Stan Lee and Hiroyuki Takei! The Ultimo Team Up!

New York Comic Con is going to be historic for a number of reasons. The most recent is ULTIMO. Stan Lee, POW! Entertainment, and VIZ Media will team up to speak for the first time about ULTIMO -- a new comic created by a collaboration between Stan Lee and Hiroyuki Takei, the creator of the Shaman King manga series -- at NYCC.

ULTIMO represents a first-of-a-kind partnership between Stan and a Japanese manga creator, and a 32-page ULTIMO prologue will debut in a special April issue of the Japanese manga magazine Jump SQ. released on April 18th in Japan.

VIZ Media will host a special ULTIMO panel at New York Comic Con on the same day here in NYC.

Panelists include Stan Lee, Jump SQ. Editor Takanori Asada, and Shonen Jump Editor-in-Chief Marc Weidenbaum, and discussion will shed light on the development of ULTIMO and new news regarding the future of the title.

The ULTIMO Panel begins at 4 PM in Room 1E09 on April 18. It will ONLY be open to members of the press as well as a small selection of fans. If you are a member of the press and would like to attend, please contact Evelyn Dubocq (Evelyn.Dubocq@viz.com). If you're a fan, enter to win a seat in the room at www.shonenjump.com/ultimosweeps.

New York Comic Con is going to be historic!

The Truth is at New York Comic Con

Chris Carter is the Director-Writer-Producer. Frank Spotnitz is the Writer-Producer. Both will be at New York Comic Con.

In grand X-Files tradition, the second X-Files movie's storyline is being kept under wraps, but this much I can tell ya. It's a stand-alone story in the tradition of some of the show's most acclaimed and beloved episodes, and it takes the complicated relationship between Fox Mulder and Dana Scully in unexpected directions. What can't I say? Everything else. Want to find out?

You'll want -- need -- to be in the IGN Theater at 7:30 PM on Friday to learn the Truth is closer than you think.

You'll also want to be in the Autographing Area in the rear of the Exhibition Hall from 5-6 PM on Friday as both Chris and Frank will be signing.

A big thanks to all our friends at FOX for making this event happen! The Truth is at New York Comic Con!

Explode Your Mind, Embrace Your Chopsticks

I've ranted about Dan Pink's book, A Whole New Mind on this blog before, so I won't continue (read it!) so instead I'll move onto ranting about Pink's new book, Johnny Bunko. It's the first ever manga business book. Check it out, Pink is an exceptional communicator that has a great gift for breaking big ideas down into digestible actions and tasks.

He'll be at BookExpo doing a number of panels and interviews, but in the mean time, check out the trailer for the book and ask yourself, WTF?


Johnny Bunko trailer from Daniel Pink on Vimeo.

Read This First!

Read it first before what? Before anything!

The lovely image to your left is a simple diagram of the con for this year. Why should you care? It'll tell you where to pick up tickets, where to buy tickets, where to get your kick ass VIP packages, where the floor is blue and where it's orange.

Where can you get a map like this? Why on the NY ComicCon web site, that's where! Some time tomorrow we'll also have a floor plan of all the booths and stuff too. Wait for that, but go here for a bigger version of this map and other good info.

Read this now! It's about lines and stuff: See the big gray area on level 3 in the diagram? That's a huge empty hall that we are going to let everyone line up in. Cool, eh? We'll check your ticket and stamp your hand and then you can wait there until the con opens! No more waiting outside!

See the Blue box on Level 3? that's where fans can pick up tickets they've paid for or buy tickets.

See the yellow strip on Level 2? That's where pro's, creators, exhibitors and people who bought the kick as VIP ticket can get registered AND enter end exit the con! Yes, you get your own entrance! How sweet is that!

See the purple and red on level 1? That's the IGN.com Theatre and where most of the 250 panels will take place.

This concludes your guided tour.

Tomorrow, I explain to you how to get tickets for autographing and how to whistle while walking.

-L

How Are You Getting to the Con? Where are You Going to Sleep?

In a nod to Maslow's Pyramid, we must not forget our most basic needs; food and shelter and yes, a ride to the con.

Sadly, this man cannot fit all of you into this van, so perhaps you want to connect with each other. If you need a ride to the con or if you have a room and want to share (we are in the business of bringing people together in all kinds of ways after all) post a comment below, perhaps you can find a ride, or a room or a spouse.......


So who needs a ride? Who's got a car and is willing to share?

-L

Battlestar Stars at NYCC!

So, who's coming from BSG? We've been asked this a lot. And, if you skim through the just-revealed program guide you'll find out. Don't like to read? This should help...

Grace Park! Was this just an excuse to post an image of Ms. Park? Probably. But don't worry, ladies, as Grace isn't alone.

Tahmoh Penikett is coming, too.

Anime at 5 AM!

So, it's 5 AM. I pulled a week of all-nighters with the Anime Festival in December and had hoped to avoid them with Comic Con. I failed. I spent the night answering e-mails and still have 109 waiting for me. ("No sleep until I answer them all!" I told myself.) Anyway, I wanted to post an image I just received.

This is a promo shot from Amuri in Star Ocean, a new animation we're premiering in the US. What's it about?

In 2012, a great solar wind poured down on the Earth, devastating humanity. To prevent this cataclysm from ever returning, a solar station was built as a shield, but when an unknown entity plots to demolish the station and destroy humanity, the fate of the entire world lies within three girls.

Amuri in Star Ocean is presented by our friends at NEW YORK-TOKYO.

A Stan Update – Get Your Ticket To The Big Shindig!

Whew, I feel like the Page 6 Editor gossiping here, but the VIP line up for the New York Comics Legend Award party (Thursday night in Times Square) is pretty smoking hot. The party is going to be excellent, and you still have a chance to go, click here to get a ticket. The art pictured here is what the VIP passes will look like for the event. Not too bad…..

In other Stan news, he will be doing a few signings at NYCC, with the main one taking place from 5-6pm on Saturday (in a room we’ll announce later). You’ll need a ticket for this. So how do you get one?

READ THIS, IT APPLIES TO ALL TICKETED AUTOGRAPHINGS: All autographing tickets will be given out at the Variant Stage at the back of the hall on a first come first serve basis each day. There will only be one line for ticket holder to get into the con, so line up and when the doors open, make a mad dash to the back!

Here are a few of the panels Stan will be on during the con. I’m pretty sure there will be a couple more, but I can’t say for sure right now…..

Friday3:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Legends Behind the Comic Books - Room 1E10-11

Sunday 11:00am - 1200pm - Stan Lee's "Election Daze" presentation – Room 1E12-13-14

-L

NYCC Programming Is Here!

Hey kids, we've got a pdf of all the programs for NY ComicCon live and online - check it out.

I hate pdf's on a web site, but it was fast and easy. Tomorrow we'll have a prettier html version for you....

Enjoy!

L

Reliving BEA 07 Thanks to Beyond the Book.....

FOB (friend of BookExpo) Chris Kenneally has posted a cool overview of the coverage Beyond the Book did at BEA last year. The series also serves as a nice preview of the show in L.A., give it a listen here - Beyond the Book Presents: The Best of BookExpo America.

In general check out Beyond the Book, you won;t be sorry, and if you are, I'll refund the money you paid for this post.....

-L

BTW, yes, BookExpo still is happening, it just feels like all I write about lately is NYCC. Like two jealous children they can be......

No Ticket Needed for T.M. Revolution!

Greetings fans, I'm pleased to finally have an update for you regarding the T.M. Revolution concert at New York ComicCon! I apologize for the delay, but I'm happy to tell you that after much discussion here at NYCC headquarters and in Japan, no tickets for the concert will be needed!

All of the details are below, just to remind you. All you need is a ticket to New York ComicCon, which you can get here. Seating will be first come, first served. If you would like to get priority seating, just purchase our amazing VIP package, which includes preferred seating in the IGN.com theatre, To buy the pass, just go here.

T.M.Revolution, a powerful voice in the Japanese musical world, is known around the world for "INVOKE," the theme song to the anime series Gundam SEED, "Ignited," the theme to its sequel, Gundam SEED Destiny, and "Heart of Sword," the ending theme to the anime Rurouni Kenshin. New York Comic Con is proud to play host to T.M.Revolution's first concert in the United States since 2004 -- and first ever in New York City. T.M.Revolution's concert takes place at 9 PM on Saturday, April 19th in New York Comic Con's 3,000-seat IGN Theater.

Thanks and I'll see you at the con!

Lance

NYCC Now with 100% More Panel!

Tomorrow we’ll be dropping all of the panel info for NYCC on you. Check here for the full listings tomorrow. To give you a sense of what we are talking about, we’ve got 275 panels planned. I’ve been working feverishly and I've counted and confirmed 275 total panels! Our programming guru tells me that’s about 300 hours of panels, screenings, demo’s etc. Last year we had like 130 panels so let's break this down:

60% - The increase in the size of NYCC 2007 to 2008 (and we are still growing)

109% - The increase in ticket sales so far 2007 to 2008

100% - The increase in panels at the con from 2007 to 2008

240 – The increase in my blood pressure since I’ve been running this con

-L

Gears of War 2 Chainsaws NYCC!

Was the title forced? Kinda. But the point remains Gears of War 2 is coming to NYCC. Epic Games President Michael Capps and writer of Gears of War 2 Joshua Ortega will be previewing Gears of War 2 on Sunday, April 20th at New York Comic Con. Both gents are leading off NYCC's gaming block.

NYCC's gamer panels were created with the guidance of TenTonHammer.com and Themis Media and will showcase games including Age of Conan, EvE Online, Iron Man, and Warhammer Online as well as round table discussions of topics including video game journalism, writing for video games, and starting a career in the video game industry.

New York Comic Con is proud to, too, welcome exhibitors including Konami, Namco Bandai, Square-Enix, and Ubisoft.

Also, a dude wants to sell me his Xbox 360 Elite, and it's so hard to say no. Lance, what do you think, should I get one? We could totally do some online Gears with Mike and Josh.

LA Comes To NYC

IGN Theater Schedule...

Sci Fi Friday - Doctor Who
8:00 PM - Friday

Sci Fi Friday - Battlestar Galactica
9:00 PM - Friday

Prince Caspian and WALL•E
11:00 AM - Saturday

Battlestar Galactica
12:00 PM - Saturday

Star Wars and Indiana Jones
1:00 PM - Saturday

Wanted and Hellboy 2
2:00 PM - Saturday

The Incredible Hulk
3:00 PM - Saturday

Will Eisner's The Spirit
4:00 PM - Saturday

T.M.Revolution
9:00 PM - Saturday

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
12:30 PM - Sunday

Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D
1:15 PM - Sunday

Igor
2:00 PM - Sunday

Special
3:00 PM - Sunday

What's it all mean? I think it means the New York Comic Con schedule will be online very, very soon.

Doctor Who Season 4 Premieres at NYCC!

Over the weekend, I mentioned I was working on uploading the full program schedule to newyorkcomiccon.com. I also mentioned I'm a fan of Doctor Who. Who knew I'd get more of a response to the Doctor Who comment than the actual schedule.

To confirm what I hinted at, New York Comic Con will be premiering Season 4 of Doctor Who during our Sci Fi Friday night on April 18th!

Also, while you're in NYC for the con, head over to Forbidden Planet in Union Square. They've got the most Doctor Who toys and gadgets in NYC (and probably North America). The best part, they recently parked a life-size Dalek just inside the front door.

I'm eagerly awaiting the day The Doctor's fob watch goes on sale.

(Sci Fi Channel is also premiering new episodes of Battlestar Galactica during Sci Fi Friday, too. Awesome? Absolutely. But does BSG have a TARDIS? No.)