Dr Strange’s movie costume! Netflix Daredevil vs. Punisher! Our picks for new comics coming out on 12/30/15! And the launch of a new feature: The Tuesday Night Book Club, where we review a graphic novel. This week’s book: Black Canary and Zatanna: Blood Spell by Paul Dini and Joe Quinones. Next week: Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot by Frank Miler and Geoff Darrow.
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Written by Nick Doyle and Billy Henehan.
They say if you can survive Saturday at NYCC, you can make it anywhere. There’s a reason why the Saturday tickets sell out before 4-Day Passes sell out and that is because Saturday is the mother of all days at NYCC. Most of the biggest events are happening today. Will you be able to make it all of them? Of course not, not unless you own a Time Turner. There are too many panels to go through on the NYCC site, but you don’t have to wade through them all. Because we have cut through all the mediocre panels to bring you the best of the best. If you have to choose, at least choose from these. Because these are the BEST of the BEST of New York Comic Con Saturday 2015.
Writers Unite: Writing and Pitching Comic Stories – 11:00-12:00 1A01
This seems almost like a sequel to Charles Soule and Marguerite Bennett’s panel together at Special Edition: NYC. That was a great panel; I expect this one to be as well. Writers talking writing. More panels like this please.
Spotlight on Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba: Different is Cool – 11:00-12:00 1A18
It’s been years since Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba have been at NYCC. If you’re a fan of theirs, you need to be at this panel, because who knows how long it will be until they return?
Thrilling Adventure Hour – 11:15-12:15 1A24
Listen to the cast and writers of Thrilling Adventure Hour discuss their dearly departed comedy podcast (which lives on as a couple of Image Comics series – check them out!).
All-New All-Different Marvel – 11:15-12:15 1A10
Marvel announcement. Glorious Marvel announcements. Oooh, Gerry Duggan is going to be there. Looks like I’m going to this panel dressed as Zenpool. If you spot me, be sure to say hi. 🙂
DC Comics: Heroes to the Core – 12:15-1:15 1A06
Dan Didio will be talking with DC creators on stage, including John Romita Jr (it’s still hard for me to think of him as a DC guy), Robert Venditti and more about the future of the DCU (not to be confused with DC You, which DC seems to be quickly backing away from).
Disney-Lucasfilm Publishing Presents Star Wars: Journey to Force Awakens – 12:15-1:15 1A21
Have you noticed the flood of Journey to Force Awakens books that have recently hit the marketplace? The writers of those novels, including Greg Rucka and Chuck Wendig, will be at this panel discussing their Star Wars writing.
Cinemax Presents Robert Kirkman’s New Series Outcast – 1:30-2:30 1A06
Wow, Cinemax really wants to drive the connection to The Walking Dead home on this one. Who can blame them? After the success of The Walking Dead, I can only assume they paid a good deal for the rights to Kirkman’s new series, Outcast. Series star Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous) and Robert Kirkman will both be here to talk about the upcoming show.
DC Comics – Batman: The Bat Universe 1:30-2:30 Empire Stage 1-E
Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Peter Tomasi, Amy Chu, Tom King, Tim Seeley, Khary Randolph and James Tynion IV will all be at this panel. What a line-up! If you’re reading a Batbook right now, this is your panel.
Using Tmblr to Sell Your Idea – 1:30-2:30 1B03
Here’s a panel that has both an interesting theme and a stellar line-up. Felipe Smith (All-New Ghost Rider), Kieron Gillen (The Wicked + The Divine) and Katie Cook (artist of the cutest and smallest con sketches ever) will be in conversation with Marlene aka @ilikecomicstoo about using social media to sell your idea. I’m a huge fan of Kieron Gillen’s tumblr blog, which gives behind-the-scenes insights into his writing. It’s like reading a director’s commentary for his comics. I will definitely be at this panel. You should too.
Clueless 20th Anniversary Panel – 1:45-2:45 1A10
Clueless writer/director Amy Heckerling will be speaking about the movie, which in my opinion is one of the best movies of the 1990s.
Marvel: Cup O’Joe – 2:45-3:45 Empire Stage 1-E
The Cup O’Joe panel is a mainstay of NYCC. If you’re a Marvel fan, you’re going to want to make sure you get a seat to this one. We’ll no doubt be seeing exclusive looks at post-Secret Wars Marvel Comics for the first time. Kieron Gillen will be here. Follow him from the tumblr panel to this one, where he’ll be talking about his upcoming Marvel work. Other guests include Charles Soule and Dan Slott.
The Splat: All That Reunion – 4:15-5:15 1A10
Wait, Kel will be here but not Keenan? That is not a Goodburger…
Cartoon Network Presents: Regular Show 4:15-5:15 – Hammerstein Ballroom
NYCC has grown so big this year that some panels and screenings are taking place at The Hammerstein Ballroom. If you walked over from Penn Station along 34 Street, you no doubt passed by it. What could make you leave the Javits Center to attend a panel? Four words: Regular Show. The Movie.
Marvel Netflix: Daredevil and Jessica Jones: Alias. 5:00-6:45 Main Stage 1-D
Hopefully the ticketing for this is not as big a clusterfuck as it was for last year’s Daredevil panel, where a bunch of jerks tried cutting the line, causing Marvel to send everyone on their way before Marvel had a ticket lottery later in the day. I am so excited for both the return of Daredevil and the new Alias series. If only they were also giving us some news on Damage Control. Who knows? Maybe they are. (Wristband required)
FUNimation Industry Panel – 5:30-6:30 1A24
After recently getting into Attack on Titan, I’m all about this panel.
NYCC Charity Auction – 7:00-9:00 1A18
This is my favorite event at all of NYCC. If you are an original art collector, this is a MUST ATTEND event. Mike Negin, the Artist Alley coordinator amasses a spectacular collection of original comic book art to be auctioned off every year for charity. All money raised goes directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Original art pages, covers (COVERS!) and convention sketches will all be auctioned off. Even if you don’t buy any art, come for the bidding, which tends to vicious at different points. Expect the Adam Hughes and Walt Simonson pieces to be the #1 and #2 most expensive pieces of the night (they were the last two years). It’s an awesome time, and a terrific charity fundraiser. GO TO THIS!
Doctor Who Fan Screening and Q&A with Screenwriter Toby Whithouse – 7:45-9:15
See the new Doctor Who episode Before the Flood before it airs on BBC America! I’m so tempted to go to this, but I’ll be at the Art Auction. While I’m losing out to bidders with a bigger bankroll, I will be sitting there jealous of all of you at this Doctor Who screening, especially because you’ll be able to ask screenwriter Toby Whithouse questions right after the episode. Please make them good questions. You’re watching the new episode that he wrote – make your questions specific to that.
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM – CollegeHumor and Dorkly Present “How to Get Paid For Being a Nerd” – 1A24
Even if you’re not interested in starting your own fansite, this should be fun.
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – The League Screening and Q&A – Empire Stage 1-E
The League is one of the funniest shows on TV. You don’t have to like sports to like it. The League is about fantasy football about as much as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is about Philadelphia. The whole cast will be on hand to discuss season 6.
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM – MARVEL Cup O’ Joe – Empire Stage 1-E
Joe Quesada really stacked the deck at his panel. Brian Michael Bendis, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Dan Slott and Gerry Duggan. If you’re a Marvel reader, you’re probably reading a book written by at least one of these writers.
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM – Nerdist Comics Panel – 1A24
Ben Blacker is joined by the writers of three of my favorite projects of the past year: G. Willow Wilson (Ms. Marvel), Heath Corson (Batman: Assault on Arkham) and Greg Pak (Code Monkey Save The World). This would be a hard panel for me to miss. See you there!
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM – CBLDF: Tales from the Code – True Stories of Censorship – 1A18
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund does great work, defending the first amendment rights of comic book creators and retailers. Speakers Denny O’Neill and Paul Levitz both have long careers going back decades at DC Comics. I’ve seen Denny O’Neill speak before. He’s very outspoken. I expect this panel to be both educational and entertaining.
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM – #YesAllGeeks: Let’s Talk About Harassment in Fandom – 1A21
Sadly, the reports of harassment at conventions have gone up over the last few years, leading New York Comic Con to adopt an official harassment policy last year. Like the CBLDF panel, I expect this panel to be very educational. Unfortunately, I think the con-goers that most need to attend this panel will probably be too busy harassing someone in a Phoenix costume on the show floor to attend this panel, but hopefully that’s not the case. Go to this panel. It may change your worldview regarding what’s acceptable at a convention.
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM – So They Say You Shouldn’t Cosplay – 1A18
I hate it when I hear people say someone is too black/white/fat/skinny/tall/short/female/male to cosplay as the character they want to cosplay. A friend of mine wanted to cosplay as Iron Fist a couple of years ago, but was told by his friends that because he’s black, he should cosplay as Luke Cage instead. No, he should cosplay as whomever he damn well feels like cosplaying! It’s unfortunate that this panel is directly conflicting with the #YesAllGeeks panel, because I think going to both of these panels would be more beneficial than going to just one of them. The topics they’re both covering seem like a good fit for overlapping. This should have followed #YesAllGeeks, not had to go against it.
5:00 PM – 7:30 PM [adult swim] Panel Block – 1A10
Like yesterday’s [adult swim] panel block, this one will not have the room cleared between panels. Today, you’ll be able to see the stars of Black Dynamite (5:00 PM – 5:45 PM), The Heart, She Holler (5:50 PM – 6:35 PM), and Mike Tyson Mysteries (6:45 PM – 7:30 PM). Mike Tyson will be there. Yes, you read that right. Mike Tyson will be there. Guard your ears!
5:15 PM – 6:15 PM – Marvel’s Daredevil, Exclusively on Netflix – Main Stage 1-D
This is the first public appearance of the cast of Marvel’s Daredevil series, which is coming to Netflix next year. I’m really hoping that they have some footage to show us!
7:15 PM – 10:00 PM – NYCC Charity Art Auction – 1A18
I went to the NYCC Charity Art Auction and was blown away by the artwork they had available. Sketches, original art pages, original art covers (!!). Mike Negin does a tremendous job collecting donations from artists, and he’s runs a fast and smooth auction too. I walked away with a Spider-Man painting by Franco and a page of original art from Hulk by Ed McGuinness. Follow Mike’s Twitter feed and you can get a sneak peek at what going to be up for auction. All the money raised goes to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. As it says on the NYCC site: Have fun. Get art. Save lives.
This Harley Quinn sketch by Sara Pichelli is just one of the many pieces of awesome artwork available at the NYCC Charity Auction.
8:15 PM – 10:00 PM – ReedPop’s Fandom Film Festival – 1A14
It’s the end of the busiest day of NYCC. Maybe you just want to sit down and relax. In that case, head here for the inaugural ReedPop Fandom Film Festival.
8:15 PM – 9:15 PM – Doctor Who Fan Screening with BBC America – Empire Stage 1-E
See the new episode of Doctor Who, Mummy on the Orient Express, before it airs on BBC America! Sadly, neither Jenna Coleman nor Peter Capaldi will be here for this panel.
I flied solo for the first time during this movie watching project when I caught The Town on a rainy afternoon at Brooklyn Heights Cinemas. This is the first time I went to see a movie by myself since I saw A Hard Day’s Night at Film Forum about 10 years ago. Before that, I don’t think I had been to the movie by myself since I was in junior high school, when I saw movies alone regularly in the summer 1990 (the last being either Problem Child or Total Recall) at the two small movie theaters in Pearl River, NY. On a side note, I was hugely popular in junior high (Liar!).
On another side note, how sad is it that both of those Pearl River theaters are now gone? Any readers of this blog remember those theaters? Okay, one wasn’t that great, but the nicer one had such a classic old-style movie theater vibe that’s hard to find in these days of multi-story megaplexes.
On a third side note, what’s with me going to the movie theater alone only during years that start new decades?
I know people who refuse to go to the movies alone, just as I know people who refuse to go to a restaurant alone. While I would much rather see a movie or dine with a companion, I recommend doing either alone both from time to time. There are definite advantages to seeing a movie by yourself: there’s no compromising on what movie to see (The Town), the show time only has to work for one person (me), and you get to pick out whatever snacks you want (small popcorn with butter and a regular Dr. Pepper, please) . But while this is freeing, there are definite downsides. You’re responsible for all the popcorn you choose to buy (luckily I had the foresight to order a small). Also, don’t expect a stranger to fill you in on what you missed while you were in the bathroom (that medium Dr. Pepper made the last 20 minutes of The Town excruciating). And when the movie’s over, there’s no one with whom to talk about the movie (except you, faithful blog reader, but even this is a mostly one-way street).
In order to get to 52 movies for the year, I expect I’ll be seeing a few of them by myself from here on out. But it really is much nicer to go with someone else.
The Town is about a 1960s ad exec and an ageless smoke monster teaming up in the FBI to take down Daredevil and an Iraq war veteran, who have turned their back on the law and become bank robbers. You’d think the smoke monster would wipe the floor with the bank robbers, but he’s surprisingly ineffectual during the climatic gunfight. Wait, I might be mixing up some roles…
Seriously though, The Town is awesome. Go out and see it in the theater. I will be very surprised if this movie doesn’t get nominated for an Oscar. As my snack stand order was being rung up, the ticket-seller/concession counterperson/movie-booker (seriously, while she was pouring my Dr. Pepper, she was on the phone ordering future movies for the theater – that’s multitasking!) said, “This one’s really good, you’re going to like it,” referring to The Town, not the Dr. Pepper. At least I hope she wasn’t referring to the Dr. Pepper. Don’t get me wrong, the Dr. Pepper was enjoyable. I just wouldn’t expect someone to get that excited about a fountain beverage.
Listening to the dialogue in The Town, I started to get a feeling that Ben Affleck was largely behind writing the cute dialogue in Good Will Hunting. The conversations between Affleck’s bank robber Doug MacRay and his hostage turned girlfriend Claire had the same vibe as Will and Skylar’s date in Good Will Hunting.
The highlight of the movie for me was the interrogation scene between Jon Hamm as an FBI agent and Ben Affleck’s theif Macray. Jon Hamm lets out the most exaggerated Boston agent ever while making fun of MacRay. It’s awesome.
The Town is definitely the victim of its own marketing campaign. When I first heard the title and saw the poster, I thought it was a horror movie. Maybe the name The Town reminds people of The Village. That can’t help. The trailer for The Town cleared up what genre the movie is, but didn’t do much else. The trailer made The Town seem like it was Heat 2.
The Town is a much better heist movie than Heat. Affleck is 2-for-2 as a director. If he keeps this up, Affleck may become the Martin Scorsese of Boston crime movies.