New York Comic Con 2017 quick thoughts looking back on this year's con

I had a great time this year at New York Comic Con. Things just clicked this year for the first time in a while.  Best of all the crowds were manageable and I had largely no trouble getting to places I needed to.

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Any things that bothered me on Thursday were resolved by Friday. Any problems I had were on the end of the PR people for the various events who flooded me with requests to participate and RSVP but never confirmed anything I asked to do.

Turner is center and Korem to the right

I loved that I got to meet Richard Turner and Luke Korem (a report here) because it means that I will be able to share more stuff on them and their film DEALT, including an interview with you down the road,

I met the guys behind BLOODLINE, David Muniz and Alphonso "Devon" Blackwood, a great looking new anime project.

I met the minds behind MAJOR GROM a comic and film that heralds the arrival of a potential game changing creative team.

I saw some great cosplay (see the other NYCC posts)

Sorry this is the best picture I have the lights were off in half the room

I attended the History of Women in Comics and was delighted to find it was all women on the panel. While the fact that the moderator writer Amy Chu (Red Sonja, Poison Ivy, Wonder Woman) was late her panel of Dr. Sheena Howard (Superb, Black Comics: Politics of Race and Representation),  veteran letterer Janice Chiang, and Karen Green (Columbia University Curator for Comics & Cartoons) soldiered on morphing the discussion into a talk about how women can survive and thrive in the industry that they have always been a part of. Thriving even if many fanboys their adult counterparts think otherwise. The women said to keep going and don't be discouraged. They also suggested turning anger into something positive since Amy Chu said that five years after taking an online comics course she ended up writing Deadpool for Marvel, the very comic the male students said she could never write. (I'm trying to find a copy of the panel since it was recorded and has valuable advice for anyone wanting to make comics)

I loved that I got to hang out with friends such as Nobu from Yahoo Japan.

I also loved that I got into some great conversations with people including one about how real New Yorkers who were born here (and most who have been here for a decade or more) are nicer than the transplants. The reason being that all the transplants think they have to be the stereotypical uncaring souls when that isn't the way real New Yorkers are.

And there was more that happened but most of it I can't talk about now because I spent much of the time setting stuff up for down the road.

As I've said I've been to every Comic Con except the first so when I say this was one of the best I know what I'm talking about.

Now to wait until next year...

A few random York Comic con 2017 videos

These are the videos that worked. I shot some other videos of displays, panels and cosplay but because of technical issues such as glare/reflections or crowd movement they aren't worth sharing.

What was it like moving through the crowds?


The giant rotating inflatable dog over the dealers room


Bumblebee cosplay


Droid toys


A ride on the very vertical, very long, escalator outside the Javitts Center which gives you vertigo because the tiles installed badly

Richard Turner and Luke Korem at New York Comic Con 2017 - a preview of coming attractions

On Thursday I went to New York Comic Con to see Richard Turner and Luke Korem talk about their film DEALT about Mr Turner.  Turner is a blind magician who does all sorts of amazing things with cards and Mr Korem has done a documentary about him.

I arrived late because of the crowds and arrived at the panel just in time to see one last card trick. I was blown away.

A short time later I went over to the IFC Films table and spoke, briefly with both Mr Turner and Mr Korem and had a grand old time. I only spoke with them for about five minutes bt it was clear that I had to do an interview with them, so after getting a signed poster I headed off  making notes to be sure to arrange an interview. Five minutes with the master and I was stammering like a kid so I can't wait to do a sit down.

Ladies and gentlemen you need to see DEALT when it opens and hits VOD on October 20th.  Based on what I've seen of Richard Turner in action it's a must see. Must see was also what Ariela told me Thursday night after she saw the film (her review is coming) and a special performance by Mr Turner for writers. She was simply blown away.

Lots of coverage of the film is coming so keep reading.

Richard Turner and Luke Korem pose for an awe struck fan

Pictures from New York Comic Con 2017 Day Three

I was not supposed to be at on site at Comic Con today but my interview canceled so I wandered over to do some follow up chats and to run an errand for a friend. Here are the pictures (there is also some video but that will follow later)

Pictures from New York Comic Con 2017 Day Two

Pictures from the second day of this year's New York Comic Con

Crochet Batman

Pictures from New York Comic Con 2017 Day One

A dukk report will follow but for now here are some picture from the first day on Comic Con.There wasn't a great deal of cosplay

A huge linesoit took half an hour to get from the door to the metal detectors

A dress so big she could never hit the show floor (more pictures later on)

Blind Magician Richard Turner does a card trick (a full report nd video is coming

NY Comic Con Day 2 Report is Coming- But go to Bubble Comics and get Major Grom

I'll have a full report on NY Comic Con hopefully tomorrow- but for now go to booth 2022 and see the guys and pick up a copy MAJOR GROM. Its a kick ass little film- a review is coming soon- that herald's the arrival of action filmmakers of promise. I picked up the special edition- what they are holding in their hands- which has the film, a comic and other goodies. Please let these guys go to town on a big budget action film.

NY Comic Con and NYFF reports are coming

I had a busy day bouncing between the New York Comic Con and The New York Film Festival. I have a lot to report about

Vanessa Regrave

Steven Spielberg

Richard Turner and director Luke Korem

Dealt a movie about Richard Turner a blind magician

The anime series BLOODLINE from David Muniz and Alphonso "Devon" Blackwood which looks awesome and I hope it goes to the right home...

And some other stuff including great cosplay

But I've been on my feet since 7:30am and I just got in less than an hour ago so time for bed before I do it all over again tomorrow.

Look for a brief report late tomorrow and stuff to trickle in Saturday onward.

New York Comic Con starts tomorrow

New York Comic Con starts tomorrow and We'll be there.

I know we have been quiet on the subject but things have been up in the real world. However while we have been quiet that doesn't mean we haven't been  busy setting stuff up.  We have lots of stuff planned so keep reading- expect all sorts of stuff  including photos

Nightcap 3/19/17: Boston Underground starts Wednesday,Notes on NYC Comic Con, 887 at BAM, thoughts on Derrick Walcott and Capeman

NYICFF is now officially over-here is a sketch that I did on the back of a ballot card. A full report soon

The wonderful Boston Underground Film Festival starts Wednesday. This little gem of a festival shows a great selection of genre and out of the mainstream films. Last year I go to see some really good films that hung with me all the way to the end of the year.

This year the festival has come around and it looks to be a killer one. The fest is running Brian Harrison‘s HELL FOLLOWS which I loved. I loved it so much I even interviewed Harrison. It is also running DAVE MADE A MAZE which JB loved.

As this posts we’re still putting together our coverage- which is not going to be as big as we’d like because of real world events are colliding with our plans- however do expect some reviews and reports.

If you’re going to be in Boston this week and weekend I suggest you check it out-tickets and more information can be had here
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New York Comic Con- yea well.

NY Comic Con sent out an email Friday concerning this year’s Con. The key points of the email broke down as follows:

1. Pre-registration is required but if you did it last year you’re still registered. If you registered for last year you’re on the list for this year and you’ll get a shot at pre-sale tickets.

2. The on sales are going to be on a weekend (dates to be determined)

3. They have eliminated the 3 and 4 day passes. You will have to buy single day passes…They say that because the Javitts will have construction this will allow more people to attend…

… and I don’t believe it.

Sorry- I don’t. I think there is another reason behind it other than maximizing attendance. (And I know being bitchy will limit my chance for a press pass- but since they cut me off last year odds are they’ll cut me off again this year so I’m going to speak my mind.)

The trouble with the reasoning behind the elimination of the multi-day badges is faulty. Unless there is going to be severe construction that is going to close a huge chunk of the Javitts center it will be no different than what attendees had to deal with any number of the last five or six years when the Javitts was doing construction and sections were closed. There were pass-throughs the construction area which chopped up the con. Each year with the construction the convention set new attendance records.

I suspect that the real reason is the convention is eliminating the multi-day passes because that if you buy passes for each day you’re paying double or more than multiday. I think the real reason is they are doing it is to maximize profits.

Will I make an effort to go?

Yes.

Do I expect to get there?

No- I suspect that I will be cut off for a press pass and I suspect the on sales will be so jammed I’ll be lucky to get a badge.
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Robert Lapage’s 887 is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. On one hand the show is pure theatrical magic. We watch a giant doll house spins and turns and opens up like, in the words of Hubert Vigilla a giant Rubik’s Cube on a lazy Susan. On the other hand the show burns itself into your sub conscious and works on you in such a way that days later I’m still pondering it and it’s images and stories have become part of my DNA.

Nominally the story of Lepage’s attempt to learn a poem for a presentation the show spins out to be a memory play about growing up in the apartment he shared with his family, how we remember, Canadian history and a lot of other stuff I’m still pondering.

I still have no words beyond my mind is blown and its one of the most magical evenings I’ve ever spent in the theater. It moved me and made me rethink how we tell stories.

If you can you have to see this. The show runs through the 26th at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. For tickets and more information go here.
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The great poet Derrick Walcott has died.

My introduction to his work through the book of Paul Simon's Broadway Musical CAPEMAN which starred Marc Anthony, Ruben Blades and Sara Rameriez.

Despite Simon's excellent score the show failed to find an audience.

There have been several attempts to restage the musical all of which have been for naught. The reason was not what you think. The truth of the matter is the play hasn't been revived because Walcott wouldn't allow changes to be made to his script. I remember when the show was on Broadway there were reports of frantic meetings between Simon, the producers and director Mark Morris who were asking for changes but Walcott refused to make them with the result the show could never be fixed. This is the same problem that has prevented the show from being reborn.

This may piss off people I am hoping that with Walcott's passing the show can be rescued- assuming his estate allows changes to be made.