Mood:
caffeinatedTopic: Comic Cons
TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3403: This past weekend, Tina LoSasso and I attended the 2nd Annual Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con, held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Orange County, California. The Convention Center is next to Disneyland, but it has been at the Convention Center that I've enjoyed the most fun in the last two years! That's because the Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con is actually more of what I call a 'pop culture con' than a 'comic con' that the mainstream American public thinks of a 'comic con'. Here is 'my take' / 'review' of the 2011 convention: Parking at the Anaheim Convention Center: Friday night was easy to get to Car Park 1. Which was great, because as soon as we were out of the underground parking structure, we walked right by the 'Arena' to Hall 'A' where the Wizard World show was being held. However, Saturday was a different matter. In Halls 'C' & 'D' there was the Pri-Med Convention that was also running. So of the five available halls, only three were being used. Yet, we had to drive around the Halls and park... Not at Car Park 1 or 2. but at Car Park 4. Which was way around all five halls inside the building. That was a trek! And we were cut a 'break' because we were 'Press', and able to walk through the back of the building. Definitely not good for someone attending the convention intending on picking up say... a box of comics they were hoping to purchase! I won't give a 'comic book grade' for this, as Wizard Hall 'A' - This was the location for the Anaheim Comic Con. The two rooms above this hall held the two tracks of panels / programs that were being held during the three days. That was good, because it was the best place to sit down with carpet under your feet. The Hall 'A' floor was concrete, no carpeting, and Tina was already tired from the first night, when the comic con was opened on Friday from 5PM to 9PM. (Note: Tina has been at this convention center before for non-comic cons, and can't imagine how it could compete for the Comic Con International that has been held in San Diego since 1970.) I won't give a 'comic book grade' for this section, as Wizard World does not have full control over it. That being said... About the parking and the convention center facilities... I still have fond memories of the 2010 Anaheim Comic Con which was also held there, and I left the 2011 convention with good memories. That's because the folks at Wizard World once again threw a really good 'comic con'! Special thanks to Jerry Milani, who took care of our registrations, and to Stephen Shamus, who found us on the exhibit floor and came over and introduced himself and made sure we were having a fun time! Which we were! Please note that I say 'comic con', which is the true name of this event. However, as I've said before, this is more like a pop culture con, which what the Comic Con International: San Diego has evolved into, although on a smaller scale. I find that those that are really into 'comics' can bring their friends to cons like this one that Wizard World held in Anaheim, because there is more than just comics. That's why I am going to review some of the features of this con right now: Artists Alley - I was really pleased how this section was set up this year. It was more expansive and was easy to walk through. Tina LoSasso and I spent a lot of time going through this section. I said 'hello' to those that I had met before, and to those that are 'Facebook Friends' that I had never met before, but have networked with. Additionally I met a lot of comics creators and other artists that aren't 'Facebook Friends' and introduced myself to them, and briefed them on what I do, at this Blog, and my Facebook Fan Page. I was given several dozen comics / graphic novels / TPBs for possible review blogs. My thanks to all of them for introducing me to their works. Seeing this section in a 'comic con' is why I attend conventions such as this. Comic Book Grade: VERY FINE / NEAR MINT (VF/NM) 9.0 on a 10.0 comic book grading scale. Celebrity Guests Rows - This section is always so varied... And interesting in so many different ways. However, attendance by the 'guests' was a little sparse on Friday night. Then there were the 'photo ops' booth that several would be away from their own booths. This section is always hard to 'control', as the 'guests' from TV shows and films seem to make their own hours to be there. Plus even their own reps can't have them there at opening time, or have them stay till the end of each day. So this section is always a roller coaster type of event, no matter what comic con you attend. Some guests, like Richard Herd, were there before the opening on Friday night, setting up their booth, because they know how to present their booths for maximum exposure to ensure autographed pictures. Others were there for the first time at any con. Some were as young as the Winner Twins, who are already pros at this, and had a busy stream of attendees stopping at their booths. My 'comic book grade' for this section is a VERY FINE (VF) 8.0 grade. Again, this is presented more as a 'pop culture' section. Which is why a comics fan can bring their friends who aren't into comics into this Wizard World con to have fun. Gaming section - Quite honestly, Tina and I did not go into the gaming section, as my youngest son wasn't with us. However, Tina did mention as we walked by, about the variety of gaming going on. No comic book grade given for this section. Dealer 'section' - The comic book dealers didn't appear to have a 'true' section to themselves. Their booths were interspersed with other booths. However, there appeared to be sufficient numbers of dealers for those looking to get their new comics 'fix', or for those looking for older back issues. As well as attendees at these booths. I did notice several boxes of $1 comics, and one booth that had boxes & boxes of 50cent comics. No comic book grade given for this section, as I did not stop at each of the comics dealers, as I have multiple boxes of comics of own that need to be uploaded to our own online comic book shop. Publisher 'section' - Same as for the 'Dealer section' - not a 'true' section. There were some publishers in attendance. Being that I'm already on a few indy publishers review lists, and that I received so many comics from self-publishers in the Artists Alley to possibly review blog... I didn't fully check these publishers out. Thus, no 'comic book grade' given. Promotional sections - Now this is something I really enjoyed and spent time at! Of course, since I'm 1 of the 14 essayist on the new book 'Gotham City 14 Miles', I had to have my photo taken with the Batmobile that was featured at the front of the exhibit hall! In addition I took photos of KITT, and Magnum P.I.'s car, and the other cars that were exhibited at the back of the exhibit hall. Which I'll be sharing later in the special photo album link. Plus, Tina and I just had to become 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' at the Acura booth. That was pretty cool! These two booths alone were among the hi-lights of the Anaheim Comic Con for me! 'Comic book grade' for this section(s), had to be a NEAR MINT (NM) 9.4, but I am a little prejudiced on this, LOL! Panels / Programs - Tina and I didn't attend many panels, basically because I tend to talk a lot with new comics creators that I meet at Artist Alley, and to those that I already know. Plus, since I always wear one of the half dozen indigo colored polo shirts with 'Comic Book Collectors Blog.com' on it, I'm easily recognizable, and am stopped quite a bit by persons wanting to say hello, becauswe they have either been 'following' this blog of mine and / or are 'fans' of my Facebook Fan Page. Which I truly enjoy! Anyways... back to the panels. We took in one of the Jedi Elvis performances on Saturday, which were staged to occur between the major panels in Room 'A'. I liked the performance, which was 'Jedi Elvis' signing Elvis songs with Star Wars references. Darn good! Here's a link to one photo. Then the 'main course' if you will...! The panel we were there to mainly see was the 45th Anniversary of the Batman TV Show from the 1966. THAT was worth the price of admission alone for any Batman fan of the show! Here's a link to just one pic that has already been uploaded! I'll be further blogging on that tomorrow! Suffice to say... I am giving this a VERY FINE / NEAR MINT (VF/NM) 9.0 comic book grade! In addition, Tina and I were very thankful we didn't have to camp out for hours in line just to get in, and sit through several other panels we didn't want to see, just to see this one! Kudos to the Wizard World organizers for this! I believe that just about wraps up 'My Take On' the Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con for 2011. The 'combined comic book grade' for this con is a VERY FINE PLUS (VF+) 8.5 including the location at the convention center and the parking being taken into consideration. I'm looking forward to attending next year's con, that's how much I liked this year's! Again, here's the links I want to point out for you: First, here's my special photo album on the 2011 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con that is at my own Fan Page. Second, special photo album on the 2010 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con, that I wanted to share with you on my own Facebook Fan Page. Third, here's the link to the Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con Facebook Fan Page, where the guests and creators who attended are shown and talked about. Fourth, here's the link to the 2011 WW Anaheim Comic Con event page on Facebook, where you can find out reactions from attendees on just this event. More Facebook event pages for those exhibitors that set up their own event pages can be found in this link. Fifth, here's the link to the Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con's own web site, where there is even more info on where and how you can purchase tickets for next year's con. Lastly: The pics that were uploaded during this con went to my personal Facebook Profile Page, which is now maxed out for me to add anyone else. However the majority of the digital camera pics are being uploaded to my Facebook Fan Page - Michael D Hamersky On Comics, which is titled '2011 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con', so that ALL web users can see, as it is a 'public' web page. I encourage YOU to click the 'Like' icon there for easy access each time, and to bookmark it. Again, my thanks to those at Wizard World for making this a Fun Event to attend once again, especially Jerry Milani and Stephen Shamus! We are looking forward to attending the upcoming Wizard World Los Angeles Comic Con in September, that was just announced this past week!
BTW, You can 'follow' this Blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app! We currently have over 2,406 'Followers'! Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button! And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!! ~ Michael D Hamersky Note: My online 'Local' Comic Book Shop (LCBS), carries many different genres of comics, magazines, graphic novels, and comic con promotional items. Possibly even copies of the item that was reviewed here today...! If I have it... You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at: http://www.ComicBooksCircus.com/ Web Page Note: This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards. Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up differently, sorry about that!The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer. NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.
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Which brings me to my thoughts on this mini-book I found at last Saturday's LBCC Expo. Seriously, at the LBCC Expo in a display rack on a table that the exhibitor was missing at, temporarily! 
I'm here with 'My Take On': Fraggle Rock Vol. 2 #3 of 3.
