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Comics Studies Conference at C2E2 - Submission Deadline

2009-11-23T10:31:00.005-05:00

Just a reminder that C2E2's Comics Studies Conference call for papers is ending soon. The CSC is organized by the Institute for Comics Studies and serves to promote the study, understanding, recognition, and cultural legitimacy of comics and support the discussion and dissemination of this study and understanding.

If you're a librarian, professor, teacher, or scholarly fan, the Comics Studies Conference wants to hear from you. The CSC invites proposals for scholarly presentations, book talks, slide talks, roundtables, professional-focus panels, workshops and other panels centered on sequential art and comics in any form (graphic novels, comic strips, comic books, manga, web comics, etc.), comics-centric works, or adaptations of comics materials, genres, or figures into other media for its first annual meeting, held in conjunction with C2E2.

Proposals that concern comics produced in or otherwise connected to Chicago, and proposals by Chicago-area faculty, scholars, and comics professionals are especially encouraged.

The CSC proposal deadline is December 1. Submit proposals online here.

The grotesque underbelly of Japan's kawaii culture...

2009-11-23T10:16:00.005-05:00

The grotesque underbelly of Japan's kawaii culture... That got your attention? Good, because that's the theme of an upcoming event at NYC's Japan Society. From December 3-5, Japan Society will present the world premiere of its commission to Bessie Award-winning American choreographer Jeremy Wade.

Titled "there is no end to more", the dance will take a playful and cynical look at Japanese kawaii culture -- from the infantile fluff of Hello Kitty to teenage doe-eyed love portrayed in anime -- exploring its ubiquitous influence on the world today using a bold and violent juxtaposition of movement, text, and animation.

Wade, who is based in Berlin, directs "there is no end to more", which features actor/dancer Jared Gradinger in collaboration with Brooklyn-based Japanese manga artist/illustrator Hiroki Otsuka, Berlin-based video artist Veith Michel, and musician Brendan Dougherty. The set was designed by architects Katja Mitte and Henning Ströh and text cowritten by Wade and visual artist/writer Marcos Rosales.

"there is no end to more" will be preformed December 3-5 at Japan Society (333 East 47th Street)...

Thursday, December 3, 7:30 PM
Friday, December 4, 7:30 PM — Post-Performance Discussion
Saturday, December 5, 7:30 PM

Tickets are $20 (or $15 for Japan Society members). For tickets and to learn more, visit http://www.japansociety.org/event_detail?eid=6aa0bf5.

Anime USA Masquerade Winners!

2009-11-23T10:00:00.003-05:00

Earlier this year, the New York Anime Festival started the Yume Cosplay Prize -- a contest which awards two cosplayers a dream vacation to Tokyo, Japan. Yaya Han and Anna Raper won the first Yume Cosplay Prize (and will be traveling to the Tokyo Anime Fair in the Spring). Next year's Yume Cosplay Prize will be given out in the 2010 New York Anime Festival, but you don't need to wait until next Fall to enter.

See, NYAF and the Yume Cosplay Prize are working with conventions throughout the USA to hold regionals, with every regional winner winning a trip to NYC and guaranteed place in the NYAF Yume Cosplay Prize Masquerade. (You can find all the details at www.yumecosplay.com.) And, the South East regional for the 2010 Yume Cosplay Prize was just held at Anime USA this past weekend in Virginia.

Who took home the prize? Tiffany Tezna (white wings) and Cassandra May (metal wings). Tiffany and Cassandra call themselves the Cosplay Cupcakes, and they'll be bringing their brand of sugar-coated costumes to NYAF 2010 as they compete for a trip to Japan!

Caturday for a Cause!

2009-11-21T10:24:00.000-05:00

Artist Christine Head is auctioning off an artist proof of her Kittini lithograph for Precious Paws. Click the link for details. Big thanks to Christine Peterson for the tip!

A Token Appearance by Lance

2009-11-21T06:58:00.000-05:00

Hello my blog, seems like I hardly see you anymore. Sorry, but I’m busy growing shows, go after some news ones and generally hop scotching around. 5 U.S. cities, 3 time zones, 4 flights, a road trip and some seriously good times in the last 6 days alone. But alas, I’m here, at the laptop (writing this on a flight no less) finally catching up on posting some odds and ends or as I like to call em, Cliffs Notes:

C2E2 VIP Packages: They are live and on sale. Check em out. We tried to make a cool package that got you more access, less hassle and a bit of call sweet Alex Ross swag without breaking the bank or forcing a bunch of merch on you. Hope you like em. Additionally, as we add more special event tickets, VIP ticket holders will get first crack at buying em. So, lets say, for example, we announce that I’ll be doing a signing at the show for free and one private signing for 50 bucks, VIP’s will get first get a chance to by those tickets online first. See, we don’t know everyone we are going to have at the show, so we chose to do it in these “tiers”. Email me or comments here with any Q’s.

Please, We Are So Lonely: The new episode of Streaming Medium, our semi weekly pod cast/radio show is online. You can grab it at www.streamingmedium.com or using the widget on the right. Give it a listen for news, updates and details on my drive to use a fraudulent charity to obtain a Collectors Edition Lego Millennium Falcon set.

My Kind Of Town: Check out the local links on C2E2.com, Brian and the marketing crew did in insanely cool job of illustrating just how much there is to do and see in downtown Chicago. Restaurants, bars, hotels, you name it it’s there and includes our personal picks as well. There is also awesome details on how to get to C2E2 (train, L, bus, car and teleportation coordinates), where to park, how much it costs, where Lakeside Center is in the galaxy that is McCormick Place and more. Take a look, they did a bang up job and its pretty darn handy info.

The Big Tease: We are working on something truly massive that we hope to be able to talk about in the next 2 weeks. I really can’t say any more than that, but we are about to embark upon a pretty cool adventure as a group here at BEA/NYCC/C2E2/NYAF global HQ and we are hoping you’ll come right along with us. I wish I could give you more than that, but I can’t or lawyers could have filleted and thrown into a giant pan of scalding hot oil, so just trust me, 2010 is going to be a fun one gang……Now if I can just get the 2 toddlers sitting near me on this flight to shut up….

-L

Kevin Conroy on Panels on Pages!

2009-11-20T15:41:00.000-05:00

The good folks at Panels on Pages interviewed voice actor Kevin Conroy this week live on PoP!-Cast to discuss his extensive body of work, including his experiences as the voice of Batman in a range of media. Recognized by many as the definitive voice of Batman, Conroy discussed the craft of voice acting and the character of Batman as it relates to his work on Batman: The Animated Series and in subsequent films and video games.

The Conroy interview is available at http://panelsonpages.com/?p=15025.

"It's about an assassin that goes after Ninjas."

2009-11-20T12:20:00.000-05:00

CBR has a fantastic interview with J. Michael Straczynski and his script for the big budget martial arts popcorn flick Ninja Assassin. Topics include the fact that the script was put together in 53 hours and that the title's not as redundant as I had thought. It's not about a ninja who's an assassin... as all ninjas are assassins. Instead, it's about an assassin that goes after ninjas. Hence, a ninja assassin. Bravo.

Read the whole interview at http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23780.

C2E2 VIP Tickets On Sale Now!

2009-11-19T12:05:00.002-05:00

C2E2 VIP Passes are on sale now. A total of only 500 C2E2 VIP Passes are available, each priced at $200. What's included?

- Guaranteed seating in the IGN Theater
- A separate entrance with early access to the show floor
- An exclusive Alex Ross sketch poster and T-Shirt
- An Alex Ross designed badge
- A VIP-Only Lounge and Coat Check
- 10% off all C2E2 branded items in the show store
- 10% off and 48 early access to all autographing, meet and greet, and special guest packages.

The VIP Package is packed with a lot of stuff. Getting you onto the show floor before general attendees gives you a head start to scoop up exclusives, the guaranteed seating in the IGN Theater means you know you'll have a seat to all our Hollywood and TV programming (and you won't have to wait in line to get to that seat), our Alex Ross poster, shirt, and badge are being designed with new art created just for C2E2, and the early access to additional special packages means VIPs will be the first fans able to get their hands on anything and everything C2E2 offers.

Want one? Just click here!

Webcomic Scholarship...

2009-11-17T13:41:00.001-05:00

From leasticoulddo.com by way of the eagle eyes of Mr. Mark...

Never does a day pass when Lar and I don’t realize how fortunate we are for the careers that we have. The fact that we are able to spend 12 hours a day doing something that we love, and that it sustains us and our families, never ceases to amaze.

I have always been vocal about my beliefs regarding a career in webcomics. It takes a great deal of work and dedication, a greater deal of luck and a myriad of other ingredients to make it work, but it CAN work. A career in this field is a viable option. Like anything else however, an education would provide a huge leg up.

Because of that, and our desire to help others break through, we have decided to create The Rayne Summers Webcomic Scholarship, at The Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont.

The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) offers a two-year course of study that centers on the creation and dissemination of comics, graphic novels and other manifestations of the visual narrative. Experienced and internationally recognized cartoonists, writers, and designers teach classes. The school is located in historic downtown village of White River Junction, Vermont, in the old Colodny Surprise Department Store.

Beginning in the fall of ’10, we will be covering the full tuition for the selected applicant. The applicant who, I might add, is working towards a career in webcomics. Over the course of the next 5 years, we plan on adding 1 student per year, thus by 2015, the Scholarship will be putting 5 students through the program per year.

This scholarship will be managed by Blind Ferret, though there will be heavy involvement from others in our field, in the form of a board of Directors and a selection committee.

More information will be forthcoming in the next couple of weeks, including fund raising events, application rules and deadlines and more. Keep an eye on this space.

All in all, this is something we’re all very excited to be offering.

Boom Boom Satellites Play NYC!

2009-11-14T11:38:00.000-05:00

Boom Boom Satellites need no introduction, do they? Their music is on the Appleseed and Vexille soundtracks, they've played with Moby, their fans include Oliver Stone and Luc Besson, and on November 24, they're coming to NYC! Our friends at Superglorious are hosting an incredible -- and free -- night of music featuring Boom Boom Satellites, and all you need to do to go is sign up.

RSVP for the Boom Boom Satellites by clicking right here…

http://www.superglorious.com/boom-boom-satellites-at-santos

Boom Boom Satellites will headline a night of music at Santos Party House (96 Lafayette Street), also including Me You Us Them and DJs Hipstarr and Hotline. Doors open at 7 PM, and the music starts at 8. You must be 18 or older to attend.

The Boom Boom Satellites Santos Party House show is going to be an awesome experience and one of the reasons why NYC is the place to be -- and all credit has to go to our friends at Superglorious. We've worked with them for NYAF 08 and 09, and we're already planning some secret stuff for 2010. We're big supporters of all that they do, and after you sign up for your Boom Boom Satellites tickets, be sure to follow @superglorious on Twitter, too!

Caturday!

2009-11-14T08:58:00.000-05:00

By special request from Kim!

ZAMZA Plays Webster Hall

2009-11-13T23:30:00.001-05:00

Japanese rock band ZAMZA is releasing their first US CD -- Manga Rock -- and to celebrate, the band will be performing a special CD release show at The Studio at Webster Hall (125 East 11th Street, New York, NY 10003) on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 7:00 PM.

Bass player "Banshee Aliouxce" (Yoshihito Onda) and drummer "Kohta" (Kohta Igarashi) originally hail from the band Judy and Mary. Guitarist “Hiroki” (Hiroki Ito) and vocalist “Zinc White” (Jinsei Tsuji) are from the band Echoes. Zinc is also a well-respected movie director and an award-winning novelist.

Tickets for the show are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. The show is for those 19 and up. Please visit: www.websterhall.com/thestudio to purchase tickets. For more information on ZAMZA, visit www.myspace.com/zamzaus or www.zamza.us.

Hikaru Utada Concert in NYC!

2009-11-13T06:41:00.001-05:00

Saints be praised, Hikaru Utada is singing in NYC! Utada -- the Queen of Japanese Pop -- is launching a US and UK tour in 2010, with one of her stops in New York City! Utada will be performing on February 8, 2010 at The Fillmore at Irving Plaza. The show starts at 8 PM, is for ages 16 and up, and tickets go on sale today (11/13) at 12 PM EST right here…

http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/414781

Here are the full tour dates of Utada's "In The Flesh" Tour…

Honolulu, HI @ Pipeline Cafe / 01.15
Seattle, WA @ The Showbox / 01.21
San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore / 01.24
Las Vegas, NV @ House Of Blues / 01.30
Chicago, IL @ House Of Blues / 02.02
Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club / 02.05
New York City, NY @ Irving Plaza / 02.08
London, England @ O2 Academy Islington / 02.12

So, skip lunch and camp out on the internet today. Please note, though, Programming Director Peter Tatara is kinda a big Hikki fan, and if you get tickets and he doesn't, he will hurt you.

This Weekend Is Vampire Weekend!

2009-11-12T18:36:00.000-05:00

This weekend -- Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15 -- is Vampire Weekend at the Paley Center in NYC. Our friends at the Paley Center are hosting a selection of fangtastic screenings and events that are free to Paley Center members and $10 for non-members. Here’s the menu…

Friday Screenings, 2:00 to 4:30 pm
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reunion (2008)
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horrors (1922)

Saturday Screenings, 12:00 to 2:30 pm
Angel (2001)
True Blood (2009)

Saturday Event, 2:30 to 4:00 pm
TV Vampire(s)Takedown with Angel Cohn, Senior Editor, Television Without Pity, Sammy Buck, Blogger, tvland.com, Chelsea Doyle, Freelance Writer, Starpulse.com , Jim Pierson, Author/Producer, Dark Shadows DVD releases, and Ken Tucker, Editor-at-Large, Entertainment Weekly

Special Saturday Screening, 4:30 pm
Robsessed - Revolver Entertainment’s inside look at the rabid fan following of Twilight star Robert Pattinson

Sunday Screenings, 2:00 to 4:30 pm
Dark Shadows (2001)
Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary (2002)

Want more details? Want tickets? Click here…

http://www.paleycenter.org/dark-shadows-at-twilight-a-paley-center-vampire-weekend

C2E2 VIP Tickets Sneak Peek!

2009-11-12T11:59:00.001-05:00

We get a lot of mail at Reed Pop HQ. A lot of guest requests, a lot of teachers looking for recommendations for their students, and a lot -- A LOT -- of questions about when C2E2 VIP Passes will go on sale. We'll, I'm proud to reveal C2E2 VIP Passes will go on sale in exactly one week!

C2E2 VIP Passes will go on sale at www.C2E2.com at 12 PM Eastern / 11 AM Central on November 19th.

There will be 500 total C2E2 VIP Passes available, each priced at $200.

What's included? Guaranteed seating in the IGN Theater, a separate entrance with early access to the show floor, an exclusive Alex Ross sketch poster and T-Shirt, an Alex Ross designed badge, a VIP-Only Lounge and Coat Check, 10% off all C2E2 branded items in the show store, and 10% off and 48 early access to all autographing, meet and greet, and special guest packages.

The VIP Package is packed with a lot of stuff. Getting you onto the show floor before general attendees gives you a head start to scoop up exclusives, the guaranteed seating in the IGN Theater means you know you'll have a seat to all our Hollywood and TV programming (and you won't have to wait in line to get to that seat), our Alex Ross poster, shirt, and badge are being designed with new art created just for C2E2, and the early access to additional special packages means VIPs will be the first fans able to get their hands on anything and everything C2E2 offers.

And it's all going to be available in exactly 168 hours. So, set your Outlook, mark the date on your calendar, and we'll see you on 19th. You'll be the guys crashing our server, and we'll be the one's posting BlackBerry photos of our IT guys freaking out.

C2E2 Guests Spotted Off The Port Bow!

2009-11-12T07:26:00.001-05:00

Good morning, internet! Let's get right into it today. How about a C2E2 guest announcement? No, that won't do. How about four C2E2 guest announcements? There we go!

Geoff Johns, Jill Thompson, Mike Norton, and Mike Perkins will all be at C2E2 2010! That's right, Geoff Johns -- the man behind Blackest Night -- will be coming to Chicago, and he'll be sharing the stage with hometown hero Jill Thompson and comics artisans Mike Norton and Perkins. We're very excited to welcome Geoff, Jill, and both Mikes to the show, and they're pretty happy to be coming, too.

A little note for you all from Mike Norton…

I'm really excited to be part of the first ever C2E2. I've been going to the New York Comic Con since the first show and I'm psyched that we're getting the same thing (hopefully even bigger and better) here in Chicago!

And from Mike Perkins, too…

I'm looking forward to attending the brand spanking new and shiny C2E2 and meeting up with fans, friends and fellow professionals alike. Should be a good time for all involved. I'll be sitting there chatting, signing and taking on commissions so please stop by and, while you're there, you'll be able to purchase a few of my limited edition prints and maybe a page or three of original artwork. You'll make me happy and you'll go home with a smile on your face, too!

For more on Geoff, Jill, and both Mikes, visit www.C2E2.com later today! Then, swing back by here around noon for some C2E2 VIP news!

Dir En Grey Holding Court at Kinokuniya

2009-11-10T20:09:00.001-05:00

From Petrina.

At The Dir En Grey Event at Kinokuniya.

2009-11-10T20:00:00.000-05:00

The band.

At the Dir En Grey event at Kinokuniya

2009-11-10T19:55:00.001-05:00

The fans.

Looky! Looky!

2009-11-10T01:38:00.002-05:00

Some gamertags for you. I think you know what we're going to be doing for the rest of the week.

Bill - efil4mailliw
Khahil – K Heels
Kyle - D1rtMcGert
Lance – Super Pants 76
Larry – lsett
Peter – murdersaurusnyc

Caturday! Lionmaru Edition!

2009-11-07T07:09:00.000-05:00

The Heiz Play NYC on Saturday!

2009-11-06T10:24:00.004-05:00

Have you made your weekend plans? If not, our friends at SuperGlorious are taking over Santos Party House on Saturday for a night of music featuring...

The Heiz, Dinowalrus, and Exit Clov.

The show is Saturday, November 7. Doors open at 7 PM, the show starts at 7:30, and tickets run $8. Santos Party House is at 96 Lafayette Street in NYC. For more, visit superglorious.com.

The Heiz come all the way from Japan, and this is their first US tour, so let's give them a big welcome!

Important LEGO News!

2009-11-05T14:36:00.004-05:00

So, Lance is the Chief LEGO Builder at NYCC/NYAF/C2E2 HQ, but he's been strangely silent about two important LEGO posts made by the good guys at Kotaku.

First, behold a Mario made out of 40,000 LEGO bricks. It sold for over $5,000 earlier this year.

Second, November is Vic Viper Month. Start building Vic Vipers and posting 'em on Flickr. Really. Start building them. Now.

Dir En Grey comes to Kinokuniya!

2009-11-05T08:32:00.005-05:00

Some exciting news for you all. In celebration of their scheduled three-night performance at New York City's Blender Theater at Gramercy and upcoming DVD release -- Average Blasphemy -- Dir En Grey will be making a special public appearance at Kinokuniya Bookstore on Tuesday, November 10th.

Hosted by The Lady Miz Diva Velez of TheDivaReview.com, Dir En Grey will take part in a live interview discussing the band's history and their All Visible Things Tour as well as play clips from their Average Blasphemy DVD. An autograph signing will follow. Doors open to The Diva Review's Dir En Grey interview and autograph signing at 7 PM on Tuesday, November 10th in Kinokuniya Bookstore at 1073 Avenue of the Americas.

The event is free; however, it is limited to 200 fans. If you'd like to go, visit TheDivaReview.com. All tickets to the interview and signing will be distributed online. The ticket giveaway ends on Saturday, November 7th.

Spidey and Larry

2009-11-05T08:24:00.000-05:00

Someone dropped by the office late last night and was waiting for Larry this morning......

-L

Lance Fensterman
Reed Vice President
BookExpo America
New York ComicCon
C2E2
New York Anime Fest
Blog: www.mediumatlarge.net
203.840.5507 (o) 203.417.3607 (m)
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