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Countdown to Baltimore Comic-Con
First, though, the show staff confirmed that they are definitely planning an activity or series of activities to honor the late Mike Wieringo, who passed away suddenly last Sunday. "In the past few days, literally hundreds of e-mails and calls have come our way, asking what plans the Baltimore Comic-Con is making to honor Mike-- many professionals and publishers offering their own time and services to assure recognition for one of comics' greats. Let me say, we are currently discussing with Ringo's family and friends the best way to honor his memory, and intend to offer up something special at the 'Con. We also heartily support anyone who wants to do something at the show on their own, be they a fan, a friend, a publisher, retailer, or all of the above," Marc Nathan, the show's promoter, said in a press release. "An announcement will be made next week, but rest assured, we are on it. We plan not to mourn Mike's passing, but rather, to celebrate his life." THE HERO INITIATIVE'S FULL HOUSE It's three Kuberts over two Romitas as two legendary comic book creator families join with an additional Silver Age comic book legend as wild card in raising funds for The Hero Initiative at the Baltimore Comic-Con. Andy Kubert (Batman) has joined the guest list for the Baltimore Comic-Con, joining his father, Joe Kubert (Sgt. Rock), and brother, Adam Kubert (Action Comics). Last week the show announced that John Romita, Jr. (World War Hulk) would join his father, John Romita, Sr. (Amazing Spider-Man), in raising money for The Hero Initiative. Marvel Comics' veteran Dick Ayers (Fantastic Four) will also be signing at the Hero booth at the show, which is held at the Baltimore Convention Center. The organization was founded with the idea to create a financial safety net for comic creators and is a publicly supported not-for-profit corporation under section 501 (c) (3). Since its inception, it has awarded more than $200,000 in grants to comic book creators in need. "The Hero Initiative is an amazing, worthwhile charity that we wholeheartedly commend to everyone who attends the Baltimore Comic-Con - and to everyone else in the business, as well," Nathan said. "We're very excited about their wonderful level of involvement in the show and the frankly mind-blowing caliber of the guests they've lined up. We always like to think of our show as a family affair, and now it definitely qualifies." This all-star group is in addition to a line-up which is headed by Guest of Honor Mike Mignola (Hellboy) and includes Jim Lee (Batman, Wildcats), David Finch (Moon Knight, New Avengers), Frank Cho (Mighty Avengers), Amanda Conner (Power Girl), Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane), Mark Waid (Boom! Studios new Editor-in-Chief), Sergio Aragones (Groo, MAD), Paul Pope (THB), James Jean (Fables), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), and Al Feldstein (former editor of MAD). A complete guest list follows below. The Hero Initiative will offer additional two fund raiser publications at the show. The Three Minute Sketch Book, assembled over the past few years by collector, enthusiast and Hero Initiative supporter Michael Finn, features sketches from a Who's Who of comic book artists such as Michael Golden, Tim Sale and others under a cover by Joe Quesada. The 112-page book, which retails for $13, includes several blank spots for the purchaser's own choice of sketches. It also features characters from Marvel, Image, Conde Nast, Zorro Productions, Aspen MLT, 2000 AD, and a variety of creator-owned properties. The Ultimate Spider-Man #100 Project is the group's other fundraiser book. Available in both a soft cover and a limited edition hardcover, the book is the visual chronicle of Hero's efforts with creators to document the one hundredth issue of Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man with 100 artists chipping in to illustrate one blank cover each (in other words, creating 100 one-of-a-kind copies of the issue). Participating artists include Todd McFarlane, Michael Golden, Frank Cho, Joe Quesada, Jim Starlin and others. Many of the comics brought record prices to benefit the organization. JIM SHOOTER ADDED TO GUEST LIST Former Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter has been added to the guest list for the Baltimore Comic-Con, as well. Known for two striking stints as writer on DC's Legion of Super-Heroes, Shooter also notably wrote Marvel Superheroes: Secret Wars and The Avengers for Marvel. Under his editorship at Marvel, the company hit high points with the Chris Claremont - John Byrne run on Uncanny X-Men, Frank Miller's tenure on Daredevil, Walter Simonson's stint on Thor, Byrne's run on Fantastic Four and numerous other landmark creative periods. He also launched such comic publishers as Valiant, Defiant and Broadway. "We're very happy to welcome Jim Shooter to his first Baltimore Comic-Con. With his many contributions to the field over the years and with a number of projects in the works, we're really looking forward to having him with us," said Marc Nathan. SHOW EXCLUSIVES This year, the Baltimore Comic-Con is offering its largest line-up of show exclusive World War Hulk #3 Sketch cover from Marvel Comics (a shared exclusive with Toronto's Canadian National Comic Book Expo), Madame Mirage #2 Baltimore Comic-Con exclusive from Top Cow Productions, a Gwen Stacy Toon Tumbler Baltimore Comic-Con exclusive from Pop Fun Merchandising, a Star Wars Commander Bacara Mini-Bust Baltimore Comic-Con exclusive from Gentle Giant Studios, and a Zombie-Proof #1 Baltimore Comic-Con exclusive from Moonstone Books. HARVEY AWARDS DINNER EXCLUSIVES The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. The Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories, ranging from Best Artist to the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame. They are the only industry awards both nominated by and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. Beginning in 1988 at the Chicago Comic-Con, the Harveys enjoyed runs at the Dallas Fantasy Fair, Oakland's Wondercon, the Pittsburgh Comicon, and the Museum of Comics and Cartoon Art. In 2005, the Harveys joined the Baltimore Comic-Con. The awards dinner this year will be held Saturday night, September 8, at the Marriott Inner Harbor, beginning at 7 PM with a cocktail hour. The awards ceremony and dinner begin at 8 PM. Tickets are $75. Sergio Aragonés is said to be the fastest cartoonist in the world today. He is certainly the most honored, having won every major award in the field, including the National Cartoonists Society's Reuben Award, and the Will Eisner Hall of Fame Award. For this rare East Coast appearance, Aragonés will be the keynote speaker for the Harveys, teaming with Master of Ceremonies Kyle Baker. The first 300 attendees will receive The EC Archives: Two-Fisted Tales - Volume 1 which features work by Harvey Kurtzman and many other greats. The Harvey Awards are named for the legendary writer-artist-editor. Those attendees will also receive a complete base set of the soon-to-be-released Jericho Season One trading cards from Inkworks, an exclusive pin from AdHouse Books, a Comic-Con exclusive edition of 30 Days of Night: Red Snow #1 from IDW Publishing, and an exclusive Harvey Awards keychain from LaserMach. GUEST OF HONOR The show's Guest of Honor this year is writer-artist Mike Mignola. Whether as the writer-artist of Hellboy, the designer of Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire, or the creator of The Amazing Screw-On Head, this year's Guest of Honor, Mike Mignola, has had a profound impact on the industry and on the creators around him. He is that rarest of talents, an artist's artist who is widely recognized for his achievements by the public as well as his peers. He built on a following that started with work on regular superhero titles such as Daredevil, Powerman & Iron Fist, Phantom Stranger and World of Krypton. This lead to Batman: A Death in the Family, Cosmic Odyssey and Gotham By Gaslight. He worked in the realm of fantasy on Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser and Bram Stoker's Dracula before launching Hellboy in 1994. He has won the Harvey Award in the categories of Best Writer/Artist, Best Graphic Album - Reprint, Best Artist, and Best Graphic Album of Previously Released Material, and the Eisner Award for Best Comics-Related Product, Best Writer/Artist - Drama, Best Comics-Related Sculpted Figure, Best Limited Series, Best Humor Publication, Best Short Story, and Best Comics-Related Book. He also received numerous other awards. COMPLETE GUEST LIST (in alphabetical order, complete at press time) Sergio Aragonés (MAD, Groo), Rand Arrington (The Wicked West 2), Dick Ayers (Fantastic Four, Ghost Rider, sponsored by The Hero Initiative), Kyle Baker (Why I Hate Saturn, The Bakers), Tom Brevoort (Marvel Comics Editor), Michael Broussard (The Darkness), Kurt Busiek (Astro City, Action Comics), Jim Califiore (Exiles), Jerry Carr (Cryptozoo Crew), Tommy Castillo (Batman: Legend of the Dark Knight), C.B. Cebulski (Wonderlost, Marvel editor), Bernard Chang (The Blvd.), Howard Chaykin (American Flagg, Wolverine), Sean Chen (Nova, The Blvd.), Mark Chiarello, (New Frontier), Frank Cho (Mighty Avengers, Liberty Meadows), Steve Conley (The Escapist, Astounding Space Thrills), Amanda Conner (Power Girl, Painkiller Jane), Todd Dezago (Perhapanauts, Tellos), Dan DiDio (DC Comics Executive Editor), Tommy Lee Edwards (The Question, The Blvd.), Joanna Estep (Road Song), Rich Faber (Roboy Red), Al Feldstein (former editor of EC Comics and MAD), David Finch (Moon Knight, New Avengers), Brendon Fraim (America, Jr., Antiques: The Comic Strip), Brian Fraim (Antiques: The Comic Strip, America, Jr.), John Gallagher (Buzzboy), Ron Garney (Amazing Spider-Man), Mike Gold (Comic Mix), Michael Golden (Micronauts), Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules!), Randy Green (Teen Titans), Cully Hamner (Blue Beetle, Red, Firearm), Dean Haspiel (The Alchoholic), Tarig Hassan (Arkadian: No Witness), Marc Hempel (Sandman, Gregory, Breathtaker), Rich Henn (Zoomies), Adam Hughes (Wonder Woman), Chris Ivy (Star Wars, Aliens vs. Predator), James Jean (Fables), Georges Jeanty (Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Season Eight), Joe Jusko (Tomb Raider), Ken Kelly ((fantasy illustrator), Leonard Kirk ((Agents of Atlas, Marvel Adventures Avengers), Barry Kitson (The Order), Rich Koslowski (The King, Three Geeks), Adam Kubert (Action Comics, Sponsored by The Hero Initiative), Andy Kubert (Batman, Sponsored by The Hero Initiative), Joe Kubert (Sgt. Rock, Sponsored by The Hero Initiative), Scott Kurtz (PvP), Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon, Image Comics Publisher), Greg LaRoque (Flash), Jim Lee (Batman, Wildcats - appearing Sunday only), Norman Lee (Mary Jane), John Paul Leon (Earth X, The Blvd.), John Lucas (Desperadoes: Epidemic), Mike Manley (Draw!), Ron Marz (Samurai: Heaven & Earth), Mark McKenna (Banana Tail), Sean McKeever (Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, Countdown), Bob McLeod (New Mutants), Pop Mhan (SpyBoy), Mike Mignola (Hellboy, BPRD, Atlantis: The Lost Empire) Mark Morales (The Order), Doug Murray (The 'Nam), Scott Neely (Scooby-Doo), Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), Phil Noto (Jonah Hex), Michael Avon Oeming (Powers), Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex, Painkiller Jane), Andrew Pepoy (Jack of Fables), Brandon Peterson (X-Men), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Chris Pitzer (AdHouse Books), Keith Pollard (Silver Surfer), Paul Pope (THB, Batman: Year 100), Eric Powell (The Goon), Kenneth Rocafort (Madame Mirage), John Romita, Sr. (Amazing Spider-Man, Sponsored by The Hero Initiative), John Romita, Jr. (World War Hulk, Sponsored by The Hero Initiative), Don Rosa (The Life & Times of Scrooge McDuck, Sponsored by Gemstone Publishing), Craig Rosseau (Perhapanauts), Stephane Roux (Birds of Prey), Andy Runton (Owly), Alex Saviuk (Web of Spider-Man), Tony Shasteen (O.C.T.), Jim Shooter (Legion of Super-Heroes, Avengers), Louise Simonson (Power Pack, Steel), Walter Simonson (Thor, Manhunter), Andy Smith (Red Sonja, Claw), John K. Snyder III (Suicide Squad, Doctor Midnight), Mark Sparacio (Heroes for Hire, Shi), Vincent Spencer (Zombie-Proof), Chris Sprouse (Tom Strong), Jim Starlin (Dreadstar, Kid Cosmos), Brian Stelfreeze (Batman: Shadow of the Bat, The Ride), Paul D. Storrie (Gotham Girls), Karl Story (Tom Strong, Aliens vs. Predator), Kristofer Straub (Starslip Crisis), Craig Taillefer (The Chelation Kid), Mark Texeira (Ghost Rider), Robert Tinnell (Feast of the Seven Fishes), Herb Trimpe (G.I. Joe, Incredible Hulk), Dean Trippe (Kids Love Comics), Tim Truman (Conan, Grimjack), Billy Tucci (Shi, Heroes for Hire), J.C. Vaughn (24, Zombie-Proof), Tim Vigil (Faust), Dexter Vines (Superman/Batman), Neil Vokes (The Black Forest, Wicked West 2), Doug Wagner (O.C.T.), Mark Waid (The Brave and the Bold), Mark Wheatley (Frankenstein Mobster), Ron Wilson (The Thing, Superboxers) and Kelly Yates (Tellos). . COMPANIES & SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS The convention will feature publishers, studios and service organizations including 12-Gauge Studios, AdHouse Books, Allied Promotions, Ape Entertainment, Archia Studios Press, Big City Comics, The Blvd., Collectibles Insurance Agency, The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Crusade Fine Arts, C.S. Moore Studio, DC Comics, Diamond Comic Distributors, Dynamite Entertainment, Gaijin Studios, Gemstone Publishing, Gentle Giant Studios, Geppi's Entertainment Museum, The Hero Initiative, Image Comics, Insight Studios Group, The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, Kids Love Comics, Penny Farthing Press, Pop Fun Merchandise, Renaissance Press, Sky-Dog Press, Top Cow Productions, Top Shelf Productions, and TwoMorrows Publishing. A significant number of the top retailers in the comic industry will set up with a selection ranging of material from the oldest known American comics to the most recent. The show's regular site, www.comicon.com/baltimore, will also carry guest lists and other pertinent details, as well as their MySpace page, www.myspace.com/baltimorecomics. For additional information about the Baltimore Comic-Con, call (410) 526-7410 or email cardscomicscollectibles@yahoo.com. Visit www.harveyawards.org for additional details on the Harvey Awards. For sponsorship opportunities contact baltimorecomiccon@yahoo.com. |
