! Stars, swag and geek dreams come true all on display for eager fans. The Washington State Convention Center became geek ground zero. At we waited for the 2pm opening the Skybridge was stuffed with fans then there were seven lines of eager geeks packed in a giant panel room with another huge line out beyond the entry way.
Today’s agenda was autographs! Matt Fraction was my first – he recognized me from the previous two years – sigh! I had him sign Fear Itself #1 Casanova: Avarita #1 and #2, The Mighty Thor #1 and The Defenders #1. Matt draws clever word balloons on the covers too for that unique touch. Matt’s wife is Kelly Sue DeConnick. I was thrilled to talk about her upcoming new book starring Ms. Marvel now as the new Captain Marvel (she gave out some cool Captain Marvel promo buttons!) and scoop on her next Castle graphic novel.
Seattle’s very own Ed Brubaker always has a huge line of fans and the celebrity status is well deserved. While he autographed Captain America #1, The Winter Soldier #1 and Fatale #1 we discussed the sell-out success of Fatale, his creator owned horror mystery and Bucky Barnes back as the Winter Soldier.
Gail Simone is a fan favorite for her Birds of Prey, Secret Six and Wonder Woman runs and for being a trailblazing female writer. I had Simone autograph her recent Batgirl #1, and Wonder Woman #600. I also had her sign my copy of The Power Within, an anti-gay bullying comic published by Seattle’s own Northwest Press. She was a contributor. Simone and her outstanding career is celebrated in a Saturday panel.
Rick Remender had a breakout year in 2011. I had Remender sign several of his Uncanny X-Force issues and his first Secret Avengers issue. Remender talks about his Fear Agent series and popular take on Marvel’s undercover teams in a Saturday spotlight panel.
Adi Granov is a conceptual designer on the Iron Man and upcoming Avengers films. He created the cover for this year’s Monsters and Dames charity book. I had Granov sign several X-Men cover issues and scored his illustration book packed with covers and concept sketches! Art lovers buy this limited edition book and then hunt for the artists at the con who contributed.
The biggest surprise was Greg Capullo. The man is built and looks tough. This guy should be in superhero movies. He’s been working for decades to become an overnight sensation. Capullo was known for his work on X-Force, Spawn and Angela and now he’s winning raves for his Batman. Capullo even had sketches of Scarecrow with the ECCC logo to sign and give away to every fan who came to his table.
DC Comics was very giving all day with free issues, posters and more cool swag at their booth. I happen to walk by at the right time. Chris Burnham, the artist on the upcoming Batman Inc, was making fan dreams come true with free sketches of their favorite DC icons. I asked for Batgirl. He was great to ask “which one, which era?” Chris created a New 52 Barbara Gordon Batgirl head shot that I’m having framed!
The big get for ECCC and for any lucky fan: Marc Silvestri. I had been following Marc’s work since his Uncanny X-Men (I got the famous Wolverine crucified on a X cross issue signed) and Wolverine runs in the late 80’s and 90’s. Silvestri became a founding member of Image Comics and head of Top Cow Productions where he created hits like Witchblade and The Darkness. I snapped up The Art of Marc Silvestri retrospective book collecting his years of work. I was just above the cutoff line so I made it into the last bunch of fans to get this awesome opportunity for his autographs and one on one moment with a legendary creator.
All that (plus seeing crazy costumed fans and meeting my friends in Garrison Titan – the Star Wars fans who raise money for charity) in just 6 hours. Saturday is a full day with more autograph seeking, photo taking, hunting for rare comics and enjoying wonderful geek moments.
Day 2
My second day at Emerald City Comicon in Seattle was packed with geek fun, great moments and exclusives. Any tiredness from day one was suddenly gone as we got the signal to enter the hall after an hour plus wait packed among hundreds of fans.
I immediately raced to the Image/Skybound booth for a chance at getting a ticket to get an autograph from Robert Kirkman, the creator and Executive Producer of The Walking Dead. His story is a geek dream come true. A few cons ago you waited a little while to get his autograph. Now he’s got a hit television series, successful imprint producing hit after hit series, has several con panels dedicated to his work, and you need a ticket for an autograph. Ask any of Kirkman’s fans and you’ll agree he’s earned all his success.
I descended into lower level where eager geeks lined up for autographs and photo opportunities with their favorite sci-fi celebrities from television and movies (for a fee.) Edward James Olmos was my number one. The veteran actor of Blade Runner and Admiral William Adama on Battlestar Galactica had a rugged but regal presence. I chose the cast photo and he signed along with writing the quote “Roll the Hard Six…So Say We All…” Admiral Adama. I’m rarely speechless but I finally expressed my love of his performance and the episodes he directed. A handshake, smile and exchange back and I think I was floating, glowing and certainly grinning as I walked away and down the exit line. Fellow Galactica followers still in line smiled back at me knowing their upcoming moment with the Admiral could be just as satisfying.
The Garrison Titan/501st is a Northwest group of Star Wars fans who dress up like the iconic characters and take fan photos for donations. After years of trying to meet up with him I finally saw Chewbacca! I’ve always wanted a photo with the coolest Wookie in the galaxy. Luckily this Chewbacca was visiting from the Oregon branch of the 501st. A big win on my geek checklist!
Terry and Rachel Dodson (X-Men, Defenders) Clay Mann (X-Men Legacy) Chris Burnham (Batman Inc) Brian Wood (X-Men, Northlanders) Matt Whitlock and Shane Houghton (Peanuts) Joe Eisma (Morning Glories) were the creators on my quest for autographs and exclusive prints.
A big thank you to DC Comics who gave away so many free issues, posters, buttons and swag. Once again, I had great timing with Dustin Nguyen (Batman, Batman Beyond) offering free sketches for a brief time. I had Chris Burnham sketch Batgirl the day before so I kept it in the Bat family. I was thrilled with Nguyen’s sketch of the Huntress.
Marvel definitely offered their fans access to top talent: Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, Rick Remender, Dan Slott were among the writers answering fan questions and giving teases about the future of Avengers, X-Men and Spider-Man in multiple panels.
Saturday is always the busiest day with a variety of panels and the most cosplay since the big costume competition is that night. From popular choices like Avengers, Batman, Superman to rare surprises like Dazzler (from the disco era) and the worlds of Star Wars, Trek, and Firefly. Saturday was a star packed, panel filled and costumed crazy day at Emerald City Comicon. The fun doesn’t slow on Sunday with more photo ops, signings and more.
Day 3
The final day of Emerald City Comicon started with my moment with a sci-fi icon. When the doors opened I started feeling nostalgic and rushed down to the media guest level to meet George Takei. I chose a photo of Hikaru Sulu from Star Trek The Undiscovered Country in which the U.S.S. Enterprise helmsman was now Captain of the U.S.S. Excelsior.
I thanked him for being a trailblazer in his career and in his personal life. It’s amazing to think how he could be a cultural breakthrough decades ago as the first Asian American on a network television series and now being a champion for equality as an openly gay and married man. Sulu is just cool – then, now and forever.
Back up to the show floor in search for rare comic book finds I was sporting my “Mutant and Proud” t-shirt starring the X-Man Beast and it really attracted the X fans in costume including Emma Frost and Gambit.
I went in search of autographs from some of my favorite writers and artists including Chris Yost, Dustin Weaver, Georges Jeanty and I got a sketchbook from DC Comics star Phillip Tan.
I had the opportunity to meet up and coming writer Sam Humphries. I bought a copy of his Fanboys Vs. Zombies (about a zombie outbreak at the San Diego Comic-Con) and talked about his new work for Marvel. Humphries will be co-writing with Jonathan Hickman then taking over the Ultimates.
I was surprised to see him again on the Marvel: Next Big Thing panel with other favorite writers (of Punisher, Hulk, Spider-Man, X-Force, Secret Avengers) in a no holds barred question and answer session. I think these panels are the real pulse of a con. It’s the real interaction between fan and creator that leads to praise, pans and always passion about comics.
As the final hour approached I was almost ready to head home when a friend invited me to see Star Trek: Phoenix. This is a fan film written, produced and starring Seattle fans that takes place 42 years after the Star Trek: Nemesis. I went in to the screening on a whim but was really impressed. I left wanting more of the crew of the U.S.S. Phoenix and hope the voyage of these local fans continues. I didn’t plan it but my final day began and ended with Trek.
Emerald City Comicon was beyond my expectations. When it comes to cons, always have a game plan but be ready for the unexpected: a moment with a new friend as you bond over the fate of the X-Men, discover a new comic book you want to try or experience the joy of seeing fanboys and girls express their love in costumes and cheers.
That was 2012!
What will 2013 bring? See you in Seattle March 1-3! Watch for more updates and coverage here on ComicsBlend.com!
By Editor