A few days ago ReedPOP announced a new "Fan Verification" system for buying tickets for NYCC. ReedPOP head Lance Fensterman told us the system was in order to combat scalping, but also to get more of a snapshot of who wants to attend New York Comic-Con. Getting "verified" is key because online sales is the only way to buy NYCC badges this year. In the past there were some on site and retail sales but no more.

Once again, publishers, publicists, booksellers, bibliophiles, and other assorted individuals converged for the annual BookExpo America trade show, held last week. And once again, I joined those 18,000 trades people, returning to Chicago just a month after C2E2. As a change of pace, the show was moved to Chicago (last seen locally in 2004), and […]

This morning, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a $1 Billion expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. Construction will start soon, and will require the demolition of the North Hall, built in 2008. That space is best known to comics fans as the site of New York Comic Con’s artist […]

As per Con tradition, we slept in on Sunday. Not because of wild parties on Saturday night, but because we were a bit tired, and we could, and there wasn’t anything scheduled on our agenda.Today’s surprise on the Press Room menu was a nice TexMex chili. We haven’t noticed many Mexican or Latino restaurants in […]

We arrived back at the convention center bright and early, and were pleasantly surprised to discover that the press room was serving breakfast! After a brief tutorial on the Jura coffee maker (no… not a “coffee maker”… a “coffee juke box”!), I had a nice cup of normal (black) coffee with crema, and a few slices […]

[Please tolerate any typos… this is being typed on a European laptop…  z and y are switched, thereäs all sorts of rearranged characters, and the spellcheck is Deutsch.] ReedPOP is hosting their first Vienna Comic Con this weekend! Looking at the calendar, this coincided with my annual ten-day Thanksgiving vacation (which uses only three vacation […]

Forbes reports on New York Comic Con’s record attendance: If you spent any time at all at New York Comic Con last weekend, you know there were lots and lots and LOTS of people crowding the Javits Center on the west edge of Manhattan. Official attendance numbers now confirm that observation. ReedPop just confirmed to […]

A con tradition, ReedPOP schedules a final panel at New York Comic Con where the main staff gathers to listen to concerns from attendees. This year, the panel consisted of Lance Fensterman (Senior Global Vice President), Mike Armstrong (Event Director), MK Goodwin (Content Manager), Jackie  Williams (Marketing Director), and Kristina Rogers (Event Manager). (Shown, right to left, above.) […]

From the New York Stock Exchange calendar: The New York Stock Exchange welcomes representatives from ReedPOP to ring the NYSE Closing Bell® to celebrate the launch of New York Super Week and New York Comic Con in New York City from October 5-11. New York Comic Con is the largest pop culture convention in America, […]

  In a press release today, ReedPOP revealed the cover to the 2015 New York Comic Con program guide.  Illustrated by superstar artist Andy Kubert, the cover celebrates the 10th anniversary of NYCC and the 30th anniversary of the Frank Miller classic The Dark Knight Returns.  This collaboration between DC Comics and ReedPOP also seeks to […]

While most of the ReedPOP staff were in Brooklyn promoting the official beer of New York Comic Con, Lance Fensterman was in China, announcing the creation of the Beijing Comic Convention, to be held June 9-10, 2016! Beijing joins the Shanghai Comic Convention as the second ReedPOP show in China, and their eighth in Asia. […]

Photo courtesy of ReedPOP

Lance Fensterman might just be the busiest man in comics. As the Senior Global Vice President  of ReedPOP, he oversees a diverse portfolio of fan events spread over four continents and ten  countries, including New York Comic Con, Penny Arcade Expo,  and Star Wars Celebration.

Mr. Fensterman graciously agreed to an email interview, finding time to answer my  questions during his frequent travels around the globe. It will be structured similar to a radio interview, although a bit like talking with an astronaut on  his way to Jupiter. This interview will take multiple days weeks to complete, then formatted for readability. 

Torsten Adair: Lance, before we get to the interesting world of fan events, I’d like to know your  secret origin. What sort of childhood did you  have? What geeky passions did you have as a child, and did they help you later in your professional careers?

Lance Fensterman: Man, this is serious journalism, you are going way back.  You don’t plan to speak with my  high school guidance counselor for background, do you?  I’m not certain he would have much good to say about me…….

I was born in Fargo, which immediately explains a lot of my quirk.  More generally though I was a child of the 80’s with all the usual toy  obsessions; GI Joe, Transformers, model rockets, baseball cards, Star Wars, comics and most  of all, LEGO’s.  The first LEGO kit I really remember going nuts over was #497, the Galaxy Explorer.  I got it  for Christmas and still have it, complete with the  instructions.  Every few years I rebuild it.  I really got into comics when Todd McFarlane started  working on Spider Man and eventually did that reboot.  I  remember getting caught tearing open a corner of a Christmas  present that I hoped was the Star Wars Ewok Village – it  was.  I got much craftier about sneaking peeks at my presents after  that…….

TA: The Galaxy Explorer was an awesome set, alas, I had to settle for the Alpha-1 Rocket Base, and the Starfleet Voyager. [Yes, LEGO had that name ten years before Star Trek!] One can always tell a Christmas present is LEGO just by the unique sound the bricks make when shaken.

Since you mention Ewoks, what was your “hero’s journey” from the agricultural metropolis of Fargo to the metropolis of New York City and trade exhibitions? What’s the career path for that young fan currently dreaming of one day becoming a pop culture impresario?

LF: That my friend is a twisting path filled with plenty of adventures…….

I moved to DC for kicks when I was 18 and shortly thereafter started a couple of businesses in Ohio (don’t ask) the first being a dot com alternative news source and web marketing business and the other a restaurant.  Mind you I’d never worked in a restaurant prior to actually buying one, but how hard could it be?  I ran those business for some years before selling them and moving back to the Twin Cities where I grew up looking for the next adventure.  I saw a job running the largest independent bookstore in the state and thought it sounded like fun.  So I talked my way into running a bookstore even though I’d never worked in one before (see a theme?).  It was during that time that I got very involved with the American Booksellers Association, the trade group representing indy bookstores all over the US. From there I was recruited to move back east, to Connecticut to run a venerable indy bookstore and help the owner expand with an acquisition of another.  Someone I knew in publishing told me about a job with a company called Reed running BookExpo America, the big B2B publishing event, so I talked my way into that job running a big conventions after only attending one convention in my life (the trend continues).  Two years year later my eventual coconspirator at Reed, Greg Topalian launched New York Comic Con and asked me to come run it, we then launched the New York Anime Festival, negotiated the Star Wars Celebration deal with LucasFilm and were on the cusp of forging our deal with Penny Arcade, that was when ReedPOP was born.  Creating that brand and building it into what it has become is by far my career highlight (which is easy to say when you look back on what else I’ve done!)………

TA: “You didn’t know it couldn’t be done, so you went and did it?”

As we approach the tenth annual New York Comic Con, in retrospect, what has surprised you the most? Has the Javits Center space thwarted any of your mad plans, or presented interesting challenges? How has running NYCC contrasted with running BookExpo America in the same space?

LF: The entire event is a surprise.  It’s amazing and humbling the way the fans have embraced the show.  Because ReedPOP was a total invention and all of our shows have been total inventions, it is all fresh, surprising and exciting.  We’ve never run a ten year old comic show, so we continue to learn, create, adapt and I hope most off all listen to our fans and customers.  I think what overall surprises me are how much we’ve learned as a team and yet how much we still don’t know.  ReedPOP is comprised of an exceptional group of people that really, really care about our shows and our fans and they are constantly asking why and why not and how do we do it better…

As for the Javits, that is a long, long conversation with lots of colorful stories that I will never put in writing!  It is come a long way since I did my first event there in 2007.  It was BEA and the air conditioning wasn’t working.  I can’t tell you how many people in publishing still give me shit for that!  In the last 5 years that have truly overhauled the building in every way and with the 7 line now extending to the building and the high line terminus being right outside the building it is really starting to feel like the building is connecting to the neighborhood.

TA: Last year, the attendance hit 151,000. How many more fans can you fit inside? Will Thursday go to a full day, similar to Friday’s evolution? Are there reasons why Columbus Day remains untapped?

LF: Not to be a stickler, but I think the number was 153,000.  I don’t want to be difficult, but I bet those 2,000 people would want to be acknowledged!

The only way more people per day will come into the Javits Center is if our Super Week concept really takes off and we are able to spread events, content and happenings all of NYC.  If that happens then it might allow us to raise the daily capacity just a bit knowing people will be spread out around the city.  That said, you will see our unique number of fan number continue to rise as we convert some multi day passes to single day passes.  So if I take a 4 day pass and convert it to single days, that means 3 more fans got to buy a single day pass and come to the show.  Does that make sense?  Damn, this is starting to feel like algebra.

Will Thursday become a full day?  Where have you been?  George Clooney came on Thursday in 2014, I think that was your announcement that Thursday is a full on con day!  Columbus Day is an opportunity for sure, but at  this point, I am much more interested in establishing Super Week and making NYCC an event that happens all over NYC for a full week.  That gives so many more fans the opportunity to access so much more amazing geek content.  That’s the vision.

TA: I attended the Auto Show this year, and I realized that their large attendance and smaller crowds were due to the fact that many visitors only spent a few hours at Javits.

The Tomorrowland panel started at 1 PM (I was near the front of the line!) which is why I assumed it wasn’t a full day.

The show floor opened at Noon, not at Ten, but I won’t belabor the point. I’m sure it feels like a full day!

Let’s talk about the many other ReedPOP events happening this year.  What I find most interesting is how ReedPOP is partnering with the worldwide offices of Reed Exhibitions to stage events in foreign countries.

The first Shanghai Comic Convention was held last May. What inspired ReedPOP to stage a show in China, and were you pleased with the results?

LF:  For several years now, a huge part of my personal focus has been building ReedPOP into a global business.  That has meant finding fan communities all over the world.  A pretty cool learning for me personally has been seeing that fans are fans, no matter where in the world they reside.  There is a common thread within the geek community that is is not at all governed by geographic boundaries.

ReedPOP now has shows in Singapore, Indonesia, India, Australia, France, Vienna and indeed China.  Our first Chinese event was in Shanghai and was pretty amazing to see.  We pulled the event together in about 6 months and that included building a local ReedPOP team.  It was a pretty exceptional event and next year we will also add a show in Beijing.  Our main man in China is an awesome guy named Michael Chen and he’s really got the needs and wants of the fans at the front of his mind.  He’s massive geek himself and thus is really plugged into the Chinese geek community and that showed in the event we built in Shanghai.

I predict more global events from ReedPOP in the coming months.

TA: WOW! Beijing! An exclusive!

In Paris, ReedPOP is partnering with four other companies to promote a show which seems a bit unusual for French comics culture. Partner JTS is known for their hugely popular Japan Expo manga festivals, and French comics shows seem to be of the Angoulême variety: small, city-sponsored comics festivals.

Do you see a challenge staging such a show in a country with such a different “geek culture” than that of the United States? Or do you just identify the fandoms, and program guests and panels to meet that demand? (Nice guest list, so far! Miller, Palmiotti, Sfar, Bendis…) Are the local licensees familiar with ReedPOP’s type of show, and how much of a learning curve has it been for you and your U.S. staff?

LF: In Paris, it is really just ReedPOP and JTS working together.  I’ve known Jean Francois and Thomas at JTS for many, many years and really admire the business they have built.  We were looking for a while for a project to do together and this one just kind of made the most sense.  And this is no licensing arrangement, we really don’t believe it that model, this is my US ReedPOP team, working to build the event and a skilled local ReedPOP team.  Our first hire was an amazing guy name Pierre-Yves, that I’ve known for some years to head up the team.

As far as format, within Paris that “festival” style event model you refer to is really not the norm at all.  They have several really strong pop culture events that would look very familiar, format wise to what we do in the US or anywhere else in the world we have shows.

I am particularly excited about this launch, I think over the next few years this could grow to be something really, really special and significant for the fans in Paris.

TA: One month after Paris, right before Thanksgiving, ReedPOP will also inaugurate Vienna Comic Con.

As I perused the convention center website, I noticed the Vienna convention center is managed by Reed Exhibitions. Is it easier to work with your corporate siblings, or do you have to be more cognizant of office diplomacy?

When bringing such a unique consumer show to sites which might not have experience either with consumer shows or fan frenzies, how do you communicate expectations to site management? Are there common misconceptions? Errors in translation? Or is American pop culture so pervasive that you find staff who “grok Spock”?

LF: The global mission for ReedPOP is to work with the local Reed Exhibitions office to help them build a ReedPOP team.  We know that having the right people that are a part of the geek community is the most critical element to building cool, credible exciting shows.  So my team works hand in hand with the local guys to build a team and build each show.  I’ve spent years now traveling the world, building a network of geeks, evangelizing within Reed about ReedPOP and now after so many years and so many flights it’s exciting to see it take hold and take off.  But yes, we have lots of moments where what ReedPOP does gets lost in translation.  We were talking with our French team about the concept of paid autographing – a segment of our shows that we are not crazy about but there is a segment of fandom that wants it and likes it, so we create the experience for them.  This is so foreign (pardon the pun) to our partners around the world running traditional businesses.  They thought of it as walking up to someone on the street and asking for an autograph and then charging them, not an organized piece of content at the show that includes photo ops and meet and greets.  Trying to explain it was so strange.

TA: It’s that time of year when people wonder about the San Diego Comic-Con moving elsewhere for more space. They’re staying put until 2018, and this year seemed to generate less grumbling among attendees.

ReedPOP hosts the lesser-known (to pop-culture geeks) UFC Fan Expo at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, as well as the Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention at the Marina Bay Sands casino resort. What are the challenges of staging a fan event in Vegas? What lessons can be learned from other big events in Vegas, such as the Electric Daisy Carnival which draws 135,000 music fans per day in June?

LF: It’s a paradigm in that traditional trade shows (business to business) always perform better in Vegas.  Because, look, if your company is making you go to some tradeshow, who wouldn’t want to have a few days in Vegas, right?  However, shows like those that ReedPOP run are based on people wanting to go, not having to go, so not having a large native population to draw off of can make it challenging.  For super established shows though that problem can be overcome and what an awesome place to run a show, right?  The lesson is you’ve got to truly make it a destination…..I think it would be a blast to build a show there some time…….

TA: … and finally, what advice do you have for that entrepreneurial fan in Middle America who gets a crazy idea to hold a local fan fest? What advice do you have for her? What mistakes should neophyte organizers avoid, and if you could be the King of Conventions for a day, what edict would you proclaim for all festivals to follow?

LF: Build the kind of show they would love to attend.  Reach but don’t overreach.  Don’t put yourself in financial peril or over promise to your fans.  Remember, these events are supposed to be fun and the more fun they have the more fun fans will have.  This community is about passion and when you have passion about what you are building, it will come through in a genuine and real way.  I’m thinking of a guy like Jim Demonakos, who built Emerald City Comic Con into an amazing show based almost solely on his name, his passion, his credibility.  And then hey, maybe ReedPOP will want to acquire or partner the event some day!

For the second year, ReedPOP has hosted a comics-focused mini-con on the Hudson River: Special Editon: New York City, promoted as “a pure celebration of comic book culture created specifically for die-hard comic book fans, creators and publishers!”

Which, it was.  It was the size of MoCCA Fest (and recalled those shows at the Armory), and almost duplicated the Wizard World show held at the same pier in 2009. The show seemed to be little changed from last year’s inaugural show at the Javits Center, although the new venue offered some new challenges.

Here are my observations, with some caveats.  ReedPOP does advertise on this site, and overall, we like them, and they’ve been nice to us here at The Beat. I didn’t attend this show under a press pass…I was here strictly as a consumer, to meet artists, find some cheap comics, and just relax and enjoy the show. I also wanted to support the show, because, frankly, I love dealer shows, and even smaller comic cons, which this most definitely is. The hype level is lower, the personal space a bit wider, and I know I’ll meet most of the people I meet at other shows, but with more time to chat. With the Internet, I no longer feel the need to sit in a panel room, especially when someone will post a summary a few hours later. But that’s just me. Everyone has their own reasons for attending shows, and when people can do what they want to do with minimal headaches and snafus, most people are happy.

So… my observations.

I’ve attended almost all of the MoCCA Fests, I attended the Wizard World “con war” show hosted at this pier in October 2009. I’ve wandered the decaying aisles of the Hotel Pennsylvania during Big Apple shows. I’ve been to myriad comics shows all over the New York metro area.

So let’s talk about the venue: Pier 94.  This was the same venue used by Wizard World in 2009. It’s not “on the waterfront”, it’s ON THE WATER.  It’s a pier, once used for shipping goods to and from Manhattan.  (The cruise ship terminal is just a few blocks south.) The building is a giant field house shed. Exposed rafters and HVAC. Plain concrete floors. Rooms created by basically building a box on the floor.

So, this means that the roof leaks.  (I felt one drop, and one Facebook comment noted that a sketch was splotched by an errant drop.) Thankfully, the weather was perfect this weekend, or else there would have been more complaints, both inside and walking outside.  When I attended the venue in October 2009, the weather was damp and dreary, and the venue had little heating. (This might be due to the organizers not wanting to pay extra for climate control, for which MoCCA frequently was criticized when they used the Puck Building during Summer months.)

So, yes, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see Babes In Arms cosplay. That’s the basic DNA of a smaller comic con: find an affordable space, sell booths to retailers, tables to artists, and hope the general public shows up. That space can be a barn, an armory, a hotel, an arena, a pier, even a cruise ship! If done right, the show feels like a mini-con, with famous guests, events and panels aimed at specific fandoms, and a general feeling of “this is so great!”

But, there were some mistakes made.

The space on the far left (southern end) was used for ticketing and selling NYCC tickets.

The T-layout of the building (pier plus road-front building) caused a bit of a challenge with layout. The big open space made the panel rooms difficult to manage, as sound carried from one to the other. (This is a smaller problem at Javits, but even there, noise from one room can filter over to the next.) Curtain-and-drape does not muffle sound. This could have easily been solved by placing one of the panels at the far western end of the pier, on the other other side of Artist Alley which was used as a concessions area, far from the other panel which was at the front of the building. By placing a destination point at the back of the space, you encourage attendees to wander through artists alley, increasing the traffic and potential sales.

The booth layout was generally good and easy to navigate.  Artist Alley aisles did get crowded at times, especially those along the far north wall, (You can see the big empty space their, in the middle third.) Having one of two bathrooms in the building located there did not help matters, especially after the men’s room towards the front was taken out of service.

Yet, the 2×2 booth layout didn’t work very well. (NYCC generally uses 2×3 or 2×4 layouts.) Booths felt spread out, some felt lonely, and the giant space of the building made it feel, well, dystopian. (Did anyone else expect Batman to come crashing through the ceiling to fight the Joker?)

But this is a problem all event planners face in New York… how do you rent a space, budget the show so that exhibitors will show up and ticket prices can be kept affordable so that people show up to buy stuff? I’m an armchair architect, and I love looking at venues, measuring spaces, and wondering if a show that took place in one venue can transition to someplace else. But it’s not easy, especially for shows of this size. Javits North (where SENYC14 was held) has 80,000 square feet of space. Pier 94: 133,000 sq.ft. (A football field, minus the endzones, is 48,000 square feet.)

The Armory Hall where MoCCA used to be? 45,000 sq.ft. The Marriott Marquis offers 21,550 and 28,258 sq.ft in two ballrooms. Here’s a site listing the ten largest venues in NYC for events. Javits North is #1, Pier 94 is #2, Resorts World way out by JFK airport is #3. The Penn Pavilion, which hosted the Big Apple shows back in the day, has 40,000 sq.ft. over two floors.

So… there are few places where a show like this can be in New York City. Even if a hotel were used, with a box office and event rooms elsewhere, the ballroom space available wouldn’t be large enough. I count 164 10×10 booths at SENYC15. That equals 16,400 sq.ft., not counting the aisles (~20,000 sq.ft.), or Artist Alley (~5,000 sq.ft. for the tables, ~10,000 for the aisles, as well as space behind the tables.). Over 50,000 sq.ft of space needed for a show floor, probably more given my sloppy back-of-the-envelope calculations.

ReedPOP’s Special Edition shows are small comic cons, and seem to be designed to compete with Wizard World.  A show like this would easily fit into a local convention center, not a hotel.  Wizard World Des Moines, scheduled for next week, will utilize 147,000 sq.ft. (147 booths, 117 artist tables, 6 fan tables).

I do hope that Special Edition continues, and as an attendee, I hope it moves back to Javits North.  That hall is big, brand new (2010), clean, and has multiple clean bathrooms. Fans are familiar with the space, and if panels are housed in 1-A, then it’s a short walk, and there’s space to hold more than two tracks of programming.  Even better… the northernmost exit… it’s two blocks to 42nd Street, and the 7-Eleven and Subway sandwiches.

This is from “The Third Man”. Has anyone spoofed this scene, perhaps with Deno’s Wonder Wheel in Coney Island?

While fans were cursing the fates here in the U.S. as they tried to score tickets to New York Comic Con, fans in Austria were jubilant over the announcement of Vienna Comic Con, scheduled for 21-22 November at the Vienna Messe.

Why is there a Ferris wheel in the logo?  It’s a nearby landmark, and one of the largest in the world!  (Auf Deutsch: Ree-zen-rahdt … so fun to pronounce!)

So… the Vienna Messe… What’s it like?  Well, for starters, Reed Exhibitions, the parent company of Reed POP, manages the venue (as well as one in Salzburg, but the Mozartkluge and the Trappists despise each other, so a fan expo there is unlikely).

It was rebuilt in 2001, and looks great.  (Here’s a photosphere “streetview” of the convention center.  Nicely laid out, and lots of light!  And those partitions!  Vienna Woods!)  The exhibition acreage places it somewhere between Denver and San Diego.

It is served by two subways stations (use Krieau).  If you have time, get off at Praterstern Bahnhof and wall along Ausstellungsstrasse!  Or Strasse des Ersten Mai!  If you prefer streetcars, ride to the terminus at Prater Hauptallee and walk a kilometer to the Messe.

It’s part of the Vienna Prater.  Think “Central Park”, double it, then add a convention center, a sports stadium, an amusement park, community gardens, a golf course, a streetcar line…  (Darn… most of the Wurstelprater will be closed then.  But the Wintermarkt will be open! Glühwein am Wien!)

The grey square on the left is the convention center.

There are three main areas of the convention center:

1. Exhibition Center:  593,692 sq.ft. total.
   • The Con will be in Hall D, 95,454 sq.ft., a little bit larger than the Artist Alley at New York Comic Con.
   • According to the 2015 price list, the cost for an exhibition hall is €6.12 per square meter for two days, or €54272.16 for Hall D.  $61,580 at current exchange rates.  (I wonder if Reed POP gets an employee discount for renting a Reed Exhibitions site?)
2. Congress Center OG (Obergeschoss = upper floor)
   • Three restaurants and a bar
   • the Schubert Hall, which can seat 240.
3. Congress Center EG (Erdgeschoss = ground floor)
   • Three rooms: Stolz (400), Lehár (1005), and Strauss (1,435)

I really hope there’s a Café-Konditerei nearby.  Sachertorte, Kaiserschmarr’n, Wiener Melange…  *sabber*

Need some quiet time?  Waltz (or Moonwalk!) on over to the Danube, two blocks away.

Is there a con wars?  

One month before will be Vienna Comix, two miles away at the Marx Halle.  It’s been taking place twice a year since 1993, and last year’s Fall show drew 6,000 fans. The big draw(er) for the next show?  Don Rosa.  Dayammmmmn…

And then there’s “Comic Con Vienna“, scheduled for September!  It’s (at least) their second year, and while it’s more of what we old-timers would call a science fiction convention, it looks like a fun show!

I had planned on attending the Paris Comic Con in late October, but since this show coincides with my annual Thanksgiving vacation, it looks like I’ll be heading to Vienna before I make my way to Nebraska!

Here’s the official PR:

Vienna Comic Con Premieres This November!

+++ Vienna to become the centre of European pop culture with a world-class weekend of artists, celebrities, video games, collectibles and entertainment +++

© ReedPOP

VIENNA (13th May 2015). – On the 21st and 22nd of November 2015 the first edition of „Vienna Comic Con“ premieres at Messe Wien in Vienna, Austria. The two-day pop culture and gaming event will be produced by Reed Exhibitions Messe Wien in cooperation with ReedPOP, the world’s leading producer of pop culture events including New York Comic Con and the PAX video game shows.

New Comic Con Hotspot

Vienna Comic Con will bring the best of pop culture to central Europe with a vibrant exhibit hall floor, entertainment and panels, and the opportunity for guests to meet favourite pop culture celebrities. Just one of the highlights: ReedPOP U.S. is working with Vienna Comic Con to present an International Cosplay Competition, the winner of which will be sent to Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) to compete in the championship finals.

Pop Culture Favourites On Board

Just a few of the companies that have already agreed to participate include Egmont publishers; Panini Verlags GmbH; Figuya; Manga-Mafia; KAZÉ Manga & Anime; Microsoft; Sony Computer Entertainment; Ubisoft; and Legend Icon.

”We aim to make Vienna Comic Con the leading pop culture event in central Europe,” says Dr. Barbara Leithner, New Business Development at Reed Exhibitions. “Fans at Vienna Comic Con will experience unique programs and events, and meet pop culture creatives from all over the world.”

Vienna Comic Con is slated for Hall D at Messe Wien in Vienna. Show hours are Saturday, 21st November from 10:00 to 19:00, and Sunday, 22nd November from 10:00 to 17:00. For more information on tickets, guests, programming and the latest Vienna Comic Con news, go to www.vienna-comiccon.com.

Reed Exhibitions hosts over 500 events and is the world’s leading organiser of conventions. Since its start in 2006, ReedPOP has staged top-ranking pop culture events including New York Comic Con, PAX Prime, Star Wars Celebration and C2E2 in the United States, and introduced Comic Con events across the globe in Europe, India, Asia and Australia.

“Vienna Comic Con will bring together the worlds of comics, movies, television, toys and games,” says Matthias Limbeck, managing director at Reed Exhibitions in Austria. “It will be the place where the creatives, stars and heroes meet their fans, who in turn will be able to experience the latest trends in their favoured fields of international popular culture.”

ABOUT REEDPOP

ReedPOP is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions exclusively devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium brands in the pop culture world. ReedPOP is dedicated to celebrations of popular culture throughout the globe that transcend ordinary events by providing unique access and dynamic personal experiences. The ReedPOP portfolio includes: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) Prime, East, South and Australia, Emerald City Comicon, BookCon, Oz Comic-Con, Comic Con India, Paris Comic Con, Star Wars Celebration, TwitchCon and UFC Fan Expo. The staff at ReedPOP is a fan-based group of professionals uniquely qualified to serve those with whom they share a common passion. ReedPOP is focused on bringing its expertise and knowledge to world communities in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, India and Australia. (www.reedpop.com)

For more Information on Vienna Comic Con go to www.vienna-comiccon.com, or

– Facebook www.facebook.com/viennacomiccon
– Twitter @messe_at #VIECC
– Instagram https://instagram.com/viennacomiccon/
– YouTube www.youtube.com/user/ReedPOPofficial

So, ReedPOP adds another show to their already crazy schedule, in China!  (Scroll down to the bottom to see the calendar!  Next up: Emerald City!)

Here are some tidbits, for those who enjoy this sort of thing….

The sales kit!

Of note: Reed Exhibitions Greater China has 500 staffers, and numerous field offices.  Most of the contacts listed on the site are in China.

The “convention center“.  (65 minutes by maglev and Metro from the airport.)

16,000㎡ exhibition hall is divided into three levels. The first and the second floor is 6,500 ㎡ respectively, and the third floor is 3,000 ㎡, totally holding 890 standard booths.

6500 square meters = 70,000 sq.ft.   3000 sq.m = 32,000 sq.ft.

That’s 172,ooo square feet of exhibition space.   Equivalent to Halls F+G+H in San Diego, or Hall 3A + half of 3B at Javits.

Aw fiddlesticks!   The SCECIS website doesn’t have specific pages I can link to.  One second while I insert the plans…

“Hall H” (Ballroom 301)  32,292 sq.ft., seats 2,975 people.

The third floor also has a mezzanine, double-stacking some meeting rooms.  Also, there’s an outdoor roof garden.

PR:

Expansion into China Marks Steady Growth Around the Globe Following Additions in India, France and Australia

NEW YORK, March 11, 2015  – ReedPOP, the world’s largest producer of pop culture events, is continuing to blanket the world with amazing  fan events as it marks its entrance into the biggest consumer market on the planet – China. Today, the company announces the debut of Shanghai Comic Convention on May 16-17, 2015. This singular event will bring the worlds of comics, cinema, television, toys and videogames to fans from all across Asia. As with all ReedPOP fan events, Shanghai Comic Convention will be a place to meet creators, stars, and actors while discovering exclusive content and the latest pop culture news from around the world. The inaugural event will take place at the Shanghai Convention & Exhibition Center of International Sourcing (CECIS).

“China is a massive frontier for ReedPOP, a huge market and boundless community of fans that we are eager and enthusiastic to build events for,” said Lance Fensterman, Global Senior Vice President of ReedPOP. “This is a huge opportunity for the millions of fans in the country who haven’t experienced a ReedPOP event and we can’t wait to see how they respond. Geekdom is a universal language and we’re sure that the Chinese people will celebrate fan culture in their own unique and amazing ways.”

In recent years, ReedPOP has turned its attention internationally, recognizing new pop culture audiences emerging throughout the world, where it has produced once-in-a-lifetime experiences for these fans and connected exhibitors to hungry, unexplored markets.  ReedPOP’s previous global events have been set in London, Paris, Germany, India, and Singapore, and the company planted its biggest global flag in Australia. ReedPOP created an Australian team to launch PAX Australia — bringing the US’s largest consumer video game festival to the continent with a sold-out event — and partnered with Oz Comic-Con, spreading the pop culture event series out over six cities around Australia.

Since ReedPOP’s first event in 2006, the sold-out New York Comic Con, the group has sought to dually produce exceptional experiences for passionate audiences and grow the industries surrounding these passions, and this philosophy has led to burgeoning attendance, the support of major creators and publishers, and partnerships with leading entertainment brands including Lucasfilm (Star Wars Celebration), UFC (UFC Fan Expo), Twitch (TwitchCon) and Penny Arcade (PAX).

More details on the event can be found at http://www.comiccon.com.cn/

(You’d be better off using: http://www.comiccon.com.cn/en/Home/ )

Interesting…. ReedPOP is using a PR firm for further enquiries…

The full calendar of ReedPOP events!

• EMERALD CITY COMICON March 27 – 29, 2015
• BANGALORE COMIC CON April 3 – 5, 2015
• OZ COMIC-CON: PERTH April 11 – 12, 2015
• STAR WARS CELEBRATION ANAHEIM April 16 – 19, 2015
• OZ COMIC-CON: ADELAIDE April 18 – 19, 2015
• CHICAGO COMIC & ENTERTAINMENT EXPO April 24 – 26, 2015
• SHANGHAI COMIC CONVENTION May 16 – 17, 2015
• BOOKCON May 30 – 31, 2015
• SPECIAL EDITION: NYC June 6 – 7, 2015
• HYDERABAD COMIC CON June 12 – 14, 2015
• OZ COMIC-CON: MELBOURNE June 27 – 28, 2015
• UFC FAN EXPO July 10 – 11, 2015
• PAX DEV August 26 – 27, 2015
• PAX PRIME August 28 – 31, 2015
• SINGAPORE TOY, GAME & COMIC CONVENTION September 5 – 6, 2015
• OZ COMIC-CON: BRISBANE September 19 – 20, 2015
• OZ COMIC-CON: SYDNEY September 26 – 27, 2015
• NEW YORK SUPER WEEK October 2 – 11, 2015
• NEW YORK COMIC CON October 8 – 11, 2015
• COMIC CON PARIS October 23 – 25, 2015
• PAX AUSTRALIA October 30 – November 1, 2015
• DELHI COMIC CON December 4 – 6, 2015
• MUMBAI FILM & COMICS CONVENTION December 18 – 20, 2015
• PAX EAST TBD
• PAX SOUTH TBD

Yesterday we learned that New Jersey is getting a comic-con…and so is China! ReedPOP is launching the Shanghai Comic Convention which will be held in just two months, May 16 and 17th at the Shanghai Convention & Exhibition Center of International Sourcing.

“China is a massive frontier for ReedPOP, a huge market and boundless community of fans that we are eager and enthusiastic to build events for,” said Reedpop’s Lance Fensterman, in an announcement. “This is a huge opportunity for the millions of fans in the country who haven’t experienced a ReedPOP event and we can’t wait to see how they respond. Geekdom is a universal language and we’re sure that the Chinese people will celebrate fan culture in their own unique and amazing ways.”

ReedPOP already runs events in London, Paris, Germany, India, Singapore and Australia—as well as putting on NYCC, C2E2 the PAX shows and much more.

China DOES already have a bunch of comics-related events, including Anu-Com in Hong Kong and some huge shows in Taiwan, including the Taipei Comic Exhibition which drew more than half a million people. Additionally according to this piece, Wizard World has teamed up for something called Fantang for a show later this May.

The Shanghai Comic Con’s website is here but it is in Chinese so it’s hard to see any details about the show. I tried turning on Google translate and got this fairly epic description on the guest page:

Great God level cartoonist
 
Familiar with the fiction writer
 
International range of children’s film stars
 
Enjoy a high reputation in the professional master Cosplay
……
 
Your guest list there is always the unexpected emergence wonderful!

Once again, Lance Fensterman and staff appeared at the end of the show to hear feedback from attendees.
For the first time, there was a queue before the actual panel, and the room had a good attendance.
Who else was on the panel?

• Jackie Williams, Brand Marketing Manager
• Peter Tatara, International Director, Content and Marketing (responsible for panels)
• Brian Stevenson, Brand Marketing Director (responsible for Merchandise and Fan Experience
• Matt Wasowski, Festival Director of New York Super Week
• Jenny Martin, Account Executive (Sales Team)

So, this year’s Zeitgeists:

Main Stage and Empire Stage

At a previous Q&A, an informal poll was taking of clearing the halls.  An online survey showed a 70% approval for clearing the halls.  Overall, attendees appreciated the new system, and it worked well.  However, there was a problem with the Empire Stage (Hall 1E).  There is no room for queuing people for upcoming panels outside the hall.  (1D is connected to the stockyards in 1C, and can feed directly into the hall.)

The Walking Dead panel is always the most popular, and it caused the most concerns with security, communication, and safety.

One attendee suggested that there be a better system for allowing people in those halls easier access to restroom during the event.  (Another example of better security communication.)

100+ security guards were added to the show contingent over last year, and ReedPOP always tries to improve communication.

Reed is open to better streaming of the events, perhaps increasing the number and distribution of screens around Javits.

Some armbands had similar colors.  Reed did use every color available from their supplier.

General Panels

Many attendees criticized the difficulty of attending the panels in 1A.

Camping for those panels is now as problematic as the camping which once occurred in the big media panels.

Some people were observed as sneaking in via side doors.

It was suggested that the RFID badges be used to make reservations (which generated a mixed response from the audience).  Lotteries, wristbands, clearing the room are all possible solutions which will be considered.

Also, it would help if the mobile app updated the occupancy status for each panel.

Cosplay

One of the problems which actually hit the web during the show: the new weapon policy, and Reed’s policing, causing many cosplayers to be disarmed.

Why are retailers allowed to sell blades if such weapons would be in violation of the show’s rules?  The answer: the vendors must sell items boxed and sealed.  Once an attendee opens that box, the weapon will be quarantined.

Ticketing

Why were 3-Day and 1-Day tickets both sold simultaneously?  Reed decided to couple the option to reduce disappointment.  4-Day tickets sold out fast, and then customers had to wait for the next sale.  By offering both 3- and 1-Day tickets, Reed didn’t want customers to have to wait for single-day tickets to go on sale at a later date.

Lance quashed many rumors about the site crashing:

1. No VIP tickets were sold until the site went live.
2. While the NYCC website did crash, the separate ticketing site did not.
3. 22 (26?) people were accidentally kicked out of the ticketing queue, but all were contacted.
4. The ticketing queue moved slowly (up to a two hour wait), but it did move
5. Reed hates scalpers as much as attendees.  They reduced the number of tickets per order from 10 to 6.  Orders were scanned for possible multiplicity, and those orders were cancelled.
6. They try to go after eBay sellers, but it’s a cat-and-mouse situation.

Some comics retailers did sell tickets before the publicized hour posted by Reed.  Reed is aware, and is working to correct this next year.  Apparently, the downtown store of Midtown Comics caused a small riot with an early sale of tickets.

One attendee had tickets lost in the mail, and lauded the excellent customer service provided in getting replacement badges.  That department handled twice the number of calls from last year.

Programming

Can exhibitors do a better job of advertising the guests signing at the booths?  Yes.  They are encouraged to share the information, although some have short notices.

Can more Golden Age / Silver Age / underground / legendary comics creators be invited to the show?  Yes.  Special Edition was created to help meet this demand.

More physical maps of Artists Alley in the rows would be appreciated, as would accessibility on the mobile app.

Super Week

Why were Super Week cards automatically added to multi-day sales?  Can it be separated?  Yes.  Reed wanted to promote the event this year.

What were the perks?  Why did the Hammerstein Ballroom charge $39-$175 for an event which was also scheduled for NYCC?  Reed wanted to offer the opportunity to those who could not attend the event (or wish to stand in line to get in).

Tally: 110 events, 25 venues, 10 days.

Other Stuff

Reed was lauded for partnering with The Mary Sue regarding the new harassment policy, and the Geek Girl Headquarters in 1E02.  Also, the Brooklyn Defender beer was tasty.  (I did not sample it, but did drink at The Beer Authority, which did partner with Reed.  Recommended…a great selection of varietals!)

One fan was confused about the posted signs.

One fan was disappointed that there was not a NYCC collector pin this year, and that his collection was thus interrupted.  They’ll consider a retroactive pin, and perhaps offer one for next year.

How well did the new notification system work via the mobile app?  There were less than ten complaints (as of Saturday), and security handled each incident quickly and efficiently.  (I can’t find any incidents online.)

In Closing…

Javits staff closed down the panel at 6:10 pm, but Lance and company continued to interact one-on-one with attendees as the room was dismantled.

My con diary will be available as soon as I recover from everything, yet I found that this show ran extremely well given the 151,000 tickets sold.  I think most will laud the show.  Aside from the “new normal” of instant sell-outs and high demand for programming, it seems that ReedPOP has worked out most of the problems of previous shows.  There will always be new policies and challenges, but Reed always strives to improve with each show.  Reed will be sending out surveys soon, and you can reach most of the staff via their bio page.

Feel free to comment below.  What did you like or dislike about the show?  What was your mileage?

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Photo courtesy Comic Con India

According to a forwarded email, ReedPOP, the event company that throws New York Comic Con, C2E2, PAX and many other popular fan events, has expanded its international reach by teaming with Comic Con India, which launched three years ago and now throws shows in Mumbia, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Delhi. (The Bangalore show is the weekend after next.)

We Are Thrilled And Excited To Announce That Comic Con India Is Now Part Of The Illustrious Reed Pop Family Of International Pop Culture Events. Over The Past Three Years, We Have Endeavored To Create First Class Pop Culture Experiences, Acting As A Stage For Local And International Talent To Showcase Creativity And Interact With Enthusiasts, With Active Support Of Partners Such As You.

With This Joint Venture, Indian Fans Should Now Expect New Events And Better Experiences In The Coming Years. Our Partnership With ReedPOP Will Help Us Scale Further And Create World Class Events That Will Deliver The Best Experiences To Audiences Here In India.

We Look Forward To Your Constant Support And Hope To Have You On-Board For Some Really Awesome Times Ahead.

ReedPOP previously teamed with the Oz Comic Con in Australia and the Singapore Toy, Game and Comic Convention, and throws a European Star Wars Celebration. Parent company Reed Expo throws events worldwide, so ReedPOP is uniquely suited to these kinds of ventures.

The Indian comics scene has been growing rapidly,  with an emerging middle class, and the spread of pop culture globally. A native Indian comics market is being supplemented by imports from the US and other English language companies. I met two of the principles of Comic Con India last year and they told me that indie comics are as popular as superheroes in their market—so there is definitley a lot to grow on here.

Speaking  of which, The Beat needs an Indian comics correspondent! If you are interested email me at comicsbeat at gmail.

Cosplay at the Bangalore Comic Con speaks a universal language. Photo courtesy of Comic Con India.

The sprawling New York Comic Con gets a little brother with Special Edition, a cartoonist-centric show held in the north hall of the Javits Center. The idea for the show, as I understand it, is that Artist Alley at NYCC was such a hit why not have a summer show that was just creators without all the other hoohah. Since then, publishers have been added—Marvel will have a big presence at the show, including several panels. Archie, Valiant and Heritage Auctions will also be involved.

Here’s a preview of the show an amNY. and Calvin Reid interviewed the show runners here.

This is a very comic-centric event for ReedPOP to put on, and the creator line-up is extensive—here’s the Artist Alley listing. Among them: Darwyn Cooke, Chris Claremont, Gail Simone, Howard Chaykin, Laura Allred, Amy Chu, Amy Reeder, Brian Wood, Geoff Darrow, Rachel Rosenberg, Sara Pichelli.

And EXCLUSIVE to the Beat here’s a print-out of the panel line-up (it’s impossible to see all the panel descriptions on Reed’s website.)

SATURDAY

DC COMICS: ART MASTERS
Date: Saturday, June 14 
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Theater A – 1E19
Speakers: Francis Manapul, Joe Prado, Larry Ganem, Tony Daniel
Description:
DC Entertainment is proud to have some of the most immensely talented artists working in comics today. Join us for a unique look into their visual approach in shaping some of your favorite books!

Kickstarter and Comics: How to Fund Your Dream Project
Date: Saturday, June 14 
11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Location: Theater B – 1E21
Speaker: Craig Engler
Description:
Join Craig Engler from Kickstarter as he talks about how you can use Kickstarter.com to fund your comic project. He’ll walk you through how the site works, how to get your comic campaign started and answer any questions you may have. You’ll also hear from a panel of fellow comics creators who’ve successfully used Kickstarter and who will share their tips and tricks for running a successful campaign.

MARVEL’S All-New Young Guns
Date: Saturday, June 14 
12:15 pm – 1:15 pm
Location: Theater A – 1E19
Speakers: David Marquez, Mahmud Asrar , Nick Bradshaw, Ryan Stegman, Sara Pichelli, Valerio Schiti
Description:
Marvel’s newest superstar illustrators – assembled on one stage! Originally launched in 2004, the Young Guns program has shined a spotlight on the best and brightest in the comic book industry early in their careers. Now, join Marvel’s ALL-NEW YOUNG GUNS as they unveil exclusive imagery, explain their methods and influences, discuss how they got into the industry and more! The panel will include Mahmud Asrar (Wolverine and the X-Men), Nick Bradshaw (Guardians of the Galaxy), David Marquez (Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man), Sara Pichelli (Guardians of the Galaxy), Valerio Schiti (New Avengers), and Ryan Stegman (Inhuman).

Secret Identities: Transgender Themes in Comic Books
Date: Saturday, June 14 
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Location: Theater B – 1E21
Speakers: Charles Battersby, Joe Kelly, Morgan Boecher, P. Kristen Enos
Description:
Transgender comic book characters have caused a stir this year, but comics have addressed transgender themes since the Golden Age. Indie and mainstream comics have been written and illustrated by transgender talent too. Join a panel of writers and artists who will discuss the impact of transgender characters, and how transgender comic book creators have influenced the industry over the years.

Mike Allred Spotlight
Date: Saturday, June 14 
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: Theater A – 1E19
Speakers: Ben Saunders, Mike Allred
Description:
Come check out this interview with ultra-talented artist Mike Allred. Moderated by Professor Ben Saunders, hear about Mike’s classic style and how it was incorporated from Madman to the recently launched Silver Surfer, and everything in between.

Archie: Life, Afterlife and Beyond
Date: Saturday, June 14 
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm
Location: Theater B – 1E21
Speakers: Alex Segura, Jon Goldwater, Mike Pellerito
Description:
Talk about the major events happening at Archie Comics – from the hit horror series AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE to the upcoming “Death of Archie” in the pages of LIFE WITH ARCHIE and much more – with an all-star cast of Archie staff and stars, including Co-CEO/Publisher Jon Goldwater, President Mike Pellerito and Red Circle Editor and SVP – Publicity and Marketing Alex Segura.

MARVEL: Next Big Thing
Date: Saturday, June 14 
2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Location: Theater A – 1E19
Speakers: Greg Pak, Tom Brevoort
Description:
Want to start reading Marvel comics? There’s no better time than Marvel NOW! And there’s no better place to learn about our thrilling and creatively diverse All-New Marvel NOW series than this panel! PLUS – What cataclysmic event begins this September in AVENGERS and NEW AVENGERS? And what exactly is the monumental fall 2014 Avengers and X-Men event, AXIS? You’ve got questions and we’ve got answers! Don’t miss exciting discussion of current and future projects as editors & writers spill the beans on all things MARVEL! Panelists include Executive Editor Tom Brevoort, Peter David (All-New X-Factor), Greg Pak (Storm), and other Mighty Marvel Guests!

Rocket Girl: Past and Futures
Date: Saturday, June 14 
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Theater B – 1E21
Speakers: Amy Reeder, Brandon Montclare, Joe Huges
Description:
Creators Amy Reeder and Brandon Montclare try to catch up on the blazing trail of ROCKET GIRL. Dayoung Johansson is a teen cop from an alternate 2014 who jetpacks back in time to the very real bad old days of 1980s New York City. As the hit Image Comics series finishes its first arc, Amy and Brandon look back at the origins of the comic and preview what thrills are coming next. Mixed in with the story teases, learn what it was like to pilot the launch of a new creator-owned ongoing series!

Reimagining the Female Hero
Date: Saturday, June 14 
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Theater A – 1E19
Speakers: Amy Reeder, Ben Saunders, Emanuela Lupacchino, Gail Simone, Jenny Frison, Marguerite Bennett
Description:
For many years in superhero and action adventure comics female characters were often limited to the roles of girlfriend, mom, or femme fatale. But the number of central female protagonists in action-adventure and superhero comics is now growing. In the pages of these comics, women take on heroic roles that for years were confined to male characters. Join some of the best female creators in contemporary comics to discuss the rise of the female hero!

Comic Book Club – Live!
Date: Saturday, June 14 
4:15 pm – 5:15 pm
Location: Theater B – 1E21
Speakers: Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler, Pete LePage
Description:
Nerdist’s Comic Book Club is a live talk show and podcast hosted by Pete LePage, Justin Tyler, and Alex Zalben! With special guests from the worlds of comic book, and comedy. Come be part of the live podcast, and win prizes!

Creator Connection
Date: Saturday, June 14 
5:15 pm – 6:45 pm
Location: Theater A – 1E19
Speakers: Buddy Scalera, Matt Balogh
Description:
Meet your next creative partner in this fun, interactive networking session. Many indie titles and careers have been launched through this panel. Bring business cards & samples of your work. This is the panel that has literally helped complete strangers form creative teams and publish comic books. This is the original and best Creator Connection. Be there and launch your career. Hosted by Buddy Scalera of ComicBookSchool.com. Support by Matt Balogh.

The Silver Age of Comic Book Art
Date: Saturday, June 14 
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Theater B – 1E21
Speaker: Arlen Schumer
Description:
In this review of comic book superheroes’ personification of American ideals and values, and how they changed during the turbulent 1960s, based on comic book art historian Arlen Schumer’s award-winning book—back in print in a revised edition (in print and digital)—the works of 8 legendary comic book artists are shown: Infantino, Ditko, Kirby, Kane, Colan, Kubert, Steranko and Adams. You’ll see where Hollywood’s superhero movies come from—and you’ll see comics like you’ve never seen them before!

SUNDAY

Valiant Comics
Date: Sunday, June 15 
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Theater A – 1E19
Speakers: Dinesh Shamdasani, Fred Pierce, Fred Van Lente, Hunter Gorinson, Joe Harris, Warren Simons
Description:
As New York’s own Valiant Entertainment steamrolls into yet another super-summer, find out what the future holds for their power-packed VALIANT FIRST line-up of new series – including RAI, ARMOR HUNTERS, THE DELINQUENTS, THE DEATH-DEFYING DR. MIRAGE, and more – right here! Join an all-star panel of Valiant creators and staff, including Fred Van Lente (The Delinquents, Archer & Armstrong), Joe Harris (Armor Hunters: Bloodshot), Executive Editor Warren Simons, and Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani, for an exclusive round of news, artwork, and announcements – only at Special Edition: NYC!

Marvel Unlimited+ MEMBERS ONLY Event
Date: Sunday, June 15 
11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Location: Theater B – 1E21
Speakers: Ed McGuinness , Ryan Penagos
Description:
Join Executive Editorial Director of Digital Ryan Penagos as well as Marvel editors and top creators for a private panel discussion of what’s happening inside the Marvel Universe. Get FREE merchandise (while supplies last), sneak peeks of upcoming comics, Q&A Session to answer all your burning questions and more! Marvel Unlimited Plus Members ONLY – show your Member Card or confirmation email at the Marvel Booth for event credentials.

Self Publishing
Date: Sunday, June 15 
12:15 pm – 1:15 pm
Location: Theater B – 1E21
Speakers: Amy Chu, Amy Reeder, Brandon Montclare, Erica Schultz , Greg Pak
Description:
Successful creators Batman/Superman writer Greg Pak (Vision Machine, Code Monkey Save World), Brandon Montclare and Batwoman artist Amy Reeder (Rocket Girl), and Vertigo writer Amy Chu (Girls Night Out) share their self-publishing insights. Be prepared to take notes – we’ll cover the nuts and bolts of creating your own print and digital comic, tough topics like finding an audience, and importantly, the money stuff!

DC COMICS – Batman 75th Anniversary
Date: Sunday, June 15 
12:15 pm – 1:15 pm
Location: Theater A – 1E19
Speakers: Francis Manapul, Gail Simone, Greg Pak, James Tynion IV, John Cunningham, Tim Seeley
Description:
For the last 75 years, Batman’s crusade against the corrupt and evil has permeated across the DC Universe and beyond! Join some of the comics’ biggest talents who are behind the Dark Knight adventures for an exclusive look at what’s in store for the World’s Greatest Detective! There has never been a better time to walk the streets of Gotham City!

Howard Chaykin Spotlight
Date: Sunday, June 15 
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: Theater A – 1E19
Speaker: Howard Chaykin
Description:
We are incredibly excited to have the legendary Howard Chaykin at Special Edition. Join us as he goes over his distinguished, decades-spanning career in this very rare appearance.

SEXY, STRANGE AND SILLY: Lost Superheroes of the Golden Age
Date: Sunday, June 15 
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm
Location: Theater B – 1E21
Speaker: Ben Saunders
Description:
More than 700 different superheroes appeared in comic books published between 1938 and 1946. A tiny handful of those heroes are still with us, but the rest have faded into obscurity. Some were sexy, some were silly, and some were downright strange. What makes one concept lasting and even “mythic” – and another one merely goofy? What can we learn about superhero fantasies today from the first generation of comic book heroes? Join Professor Ben Saunders, the Director of the Comics Studies Program at the University of Oregon, for a historically revealing and often hilarious discussion exploring some of the weird and wonderful “lost” characters of the Golden Age.

MARVEL: 75 Years of Marvel
Date: Sunday, June 15 
2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Location: Theater A – 1E19
Speakers: Chris Claremont, Nick Bradshaw, Nick Lowe, Peter David, Ryan Stegman
Description:
2014 marks the 75th anniversary of Marvel Comics #1 – The comic that started it all, giving birth to the entire Marvel Universe! Come celebrate this momentous occasion as fans join legendary Marvel creators to discuss 75 amazing years! PLUS – What is Marvel doing throughout 2014 to celebrate? The full scoop here! Panelists include Senior Editor Nick Lowe, Chris Claremont (Nightcrawler), Peter David (All-New X-Factor), Ryan Stegman (Inhuman) and other Mighty Marvel Guests!

Creator-Owned Comics (vs. Corporate-owned Comics)
Date: Sunday, June 15 
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Theater B – 1E21
Speakers: Al Nickerson, Kurt Busiek , Mike Allred
Description:
There seems to be more and more comic books owned by the artists and writers that create them. We have Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and self-published comics. The creators that make such comics don’t have to answer to an editor. They can write and draw the kind of comic books that they want to write and draw. This is much different than the work-made-for-hire comics that are being published by the likes of Marvel Comics and DC Comics.

Archie: Sonic, The Hedgehog and Mega Man
Date: Sunday, June 15 
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Theater A – 1E19
Speakers: Jamal Peppers, Jon Gray, Paul Kaminski, Ryan Jampole, Vincent Lovallo
Description:
Get the inside scoop on what’s coming up in Archie’s best-selling “Action” line of video game titles, including SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, SONIC UNIVERSE and MEGA MAN, with SONIC/MEGA MAN editor Paul Kaminski, Sonic and Mega Man assistant editor. Vincent Lovallo and artists Ryan Jampole, Jamal Peppers and Jon Gray!

Creating Comics: Inside the Art of Visual Storytelling
Date: Sunday, June 15 
4:15 pm – 5:15 pm
Location: Theater B – 1E21
Speaker: Carl Potts
Description:
Former Marvel Comics Executive Editor Carl Potts will give a presentation demonstrating the basic concepts from his new book, The DC Comics Guide to Creating Comics: Inside the Art of Visual Storytelling, focusing on telling clear and compelling stories in the comics / graphic novel format. This will be an abbreviated version of the seminars Potts gave at DC Entertainment’s NYC and Burbank offices. A Q&A session will follow.

Looking at the Wizard World schedule appended to the New Orleans announcement we just posted, it looks like a truce of sorts has been posted for Con Wars! — at least on the New York City battlefront.

You’ll recall that last year, The Big Apple Con was at one point schedule for the exact same weekend as New York Comic Con — a move seen as retaliation for ReedPOP starting a show in Chicago. However, cooler heads prevailed, and the Big Apple was moved to the weekend BEFORE NYCC, while the New England Comic-Con in Boston completed the bookend the week after.

However in 2011, this isn’t even an issue. The fall Big Apple Con and New England Comic-Con — have been moved to September 17-18 and Sept. 24-25, respectively, a month prior to the 2011 NYCC which will be held October 14-16, 2011.

There’s still a wee bit of con battle with Wizard World’s Toronto show planned for March 18-20 — the same weekend as next year’s C2E2. However, looking at nationwide attendance this year, it seems that the pie is big enough for everyone.

Wizard World Comic Con Tour:
November 12-14, 2010 – Austin Comic Con – Austin Convention Center
December 4-5, 2010 – Atlanta Comic Con – Cobb Galleria Centre
January 29-30, 2011 – New Orleans Comic Con – Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
March 18-20, 2011 – Toronto Comic Con – Direct Energy Centre
April 29-May 1, 2011 – Anaheim Comic Con – Anaheim Convention Center
May 21-22, 2011 – Big Apple Comic Con ‘Spring Edition’ – Penn Plaza Pavilion
June 17-19, 2011 – Philadelphia Comic Con – Pennsylvania Convention Center
August 11-14, 2011 – Chicago Comic Con – Stephens Convention Center
September 17-18, 2011 – New England Comic Con – Hynes Convention Center
September 24-25, 2011 – Big Apple Comic Con – Penn Plaza Pavilion
November 2011 – Austin Comic Con – Austin Convention Center
December 2011 – Atlanta Comic Con
TBA – New Jersey Comic Con
TBA – Cincinnati Comic Con
TBA – Cleveland Comic Con
TBA – Nashville Comic Con