NYCC at the Brooklyn Book Festival – Panels!

So why did we decide to partner with the Brooklyn Book festival?

1) We think It’s an awesome event
2) We see it as our job to grow the audience for comics and graphic lit and this is a chance
3) It’s a totally free gift to our fans!
4) We wanted to try out a new borough
5) With NYCC a year away we wanet5d to find new ways to stay in touch

What can you expect to see from NYCC at the Brooklyn Book Festival?

1) Panels (details are below)
2) Signings stations
3) Artist tables
4) Publisher tables
5) Dealer tables
6) The NYCC team!

Sunday, September 13th from 10-7 and it’s TOTALLY FREE! See you there, and in the mean time, here are some panel details for you to chew on!

NYCC Pavilion Stage Programming at the Brooklyn Book Festival

Comics Get Syncopated: Memoir, History, Biography, and Reportage in Comics Today
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Brendan Burford is the comics editor at King Features Syndicate, and the editor of SYNCOPATED: AN ANTHOLOGY OF NONFICTION PICTO-ESSAYS, which collects memoirs, profiles and reports from talented comics creators in an eye-opening graphic novel format. Join Brendan and other SYNCOPATED contributors as they discuss how the comic format has opened new doors in nonfiction storytelling. Moderated by Brendan Burford.

Fact vs. Fiction in Action-Adventure Comics
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Comics artists and writers Matt Loux, Fred van Lente, Chris Giarruso, Kevin Pyle and Barry Lyga discuss how they are inspired by real events, scientific research, and even math and physics to come up with action-packed adventure stories. They'll answer Q&A from the audience and give a behind-the-scenes look at the process of creating comics. For kids of all ages. Moderated by Alex Simmons.

Sci Fi and Fantasy in NYC
12:00 pm -1:00 pm
Is there anything hotter than Sci Fi and Fantasy right now? We don’t think so. Join authors S.C. Butler, Peter Brett, Anton Strout and Dave Roman as they discuss all that is paranormal in NYC.

Marvel Writers
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
How do they do it? Some of Marvel’s hottest writers talk about their work on your favorite comics. Moderated by Jim McCann.

Spotlight on Tom DeFalco, Phil Jimenez and Dennis O’Neil
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Veteran artists Tom DeFalco, Phil Jimenez and Dennis O’Neil gather to speak about their common influences, current projects, and the trends that are shaping the future. Moderated by Danny Fingeroth.

The ACT-I-VATE Renaissance
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
There is a comic book renaissance happening in Gowanus, Brooklyn, and members from both DEEP6 and XOXOs Studios, featuring Dean Haspiel, Mike Cavallaro, Tim Hamilton, Joe Infurnari, Simon Fraser, Molly Crabapple, and Mike Dawson [among others], will discuss the genesis of ACT-I-VATE, their premier webcomix collective, and sneak-peek their upcoming print anthology, THE ACT-I-VATE PRIMER. Moderated by Jeff Newelt, who will also announce two new members to ACT-I-VATE. For more info on ACT-I-VATE, please visit: http://www.act-i-vate.com.

Hip Hop Hearts Anime
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
A conversation on the cross-pollination of urban culture in Japan and hip hop into popular anime. Anime has played a pivotal role in the past few years in allowing cultures to meld and mix, and our group of anime fanatics, hip hop artists, activists, and social entrepreneurs will come together based on their love for anime culture to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of this cultural exchange and how it will stay with our youth in the years to come.

Toon Books "Benny and Penny" Readers Theater for Children
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
See one of the Toon Books come alive with a performance by Geoffrey Hayes and Leigh Stein. Pirates and princesses, sweet mice and monsters next door.... in a staged reading of the Toon "Benny and Penny" books, author Geoffrey Hayes and actress Leigh Stein bring comics to life! For kids of all ages.

The Quest for R2D2 on Cartoon Network Tonight!

If you know me, you know I am a massive Lego fan and in particular Lego Star Wars fan, so tonight I’ll be watching Cartoon Network at 9pm Eastern to catch the 5 minute Quest for R2D2 clip. You can see the entire tie in and build up here on the Lego site, but basically this is part of the ongoing celebration marking 10 years of Lego Start Wars……

Watch it, I will be!

I filched these cool Lego stats from the GeekDad blog (who stole them from PR Newswire) and another Wired blog, Underwire has some good Lego coverage too. And that’s where I stole this picture and they got it courtesy of LucasArts. Wow, that was like a legal disclaimer!

-L

• From 1999 to the end of 2008, a total of 106,107,779 LEGO Star Wars products have been sold.
• In 2008, nearly 15 million LEGO Star Wars sets were sold worldwide, equaling, on average: 40,402 boxes per day, 1,683 boxes per hour, 28 boxes per minute, every day, around the world.
• A total of 182 LEGO Star Wars sets have been created in the last 10 years.
  The best-selling LEGO Star Wars set is the original 7140 X-wing Fighter(TM) from 1999.
• From 1999-2009, a total of 254 LEGO minifigures have been introduced to enhance the fun and encourage creative play and collectibility within the LEGO Star Wars franchise.
• The largest LEGO Star Wars model ever created and sold is the Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon, featuring 5,197 pieces, launched in October, 2007.
• In 2006, LEGO Star Wars was recognized by the Toy Industry Association with a prestigious Toy of the Year (T.O.T.Y.) Award for Best Activity Toy.
• LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game, released in 2005, sold 6.7 million units worldwide and ranked among the top 10 video games of the year in the U.S.
• In 2006, LEGO Star Wars 2 sold 8.2 million units and received the BAFTA Award for Best Gameplay.
• LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, released in 2007, sold 3.4 million units.

Peter And Ali Go To Baltimore!

NYAF's Peter Tatara (me) and Del Rey Manga's Ali T. Kokmen went to Baltimore early in the year, and you can find pictures just posted from the trip here...

http://giantrobotsfightinggod.com/pictures/peterandaligotobalt.html

But why did Peter and Ali go to Baltimore? And why were my pictures censored until now? What secrets and glimpses into the future do they hold?

AKB48! NYAF!

AKB48. Do you know who they are? If not, you'll need to very quickly, as they're coming to the New York Anime Festival!

AKB48 is a female music group created in 2005 by songwriter Yasushi Akimoto. The group was born under the concept of "idols you can meet everyday" and is based in Akihabara, the center of Japanese anime and manga culture. Members of AKB48 regularly appear in movies, television shows, and theater, and they are on top of Japan's pop culture consciousness, singing at Japan's biggest New Year's Eve broadcast, joining Prime Minister Taro Aso for cherry-blossom viewing, hosting their own weekly television show, and collaborating with artist Takashi Murakami on multiple projects. They perform almost everyday at their own theater in Akihabara, have performed internationally in Paris, and now they're coming to NYC!

AKB48 will hold a Q&A session, autographing, and short concert at the Jacob Javits Center on Saturday, September 26, and the musical group will then present a free concert at Webster Hall New York City on Sunday, September 27th.

You heard me right. For more details on AKB48's trip to NYAF and NYC -- and specifics of their Webster Hall New York City concert, keep your eyes on www.mediumatlarge.net, www.nyanimefestival.com, and www.akb48.co.jp/english/index.html. Japan has fallen in love with AKB48, and we're excited for their American debut, as we have no doubt the USA will fall in love with them, too!

You Can Interview Yoshiyuki Tomino!

30 years ago, Yoshiyuki Tomino changed the anime industry with the original Mobile Suit Gundam, and in the 30 years since, Gundam has influenced a generation of fans and professionals around the world. Now, Anime News Network, the New York Anime Festival, Sunrise, and Bandai Entertainment are giving his followers across the globe the chance to ask Tomino-san their deepest questions.

Yoshiyuki Tomino is attending the New York Anime Festival, Sept. 25-27 in New York City, and as part of his appearance at NYAF, he'll be doing a Q&A Panel with Anime News Network. Taking place Sept. 26, this panel will be a chance for fans in the room to ask Tomino-san questions, and - more than that - it will be an opportunity for fans anywhere on the planet to ask something to the Director of Mobile Suit Gundam... That's right, you get to be the interviewer!

From August 26 to September 6, you can submit your questions to Tomino-san right at AnimeNewsNetwork.com. Then, at NYAF, in front of a live audience, ANN will ask as many of your questions as they can.

ANN will be taking question submissions in their forum, and they invite people to help them develop the most interesting possible set of questions by pointing out answers that may have already been addressed elsewhere, and by adding details to already-asked questions. That's right, this is a collaborative Q&A panel, and you can help make it the best Tomino Q&A session ever!

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2009/yoshiyuki-tomino-you-be-the-interviewer

Brittney Karbowski and Monica Rial Come To NYAF!

Last week, FUNimation announced the voices of Death The Kid, Liz, and Patty from their upcoming Soul Eater -- Todd Haberkorn, Jamie Marchi, and Cherami Leigh -- and NYAF announced that they'd be coming to our show. This week, FUNimation announced the voices of Black Star and Tsubaki in Soul Eater -- Brittney Karbowski and Monica Rial -- and today, NYAF in partnership with FUNimation is very proud to announce Brittney and Monica will also be appearing at the New York Anime Festival!

Soul Eater, the quirky, clever story of three students charged with the task of collecting and devouring the tainted souls of ninety-nine humans and one witch, will be one of the biggest shows of 2010, and we're very excited to be bringing out so many of the show's talented members of the cast!

Brittney Karbowski and Monica Rial -- along with Todd Haberkorn, Jamie Marchi, and Cherami Leigh -- will be appearing on panels and signings at NYAF, the details of which will be revealed in early September when our full schedule goes online.

For more information on Brittney and Monica, visit nyanimefestival.com. For more on Soul Eater, click over to funimation.com/souleater.

Sneak Peek – Alex Ross’s Exclusive C2E2 Poster!

I mentioned that I sat with Sal Abbinanti, Alex’s right hand man while out at the King Con in San Diego last month and he described to me that art Alex Ross is working on for the C2E2 poster and now I’ve got a sketch to share.

Check out Alex’s rough sketch for the first ever C2E2 poster, pretty cool! Check out the Chicago skyline in Iron Man's helmet. there will be no doubt that C2E2 is the CHICAGO con.

Of course Alex will add color, details and then we’ll throw the mighty C2E2 logo on there as well and soon you’ll see it hanging in comic shops all over Chicago and the Midwest, plus we’ll give a bunch of them away via the blog and other avenues….Plus, don’t forget that Alex will have a massive booth at C2E2 and will be signing, doing panels, etc.

For now though, enjoy the sneak peek of the work in progress……

- L

Big News! Big, Big News!

Big, Big, Big News! As you know, the next NYCC isn’t until October 2010, and, as you also know, we’re not retiring until then. Instead, the NYCC Team are partnering with various organizations, entities, and concerns in NYC to help them further their missions. We've already talked about the Brooklyn Book Festival and everything we're doing there, and today, I'm very pleased to say we’re assisting CAMI Music with their production of The Lord of The Rings at Radio City Music Hall.

The event, October 9-10, features the original Academy Award-winning score of The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring performed live beneath an immense projection of the film. This production has previously been performed in London and Munich, and now it's coming to NYC. (For more information on the concert and to see images of its London performance, please visit www.theradiocitylotrconcert.com.)

NYCC is now working with CAMI to create a series of events around NYC in the month leading up to this concert – contests, exhibits, screenings, and parties to energize the people of New York and foster the spirit of celebration that will take place October 9-10.

We'll have more details online soon, but I didn't want to keep this partnership a secret any longer. NYCC and CAMI Music are going to be doing some big, big, big, big things, and you'll start to get glimpses before the week is through!

Psst! We're Throwing A Party!

I've got a secret for you. New York Comic Con is throwing a party! Actually, that's not a secret at all, and we'd be happy if you told the entire internet. On October 8, 2009, NYCC will be throwing a party for fans, professionals, creators, and friends in NYC. This party's exactly one-year-out from the next NYCC, and we want to celebrate with all the people who've made New York Comic Con as fantastic as it is already -- and all the people who'll be making 2010 the biggest and best year for NYCC yet.

Fans in Chicago may recall we held a one-year-out party for C2E2 on August 16, and there was food, drink, prizes, and announcements, and you can expect a similar menu at the NYCC shindig.

Where's the party going down? Well, see, now that still is a secret. We'll be giving out more details about the place and the time in the coming weeks, but we wanted to make sure you mark October 8 on your calendar right now.

NYC Japan Fair - Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the NYC Japan Fair! Come by and say hi to the New York Anime Festival!

NYC's first Japanese Street Fair runs from 11 AM to 6 PM on Sunday, August 23 from 43rd to 44th Street on Madison Avenue and includes over 40 booths featuring traditional Japanese foods including miso-marinaded beef, roasted mochi, and okonomiyaki, as well as companies including Marukome, Hisamitsu America Inc., Ajinomoto, Otafuku Foods, and Kikkoman.

We have a booth (where 44th meets Madison), and we'll be giving out NYAF posters, chopsticks, and all kinds of swag throughout the day, but that's not all. Raina Telgemeier and David Roman - authors of Del Rey Manga's X-Men: Misfits - will be stopping by the booth, hanging out and signing books from 1-3 PM, and anyone who visits the booth all day long will be entered to win a Del Rey Manga Instant Library - that's 50 free books from Del Rey Manga! Yes, 50 free volumes of manga!

For more details on the NYC Japan Fair, follow it on Twitter (@NYCJapanFair) and read its blog (http://nycjapanfair.blogspot.com/). For up-to-the-minute reports from the NYC Japan Fair, follow NYAF on Twitter (@NY_Anime_Fest).

Streaming Medium Podcast #2

I've made an executive decision - I am calling this radio show, podcast, squawk box thing we are doing a podcast. There. Done. No discussion. It shall now be known at The Streaming Medium Podcast. Thanks for your cooperation on this.

Oh yeah, the second episode is now live! You can use the handy new widget on the sidebar of the blog or you can go to the Streaming Medium site and grab it.

In this episode, I am openly mocked for not being in the studio, we get a live report from the Geppi Entertainment Museum by none otter than Captain Action himself, Ed Catto, we say hello and goodbye to intern Natalie, meet Marketing Director Brian. Plus, talk of True Blood, chest hair, and submarines!

Please, call and leave comments or questions on our toll free line - 877-547-6398. You can also send us an email at streamingmedium@reedexpo.com. We’ll have a new episode on September 1st!

Cool, I figured out the Flash thingy to put a player right in this post. Now there is no excuse not to listen.....

-L

Far East To East Showcase at NYAF!

Last year, the New York Anime Festival and our friends Karaterice launched the Far East To East Showcase at The Knitting Factory. It was a celebration of indie, punk, rock, and pop both from Japan and NYC. This year, NYAF and Karaterice -- now with the super name Superglorious -- are bringing FETES back, and bringing it into the iconic Webster Hall.

From Japan, FETES hosts Kokusyoku Sumire and Swinging Popsicle, and from NYC, FETES features Echostream and Gelatine. (Bios are available at nyanimefestival.com.) Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 the day of the show and available now at www.ticketweb.com and www.websterhall.com. The doors open at 5:30 PM, and the show starts at 6:30 PM on September 27. FETES is open to audiences of all ages.

Kokusyoku Sumire, Swinging Popsicle, Echostream, and Gelatine are four amazing bands -- bands selected not because of their involvement in anime, but selected because of the intensity and integrity music.

For more on the Far East To East Showcase, Superglorious will hold a FETES Press Panel on Saturday, September 26 at the New York Anime Festival. Superglorious will also maintain a booth at NYAF all weekend long where various FETES artists will appear.

The Far East To East Showcase, more than anything else, is a night about great music, and we hope to see you there!

Death Comes To NYAF!

How's that for a title? But, it's true. Yesterday, FUNimation announced the voices of Death The Kid, Liz, and Patty in their upcoming Soul Eater -- Todd Haberkorn, Jamie Marchi, and Cherami Leigh. Today, NYAF in partnership with FUNimation is very proud to announce Todd, Jamie, and Cherami will be coming to NYAF! Todd Haberkorn, Jamie Marchi, and Cherami Leigh have given voice to some of the most popular anime characters in recent memory (visit nyanimefestival.com for their bios), and they're all coming together this Fall for Soul Eater, a title that's taking America by storm!

For those (parents) unfamiliar with Soul Eater, it's the quirky, clever story of three students determined to turn their partners, living weapons, into powerful death scythes -- weapons destined for Death himself. Charged with the task of collecting and devouring the tainted souls of ninety-nine humans and one witch to make this happen, the students strive to master their weapons as they face off against the bizarre and dangerous minions of the underworld.

Soul Eater is coming soon to DVD from FUNimation and the manga is being published by Yen Press.

NYCC Happy Hour! Tomorrow!

Summer is almost over, and what better way to celebrate than a Happy Hour? Come by Dave and Buster’s in Times Square on August 19th from 6 PM to 9 PM for one last bash! Enjoy drink specials, half priced games, gift bags courtesy of Metal Machine Entertainment, and our Spin-The-Wheel raffle!

Four New C2E2 Guests!

C2E2's previously announced Alex Ross and Jeff Smith. Today we're proud to reveal Jackson Guice, Steve McNiven, Ben Templesmith, and Ethan Van Sciver are joining them out at C2E2 2010! Jackson, Steve, Ben, and Ethan are a diverse group of names, but all share one thing in common -- they're awesome -- and that's a common thread you see a lot in C2E2's guests. We aim to bring in guests from across the comics world, and you'll eventually find mainstream, indie, old school, bleeding-edge, web comic, prose, local, and international names on our list, but what brings them all together at C2E2 is the fact that they're awesome, brilliant, creative people.

Visit www.C2E2.com for full bios, and don't forget to tweet the news to your friends.

And keep your eyes and ears on C2E2 because Jackson Guice, Steve McNiven, Ben Templesmith, and Ethan Van Sciver are just the start of what's going to be a season of amazing announcements!

Back From Vacationland

After 7 days of hiking, biking, kayaking, eating and drinking on the Deer Isle in Maine, I am back - and thrilled about it (yes, that was sarcastic). I flashed my NYCC staff shirt all over Vacationland this week and think I may have even sold a few weekend passes in the process. The boys at Midtown owe me big commissions for advertising the logo in spots like this little used one lane bridge on some remote island somewhere in Maine. Yeah, that'll explain the massive spike in sales this week fellas!

Lots happening right now back at HQ but top of the list are a litany of NYAF announcements coming out over the next 4 weeks and details and plans on our new partnership with The Brooklyn Book Fest. Stay tuned as I get back up to speed around the office.

But now, I have to mow the lawn and clean the litter boxes. Non Vacationland is a drag.

-L

NYC Japan Fair - In One Week!

Just a reminder that next Sunday is the NYC Japan Fair. NYC's first Japanese Street Fair, it runs from 11 AM to 6 PM on Sunday, August 23 from 43rd to 44th Street on Madison Avenue and includes over 40 booths featuring traditional Japanese foods including miso-marinaded beef, roasted mochi, and okonomiyaki, as well as companies including Marukome, Hisamitsu America Inc., Ajinomoto, Otafuku Foods, and Kikkoman.

And the New York Anime Festival will be there, too!

We have a booth (where 44th meets Madison), and we'll be giving out NYAF posters, chopsticks, and all kinds of swag throughout the day, but that's not all. Raina Telgemeier and David Roman - authors of Del Rey Manga's X-Men: Misfits - will be stopping by the booth, hanging out and signing books from 1-3 PM, and anyone who visits the booth all day long will be entered to win a Del Rey Manga Instant Library - that's 50 free books from Del Rey Manga! Yes, 50 free volumes of manga!

For more details on the NYC Japan Fair, follow it on Twitter (@NYCJapanFair) and read its blog (http://nycjapanfair.blogspot.com/). For up-to-the-minute reports from the NYC Japan Fair, follow NYAF on Twitter (@NY_Anime_Fest).

ANNCast #1

The second episode of Streaming Medium was recorded late last week and should be live at streamingmedium.com and iTunes in a few days. Until then, why not check out another new podcast -- Our friends at Anime News Network have just started the ANNCast, and it's a half hour of intelligent anime discussion. Really, that should be all that you need to take a listen. Period. Listen to the first ANNCast right here.

Caturday: Vampyre Edition

The good people at io9.com post weekly recaps of True Blood. It's standard for these recaps to have quirky, clever commentary on the preceding episode. A few weeks back, though, in addition to the sparkling review, io9 also graced the internet with the BEST VIDEO EVER.

Don't believe me? Follow this link and scroll all the way down.

Your live changed just a little bit, didn't it? Be brave. You can admit it.

Thank you, io9!

Last Fan Happy Hour of the Summer! Reminder!

Summer is almost over, and what better way to celebrate than a Happy Hour? Come by Dave and Buster’s in Times Square on August 19th from 6 PM to 9 PM for one last bash! Enjoy drink specials, half priced games, gift bags courtesy of Metal Machine Entertainment, and our Spin-The-Wheel raffle!

SPIN ON! Gurren Lagann Movie At NYAF!

I'm very, very happy to announce that Gurren Lagann: The Movie - Childhood's End will be screened at the New York Anime Festival. Gurren Lagann -- from Bandai and Aniplex -- was a series that took Japan and America by storm last year, and this year, they're doing it again with the theatrical realization of the saga.

Gurren Lagann: The Movie - Childhood's End is a feature film retelling of the first half of the Gurren Lagann series, a feature film that's rarely been seen outside of Japan. NYAF will mark the movie's NYC Premiere / East Coast Premiere / whatever else you want to call it. Personally, I call it awesome.

What's it about? A boy named Simon who's spent his entire life digging in the dirt.

But when Simon finds a strange little drill buried deep in the soil, he starts on a journey that'll take him into the sky, into space, and busting through heaven. Gurren Lagann -- from the studio behind Evangelion and FLCL -- is one of the most acclaimed animations in years, and it deserves every ounce of praise it's received.

Travis Willingham comes to NYAF

NYAF's coming up fast. As such, how about a steady beat of new guests? You like? I thought you would. First up, let's give a warm welcome to Featured Guest Travis Willingham!

Travis has worked in stage, television, and film, but he is best known in the anime world for voicing Colonel Roy Mustang in Fullmetal Alchemist -- one of his very first anime roles. He has since gone on to work on many other popular titles in both Texas and Los Angeles, and his anime credits include Kanda (D.Gray-man), Pierre (Aquarion), Mori (Ouran High School Host Club), Ginko (Mushi-shi), Andreas Darlton (CODE GEASS), Portgas D. Ace (One Piece), and Leon (Vexille). His video game credits include Guile (Street Fighter 4), Nathan Hale (Resistance 2), Torgal (The Last Remnant), Clint (Tales of Vesperia), and Yodai Higashizawa (The World Ends With You). His on-screen credits include Secondhand Lions, Ray, Friday Night Lights, Prison-A-Go-Go, The Guardian, and most recently, A Perfect Getaway. He has also worked on CBS's Cold Case, FX's Nip/Tuck, and Fox's Prison Break. His newest roles are playing The Hulk and The Human Torch in the Marvel Superhero Squad on Cartoon Network.

Big thanks to our friends at FUNimation!

Details about Travis's appearance will be coming soon, and we've got a big bucket of names that'll be joining him, too.

New York Comic Con comes to the Brooklyn Book Festival

The last New York Comic Con was February 6-8, 2009. The next New York Comic Con is October 8-10, 2010. What are we going to do with all the time in between? Plenty.

We've got an amazing one-year-out party in the works for October 8, 2009, and we're going to have a big role to play in the October 9-10, 2009 Radio City Lord of The Rings concerts, but we're going to talk about those events later.

Our biggest event this Fall is the Brooklyn Book Festival, taking place Sunday, September 13.

The BBF is an annual open-air literary event that takes place right outside Brooklyn's Borough Hall. It draws nearly 30,000 visitors annually and features readings and panels from international literary superstars as well as more than 150 booksellers, publishers, and other organizations in a bustling literary marketplace.

And it's all free. The Brooklyn Book Festival is an event put on by Brooklyn for Brooklyn. It's a place for authors, for readers, for creators, for fans, and for families. And we think this is fantastic. As such, this year, NYCC will be hosting a dedicated New York Comic Con Pavilion at the BBF -- bringing a slice of the New York Comic Con to Brooklyn.

Denny O’Neil, Phil Jimenez, and Tom DeFalco are already confirmed to be appearing in the NYCC Pavilion as guests, and they're just the start. Looking at the breadth of our programming at BBF, we're capping off the day with Hip Hop Hearts Anime, a live-performance featuring local DJs focusing on the intermixing of American hip hop culture and Japanese anime. And going to participating companies, the likes of Captain Action, Midtown Comics, Moonstone Publishing, and Disney Publishing are just the tip of the iceberg.

We're at BBF because NYCC is over a year away, but we're also at BBF for two move -- two even more important -- reasons.

First up, it's NYCC's mission to grow our audience, and the "our" in our audience means the audience for comics and graphic novels at large. We want more readers out there. We want more people picking up the latest Iron Man, Wonder Woman, Shugo Chara, and Scott Pilgrim. We want to create new fans of literacy in all its forms, and the BBF is a giant flag that'll attract a whole new audience in a whole new borough.

Second, we want to be good neighbors. NYCC shines a spotlight on pop culture, and we like very much to focus this spotlight on NYC. We love highlighting local talent and working with local organizations including Subway Cinema and The New York Television Festival. We're part of New York, and we want to be involved in it. The BBF is a big step for us, but it's the right step. It's bringing NYCC out of the Javits and bringing some bold new content to an already-awesome festival.

So there you go. New York Comic Con is coming to the Brooklyn Book Festival on Sunday, September 13, 2009, and I want to see you there. It's a powerful literary showcase, it's a dedicated non-profit organization, it's an important community gathering, and it should be on all your calendars. For more information on the BBF in general, please visit www.brooklynbookfestival.org, and if you're an artist or company who wants to take part in the NYCC Pavilion, give me an e-mail. I'm Peter Tatara, NYCC's Director of Programming, and I can be reached at ptatara@reedexpo.com.

The NYCC Team are big fans of the BBF, and after you go this year, you'll be a fan, too.

Win Tickets To See Glay!

Glay's coming to the USA! J-Rock legend Glay will be performing September 11th and 12th at the House of Blues, and NYAF is proud to be offering up five pairs of tickets per show. Want them? They're easy to win, but the catch -- and it's a mighty big one -- is that the House of Blues is on the Sunset Strip. That's in Hollywood. That's in California.

If that doesn't matter to you, keep on reading, as we've got a bunch of tickets with your name on 'em.

To be entered to win tickets, simply send an e-mail to streamingmedium@reedexpo.com with the subject line of "I Want To See Glay on Sept 11" or "I Want To See Glay on Sept 12". Include in the message your name and age, and get the message to us by 11:59 PM EST on August 30rd. (One entry per day, please.)

We'll be selecting five winners for each night, with each winner taking home a pair of tickets. Again, though, I've got to say that this is in Cali, and it's just for tickets to the show -- not flights or hotel rooms -- but if you're on the West Coast or will be, we've got Glay tickets that could be going to you!

For more details about Glay at the House of Blues, please click here.

And please listen to Streaming Medium, NYAF's official podcast, while you're at it.

Doctor Who News!

From our friends at ICv2...

BBC America has announced that it will air the fifth season of Doctor Who starring Matt Smith in the U.S., premiering in Q2 2010, shortly after its premiere in the UK.

That is all.

Last Fan Happy Hour of the Summer!

Summer is almost over, and what better way to celebrate than a Happy Hour? Come by Dave and Buster’s in Times Square on August 19th from 6 PM to 9 PM for one last bash! Enjoy drink specials, half priced games, gift bags courtesy of Metal Machine Entertainment, and our Spin-The-Wheel raffle!

And, have you heard of our new Podcast/Radio Show/Blogcast -- Streaming Medium? Want to be on it? You’ll have your chance at the NYCC Fan Happy Hour! All you need is your opinions and the willingness to talk to a NYCC Team Member. Which means it’s easy. We hope. Want to hear our first show? Check it out at www.streamingmedium.com.

Don’t miss out on your last chance to hangout with the NYCC Team this summer. See you next week!

NYAF at the NYC Japan Fair!

What are you doing Sunday, August 23? Going to NYC's first Japanese Street Fair! The "NYC Japan Fair" runs from 11 AM to 6 PM on Sunday, August 23 from 43rd to 44th Street on Madison Avenue and includes over 40 booths featuring traditional Japanese foods including miso-marinaded beef, roasted mochi, and okonomiyaki, as well as companies including Marukome, Hisamitsu America Inc., Ajinomoto, Otafuku Foods, and Kikkoman.

And NYAF will be there, too!

NYAF will have a booth (where 44th meets Madison), and we’ll be giving out posters, chopsticks, and all kinds of swag throughout the day, but that’s not all. We’ve got two very special surprises from our friends at Del Rey Manga. (Actually, they’re not really surprises as I’m revealing them right now.)

First up, Raina Telgemeier and David Roman – authors of Del Rey Manga’s X-Men: Misfits – will be stopping by the NYAF Booth, hanging out and signing books from 1-3 PM. If you’re unfamiliar with X-Men: Misfits, it’s a shoujo-tastic manga take on the X-Men. Really.

Second, anyone who visits the NYAF Booth all day long will be entered to win a Del Rey Manga Instant Library – that’s 50 free books from Del Rey Manga! Yes, 50 free volumes of manga!

So, there you go. I just took care of your plans for August 23. Come on down to the NYC Japan Fair to meet Del Rey’s Raina Telgemeier and David Roman, NYAF’s Peter Tatara, and probably a gaggle of NYAF Maids. You’re welcome.

For more details on the NYC Japan Fair, follow it on Twitter (@NYCJapanFair) and read its blog (http://nycjapanfair.blogspot.com/). For up-to-the-minute reports from the NYC Japan Fair, follow NYAF on Twitter (@NY_Anime_Fest).

New People Grand Opening! August 15!

New People is a Japanese popular culture store, theater, and art space in San Francisco that opens for the first time this Saturday, and you're invited to attend! The New People opening celebration takes place in the heart of San Francisco’s Japantown and is a day-long festival beginning at 11:00 AM with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a traditional Kagami-wari (breaking of a sake barrel) at the building’s entrance at 1746 Post Street.

A variety of Japanese pop-inspired events including fashion shows, film premieres, live art performances, and mini-concerts by some of Japan’s hottest punk and alternative bands are scheduled throughout the day, and innovative companies from the Bay area and Japan will exhibit an array of products for sale in open air displays on both sides of Post Street. A food court will further complement the celebration with delicious Japanese cuisine.

Guests at the New People grand opening include Yoshitaka Amano, Yuichi Yokoyama, and Baby, The Stars Shine Bright!

Want to learn more? Visit www.newpeopleworld.com!

Mark's Chicago Comics Snapshots!

C2E2's Mark went to the Chicago Comics Party this past weekend. These are his pictures...

Captain Action at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum!

We’ve got some awesome news for all fans in the Baltimore vicinity. The coffee table book “Captain Action: The Original Super-Hero Action Figure” will celebrate its national debut at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum in Baltimore’s Camden Yards with a signing on Saturday, August 15 from noon to 3:00 PM. Author Michael Eury and Ed Catto and Joe Ahearn, the owners of Captain Action Enterprises, will be in attendance.

The event will also kick off a special exhibit covering the history of Captain Action, from the first action figures in the 1960s to the latest merchandise (and everything in between). The exhibit will run from August 15 through October 13, 2009.

Published by TwoMorrows Publishing, Captain Action: The Original Super-Hero Action Figure includes photos of virtually every Captain Action product ever released and chronicles the toyline from its earliest concept stages to the multiple (and supposedly final) demises and explores Captain Action’s thriving collectibles market and modern resurgence. It is due in stores on August 19, 2009.

For more on Captain Action, visit www.CaptainActionNow.com.

David Tennant News!

New York Comic Con and C2E2 are about comics. And entertainment. Especially geeky entertainment. Especially Doctor Who. Let's just come out and say it -- I heart Doctor Who, and I'm excited to share the following news from doctorwhonews.com...

America's Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has announced that the Royal Shakespeare Company's recent production of Hamlet starring David Tennant and Patrick Stewart will air in the US as part of the network's "Great Performances" series in 2010. The RSC says that the television adaptation "will retain the quality and tone of the critically acclaimed stage production but filming will take place on location"

The BBC announced earlier this year that the film would air in the UK on BBC Two later in 2009.

Tennant will also be seen on PBS as host of the "Masterpiece Contemporary" series, which returns on October 25.

This David Tennant News Alert is over. Continue with your lives, and continue reading Medium At Large for important NYCC, C2E2, and David Tennant announcements.

NYC Japan Street Fair – August 23

What are you doing Sunday, August 23? Going to NYC's first Japanese Street Fair! The "NYC Japan Fair" runs from 11 AM to 6 PM on Sunday, August 23 from 43rd to 44th Street on Madison Avenue. The Fair’s approximately 40 booths will offer traditional Japanese goods including miso-marinaded beef, roasted mochi, and okonomiyaki, sell Japanese goods including tenugui, anime, and manga, and there'll be ikebana, calligraphy, and martial arts lessons, too.

Well-known Japanese brands including Marukome, Hisamitsu America Inc., Ajinomoto, Otafuku Foods, and Kikkoman will all be participating. In addition, local Japanese restaurants and companies including Café Zaiya, Washoku Café, and Book-Off will be there.

And… Lucky visitors can win round-trip tickets to Japan.

For details, follow the Fair on Twitter (@NYCJapanFair) and read its blog (http://nycjapanfair.blogspot.com/).

Caturday!

And an amazing Caturday story from our friend Hayden.

Chicago Comics Party on Saturday!

In Chicago on Saturday night? If so, this is your reminder to hit up Chicago Comics for a little shindig they're hosting.

Host: Chicago Comics
Date: Saturday, August 8, 2009
Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: Chicago Comics (3244 N Clark Chicago, IL)
Phone: 773-528-1983

Free drinks, food, grillin', DJ Arped spinning his little heart out, and special gifts and prizes courtesy of the fine gents at C2E2. C2E2's own Mark Fitch will be on hand, too. Try to say hi before he finds the keg.

Introducing The Streaming Medium Podcast - Listen Now

We’ve got the first episode of Streaming Medium our new podcast in the can and maybe it belongs in the trash can, I don’t know, you’ll have to be the judge of that. Give it a listen and be sure to call and leave comments or questions on our toll free line - 877-547-6398.

You can also send us an email at streamingmedium@reedexpo.com. We’ll have a new episode on the 3rd Tuesday of the month (August 18).

In this episode it’s our San Diego Comic-Con recap where you can hear quote like:

“I go to strip clubs for the wings” – Peter Tatara

“Lance, what did the inside of Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man suit smell like?” – Larry Settembrini

“Is a hot girl in a costume at a con any less hot if she’s obnoxious?” – Kim Mueller

Listen now!

-L

Subscribe to this radio show:

Arkham Asylum Demo Tomorrow!

Have you been following Batman: Arkham Asylum? Be honest. I know you wake up every morning hoping for new movies and screenshots. Or maybe that's just the NYCC team. Either way, a demo for the upcoming game is popping up for the 360 and PS3 tomorrow. Who's playing hooky with me?

Cencoroll Comes To NYAF!

I am very, very proud to announce that NYAF is hosting the US Premiere of Aniplex's Cencoroll. What's Cencoroll? Cencoroll is a 30-minute movie created entirely by one man, award-winning artist Atsuya Uki. Uki originally created a Cencoroll short in 2007 and distributed the animation via the internet. Overwhelmed by the praise and support of fans of this original short, Uki decided to single-handedly create a full film which will debut later this month in theaters in Japan -- and debut in the USA at NYAF this September. What's it about? Cencoroll is the story of a provincial Japanese town under attack by a mysterious monster, and the young girl -- Yuki -- and boy -- Tetsu -- who hold the secret to fighting back: a strange and even-more-mysterious pet called Cenco. For more information and footage of Cencoroll, please visit the film's official site (www.cencoroll.com).

NYAF screened the original Cencoroll short at our first show in 2007, and we count ourselves as very fortunate to now revisit this world and present the American premiere of the full film.

Companies Already Confirmed for C2E2!

I'm on the run today, so this mog will be short and sweet, but sweet it is.....

We have 9 months until C2E2, but the show floor is already as big as the first New York Comic Con. Seriously.

Marvel and DC are both taking 2500 square foot booths - the same size as NYCC this year. Wizards of the Coast will be almost that big.

Who else is already confirmed to be with us in downtown Chicago next April?

Avatar, Baby Tattoo, Boom Studios, Chicago Comics, Dark Horse, Diamond, Graham Crackers Comics, Image Comics, Mattel, Newsarama, Oni Press, Radical Publishing, Random House, Top Cow, Top Shelf.

Guys, this is just the begining, we still have 3 quarters of a year to go! We'll also have our first Artist Alley guests to announce in the next week or so......

L

Lance Fensterman
Reed Vice President
BookExpo America
New York ComicCon
C2E2
New York Anime Fest
Blog: www.mediumatlarge.net
203.840.5507 (o) 203.417.3607 (m)
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld - Please excuse any typos!

Uncle Yo in NYC this Saturday!

Otaku comedian and NYAF friend Uncle Yo is making his first non-con appearance this Saturday at Drom (85 Avenue A) in NYC. The gig kicks off at 7 PM and is $8 in advance or $10 at the door. Click here for details. Yo's packed the house at NYAF, so get to Drom early to make sure you get a seat.

Why Cons are Like Proms and Trade Shows are Like Lunch

I was asked by my friend Ed Nowatka at Publishing Perspectives to write a piece about San Diego Comic-Con from my vantage point running both pop culture events and the publishing industry trade event BookExpo America.

Not sure if I cut the mustard with a serious trade outlet like Publishing Perspectives, but at least I didn't swear or include a picture of myself dressed up as a super hero (or a member of the Twilight cast for that matter).

Sorry for the lack of hyperlinks, I'm mogging (mobile blogging) from NYC today.

Read the piece here:

http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=3388

-L

Lance Fensterman
Reed Vice President
BookExpo America
New York ComicCon
C2E2
New York Anime Fest
Blog: www.mediumatlarge.net
203.840.5507 (o) 203.417.3607 (m)
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld - Please excuse any typos!

And now a note from Larry...

From Larry Settembrini, the once-and-future rockstar who oversees the NYCC, NYAF, and C2E2 show floors...

I know how easily amused we are with things like this.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Amaze your friends, be the first to tell them

At 12hr 34 minutes and 56 seconds on the 7th of August

this year, the time and date will be

12:34:56 07/08/09

This will never happen in your life again??!!!!

C2E2 Ticket Update! Founding Members Have Been Found!

Late last week, C2E2 tickets went on sale -- with the first 100 receiving a public thanks, priority entrance, and Chicago Comics gift certificate. We blew through 'em, and I'm honored and excited to say that our Founding Members campaign's sold out. If you were one of the first 100 to order a ticket, you've already received (or will shortly receive) an e-mail from C2E2 confirming your status as a Founding Member. If you have any questions about this, or want to check on your own order, feel free to send me an e-mail at ptatara@reedexpo.com.

Didn't become a Founding Member? You should still grab your ticket early as C2E2's Early Bird Prices will remain in place until September 1. From now until September, all Day Passes are only $20 and Weekend Passes are only $45. Really. Honestly. They're that cheap.

Buy early and buy often at www.C2E2.com!

UPDATE: Thanks, Kyle, for catching the typo!