Caprica Comes to NYC

Our friends at The Paley Center in NYC recently hosted Planet Hulk and Crisis on Two Earths events. In March, they'll be presenting a special evening dedicated to Syfy's Caprica. Taking place Wednesday, March 17 at 6:30 PM, it'll feature a roundtable discussion with the following...

Ronald D. Moore, Co-creator and Executive Producer
David Eick, Executive Producer
Paula Malcomson, "Amanda Graystone"
Polly Walker, "Sister Clarice Willow"
Alessandra Torresani, "Zoe Graystone"
Magda Apanowicz, "Lacy Rand"
Sasha Roiz, "Sam Adama"

The evening will preview an upcoming episode from Caprica’s first season, followed by a discussion with the above members of the cast and creative team. For tickets, head to www.paleycenter.org.

Caturday

From Christine, by way of PetPlace.com.

PvP! Girls With Slingshots! Cyanide And Happiness! Webcomics Are Go At C2E2!

Abandon: First Vampire, Azure, Brat-Halla, Cyanide And Happiness, DAR, Division And Rush, Ed Contradictory, Erfworld, Fans, Evil Inc., Girls With Slingshots, Guilded Age, Halolz, HijiNKS Ensue, I Rule The Night, Jack of All Blades, Least I Could Do, Looking For Group, Milo The Cloud, Multiplex, Neil Jam, Penny And Aggie, PvP, Rice Boy, Rival Angels, Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, Shortpacked!, Something*Positive, Sorcery 101, Spooky Co., That Monkey Tune, The Dreamer, The Night Owls, Theater Hopper, TopatoCo, VG Cats, Webcomics.com, and Zuda Comics.

Any of these names familiar? Perhaps you start your day with a few of 'em? Perhaps you're reading some right now instead of doing work?

C2E2 is a show about popular entertainment and the graphic arts at large, and while a wide cross section of our guests come from the traditional world of cape-and-tights comics, we hope you've started to take note of the different kinds of names in our guest list as well -- names like Chris Ware, Dash Shaw, J.J. Sedelmaier, Michael Zulli, and Colleen Doran.

Let's now take it a step further and formally welcome the world of webcomics to the Chicago Comics & Entertainment Expo. From big names like Player vs. Player, Cyanide And Happiness, and Girls With Slingshots, to Chicago locals including Division And Rush, Milo The Cloud, and Multiplex, to the diverse world in between, C2E2 is proud to bring the brave new world of webcomics together with some of the titans of established printed comic books.

Where will you be able to find your favorite webcomics creators at C2E2? I can say we've got several hours of webcomics programming on the schedule (that you'll be finding out more about in March), but their home base at the con will be right on the show floor -- with many inside a dedicated pavilion. Let's hope the Cyanide And Happiness folks play nice with their neighbors.

More details in the Guests section of www.C2E2.com later today!

Official Iron Man Movie Auction At C2E2: Own Tony's Pinstripe Suit!

C2E2, MARVEL Studios, and Propworx are pleased to announce a special Iron Man prop display and auction at the inaugural C2E2, April 16-18, at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. Over 200 props will be put on display and up for auction, and your ticket to C2E2 is your ticket to take part of the original Iron Man film home!

On April 16 and 17, fans will be able to get a glimpse of the props up for auction -- props including armor, missiles, suits, and set pieces -- in a special display located within C2E2's show floor, and then on April 18, the auction will begin, set within one of C2E2's panel rooms.

To preview the Iron Man auction and bid online, visit www.propworx.com/ironman.

Earning over $585 million in worldwide box office, the original Iron Man motion picture lifted off in theatres on May 2, 2008 with high-speed, high-flying action when jet-setting industrialist Tony Stark survived an unexpected attack in enemy territory and escaped by building a high-tech robotic suit of armor. When he uncovered a nefarious plot with global implications, he donned his powerful armor and vowed to protect the world as Iron Man. Straight from the pages of the legendary comic book, Iron Man is a hero who is built -- not born -- to be unlike any other.

The highly anticipated sequel, Iron Man 2, starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, John Slattery, Mickey Rourke and Samuel L. Jackson., will be released on May 7, 2010 in the USA.

For more details visit www.C2E2.com and www.propworx.com/ironman.

David Petersen, C.B. Cebulski, Michael Zulli, Doug Mahnke, and More Join The C2E2 Guest List!

Last week, C2E2 revealed Art Baltazar, Chip Kidd, Dash Shaw, J.J. Sedelmaier, and Mark Waid would be among our guests this April. This week? We've got a few more announcements, and furthering the diversity we've started to establish, this week's new guests run the gamut from some mainstream comics greats, to some more indie comics names, to even some prose authors. (You know, books without pictures.) And we're even proud to welcome ItsJustSomeRandomGuy, too!

Who's on first? What's on second? Let's find out...

David Petersen - (Mouse Guard)
C.B. Cebulski - (Loners)
Michael Zulli - (Sandman)
Doug Mahnke - (Green Lantern)
Aaron Renier - (Spiral-Bound)
Jeff Stone - (Five Ancestors)
Michael Agrusso - (ItsJustSomeRandomGuy)
N.D. Wilson - (100 Cupboards)
Todd Allen - (The Economics of Web Comics)
Victoria Laurie - (The Oracles of Delphi Keep)
Tony Akins - (Jack of Fables)
Lee Kohse - (Kindergoth)

Want bios? Headshots? Or a cartoon image of C.B. Cebulski with a pint of beer? Head over to www.C2E2.com, where all the above will be posted shortly. And, if you haven't bought a ticket to C2E2 yet, methinks you should. Just click the big old "Buy Your Ticket" button after checking out C.B.'s pic.

New York: The Super-City!

New York served as the model for Gotham City, inspired Will Eisner as he created the noirish adventures of The Spirit, and became a recurring character during the 1960s resurgence of Marvel in comics such as Spider-Man and Iron Man, and on March 9th, The New York Center for Independent Publishing and ForeWord Magazine contributing editor Peter Gutiérrez will examine the relationship between superheroes and their favorite hometown... and on how comics culture has promoted potent and memorable images of New York to readers worldwide.

Tuesday, March 9th from 6:30-8:30 PM, the New York Center for Independent Publishing (20 W. 44th Street) will present a panel examining NYC's factual (and fictional) history with tights and capes. Danny Fingeroth, Gene Kannenberg, Jr., Frank Tieri, and Billy Tucci, will join moderator Peter Gutierrez.

Tickets are a tax-deductible $15, $10 for CIP Members, and $5 for students. Email contact@nycip.org or call 212-764-7021 to reserve.

New York International Children's Film Festival Starts Feb 26!

The New York International Children's Film Festival is North America's largest festival of film for children and teens, and we're proud to spread the word that the 13th New York International Children's Film Festival runs from February 26 through March 21st -- and like previous years, the festial will shine a spotlight on some of the most important, ground-breaking anime of the past year.

This year's festival includes three major US Premieres... Summer Wars, Mai Mai Miracle, and Oblivion Island.

SUMMER WARS
NYICFF 2010 opens with a new feature from emerging anime star Mamoru Hosoda, a film whose “dazzling fluency of motion and untethered brilliance of invention makes the usual fantasy anime look childish and dull” (The Japan Times). Kenji is a teenage math prodigy recruited by his secret crush Natsuki for the ultimate summer job – passing himself off as Natsuki’s boyfriend for four days during her grandmother’s 90th birthday celebration. But when Kenji solves a 2,056 digit math riddle sent to his cell phone, he unwittingly breaches the security barricade protecting Oz, a globe-spanning virtual world where millions of people and governments interact through their avatars, handling everything from online shopping and traffic control to national defense and nuclear launch codes. Director Mamoru Hosoda will make a special guest appearance at the premiere.
Fri, Feb 26 at 6:00PM at DGA Theater

MAI MAI MIRACLE
This animated film about friendship and the passing of childhood is as “splendidly colorful and beautifully illustrated as a Monet landscape” (Hollywood Reporter). Shinko spends her days running barefoot among the endless green wheat fields in her small country village, imagining she is playing 1,000 years ago when the area was the local capital and home to a beautiful young princess kept hidden from society. Shinko gets a new partner for her games when she befriends Kiiko, a shy transfer student from Tokyo whose nice clothes and modern luxuries immediately set her apart from the other kids. Together, the two girls spend their afternoons daydreaming, building dams, chasing animals, and living an otherwise simple and idyllic life – until looming adolescent responsibility and harsh grown-up truths begin to encroach on their make-believe world of princesses and castles, and it becomes increasingly difficult to disentangle fantasy from reality.
Sat, Feb 27 at 5:30PM at Cantor Film Center
Sat, Mar 6 at 11:30AM at Symphony Space

OBLIVION ISLAND
The creators of Ghost in the Shell mix exquisitely detailed 2D backgrounds with modern 3D character designs in a dazzling animated adventure that plays like Alice’s fall through the rabbit hole into a world of topsy-turvy, anime dream-logic. When Haruka misplaces a hand-mirror that was a keepsake from her mother, she stumbles upon a portal to the subterranean world of Oblivion Island, a place where strange masked creatures gather up all the childhood trinkets humans abandon as they grow older, and attend Dream Theaters where they can watch and feel the memories locked in these forgotten objects. The land is ruled by an evil overlord, The Baron, who craves the power created by the memories locked in Haruka’s cherished hand-mirror – a power that will allow him to rise beyond his world of discards and take over the world of humans!
Sat, Feb 27 at 10:30AM at Cantor Film Center
Sat, Mar 6 at 4:30PM at Symphony Space

For more information and to order tickets, visit www.gkids.com.

Star Wars Celebration Exhibitor List Online

So, we announced Star Wars Celebration V in the middle of December. It's the middle of February. That's -- what -- two months? Well, in those two months, we've had over 100 vendors ranging from established industry heavyweights to a wide array of smaller, independent companies sign up to take part in SWCV. Participating exhibitors include Hasbro, LEGO, Museum Replicas, Random House, and Gentle Giant, and the list is online now. Want to learn more? Read the full story at starwars.com.

Want to see the full list? Visit starwarscelebration.com.

Want to exhibit? Get an email to Mike "The Tusken Raider" Armstrong at marmstrong@reedexpo.com sooner than later.

Caturday: C2E2 Edition

Mark and Stephanie Heike -- www.markandstephanieheike.com -- will be appearing in C2E2's Artist Alley, and that's not all. The love kitties, too!

From Steph Heiki...


Miss Grace is a cosmopolitan kitty living on the outskirts of metro Orlando. Born under a leafy bush, Grace was one of three stray motherless kittens who struggled for scraps in the trash and handouts from neighbors. Luckily for her, two crazed comic book creators took her in and she's been living the posh life of a pampered pussycat ever since. Grace aids as a living paperweight and as an artist's model for fearsome felines of all stripes. Miss Grace will, unfortunately, be unable to go to C2E2 due to prior commitments, but she sends her best wishes.

Celebration V - The Exhibitor List Is Growing!

We posted it on starwars.com and theforce.net picked it up as well, but we have already got a ton of companies lined up for you at CV. I'll name names just to prove it: Hasbro, LEGO USA, ACME Archives, DK Publishing, eFX Collectibles, Hallmark, Mimoco, Comic Images, Museum Replicas, Random House, Rubies Costumes, Gentle Giant, Super7Store, Topps, and many more.

You can see the entire list right here.

Take this as a little down payment on all the cool stuff we owe you for CV. If you only knew what was in store for you.....

Since I mentioned LEGO, did you see the swag they had a Toy Fair? I am bent beyond words I was not there to snatch this stuff up. And I call myself an insanely rabid LEGO fan. Check it out here.

-Lance

Don't Forget! ComicsPRO Annual Meeting in March!

Remember, the ComicsPRO Annual Membership Meeting is March 24-27 in Memphis. ComicsPRO is an organization by and for retailers, publishers, distributors, and manufacturers aimed at improving the comic book industry. This year, the topics of the ComicsPRO Annual Meeting center around the future of comic book retailing -- including digital comics, changes in comic book distribution, and the growth of the direct market.

ComicsPRO invites all retailers to attend. If you're interested, you can get information at www.comicspro.org/meet10.html.

C2E2 Artist Alley Meet Up in Chicago

Where were you last night? I was in the basement at Mothers in Chicago hanging out with 50 or so creators from the inaugural C2E2 Artist Alley.

Good times in deed but I stayed too late and someone kept putting tiny glasses in front of me to drink. Never good (I hate you Matt).

Chicago has an amazing community of creators, can't wait to launch this show!!!

-Lance

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!

Star Wars Celebration Sneak Peek at MegaCon!

From our friends at starwars.com...

There will be an official Star Wars presence for the first time this year at MegaCon the popular Orlando, Florida fan event that attracts top comic and pop-culture guests, lots of exhibitors, and more than 30,000 attendees over three days. The show takes place March 12th to 14th at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando -- not coincidentally the location of Star Wars Celebration V this coming August 12th to 15th.

Lucasfilm's head of fan relations, Steve Sansweet will be available along with a representative of Reed Expo, Lucasfilm's partner in Star Wars Celebration V, at the 501st Legion's booth, #1130, during the course of the show. Feel free to tell us what you would like to see at Celebration V! Advance discount tickets for Celebration V will be available for sale at the booth.

In addition, Steve will be involved in three Star Wars panels:

Celebrating Star Wars: Join Steve Sansweet as he explores the past -- the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back -- the present -- the exciting weekly animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars -- and the not too distant future -- including Star Wars Celebration V. Saturday, Room 222 A, 11:50 am - 12:40 pm

Everything Star Wars: Join Ray Park, Jeremy Bulloch, Maria de Aragon, Dave Barclay, and Peter Mayhew for a Q & A. Moderated by Steve Sansweet. Saturday, Room 222 A&B, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

The Wacky World of Star Wars Collecting: The author of 13 Star Wars books, Steve Sansweet has collected some amazing memorabilia over the years -- and some truly bizarre items. Join him as he explores a little of both. Sunday, Room 222A, 1:10 pm - 2:00 pm

There'll be a few members of the Celebration staff down at MegaCon with Steve, so -- if you're going -- be sure to swing by the booth. Rumor has it Mike Armstrong will be dressed all three days as a Tusken Raider.

Six New Guests! Six New Areas of Comics Culture!

Ahoy! Haven't see any new guests on the blog for a few days, so methinks it's time to announce a few more -- Art Baltazar, Michael Capps, Chip Kidd, J.J. Sedelmaier, Dash Shaw, and Mark Waid. C2E2's guest list currently includes comics greats including Alex Ross, Geoff Johns, Gail Simone, and Adam Hughes, and today's additions not only mark more industry talent participating in the event, but very different industry talent.

C2E2 aims to shine a spotlight on the far-reaching realms of the graphic arts beyond tights-and-capes comics, and these six guests are illustrative of this scope. Dash Shaw, with works including Bottomless Belly Button, is a rock star in the indie comics world; J.J. Sedelmaier is responsible for many of the most talked about animated projects in recent history including Beavis and Butt-Head and SNL's Saturday TV Funhouse; designer, author, and editor Chip Kidd's fingerprints are on Eisner-winning works with subjects ranging from Peanuts to Batman: The Animated Series; native Chicagoian Art Baltazar is the force behind the kid-and-family-friendly Tiny Titans; Mark Waid serves as Editor in Chief of rising powerhouse publisher Boom! Studios; and Michael Capps isn't from the comics world entirely, instead the President of Epic Games, creators of the widely-heralded Gears of War video game series and Unreal technology.

All will be appearing at C2E2 in a variety of panels, signings, and special events, and they join previously-announced alternative, independent guests including Colleen Doran, Jeff Smith, and Chris Ware.

Full bios will be online shortly at www.C2E2.com.

Are You an Creator in Chicago? We’d Like to Buy You A Drink…….

If you are participating in the Artist Alley at C2E2 this year then come out and have a drink with us! Thursday night, 7pm at Mothers (14 W Division Street), Kim Mueller, Mark Fitch and I from Team C2E2 will be on hand hanging out and “community building” (which is to say having some drinks with all of you that are helping to make the first C2E2 Artist Alley’s one of the biggest EVER).

RSVP to Kim here if you can come out and join us…..

-Lance

Sneak Peak At the First CV Exclusive!

At the New York Toy Fair this weekend, industry insiders got a peak at a whole slew of cool new toys - snapshots of which made its way onto blogs where us toy loving regular folk can ogle it.

And right along those same lines, our pals over at Theforce.net got a good image of what is perhaps the very first CV exclusive, this one from Hasbro. Good eye!

This certainly won’t be the last piece of exclusive merch for CV and here at CV HQ we too are getting close to having some show merch online for you. So stay tuned, know we are working hard and sorry it’s nothing more than a mention/tease and not indisputable visual evidence like this from Theforce.net

-Lance

Beer, Bands, C2E2 and Podcasters? The First Official C2E2 After Party

Our pals over at Nerd City are throwing a shindig Saturday night of C2E2 along with the cool cats at Top Shelf. So when you are done at the con and you wanna hear some great music and grab some drinks, head over to the Double Door for the Top Shelf/Nerd City After Party…..

Tickets are only 10 bucks and just 8 with a C2E2 badge. You can buy tickets right here.

-Lance

Here’s more details:

Chicago-based podcast/website Nerd City will be hosting the official C2E2 after party, Saturday, April 17th @ renowned rock club, the Double Door. Working with famed indie publisher Top Shelf, Nerd City presents a music and event-filled night, including sets by DJ Ghengis Won, Major Taylor, burlesque troupe The Flaming Dames, and headlining band The Jai Alai Savant (fresh off their recent show with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists), to celebrate the first-ever C2E2 comic and pop culture expo @ Mccormick Place. Multiple giveaways will feature an assortment of Nerd prizes, including items from sponsors Chicago Comics and Piece Brewery, and local toy luminary Shawnimals will be releasing a new plush exclusive to the event.

The party will also feature Top Shelf’s Swedish Invasion, in celebration of their seven new comic releases from Swedish creators this year. With a chance to meet graphic novelists Mats Jonnson (HEY PRINCESS), Simon Gardenfors (THE 120 DAYS OF SIMON), Kolbeinn Karlsson (THE TROLL KING), and Top Shelf publisher Chris Staros, plus plenty of prizes, this will be an unrivaled opportunity to talk with, and learn about, these talented international creators just as their work hits stateside. Gardenfors, a well-known Swedish rapper, will also be featured in a special performance.

With C2E2 already shaping up to be the event of the year, Nerd City’s Official C2E2 After Party Featuring Top Shelf’s Swedish Invasion is guaranteed to be a do-not-miss show. Doors @ 8 p.m. Show @ 9 p.m.

Double Door Chicago
1572 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, Il

Two Hearts and Two Towers

What's a good last minute Valentine's Day gift for your sweet heart? Sure, C2E2, NYCC, NYAF, and SWCV tickets are awesome, but I wanted to mention something else today. Tickets to The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers at Radio City.

Do you remember The Fellowship of The Ring last year at Radio City? NYCC held some events and promotions around it. Come this year, we're excited as we'll be doing just a wee bit more. See, NYCC is October 8-10. The full score of The Two Towers? October 8-9. That's right. This October, the geeks are going to take over NYC. Comics in the Javits at day and High Fantasy at Radio City at night.

For more information, and to get your sweet heart tickets, visit www.TheRadioCityLOTRConcert.com.

Caturday!

This is my life - as a Japanese cat of course.

-Lance

Have a Shoujo-tastic Valentine's Day!

Remember that until February 14, Kinokuniya and the New York Anime Festival are proud to offer you a special Valentine's Day discount! To get 10% off all manga and anime at Kinokuniya Bookstore -- at 1073 Avenue of the Americas -- just print out the coupon below. (And if you want to boost that 10% off to 15%, show your Kinokuniya Manga Club card -- or sign up to become a member.)

Whether you want to have a shoujo-tastic Valentine's Day or one that's a bit more eclectic, you can -- as this coupon will get you a discount on everything from Fruits Basket, Shugo Chara, and Kitchen Princess to Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei, Dororo, and even Domo.

Just print and bring this coupon to Kinokuniya…

SMILE Tomorrow!

NYCC friend of show Raina Telgemeier’s first full-color graphic novel, SMILE, is now in stores, and she's throwing a party tomorrow to celebrate!

Visit Brooklyn's own Rocketship (208 Smith Street) on February 13 from 4-6 PM! Click http://goraina.com/?p=29 for all the details, and be sure to bring the kids!

Superglorious Sez...

Cold outside, no? Wanna keep warm this weekend? If so, check out these three shows recommended by our friends at Superglorious...

Echostream @ Deli Magazine Showcase
Date: Friday, February 12th
Time: 7:45 pm
Location: Webster Hall Studio (downstairs)
Address: 125 East 11th St (between 3rd and 4th Aves)
Price: $10
Age Limit: 21+
Bonus: FREE Ryoko poster!
The other bands: This is a show put on by The Deli Magazine, which is the premier indie rock musician magazine in NYC.

Polysics @ Blender Theatre at Gramercy
The Polysics from Japan back in the U.S. to tour in support of their new album Absolute Polysics. This will be the last chance to see them in their current line up as longtime member Kayo is departing the band.
9:00pm - 12:00am
Location: Blender Theater at Gramercy Street
127 East 23rd Street, New York, NY
Price: $15, tickets at livenation.com

Sunday Feb. 14th: Sky White Tiger @ Public Assembly
Valentines Day Cheruball w/ SKY WHITE TIGER & more
Public Assembly
70 North 6th Street, Brooklyn
Back Room, 8 pm, $10

C2E2: The Write Stuff

From comics names including Geoff Johns and Gail Simone to prose authors including Sherrilyn Kenyon, C2E2 celebrates the women and men who put the words on the page, and, this week, we're proud to reveal seven more writers who'll be gracing the halls of C2E2 this April. Fanboys and fangirls, please give a warm round of applause to...

Dan DiDio (The Outsiders)
Greg Pak (Planet Hulk)
Paul Levitz (The Legion of Super-Heroes)
Daniel Way (Deadpool)
Peter David (The Dark Tower)
Seth Grahame-Smith (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies)
Micheal Easton (Soul Stealer)

There's a lot to love about this list, and I think it's a fine example of the span we're aiming for at C2E2. Being a "Comics and Entertainment" show by our very name, while we'll have a lot of comics at our core, we're be touching a number of other realms outside the comics world. From Greg Pak's start writing films, to Seth Grahame-Smith's break-through novel, to the mountain of work from Peter David, we're comics -- but we're also more.

For bios and our full guest list, visit www.C2E2.com.

Aren't You Glad We Moved NYCC From February?

It's a snow day from ReedPop Global Headquarters and it is coming down in blankets. Boy those new October dates for NYCC are looking better every day.......

-Lance

C2E2 Artist Alley – Round 1

Ask and you shall receive. You wanted to see the artist alley line up for C2E2? Well, contained in this handy link are the first 180 participants in the inaugural Artist Alley at C2E2. Why only 180? We’ve got at least 70 more artists to announce in the coming weeks - some of those additional tables will be occupied by artists we’ve previously announced and some will be brand spankin new.

Since we launched C2E2 we’ve done a ton of fan meet up’s, listening tours and focus groups in Chicago asking the fans what they want out of this show. Time and again we heard a good mix of artists (just starting out all the way to big names) in a big artist alley. So we did our damndest to give the fans of Chicago what they asked for.

Enjoy perusing the first 180 artists filling out the tables at C2E2 Artist Alley…..

-L

PS – In the next week we’ll have head shots, art samples and bios online for all the artists…..

Happy Valentine's Day from NYAF and Kinokuniya

Peter from the New York Anime Festival here with some good news. We've got a special Valentine's present for you from Kinokuniya and NYAF. We've got some great news, too. It's not yaoi. (Well, actually, it could be.) See, from February 10-14, Kinokuniya is proud to offer a special Valentine's Day discount off of all manga and anime. To get 10% off all manga and anime at Kinokuniya Bookstore -- at 1073 Avenue of the Americas -- just print out the coupon below.

And if you want to boost that 10% off to 15%, show your Kinokuniya Manga Club card -- or sign up to become a member.

Whether you want to have a shoujo-tastic Valentine's Day or one that's a bit more eclectic, you can -- as this coupon will get you a discount on everything from Fruits Basket, Shugo Chara, and Kitchen Princess to Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei, Dororo, and even Domo.

Just print and bring this coupon to Kinokuniya…


Happy Valentine's Day from Kinokuniya and the New York Anime Festival!

Kids Chinese New Year's Party at Ruby Foo's!

February 14th is Valentine's Day, and -- this year -- it's Chinese New Year's, too! Celebrate both at Ruby Foo's in Times Square, as it's hosting a special Kids Chinese New Year's Party! From 12 to 3 PM, there'll be origami, face painting, prizes, and more. Sure, a Kids Chinese New Year's Party may not be the ideal romantic event for most couples, but if you're reading this, you're probably the kind of couple that would get a kick out of it.

Also, origami ain't exactly Chinese, but let's give that a pass, too.

Crisis on Two Earths Premieres in Two Cities

A few weeks ago, NYCC and our friends at Newsarama hosted the premiere of Marvel’s Planet Hulk at The Paley Center in NYC and LA. We’re now proud to see Newarama and Paley working with DC to host premieres of Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths on February 16 and 18. On February 16, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths will screen at The Paley Center in New York City (25 West 52nd Street) with a media interviews starting at 5:30 PM and the screening kicking off at 6:30. A panel discussion with filmmakers and voice cast will follow. On February 18, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths will screen at The Paley Center in LA (465 North Beverly Drive) with media interviews starting at 6:00 PM and the screening at 7:00. A panel discussion will similarly follow.

Fans in New York City wishing to receive free tickets must write to justiceleagueNY@newsarama.com. Fans in LA must email justiceleagueLA@newsarama.com. Tickets to both are first come, first served. Media wishing to attend the premieres must RSVP to WHVRSVP@gmail.com.

For more details, including a trailer, visit…

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/justice-league-crisis-premiere-100205.html

Caturday

Caturday continues.

Comic Art, Larger Than Life, At C2E2

C2E2's been announcing a lot of big names lately -- from Gail Simone and Adam Hughes to Chris Ware and Colleen Doran. I wanted to take a moment today, though, to talk about another guest we're just announcing. Eric Maruscak. Know the name? If you don't, you know his work. Eric's the artist responsible for the massive chalk murals that are seen at conventions around the country -- including our own New York Comic Con, New York Anime Festival, and PAX -- and we're proud to be bringing him to C2E2.

What'll Eric be crafting in Chicago? We can't say yet, but to get a glimpse of what he's capable of, visit his official site, www.pepperink.com.

Seven New C2E2 Guest Announcements!

We started the drum beat to C2E2 last week with ten new artists, and we're very proud to boost the list even further with today's announcement of seven more astonishing comics professionals...

Gail Simone, Amanda Conner, Colleen Doran, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Allison Sohn, Lora Innes, and Katie Cook!

We're honored they'll all be spending April 16-18 with us, and we couldn't be happier to add some more Y chromosomes to our guest roster -- previously only represented by Jill Thompson (also pictured above). For all the details on Gail, Amanda, Colleen, Sherrilyn, Allison, Lora, and Katie, click over to C2E2.com!

Hitting the Winter Institute This Week – Are You?

I wrote a couple weeks ago about the transition for me of leaving my duties on BookExpo America behind and focusing solely on the pop culture group here at Reed and next week at the ABA’s Winter Institute is my sort of “swan song” so to speak on my official BEA duties (I’ll always keep a pinky in that show for sure).


BEA’s new fearless leader and good friend, Steve Rosato and I are heading West to hang with booksellers and share new developments on BEA at The Winter Institute. Potentially included in that sharing will be a nice, big, juicy author announcement if all goes well and you believe Steve’s new blog, The BEAn (you should read it).



If you are going to be in San Jose next week, shoot me an email and lets connect and have a beer. I’m there Thursday night and taking the red eye Friday.



This will be my 5th Winter Institute, which means I’m batting 1.000 on attendance for the event. The first was held in Long Beach back in 2006 where I was looking for a job and pretty quickly after the Institute found one at Reed running BEA. Turns out that Steve Rosato was at that WI, but I didn’t know him then and never met him, so it’ll be a pretty good bookend to go to this WI with him.



Steve and I (really Steve) are doing a short talk before the Dan Pink keynote on Friday afternoon. Be sure and be there to heckle…..



-L

My Lando Droid Lego Star Wars Mash Up

Lando is finally going to get his due this year. I have a feeling......

- L

The Lego Star Wars Mini Fig Mash Up

You need to try it now. You can build your very own Lego Star Wars Mini Fig. It is awesome.

Try it here.

-Lance

I’m Not Cool Enough for LA, But San Francisco Suits me Fine - CV and C2E2 Updates

Yes there I was, smack in the middle of hip LA for 2 days doing my best not to look like a square Midwestern boy that now lives in Connecticut. I rushed around in LA traffic and monsoon like weather for a ton of meetings with film studios around C2E2. Now, this post really is a big tease as I can tell you absolutely nothing as I’m sworn to secrecy and I do believe in the jinx (don’t talk about a no hitter in the 7th inning folks!) but I have some seriously good vibes about what we may be doing at C2E2 with film. Let’s just say that if half of what was discussed comes to the show, we’ll all be smiling a whole lot. I will say no more lest I am struck down by the great gods of movie studio fate.


Before LA, I spent 2 days in San Francisco (to quote the Replacements, “Heading out to San Francisco, definitely not LA) where I feel much more at home. Northern California has a nice vibe to it that puts a lanky geek like me at ease. The days were filled with back to back to back meetings with our friends at Lucasfilm where we really started to hash out some of the plans and ideas for Celebration V. It was a really cool series of meetings and sharing of ideas. I continue to be impressed beyond words with the caliber of people working for Lucasfilm - all highly creative, driven and focused on what there culture and fans are all about.



As promised, this post is one big tease because nothing is ready to be unwrapped, but CV fans, just know we are working hard to wow you this summer in Orlando and in spite of the fact that me, the lanky geek is involved, I think we are going to pull of something really cool for everyone.



Stay tuned, I swear to you I’ll be able to start trickling out some details, especially on C2E2 stuff soon and until then, I’m sorry for the vague teasing posts, but I don’t want you to think I’m sitting around playing Super Tecmo Bowl on the NES all day – I only do that half the day.



-L

Year-Long Free Korean Movie Series Continues!

We mentioned earlier in the year that the Korean Cultural Service in Manhattan is hosting a year-long free movie series every other Tuesday night at the Tribeca Cinemas (54 Varick Street, on the corner of Canal). Seating is first come, first served basis. (Unless you RSVP at info@koreanculture.org or 212-759-9550.)

The next films in the series...

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 @ 7pm
BEAUTIFUL (2008, 88 minutes, New York Premiere)
With director Jun Jai-Hong

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23 @ 7pm
BREATHLESS (2009, 131 minutes)
With director/writer/producer/star Yang Ik-June

TUESDAY, MARCH 9 @ 7pm
DIE BAD (2000, 98 minutes, New York Premiere)

TUESDAY, MARCH 23 @ 7pm
SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE (2002, 129 minutes)

TUESDAY, APRIL 6 @ 7pm
PHONE (2002, 109 minutes)

Win Lunch With A Marvel Editor!

How do you feel about games of chance?



This one is easy and there is not much risk involved – it’s not like hunting humans or a pyramid scheme, you just have to sign up for the C2E2 official newsletter and you could win any one of the following terribly cool, kick ass prizes:



Grand Prize: Lunch with a Marvel editor at C2E2 and a weekend pass

One (1) C2E2 VIP package

Three (3) C2E2 weekend passes

Five (5) signed Alex Ross C2E2 posters
Fifteen (15) limited edition C2E2 t-shirts



So how you can parlay your email address into a once and a lifetime romantic lunch for 2 with a Marvel Editor in Chicago (Legal notice: Romance is not guaranteed)?



You will be automatically entered online when you register online for the free C2E2 official fan e-newsletter at http://www.chicagocomicandentertainmentexpo.com/ during the Sweepstakes period. Limit one (1) entry per person. The Sweepstakes begins 12:00 AM EST on Monday, February 1, 2010 and ends 3:00 PM EST on Monday, March 15, 2010.



-Lance

Metal Monday Returns!

And now a word from Brian...

Hello my friends! It has been much too long since we were able to add some metal to your Monday. The Cats have been running rampant all over medium at large for several weeks but we are back to add some aggression to your black Monday. This Metal Monday will celebrate what I consider to be the greatest metal band of all time. These guys were the first people to really get me excited about cool artwork, and their posters were plastered all over my bedroom for many years. They are british, they have pyramids on stage, their mascot is just like a comic book character, the lead singer is the pilot of their own 747, they have been doing this for almost 30 years and they have giant remote control robots on stage. Nuff said! Ladies and Gentlemen….I give you IRON MAIDEN!!!!! Real metal never dies!

I’m Not Playing Favorites, But I Have Man Crush On Chris Ware

Last week we made a guest announcement on C2E2 that included a raft of great names, and I have of course as the dude in charge, love them all equally. However, I love Chris Ware a little bit more. I don’t usually talk about my personal taste in comics much on this blog, wanting to be somewhat “impartial” but my tastes lean towards the “higher brow” stuff – for a total lack of a better way to describe my taste – and Chris Ware is perhaps one of my favorite artists. I’ve been pining to bring him to NYCC for years but never succeeded, so once we knew C2E2 was a go, I’ve been scheming and dreaming to get him to the show. I’m pretty psyched. Yeah, we organize these shows and put lots of work into them, but we’re fans too and the fan boy in me has come out…..


On a related side note, every year Chicago Comics does a cool piece of art for there birthday/anniversary and while I was there in December they gave me the cool sculpture that Alex Ross and Chris Ware teamed up on. Gotta love those guys….



More details on just what Chris will be doing at C2E2 when I know!



-L

Polysics! February 13! Gramercy Theatre!

Japan's Polysics are coming to NYC on February 13! Formed in 1997 by Japanese high school student Hiroyuki Hayashi, the Polysics are named after Hayashi's first keyboard, a Korg Polysix. After watching some live footage of Devo and becoming heavily inspired by new wave music of the West, Hayashi decided to quit his job and form a band that would expand on the cartoonish image and musical ideas of the zany art-punk icons he had seen on TV. He linked up with drummer Junichi Sugai and Sako (aka Poly 2), who took the role of singing vocoded robotic vocals and driving the low-end through a bass synthesizer, as well as Kayo, the antithesis of spastic performers, whose stoic, mechanical stage presence on the synthesizer and vocoder combined with the other members' frenetic live antics have melded into the unique stage dynamic the Polysics are known for today.

Want to learn more? Visit...
http://www.myspace.com/polysics

Want to go? Click here for tickets...
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/416497