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A “good girl” artist and a hard boiled writer are among the scheduled guests for the year’s last big convention.

Wizard World Texas has announced an initial lineup of guests for this fall’s convention, held Nov. 7-9 at the Arlington Convention Center. 

As previously announced, the guest of honor of the show is John Cassaday, artist of “Planetary” and “Astonishing X-Men.”  Joining Cassaday will be writer Brian Azzarello, of the crime drama “100 Bullets,” and artist Frank Cho (”Liberty Meadows,” “Mighty Avengers”), known particularly for his drawings of women.

Other writers attending the show include Christos Gage (”Avengers: The Initiative”), Marc Guggenheim (”Amazing Spider-Man”), writer and artist Phil Hester (”The Darkness”) and Max Brooks (”World War Z”). 

On the artist side, Mitch Breitweiser (”Captain America: The Chosen”), who followed something of a Cassaday style in his Captain America miniseries, is scheduled to attend.   Lee Bermejo, artist of the upcoming “The Joker” graphic novel, will also be on hand.  Also attending: Jacen Burrows (”Crossed”), Shane Davis (”Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns”), Paul Duffield (”FreakAngels”), Marko Djurdjevic (”Mighty Avengers”) and Ben Templesmith (”30 Days of Night”).
 
More information is available at www.wizardworld.com.

– Matt Price

Photos and artwork after the cut.

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Press release:

Congers, NY (August 27, 2008) - Wizard World has been home to movie premieres, costume contests, A-List creators and big time Hollywood talent. Now the convention tour is adding an academic track to it’s growing list of crowd-pleasing events. The newly created Wizard World University academic track of programming at Wizard World conventions was created alongside the Institute for Comics Studies (ICS) and will allow fans to view their favorite stories in a new light, with help from academics and comic professionals alike.
 
November’s Wizard World Texas (November 7-9) will be the inaugural stop on this tour promoting comics as an art form. The Institute for Comics Studies is currently accepting proposals for presentations, book talks, side talks, roundtables, professional-focus discussion panels, workshops and other panels for the newly created Wizard World academic track, Wizard World University, by September 22nd. Do you have an idea for a study of the mythos behind “The Dark Knight” or the political commentaries in The Watchmen? Think you can deconstruct the Joker as a villain or explain the literary influences of Wolverine in an hour using a nifty PowerPoint? Wizard World University: Texas could be your classroom! Panels that include participation by comics industry professionals are especially encouraged and the ICS will provide assistance with recruiting professionals for participation.
 
If you want to be a part of this bold new frontier in education, please contact Dr. Travis Langley (Texas Local Chair) or Dr. Peter Coogan at the information below by the September 22nd deadline.
 
Submission Form: http://www.hsu.edu/form.aspx?ekfrm=40054

Dr. Travis Langley
WWU-T Provost (Submissions Chair)
Address: Henderson State University, 1100 Henderson St. #7604, Arkadelphia, AR  71999
E-Mail: langlet@hsu.edu
Website: www.workdaycomic.com/ERIICA/

Dr. Peter Coogan
Director, Institute for Comics Studies
Address: 719 Fairview Ave, St. Louis, MO 63119
Phone Number: 314-962-7939
E-Mail: Comicsstudies@gmail.com
Website: www.instituteforcomicsstudies.org

Be sure to go to www.wizardworld.com for updates about guests and programming and to purchase tickets. Wizard World, the largest family-friendly comics and pop culture convention in the central US, returns to Texas November 7-9 at the Arlington Convention Center near Dallas/Ft. Worth.

Press release:  

Congers, NY (August 26, 2008) – When it comes to cinematic storytelling and masterfully rendered characters, no other artist comes close to comic icon John Cassaday. Now, the Lone Ranger, Planetary and Astonishing X-Men artist is coming to his first Wizard World convention in over a year, and his first ever as Guest of Honor!
 
With his current work on Dynamite Entertainments ongoing series, The Lone Ranger, Cassaday is bringing his trademark realistic style to the hero, who celebrates his 75th anniversary this year. His covers and artistic direction have breathed new life into the Lone Ranger and provided the series with a look that grabs readers’ attention every month. Cassaday will also be tackling the equally legendary Buck Rogers on the upcoming series with Dynamite Entertainment.
 
Prior to his involvement with The Lone Ranger, Cassaday collaborated with hotshot television guru Joss Whedon on Marvel’s critically-acclaimed and award-winning series Astonishing X-Men. During his 24 issues and one giant-size special, Cassaday did everything from resurrect Colossus to pit the X-Men against the combined might of an entire race of aliens bent on putting a bullet through the earth. Because of Cassaday’s epic artwork, Marvel’s mutants looked more compelling than they had in decades.
 
Through his work with Warren Ellis on WildStorm’s Planetary, Cassaday showed the comic buying population his wide range. Chilling horror, campy sci-fi, thrilling espionage and daring super-heroics were all depicted and conquered by Cassaday’s pencil-clutching hand. His work on Planetary has earned him numerous awards and unparalleled respect from his peers.
 
During Wizard World Texas, Cassaday will be meeting and greeting his devoted fans and will be involved in various signings and programming events throughout the weekend. Be sure to go to www.wizardworld.com for updates about guests and programming and to save 20 percent off the price of tickets by ordering now. Wizard World, the largest family-friendly comics and pop culture convention in the United States, returns to Texas November 7-9 at the Arlington Convention Center. More Information and exclusives to be announced!
 

Mark Texiera is among the guests at Defcon.

From Friday’s The Oklahoman: 

By Matthew Price

Assistant Features Editor

Tulsa’s Defcon brings an assortment of comic-book creators, actors and comic-book dealers to the Tulsa Convention Center, 100 Civic Center, starting today at noon. The convention runs until 5 p.m. Sunday with events running 24 hours a day. It’s the first 24-hour convention the organizers have attempted.

“Trying to stay up for most of it will be the most challenging thing,” said Defcon chairman Jimmy Jarman.

Jarman said the convention had run 24-hour movie rooms before, but this year, raves, bands, films and other events run deep into the night and early morning hours.

Jarman said this will make the convention easier to enjoy for those who have to work on one of the days of the convention.

“This way they can come out in the evening, and still have plenty of events to do throughout the night,” he said.

In addition to late-night activities, there are plenty of dealers and guests.

“Star Wars” fans can meet the actor who portrayed Chewbacca, Peter Mayhew.

The creator of “The Crow,” writer-artist James O’Barr, is scheduled to appear at Defcon. Lady Death’s creator, Brian Pulido, was recently added to the guest list, Jarman said.

Michael Golden, who came to prominence in the 1980s as the artist of the “Micronauts” series, will be in attendance.

A “40 Years of Ghost Rider” panel is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, with current writer Jason Aaron, 1990s and 2000s artists Mark Texeira and Javier Saltares, and co-creator Gary Friedrich.

For the full event schedule, visit www.myspace.com/tulsadefcon.

While usually the throng of people and the lines and the lack of sleep eventually cause me to hit the “con fatigue” wall sometime on Saturday of Comic-Con International, today it set in early. 

Arriving two hours early, I walked around the building — and around — and around — seeking the end of the line for Hall H, which is hosting the “Heroes” and “Lost” panels this morning.   The hall seats 6,500.   There were possibly twice that in line.  After walking for maybe 30 minutes just trying to locate the end of the line, I decided “Heroes” and “Lost” weren’t in the cards.

I thought it’d be a good plan to work on the blog, so I walked up toward the retailer lounge in room 21, where I’ve been able to do some work the last two days.  A security guard stopped me two yards from the door, and said I couldn’t proceed any further.  He said I could, however, walk around the building and come to the room from the other side.

“You need me to walk a mile to go two feet?” I asked.

“Yes,” he replied.

So, I walked around the building again, and came to room 21 from the other side. (Along the way I bypassed the official press lounge, 28.  I was involved in retailer programming this year, so I got my pass as a retailer.  I’ve never found that getting a press pass at Comic-Con gets you anything; you have to wait in line like everyone else.)

I pulled on the door to finally get to work — and the door is locked.  Several security guards couldn’t tell me why the door is locked, and their best solution was to scurry around the building several more times asking for someone to open the door for me.  Instead, I am sitting on the floor across from room 21, trying to recharge.

On the positive side, I’ve seen a ton of cool stuff, much of which I haven’t been able to type up yet. (Last night was a late one, and the internet where  I’m staying has been spotty.)

I hope to get more reports up today from the convention.  Overall, Comic-Con is still a lot of fun — but man, it is a madhouse.  And a little humanity and compassion instead of strict rule-following would go a long way to soothe the long line-waiting and mile-walking.

– Matt Price

FEARnet, the horror and thriller Web site, along with IDW Publishing, is debuting a limited edition, 16-page introduction to FEARnet’s web series “30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust.”

The comic book, limited to 10,000 copies, will be distributed at FEARNet’s booth #4313 during Comic-Con. 

Part 1 of the Web series “30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust” is available now on FEARNet.com.

– Matt Price

I’ve arrived in San Diego for Comic-Con International!  Preview night begins tonight, so there’s not a crazy amount of hustle and bustle as yet, but it’s just a matter of time.  Comic-Con sold out completely — there will be no on-site registration, according to the official site — and more than 125,000 fans are expected, as well as a healthy smattering of comics’ finest creators and Hollywood actors, directors and more.  Tonight I’m scheduled to get a sneak peek into the DC Comics MMORPG that artist Jim Lee has been working on — I’m looking forward to it!  And, of course, a lot more, as the news is soon to come fast and furious throughout the end of the week and the weekend.

– Matt Price

Virgin Comics has one of the coolest panels of the convention planned, as Stan Lee and Grant Morrison will talk about Virgin Comics at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday.  They’ve also got portfolio reviews and exclusives planned. More info after the break!

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If you’re into comics history, you’re likely reading some magazines, books or both from TwoMorrows Publishing, the publishers of “The Jack Kirby Collector” and the “Modern Masters” line of books.  I’ve read nearly every one of the “Modern Masters” line to date, spotlighting artists including John Byrne, Michael Golden and more.  Check out TwoMorrows’ plans for San Diego Comic-Con after the break.

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There’s a lot of announcements and plans coming out about Comic-Con International, and here at Nerdage we’re trying to sort through to figure out what we’re going to hit in our Comic-Con blast.  For reference, here’s programming at the Marvel booth, which is probably more help for those going than those not.  Full list after the break.

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