Lance Briggs Charity Fundraiser - April 12

Lance Briggs is a Chicago Bear. And a huge comics fan. And a C2E2 guest. And he loves kids. And his charity -- Briggs4Kidz -- is hosting "A Reason to Dream" fundraiser on April 12th. Held at the Lumen (839 West Fulton Market) in Chicago, attendees will include Copeland Bryan with the Detroit Lions, Tim Shaw and other fellow Chicago Bears players and community VIPs.

Briggs4Kidz focuses on raising funds and providing guidance during hard economic times for poverty stricken youth. The foundation has participated in fundraisers since its 2006 launch with events in Chicago as well as other cities including Lance's hometown of Sacramento, CA and Phoenix, AZ.

"A Reason to Dream" will be featuring a silent auction, food, music and other fun entertainment throughout the evening.

For information, visit www.briggs4kidz.com.

Gabe and Tycho in NYC

The line for the Gabe and Tycho signing at Kinokuniya in NYC. They've been here since 5:30. The line still wraps around to the back of the store.

Star Wars CV VIP Tix Sold Out - In 35 Minutes

Thanks to an overwhelming demand for the VIP packages - a new feature offered at Celebration V - both the Jedi Master and the Jedi Knight packages have sold out.

To those who had purchased badges already, and took advantage of this great new service, congratulations! We will see you at Celebration V, and we trust that you will love your VIP experience.

To those of you who were hoping to buy, we know you will love Celebration V. There will be wonderful things to enjoy for everyone!

The Jedi Master packages sold out in 15 minutes and the Jedi Knight packages in 35 minutes.

-Lance

Yume Cosplay Regionals!

The New York Anime Festival's Masquerade has a heck of a grand prize -- a trip for two to Japan titled The Yume Cosplay Prize. And to give as many fans as we can a chance to win this dream come true, NYAF's very proud to be working with a selection of conventions across the USA as regionals for the Yume Prize. Win any of their Masquerades and you're automatically qualified to participate in NYAF's Masquerade and be in the running for the trip to Japan.

Today, we're excited to announce Anime Central and Metrocon will both be hosting Yume Prize regionals! They join previously-announced regionals Anime USA and Anime Matsuri.

NYAF's Yume Cosplay Prize regional calendar looks like...

Metrocon – July 23-25, 2010 – Tampa, FL
Anime Central – May 14-16, 2010 – Rosemont, IL
Anime Matsuri – April 2-4, 2010 – The Woodlands, TX
Anime USA – November 20-22, 2009 – Arlington, VA

Tiffany Tezna and Cassandra May won Anime USA's Masquerade, and will be coming to NYC to participate in NYAF's! Who'll take the title at Anime Matsuri, Anime Central, and Metrocon? It could be you!

Splendid Magic of Penny Arcade in NYC!

Penny Arcade's creators, Mike "Gabe" Krahulik and Jerry "Tycho" Holkins, are coming to NYC tomorrow! In between making their comic, Gabe and Tycho have composed "The Splendid Magic of Penny Arcade: 11 1/2 Year Anniversary Book", and they'll now be meeting fans, speaking about their comic, and signing copies of their new book at Kinokuniya Bookstore. Gabe and Tycho will be at Kinokuniya Bookstore (located at 1073 Ave of Americas) on March 30th for a special booksigning beginning at 5:30 PM.

Won't you join us and the creators of Penny Arcade in NYC on March 30th?

Iron Man: Extremis! Marvel's Newest Motion Comic At C2E2!

Marvel's just announced their latest motion comic's an adaptation of Warren Ellis and Adi Granov's Iron Man: Exremis, debuting April 16, from Marvel Knights Animation!

Extremis puts Tony Stark up against his greatest threat ever -- a terrorist transformed into an unstoppable force with the powerful bio-engineered Extremis super-soldier serum. Combatting this foe, Stark redefines Iron Man's mission for the 21st century, setting the Armored Avenger on a new direction that alters his life forever.

Iron Man: Extremis will be available for download on iTunes, Zune, and Xbox, with new episodes available bi-weekly through June. Each of the six episodes is only $1.99, with an extra sized premiere running nearly 20 minutes long.

For a trailer and more, click on over to Marvel.com and Marvel.com/Extremis!

But what's the C2E2 tie-in? Extemis debuts April 16. Hey, isn't that the first day of C2E2? I think it is. And I think Marvel's holding a special premiere screening of the motion comic at 5:45 PM on April 16 in room E450. In fact, I know they are! Want to attend this very special event? You can, but seating is limited. To get your free ticket to the Iron Man: Extremis screening, swing by the Marvel booth (758) and pick one before they're gone.

Note, though, that due to mature content, Iron Man: Extremis is for mature audiences only. You must be at least 18 years old to receive a ticket to the event.

Gaiman Dream Experience Tickets Are Sold Out!

As of last night, Dream Experience tickets to the CBLDF's Evening with Neil Gaiman are gone! All sold out! If you want to attend C2E2's Saturday night event, Prime and General seating's still available at C2E2.com.

Star Wars Celebration V – The C2E2 Exclusive T-Shirt

Earlier this week we unveiled some of our Star Wars CV plans for C2E2 next month in Chicago, and now I’ve got a sneak peek at the C2E2/CV exclusive t-shirt we’ll be selling from the CV booth at the show. So not only will there be Star Wars stars to meet and panels to see but you can also get your hands on an exclusive Celebration V/C2E2 t-shirt that will only be available if you purchase tickets for Celebration V at C2E2.

I think the shirt is pretty cool (I’ll be buying one!) - it gives a nod to both shows, and will be produced in a super, duper limited quantity.

Take a look at the shirt below and then make plans to come out to C2E2 to get a sneak peek at Celebration V and your hot hands on this limited edition tee.

- Lance

Be@rbrick Series 20 To Include Captain Action!

Our friends at Captain Action just let us know something awesome. Medicom is the company behind the Be@rbrick. To any serious toy collector out there, you know what I'm talking about. To the more general readers, take a look at the image to the right. A Be@rbrick's kinda like a Lego, only it's a bear. And Be@rbricks have been designed featuring the look and feel of some of the world's biggest comics and pop culture icons. Google "Be@rbrick". Go on.

Now, we just got word that a Captain Action Be@rbrick will be featured in Be@rbrick's upcoming Series 20 release. The Captain Action Be@rbrick will stand side by side with Be@rbrick's designed around Marvel’s Iron Man 2, Disney’s Toy Story 3 and The Gremlins, along with many more. Series 20 debuts at the end of June. Way to go, Ed!

For more on Captain Action, click over to CaptainActionNow.com!

Caturday!

PAX East Day 1 Almost in the Bag

Mc Frontalot took the stage at PAX East at 1:11 this morning, so we are an hour or so from Day 1 wrapping up. Maybe I'll get to sleep soon. Tomorrow is going to be epic......

-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!

Cool C2E2 Art from Zorphert & Fred

Niiiiiice. Check out the web comic at www.zfcomics.com. They'll be at C2E2, will you?

-L

Waiting For Wil

Check out this shot of the audience filling the theatre at PAX East waiting for Wil Wheaton's keynote. Awesome. We moved the entire crowd into the halls by 240, not too bad and now the show is jamming in a serious way.

Wish you were here.....

-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!

PAX East is Open!!!!!!

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!

The Celebration Starts at C2E2!

Star Wars Celebration V isn't offically until August in Orlando, but the festivities will get a kick-start at C2E2! Fans ready to start the Star Wars party early will find a mini-Celebration on the exhibit hall floor, featuring celebrities, autographs, and a special collectible T-Shirt that can only be found at the show.

From a Star Wars Celebration pavilion on the show floor, Star Wars stars from the films will be appearing through Official Pix, the official autograph and photo licensee of Lucasfilm...

•Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia Organa) A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi (scheduled for Saturday & Sunday only)
•Ray Park (Darth Maul) The Phantom Menace
•Daniel Logan (Young Boba Fett) Attack of the Clones
•Amy Allen (Jedi Aayla Secura) Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith
•Orli Shoshan (Jedi Shaak Ti) Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith
•Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Revenge of the Sith

Not only will there be stars to meet, collectors can get their hands on an exclusive Celebration V/C2E2 T-Shirt that will only be available to those who purchase their tickets for Celebration V at C2E2. The tee gives a nod to both shows, and will be a treasure for Star Wars fans, and fans of Celebrations.

On stage, Lucasfilm’s Steve Sansweet will be speaking on Saturday, April 17th in the IGN Theater. The show starts at 1:15 PM, with Sansweet exploring the past -- the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back -- the present -- the exciting weekly animated series The Clone Wars -- and the not too distant future -- including Star Wars Celebration V.

Sunday, kids of all ages can learn to draw The Clone Wars characters at the Variant Stage at 1:00 PM, with Star Wars artists Katie Cook and Grant Gould. Drawing paper and pencils provided, or budding artists can bring their own sketchbooks.

A Galaxy Far, Far Away's Coming to Chicago!

UPDATE: For full Star Wars autographing details, visit http://www.scifiexpo.com/DCC/c2e2.html.

Peter Beagle Comes To C2E2

Peter S. Beagle -- author of The Last Unicorn -- is coming to C2E2. The acclaimed author will be in Chicago signing autographs and appearing at a screening of The Last Unicorn animated motion picture as part of C2E2 as well as at the Tattoo Factory Gallery (4443 N. Broadway) for a very special Last Unicorn Art Show.

Beagle was born in New York City in 1939 and has written works including A Fine and Private Place, The Last Unicorn, Tamsin, The Innkeeper's Song, and the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning story Two Hearts. Now 71 years old, Peter is writing more than ever, having completed 40 new stories and two new novels in the last three years. To mark his 50th year as a professional writer, in 2009 and 2010 he also produced Peter S. Beagle’s 52/50 Project -- a marathon set of 52 week-by-week releases of new poems and song lyrics.

Thanks to IDW, Peter’s work is finally coming to the graphic world. The first release (a six-issue adaptation of The Last Unicorn) launches in April. An adaptation of A Fine and Private Place will follow.

For more information, visit www.peterbeagle.com.

Carrie Fisher is Coming to Star Wars Celebration V and C2E2!

And now a little news from StarWars.com...

The original princess with an attitude, Carrie Fisher is slated to appear at Star Wars Celebration V during the show weekend of August 12-15 at the Orange County Convention Center. Fisher, who portrayed Princess Leia Organa in the original Star Wars trilogy, will be greeting fans and signing autographs in the Celebration Autograph Hall, and is scheduled to appear on stage for an interview and a question and answer session. Fisher is the first of a number of upcoming, exciting guest announcements for the huge fan festival.

Prior to Celebration, Fisher's fans can meet her in the Celebration V pavilion at C2E2, the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2). C2E2 is managed by Reed Exhibitions, the company producing Celebration V in cooperation with Lucasfilm. Fisher will be signing autographs in the pavilion with Official Pix, Lucasfilm's licensee for authentic Star Wars photos and autographs.

An audience favorite for both her film and stage roles, Fisher was 19 years old when she became a cultural icon as Princess Leia in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. Her film career started when she was even younger, playing opposite Warren Beatty in Shampoo in 1975. She is the daughter of actress Debbie Reynolds and singer Eddie Fisher. In addition to A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, Fisher has performed in numerous movies and television series, including The Blues Brothers, The Man with One Red Shoe, Hannah and Her Sisters, The Burbs, When Harry Met Sally, Austin Powers, Heartbreakers, Smallville, Family Guy and Fanboys, as well as in her own series of television specials, Conversations from the Edge with Carrie Fisher, and her live stage show, Wishful Drinking.

Though she is famous for her film, television and stage roles, Fisher devotes much of her time to writing. She has penned several novels, including the semi-autobiographical Postcards from the Edge, which was made into a successful movie starring Meryl Streep. Three additional best selling novels -- Surrender the Pink, Delusions of Grandma, and The Best Awful -- followed. Her new memoir, Wishful Drinking, is published by Simon & Schuster.

Don't miss Carrie Fisher at Star Wars Celebration V, and coming up next at C2E2 in Chicago!

C2E2 Marvel Exclusives!

Check it out, below are the C2E2 variant exclusives from Marvel we'll be selling in the C2E2 show store in Chicago next month. Cool stuff, eh?

-Lance

Ultimates Comics New Ultimates #1 C2E2 Variant
Written by JEPH LOEB
Pencils & Cover by FRANK CHO
If only a few super heroes survived the Ultimatum -- who is left to become the next super powered team to be reckoned with? The NEW Ultimates! With Thor gone, Loki takes his revenge unleashing the worst of Asgard on Earth. Iron Man must gather the heroes for their biggest Ultimates adventure yet. But who has made the final cut? And who can’t be trusted? The Ultimates face evil once again and you’ll never guess the new enemies they’ll find…or should we say old friends? Superstar creators, JEPH LOEB and FRANK CHO (in his Ultimate Comics debut!) bring you the new face of the Ultimate line in NEW ULTIMATES: THOR REBORN!

Captain America: Reborn Premiere HC C2E2 Variant
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Penciled by BRYAN HITCH & BUTCH GUICE
Cover by JOE QUESADA
Following the events of Captain America #600, Steve Rogers’ closest friends and allies may have found a way to bring back the original Captain America. Or is what they found something more sinister? The Red Skull’s greatest plan to destroy Captain America has been in motion and its completion is almost at hand. Will Captain America be lost forever or will he be REBORN? Collecting CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN #1-6 and CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN: PRELUDE digital comic.

Sea Bear and Grizzly Shark

It ain't no Watchmen, but with a title like Sea Bear and Grizzly Shark, it doesn't have to be. Image will be bringing out Ryan Ottley and Jason Howard, the gents behind the upcoming Sea Bear and Grizzly Shark one shot. Grrrrr!

Want to learn more about the book? Of course, you do. Click over to theygotmixedup.blogspot.com for details.

C2E2 Panel Updates! (Cleveland Rocks!)

If you click on over to the C2E2 website, you'll find we've updated our panel listings. Added are some longer descriptions, a few revised times, and a handful of new panels. Want some highlights?

The Cleveland Show
Saturday at 6:15 in E451
The creators of The Cleveland Show give a sneak peek at an upcoming episode and answer your questions about FOX’s newest hit animated comedy!

Adapting Comics Books to Film and Television
Friday at 5:30 in E351
In many ways, the comic book is the second cousin to film, capturing snapshots and moments within a cinematic structure. The adaptation of comics to film  and television has come a long way since the episodic serials of the Golden Age, and today’s craftsmen have discovered more ways of translating comics into movies than could have possibly been conceived in the 1940s. New technologies and innovative creative styles have combined to make comics the most compelling source material for modern filmmakers and television producers. This panel, made up of some of the most talented filmmakers and comic book talent, will explore what goes into translating the four-color world into silver screen gems.

Panelists: Michael Uslan, David Uslan, Peter David, Jimmy Palmiotti, Ron Garney, Jon Goldwater of Archie Comics, and Robert Robinson of Framelight Productions. Moderated by Tony Panaccio, pop culture columnist.

Taking Comic Books Into the Digital World
Saturday at 1:30 in E352
In a world in which people can watch television shows on handheld communication devices like iphones, there are virtually dozens of ways for the entertainment industry to get their wares into the hands and minds of consumers. Comic Books, and variant products of the genre, are part of that new wave, with translations and formats that stretch across a wide array of digital technologies and platforms, including the Internet, mobile phones, PDAs and more. This panel of digital pros, creators and licensing pros will discuss the future of comics in the digital world.

Panelists: David Uslan, Michael Uslan, Rick Karo of Comflix, Micah Baldwin of Graphic.ly Studios, Christian Beranek of The Webcomic Factory, Mike Pellerito of Archie Comics, Ron Garney, and Jimmy Palmiotti. Moderated by Tony Panaccio, pop culture columnist.

CV VIP Ticket Details, a Vid and a CV@C2E2 Teaser......

Hey kids, if you haven't noticed yet, we've put the details of the Star Wars Celebration V VIP tickets up on this site this week. You can check em out right here. They will go on sale on next week, but current ticket holders get an exclusive window to buy them first.....

This week we'll also have some a big announcement about Star Wars programming at C2E2 and we think it'll be a fun preview of what is to come at CV. Stay tuned for that little nugget coming out this week.

Lastly, check out the vid overview of Celebration below. Our pal Steve Sansweet showed this in his presentation at MegaCon (or I think he did, I didn't get to make the trip to Orlando, but I read about it on thefroce.net). This should whet your appetite just a bit....

-Lance

New Doctor Who Trailer from BBC America

This trailer premiered this past weekend over at BBC America. The new season of Doctor Who premieres Saturday, April 17 on BBC America -- but Chicago fans get a headstart, with the first two episodes screening on April 16 at C2E2. Geronimo!

C2E2 Kicks Ass!

C2E2 is very pleased to announce Kick-Ass, directed by Matthew Vaughn and starring Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Nicolas Cage, will receive a red carpet premiere in Chicago, IL on Thursday, April 15, 2010 -- on the eve of C2E2. Selected cast members will participate in the Chicago red carpet premiere, and tickets will be made available on IGN.com and C2E2.com in the coming weeks for comics fans and C2E2 attendees wishing to attend.

Then, on April 16, C2E2 attendees will receive an additional opportunity to meet cast members from Kick-Ass when they participate in an autographing session at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo. Details as to the time and location of this signing are forthcoming on C2E2.com.

Kick-Ass's Chicago premiere is a partnership between Lionsgate, IGN, and C2E2, and we're very proud to be working with our friends at Lionsgate and IGN to make this event happen. C2E2 is a celebration of the best of comics and popular entertainment, and Kick-Ass perfectly represents this convergence.

Penny Arcade Book Signing in NYC!

Are you going to PAX East? March 26-28 in Boston, it's three nonstop days and nights of video games, brought to you by the webcomic Penny Arcade (with a little help from us folks behind NYCC and NYAF).

At the center of it all are Penny Arcade's creators, Mike "Gabe" Krahulik and Jerry "Tycho" Holkins.

And as soon as PAX wraps (and the guys catch up on their sleep), Gabe and Tycho are coming to NYC! In between making their comic, Gabe and Tycho have composed "The Splendid Magic of Penny Arcade: 11 1/2 Year Anniversary Book", and they'll now be meeting fans, speaking about their comic, and signing copies of their new book at Kinokuniya Bookstore. Gabe and Tycho will be at Kinokuniya Bookstore (located at 1073 Ave of Americas) on March 30th for a special booksigning beginning at 5:30 PM.

The event takes place on the store's second floor, and Kinokuniya encourages fans purchase their books early to assure they have a copies to sign. (We tend to agree, as every event Gabe and Tycho have been part of at NYCC was absolutely mobbed.)

Won't you join us and the creators of Penny Arcade in NYC on March 30th?

Emma Caulfield -- Buffy's Anya -- Comes to C2E2!

Emma Caulfield -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer's Anya -- will be coming to C2E2! Coming out on behalf of PopCult, she'll be signing at the PopCult and Devil's Due booth at the show. PopCult will also be hosting two parties at C2E2, on Saturday and Sunday nights. For more on PopCult's parties, visit...

http://c2e2.com/en/Events/Parties/

Chuck Dixon and Mike Capps Cancellations

C2E2 features over a hundred comics creators from the big publishers, to the indie press, to guys and girls who publish their own comics right on the web. And, as is unfortunately the case, guests sometimes have to cancel. Be it for health, family matters, or scheduling conflicts, it’s unforeseen as we start planning a con, but it become unavoidable as we get into the final month. It’s unfortunate, but we want the best for the women and men appearing at our con, and when something comes up, we hope we’ll see them next year.

All this is our preamble before saying that we’ve learned guests Chuck Dixon and Mike Capps will no longer be coming to C2E2 this year. For health and work reasons, these gents are no longer able to make it out. We’re bummed, but we wish them well, and we hope to see them in 2011.

Caturday: Fez Edition

Walter the cat, by way of Kelsey.

Monsters and Manga-Ka at Japan Society

NYAF's friends at NYC's Japan Society have a trio of features that may be of interest to you. Give 'em a read, and explore the world of Japanese graphical arts outside of Bleach...

Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters: Japanese Prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi from the Arthur R. Miller Collection
Utagawa Kuniyoshi's vivid scenes from history and legend, wildly popular 150 years ago, are a major influence on the work of today's manga and anime artists. This exhibition features over 130 dramatic depictions of giant spiders, skeletons and toads; Chinese ruffians; women warriors; haggard ghosts; and desperate samurai combat. Friday, March 12 — Sunday, June 13.

More Info: http://www.japansociety.org/event_detail?eid=31ec3399

Mangaka-in-Residence: Hiroki Otsuka
Japan Society taps internationally acclaimed visual artist and professional illustrator Hiroki Otsuka as mangaka (comic book illustrator) artist-in-residence in conjunction with the Society's spring exhibition Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters: Japanese prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi from the Arthur R. Miller Collection (March 12-June 13, 2010). Otsuka will create an original full-length manga (Japanese style comic book) inspired by the work of Kuniyoshi—often working onsite visible to visitors. In addition, Otsuka lends his talents to an array of related activities, including illustration workshops for the general public and New York City high school students, devising and judging an international manga competition, blogging about his work and experience at Japan Society, and creating original Kuniyoshi-inspired artwork to be made available to the public.

More Info: http://www.japansociety.org/hiroki_otsuka

Brutes, Beauties & Beasts: Drawing inspiration from Kuniyoshi with Hiroki Otsuka
Sign up for one or more two-hour sessions with internationally acclaimed artist, Hiroki Otsuka, Japan Society’s Mangaka-in-Residence. Start your visit by seeing our exhibition: Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters: Japanese Prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi from the Arthur R. Miller Collection. Choose one or more of the five themes from the show as the inspiration for your character: Warriors, Beautiful Women, Theater, Landscapes, and Humor.

More Info: http://www.japansociety.org/event_detail?eid=49d8b98f

Chicago Bear Lance Briggs Headlines C2E2's Kids Day!

We're proud to reveal Lance Briggs, five-time Pro Bowl player and Co-Defensive Captain of the Chicago Bears, will serve as C2E2's Kids Day Guest of Honor! Briggs, in addition to his football achievements, is also a huge comics fan. He'll be at the show participating in a number of activities, and together with his charity Briggs4Kidz, he'll be signing footballs, auctioning off Chicago Bears and C2E2 items, and greeting kids and their moms and dads.

Lance's Briggz4Kids raises funds and awareness for at risk youth in the Chicago area. Proceeds from his auctioned items will go to benefit Briggs4Kidz.

Other Kids Day activities include author readings, an opportunity to meet Spider-Man and Stormtroopers, a Star Wars drawing demonstration, and a Making Comics workshop. Children 12 and under get in free on C2E2's Kids Day.

Additionally, outside of C2E2, organizers are sponsoring a week-long Scholastic Book Fair at Pershing East elementary school in downtown Chicago. Pershing East elementary school is located one mile from McCormick Place. The Scholastic Book Fair will run the week leading up to C2E2, and as part of the sponsorship, convention organizers are providing each student with coupons to purchase books at the fair.

Want to meet Lance Briggs? Order your ticket before the weekend to get it mailed to your door.

Stars Will Shine Brightly at Celebration V!

If you missed the news on StarWarsCelebration.com, we've got a little news...

Autograph fans attending Celebration V in Orlando August 12-15 can look forward to meeting their favorite cast and crew stars from the Star Wars movies, particularly from The Empire Strikes Back, when Official Pix returns to Celebration with a great list of guests.

“We are once again honored to be chosen to produce the autograph program for Lucasfilm, and for Reed Exhibitions at Celebration V,” says Ben Stevens, co-owner of Official Pix.

(Photo: Temuera Morrison will drop his guard to meet face-to-face with fans, as he did at the Official Pix autographing area at Celebration III. Photo by Joe McDonald.)

Stevens and Philip Wise, partners in the company, plan to bring guests whose combined careers span all six episodes of the saga, with special attention to guests from The Empire Strikes Back to honor the 30th anniversary of the beloved movie, and from the popular television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Official Pix will use an efficient fast path system to minimize time spent waiting in line, allowing more time for fans to enjoy the abundance of Star Wars programming at Celebration V. The company is the licensed supplier of authentic Star Wars autographs, and have brought memorable guests to Celebrations II, III, IV, and Japan. Collectors can rest assured that they will get their autographs on high-quality prints of unique images of the stars.

The company plans to use a coupon system at the show, with details soon to be announced. In general, fans will purchase and use an appropriate number of coupons for each autograph. The coupons will be good for autographs on Official Pix Celebration V images, or can be used for autographs on items brought from home. Fans should note that licensed Star Wars products are typically acceptable, but signing non-licensed items, like homemade images or toys, is up to the discretion of each autograph guest.

Collectors who do not wish to wait may purchase previously-signed photos from many of the stars who will be signing in the Official Pix area in the exhibit hall.

Autograph guests who will appear at Celebration V will be announced soon, and new guests will be added and announced as the show draws near. Look for updates at www.starwarscelebration.com and www.officialpix.com.

Tonner Huntress C2E2 Exclusive!

Check out the Huntress Deluxe, a 17″ tall exclusive limited to 200 pieces available only at C2E2. Each comes with a certificate of authenticity hand-signed by Robert Tonner. For more, click here.

Did you miss the Iron Man Minimates exclusives posted previously?

Check out DST's and AFX's right here!

C2E2 Panel and Screening Schedule Online!

170. What’s that? That’s the number of panels, screenings, and special events taking place at C2E2. We’ve got close to a dozen theaters, conference spaces, stages, and workshop rooms running all three days with some amazing content. Want to hear the latest from Marvel and DC? Check? Want to meet some of Chicago’s comic book hometown heroes? Check. Want to learn, change, and grow with talks from Reading With Pictures, Diamond, the Comics Studies Conference, and ICv2? Check. Want to see some weird, wonderful, and eclectic performances? Check. Want premiere screenings? Check. C2E2’s got them all, and you can delve into all three days of programming right now at C2E2.com.

Note, though, that most of the schedule is now online, but much of our Hollywood and TV programming will be coming out later, and there are a few other events, too, that will be added to this list in the coming weeks.

Adam and Andy Kubert come to C2E2!

Few names carry as much meaning in the comics world as "Kubert". Joe Kubert defined much of classical comics style, and his Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art has trained many of this generation's most prolific artists. We've been honored by our partnerships with Joe Kubert and the Joe Kubert School in NYC, and we're proud to now announce two of the Kubert School's most illustrious graduates -- and the sons of Joe Kubert -- will be attending C2E2.

Fanboys and fangirls, Adam and Andy Kubert will be coming to Chicago!

Adam Kubert's body of work includes Wolverine, Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man, Superman, and Ghost Rider along with launching Marvel's Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four titles.

Andy Kubert has worked on Ghost Rider, Captain America, Ka-Zar, Thor, and Ultimate X-Men. Of special note are his Marvel 1602 and Whatever Happened to The Caped Crusader -- both with Neil Gaiman. Currently, he's working on the first two issues of DC's 75th anniversary series entitled DC Legacies. His father, comic legend Joe Kubert, is inking, and Swamp Thing creator Len Wein is writing. Andy's also behind the covers for the six issue series The Return of Bruce Wayne, which brings Bruce back to the Batman fold.

C2E2 is honored to have Adam and Andy Kubert with us at our inaugural convention! Fans will be able to find both talents on our show floor signing inside the Joe Kubert School booth.

Monster Mash-Up Mayhem!

Have you looked over the C2E2 Guest List lately? Lots of comics names. But some other names, too. I'm particularly proud of the authors who'll be attending, and if it wasn't apparent from the list, I wanted to highlight four of them... Seth Grahame-Smith, Ben H. Winters, Steve Hockensmith, and Jason Rekulak.

Who are they? The BRAAAAAINS behind the Quirk Classics books. You know, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, Android Karenina, etc. These gents will be appearing throughout the show, and all will come together for a Monster Mash-Up Mayhem! panel on Friday -- moderated by Tasha Robinson of The A.V. Club.

I know, these books don't have pictures in 'em, but they do have zombies. And you can't go wrong with zombies. Unless said zombies have cornered you in an abandoned farmhouse.

A C2E2 Update with The Comics Reporter

I did a quick catch up with Tom Spurgeon of The Comics Reporter this past week. Here’s his intro to the interview and the link to the full interview…..

-Lance

I plan on speaking more than one time to the various convention organizers this year, as that aspect of the comics business remains in a crucially transformational state. Lance Fensterman runs this kind of show when Reed Exhibitions does them. Their inaugural Chicago show C2E2 is forthcoming in April, and their NYCC is scheduled to return this Fall.

Read my full interview with The Comics Reporter here.

Japadog Comes to NYC!

From The Province by way of Ali T. Kokmen...

Noriki Tamura was one of the suprise hits of the recent Olympics. He a Japanese athelete? Nope. A restaurant owner. Tamura ran two "Japadog" kiosks during the Olympics, selling exotic, Japanese-style hotdogs, and he's now eyeing to bring the business to NYC.

Thank you, Japan.

Caprica Comes To NYC on Wednesday!

Our friends at The Paley Center are presenting a special evening dedicated to Syfy's Caprica on Wednesday, March 17. Starting 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.

Something, something, so say we all.

C2E2 Registration 50% Bigger Than New York Comic Con #1

Yeah, you read that right. I look at registration numbers every day (sometimes every hour!) but on Friday’s I get a detailed registration report and we have been comparing C2E2 to the first New York Comic Con. Which is logical, they were both launches and we expected C2E2 to be around the size of NYCC #1. Well folks, I think we’ve underestimated the good fan boys and fan girls of The Mighty Midwest.

We are still 5 weeks out, so percents can be deceiving compared to actual real numbers, but a 50% increase in ticket sales over NYCC #1 is no small number.

READ CAREFULLY: Anyone who attended NYCC #1 knows that it was total bedlam. A big part of that mob scene were the droves of people walking up to buy tickets on site. For C2E2, with the numbers we are seeing already, I urge you to buy your tickets in advance. Seriously, take my advice. The tickets are cheaper, it’s easier, there are no lines and for real – it means you are guaranteed to get in!

So buy them by clicking here, or go to your local Chicagoland comics retailer, and starting next week you can also go to your Chicagoland Borders stores to buy tickets.

If you were at NYCC #1 you will believe, buy in advance or you may not get in!

Don’t forget that the deadline to buy tickets and have them mailed to you is March 19^th! This is also the deadline for complimentary pro and creator registration.

-Lance

A Star is Born!

Maybe you know her Gogo Yubari in Kill Bill. Maybe you know her as Takako Chigusa in Battle Royale. Either way, Chiaki Kuriyama is one of Japan’s most promising young actresses. And she’s now tackling music. And robots. Of course, robots. Going by the name CHiAKi KURiYAMA, she's the artist behind "Ryusei No Namida", the theme to the new Gundam Unicorn series. It's only just a wee bit of a big deal. To celebrate, she's the Artist of the Week at MTV Iggy…

http://www.mtviggy.com/article/artist-profile-chiaki-kuriyama

Buy that's nothing compared to the gift she got in Japan. Chiaki's had an actual star named in her honor. The star "CHiAKi KURiYAMA" in the Monoceros (Unicorn) constellation and was named through Australia’s Springbrook Observatory.

And, in case you're wondering, it's "CHiAKi KURiYAMA" because "i as a normal girl, i as an actress, and i as a singer". Love you too, Japan.

Caturday: Dark Side Edition

From Tonya.

Doctor Who at C2E2

The new series of Doctor Who - featuring the debut of Matt Smith as The Doctor and Karen Gillan as companion Amy Pond - kicks off on BBC America on Saturday, April 17, but BBC America and C2E2 are giving Chicago fans a head start!

BBC America presents its special premiere screening of the first two episodes of Doctor Who on Friday, April 16. Fans attending will be the first to see Episode 2 in the U.S.

After spending the day at the con, gather together with your fellow Who fans at 8 PM in room E353 to witness the first two adventures of The Doctor and Amy Pond.

For more information on Doctor Who, visit www.bbcamerica.com/doctorwho!

Brief C2E2 Gaming and Portfolio Review Notes

Wizards of The Coast's schedule is now online here...
http://www.c2e2.com/en/Events/Gaming-and-Contests/

Top Cow's Portfolio Review times are now online, too...
http://www.c2e2.com/en/Events/Portfolio-Reviews/

The Email I’ve Been Waiting For: LEGO Universe Closed-Beta Invitation

This just showed up in my inbox:

Congratulations, you have been chosen to participate in the Closed-Beta test of LEGO Universe!

The Maelstrom is trying to destroy imagination, so hurry up and create a LEGO Universe account with your LEGO ID. You'll be a heroic minifig before you know it.

Also, I found this in a LEGO shop in Singapore. I've not seen it anywhere but just the other day I did see it's listed as "coming soon" at starwwarsshop.com

-Lance

Jeph Loeb Joins C2E2!

Nothing big to report today. Only that Jeph Loeb will be coming to C2E2. Jeph Loeb's an Emmy Award-nominated and Eisner Award-winning writer/producer.

In comics, Jeph has written for nearly every major icon including Hulk, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Batman, and Superman.

In television, his many credits include Heroes, Lost, and Smallvile.

In film, Teen Wolf and Commando.

Jeph will be appearing on panels and signing at the Marvel booth.

Ennis! Martin! Brooks! Avatar At C2E2!

Garth Ennis. George R.R. Martin. Max Brooks. Mike Wolfer. Jacen Burrows. William Christensen. Brian Pulido. Gianluca Pagliarani. Matt Martin. Christos Gage.

We're proud to announce Avatar Press is coming to C2E2 and bringing the big guns. From showstopper names to international rising stars, the Avatar booth will be packed with 'em all. And, beyond signing in the booth and conducting panels, Avatar is offering a number of show exclusives and merchandise packages -- topping it all off with a special Avatar Friday Night!

From 8 PM to 10 PM on April 16, Avatar will present Max Brooks and George R.R. Martin in their first-ever joint appearance. Brooks's Zombie Survival lectures are a world-wide smash hit, and George R.R. Martin will present a very special reading of one of his favorite works. Jacen Burrows, Mike Wolfer, Gianluca Pagliarani, Christos Gage, and Brian Pulido will be on hand, as well, and mingling with the crowd. And, because it's classy, there'll be a cash bar, too.

For full details on Avatar's guests, exclusives, packages, and tickets to their Friday Night, visit...

http://www.avatarpress.com/conventions/c2e2

Marvel's Joe Quesada Comes To C2E2!

This just in from the Daily Bugle... Acclaimed writer-artist and Marvel's Chief Creative Officer & Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada will be joining the C2E2 guest roster as a noted Guest of Honor. Joe Quesada will be signing at the Marvel Booth (#758) and participating in Marvel panels all weekend long. But most of all, make sure to join Joe for the world premiere of the next blockbuster Marvel Motion Comic Friday night, April 16th! And to top it all off, Joe will reveal his new TOP SECRET Marvel project during the Cup O’ Joe Panel on Saturday, April 17th! Joe Quesada is headlining a long list of amazing guests. Check out the full list and bios at www.C2E2.com.

Pierre's Unemployed

Friend of the show Pierre Bernard used to work on Late Night -- and then The Tonight Show -- with Conan O'Brien. We all know how that ended. What's he up to now? Take a look...

An Evening With Neil Gaiman! Tickets Available Now!

Tickets to the CBLDF's Evening with Neil Gaiman at C2E2 went live today at 12 Central / 1 Eastern. Grab your tickets now at www.C2E2.com!

Cool Toys From Singapore

I spent all of last week in Singapore working on a new project and one of my seemingly endless line up of meetings was with Darren and Jackie of a toy company called Play Imaginative. Darren and Jackie are both great guys and they are doing some amazingly cool stuff with vinyl. I had no choice but to leave Spore with an extra bag full of stuff. Ugly Dolls and To-Fu vinyl to name a few.

In general, besides the stifling heat, Spore is a pretty cool city (state) and boasts an impressive community of geeks. Tons of great comic and toy shops, a thriving traditional bookstore community (Kenny Chan of Kino is THE Godfather of Books in SE Asia!), an impressive 501st Garrison and yes, damn tasty chili crabs.

Here's hoping all goes well and I'm back often in the coming year. Until then, enjoy the pics from Play Imaginative's showroom......

-L

Marvel Portfolio Reviews at C2E2!

What's there to do at C2E2? Lots. Meeting guests... Attending panels... Buying exclusives... Snapping photos of cosplayers... Getting swag... Passing out in our screening rooms... Getting more swag... Maybe getting a job...

You heard right. C2E2's very excited that our publishing friends and partners will be offering portfolio reviews at the con. More soon, but, immediately, we're proud to present Marvel's potfolio review information...

Marvel Entertainment, Inc., one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies with a library of over 5,000 proprietary characters, will be reviewing portfolios of artists, inkers, and colorists for potential future work at the House of Ideas. All creators interested in having their portfolio reviewed should bring copies of their artwork (no originals) to the Marvel Booth (758) by 7 PM on Saturday. After reviewing all samples at the end of each day, we will display a list of creators at the Marvel Booth on Saturday morning, April 17th, and Sunday morning, April 18th, that will include the names and corresponding times of those people we are interested in meeting with. Pencilers should be prepared to drop off at least five pages of sequential art as well as examples of cover illustrations. Inkers' portfolio samples should contain examples of their work over at least three different pencilers. Colorists should provide samples that effectively display their different techniques and coloring abilities on various types of pieces. Samples will not be returned.

Depending upon your area of expertise, you should be prepared to leave behind the following at the Marvel Booth for pre-screening review:

Pencilers: At least five pages of sequential art as well as examples of cover illustrations.

Inkers: Samples of your work over at least three different pencilers.

Colorists: Samples that effectively display your different techniques and coloring abilities on various types of pieces.

Da handy dictionary a Chicaga slang

We've got a handy guide to local eats and hotspots up at C2E2.com called Chicago 101. Think you're ready for the next lesson? Roger Ebert, by way of Jill Thompson's Twitter account, has it for you. Fanboys and fangirls, please read through Da handy dictionary a Chicaga slang before April 16...

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/pages-for-twitter/handy-dictionary-of-chicago-sl.html

Ponyo Day is Today!

Ponyo Day is today at Kinokuniya Bookstore in NYC! Celebrate the release of Ghibli's newest work with author Roland Kelts, who has interviewed Hayao Miyazaki on several occasions and will be sharing clips and insights of his meetings with Miyazaki-san.

In addition to Mr. Kelts's appearance, Ponyo Day will include Learn to Draw Ghibli Characters, Learn Japanese through Ponyo, How We Grew Up With Ghibli with anime industry professionals, and kid-friendly activities all day long. The day runs from 1-5 PM and wraps with a raffle from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment and the New York Anime Festival.

Kinokuniya Bookstore is at 1073 Avenue of the Americas in NYC.

Not in NYC? Take the above coupon to any Kinokuniya Bookstore in the USA to get discount on the Ponyo DVD or Blu-ray!

ComicsPRO Annual Meeting This Month!

Don't forget, 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.

Caturday

From Christine...



Holly Sox emulating her inner Gladys Kravits (the nosy neighbor woman from “Bewitched”)

CBLDF Saturday Night at C2E2: An Evening with Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman, the award-winning author of novels, films, and comics including the epoch-changing graphic novel series The Sandman, will take the stage for a benefit appearance on behalf of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund at C2E2. An "Evening with Neil Gaiman", a paid, ticketed event, will take place on Saturday night, April 17 at 7 PM in the Arie Crown Theater at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. 100% of the proceeds will go to benefit the First Amendment legal work of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

The last time Mr. Gaiman performed theatrical readings was ten years ago on the "Last Angel Tour." On that tour, he crisscrossed the country, giving sold-out readings of stories and poems, both new material and beloved tales, in order to draw attention to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. That was ten years ago. In those ten years, Mr. Gaiman's published such books as American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book. He's made movies and operas. He even started keeping a blog. A generation has grown up who have not seen an evening with Neil Gaiman -- until now.

The "Evening with Neil Gaiman" will be Mr. Gaiman's only public appearance at C2E2. The event will begin at 7 PM with doors opening at 6:30. Tickets will be available both to C2E2 badge holders as well as the general public. (Tickets to C2E2 are not necessary to attend the CBLDF's "Evening with Neil Gaiman", however different pricing applies.)

All fans attending the "Evening with Neil Gaiman" have a choice of Prime Seating or General Seating. Prime Seating is located in the closest five rows to the front of the theater and the stage upon which Neil Gaiman will appear.

A small number of fans will also have the opportunity to attend the "Evening with Neil Gaiman Dream Experience", which includes front center row seats, a limited Meet & Greet mixer with Neil before the event, and a special gift set from The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, in association with Neverwear and Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, which features a never-before-published poem presented on a beautiful and exclusive art print, and accompanying fragrance, with other surprises. Truly a rare opportunity, the "Evening with Neil Gaiman Dream Experience" is extremely limited.

Prime Seating, General Seating, and Dream Experience tickets will go on sale at www.C2E2.com beginning at 12 PM Central time on Monday, March 8. Fans are encouraged to order their tickets early, as tickets will increase by $5 at the door -- or, as is very likely the case, will sell out online.

Online ticket prices are as follow:

Prime Seating
C2E2 Badge Holders - $45
General Public - $60

General Seating
C2E2 Badge Holders - $15
General Public - $30

Dream Experience Tickets
$250

C2E2 VIP Badge Holders qualify for an additional discount on Prime and General seating and the option to purchase tickets prior to Monday, March 8. Check your inbox if you're a C2E2 VIP who purchased your badge as of March 4, 2010 for details. For all new VIPs after this date, please contact C2E2 for further information.

http://www.c2e2.com/en/Events/Neil-Gaiman/

Miho Hatori at the Philly Art Museum Tonight

Miho Hatori — former member of Cibo Matto, original voice of the Gorillaz member Noodle, and Handsome Boy Modeling School and Beastie Boys collaborator — will be appearing at the the Philly Art Museum tonight for their "Art After 5 Party". Her music is a blend of her Japanese heritage, along with bossa nova, hip-hop, funk, metal, and rock influences. The event is free with museum admission.

For more, visit http://philamuseum.org/artafter5/.

Batman Takes Over C2E2!

I got news! Famed producer Michael Uslan and noted voice actor Kevin Conroy will be attending the inaugural C2E2 as Guests of Honor. Beyond being two of the most influential talents bringing Batman off the pages of the comic book, with much of The Dark Knight shot in Chicago – including Chicago’s McCormick Place – we are pleased to bring the two personalities together under one roof in Chicago where they'll both appear to meet fans, sign autographs, and speak on panels, discussing – among many other things – Batman! Michael Uslan has been the Executive Producer of all the Batman films since Tim Burton'a Batman, and Kevin Conroy is the iconic voice of the animated Batman, a role he has played since the cartoon's 1991 incarnation.

The combination of Michael Uslan and Kevin Conroy in Chicago at the same time for C2E2 is absolutely awesome. Scenes from The Dark Knight were filmed in McCormick Place, so it's very exciting that Michael Uslan will be appearing at the Chicago event. There are thousands of fans and Chicagoans who'll come to hear what he has to say. He's a pre-eminent Hollywood producer, and we are honored to have him at our show. On top of that, we have Kevin Conroy who is THE voice of Batman. And he's also an incredibly accomplished actor who has appeared on Broadway and acted in numerous Shakespeare productions, in addition to his TV work.

Comic talents who have worked on the Batman comics will be present, including Tony Daniel, Mark Bagley, Gene Ha, and Chuck Dixon.

For Uslan and Conroy's bios, click over to www.C2E2.com.