W♥M

MSP Comicon at Minnesota State Fair, St Paul (05 Oct 2019)

Featured Guests Scott Beaderstadt, John Bivens, Andy Brase, Drew Brockington, Zander Cannon, W.C. Carani, Keith Champagne, Steve Fastner, Otis Frampton, Paul Fricke, Ale Garza, Dan Jurgens, Ryan Kelly, Kickliy Yilkcik, Peter Krause, Rich Larson, Ant Lucia, Clara Meath, Tom Nguyen Gordon Purcell, Jason Walz, Dave Wheeler, Jin Wicked Read More MCBA We haven’t attended a MCBA (Minnesota Center for Book Arts, not to be confused with Minnesota Center for Book Arts) show since 2015, which was a massive disappointment for us. ....

Since we were already in the area (for the annual Half Price Books Clearance Sale), we stopped by the MSP Comicon show (aka Fallcon aka Fall ComiCon). Fallcon is currently a one-day small show, put together by the Midwest Comic Book Association (MCBA).

What that means is that it’s a little cheaper ($10 for Fallcon vs $15 for Springcon), but there are no comic book panels (who cares, because we saw some panels in May 2015 and it sucked). Take it from me, you’re not missing anything.

There were fewer comic book guests and limited to artists or writers from around the area. However, I would have to add that this year, they got Dan Jurgens back at their shows (not really sure why he stopped going).

The room was also smaller, with less dealers, and possibly less attendees (although attendance has always been strong for these shows).

Prices and inventories were based on dealers, so you may find something for $10 at one vendor and later see the same thing for $20. I recommend walking around and making notes of prices. Dealers are more inclined to cut you some deals, which personally, I’m terrible at haggling.

Since it’s based on independent sellers, they don’t all accept credit or debit cards… so your best bet is to bring cash. And also bring your own bags, as many dealers don’t have plastic bags for your purchases.

Since we never arrive early enough, the 300 free grab bags were all gone. What I love about what they’re doing now (I haven’t attended in four years so this might have changed recently) is putting out free comic books on freebie tables located near the bathrooms. They go quickly, so I’m assuming they re-stock these tables every hour or so.

The other (minor) complain is that parking was a little difficult due to the HPB and Twin Cities Oktoberfest also taking place in the same area. We eventually found parking, but it was a bit far to walk to the Fallcon entrance.

MSP Comicon at Minnesota State Fair, St Paul (05 Oct 2019)

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Half Price Books‎ Clearance Sale at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, St Paul (05 Oct 2019)

Read More Half Price Books We attended the 10th Annual Half Price Books Clearance Sale at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Grandstand on Saturday. If you didn’t know, the annual free event …

The annual Half Price Books Clearance Sale took place at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Grandstand on Saturday, October 5th… nearby the MCBA Fall Comicon and Twin Cities Oktoberfest. Logistically, if you really wanted to, you can attend all three events at the Fairgrounds for less than $20.

As with previous years, everything at this sale was $2 or less. Comic books were 25¢ or 50¢, while trades were $1 or $2. Movies were movies in DVD format, but occasionally you do see Blurays (but they are rare). Most of the $2 video games were from the PS3 or earlier era (so, no Switch or PS4 games).

The worst part of this sale is checking out. Lines snaked all over the room and it took 15-20 minutes just to get to a cashier. I know it may sound unfair, but I wish there was a ten-items or less line, so customers who just had one or two items can get out quicker.

The first customers who attended each day (starting at 9am), got a free HPB tote bag. They limited it to one bag per person (of 16 years or older).

As with their stores, they accept most forms of payments, including cash and credit cards - however they will refuse to accept HPB Gift Cards or coupons.

Saturday is the busiest day for the Hal Price Books sale, so if you can swing it, go on Friday… because you get first choice and there’s probably fewer customers (and likely better parking since they’re not sharing it with the comic convention or Oktoberfest fans).

Half Price Books‎ Clearance Sale at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, St Paul (05 Oct 2019)

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Half Price Books‎ Clearance Sale at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, St Paul (06 Oct 2018)

HPB Clearance Sale Read More Comic Books I really hate the title Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. I can understand it, it tells us that Batman will be fighting Superman... and somehow it involves the Justice … MCBA When the 26th annual SpringCon ended over the previous weekend and the dust settled, it became the largest attended in the group’s history and ended the so-called Minneapolis Comic Convention Wars ....

We attended the 10th Annual Half Price Books Clearance Sale at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Grandstand on Saturday.

If you didn’t know, the annual free event features HPB’s clearance stock, and they sold everything for $2 or less. I’ll confess, most of it is junk, but occasionally, you’ll find a diamond in the rough. We were there to look at comic books and Blurays. There were some Blu mixed in the DVD area, but they were rare. I would say for every DVD cardboard box, there were one Bluray (or none at all).

Sometime, with the impressive attendance, it wasn’t easy to navigate or look at everything, but we spent a good amount of time looking at books, records, movies, and old video games. For the entry fee of $0, I felt like we got a lot of value out of it.

Twin Cities Oktoberfest

Next door at the Fairgrounds, were the 8th annual Twin Cities Oktoberfest and the 30th Anniversary of MCBA Fall Comicon 2018 (or locally we just know it as Fallcon).

We haven’t attended a MCBA (Minnesota Center for Book Arts, not to be confused with Minnesota Center for Book Arts) show since 2015, which was a massive disappointment for us. Since Fallcon was the “one-day wonder”, smaller show, it does not include any comic panels or any sort of entertainment. Basically your $10 entry fee doesn’t get you anything, other than the privilege of looking at back issues. To put things in perspective, the Oktoberfest’s $5 entry got you a beer stein and your first beer, plus free live music, etc. (see poster).

Anyway, Half Price Books Clearance Sale will end today (Sunday, October 7th) at 6pm. All sales are final, so closely check the item you are buying.

Half Price Books‎ Clearance Sale at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, St Paul (06 Oct 2018)

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

MSP Comicon at Minnesota State Fair, Minneapolis (16 May 2015)

Read More MCBA When the 26th annual SpringCon ended over the previous weekend and the dust settled, it became the largest attended in the group’s history and ended the so-called Minneapolis Comic Convention Wars ....

I originally wasn't going to go to the MSP Comicon (formerly Springcon) this weekend at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, but ended up going at the last minute on Saturday.

This is the first year the Midwest Comic Book Association (MCBA) decided to rename Springcon to take advantage of the confusing "Comicon" name. No one I know liked the name change. We think it's too acronym-ey, the same way no one I know refer to this as the "MCBA" brand. Look, we understand why they want to rebrand, but given the 28 years of "Springcon" and "Fallcon", it is going to take a while for us to refer to this as the MSP Comicon show.

The last few times I've gone to Springcon or Fallcon, I felt like I wasn't getting anything out of it. Particularly the smaller Fallcon shows, which has no panels and only serves as something of a paid fleamarket for comics. Which is fine, especially if there are some books I'm looking for... but generally I get what I need at my local comic store or order them online.

The only advantage Springcon and Fallcon has right now is the affordable entrance fee. MSP Comicon cost $12 for both days, which is an unbeatable deal compared to Wizard World Minneapolis Comic Con which cost $75 for three days. With the cheaper price, it brought in more attendees/fans and more vendors (with cheaper prices). For example, the V for Vendetta Mask was $10 at Wizard, but only $5 at MSP Comicon. It's probably no secret that exhibitor pay more for a table at Wizard World, so they have to mark up their merchandise to pay for their space.

I'll address some of my complaints now about MSP Comicon/Springcon. While I like the free parking, I'm not a fan of the Minnesota State Fairground. We got lost trying to find the convention (since they move to different buildings depending on the show).

It also took us nearly one hour waiting in a very long line to get inside the convention, which I felt was kind of ridiculous. I understand there are a lot of fans, but how hard is it to take our money and let us in?

You're not going to see any actors like Gillian Anderson, but that's fine, we're only paying $12. We understand it's just going to be focused on (local) artists and writers. We saw/expect to see the same names like Dan Jurgens, Doug Mahnke, Gordon Purcel, Tom Nguyen, etc.

The panels were a joke. First of all, the title/description are all wrong. For example, "Scribbling with a Master" with host Angel Medina... featured no scribbling or drawing. The "DC Comics Today" with Aaron Kuder and Ben Templesmith had nothing to do with DC Comics. Templesmith came in and said he worked for DC but many of his works never saw the light of day and Kuder couldn't really talk much about his involvement in Superman. Instead the two just talk about "mullets" and Templesmith highly endorsed the latest Mad Max: Fury Road movie. Now... if they had change the "DC Comics Today" title to something like "Today in Mullets" or "We Love Mad Max", I would not have an issue. It just felt that none of the speakers were actually prepared for their topics.

The second problem is that it was incredibly noisy. The panel room basically had curtains. No one could hear anything, and even the speakers had trouble hearing each other (and they were speaking with a loudspeaker!) Questions that fans ask could not be heard. Maybe MCBA could set up a microphone for the audience?

Overall, these panels were the absolute worst this year, which is a shame because I've been to better panels from previous Fallcons/Springcons... and especially because we just saw Wizard World two weeks ago that had one thousand percent better panels.

We are not attending the MSP Comicon Sunday show, instead my friends and I would rather see Mad Max: Fury Road on IMAX and call it a day. Anyway, I said this last year, but I think this is probably my last year of going to Springcon/Fallcon. Based on the very strong turnout for the convention, I don't think the MCBA will miss us.

Aaron Kuder and Ben Templesmith at MSP Comicon, Minneapolis (16 May 2015)

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Comic Book News: Convention Season begins

Read More Comic Books Don't forget that the second annual Wizard World Comic Con Minneapolis will be taking place May 1st and May 2nd (which is also Free Comic Book Day) and May 3rd. We had a fantastic time last year at the ....

Spring has finally sprung, meaning among other things, that comic convention season is moving into full swing.

Locally, the offerings are expanding and here are just a few of the upcoming shows—

Sound+Vision MN

We start small with the charming and varied Sound+Vision MN Pop Culture Collectibles Show, a Free Admission show happening this Saturday at Valley Creek Mall in Woodbury. The show is in its third year and offers not only comic books and toys to peruse, but a great selection of music collectibles (Vinyl Records, CDs, concert DVDs), various memorabilia, rarities, and things you didn’t know you needed… but you do.

Additionally, Eisner Award winning creator Zander Cannon is special guest, promoting his just released Kaijumax #1 (Oni Press) about Godzilla-like monsters in a super prison overseen by Ultraman-like guards. There’s also free Star Wars: Rebels items and a first chance to possibly nab Avengers: Age of Ultron advanced movie passes.

A road trip should be considered for Chicago’s C2E2 (Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo), happening at McCormick Place April 24-26^th.  This massive show is very comic book-friendly with most publishers and many of today’s superstars in attendance.  Stan Lee, Dan Slott, Gail Simone, David Finch, and Amanda Conner are just a few of the numerous professionals attending.

Entertainment media guests include cast members of Arrow, Orphan Black, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter, Game of Thrones, and celebrities such as Kevin Smith, Matt Dillon, M. Night Shyamalan, and many others.  Panels, screenings, cosplay, and more fill the weekend with plenty to do and see.

FCBD

The next weekend brings not only Free Comic Book Day on Saturday May 2^nd, but also Wizard World Minneapolis May 1-3 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.  Free Comic Book Day encourages everyone young and old to visit their participating area retailer, to receive a selection of fifty different titles, available exclusively for this event.

All major publishers participate on Free Comic Book Day, with some of the free titles featuring well liked properties such as The Simpsons, Transformers, Bob’s Burgers, Sonic, The Avengers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and many more.  Retailers also offer other incentives such as sales and giveaways, to make the day a special one.

Wizard World Minneapolis

Wizard World Minneapolis returns with an impressive list of entertainment guests that includes Gillian Anderson, Karl Urban, Luke Perry, and the voice of Batman, Kevin Conroy.  Comic book professionals attending include Neal Adams, Chris Claremont, Larry Hama, and Michael Golden.  While entertainment guests have always charged for autographs, many premier comic professionals are now doing so as well, so check details at their booth.

MSP ComicCon

The Midwest Comic Book Association has re-branded Spring Con as MSP ComicCon, to take advantage of the name recognition, and always offers an intimate, yet expansive weekend experience.  Happening May 16 and 17^th at the State Fairgrounds, comic professionals scheduled to attend include Ben Templesmith, Kris Anka, Pat Gleason, Mike Norton, and others.

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Pop Culture / Comic Book Shows - this weekend and beyond

Read More Comic Books Of all the comic book-related television shows that I follow, I'm most excited about Constantine. I know the source material very well, having own nearly all the 300 issues run of Hellblazer comic book. .…

Though winter’s cold bite is upon us early, there are still a few pop culture-related events, worth getting out of the house for.

Sound+Vision MN is a Pop Culture Collectibles show in its third year that brings together selections of vintage and current, rare and hard-to-find music (Vinyl, CDs, concert DVDs), comic books, toys, science fiction, horror and fantasy memorabilia and more, to a 3x annual show held at Valley Creek Mall in Woodbury.

Appearing November 22: Otis Frampton

For the latest installment, happening this Saturday, November 22 (9am-3pm), the show features Image Comics writer/artist Otis Frampton as its special guest and a chance to win early The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies advance screening tickets and prizes.

Frampton’s latest comic, an all-ages book called Oddly Normal, has its third issue out the following Wednesday, and he’s also involved in the YouTube popular How It Should Have Ended animated shorts, along with his own ABCDEFGeek.   Other promotions are on-site and the admission and parking are Free, for this one-of-a-kind east metro show.

Wizard World Madison

If it’s this cold and snowy out in November, will people go to a comic-con in early February? That’s the hope, as Wizard World expands its nationwide pop culture shows for 2015, adding a show in Madison, WI at the Alliant Energy Center on Feb 6-8, 2015.

Wizard began extending its reach last year, with the inaugural Wizard World Minneapolis and the company hopes for similar success across the border. Media guests announced so far include William Shatner, Eliza Dushku, George Wendt, Michael Rooker, Edward James Olmos, Billy Dee Williams, and Batman's Adam West and Burt Ward (perfect to get that long awaited TV series box autographed!).

Comic book creators include Mike Grell, writer Gary Carlson, and up-and- coming Marvel Young Gun artist, Valerio Schiti. Cosplay contests, celebrity Q+A sessions, and industry panels are all part of the weekend.

MSP Comicon

Locally, the longtime two-day SpringCon has rebranded itself as the MSP Comicon, likely in response for Wizard coming to town and to take advantage of the “Comicon” branding term. The 27^th annual show will be held May 16-17 in the Grandstand at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and features 100,000 square feet of comic book-centric collectibles.

Known as a fan and creator friendly show, the organizing volunteers suffered a heavy loss when Source Comics and Games co-owner Nick Post unexpectedly passed away, but the Midwest Comic Book Association carries on in his honor, to deliver a show that is both fun and satisfying to the comic book aficionado.

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SpringCon 2014 re-cap / Minneapolis Comic Wars aftermath

W♥M216: Comic Book Summer (36 mins) Read More Comic Books Just two weekends after the first-ever Wizard Minneapolis Comic Con, the 26th Annual MCBA SpringCon Comic Book Celebration takes place this Saturday and Sunday at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds …

When the 26^th annual SpringCon ended over the previous weekend and the dust settled, it became the largest attended in the group’s history and ended the so-called Minneapolis Comic Convention Wars with a “win-win” outcome.

SpringCon, brought to life by the all-volunteer Midwest Comic Book Association, faced some additional pressure and competition after Wizard World Minneapolis, the area’s inaugural pop culture convention, came to town for the first time, scheduling itself just two weekends prior to the homegrown, more comic book-focused show.  Boasting over 100,000 square feet of floor space and more than 250 creators in attendance, Saturday’s headcount on a balmy warm weather day set a record, with Sunday staying fairly active as well.

Longtime supporting creators and regional dealers all attended SpringCon to show their backing of the local show and had a (mostly) ‘silent embargo’ against attending the larger Wizard World Minneapolis, which was conspicuously scheduled over Free Comic Book Day; an industry event now in its 12^th year, that supports local retailers and encourages new readers with a bevy of free offerings and associated promotions available at your local comic book shop.

Dan Jurgens, Adam Hughes, Bill Willingham, Jeff Parker, Steve Lieber, and others, were among the marquee guests at SpringCon, which also included panel discussions, a cosplay costume contest, and charity art auction, with all proceeds going to the Lupus Foundation and industry-supported Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

Ecto-1

The move by the MCBA in 2010 to shift their two-day event from the Fall to the Spring, has had both good and bad effects as a result.  Weather in Minnesota in mid-May (vs. mid-October) is generally good, with people eager to get out and find events to attend, after what’s usually a harsh winter.  The main downside of scheduling in mid-May is that it is at a peak of Convention season, with many other large shows happening that weekend or in close proximity-to, making securing more A-list guests and larger national dealers, much harder to accomplish.

In the end, both conventions were successful in terms of the promoters’ expectations and so much so, that 2015 has already been scheduled by both sides within again, the same two weekends of each other.  The MCBA returns before that though, with its “one day wonder”, FallCon, scheduled for Saturday October 4^th in a smaller building in the State Fairgrounds.

Some suggestions to make both shows better and here’s to another battle brewing in May 2015:

Wizard World Minneapolis-

1. Re-schedule Your Date- a different month/weekend would not as directly compete with local show SpringCon and would not be over Free Comic Book Day weekend—this would free up more disposable income for spending fans, make the calendar more bearable in terms of events, and not alienate every retailer that counts on FCBD weekend as their best-selling event of the year.  
   
   
2. Re-establish yourself as a more comic book-centric convention – while wrestlers and TV stars appearing are somewhat interesting, a lack of overall comic book creators and dealers in this first year, hurt the show’s core audience.  Comic book talent that did appear at Wizard World Minneapolis were contracted to appear at several national shows by the company, and unfortunately did not draw much activity. 
   
   
3. Embrace the local fan community – known more for its predatory tactics, Wizard World should actively reach out to the local fanbase and better support the pop culture its show brings, to create more of a camaraderie with area fans, instead of the impression that the industry’s 800lb. gorilla is coming to town, to bury the longtime local show. 
   
   

MCBA SpringCon/FallCon-

1. Use the competition aspect to attract more star creator guests – Heroes Con in NC is a marvelous example of a homegrown fan-friendly convention that attracts a multitude of top flight creators.  When Wizard moved into that area with its own show, creators and fans rallied to insure Heroes Con would flourish and the show and its reputation, has grown exponentially ever since.
   
   
2. Better highlight the show’s overall value - $12 for two days ($11 w/food donation) is an absolute steal in terms of rising prices, especially when compared with more national multi-media shows (Wizard and others) which can be $50-100 per day at the door. The overall nature of this local show, allows creators to be met in a one-on-one and relaxed manner that the major shows can’t offer.  The charity art auction is not only for a good cause, but often means that a unique piece of original artwork can be had for a fraction of its true worth.
   
   
3. Bring more old/new talent to town – While the larger shows only seem interested in the ‘hottest’ creators of the moment, MCBA has had a history of uniquely bringing more old and new creators to town, and needs to do more of this.  Older comic veterans like Joe Staton, Rich Buckler, Ernie Chan, and Silver Age legend Russ Health have all graced the show, as well as early appearances by then up-and-comers Michael Turner and Frank Cho among others. The show needs to re-dedicate itself to booking more of the old and new, that rarely appear elsewhere, to attract more out-of-area attendees.
   
   

SpringCon, Minnesota State Fairgrounds (17-18 May 2014)

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com

Minneapolis Music Guide: May 18 - May 24, 2014

Here is a guide of some Minneapolis (and Saint Paul) live shows and events taking place next week: May 18 - May 24.

Art-A-Whirl at 331 Club Poster Read More Art-A-Whirl The corporate-ish website of Art-A-Whirl does a terrible job showcasing what's going on this weekend in Northeast Minneapolis. Art-A-Whirl, this year, seems more focused on food and music (and less about art and, er, pottery).…

MAY 16-18
VARIOUS NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS
Art-A-Whirl

Art-A-Whirl... yeah, it's a dumb name, but what can you do?

It's that time of the year again, the NEMAA (Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association) is putting together their annual Art-A-Whirl show. The event is free and open to the public and takes place May 16 to May 18 at various places throughout the Northeast Minneapolis area.

Event schedule:

Friday, May 16th - 5:00-10:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 17th - Noon-8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 18th - Noon-5:00 p.m.

Some highlights:

Anchor Fish & Chips

Sat 05/17 at 8pm: Marijuana Deathsquads

Sun 05/18 at 7pm: Romantica

Grumpy's

Sat 05/17 at 9pm: The Blind Shake

Indeed Brewing Co

Fri 05/16 at 4:35pm: Little Man

612 Brew

Sun 05/18 at 4pm: Botzy

331 Club

Fri 05/16 at 9pm: Mark Mallman

Sat 05/17 at 8pm: Metallagher

Sun 05/18 at 5:30pm: Davina & the Vagabonds

Read More MCBA Meanwhile, the SpringCon is taking place a few weeks after Wizard's convention: May 17-18 at the usual Minnesota State Fairgrounds. I have been going on and off for many years, from that hotel near Mall of America …

MAY 17-18
MINNESOTA STATE FAIRGROUNDS
Springcon

Comic Convention Wars continue in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

Just two weekends after the first-ever Wizard Minneapolis Comic Con, the 26th Annual MCBA SpringCon Comic Book Celebration takes place this Saturday and Sunday at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds inside the Grandstand. Hours are 10AM to 5PM both days with tickets only available at the door, and a savings if non-perishable food item(s) are brought to donate.

The friendly and longtime show (which was scheduled well in advance of Wizard’s date) is more comic book than “pop culture” oriented (i.e. no wrestlers attending) and features 100,000 square feet of dealer space and some 250 different local and national comic book creators, along with dealers from all over the United States, free panel discussions/programs, costume contests, and an art auction.

Notable comic book creator guests include Dan Jurgens, Adam Hughes, Bill Willingham, Pablo Marcos, Carlos D’Anda, Ale Garza, and many more.

Factoids! Things You Should Know:

GUEST CREATOR PANELS - will be running all on both days! It's a great way to get up close and personal with some of your favorite comic book creators and best of all no extra ticket is required and all SpringCon Guest Creator Panels are FREE!

FREE PARKING! Follow the signs when entering the fairgrounds via the Snelling Avenue main entrance.

FREE GRAB BAGS - st 500 Attendees on Saturday & 1st 250 on Sunday!

FREE Creator Autographs!

ONCE AGAIN, the MCBA will be supporting three charities at SpringCon. They are the Minnesota Lupus Foundation lupusmn.org & the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund cbldf.org and the Minnesota Food Shelves 100% of all proceeds go directly to these charities!

Blood Red Shoes US Tour Poster Read More Blood Red Shoes UK rock duo Blood Red Shoes will be returning to North America this May in support of their self-titled album, which is out this week (March 11, 2014) via Jazzlife/[PIAS] America. .…

MONDAY, MAY 19
7TH STREET ENTRY
Blood Red Shoes w/ Radkey and BNLX

Blood Red Shoes are a UK rock duo (Steven Ansell & Laura-Mary Carter), currently touring the U.S. in support of their new self-titled album, out now via Jazzlife/[PIAS] America. The record is available in standard and deluxe version.

Opening up for the Minneapolis date are Radkey and BNLX.

Tour dates:

5/16/2014 - Toronto, ON @ The Garrison*
5/17/2014 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas*
5/18/2014 – Madison, WI @ The Frequency*
5/19/2014 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry*
5/21/2014 - Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room*
5/22/2014 - Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
5/23/2014 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
5/26/2014 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah*
5/27/2014 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo*
5/28/2014 - San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar*
5/30/2014 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza*
5/31/2014 – Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar*

* with Radkey

Wizard World Minneapolis 2014: Day 3 (4 May 2014)

Hulk #1 (Variant) Wizard World Minneapolis Color Cover Read More Wizard World It's all-Wizard World Minneapolis Comic Book Con all weekend here at W♥M. The fun begins today at 3pm at the Minneapolis Convention Center. …

The third and final Wizard World Minneapolis Comic Con day three wrapped up on Sunday. Like Friday, Sunday's show was somewhat limited compared to Saturday's show. The panels were very limited and I found myself on the vendor floors for about an hour before I got tired of looking at the same things over and over. There's only so much you can do within the vendors' booths.

Mortal Kombat

I did all my shopping this date, buying things that I knew would be hard to find and keeping within a price range that I can feel comfortable with. I'm a bargain hunter, and it was hard to find any gems at the show. Most of the titles that I bought were basically for the value, not necessary what is hot at the moment. I like old comics, and the deluxe reprints are decently priced. There was a particular dealer that was selling three hardcovers for $25, which was a good deal... but the selection wasn't that great.

Robert Englund

As a big Nightmare on Elm Street fan, I was first in line to see Robert Englund for his Q&A session. Fan, after fan, confessed how Englund's Freddy Krueger scared the living daylights out of them, and, of course, Englund, loved it. "Get 'em while they're young," he would gleefully say.

When asked about the recent re-make of Nightmare on Elm Street, Englund said that it was just too soon. He said that we have technology now (referring to Bluray), that looked and sounded much better than the dimly lit theater or drive through that played when they originally came out. Fans are still "discovering" these films, so there's really no need to remake a classic at this moment.

Regarding influences on his life, he talks about his childhood of looking at old monster movie books and noticing a bra-less vampire. He suddenly exclaimed, "I think I see vampire nipples!!" That got a huge laugh, and the vampire nipples would be a call back several questions later in his panel.

As for films he's into, he confessed that 'Rom Com' (Romantic Comedy) are not his thing. He does enjoy horror movies, but recently, the one film that defies any conventional genre, was a film he saw called Blue Ruin. I've actually see this film, it's pretty great. The first twenty or thirty minutes of the film, there's literally no dialogues - all the story-telling is done through acting and respecting the audience's intelligence to put it together.

Matt Smith

I ended up missing Dean Cain's panel, but that was fine, considering that Matt Smith's panel started nearly fifteen minutes earlier than schedule! Smith spoke in the main room, which was massive and every seat in the house was used. So many people showed up to Smith's Q&A that fans were standing outside the doorway just to get a glimpse of the 11th Doctor.

I've mentioned this before, but I was never a Doctor Who fan, but it was incredible to see that so many Who fans came out this Sunday just to see the star. Some people came as far as South Dakota and Idaho to get an opportunity to take their photo with him and his TV star companion Karen Gillan.

The question line was so massive that the convention divided it up into two area, where fans took turn on the mic to ask questions one after another.

The biggest news (at least to me), was that Smith confirmed a rumor that he will be involved in the upcoming Terminator movie. Contractually he cannot give any details, but he is very excited about the franchise.

Many of the questions involved his companions and Smith did the best to not play any favorites.

To be honest, it did not matter what Smith said, the guy is incredible charismatic. He really did have the audience in the palm of his hands.

Manu Bennett

I went over to check out Manu Bennett, mostly because I love the Spartacus series and his reoccurring role on Arrow as the villain Deathstroke (incidentally created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez).

Bennett's answers were often really long, and actually cut the question line more than one half. Still, despite the disappointed fans awaiting to ask questions, we learned a lot about the New Zealand filming crew vs the Canadian crew.

One enjoyable story was on the set of Xena, in order to get the most realistic shots, Bennett asked the stunt guys to actually hit themselves with the rubber swords for maximum effect. Years later, word got around and when he was hired for Spartacus, they stressed that he cannot hit actor/star Andy Whitfield.

Bennett is a lot of fun, and you can tell that he takes every role given to me as a gift and will do his absolute best. Check out the video clip to see what I mean.

Sean Patrick Flanery and David Della Rocco

The Boondock Saints' Sean Patrick Flanery and David Della Rocco came in strong and super excited.... but the tone was quickly taken down several notches when a fan shouted out that Flanery's friend Billy Connolly had cancer. Way to start off on a downer.

Rocco, on the other hand, was recovering from drinking all night to celebrate his birthday. He was quite laid back, compared to Flanery's loud tone.

Looking at the fans, you quickly understand why the original film had such a cult status that it demanded a sequel to be made - based on sales on the DVD market.

When in Rome...

I tried heading back to see the kids costume contest, but that ended earlier than scheduled, so I basically spent the rest of my time shopping on the floor. There were the usual cosplayers and I noticed some additional vendors that I did not see on Friday... perhaps they were always there but I missed them the first time around.

For the very first Wizard World Comic Con, I think it was incredibly well-organized; from ticket booths to knowledgeable and friendly (at least the volunteers I ran into) staff. Panels usually ran on time and equipment/mics were working for the most part. However, that's not without saying that scheduling Wizard World it over the Free Comic Book Day and only weeks away from the local non-profit Springcon did not have its problem. There are only so many comic book fans to go around... but again, I'm not sure if the same audience for Wizard World will also be at Springcon, who expressed that they're only interested in just comic books and not celebrities.

Personally, I do believe that both convention can co-exist together, both conventions are very different from one another. Wizard World is geared towards popular culture and celebrities, and, like it or not, people want this. Midwest Comic Book Association, which organize Springcon and Fallcon, have no desire to enter this market, but the good thing is that they continue to serve its loyal fanbase and keep ticket prices affordable.

Wizard World Minneapolis 2014 Video Clips

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Minneapolis Comic Book Events (2014)

Wizard World 2014-15 Schedule March 28-30 – Wizard World Louisville Comic Con April 4-6 – Wizard World St. Louis Comic Con May 2-4 – Wizard World Minneapolis Comic Con May 30-June 1 – Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con June 19-22 – Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con August 1-3 – Wizard World San Antonio Comic Con August 21-24 – Wizard World Chicago Comic Con September 12-14 – Wizard World Richmond Comic Con September 26-28 – Wizard World Nashville Comic Con October 2-4 – Wizard World Austin Comic Con October 31-November 2 – Wizard World Ohio Comic Con November 7-9 – Wizard World Tulsa Comic Con November 21-23 – Wizard World Reno Comic Con January 9-11,2015 – Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con January 23-25, 2015 – Wizard World Portland Comic Con June 19-21, 2015 – Wizard World Sacramento Comic Con Read More Wizard Wizard World Chicago ended its 4-day annual run last Sunday at the Stephens (Rosemont) Convention Center in the Chicago suburbs and played host to a gathering of costumed characters, comic book fans …

WIZARD WORLD MINNEAPOLIS
wizardworld.com

Taking place on May 2-4, 2014, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, is the inaugural Wizard World Minneapolis Comic Con.

If you grew up in the 90s, you probably collected Wizard Magazine, as I did. They were great, I love getting those free trading cards, and then eventually the 1/2 exclusive comic books. Unfortunately, like so many things that the internet destroy, Wizard slowly died. Founder Gareb Shamus was smart enough to invest in comic book conventions... so that's how Wizard World Conventions came to be.

The latest city to join the Wizard World family is Minneapolis. Personally, I'm really excited about this because I feel that for the first time, Minneapolis will be getting some A-list stars, such as William Shatner, Robert Englund, Ultimate Warrior (UPDATE: The Ultimate Warrior passed away as of 04/08/14), and much more, that only a major player like Wizard can bring in. I've previously attended Crypticon 2008 and Crypticon 2009, which featured some horror stars, but it's nothing compared to this upcoming Wizard World Convention.

As for the comic book side, because technically this is still a "Comic Book Convention", I recognized many of the artists they booked: Neal Adams, Michael Golden, Mike Grell, Greg Horn, Barry Kitson, Bob Layton, Kevin Maguire, Ethan Van Sciver, and much more. Among all these artists, I really love Michael Golden, whose linework reminds me of Brian Bolland or Steve Lightle.

The one problem I have is the expensive prices ($75.00 for three days, $40 average for single day). That's just the entry price, if you want pictures or autographs with the stars, it'll cost extra... For example, autograph from William Shatner will run you $75, or photo of the Walking Dead (Jon Bernthal, Michael Rooker & Laurie Holden) will cost you another $125. Still, people will pay for it, so ...

Read the full press release at news.weheartmusic.com.

Read More MCBA FallCon 2013 just took place on Saturday, October 5th. The turnout to this 25-year-old comic book convention was impressive, despite that FallCon for this year, was the smaller of the two cons …

MCBA SPRINGCON
midwestcomicbook.com

Meanwhile, the SpringCon is taking place a few weeks after Wizard's convention: May 17-18 at the usual Minnesota State Fairgrounds. I have been going on and off for many years, from that hotel near Mall of America to the much larger Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Some benefit to SpringCon: free parking, and affordable entry ($12 for both days). You can bring a can of food and get $1 off.

We went to the last Fallcon 2013, and there wasn't a schedule/programming and with fewer guests (but, then again, it was also cheaper: $8).

Looking at SpringCon's list, it would seem that SpringCon, at least this year, is much bigger. The artists I recognized were: Peter Gross, Gene Ha, Dan Jurgens, Adam Hughes, Doug Mahnke, and Gordon Purcell. I'm sure I missed a few times scrolling through their massive list.

I've gotten comic books signed before at these MCBA shows, and it's always free (or donations - but they usually go to a charity). If you're into original artwork, getting an commissioned artwork is usually pretty easy. Unless an artist is really popular, you can usually get them to draw your favorite comic book characters. I've seen prices go from quick sketches for $20 to as much as $200 depending on how detail the artwork has to be.

Personally, collecting original artwork can be quite expensive (although I own my fair share of original artwork), instead, most of my money usually goes to getting good deals on old comic books.

Read More Sound+Vision MN Sound+Vision MN, a Pop Culture Collectibles Show featuring Music, Comics, Toys/Action Figures and Movie Collectibles Show / Sale returns to Valley Creek Mall (1750 Weir Drive) in Woodbury…

SOUND+VISION MN
soundvisionmn.webs.com

Sound+VisionMN's upcoming show is this Saturday, March 22, at the Valley Creek Mall in Woodbury, Minnesota.

Their special guest for the show is comic book artist, Gordon Purcell (who is also appearing at SpringCon). Although I tend to think of his artwork is more cartoony (Ben10), he actually started his career as a more 'realistic' artist with Star Trek. Also, random trivia, I actually own his first DC published work in the Bonus Book in The Flash #12 (May 1988).

Additional details below:

Sound+VisionMN, a Music, Comics, Pop Culture, and Toys Collectibles Show / Sale returns to Valley Creek Mall (1750 Weir Drive) in Woodbury, MN on Saturday March 22, 2014, from 9am-3pm.

This Free Admission event features dozens of dealers selling a wide variety of vintage and current music (vinyl, CDs, tapes, DVDs), comic books, toys, pop culture, movie memorabilia, and anything else related.

Our special guest for the show is acclaimed comic book artist, Gordon Purcell! Working in comics since the mid-1980’s, he is best known for his Star Trek art for both Marvel and DC Comics, and is the current artist for Cartoon Network property Ben10 (IDW Comics) and Protectors, inc. (Image Comics).

Additionally, Sound+VisionMN is partnering with Allied THA for an exclusive Captain America: The Winter Soldier event, to offer a fun chance to win free advanced movie screening passes, t-shirts, and posters for the upcoming Marvel Studios blockbuster, which opens in theaters on April 4th. Attendees will be the first in the area, to see this hotly anticipated movie!

The location features plenty of free parking and on-site/nearby amenities to make the day an enjoyable one.

Read More Spider-Man This Weird Al song is fitting for anticipation of the new Spider-Man movie and that whole "Ode to..." thing. The song is a reconstruction of "Piano Man" by Billy Joel, which I'm sure you've all heard. …

ACTION CASTING
beamazingspiderfan.com

Also happening this Saturday is Action Casting for Spidey fans. If you think you know all there is to know about Peter Parker and the Amazing Spider-Man, then head over to the Mall of America this Saturday from 10am to 6pm. They encourage you to dress up in your favorite Spidey costumes.

Winners will be flown to New York or Los Angeles for the premiere, where I'm assuming you get to mingle with the stars of Amazing Spider-Man 2.

ACTION CASTING is looking for knowledgeable and enthusiastic Spider-Man super fans to audition for a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Come see us SATURDAY at the Mall of America and you may get an opportunity to swing like Spidey, meet a cast member, or go behind-the-scenes of the new movie The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Five people will be selected to be featured in a promotional campaign which will air across the networks of NBCUniversal.

DATE: Saturday, 03/22/14
TIME: 10:00AM - 6:00PM
LOCATION: The Mall of America
Executive Center 60 E. Broadway Bloomington, MN 55425

For questions and all other inquiries please contact us at beamazingspiderfan@gmail.com

Read More FCBD This Saturday is known as Star Wars Day (May the 4th). It's also Free Comic Book Day, which usually falls after or near a release of a comic book movie. This year, it would seem that FCBD is following …

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2014
freecomicbookday.com

Free Comic Book Day 2014 is taking place this May 3rd. Perfect timing, really, especially with Wizard World Convention and MCBA SpringCon in the same month.

I've been going to Free Comic Book Day since it started. I've watched how it's grown. It's really incredible how big it's gotten.

It used to be that I'll go to my local comic book store and can still get all the free comics. Now, by the time I show up to the comic store, they "sell out" of all the free comics (or at least have really bad selections). I'm not complaining, I think it's awesome that there are more interests in the event.

Last year, the coolest thing I got were these Iron Man FCBD Heroclix figurines. I also thought the Walking Dead FCBD was cool too.

I looked over the comic book list for 2014 and didn't see Marvel. I'm assuming they'll unveil the comic books closer to the May date.

About FCBD:

Free Comic Book Day is a single day - the first Saturday in May each year - when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE* to anyone who comes into their stores. *Check with your local comic book shop for their participation and rules.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic