Press Release

 

SPACEBALLS: THE ANIMATED SERIES TO SCREEN EPISODES AT WIZARD WORLD TEXAS!

New Cult Favorite Series To Entertain Fans At The Convention

Congers, NY (November 5, 2008) - The most recent animation sensation, the G4 sequel to the classic film "Spaceballs," will be prominently featured at Wizard World Texas. Two episodes from the series will be screened on Friday November 7th from 5-6 p.m. in the Michael Turner Room at the Arlington Convention Center.

The series has been entertaining fans since debuting in September. The episodes being screened for the Wizard World Texas attendees on Friday night are "Hairy Putter" and "Mighty Meteor." The cartoon series is a sequel to the beloved 1987 Mel Brooks film of the same name and follows the misadventures of Lone Starr, Barf, Princess Vespa and the rest. Mel Brooks, Daphne Zuniga and Joan Rivers have all reprised their roles from the film for the television series.

Posted by Aron Head at 7:18 PM CST

Updated: Wednesday, 5 November 2008 8:27 PM CST

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If you find that you'd rather kiss a wookie this weekend, Wizard World Texas is the place to be!  Peter Mayhew, the man beneath all that spectacular fur as Chewbacca in the Star Wars films will be signing autographs at the show.  Mroooowwr!

In the comments of Monday's blog, General Manager Chris Powell over at Lone Star Comics & Science Fiction wrote to my concerns about the reported record number of exhibitors at this coming weekend's Wizard World Texas.  I had pointed out some notable vendors missing from the retailer and exhibtor list - including Lone Star Comics.  Chris put my mind at ease:

"I'm pleased to say that Lone Star will be there. Wizard has had a lot of turnover in their conventions department in the last couple of months, and they haven't posted a full list of exhibitors..."

This is awfully reassuring to me.   I've got cash in my pockets ready to buy funny books and all manner of things that I-simply-must-have-but-didn't-know-I-needed.  I gotta have guys there to sell me t'ings, tho.  Glad to learn that the site simply hasn't been updated.  Thanks, Chris.  I can sleep again!

Confirmed guest Stuart Sayger reports that he will not be in attendance at WWTX.

But that's okay, because the Space Gun Studios kru will be knocking out some badass pages at the Heroes 4 Heroes Live Art Charity Auction.   These guys are great.  I've met Vinh-Luan Luu a couple of times.  He has a delightfully noirish style to much of his work.  I am a HUGE fan of Jake Ekiss' stuff.  In fact, Jake teased me earlier this week:

"Hey there Aron be sure to find me at the con; I'll have something for you (ooh, cryptic...)."

Please be a puppy, please be a puppy...!

By the way, I just realized that I got the date wrong for the H4H Live Art Show.  It is Saturday night.  Not Friday night as reported earlier.  Me am smart.  Sometimes Bizarro Aron writes the blog...

By the way, the Heroes Initiative is looking for volunteers:

The Hero Initiative is looking for volunteers to work the booth at Wizard World Texas from November 7-9.

What you get for your time:

• You get into the convention for free - all we ask is about four hours a day.
  
• You get to meet comics creators up-close and personal. In the past we have had Adam Kubert, George Perez, Ed Brubaker, Terry Moore & J.G. Jones.
• And you get to pimp, pimp, pimp for a good cause.

If you are interested in volunteering one, two or all three days, contact Bob Moser at spiderbob007@sbcglobal.net.

Tomorrow, I will be posting my picks for the cool panels and things to do at the con... can't wait!

Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net
Twitter + AronHead 

Posted by Aron Head at 8:00 AM CST

Updated: Tuesday, 4 November 2008 11:00 PM CST

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This Friday Saturday night after Wizard World Texas closes up its first second day of programming, Heroes 4 Heroes will host its third annual live art charity auction next door to the convention center at the Sheraton Hotel.  Heroes 4 Heroes is a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) that brings comic books and other forms of entertainment to our troops serving overseas. 

The live art show features some of comicdom's top talent creating original works right before your eyes.  Once they've finished, you get the opportunity to bid on it.  All proceeds benefit Heroes 4 Heroes.

Artists expected to participate this year include: Mitch Breitweiser, Phil Hester, James O'Barr, Bill Tucci, Brian Denham, Eric "EBAS" Basuldua, Art Love Magic, and many more!

I've not ever been able to attend the live art shows at WWTX.  This year I'm gonna!

Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net
 

Posted by Aron Head at 8:01 AM CST

Updated: Tuesday, 4 November 2008 10:20 PM CST

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Man-oh-man, Wizard World rolls into Texas this Friday.  It'll be a busy week here on the blog getting ready for it, so stay tuned for updates.

FreakAngels illustrator Paul Duffield will be at WWTX.  Duffield is an amazing talent,  his work strikingly beautiful.  He'll be teaching classes at Wizard World:

Paul is doing some very cool art classes that are free to people that buy copies of the FA TPB or HC at the booth. See the man work his magic live! The classes only hold 28 people, and he is doing 1 per day, so those will probably all fill up very fast. 

Seems a bit crappy though to limit access to only those people who buy a book.  Truly, I despise such cavalier use of the word "free."

Big time Spawn artist Whilce Portacio will also be kicking it at the con.  This is Portacio's first visit to WWTX.

According to the press release, Wizard World has sold out the dealer room floor with a "record number of exhibitors."  I don't want to be critical, but I am going to be a skeptic on this one. 

Looking at the retailer and exhibitor list, it appears a bit slim to me in comparison to previous shows.  There are some notable names absent from that list.  Houston's Bedrock City Comics ain't there - and maybe Hurricane Ike has something to do with that?  That doesn't explain the mysterious lack of Austin Books.  Last Year, AB owner Brad said they had a very profitiable weekend and were hoping for more of the same in 2008.

Here's what's REALLY telling.  Local giant Lone Star Comics is not on the roster.  Last year, they were HUGE at Wizard World.  This year?  Not even on the list.  WTF?!

Joining forces with Fear Fest has limited some of the space WWTX has utilized in the past for its comics and popculture focus, I'd imagine.  So comparing this year to previous years is not really an apples-to-apples algorithm. 

I am eagerly awaiting the pleasant surprise of the dealer room, while the skeptic in me frets.

Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net
Twitter + AronHead 

Posted by Aron Head at 8:20 AM CST

Updated: Sunday, 2 November 2008 9:34 PM CDT

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Lots of images captured last week.  Woot!

Posted by Aron Head at 7:26 PM CDT

Updated: Sunday, 2 November 2008 7:40 PM CDT

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UPDATED with Reid's picture...

Our friend Mark and his little boy, Reid, came over tonight. Reid's a year old and was dressed as a penguin for Halloween.  The adults drank beers, chatting between intermittent runs to the door passing out candy.

Reid frequently joined me, standing to my side as I doled out treats to the ghouls, pirates, and Sith Lords.

"You have a cute little boy," One kid said.

"Thanks!" I instantly grinned.

It was cool, I realized, feeling for a brief moment like somebody's dad.  I smiled down at the boy.  Reid's gaze met my own, knowing something I didn't.  His blues eyes were deep with meaning telling me what he lacked the words to actually say.

This fine boy said to me: "You'd make somebody a GREAT dad."

I looked into the next room where Suzanne and Mark were visiting. Maybe... Maybe Suzanne and I should explore that?

Maybe it's time?

Lord, we hadn't really seriously ever... But maybe?

I took a deep breath.

"Dear God," I nearly choked at the realization.

All too frequently, that which is labeled wisdom is in reality a loaded diaper.

Beware the wisdom of children.

Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net 

Posted by Aron Head at 11:21 PM CDT

Updated: Saturday, 1 November 2008 8:59 AM CDT

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Wow, less than ten days to Wizard World Texas and all kinds of news to share.  For instance, Single Edge Studio's Leigh Kellogg and Jason Janicki, the nice folks who bring you Wayfarer's Moon are expected to discontinue - or at least pause -  their efforts at global extortion/destruction to attend the con.

Top Cow's Phil Hester has drawn up a special variant cover of The Darkness #7.  The comic will be available for sale at WWTX the proceeds of which will benefit The Hero Initiative, a charity that helps comic creators in need.

I really dig Phil Hester.  I'm angling for a Green Arrow sketch.  I loved his work on the Archer's Quest book with Brad Meltzer.

Also in benefit of the Hero Initiative Wizard World will play host to geek themed Match Game styled "Game Show Night."  From the press release:

Ethan Van Sciver, Terry Moore, Sean McKeever, Shane Davis, Phil Hester and others will grab their pen and paper and fill in the blanks during a rousing comic-book-tinted version of the classic game show, "Match Game." These superstar creators have worked on a veritable who's who of huge characters including Spider-Man, Captain America, Superman and Batman. Trying to match the creators will be numerous lucky fans who will have the chance to get onstage if the ticket they purchased is drawn. All proceeds from ticket and admission sales go to benefit the Hero Initiative and the lucky winners will receive original artwork and other memorabilia donated by the contestants and other top name creators. 

Game Show Night is scheduled for Saturday evening, November 8th.

By the way, the entire program guide is now available on the Wizard site.  At first pass, there's evening programming both Friday and Saturday nights.  Way to go, Wizard people!  That truly is excellent news.  There's always lots of grumbling on the part of the fans about the early evening end of the con each night.  Nice to know you guys are listening.

I'm awfully excited to see that DC Sales VP Bob Wayne will be in the hizzy to host the DC Nation Panel.  Bob is always fun and this year, I get to snag his autograph on my Time Masters tpb.  Woot!

Not so excited to note that Marvel Comics - once again - has thumbed its nose at Texas.  No real Marvel presence at all this year.  Boo.  Hiss.

That's okay, though.  

Plenty of other cool comics out there.  So suck it, Marvel!

In the coming days, I'll highlight more cool stuff from the program schedule.  I can barely stop myself from giggling!

Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net
 

Posted by Aron Head at 9:20 PM CDT

Updated: Tuesday, 28 October 2008 9:21 PM CDT

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This is something that I've had on my mind for awhile.  I take a lot of pictures, you see, and I thought it would be nice to provide a weekly digest of the week prior with the images I captured along the way.  This will likely be a Sunday evening post from here on out, but for this first one?  You get it on Monday.

 

Posted by Aron Head at 9:04 PM CDT

Updated: Monday, 27 October 2008 9:10 PM CDT

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I think it's great that characters from some of the whitest white shows in American TV history can unite in their support of Barack Obama.

Posted by Aron Head at 10:47 AM CDT

Updated: Saturday, 25 October 2008 10:51 AM CDT

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Lots of Wizard World Texas news to share...

Wizard has provided a sneak peak at the programming guide cover.  One thing I have always disliked about WWTX is that there was no evening programming.  Last year, they had a screening or some such.  This year, Wizard World  boasts of the FearJam Rock Concert in addition to a screening of Futurama: Bender's Game.  

Scheduled panels include:

• The Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane panel complete with original writer Sean McKeever and new creative team Terry Moore, who has agreed to do "a lot of panels," and Craig Rousseau

• A roundtable discussion about creator-owned comics with Moore, Rousseau, Matt Wagner, Frank Cho and Billy Tucci

• Numerous Wizard Schools including daily workshops with Paul Duffield and a lesson on drawing sexy women with Frank Cho.  I attended Michael Golden's last year, which was 50% boring as all hell and 50% brilliant.  I prefer to remember the brilliant part.  Wizard School's fun.  Looking forward to these panels.

• Dr. Scott (not Gene, but that guy from Polite Dissent) will be lecturing in the Wizard University track.

Local artist, Jonathon Kimbrell of Napkin Art Studios, will be on deck at the show and will be representin' with the boys from Boomstick Comics.  Jonathon's an amazaing talent.  I can't wait to see his work up close.

At WWTX, you'll be able to check out the new, cool 3D figure from Kaeru Boy.  Twelve inches, my friends. Twelve inches.

Watch this space.  Lots more Wizard World Texas news to follow.

Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net 

Posted by Aron Head at 9:27 PM CDT

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