Image Comics return to Seattle for Emerald City Comic Con this week to celebrate the past and future with a stellar roster of creators, exclusives and a major panel event.
Original Image Comics company founders Todd McFarlane, Jim Valentino, Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Marc Silvestri, and Whilce Portacio will reunite at ECCC to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary milestone. The panel will be moderated by The Walking Dead creator and Image Comics partner, Robert Kirkman.
The publisher released new details (with official descriptions) on panels featuring Image artists and writers plus exclusives to buy at the booth. Here’s the latest what, who and where for Image fans to plan their con:
The Panels:
Image Comics Announcements
Thursday, 4:15PM – 6:15PM
Room TCC 304
Image Comics is bringing the Future of Comics to Emerald City Comicon in 2017 with this special two-hour presentation. Featuring a keynote speech by publisher Eric Stephenson about the past, present, and future of comics and a full slate of brand-new series to be announced, this panel is sure to set the tone for the year and give you plenty of great comics to look forward to reading.
Image Comics: 25th Anniversary Founders Panel
Friday, 1PM- 2:30PM
Location: Main Stage – WSCC 4A
Twenty-five years ago, a group of comics artists looked at the difference between what they were capable of and what they were being given, and left the promise of steady work for new pastures. The result was Image Comics, which has grown from an upstart group to a comics publisher that has changed the course of the industry. Image’s 25th anniversary year begins with this special event, a rare gathering that is not to be missed.
The Future Of Comics: Cultivating Identity
Friday, 4PM – 5PM
Room TCC 303
The comics you love the most tend to have a personal touch, something that helps you relate to the characters, or makes a fantastic situation more believable. Corinna Bechko (INVISIBLE REPUBLIC), Ray Fawkes (UNDERWINTER: SYMPHONY), Gabriel Hardman (THE BELFRY), and a few more special guests make works that use the personal touch to great effect, and they’re ready to share their insights with you.
TODDFATHER TELLS ALL Panel!
Friday, 5:45 PM
Location: WSCC (Washington State Convention Center) 611
Todd McFarlane, founder of Image Comics and creator of the popular comic, Spawn, talks about his 30 plus years in the industry. Everything from his days at Marvel drawing Spiderman to the historic launch of Image Comics. McFarlane will give art and business tips as well as insight to artists who want to break into the comic book industry. Here’s your chance to get all your burning questions answered by McFarlane with a live Toddfather Q&A! A lucky fan will win a special McFarlane prize package at the panel.
Todd McFarlane Signing
10:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Location: Sheraton Hotel, Level 2, Issaquah Room
Bring your favorite comic and toy to have it signed FREE by Todd. Limited 2 items per person and must be over 13 years. No sketches.
The Future of Comics: Your Brand-New Favorites
Saturday, 12:15PM – 1:15PM
Room TCC 303
Your favorite comics don’t look anything like those of your parents, siblings, or even your friends. There is such a wide variety of material out there that you can grab a comic on nearly any subject and find something to fall in love with. The work of Charles Soule (CURSE WORDS), Kurtis Wiebe (RAT QUEENS), Daniel Warren Johnson (EXTREMITY), and Joe Harris & Megan Hutchison (ROCKSTARS) is fantastic, no matter the genre they’re working in. Come find your new favorite comics at this panel, and discover a few new favorite creators, too.
Todd McFarlane Signing with Exclusive Destiny Poster
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: WSCC – Destiny Store booth #1001
Todd McFarlane will be signing a limited-edition exclusive Emerald City Comic Con Destiny poster in the Destiny Store booth. 300 posters available. Signing is limited to 1 additional item per person. Must be 13 years or older. First come, first serve.
The Future of Comics: Pure Storytelling
Sunday, 1:15PM – 2:15PM
Room TCC 303
Curious about making comics? Want to give your storytelling talents a boost? Image Comics is pleased to present Kaare Andrews (RENATO JONES: THE ONE%), Jeff Lemire (ROYAL CITY), Emi Lenox (PLUTONA), Steve Lieber (THE FIX), and a few special guests. These cartoonists are incredibly talented, and experts in storytelling. Come pick the brains of the masters and enjoy a lively conversation about telling stories in comics.
The SIGNINGS* at IMAGE COMICS Booth (#1510):
*wristbands will be available for fans to pick up as soon as doors open, first come, first served, at the Image booth on the day of the desired ticketed signing.
FRIDAY, MARCH 3
11 – 12 PM, Robert Kirkman* (wristband required, 3-item limit)
12 – 12:45 PM, Joseph Keatinge & Wook-Jin Clark
2 – 2:45 PM, Justin Jordan + surprise creator
3 – 3:45 PM, Joe Casey
3:00–4:30 PM: Image Comics Founders Signing in the Grand Ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel located next door to the Washington State Convention Center.* (ECCC will coordinate a ‘lottery system’ where badge-holding fans will submit their names and a lucky 300 fans will win a limited edition poster and admission to have it signed by the founders. Lottery applications are open on the Emerald City Comicon website until February 21. Details here).
4 – 4:45 PM, Kurtis Wiebe + Owen Gieni
5 – 5:45 PM, Donny Cates
5 – 5:45 PM, John Layman
SATURDAY, MARCH 4
11 – 11:45 PM, surprise creators
11 – 11:45 PM, Chris Sebela
12:15 – 1:15 PM, Robert Kirkman* (wristband required, 3-item limit)
1 – 1:45 PM, surprise creators
2 – 2:45 PM, Jeff Lemire* (wristband required, 3-item limit)
3 – 3:45 PM, Rick Remender* (wristband required, 3-item limit)
3 – 3:45 PM, Daniel Warren Johnson
4 – 4:45 PM, Declan Shalvey + Jordie Bellaire
5 – 5:45 PM, surprise creators
SUNDAY, MARCH 5
11 – 11:45 AM, Becky Cloonan
11 – 11: 45 AM, Stefano Gaudiano & Tony Akins
12 – 12:45 PM, Doug Wagner
1 – 1:45 PM, Rick Remender* (wristband required, 3-item limit)
LIMITED* Convention Variants for sale at the IMAGE booth:
ROYAL CITY #1 by Jeff Lemire, $10 (+tax)
THE OLD GUARD #1 by Greg Rucka & Leandro Fernandez, $10 (+tax)
CURSE WORDS #1 by Charles Soule & Ryan Browne, price $10, (sold at Artist Alley table V1 & V2 only)
RAT QUEENS #1 by Kurtis Wiebe & Owen Gieni, $10 (+tax) (sold at Artist Alley table F10 only)
MAGDALENA #0 by Tini Howard, Ryan Cady & Christian Dibari, $2 (sold only at Artist Alley table S-1)
SEVEN TO ETERNITY, VOL. 1 hardcover by Rick Remender & Jerome Opena, $35 (+tax)
KILL OR BE KILLED, VOL. 1 hardcover by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips & Elizabeth Breitweiser, $35 (+tax)
GLITTERBOMB, VOL. 1 trade paperback by Jim Zub & Djibril Morissette-Phan, cover by Ray Fawkes, $15 (+tax), (sold at Artist Alley table V3 only)
LIMITED* MERCHANDISE:
* Limited quantity available for sale at the Image booth.
BLACK SCIENCE statue, $150 (+tax)
Exclusive ECCC DESCENDER print, $5 (+tax), (proceeds to benefit the ACLU)
Image Comics’ 25th Anniversary commemorative enamel pin, $10 (+tax)
* Quantities will be limited by customer and per day on a first come, first served basis. Please ask at the Image booth about availability.
Where to find IMAGE creators in the ARTIST ALLEY:
Andrews, Kaare Kyle: F-9
Barber, Nick: U12
Bautista, Gabriel: DD13
Bechko, Corinna: N1
Belanger, Andy: U6
Bergin, Joseph: Y3A
Brisson, Ed: U11
Browne, Ryan: V2
Casey, Joe: N9
Christmas, Johnny: U13
Dalrymple, Farel: E-7
DeConnick, Kelly Sue: J8
Dodson, Terry: A1/A2
Fairbairn, Nathan: DD16
Fawkes, Ray: J4
Fraction, Matt: J7
Gaudiano, Stefano: B3
Gerads, Mitch: C-2A
Giarrusso, Chris: V9
Greenwood, Justin: U11
Haberlin, Brian: Booth 1601
Hardman, Gabriel: N1
Harren, James: D7
Harris, Joe: V14
Hawkins, Matt: S-1
Haun, Jeremy: R4
Hutchison, Megan: V14
Keatinge, Joseph: U12
Kelly, Joe: N10
Latour, Jason: P7
Lemire, Jason: G1
Lieber, Steve: H16
Mahfood, Jim: U7
McClaren, Meredith: Booth 208
Norton, Mike: U-8
Robinson, Andrew: FF11
Rouleau, Duncan: N11
Seagle, Steven T.: N12
Schirmer, Brian: B9
Soule, Charles: V1
Wagner, Matt: L12
Ward, Malachi: E5
Wiebe, Kurtis: F10
Zub, Jim: V3
Schedules may change so fans are recommended to check the Image Comics and ECCC site for updates.
Emerald City Comicon is March 2-5 at the Washington State Convention Center.
By Editor