It’s bad form to hit on the Room Managers at Comic Con:
But, everyone has a price:
I’ve exhausted my $700 budget yesterday. Guess I’ll need more budget…
2007/07/28
587
2007/07/25
2007/07/22
My Comic Con plans
Places I might be found.
For those who might care.
Thursday
3:00-4:00 DC: Crossing Over
These days it seems like all roads lead to comics, whether they’re a stop on the road to other media or a final destination. The incredible media talent crossing into the comic book world has had an enormous impact. On hand to discuss their paths are Cecil Castellucci (The Plain Janes), Paul Dini (Countdown, Detective Comics), Christos N. Gage (Stormwatch PHD), Greg Rucka (52, Checkmate), Steve Niles (Batman: County Line), Mark Verheiden (Superman/Batman), and Gregory Noveck, DC’s Senior VP of Creative Affairs! Room 5AB
5:00-6:00 Lost Season 4
If the Lost finale was any indication of things to come, you will not want to miss this panel! Co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof and executive producer Carlton Cuse will discuss the exciting new season of ABC’s Lost, all leading up to the ultimate series finale. They’ll spotlight bonus features from the 3rd season DVD box set, preview the new Lost video game, take questions from the audience, and perhaps serve up more surprises. Ballroom 20
6:00-7:00 DC Group Therapy: Leagues, Legions, Societies, and Teens!
The DCU is home to the world’s greatest super-heroes, and they have banded together in teams with one common goal in mind: justice. Whether they’re rambunctious teenagers from the future, WWII veterans teaching a new generation, the super-powered elite, or the sidekicks who have forged their own way, they are among the DCU’s greatest assets. Don’t miss this important panel featuring the best teams that define heroism in the DC universe Geoff Johns (Teen Titans, Justice Society of America), Sean McKeever (Teen Titans), Gail Simone (Birds of Prey) and Tony Bedard (Supergirl and The Legion of Superheroes) will be teamed with senior VP/executive editor DCU Dan DiDio, group editor Eddie Berganza, senior editor Mike Marts and editor Mike Siglain to bring you teamwork as you have never experienced before. Room 6A
Friday
2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Neil Gaiman
One of Comic-Con’s most popular guests returns to spend his weekend with you. Neil Gaiman talks about this busy year, including upcoming films Beowulf, Coraline, and Stardust (set to premiere Comic-Con weekend in L.A.), that little ditty called Death looming on the horizon, and tons of other great stuff he has in the works. Room 6CDEF
4:30-5:30 Vertigo: Looking Over the Edge
Vertigo is a name that you have come to trust to deliver smart, provocative, and consistent quality books Be here to find out what’s in store for your favorite Vertigo titles as well as some major new projects that will be announced for the first time! Hosted by senior VP/executive editor, Vertigo, Karen Berger, with group editor Shelly Bond, editors Will Dennis and Jonathan Vankin, and creators Jason Aaron (Scalped), Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets, Loveless), Mark Buckingham (Fables), Mike Carey (Crossing Midnight, Lucifer), Joshua Dysart (Swamp Thing), David Lapham (Silverfish), Simon Oliver (The Exterminators), Matt Wagner (Sandman Mystery Theatre), Steven T. Seagle (American Virgin), G. Willow Wilson (Cairo), Bill Willingham (Fables, Jack of Fables), Brian Wood (DMZ, Northlanders), and others! Room 5AB
6:15-7:45 Kevin Smith
He’s back, and this time not even traffic can stop him! Comic-Con favorite Kevin Smith holds court in another of his no-holds-barred Q&A sessions, talking about just anything he damn well pleases, including the new CW series, Reaper. Kevin directed the pilot episode of this new show, which concerns a young man who finds out his parents sold his soul to the devil before he was born, and because of that, he’s now Satan’s bounty hunter! This special Comic-Con version of the pilot will be shown in its entirety. Hall H
9:15-10:15 Worst Cartoons Ever!
Animation historian Jerry Beck (Cartoon Brew.com) is back with another hilarious program of the worst cartoons ever made. And he should know, he’s seen ’em all! The program consists of rare, lost animated shows—most produced for TV in the 1960s—that are not on video, not on YouTube, not shown anywhere, and now you’ll know why. New episodes of audience favorites Mighty Mr. Titan (the physical fitness superhero), Rocket Robin Hood (a spandex-clad space cadet), and Super President (a nuclear-powered weapon of mass destruction) are joined by debut showings of Moon Mullins (a desecration of a classic comic strip), Sinbad Jr. (a sea sick superman), and another chapter of Spunky & Tadpole (a boy and his brain-damaged bear). It’s crap-tastic! Room 6CDEF
Saturday
12:30-1:30 Spotlight on J. H. Williams III
His Eisner Award–winning work with Alan Moore on Promethea made him one of the top artists working in comics today. Comic-Con special guest J. H. Williams is joined by writing partner Scott Johnson and writer Grant Morrison in this fully loaded panel moderated by Lauren McCubbin. Room 2
1:30-2:45 DCU: New Worlds Order
The crisis is over, isn’t it? With 52 finished, the DCU is counting down and the Monitors are watching closely. Come play catch-up, have your questions answered, and learn what lies ahead for the DCU in this extensive slide show presentation moderated by Dan DiDio (senior VP/executive editor DCU) and Bob Wayne (VP, sales). Joining them will be coordinating editor Jann Jones, senior group editor Mike Carlin, group editor Eddie Berganza, plus Tony Bedard (Birds of Prey,), Adam Beechen (Robin), Paul Dini (Detective Comics), Justin Gray (Countdown), Geoff Johns (The All New Booster Gold), Dan Jurgens (Booster Gold), Sean McKeever (Teen Titans), Jesus Merino (Superman), Carlos Pacheco (Superman), Jimmy Palmiotti (Countdown), Grant Morrison (Batman), Ivan Reis (Green Lantern), and Gail Simone (The All-New Atom). Room 6B
2:45-3:45 Supernatural Screening and Q&A
Supernatural stars Jared Padalecki (House of Wax) and Jensen Ackles (Smallville)—along with executive producer Eric Kripke (Boogeyman), co-executive producer Ben Edlund (Angel), and co-executive producer Peter Johnson (DC Comics’ Supernatural: Origins comic book series)—answer questions from the audience, present a reel of highlights from Supernatural, and discuss the upcoming third season of this thrill-ride series with moderator Craig Tomashoff, West Coast Bureau Chief of TV Guide. Produced by Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television, Supernatural airs Thursdays at 9 PM ET/PT on The CW. Room 6CDEF
4:00-5:00 Jeff Smith
Join Jeff for an open Q&A about his latest projects, including Shazam: The Monster Society of Evil (DC Comics), the new Bone Volume 6 color edition (Scholastic), the new Art of Bone book (Dark Horse) and the Ohio State Wexner Center Bone Art Exhibit planned for 2008. Also get a sneak-peek at his upcoming new self-published comic: RASL. Room 8
6:00-7:00 The Pitching Hour
Jermaine Turner (director, original series, Disney/ABC Cable Networks Group), Jill Stewart (manager, original series, Disney Channel Animation), Dan Evans (network exec, Digimon), Jeremy Love (VP, Gettosake Entertainment), Laurenn McCubbin (producer, Showtime’s Rent Girl), and Jonas Agin (senior VP, Tom Lynch Company) will take an idea from conception through production. This process will include creating a pitch document, obtaining agents, and getting a pitch meeting. The panelists will explain, through hypothetical example and humorous stories, the process that new creator should adapt to make their way into the Hollywood creative battleground. Knowing that each project is unique, there will be a Q&A to allow the audience to really hone in on the solutions to obstacles they may encounter. Also on hand will be IP lawyer Brendan McFeely to give creators insight on protecting their ideas as they navigate Hollywood! Room 5AB
9:00-11:00 Spotlight on Warren Ellis
Warren Ellis (Authority, Black Summer) is not only one of the most critically acclaimed writers of comic books but also one of the most outspoken. Don’t miss this chance to see him talk about everything from modern technology to how he crafts a tale, and get special sneak peaks of his new Avatar titles Doktor Sleepless, Black Summer, and some amazing surprise project announcements! Room 6CDEF
Sunday
10:30-11:30 DC Big Guns
Superman. Batman. Wonder Woman. Green Lantern. The Flash. They stand for more than Justice. Each, in his or her own way, is the archetypal hero. Listen in as their top creators discuss where they’ve been and—more important—where they’re going in the year to come. See what’s in store for the World’s Greatest Super- Heroes with the new iconic architects Paul Dini (Detective Comics), Geoff Johns (Action Comics, Green Lantern), Grant Morrison (All Star Superman, Batman), Jesus Merino (Superman), Dustin Nguyen (Superman/Batman), Carlos Pacheco (Superman), Ivan Reis (Green Lantern), Mark Verheiden (Superman/Batman), group editors Eddie Berganza and Bob Schreck, and senior editors Matt Idelson and Mike Marts. Room 6A
These are the panels that I consider essential; anything with Grant Morrison or Laurenn McCubbin and half the DC panels.
2007/07/19
Draft 2.0 done
70,751 words (still a lot of holes and parts that need fleshing out)
283 pages
25 Chapters
Next:
Draft 2.01 – Just like Draft 2.0, but I’m going to have to go over the last third of the novel again, I was really half-assing it, tired. I’m sure a week off and a week of Comic Con will recharge my battery.
Draft 2.1 – Double check my notes, make sure every plot point and foreshadow is in there.
Draft 2.2 – Fill holes, flesh out parts that need it.
Draft 2.3 – Ebonics draft. Double check the dialog. As I listen closely to African-American speech patterns I’m discovering that they’re not to different than rural American speech patterns. They were both born in the South. the difference isn’t the words, but the inflections and I can’t write inflections. Steve got me a book on the African-American accent, it’s a little old, but I hope it’ll help. But I don’t intend to saturate the book with the latest slang, that’s a good way to make it seem quaint to tomorrow’s readers.
Draft 2.4 – At this point everything should be in place. Time to start taking out unnecessary words. I’ve already done a bit of this in 2.0 on a sentence by sentence basis. This time I’ll be looking at chapters as whole objects.
Only then will I let people see it.
2007/07/18
2007/07/14
random observation (I hate using ‘random’ this way)
Rockabilly Guys:
- Cover themselves in tattoos, because it’s manly.
- Work on cars all the time, because it’s manly.
- Grow sideburns, because it’s manly.
Bears:
- Cover themselves in black leather, because it’s manly.
- Work out all the time, because it’s manly.
- Grow mustaches, because it’s manly.
I don’t think I’ll be able to pass by the Zombie Lounge without thinking they do protest too much.
2007/07/06
6 Days Later
Zombie Walk, the Flash Mob from beyond the grave.
I was a spectator since putting a bunch of gunk all over my face is not what I call a good time. However Dan and Christi were cool with a face full of gunk, I’m sure they have their reasons.
Sorry, folks, there’s no more room in Hell you’ll have to wait.
The zombies power-shambled up and down the Prado in Balboa Park. Some were good, some not as much (four pairs of bride & groom zombies? WTF?).
I hear there’s going to be another one during Comic Con. The convention center fills with the funk of forty thousand years not that anyone will notice.
