Press Release: FanimeCon welcomes Fumio Iida to the 2011 convention at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center over Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-30. The animation director will interact with fans during Gainax's panels and autograph sessions.

In addition to being an animation director, Mr. Iida has experience as a character designer, illustrator, game creator, and manga artist. He draws manga under the name SUEZEN, and he has worked as an animator for companies like Tatsunoko Pro, Walt Disney Japan, 20th Century Fox, and now GAINAX.

More information about FanimeCon 2011, including the times and places for Mr. Iida's panels and autograph session, will be available at www.fanime.com. Visit the web site for the latest news about the convention as FanimeCon gears up for Memorial Day Weekend, 2011.

About FanimeCon:

FanimeCon is Northern California's largest anime convention. Packed with videos, costumes, music, games, parties, tournaments, panels, and guests from around the world, this annual celebration of Japanese art and popular culture entertains a colorful spectrum of fans and friends. FanimeCon is “By Fans, For Fans”, and over 16,000 enthusiasts joined FanimeCon 2010. FanimeCon will return to the San Jose McEnery Convention Center during Memorial Day weekend, May 27-30, 2011. For more information, please contact FanimeCon Marketing at marketing@fanime.com or visit www.fanime.com.

Press Release: Fan Expo Canada™ Canada’s premier and largest gaming, horror, comic, science fiction and anime event, today announced its highly anticipated lineup of celebrity guests in the comic medium including industry leaders Adam, Andy and Joe Kubert and Cartoonist Guest of Honour Jeff Smith! The creative masterminds behind such iconic brands as Batman, Fantastic Four, Captain America, The Flash, Thor and Spider-Man will all be participating in Fan Expo’s ever-popular Comic Book Expo, August 25 – 28 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

For four jam-packed days, Comic Book Expo offers fans autograph sessions with celebrity comic guests and programming highlights that include: hundreds of industry experts on-hand for Q&As, portfolio reviews, advice and live instruction; meet and greet with popular artists, inkers and writers in Artist Alley; industry previews of upcoming comic news and projects; and more than 600 comic retailers offering the country’s largest variety of genres, collectibles, independent publications and Expo exclusive offers all under one roof! Not to mention, Canada’s largest Comic Masquerade Night on Saturday, August 27th – where hundreds of fans dress up as popular comic book characters.

The Comic Book Expo Celebrity Guests include:

· JASON AARON (Writer of ULTIMATE CAPTAIN AMERICA, WOLVERINE)

· BRIAN AZZARELLO (Writer of FIRST WAVE & 100 BULLETS)

· MARK BROOKS (Artist of UNCANNY X-FORCE)

· JIMMY CHEUNG (Artist of AVENGERS)

· OLIVIER COIPEL (Artist of THOR)

· SHANE DAVIS (Artist of SUPERMAN EARTH ONE)

· MARKO DJURDJEVIC (Artist of THOR, FANTASTIC FOUR, SPIDER-MAN)

· DALE EAGLESHAM (Artist of ALPHA FLIGHT)

· STEVE EPTING (Artist of FANTASTIC FOUR, CAPTAIN AMERICA)

· MATT FRACTION (Artist of THOR, IRONMAN, UNCANNY X-MEN)

· RON GARNEY (Artist of ULTIMATE CAPTAIN AMERICA)

· JONATHAN HICKMAN (Writer of FANTASTIC FOUR)

· KATHRYN IMMONEN (Writer of WOLVERINE & JUBILEE)

· STUART IMMONEN (Artist of FEAR ITSELF)

· DALE KEOWN (Artist of HULK)

· ADAM KUBERT (Artist of ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN & WOLVERINE)

· ANDY KUBERT (Artist of BATMAN & FLASHPOINT)

· JOE KUBERT (Legendary Comic Book Artist)

· JEFF LEMIRE (Artist of SUPERBOY)

· ALEX MALEEV (Artist of MOON KNIGHT & SCARLET)

· FRANCIS MANAPUL (Artist of THE FLASH)

· STEVE McNIVEN (Artist of CAPTAIN AMERICA)

· TONY MOORE (Artist of THE WALKING DEAD & VENOM)

· JAMES ROBINSON (Writer of SUPERMAN)

· DAN SLOTT (Writer of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN)

· DOUG SNEYD (Legendary Playboy cartoonist)

· JEFF SMITH (Cartoonist Guest of Honour – Creator of BONE)

· ETHAN VAN SCIVER (Artist of THE FLASH REBIRTH)

For more information and the complete programming line-up for Comic Book Expo, go to www.fanexpocanada.com.

For the 17th consecutive year, visitors from across Ontario and around the world will have the opportunity to experience the very best in pop culture first-hand at the upcoming 2011 Fan Expo Canada™. In addition to the Comic Book Expo, the country’s largest combined event will include Anime, Science Fiction, Festival of Fear Horror Expo and GX – Gaming Expo. Stay tuned for more announcements in the upcoming weeks.

SHOW DETAILS:

WHEN: AUGUST 25- 28, 2011

Thursday, August 25 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Special Preview)

4:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Friday, August 26 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

Saturday, August 27 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

Sunday, August 28 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

WHERE: Metro Toronto Convention Centre South Building

222 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

For more information visit, www.fanexpocanada.com

Press Release: Wizard World Big Apple Comic Con today announced its diverse programming schedule, featuring unique celebrity Q&A’s, music, screenings, artist schools and more for the event, set for Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22 at Penn Plaza Pavilion.

Press Release: Coming off its biggest year yet in 2010 with attendance topping 5,500, the Alternative Press Expo (APE), returns to San Francisco this fall at The Concourse Exhibition Center. The Expo, taking place Saturday, October 1 and Sunday, October 2, will again feature the expanded Exhibit Hall and additional programming tracks that debuted in 2010.

Five special guests have already signed on for the show: Kate Beaton (Hark! A Vagrant!), Daniel Clowes (Wilson, Mister Wonderful; courtesy Drawn & Quarterly), Craig Thompson (Blankets, Habibi), Adrian Tomine (Optic Nerve, Scenes from an Impending Marriage), and Shannon Wheeler (Too Much Coffee Man, I Thought You Would Be Funnier).

“Interest in APE has never been higher as evidenced by our growing attendance and roster of exhibitors,” said David Glanzer, APE’s director of marketing and public relations. “This year’s terrific mix of special guests really helps us continue that momentum as one of the ‘must-see’ independent comics shows in the nation.”

APE showcases the best in alternative and small press comics, with an Exhibit Hall packed with cutting-edge creators featuring their comics, books, zines, original art, hand-made items, and much more. Further details on APE 2011, including a complete list of exhibitors and the full programming schedule, will be announced closer to the event.

About Alternative Press Expo:

Alternative Press Expo (APE), the country’s largest alternative and independent comics convention, is part of Comic-Con International (CCI), a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to creating awareness of, and appreciation for, comics and related popular art forms. The organization achieves its mission primarily through the presentation of conventions and events that celebrate the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture. In addition to the San Francisco-based APE each fall, CCI organizes San Diego Comic-Con each summer (the world’s largest comics convention of its kind) and San Francisco’s WonderCon each spring. On the web: Comic-Con.org, Facebook.com/APExpo, Twitter.com/APExpo.

Press Release: Anime Five Cities, the Central Coast's Anime Convenion in California, expands by moving to a larger location and to an earlier date this summer. Anime Five Cities (AFC) will be on Saturday, June 18, 2011 from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm at the Ludwick Community Center in San Luis Obispo. Pre-registration is open until June 4, 2011 for $11 per person.

AFC has confirmed two returning guests, Irene Flores and AniMaid Cafe. Irene Flores is a published illustrator and mangaka whose work has been published by Tokyopop, Impact Books, Marvel, and DC Comics. AniMaid Cafe's perfomance and maid cafe have been featured at over 50 conventions and events such as Pacific Media Expo, the Cherry Blossom Festival of Southern California, and many others. They will be providing their fun activities at AFC 2011. To see more featured guests, please visit our website (see below). For more information on both guests, please visit their websites at http://www.beanclamchowder.com and http://www.TheAniMaidCafe.net.

This year, AFC is growing to include a video game room, more anime programming, more live programming and panels, and an expanded cosplay contest. These programs are in addition to the Japanese snacks and raffles that our fans have come to love.

About Anime Five Cities:
Anime Five Cities is the anime convention for the Central Coast of California. Founded in 2010, we strive to create a thriving community of fans of Asian pop culture through free events, local partnerships, and mentorship of volunteer-minded young leaders in the art of live events production. Anime Five Cities information can be found at http://www.AnimeFiveCities.com or http://www.Facebook.com/AnimeFiveCities. You can also follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AnimeFiveCities.

Press Release: Robert Kirkman, the Eisner Award-winning creator of The Walking Dead and Invincible, will be a Guest of Honor at this year’s New York Comic Con, which will take place at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City, Thursday, October 13 – Sunday October 16, 2011.

Press Release: North America’s largest pop-culture tour continues as the 11th annual Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con returns to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, June 17-19, with superstar guests Bruce Campbell, Adam Baldwin, Pam Grier, Vivica A. Fox, Julie Benz and Billy Dee Williams headlining the list of celebrity attendees.  The event will bring together thousands of fans of all ages and dozens of celebrities and industry professionals to celebrate the best in pop culture, movies, comics, toys, video gaming, television, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.

AniMinneapolis is excited to announce additional guests of honor: voice actor Chris Rager, voice actor Spike Spencer, and nerdcore performer Dr. Awkward. AniMinneapolis is an exciting three day gathering of anime fans, industry professionals, and gamers. This minneapolis anime convention will be held July 8-10, 2011 at The Northland Inn in Minneapolis, MN.

Chris Rager is an American voice actor for Funimation studios. More notable performances are as Mr. Satan and King Yemma on "Dragonball Z", as well as, Arlong the leader of the fish people on the popular "One Piece". Chris has been seen in national and regional T.V. commercial ads like Taco Bell, Southwest Airlines and Visa. Although he enjoys the T.V. exposure, Christopher holds voice acting closer to his heart. You may have also heard Chris in Animes such as Blue Gender, Case Closed, Black Cat, Desert Punk, Lupin III, Full Metal Alchemist, Yu Yu Hakusho, Samuri 7 and Sgt. Frog. Chris has also been heard in such video games Spike out: Battle Street, Stuntman Ignition, Bloodrayne, Roadkill and many others. Chris always looks forwards to his next voice over role, hoping he can bring a high level of talent and professionalism to such characters.

Spike Spencer has been a voice actor since the early nineties. He has voiced hundreds of episodes of anime, including titles such as Evangelion, Battle Angel, Suikoden, Orphen, Spriggan, Nadesico, Buso Renkin, and Bleach. Spike is also an accomplished actor, previously working with stars such as Tommy Lee Jones, Sandra Bullock, Frank Langella, and Scott Glenn. In addition, Spike Spencer has voiced many radio and television commercials, video games like World of Warcraft, and several other projects.

Dr. Awkward is a Scrub Club Records Nerdcore rapper with several hit songs and performances at Nerdapalooza and after parties at Comic Con, Florida's Nerd Invasion, and Texas' Comicpalooza. In 2009, Dr. Awkward released his first solo project "Next Gen," in which Doc proclaims that he is the future of Nerdcore Hip Hop. The EP was hailed as an instant classic, with hits like "Geekquilibrium" and "Imposter." Dr. Awkward release his latest album, "Unlimited" in April 2010, which features an amazing fusion of Nerdcore, Hip Hop, and R&B. Dr. Awkward's full bio and some sample tracks can be found at http://scrubclubrecords.com/doc/about.html

AniMinneapolis will bring several amazing guests and tons of awesome events to The Northland Inn in July. Featured events include the cosplay masquerade, cosplay photoshoots, a rave dance, anime showings, video games, table top games, an artist alley, and a dealer's room. Some of the panels and other events happening include a formal ball, a Team Rocket panel, a ConSuite, Cosplay Chess, Teaching Yourself Japanese, and Animation Production, among many others.

More information can be found online at http://www.animinneapolis.com/

Press Release for April 28th, 2011

Boston Comic Con is happy to announce the Panel Schedule for our 2011 convention! With some of the greatest creators in the industry attending these are sure to be standing room only! Tell your friends!