by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
What: MegaCon
When: March 7th- 9th
Where: Orange County Convention Center Hall SB 9899 International Drive, Orlando
If the last time you checked out a comic book store was longer than a couple of years ago, it might be time to take another look, and MegaCon is the place to get the clearest picture. Things have changed in the comic world. More than ever, they aren’t just about tights and spandex. It’s about telling a story graphically, whether that story is about dating, or gritty mystery noir or about explorers on another planet. These days, there are as many genres of comics or graphic novels as there are genres of novels.
Locals are gearing up to attend the Orlando MegaCon for various reasons. The independent Alpha Cat Comics, started by group of Jacksonvillians with a love for comics, will have a booth at the con, where they hope to promote their comics on a regional basis.
Area comic book shops will also be sending their representatives, whether it’s to attend a panel discussion or just to keep a finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the world of comics today.
“In particular, I enjoy seeing the young artists and the independents that come, who are putting out new works, not just the big mega companies,” says Kimberly Johnson of Comics & Classics.
Johnson is eager to see some of the new regional comics and she’s looking forward to experiencing the culture of the con.
“I attend because I think it’s a celebration of a wonderful art medium, which is comic art. I like to see everybody come together and honor that every year. It’s a lot of fun. People dress up and they have a good time…”
Max Michaels, Jacksonville’s King of Goth will also be attending MegaCon with his Movement Magazine crew.
“Actually,” says MegaCon Covention Director Beth Widera, “he’s the one who turned us on to Voltaire.”
Voltaire, a tongue-in-cheek singer/songwriter with a dark and absurd edge, also produces his own comic books. He’s a perfect match for the con, providing offbeat but fashionable entertainment. He performs on Friday from 9 pm – 10 pm, and will be signing autographs after the show. If you want to give him a listen before the con, go to myspace.com/voltairenyc.
Information for those who want to break into the comics business will be offered, in the form of panel discussions and even individual sessions with pros.
Says Widera: “We do a lot of question and answer, different how-to panels and portfolio reviews for people trying to get into the business.”
The anime genre will have several rooms and many events dedicated to it during the con. Widera tells us that anime is a popular draw, and “those rooms get extremely packed.”
While comics are the focus of the con, it’s really grown beyond that. From card game tournaments such as Pokemon, RPG test sessions, panels on anime, costume contests and celebrity appearances to live music concerts, parties and film festivals, there’s sure to be something there that can help you celebrate the geek in you.
“We also have a big segment of indie films. On Friday night we have an indie film festival, which has become quite popular. It’s generally standing room only.”
They will have a dunking booth this year. Joe Quesada, editor-in-chief of Marvel, will be just one of the celebs who can be dunked.
The proceeds from the dunking booth will go to a non-profit organization called the Hero Initiative, which helps ex-comic book creators in their golden years. Comic book companies in the past have hardly ever provided pensions and retirement packages for them.
Besides the various comic book celebrities who will be at the con, there will also be photo signings from geektastic celebrities such as Neil Kaplan (the voice of Optimus Prime), Peter Mayhew (the man who played Chewbacca) and Adrian Pasdar (Nathan Petrelli of Heroes), among others. Go to megaconvention.com/mediaguest.asp for a full list of all the celebrity signings. There will even be two actresses who have both played Lois Lane; Noel Neill, who was Lois in the original Superman TV series, and Erica Durance, who plays her in Smallville.
For more information on the specific events at MegaCon (because there are a ton of them) and to get your admission tickets at a slightly lower rate, visit megaconvention.com. Admission prices at the door are: $55 for all three days (this price includes the sales tax), $24 for one-day admission (this price includes the sales tax), kids age 10 and under are free with a paid adult.
On March 22nd, Comics & Classics will be holding a signing of the local Alpha Cat Comics. Dick Giordano, former writer for DC and industry legend, is also slated to be there, depending on his schedule.
Article Published in the 03-08 Issue of EU Jacksonville
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