The Never-Ending, Four-Color Festival: News On Cons, Shows & Major Events

By Tom Spurgeon

* while there are a few small comic book conventions this weekend the obvious juggernaut on the schedule is BookExpo America, taking place in New York -- it's always in New York now -- right this very minute with lots of comics folk in attendance. While it doesn't have anywhere near the same "holy crap we're comics people at BEA!" feel of five, seven, nine years ago, and in fact you get the sense from some of the writing about BEA that some people believe that show is reeling because of changes in the book industry. I don't think that's true, but I imagine there have been some cutbacks. Also, I'm certain that a ton of useful work gets done by the comics folks over the weekend by simple virtue of being able to network with that many book-selling folk. And if you're into walking around picking up galleys, this week is still Christmas.

* and of course I've already forgotten the Phoenix Comicon, a show practically in my backyard. Luckily, James Owen did not. Thanks, James.

* Heidi MacDonald has a nice floor report up on the rapidly shrinking show, and notes that Fantagraphics has galleys for their long-rumored Joyce Farmer book, Special Exits.

* David Glanzer declares in this San Diego Union-Tribune article that the long-awaited Comic-Con International decision where to have their shows starting a couple of years from now is in the home stretch. They've asked for a commitment from local hotels that they'll discontinue the high rates that have been a huge sore point among detractors for years now.

* speaking of Glanzer, CCI sent out a press release this morning naming another round of guests for the convention's 2010 edition. They are: Ray Bradbury, Emile Bravo, Hunter Freberg, Stan Freberg, Moto Hagio, Dusty Higgins, Van Jensen, Phil Jimenez, Jenette Kahn, Ivan Reis, Rick Riordan, Jeannie Schulz, Ann VanderMeer, Jeff VanderMeer and Gerard Way.

* next weekend is HeroesCon, which means the news updates here will start hitting the Internet in fast and furious fashion. I'm doing a bunch of solo and paired interview panels with the idea the content will be used on CR to drive further attention to that show, and am looking forward to the weekend. One thing I'm doing is budgeting a few dollars to shop for comics, because they have a ton of $1 stuff of the kind I love purchasing at shows.

* and just after typing the above, they put up the HeroesCon programming schedule.
 
posted 10:00 am PST | Permalink
 

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