California Dreaming: Comic-Con International San Diego 2015

It's been a few years since I last attended Comic-Con International in San Diego. It's on in full geeky glory right now, and while it would be nice to be there, I'm home in Ottawa and living vicariously through Facebook postings instead.

What thinking of San Diego does do is inspire me to work on my contribution to Hope Nicholson's The Secret Loves of Geek Girls. It's already a Kickstarter success, and will be a fantabulous collection when it's done. The line-up screams for exclamation marks. Margaret Atwood! Sam Maggs! Trina Robbins! Megan Kearney!, Danielle Corsetto! Brandy Lynn! Adrienne Kress! Stephanie Cooke! Diana McCallum ! Jen Aprahamian!  Katie West! and so many more. I love the cover by Gisèle Lagacé.


My story is called "Both Sides of the Table and Between the Sheets," and it will draw on my wonderful, awkward, funny and fun personal experiences as a geek girl. I don't think I'd have the gumption to go up against the A-list cosplayers at Comic-Con in San Diego now, but back in the day, I took a prize for entering the costume competition as Supergirl (along with Don Hutton as Brainiac 5).

My con cravings will be satisfied again in September when Ronn Sutton and I will be guests at Fan Expo Canada, taking place from September 3-6, 2015 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. It's a big show, and growing each year. While I will be behind the table taking commissions and the like, I am also hoping indulge my inner fan-girl and score a photo with Kate Mulgrew, who was a dynamite starship captain on Star Trek: Voyager and has impressed a whole new generation with her turn as Red on Orange is the New Black.

Still... despite the long travel, hefty hotel room prices and insane crowd, it would have been nice to be at San Diego. I'm thinking maybe next year, and maybe I better start planning right now.

-- Janet Hetherington

Comics fans wanted in UK - Indy feature PULP shoots October 16, 17

Dare Productions reports that British Indy feature film Pulp will begin filming at the British International Comics Show (BICS) at the Birmingham Thinktank this weekend (October 16 and 17).
Pulp is a comedy feature film set in the irreverent world of comic book publishing and its producers, Dare Productions and Reels in Motion, are ensuring an authentic feel by inviting all comic book and movie fans to come along to BICS this weekend to be be part of the filming.

“Pulp is a homage to comic books and movies. We’re asking fans to come to the British International Comic Show and be part of this exciting independent feature film,” said producer Adam Hamdy.

In addition to being part of the crowd, fans will have the opportunity to be featured in Pulp. Using a technique similar to that used in When Harry Met Sally, the narrative story will be punctuated with real interviews with fans.

“We’re going to be intercutting the film with fan interviews. It’s a great opportunity for the world to hear your views on comic books and movies,” said producer Phil Bland.

Written by newcomer Bode O’Toole, and directed by award-winning commercials and animation director, Shaun Magher, Pulp will be produced by Adam Hamdy for Dare Productions, and Phil Bland for Reels In Motion. It is the first of three ‘Geek Trilogy’ films. The second feature, The Mystic, is scheduled for production in 2011.

Director Shaun Magher is excited about the shoot. “Bode O’Toole has done a great job. We’ve got a script that treats the subject matter with just the right blend of love and irreverence.”

In Pulp, Tony Leary is the nice-guy owner of Junk Comics who is gearing up for one last roll of the dice. Nothing will stop his new superhero comic The Sodomizer from being a success except a gang of Geordie criminals who are using another comic company to launder their dirty money. Aided by his trusty geek sidekicks, Rick and Keith, Tony must defy the odds if he is to become a real life hero.

Born out of the madness that is the world’s largest comic fair, San Diego Comic Con, Pulp raced from inception to shooting in three months. Produced using a collaborative approach, it will be shot on Red camera in the West Midlands with Birmingham’s striking Thinktank playing centre stage.

Hamdy said, “Comic fans should love it, as should anyone who likes to laugh at irreverent comedies like The Hangover, Kingpin and The Big Lebowski. The film is packed with comic book and movie references for fans to discover.”

British International Comic Show organizer Shane Chebsey said, “Our show is dedicated to celebrating comic books as an art form. We’re very excited that the producers have chosen to shoot Pulp at the British International Comic Show. It’s a rare opportunity for comic fans to see a work of art being created, and to be part of the filmmaking process.”

The British International Comic Show takes place at the Thinktank in Birmingham on October 16 and 17, 2010.

Comics Fix at Fan Expo Canada Toronto

Fans needed super-hero stamina to brave the San Diego-esque long lines and crowds at Fan Expo in Toronto August 27-29, 2010. Ronn Sutton and I were seated in Artist's Alley, and heard story after story of how some fans waited up to four hours to get in, then lined up again to get autographs from such stars as Stan Lee, William Shatner, Summer Glau, Felicia Day, Adam West and more. One fan reported that he went outside for a cigarette, heard the click of the door behind him, and had to get in line for another two hours to get back inside!

Once inside, however, fans were more than happy to seek out treasures on the dealers' room floor and attend panels and signings. It was busy for Ronn and myself too, as we both sold original art and did a number of commissioned pieces. There were plenty of cool costumes parading by, and a cute Batgirl was kind enough to pose with a Batgirl original art piece I was working on. Once finished, that art sold along with Catwoman, Supergirl, Zatanna, Dragon Lady and numerous versions of Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman was a hot topic at the show, with many fans pondering what was going on with the live-action feature. My feeling is that Wonder Woman has always been a difficult character to write, and a big-screen version should focus on her mythological roots as well as her super-heroic attributes (magic lasso of truth, boomerang tiara, invisible plane). If Hollywood's listening, I'd be happy to discuss!

One of the most exciting things for me that happened during the show was receiving an email from Arrow Publications saying that the first of my Eternal Romance supernatural love stories, TOO MUCH AT STAKE! was accepted by Apple and posted to its app store for download. In this story, lovelorn vampire Destine reveals her origin to wannabe slayer, Grayce Roy. Other stories are to follow, with a download price each of $0.99. I'm hoping Eternal Romance will reach new and returning fans, with Twilight, True Blood, The Vampire Diaries and other paranormal adventures being so hot right now.

Going to Fan Expo also means connecting with friends. I was able to deliver the Barnabus Collins and Angelique Dark Shadows figures I picked up in  San Diego to www.PopCultureAddict.com scribe and publisher Sam Tweedle. Later, Sam, Ronn and Marvel Comics artist Leonard Kirk enjoyed a (late) dinner and Steam Whistle brewskies on Wayne Gretsky's rooftop patio bar/restaurant, Oasis. It took us a bit of a runaround to find the stairs leading to the upstairs patio, but it was a entertaining evening of discussing gory horror movies.

While most of my time was spent behind the table at Artists' Alley, I did get a chance to walk the exhibit floor and do some shopping. I got my pic snapped at the SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND promo booth, and snagged some great merchandise: Star Trek key chain, the Spider-Man / Obama graphic novel, The Nightmare Before Christmas tote bag, Composite Superman action figure, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies graphic novel, True Blood "Fangtasia" hand tattoos and more. Lots to lug home on the train!

Fan Expo 2010 was big, noisy and fun. It seems to be following close on the heels of Comic-Con in San Diego in terms of expansion, but there's still lots of emphasis on comic books. And if by the end of the show,  I look like Death warmed over, I hope it's as good as the lass dressed as Death from Neil Gaiman's Sandman.

NEXT CON: Montreal Comic-Con, September 11-12, 2010! -- Janet Hetherington