Friday, 30 September 2011
GM
 Press Release: What do a rock star, the lead writer of Mass Effect, and the ever-charming and talented Ms. Becky Cloonan all have in common? They’re all signing at the Dark Horse booth! Following up on Wednesday’s announcement of Dark Horse’s 2011 New York Comic Con programming, it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for: the 2011 Dark Horse New York Comic Con schedule! The full schedule of Dark Horse’s in-booth signings and activities can be found below:ALL DAY, EVERY DAY:Spin the Dark Horse prize wheel for a chance to win free digital comics, including Mass Effect and Star Wars: Crimson Empire bundles! Thursday, October 13 6:00 p.m. FREE T-SHIRTS, COMICS! Come to the Dark Horse booth for a chance to win a Hellboy T-shirt and free digital comics! Friday, October 1410:30 a.m. The Occultist—Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash) and Jenny Frison (Criminal Macabre) 11:00 a.m. Bunny in the Moon—Tara McPherson 11:00 a.m. FREE T-SHIRTS, COMICS! Come to the Dark Horse booth for a chance to win a Hellboy T-shirt and free digital comics! 11:30 a.m. Orchid—Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, The Nightwatchman) and Scott Hepburn (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic) FREE Orchid poster featuring art by Massimo Carnevale. Ticketed event. Please talk to a Dark Horse staff member at the show. 12:30 p.m. Dethklok—Jon Schnepp, Jeremy Barlow, and Nate Piekos 1:30 p.m. The Immortal—Ian Edginton FREE poster revealing never-before-seen art from the upcoming comic The Immortal, adapted from an acclaimed Japanese novel and written by Ian Edginton (Scarlet Traces, Star Trek: Early Voyages, Warhammer 40,000) 2:00 p.m. FREE T-SHIRTS, COMICS! Come to the Dark Horse booth for a chance to win a The Thing movie T-shirt and free digital comics! Read the FREE digital prequel comic of The Thing now! 2:30 p.m. Star Wars—Andrea Mutti Find out what Star Wars series Andrea Mutti (Rage) will be working on at Friday’s Dark Horse panel (1:30–2:30 p.m., Room 1A15). 3:30 p.m. The Massive—Brian Wood and Kristian Donaldson (DMZ) 4:30 p.m. Star Wars: Jedi—The Dark Side—Scott Allie and Mahmud Asrar 6:30 p.m. Dr. McNinja—Christopher Hastings Saturday, October 1510:30 a.m. Mass Effect—Mac Walters 11:00 a.m. FREE T-SHIRTS, COMICS! Come to the Dark Horse booth for a chance to win a Hellboy T-shirt and free digital comics! 11:30 a.m. The Last Dragon—Jane Yolen and Rebecca Guay FREE face painting inspired by The Last Dragon! FREE miniprint to the first one hundred people in line for the signing. 12:30 p.m. House of Night—Jenny Frison Get Marked! FREE House of Night face painting during the signing with cover artist Jenny Frison! FREE House of Night poster. And the first twenty-five people in line for the signing will receive a copy of The Fledgling Handbook 101 by P. C. Cast with Kim Doner from St. Martin’s Press! 1:30 p.m. Beasts of Burden—Evan Dorkin 1:30 p.m. Avatar: The Last Airbender—FREE face-painting event 2:30 p.m. Dragon Age—David Gaider and Mike Laidlaw FREE print to the first one hundred people in line to meet the lead writer and lead designer of Dragon Age! 3:30 p.m. Angel & Faith—Christos Gage and Rebekah Isaacs 4:00 p.m. FREE T-SHIRTS, COMICS! Come to the Dark Horse booth for a chance to win a Hellboy T-shirt and free digital comics! 4:30 p.m. Comic TBA—Brian Wood (DMZ, Demo, Northlanders) and Becky Cloonan (Demo, Pixu) Find out what Dark Horse comic Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan are going to be working on together at Friday’s Dark Horse panel (1:30–2:30 p.m., Room 1A15)! 5:30 p.m. Evelyn, Evelyn—Cynthia von Buhler Sunday, October 1610:00 a.m. Beanworld—Larry Marder 10:30 a.m. FREE T-SHIRTS, COMICS! Come to the Dark Horse booth for a chance to win a Hellboy T-shirt and free digital comics! 11:00 a.m. Mignolaverse—Mike Mignola and John Arcudi Ticketed event. Please talk to a Dark Horse staff member at the show. 12:00 p.m. Creepy—Dan Braun It’s trick-or-treat time, but not for the kiddos! FREE Creepy comics to the first one hundred people in line, plus an array of crazy Creepy prizes just in time for All Hallow’s Eve! 1:00 p.m. Behind the Scenes of Mass Effect—Mac Walters Mac Walters discusses the process of writing Mass Effect comics and walks through a digital preview of Mass Effect: Invasion #1. 2:00 p.m. FREE T-SHIRTS, COMICS! Come to the Dark Horse booth for a chance to win a Hellboy T-shirt and free digital comics! 2:30 p.m. Kult—Jeremy Barlow 3:00 p.m. Robert E. Howard’s Savage Sword—Jeremy Barlow, Paul Tobin, and Joshua Williamson 4:00 p.m. Falling Skies—Paul Tobin and Juan Ferreyra Are you missing Falling Skies? Talk to the creators of the preview comic and get a Falling Skies pin from TNT, while supplies last! Keep your eyes on the Dark Horse blog for further announcements on signings, in-booth events, green-screen photo ops, and so much more!
Sunday, 25 September 2011
GM
 For those that are attending New York Comic Con or maybe you are on the fence waiting for a compelling reason to attend. Either way, here is the complete panel schedule for DC Comics. Friday, October 14DC: Talent Search 10:30-11:30am Join DCE’s Editorial Art Director, Mark Chiarello, for an informative orientation session that will explain how DCE’s Talent Search works and discuss the different needs of the DC Comics, Vertigo and MAD Magazine brands. If you want to learn what DCE looks for in artists and how to improve your chances of becoming a working professional, then this is the panel for you! In order to have your work reviewed, attendance at this orientation session is mandatory. (Please note: Not all attendees are guaranteed a one-on-one review.) Room 1B01 DC ALL ACCESS: Batman 1:15pm-2:15pm Find out everything you need to know about the Dark Knight Detective and his cohorts in the new DC universe—from Batwoman to Batgirl to Robin, the Boy Wonder! Explore the streets of Gotham City with all-star creators such as Lee Bermejo (Batman: Noel), Chris Burnham (Batman Inc.), Tony Daniel (Detective Comics), Greg Capullo (Batman), David Finch (Batman: The Dark Knight), Kyle Higgins (Nightwing), Amy Reeder (Batwoman), Scott Snyder (Batman), and Peter J. Tomasi (Batman and Robin)! Room 1A10 Vertigo Visions 3:45pm-4:45pm Join the writers and artists behind the acclaimed and award-winning brand for a panel about the weird, the wild and the always unexpected with all-star talent including Jason Aaron (Scalped), Brian Azzarello (Spaceman, 100 Bullets), Rebecca Guay (A Flight of Angels), Phil Jimenez (Fairest), Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth), Chris Roberson (iZOMBIE), Douglas Rushkoff (A.D.D.), Marzena Sowa (Marzi), Sylvain Savoia (Marzi) and Scott Snyder (American Vampire)! And introducing some new Vertigo blood! Room 1A22 DC ALL ACCESS: Green Lantern 5:00pm-6:00pm In Brightest Day, in Blackest Night, the minds behind the Green Lantern franchise take flight—onto the stage to shed some light on the Emerald Warriors! Join the Corps with DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer and Green Lantern writer Geoff Johns, along with Tony Bedard (Green Lantern: New Guardians), Doug Mahnke (Green Lantern), Ivan Reis (Blackest Night), writer Peter Tomasi (Green Lantern Corps) and more! Room 1A10 Saturday, October 15DC: Talent Search 10:15-10:45am Join DCE’s Editorial Art Director, Mark Chiarello, for an informative orientation session that will explain how DCE’s Talent Search works and discuss the different needs of the DC Comics, Vertigo and MAD Magazine brands. If you want to learn what DCE looks for in artists and how to improve your chances of becoming a working professional, then this is the panel for you! In order to have your work reviewed, attendance at this orientation session is mandatory. (Please note: Not all attendees are guaranteed a one-on-one review.) Room 1A15 VERTIGO: Scary S**T! 10:45am-11:45am Join Vertigo’s monthly writers as they discuss vampires, zombies, the apocalypse and more, with top creators including Brian Azzarello (Spaceman), Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth), Chris Roberson (iZOMBIE) and Scott Snyder (American Vampire)! And introducing some new Vertigo blood! Room 1A22 DC ALL ACCESS: Justice League 12:00pm-1:00pm Before they were the World’s Greatest Superheroes, they were considered the world’s most feared vigilantes. Join some of the creators of the new DC universe in a panel discussion headlined by the creative team behind the flagship title of DC COMICS – THE NEW 52 — DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns and DC Comics Co-Publisher Jim Lee. Including all-star creators such as Brian Azzarello (Wonder Woman), Brian Buccellato (The Flash), Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman), Yildiray Cinar (The Fury of Firestorm), Tony Daniel (Detective Comics, The Savage Hawkman), Francis Manapul (The Flash), Joe Prado (Aquaman), Ivan Reis (Aquaman), Philip Tan (The Savage Hawkman), and Eric Wallace (Mr. Terrific). Room 1A10 DC ALL ACCESS: Superman 1:15pm-2:15pm With the launch of DC COMICS – THE NEW 52, a new era for Superman begins! Find out what’s in the works for the Man of Tomorrow as we look at his upcoming exploits in ACTION COMICS, SUPERMAN and more! Don’t miss this panel featuring Mahmud Asrar (Supergirl), Shane Davis (Superman: Earth One) and others! Room 1A10 DC ALL ACCESS: The Edge/ The Dark 2:30pm-3:30pm The DC universe is home to all kinds of heroes – including some who barely fit that name! Hear what’s coming up in the pages of titles like JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK, SWAMP THING, O.M.A.C., ALL-STAR WESTERN and more, with top talent including Ivan Brandon (Men of War), Paul Cornell (Stormwatch, Demon Knights), Josh Fialkov (I, Vampire), Keith Giffen (O.M.A.C.), Adam Glass (Suicide Squad), Viktor Kalvachev (Men of War), Andy Lanning (Resurrection Man), Jeff Lemire (Animal Man, Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E.), Justin Norman (All-Star Western), Jimmy Palmiotti (All-Star Western), and Scott Snyder (Swamp Thing)! Room 1A22 Sunday, October 16MAD 12:15pm – 1:15pm MAD is more than just the best-selling humor magazine in the nation – it’s also the inspiration for the hit animated series on Cartoon Network, now in its second season! Find out what’s happening with the Usual Gang of Idiots in this panel featuring MAD Magazine editor John Ficarra, art director Sam Viviano and TV producer Kevin Schinick! Room 1A24 DC ALL ACCESS: Meet the Publishers 2:45pm-3:45pm As Co-Publishers of DC Entertainment, Jim Lee and Dan DiDio are the driving forces behind DC COMICS – THE NEW 52, DC’s digital initiative, and much more, as well as being the artist of JUSTICE LEAGUE and writer of O.M.A.C.! This up-close-and-personal panel gives you a chance to step up and ask questions! Room 1A06 DC ALL ACCESS: Young Justice 3:45pm-4:45pm They may be young – but they’re still heroes! Find out what’s happening for THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, TEEN TITANS and more as DC COMICS – THE NEW 52 unfolds in this panel featuring Franco Aureliani (Tiny Titans), Art Baltazar (Tiny Titans), Tony Bedard (Blue Beetle), Sterling Gates (Hawk and Dove), Jonathan Glapion (Static Shock), Paul Levitz (Legion of Super-Heroes), and Francis Portela (Legion of Super-Heroes)! Room 1A22
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
GM
 Press Release: Cartoon Network and Adult Swim will host nine panels, two screenings and three autograph signings for fan-favorite series at New York Comic Con at the Jacob K. Javits Center, Friday, October 14 through Sunday October 16, 2011.See the full lineup for both networks below; please note all times, dates and locations are subject to change. CARTOON NETWORK & ADULT SWIM PANELSFRIDAY, OCTOBER 14ADULT SWIM: The Venture Bros 4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Location: IGN Theater Talent: Jackson Publick (co-creator) and Doc Hammer (co-creator) The Venture Bros show creators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer, perennial Comic-Con favorites, will discuss their original series and answer questions that have been submitted by fans on AdultSwimPresents.com/NYCC. Launched on Adult Swim in August 2004, The Venture Bros. is an inspired spoof of 1960s action cartoon shows such as "Johnny Quest." The animated series follows the bizarre misadventures of the Venture family, which includes world-renowned Dr. Venture, his dimwitted sons Hank and Dean as well as Brock Samson, their bodyguard assigned by the government to keep an eye on the family who is then promptly forgotten by the Feds. ADULT SWIM: Robot Chicken 5:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Location: IGN Theater Talent: Seth Green (co-creator), Matt Senreich (co-creator), Zeb Wells (writer) and Doug Goldstein (head writer and co-producer) Seth Green (co-creator), Matthew Senreich (co-creator), Zeb Wells (writer), and Doug Goldstein (head writer and co-producer) discuss their incredibly-popular and award-winning series Robot Chicken and provide a sneak peek of season 5.5, premiering Oct. 23rd at 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Adult Swim. Created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, the Emmy Award-winning Robot Chicken uses stop-motion animation to bring pop-culture parodies to life in a modern take on the variety/sketch show format.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15ADULT SWIM: Superjail! 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Location: Room 1A06 Talent: Christy Karacas (creator and executive producer) , Stephen Warbrick (creator and executive producer), Jackson Publick, Janine DiTullio Join creators and executive producers Christy Karacas and Stephen Warbrick with Jackson Publick and Janine DiTullio as they discuss their Adult Swim series Superjail! and preview never-before-seen footage! Fast-paced animation, flying guts, creepy underlings, and plenty of prison fights dominate the Warden's chaotic prison in Superjail!. The blood flows like wine and the line between criminal and keeper gets blurrier by the minute. Picture a kaleidoscope of entrails meets Jon Waters meets Shawshank damnation plus a sweaty muscle woman minus primetime sensibility. You are hereby guilty of being given what you asked for. ADULT SWIM: Eagleheart 4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Location: Room 1A06 Talent: Chris Elliot, Jason Woliner, Andrew Weinberg, Michael Koman, Maria Thayer Join series star Chris Elliott with Jason Woliner, Andrew Weinberg, Michael Koman, Maria Thayer as they discuss the live-action comedy Eagleheart and show exclusive footage from the upcoming new season. Produced by Conan O'Brien's Conaco Productions and Dakota Pictures, the series premiered in February and recently wrapped production of its second season, which is slated to premiere in the spring of 2012. Every episode of Eagleheart promises violence, suspense, intrigue and copious amounts of needless bloodshed as Marshal Chris Monsanto (Elliott) blindly kicks, punches and shoots his way to what may or may not be a legitimate solution to his case. ADULT SWIM: The Heart, She Holler 5:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Location: Room 1A06 Talent: Patton Oswalt, Kristen Schaal, Heather Lawless, Leo Fitzpatrick, Joe Sikora, John Lee (executive producer), Alyson Levy (executive producer) Adult Swim presents The Heart, She Holler, an original live-action series that explores the dramatic lives of a small community living in a hillbilly town. Series stars Patton Oswalt (United States of Tara), Kristen Schaal (The Flight of the Conchords), Heather Lawless (Be Kind Rewind), Leo Fitzpatrick (El Camino), and Joe Sikora (Shutter Island) join co-executive producers John Lee and Alyson Levy to show never-before-seen footage of this new original live-action series that will premiere on Adult Swim this fall. ADULT SWIM: Delocated! 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Location: Room 1A06 Talent: Jon Glaser (creator and executive producer), Steve Cirbus, Janeane Garofalo, Jacob Kogan, Yung-I Chang, Ali Farahnakian Delocated! creator/executive producer and star Jon Glaser is on hand along with Steve Cirbus, Janeane Garofalo, Jacob Kogan, Yung-I Chang and Ali Farahnakian to reveal exclusive footage from the upcoming third season of the show premiering on Adult Swim this fall as well as answer questions about the series. Delocated! is a live-action series about "Jon," who after testifying against the Russian Mafia has to live undercover through the witness protection program. After existing quietly in an anonymous suburb, "Jon" accepts an offer to participate in a reality show based on his life. In order to protect his identity with television audiences—and more importantly, the Russian mob family the Mirminsky's—he wears a ski mask and has his voice surgically disguised. ADULT SWIM: China, IL Exclusive Screening and Q&A 7:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Location: Room 1A06 Talent: Brad Neely (creator) and Daniel Weidenfeld (executive producer) Adult Swim presents an exclusive screening of a never-before-aired episode of their newest animated comedy China, IL. Frank and Steve Smith are brothers who teach in the history department of a state university in China, IL. They also happen to be legends in their own minds who will often sacrifice facts, lessons and syllabi for the sake of being awesome. Created by Brad Neely and produced by Titmouse, Inc., China, IL is a reverse Animal House where the teachers are crazy and the students just want to learn. Creator Brad Neely and executive producer Daniel Weidenfeld will be on hand for a lively Q&A. ADULT SWIM: Black Dynamite 8:15 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Location: Room 1A06 Talent: Michael Jai White, Byron Minns, Kym Whitley, Carl Jones (executive producer), and Scott Sanders (producer) Black Dynamite is an exciting new animated series coming to Adult Swim in 2012 and is based on 2009's critically-acclaimed feature film. The series further chronicles the exploits of Black Dynamite and his crew. Cast members Michael Jai White (Black Dynamite), Byron Minns (Bullhorn), Kym Whitley (Honeybee), executive producer Carl Jones, and producer Scott Sanders will host a Q&A and show never-before-seen footage! Room
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16CARTOON NETWORK: Adventure Time / Regular Show Panel and Q&A 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Location: 1A06 Talent: Adventure Time - Pendleton Ward (Creator/ Lumpy Space Princess), Jeremy Shada (Finn) and Tom Kenny (Ice King); Regular Show talent includes creator J.G. Quintel (Creator/ Mordecai), Bill Salyers (Rigby) and Sam Marin (Pops, Benson, Muscle Man). Cartoon Network is dominating Monday nights with the FUNNIEST night on television, and we're bringing the inside scoop to Comic Con! Join creators and talent from Adventure Time and Regular Show as they talk about how these two comedy hits came to life, screen upcoming episodes, share what's in store for your favorite characters this season, answer questions and more! The panel features Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward (Lumpy Space Princess), Jeremy Shada (Finn) and Tom Kenny (Ice King); Regular Show talent includes creator J.G. Quintel (Mordecai), Bill Salyers (Rigby) and Sam Marin (Pops, Benson, Muscle Man). Adventure Time introduces viewers to unlikely heroes Finn and Jake, buddies who traverse the mystical Land of Ooo and encounter its colorful inhabitants. The best of friends, our heroes always find themselves in the middle of heart-pounding escapades. Regular Show features Mordecai, a six-foot-tall blue jay, and Rigby, a hyperactive raccoon, great friends and groundskeepers at a park whose attempts to escape their everyday boredom take them to fantastical extremes. CARTOON NETWORK: Ben 10 / Generator Rex: Heroes United Screening and Q&A 12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Location: 1A22 Cartoon Network's top animated action heroes - Ben 10 and Generator Rex - team up for an exciting panel at New York Comic Con...and for an out-of-this-world adventure! In the middle of a battle, Ben Tennyson is drawn into a vortex and lands in an alternate world infected by nanites! Ben must team up with Rex to defeat a common enemy who covets the Omnitrix and Omega Nanite! ) and I said if it was for press than it was fine but if it was consumer driven we would prefer to keep it simple because most people don't care or even know anything about omega nanites. So including that descriptive language is fine, but let's keep it simple: In the midst of battle, Ben Tennyson is drawn into a vortex and lands in an alternate world infected by nanites...the world of Generator Rex! Ben and Rex will face off before realizing they must unite to battle a common enemy who threatens both of their worlds! CARTOON NETWORK: Level Up World Premiere Screening 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Location: 1A22 It's time to "Level Up" your Comic Con experience with the WORLD PREMIERE SCREENING of Cartoon Network's funniest original movie for the video game age! Level Up introduces three high school gamers who unwittingly open a portal from an online game, allowing the in-game creatures and mayhem to escape into the real world! The trio must put aside their differences and join forces to play the game for real in order to save their neighborhood (and the world!) from ultimate evil! Be among the first to see Level Up before it premieres on Cartoon Network in November, with an explosive TV series to follow in 2012.
ADULT SWIM AUTOGRAPH SIGNINGSFriday, October 141:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Venture Bros Signing Location: Room 1E07 Talent: Jackson Publick, Doc Hammer 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Robot Chicken Signing Location: Room 1E07 Talent: Seth Green (co-creator), Matt Senreich (co-creator), Zeb Wells (writer) and Doug Goldstein (head writer and co-producer) Saturday, October 152:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Black Dynamite Signing Location: Room 1E07 Talent: Michael Jai White, Byron Minns, Kym Whitley, Carl Jones (executive producer), and Scott Sanders (producer)
CARTOON NETWORK - LOUNGE INFORMATIONCartoon Network and Adventure Time will take over the registration lobby of the Jacob Javits Center at New York Comic Con from October 13 – 16, with the CARTOON NETWORK LOUNGE. A fully-immersive experience, the CARTOON NETWORK LOUNGE will be a must-see destination for fans of the network, as they can catch up on their favorite Adventure Time episodes, grab some exclusive giveaways, play their favorite video games and so much more. In addition to other giveaways, Adventure Time fans should stop by to get their free New York Comic Con exclusive 2" Finn figure, while supplies last. The toy is a limited-edition update to one of the figures from Jazwares toy line, which is currently available for sale at Toys"R"Us retailers nationwide. Additionally, at the CARTOON NETWORK LOUNGE, fans can try their hand at three all-new video games that will be released this fall: Ben 10 Galactic Racing, Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion XL and Generator Rex: Agent of Providence. Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 99 million U.S. homes and 207 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for youth and families. Nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animated and live-action programming for young adults 18-34. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
Sunday, 11 September 2011
GM
 Press Release: For the first time at New York Comic Con, Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) will attend the convention at the Javits Convention Center in New York City from October 13-16 to present many of its iconic brands and meet with fans. Hasbro will have a significant booth presence featuring current and upcoming products from its TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE, JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS and KRE-O brands and BEYBLADE, MARVEL and STAR WARS lines. Additionally, Hasbro will host panels for several of its properties and action figure lines as well as offer for sale several HasbroToyShop.com special edition products made for New York Comic Con convention goers. In addition to its booth exhibition during the main convention, Hasbro will be the title sponsor of New York Comic Con’s “NYCC Kids!” taking place on Sunday, October 16. Within NYCC Kids!, Hasbro will host the National BEYBLADE Championship where semi-finalists from around the country will battle in head-to-head competition to be crowned the BEYBLADE U.S. Champion. The BEYBLADE National Championship winner will be awarded travel to the BEYBLADE World Championship, in Toronto, Canada in March 2012. A worldwide phenomenon, BEYBLADE is a battling tops game with a focus on strategy and high-performance competition. Kids collect, customize and compete head-to-head to be the last BEYBLADE top spinning. Fans can visit www.BeybladeBattles.com for additional information, official rules and kids 8-13 can register for regional qualifier events. “Hasbro is looking forward to an exciting and substantial presence for its first ever participation in New YorkComic Con,” said Jeff Jackson, vice president of U.S. marketing for Hasbro. “As this show continues to grow we’re thrilled to be attending this year to offer our fans the opportunity to engage with Hasbro’s brands in unique ways at both the convention and NYCC Kids! events.” Hasbro’s NYCC Kids! presence will also offer families the opportunity to experience its new KRE-O TRANSFORMERS line of construction toys and new NERF VORTEX line of disc blasters. More details about Hasbro’s booth, panels, special edition New York Comic-Con figures and other special events at the convention will be released in the coming weeks. Hasbro will be located at booth #302. For more information about New York Comic Con and NYCC Kids!, fans and families can visit www.NewYorkComicCon.com. About Hasbro, Inc.Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide-range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company’s world class brand portfolio. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, video games and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its customers through the strategic leveraging of well-known and beloved brands such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY. The Hub, Hasbro’s multi-platform joint venture with Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) launched on October 10, 2010. The online home of The Hub is www.hubworld.com. The Hub logo and name are trademarks of Hub Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved. Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com. © 2011 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
GM
Press Release: Top talent from DC Comics-The New 52 will be attending this year’s New YorkComic Con (NYCC). The annual pop culture extravaganza will include guests Mahmud Asrar, Brian Azzarello, Greg Capullo, Cliff Chiang, Tony Daniel, Dan DiDio, Keith Giffen, Paul Levitz, Francis Manapul, Fabian Nicieza, Joe Prado, Amy Reeder, Ivan Reis, Ardian Syaf, Scott Snyder, Peter Tomasi, and more. Previously announced Guests of Honor, Geoff Johns, Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment, and Jim Lee, Co-Publisher of DC Entertainment, the creative team for JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 (August 31, 2011), will also be in attendance. DC Entertainment will once again occupy a 3000 square foot booth on the show floor where fans will have an opportunity to mix and mingle with creators and staff. The preeminent publisher will be participating in several panels over the course of the weekend and officials at DC note that “behind-the-scenes” information about DC Entertainment will be revealed over the course of the weekend. The centrally located booth will feature talent signings, free giveaways and early peeks at the newest action figures, statues, busts and other amazing collectibles on display from DC Direct. The official New York Comic Con poster celebrates DC Comic’s JUSTICE LEAGUE in all their glory set against the iconic NYC backdrop of the Statue of Liberty. The poster is designed by Ivan Reis, Joe Prado and Rod Reis. The posters are not for sale, but signed copies are included in the NYCC VIP packages. New York Comic Con, which will occupy the entire Javits Center in New York City, has quickly grown to be an industry leading event, attracting close to 100,000 fans eager to see the latest in comics, movies, TV, games, toys, fashion and a range of other product and trends which define the pop culture universe. New York Comic Con will take place October 13 - 16, 2011. ABOUT THE GUESTSMAHMUD ASRAR: Mahmud Asrar, an artist hailing from Turkey, has drawn BRIGHTEST DAY: THE ATOM, DYNAMO 5, SHADOWLAND: POWER MAN, and NOVA, among others. As part of DC Comics-The New 52, Asrar is drawing SUPERGIRL. BRIAN AZZARELLO: Brian Azzarello is the Eisner Award winning writer of 100 BULLETS. The New York Times Best Seller’s other notable DC Comics work include JOKER, LUTHOR, HELLBLAZER, FILTHY RICH, DOCTOR 13, SUPERMAN: FOR TOMORROW, BATMAN: BROKEN CITY, KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE and the upcoming series SPACEMAN to be published by Vertigo. As part of DC Comics- The New 52, Azzarello is writing WONDER WOMAN. GREG CAPULLO: Greg Capullo is the artist on BATMAN as part of DC Comics-The New 52. He’s best known for his comic book work, as the quintessential penciler of Todd McFarlane’s SPAWN. He has also worked on Robert Kirkman’s HAUNT. Other credits include Marvel’s X-FORCE, QUASAR and his own creation, The CREECH, as well as many other titles. Capullo is a regular contributor to Blizzard’s World of Warcraft and is responsible for designing and painting the wrap around CD cover art for Disturbed’s “Ten Thousand Fists,” and penciling the CD cover art for Korn’s “Follow the Leader.” TONY DANIEL: Born and raised in the streets of South Chicago, a love for comics, and drawing them, kept young Tony Daniel out of trouble. By the age of 20 he was already a working professional in the comic’s community. His list of penciling credits include such hits as X-FORCE, THE TENTH, TEEN TITANS, and BATMAN. As part of DC Comics-The New 52, Daniel is the writer and artist on DETECTIVE COMICS and he’s the writer of THE SAVAGE HAWKMAN. CLIFF CHIANG: Cliff Chiang’s artwork has been hailed for its “fluid and confident storytelling” and “sweeping linework and nuanced style.” Graduating from Harvard University with a joint degree in English Literature and Visual Arts, he worked in editorial at Disney Adventures Magazine and Vertigo/DC Comics before making the leap into freelance illustration. His work for DC Comics includes GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY, HUMAN TARGET, DOCTOR 13, and the original graphic novel NEIL YOUNG’S GREENDALE published by Vertigo. As part of DC Comics-The New 52 Chiang is illustrating WONDER WOMAN. He lives in New York City. DAN DIDIO: Dan DiDio is the Co-Publisher of DC Entertainment. He was formerly the VP Executive Editor of DC Comics. DiDio’s writing credits include SUPERBOY and THE OUTSIDERS. As part of DC Comics-The New 52 he is writing OMAC. KEITH GIFFEN: Keith Giffen is an American comic book artist and writer. His credits include LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, LOBO, JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL, AMBUSH BUG, BLUE BEETLE and DOOM PATROL. As part of DC Comics-The New 52, Giffen will be illustrating and co-writing OMAC. PAUL LEVITZ: Paul Levitz, served as President of DC Comics from 2002 to 2009. He is currently a Senior Advisor and Contributing Editor at DC Entertainment. Levitz has written many DC Comics classic characters and series including the JUSTICE SOCIETY, SUPERMAN (in both comics and the newspaper strip), and an acclaimed run on THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, a series he is returning to as part of DC Comics-The New 52. He is also the author of the Eisner Award nominated 75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking, published by Taschen. FRANCIS MANAPUL: Francis Manapul is the artist and co-writer of THE FLASH, which is part of DC Comics-The New 52. His previous work for DC Comics includes books such as ADVENTURE COMICS, SUPERMAN/BATMAN, and THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES. His work has been published in various publications from the likes of Aspen Comics, Editions Delcourt, Top Cow Productions, and Devils Due just to name a few. Manapul was a TV Presenter on SyFy’s Beast Legends, in which he and a team of scientists and adventurers traveled the globe in search of scientific data to create mythical beasts. Manapul was born in Manila, Philippines and currently calls Toronto, Canada his home. FABIAN NICIEZA: Fabian Nicieza is CCO for the FunGoPlay virtual world and Lead Writer for intellectual property managers, Starlight Runner Entertainment, but is best known as a comic book writer whose work includes Marvel titles such as X-MEN, NEW WARRIORS, CABLE & DEADPOOL. His DC Comics writing includes ROBIN, ACTION COMICS, TRINITY and RED?ROBIN. As part of DC Comics-The New 52, Nicieza is writing LEGION LOST. JOE PRADO: Joe Prado is a Brazilian artist whose work for DC Comics includes ACTION COMICS, BIRDS OF PREY, SUPERMAN, TEEN TITANS, BLACKEST NIGHT and BRIGHTEST DAY. He co-designed this year’s NYCC poster and as part of DC Comics-The New 52 he will be working on AQUAMAN. AMY REEDER: Amy Reeder got her start at Tokyopop where she wrote and drew the original English language manga FOOL’S GOLD. She went on to become the ongoing series artist on Vertigo’s MADAME XANADU and her other work for DC Comics includes SUPERGIRL covers. As part of DC Comics-The New 52, Reeder will be drawing BATWOMAN, beginning with the second arc. IVAN REIS: Ivan Reis is a Brazilian comic book artist who is best known for his work on GREEN LANTERN: SECRET ORIGIN, which was used as reference for the recent Warner Bros Pictures film Green Lantern. Other credits include GHOST published by Dark Horse, CAPTAIN MARVEL, IRON MAN, DEFENDERS and AVENGERS published by Marvel Comics as well as the DC Comics titles TEEN TITANS, SUPERMAN, INFINITE CRISIS and the mini-series BLACKEST NIGHT and BRIGHTEST DAY. Reis co-designed this year’s NYCC JUSTICE LEAGUE poster and as part of DC Comics-The New 52 he’s drawing AQUAMAN. SCOTT SNYDER: Scott Snyder is the writer and co-creator of the New York Times bestselling and Eisner Award winning comic book series AMERICAN VAMPIRE published by Vertigo, which he launched with Stephen King in October 2010. Snyder began his writing career with a collection of stories, VOODOO HEART (Dial Press) and is currently writing DETECTIVE COMICS and GATES OF GOTHAM for DC. Snyder teaches writing at Columbia University, NYU and Sarah Lawrence College and is working on a novel called THE GOODBYE SUIT, to be published by Dial. As part of DC Comics-The New 52, Snyder will be writing SWAMP THING and BATMAN. He lives in the New York City area. ARDIAN SYAF: Ardian Syaf is an Indonesian artist, whose work for DC Comics includes GREEN LANTERN CORPS and BRIGHTEST DAY. As part of DC Comics-The New 52, Syaf is drawing BATGIRL. NYCC marks the first time he will be attending an American comic convention. PETER J. TOMASI: Peter J. Tomasi proudly helped usher in new eras for GREEN LANTERN, BATMAN, and JSA during his tenure as a DC Comics Senior Editor. He is now writing comics and screenplays, with his recent work including such DC titles as BRIGHTEST DAY, GREEN LANTERN EMERALD WARRIORS, NIGHTWING, THE OUTSIDERS, BATMAN: BLACKEST NIGHT, BLACK ADAM and the critically acclaimed creator-owned projects LIGHT BRIGADE and THE MIGHTY. As part of DC Comics -The New 52 Tomasi will begin anew with BATMAN AND ROBIN and THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS. Customers interested in signing up for New York Comic Con should contact Larry Settembrini at lsettembrini@reedexpo.com. Tickets for NYCC are now on sale via the website www.NewYorkComicCon.com. Limited 4-Day tickets are available. For further information about all ReedPOP shows and activity, please visit Lance Fensterman’s blog, www.MediumAtLarge.net. Convention organizers note that many more guests will be announced over the next few weeks and months and fans should keep their eyes on NYCC’s website and blog for additional comics, entertainment and anime announcements. ABOUT REEDPOP: ReedPOP is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions which is exclusively devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium brands in the pop culture arena. ReedPOP is dedicated to producing celebrations of popular culture throughout the world that transcend ordinary events by providing unique access and dynamic personal experiences for consumers and fans. The ReedPOP portfolio includes: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) East & West, Star Wars Celebration V, New York Anime Festival (NYAF), and UFC Fan Expo. The staff at ReedPOP is a fan based group of professionals producing shows for other fans, thus making them uniquely qualified to service those with whom they share a common passion. ReedPOP is focused on bringing its expertise and knowledge to world communities in North America, South America, Asia and Europe. ABOUT DC ENTERTAINMENT:DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash, etc.), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables, etc.) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating across Warner Bros. and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world.
Sunday, 07 August 2011
GM
 Press Release: The New York Anime Festival (NYAF) and Crunchyroll today announced auteur Japanese animator and director Makoto Shinkai will participate in this October's New York Anime Festival. The New York Anime Festival will take place October 13-16, 2011 at the Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan as part of the sixth annual New York Comic Con (NYCC). NYCC, which attracted 96,000 attendees in 2010, celebrates comics, television, movies, toys, games, and the popular arts from around the planet. NYCC's Anime Festival shines a specific spotlight on anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture. NYCC has already announced guests including Kevin Smith, Felicia Day, and Robert Kirkman. NYAF guests include voice actress Junko Takeuchi and manga author Hiro Mashima. Makoto Shinkai, born in Nagano, Japan in 1973, boldly entered the animation world in 2000 with She and Her Cat, a short single-handedly written, directed, and animated. His follow up, The Voices of a Distant Star in 2002, was again a solo work. Shinkai laboring individually on what a team would normally produce, the result was a poignant, personal, unique film which won awards and praise in both Japan and the United States. Shinkai's first animated feature, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, was released in 2004, and it was followed by 5 Centimeters per Second in 2007. Shinkai now working with a dedicated staff at CoMix Wave Films committed to his vision, these two titles expanded the scope of his storytelling. They further planted his name squarely in the minds of anime fans, critics, and cinemaphiles on both sides of the Pacific, and earned the young artist comparisons to master storytellers including Hayao Miyazaki and the departed Satoshi Kon. Hoshi O Ou Kodomo: Children who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below is Makoto Shinkai's newest work, released earlier this year in Japan and premiering in New York City at the New York Anime Festival. He is co-sponsored by Crunchyroll. His travel is provided by American Airlines. "The New York Anime Festival is humbled to welcome Makoto Shinkai to New York City," NYAF and NYCC Show Manager Lance Fensterman said. "Since The Voices of a Distant Star was released in America, it has been making fans. Something different, all of Shinkai's works have been possessed by a heart and a sense of self that is seldom seen in anime. Every project Mr. Shinkai's been behind has had a clear personality, intimacy, and immediacy that have earned him fans far beyond traditional anime watchers. Shinkai's works are respected by animation and cinema aficionados the world over, and I am delighted to bring Mr. Shinkai to New York City and to present his most recent work, Children who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below." Children who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below premiered in Japan on May 7th and saw its American premiere at Otakon on July 30th of this year. It will screen for the first time in NYC at the New York Anime Festival. In Children who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below, a girl named Asuna meets a young man called Shun who comes from the faraway land of Agartha. The two quickly become friends, but then -- just as quickly -- Shun disappears. And when Asuna hears the word "Agartha" again in school as part of a fairytale, she knows adventure and mystery lie ahead. Makoto Shinkai's most ambitious film yet, Children who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below is grand in scope, marrying together lavish visuals with a narrative that literally crosses worlds. At the New York Anime Festival, Makoto Shinkai will speak on a Q&A session and dedicate time to autographing, both public signings for general attendees and reserved autographing for NYAF VIPs. His appearance will culminate in the introduction to Children who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below. For Mr. Shinkai's bio, headshot, and stills from Children who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below, please visit www.newyorkcomiccon.com. Details around all of Shinkai's events and NYAF's full schedule will be announced later this summer. Tickets are available at www.newyorkcomiccon.com now. For the latest information, please follow @ny_anime_fest and @ny_comic_con on Twitter as well as read NYAF and NYCC's official blog, www.mediumatlarge.net. ABOUT CRUNCHYROLL, INC:Crunchyroll is a leading global video network and developer of social media applications for Japanese anime and Asian media. Through applications like Crunchyroll for iPhone, iPad, Android, TV set-top boxes, affiliate websites and its own streaming website, Crunchyroll delivers officially-licensed content from leading Asian media producers directly to consumers. Crunchyroll has offices in San Francisco, Calif. and Tokyo, Japan, and is a member of the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA) and Licensing International Merchandisers' Association (LIMA). Founded in 2006, Crunchyroll is funded by leading venture capital firm, Venrock, Japanese entertainment giant TV TOKYO, digital publishing leader Bitway and a group of angel investors representing some of the brightest and most successful entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. ( www.crunchyroll.com) ABOUT THE NEW YORK ANIME FESTIVAL:The New York Anime Festival is a celebration of Japanese popular culture from the creators of New York Comic Con. NYAF conducts, promotes and is involved in anime and Japanese cultural activities year-round in New York City, including events at Kinokuniya Bookstore, Japan Society, and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Sakura Matsuri. Our flagship event is the New York Anime Festival at New York Comic Con. Taking place at the Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan on October 13-16, 2011, the New York Anime Festival at New York Comic Con showcases the best of anime pop culture, including the latest anime, manga, Japanese cinema, music and games as well as anime-influenced comics, animation, and films from around the world. The festival features exclusive and extensive screenings, a gala cosplay masquerade, sessions with the some of the biggest names in anime from Japan, Asia and America, and explores the Japanese cultural experience with displays of both traditional and cutting-edge Japanese life. ( www.newyorkanimefestival.com) ABOUT NEW YORK COMIC CON:New York Comic Con is the East Coast's biggest and most exciting popular culture convention. Our show floor plays host to the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television. Our panels and autograph sessions give fans a chance to interact with their favorite creators. Our screening rooms feature sneak peeks at films and television shows months before they hit either big or small screens. And with dedicated professional hours, New York Comic Con is a market place, bringing together the major players in the entertainment industry. New York Comic Con is the second largest pop culture convention in America and the only one that takes place in the comic book, publishing, media, and licensing capital of the world -- Gotham City. ( www.newyorkcomiccon.com) ABOUT REEDPOP:ReedPOP is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions which is exclusively devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium brands in the pop culture arena. ReedPOP is dedicated to producing celebrations of popular culture throughout the world that transcend ordinary events by providing unique access and dynamic personal experiences for consumers and fans. The ReedPOP portfolio includes: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) East & West, Star Wars Celebration, New York Anime Festival (NYAF), Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention (STGCC), and UFC Fan Expo. The staff at ReedPOP is a fan based group of professionals producing shows for other fans, thus making them uniquely qualified to service those with whom they share a common passion. ReedPOP is focused on bringing its expertise and knowledge to world communities in North America, South America, Asia and Europe.
Friday, 05 August 2011
GM
Press Release: Geoff Johns, Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment, and Jim Lee, Co-Publisher of DC Entertainment, will head the list of top talent who will be attending New York Comic Con (NYCC) on behalf of renowned comic book publisher DC Entertainment. Mr. Johns and Mr. Lee will both be Guests of Honor at the annual pop culture extravaganza, where they will be joined by other leading DC guests who will be announced in the near future. Johns and Lee, the extraordinary creative team of JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 (August 31, 2011), will participate in panels and will be on hand at the DC Entertainment booth along with other members of their creative team. JUSTICE LEAGUE #2 is scheduled to go on sale October 19, 2011, just three days after New York Comic Con concludes. Meanwhile, the official poster for the 2011 New York Comic Con has been released and shows the new incarnation of DC’s JUSTICE LEAGUE as rendered by superstar artists Ivan Reis, Joe Prado and Rod Reis, who will also be in attendance at the show. The posters are not for sale but signed copies of the poster are included in the NYCC VIP packages this year. Once again, DC Entertainment will occupy a 3000 square foot booth on the NYCC show floor where fans will have an opportunity to mix and mingle with creators and staff and where “behind-the-scenes” information about DC Entertainment will be revealed over the course of the weekend. The centrally located booth will feature talent signings, free giveaways and early peeks at the newest action figures, statues, busts and other amazing collectibles on display from DC Direct. “It is always a privilege and an honor to welcome DC back to our show,” notes Lance Fensterman, Group Vice President for ReedPOP and Show Manager for NYCC. “DC has been a loyal supporter of our event from the very beginning and star creators and industry leaders like Geoff Johns and Jim Lee add enormous luster to our show. The fans who attend New York Comic Con are especially eager to see new content and product from major publishers and entertainment companies like DC and we look forward to providing a quality atmosphere where both business and entertainment co-exist and thrive side by side.” GEOFF JOHNS: Geoff Johns is one of the most prolific and popular of contemporary comic book writers, and the Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment. He’s written highly acclaimed stories starring Superman, Green Lantern, the Flash and more, and is currently the writer of FLASHPOINT and GREEN LANTERN. After leaving Detroit to work for director Richard Donner in Los Angeles, Johns began writing for DC Comics in the late 90s, and has since written defining runs on THE FLASH and, most recently, GREEN LANTERN. As part of DC Comics-The New 52, Johns will be writing JUSTICE LEAGUE, GREEN LANTERN and the new AQUAMAN series. JIM LEE: Jim Lee is a renowned comic book artist and the Co-Publisher of DC Entertainment. Prior to his current post, Lee served as Editorial Director, where he oversaw WildStorm Studios and was also the artist for many of DC Comics’ bestselling comic books and graphic novels, including ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER, BATMAN: HUSH, and SUPERMAN: FOR TOMORROW. He also serves as the Executive Creative Director for the DC Universe Online (DCUO) massively multiplayer action game from Sony Online Entertainment (SOE). As part of DC Comics-The New 52, Lee is drawing JUSTICE LEAGUE.
 Press Release: The New York Anime Festival (NYAF) and Kodansha USA Publishing (KUP) today announced Hiro Mashima, creator of the successful Fairy Tail manga and anime series, will be coming to this October’s New York Anime Festival. The New York Anime Festival will take place October 13-16, 2011 at the Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan as part of the sixth annual New York Comic Con (NYCC). NYCC, which attracted 96,000 attendees in 2010, celebrates comics, television, movies, toys, games, and the popular arts from around the planet. NYCC’s Anime Festival shines a specific spotlight on anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture. NYCC has already announced guests including Kevin Smith, Felicia Day, and Robert Kirkman. Voice actors Todd Haberkorn, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Cherami Leigh, and Newton Pittman — all in the anime adaptation of Fairy Tail — have been previously announced as guests and will appear at NYAF. Hiro Mashima is a Japanese manga author and artist most known for his fantasy titles Rave Master, published in Japan from 1999 to 2005, and Fairy Tail, ongoing since 2006 and adapted into an anime since 2009. In the world of Fairy Tail, sorcerers band together in Guilds to take on paying assignments, including hunting monsters, finding lost items, and running odd errands, for non-magic users. In this fun-packed action-fantasy manga, the main characters are Natsu, a dragon slayer who can control fire at will; Happy, a cat who magically flies; and Lucy, a rookie wizard. They belong to the Fairy Tail Guild, whose members tend to overdo everything and often cause a lot of trouble. The Fairy Tail manga is published in the US by KUP. The Fairy Tail anime is available through FUNimation Entertainment. Mashima will be appearing at the New York Anime Festival on October 14th and 15th. He will speak on a dedicated Q&A Session as well as part of a larger Fairy Tail panel with voice actors Todd Haberkorn, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Cherami Leigh, and Newton Pittman — culminating in a premiere screening. Mashima will additionally be dedicating time to autographing, both public signings for general attendees and dedicated, reserved autographing for NYAF VIPs. “The New York Anime Festival is honored to welcome Hiro Mashima,” NYAF and NYCC Show Manager Lance Fensterman said. “Fairy Tail is one of the biggest titles in Japan and quickly gaining a huge following in the US. To be able to celebrate its success and present it to even further fans with its original creator and America voice cast is one of the top highlights of this year’s NYAF!” For bios, headshots, and additional information on Hiro Mashima, Todd Haberkorn, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Cherami Leigh, and Newton Pittman, please visit www.newyorkcomiccon.com. The Fairy Tail manga has been published up to Volume 14 in the US. FUNimation is currently streaming subtitled episodes of the anime series at www.funimation.com/fairy-tail and will release it on DVD and Blu-ray later this year. The New York Anime Festival features Fairy Tail anime art on its 2011 official poster. Details around all of NYAF’s Fairy Tail events and its full schedule will be announced later this summer. General Tickets and limited VIP Passes are available at www.newyorkcomiccon.com now. For the latest information, please follow @ny_anime_fest and @ny_comic_con on Twitter as well as read NYAF and NYCC’s official blog, www.mediumatlarge.net. ABOUT KODANSHA USA PUBLISHING, LLC:Established in New York in 2008, Kodansha USA Publishing (KUP) is a subsidiary of Kodansha, Japan’s largest publisher. KUP’s first works under the Kodansha Comics imprint were Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira and Masamune Shirow’s The Ghost in the Shell. In 2011, KUP is expanding their catalog to include such titles as Negima by Ken Akamatsu, Shugo Chara by PEACH-PIT, and Bloody Monday by Ryou Ryumon and Kouji Megumi. Kodansha Comics is distributed by Random House Publisher Services. ABOUT THE NEW YORK ANIME FESTIVAL:The New York Anime Festival is a celebration of Japanese popular culture from the creators of New York Comic Con. NYAF conducts, promotes and is involved in anime and Japanese cultural activities year-round in New York City, including events at Kinokuniya Bookstore, Japan Society, and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Sakura Matsuri. Our flagship event is the New York Anime Festival at New York Comic Con. Taking place at the Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan on October 13-16, 2011, the New York Anime Festival at New York Comic Con showcases the best of anime pop culture, including the latest anime, manga, Japanese cinema, music and games as well as anime-influenced comics, animation, and films from around the world. The festival features exclusive and extensive screenings, a gala cosplay masquerade, sessions with the some of the biggest names in anime from Japan, Asia and America, and explores the Japanese cultural experience with displays of both traditional and cutting-edge Japanese life. ( www.newyorkanimefestival.com) ABOUT NEW YORK COMIC CON:New York Comic Con is the East Coast’s biggest and most exciting popular culture convention. Our show floor plays host to the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television. Our panels and autograph sessions give fans a chance to interact with their favorite creators. Our screening rooms feature sneak peeks at films and television shows months before they hit either big or small screens. And with dedicated professional hours, New York Comic Con is a market place, bringing together the major players in the entertainment industry. New York Comic Con is the second largest pop culture convention in America and the only one that takes place in the comic book, publishing, media, and licensing capital of the world — Gotham City. ( www.newyorkcomiccon.com) ABOUT REEDPOP:ReedPOP is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions which is exclusively devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium brands in the pop culture arena. ReedPOP is dedicated to producing celebrations of popular culture throughout the world that transcend ordinary events by providing unique access and dynamic personal experiences for consumers and fans. The ReedPOP portfolio includes: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) East & West, Star Wars Celebration, New York Anime Festival (NYAF), Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention (STGCC), and UFC Fan Expo. The staff at ReedPOP is a fan based group of professionals producing shows for other fans, thus making them uniquely qualified to service those with whom they share a common passion. ReedPOP is focused on bringing its expertise and knowledge to world communities in North America, South America, Asia and Europe.
Press Release: Many top writers and creators will be joining Marvel Comics at New York Comic Con (NYCC) as the renowned comic books and media entertainment company reveals preliminary plans for the 2011 edition of the annual pop culture extravaganza which will take place at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City, October 13 – 16, 2011. Marvel will not only have a 3000 square foot booth on the show floor where attendees will have an opportunity to mingle with creators and staff, but the company will also be conducting numerous high profile panels throughout the weekend which will feature their top talent. Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer of Marvel Entertainment, and Axel Alonso, Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief, will be Guests of Honor at the show and will be joined by many other notable Marvel creators including Guests of Honor Jason Aaron, Matt Fraction, Kieron Gillen, and Stuart Immonen. “The enthusiastic participation of premiere companies like Marvel is critical to our success,” notes Lance Fensterman, Group Vice President for ReedPOP and Show Manager for NYCC. “We are always eager to host Marvel at New York Comic Con and to provide their talent with a range of opportunity. Our show not only brings thousands of fans together with their favorite writers, artists and creators but we are a preeminent venue for launching and displaying new content and product. Marvel’s participation is a huge validation of our efforts and we are grateful to them for their energy and commitment. We look forward to making the 2011 edition of New York Comic Con one of the best ever!” JASON AARON: Jason Aaron is an Eisner and Harvey Award nominated comic book writer whose work includes the critically acclaimed crime series Scalped for Vertigo and stints on Black Panther, Ghost Riderand Wolverine: Weapon X for Marvel. Current and upcoming projects include Wolverine, Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine, PunisherMAX , X-Men Schism and Wolverine & the X-Men, all for Marvel. He was born in Alabama but currently resides in Kansas City. AXEL ALONSO: A 17-year comics industry veteran, Axel Alonso got his start at DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint, where he edited such seminal series such as Preacher, Hellblazer and 100 Bullets,before leaping to Marvel Comics in 2001. Since that time, he has overseen many of the publisher’s biggest franchises – including Spider-Man, Hulk and the X-Men – and edited some of its most talked-about series – including Truth, Rawhide Kid and X-Statix. In 2011 Axel was promoted to Editor In Chief, a tenure during which he has overseen major events such as the Death of Ultimate Spider-Manand the chart-topping Fear Itself. Besides comics, Alonso’s passions include basketball, hip-hop, 8-year-old shooting guard Tito “Mr. T” Alonso, Asian food and preparing for the inevitable Zombie Apocalypse. MATT FRACTION: Matt Fraction is an Eisner Award-winning American comic book writer known for his work on The Invincible Iron Man, Thor, The Immortal Iron Fist and Uncanny X-Men for Marvel Comics, Casanovafor Icon Comics. This summer he masterminds Marvel’s mega-event Fear Itself alongside Stuart Immonen. He’s written the graphic novels Last of the Independents and The Five Fists of Science, and comics like 30 Days of Night: Bloodsucker Tales and The Order. He’s recently contributed to the storylines and dialogue of both the Iron Man 2 and Thor video games for Sega, and was a consultant on the Iron Man 2 film. He lives in Portland Oregon with his wife, the writer Kelly Sue Deconnick, and his two children, two dogs, two cats, and frog. There were two frogs but they died. KIERON GILLEN: Kieron Gillen is a foul writing worm who crawls inside artists’ ears and makes them do his bidding. Products of this evil symbiosis include Journey Into Mystery and the award-winning Phonogram. This fall Kieron will be launching Uncanny X-Men #1 with Carlos Pacheco & Greg Land. There is no known cure. STUART IMMONEN: Since his self-published debut in 1988, Stuart Immonen has worked for almost every publisher in the comics industry from Archie to Rip Off Press, with notable tenures at DC, where he wrote and drew Adventures of Superman; Gorilla, where he co-created Shockrockets with writer Kurt Busiek; and Marvel, where he pencilled Ultimate Spider-Man, Nextwave and New Avengers, and most recently the event title Fear Itself. Stuart is known for employing diverse drawing styles as seen in his sketchbook series Centifolia published by AdHouse Books, and in his work with writer Kathryn Immonen, including Boom! Studios’ Never as Bad as You Think and Moving Pictures, published by Top Shelf. He lives in Toronto. JOE QUESADA: Joe Quesada wears many creative hats, as both an acclaimed writer-artist and the Chief Creative Officer of Marvel Entertainment, the world’s largest and most dynamic comics publisher. In this role, Joe is steward of such legendary characters as Spider-Man, X-Men, Iron Man, Captain America, and the Fantastic Four. His tenure as Editor-in-Chief recently drew to a close after 10 successful years – the longest term since Stan Lee himself. Under Quesada’s guidance, Marvel underwent a creative boom and became home to the comic industry’s greatest talents, which continues to hold true today. He brings this same vision to his role in the whole of Marvel Entertainment across the worlds of publishing, film, and television. Customers interested in signing up for New York Comic Con should contact Larry Settembrini at lsettembrini@reedexpo.com. Tickets for NYCC are now on sale via the website www.NewYorkComicCon.com. Limited 4-Day tickets are available. For further information about all ReedPOP shows and activity, please visit Lance Fensterman’s blog, www.MediumAtLarge.net. Convention organizers note that many more guests will be announced over the next few weeks and months and fans should keep their eyes on NYCC’s website and blog for additional comics, entertainment and anime announcements. ABOUT REEDPOP:ReedPOP is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions which is exclusively devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium brands in the pop culture arena. ReedPOP is dedicated to producing celebrations of popular culture throughout the world that transcend ordinary events by providing unique access and dynamic personal experiences for consumers and fans. The ReedPOP portfolio includes: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) East & West, Star WarsCelebration V, New York Anime Festival (NYAF), and UFC Fan Expo. The staff at ReedPOP is a fan based group of professionals producing shows for other fans, thus making them uniquely qualified to service those with whom they share a common passion. ReedPOP is focused on bringing its expertise and knowledge to world communities in North America, South America, Asia and Europe.
Saturday, 11 June 2011
GM
 
Press Release: Noted filmmaker, comic book writer, and internet radio personality Kevin Smith, who first appeared at New York Comic Con (NYCC) when the convention debuted in 2006, will return to NYCC in 2011 with television and film actor Jason Mewes. Smith and Mewes will appear together on Friday, October 14th at 7:00pm in the IGN Theater for a live performance of their popular podcast Jay and Silent Bob Get Old. Fans who are interested in attending the live performance must have a New York Comic ticket and also purchase an additional ticket to the podcast. All ticket prices are based on seating location: $50 for prime seats with a pre-signed item, $35 for second tier seating, and $10 for general admission. Tickets will go on sale June 15th and further information about ticket prices and seating locations will be available at the website. All NYCC Ultimate VIP ticket holders will be provided a free ticket to the live podcast.
Beginning with the 1994 independent film Clerks, director Kevin Smith and longtime friend Jason Mewes have worked together on several films, often playing the fictional duo Jay and Silent Bob. The act has evolved into Jay and Silent Bob Get Old, a wildly successful weekly live show and podcast for Smith’s growing podcast network. The show, which is frequently broadcast from The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club, at Universal CityWalk, has also played to numerous audiences at various venues throughout the country. This will be the first-ever live performance of Jay and Silent Bob Get Old at a comic convention.
“I am enormously excited to announce this performance at New York Comic Con,” notes Lance Fensterman, Group Vice President for ReedPOP and Show Manager for NYCC. “Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes are insanely funny and their appearance at our show is nothing short of huge. We will not only have a packed house, and a terrific live performance for all our fans, but this sets the tone for the weekend. New York Comic Con is not just about ‘meet and greets’ but also about providing the very best in leading edge comedy and entertainment. This live performance of Jay and Silent Bob Get Old raises the bar considerably and is testimony to the type of entertainment that we will be hosting at NYCC in the future.”
Tickets for NYCC are now on sale via the website www.NewYorkComicCon.com. Limited 4-Day tickets are available. For further information about all ReedPOP shows and activity, please visit Lance Fensterman’s blog, www.MediumAtLarge.net. Convention organizers note that many guests will be announced over the next few weeks and months and fans should keep their eyes on NYCC’s website and blog for additional comics, entertainment and anime announcements.
Kevin Smith:
Smith has spent nearly twenty years as a writer/director making Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Jersey Girl, Clerks II, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Cop Out and his newest film Red State, which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
Mystifyingly, Smith also sports three DVD releases of his various college Q&A’s (An Evening with Kevin Smith; An Evening with Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder; A Threevening with Kevin Smith) as well as an EPIX Original Q&A special Kevin Smith: Too Fat For 40.
He’s published two books full of essays and blog postings (Silent Bob Speaks and The New York Times bestselling My Boring-Ass Life), as well as Shootin’ the Sh*t with Kevin Smith – a collection of the best material from SModcast, Smith and producer Scott Mosier’s weekly podcast.
Aside from the films he’s directed, Smith has served as a producer on indie efforts including Bryan Johnson’s Lionsgate release Vulgar, multiple Academy Award winner Good Will Hunting, and a pair of Sundance-selected documentaries including Reel Paradise and Small Town Gay Bar.
One of the first filmmakers to venture into cyberspace, Smith has built his fan base primarily on the web, via the thirteen year old binary village at www.viewaskew.com. Smith took the cyberworld by storm when, in February 2007, SModcast debuted online. The back-and-forth banter of Smith and Mosier has kept on for over four years paving the way for the SModcast Podcast Network.
From its January 2010, launch, smodcast.com has grown into a full-fledged network, hosting a full week of original programming featuring SMonsters of Talk, who regularly claim the top slots on the iTunes as the Best Podcasts of 2007 and 2010. Audiences around the world have created a following for many other weekly shows which have also gone on to enormous success. In September 2010, SModcast officially began playing on SiriusXM's "The Virus" channel, alongside Opie & Anthony and Ron & Fez.
The success of SModcast brought to life Smith’s idea of a black box theater in Los Angeles where he and his team could perform live podcasts whenever they wanted. In July 2010 SModcastle – the world’s first live podcast theater – opened. SModcastle quickly became the house that ‘Babble-On’ built. Garman and Smith packed audiences in weekly, routinely selling out the 50 seat venue – a feat matched only by Mewes and Smith when they launched Jay & Silent Bob Get Old.
Smith’s podcasting success did not end with SModcastle. In May 2011 S.I.R.: SModcast Internet Radio, premiered with 24 hour a day, seven days a week programming featuring live and archived Smodcast Network programs. The S.I.R. suite of shows is available through www.smodcast.com and Stitcher’s free mobile and iPad™apps.
And if film and digital domination aren’t enough, there’s always retail: Smith owns a comic book store named Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash in Red Bank, New Jersey.
As for the hood ornaments he’s collected, there’s plenty of tin on display: the Filmmaker’s Trophy at Sundance for Clerks; the Prix de la Jeunesse and the International Critic’s Week Awards at the Cannes Film Festival, also for Clerks. He also has an Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay for Chasing Amy, and a Humanitas Award for Good Will Hunting. Smith also received the Defender of Democracy Award from Norman Lear’s People for the American Way organization for his production of Dogma. Clerks II won both the prestigious Audience Award at the Edinburgh Film Festvial as well as the Orbit Dirtiest Mouth Moment at the MTV Movie Awards. For his writing in the comics field, Smith has received a Harvey Award, a Wizard Fan Award, an Eagle Award, and saw his Green Arrow: Quiver named as one of 2003’s Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association’s Young Adult Library Service. In the fall of 2002, the town of Paulsboro in New Jersey named a street after him: Kevin Smith Way. In 2004, the Video Software Dealers Association gave Smith the DVD Visionary Award, and in 2005, he collected the Independent Spirit Award from Britain’s Empire Magazine. In April of 2006, this award-whore was given UCLA’s Jack Benny Award for Comedy, and in 2008, Smith was given the Maverick Award by the Woodstock Film Festival, as well as the Vision Award from the DGA-affiliated Filmmaker’s Alliance.
But he’d chuck it all for his wife and kid. Smith married wife Jennifer in April ’99 and celebrated the birth of their daughter, Harley Quinn, in June of that same year. The wedding was not white, to say the least.
Jason Mewes:
A New Jersey born and bred actor, who burst onto the cinema screens in 1994, playing the voice half of the on-screen comedy duo of Jay and Silent Bob, Mewes' cult-fan's beloved character "Jay" in his long time friend's (Kevin Smith) award winning Clerks.
Mewes would continue on the role of "Jay" in a series of indie hits-Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, and later Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
In 2006, the View Askew team went back to the well and Clerks II hit movie screens. Once again Mewes reprised the role of the fast-talking, foul mouthed and over sexed but very likable "Jay" to go on to win MTV's Dirtiest Mouth Award in 2007.
Moving beyond "Jay", Mewes has completed various commercials, music videos, and animated features as Jason's unique voice has added color and dimension to a variety of entertainment media, including video games.
ABOUT REEDPOP: ReedPOP is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions which is exclusively devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium brands in the pop culture arena. ReedPOP is dedicated to producing celebrations of popular culture throughout the world that transcend ordinary events by providing unique access and dynamic personal experiences for consumers and fans. The ReedPOP portfolio includes: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) East & West, Star Wars Celebration V, New York Anime Festival (NYAF) and UFC Fan Expo. The staff at ReedPOP is a fan based group of professionals producing shows for other fans, thus making them uniquely qualified to service those with whom they share a common passion. ReedPOP is focused on bringing its expertise and knowledge to world communities in North America, South America, Asia and Europe.
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