Convention News

Star Wars actors Peter Mayhew and Tom Kane, and Star Trek actor Robert Picardo are just some of the great panels attendees can see at The Great Allentown Comic Con’s MEGA SHOW event in November!

The Great Allentown Comic Con presents the 2011 MEGA SHOW Panel schedule, and a packed show room with 100 tables of artists and dealers this show is the largest “little con” in eastern PA.  All panels will run approximately 1 hour, and many will include multimedia presentations and interactions with attendees as well as prizes!  In addition to the panels below attendees can still expect Door Prizes at 11:30, 2:30 and 5pm both days.

Saturday

Large Room:

10:30 PM Crazy 8 Press - Join NY Times Best Selling Authors and Famed creators Michael Jan Friedman and Peter David as they discuss their new independent publishing venture Crazy 8 Press! With over 200 novels between them already printed, and dozens of universes and genre touched, listen to them discuss the new worlds they plan to visit now that they are independent.

12:30 PM Joint 501^st Legion and Rebel Legion Star Wars Trivia Contest! - Do you know how many parsecs it took the Millennium Falcon to finish the Kessel Run? How many meters long is a womp rat?....What is a womp rat anyway? If you can answer these questions than be sure to come to this Trivia contest...and Win some great prizes!

1:30 PM Costume Contest! - This one is easy...show up in a costume! Just think...Halloween could come twice this year! Cosplay expert Amber Love Delaney will be on hand to help judge the best outfits and hand out prizes!

3:00 PM Star Wars Panel! - Join Peter Mayhew and Tom Kane as they discuss working in one of the most iconic and celebrated franchises in history. With some great stories, and possible spoilers? On upcoming events...this is a can't miss panel for true fans of Star Wars!

4:30 PM Underbelly Media - YouTube sensation and all around geektastic sketch show Underbelly will be presenting a special multimedia show. Sketches, bits, and all around geek cultural explosions can be expected!

Small Room:

10:30 AM Smurftology 101 - Join "Smurfologist" Matt Murray as he puts on his professor smurf hat and presents a history of The Smurfs! Is Papa Smurf actually Carl Marx? Do the Smurfs plan to take over the world? These myths (or truths?) and more will be covered...so be sure to "Smurf" yourself a chair and "Smurf" in!

12:30 PM Comic Greats and Legends Panel - Join Tom Smith, Neil Vokes, and Bob Hall as they discuss working in comics in the modern age...and just what it feels like to have been in the "funny books" for so long. Learn the untold stories about the creation and influences these artists have had on titles from The Avengers to Doctor Strange!

1:30 PM Toteman Panel - November is Epilepsy Awareness Month, and the GACC is proud to be supporting the Toteman Epilepsy Awareness/PSA comic book. But who is Toteman anyway...and why should people support this great book? Join Toteman creator John McLaren and artist RickMan to learn just why you should be helping this great cause!

4:00 PM Disney World! - Former Disney Animator Terry Naughton has influenced and worked on many of the classic Disney films of the last 3 decades. Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast are just a few of the things he has done. Currently he has done the artwork for Peter and Angie Mayhew's children’s novels and has his own book out "The Art of Terry Naughton"

Sunday

Large Room:

10:30 AM Hound Comics -

Join the Hound Comics team (Brimstone, Sajad Shah, Mina Sanwald, and Lucious) as they discuss upcoming project, current releases, and just how much goes into creating comics, books, cartoons and video games!

12:30 AM JK Woodward & Peter David - Join the creative team behind Fallen Angel as they discuss working together on one of today's top independent titles. Learn just what goes into the creative process for JK Woodward one of the comic industries most talented up and coming artists, and Peter David, one of its most prolific author/creators.

1:30 PM Star Trek Panel-Join us as we let Robert Picardo have his way with us in this rare solo panel appearance. If prior experiences are any indication expect to catch at least one song and dance number, and quite a few entertaining stories and jokes. Be sure to arrive early to get a good seat!

3:00 PM Pretending to be on TV with Glen Tickle - Comedian Glen Tickle hosts a "late night" style show with attitude. Joined by artists and guests Glen will interview and get to the bottom of this whole "Comic Con" thing.

4:00 PM Toteman Epilepsy Auction - We are proud to be supporting the Toteman Epilepsy comic book and Epilepsy Awareness in general. November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, and what could be better than supporting a great cause and an up and coming comic book creator. While online bidding has begun prior to the show, this will be the final live auction, and once the gavel lands some great art and items will find new homes...and with your support we will have raised enough to send the Toteman book to print. So...come and Bid High and Bid Often!


Small Room:

12:30 PM How to Draw Smurfs - This one is for the kids! Smurfologist Matt Murray will teach you how to draw your favorite Smurf!

1:30 PM Horror/Zombie Panel - Join Neil Vokes, Tom Schloendorn, Tommy Castillo and Chris Moreno as they discuss the Horror of the past and future, and our current love of all things Zombie.

*All times are approximate, and may change at last minute.

Press Release: A host of legendary comic book creators including Howard Chaykin (American Flagg, The Shadow), Arthur Suydam (Marvel Zombies), David Lafuente (Ultimate Spider-Man), and Tommy Lee Edwards (Turf, The Book of Eli, Star Wars) will converge on Morrisville on Nov.5 and 6 for the second annual NC Comicon at the Morrisville Outlet Mall.

“Last year’s inaugural NC Comicon drew more than 2,500 attendees, and this one is poised to be even bigger,” says Alan Gill, owner of Durham’s Ultimate Comics, which is putting on the show. “Our goal is to create a fun, family-friendly two-day event that new and veteran comic fans can both enjoy as they meet pros, attend panels, and check out our art, gaming and costume contests!”

An exciting new development now has Tommy Lee Edwards and David Lafuente hosting a discussion panel about their new projects with writer Jonathan Ross, entitled Golden Age and Home-Run. These new ongoing titles will launch from Image comics next summer, but NCCC attendees will get an exclusive sneak-peek at the books’ designs, art, and stories. TLE and Lafuente will also delve into their creative process, demonstrating with examples from fan favorite titles like New Mutants and Marvel 1985.

Along with the guests mentioned above, professional attendees include Steve Niles (creator of the hit vampire comic and film 30 Days of Night) Mike Perkins (artist on Marvel Comics’ best- selling adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand), Janet Lee (artist of the award-winning graphic novel Return of the Dapper Men), Atomic Robo creators Scott Wegener & Brian Clevenger, Jeremy Bastian (whose comic Cursed Pirate Girl has been featured on BoingBoing.net and Kickstarter.com), Skottie Young (artist of Marvel Comics’ award-winning adaptations of L. Frank Baum’s original Oz novels), and many more.

Admission to the show, which is conveniently located off exit 284 on I-40, is just $8.00 for both days.

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Press Release: AniMinneapolis is excited to announce that Sonny Strait will be appearing at the 2012 Anime Minneapolis convention, in addition to the return of Nerdcore rapper Dr. Awkward. AniMinneapolis had over 1200 attendees and 11 guests in 2011, and will be returning even bigger for 2012. The convention is scheduled for June 29 - July 1, 2012 at the Ramada Inn just outside of the Mall of America.

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.

Sonny Strait is known for several voices, ranging from Krillin in DBZ to Lupin III in Lupin III. He's also known as an illustrator for one of the most famous, independently published comic book series Elfquest. Sonny Strait has over 20 years of experience in the arts.

Besides Dragonball Z’s Krillin he has worked on many popular animated characters including Maes Hughes from Full Metal Alchemist, Usopp from One Piece and Cartoon Network’s laid back, robot host Toonami Tom. He has also worked as a writer and director on several TV series including Dragonball Z, Case Closed and Lupin the Third.

Both Sonny Strait and Dr. Awkward will be doing panels and giving out autographs, and Dr. Awkward will be performing at the AniMinneapolis Nerdcore concert. Other convention events include anime screenings, a date auction, a formal dance, two rave dances, free ramen, and dozens of panels, workshops, and events.

AniMinneapolis is a three-day anime convention, focusing on Japanese animation, arts, and pop culture. Over a thousand anime fans came to AniMinneapolis last year. The convention focuses on several exciting events, which include a cosplay masquerade, anime screenings, cultural and fan panels, and video game tournaments. In addition, there is a dealer's room filled with anime vendors, and an artist alley featuring several great artists.

Hotel rooms for the convention are only $99 a night at the Ramada, and can be found online at http://animinneapolis.com/location

Registration to attend the convention can be done in advance for only $25 per person until April 15th. Attendees can also register at the door, if there is enough space available, for $35 per person. More details are on the convention's website: http://www.animinneapolis.com/ 

Press Release: Actors Peter Mayhew and Tom Kane, Star Wars fan groups The Rebel and 501^st Legions, and the R2D2 Builders of the Lehigh Valley - Join the Great Allentown Comic Con! November 19^-20^th Mega Show Guest Lineup.

The Great Allentown Comic Con presents the MEGA SHOW to be held November 19^th and 20^th with a science fiction theme featuring STAR WARS guests and groups. Fans are invited to come together to collect unopened STAR WARS toys for needy children and to bid high on original comic art in an auction fundraiser supporting an Epilepsy Awareness comic book.

Iconic Star Wars actor Peter Mayhew headlines a galactic sized group of Star Wars themed guests that includes Clone Wars voice actor Tom Kane  in addition to an R2D2 droid unit, numerous Jedi, Imperial Storm Troopers, Bounty  Hunters, and other fan favorite Star Wars characters of the 501^st and Rebel Legions.  

Peter Mayhew is best known for playing the Wookie Chewbacca in four of the major Star Wars films, a role the 7’2” English actor was born to play.  In the years following the films, Mayhew has moved to the United States, become a citizen, and most recently begun writing children’s novels with his wife Angie Mayhew.

Tom Kane has spent nearly three decades doing voice work, often times as the narrating voice that helps propel a story and draw listeners into fantastical worlds.  Currently he plays the part of Yoda on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, while also providing the narrative voice for each episode.  In addition to Star Wars, Kane has also worked on the popular children’s cartoon The Powerpuff Girls and lent his voice to the 2011 movie, The Smurfs as the “Narrator Smurf.”

Both the Garrison Carida® and the Rebel Legion will be at the show Saturday November 19^th ONLY, and holding a special Star Wars themed trivia contest.  Sunday see Peter Mayhew and Tom Kane discussing their experiences on Star Wars films and cartoons, so be sure to plan accordingly.
Additional guests are also being planned, and should be announced in coming weeks. For more information visit us online at allentowncomiccon.com.

Christopher D. Wertz, Show Founder and Promoter says, “We are pleased to announce that Star Wars icons such as Peter Mayhew and Tom Kane, will be joined by members of The Rebel Legion’s Echo Base and Garrison Carida® of the 501st Legion at the November 2011 Mega Show of the Lehigh Valley’s largest pop culture extravaganza, The Great Allentown Comic Con! After the great response fans had for the 501st at our first show in 2010, it was an easy decision to expand and include the 'good-guys' for our first multi-day extravaganza event.” 

About The Great Allentown Comic Con! – The Largest Pop-Culture Comic Convention in the Lehigh Valley.  Founded in 2010, by Riverside Comics; The Great Allentown Comic Con (GACC) is already one of the fastest growing Fan-focused events in the comics industry.  Currently located in the 10,000 sq ft Showroom of the Merchants Square Mall in Allentown PA, the GACC is dedicated to producing celebrations of comics and popular culture by providing unique access to talented artists and a family-friendly experience for fans.  The show motto “Get UR Geek On!” represents in part the recognition of the diverse and unique nature of our fans, and our commitment to providing events where they can come express themselves freely.