Any convention that mixes R2-D2, Tesla coils, fire-breathing sculptures, a human-size mousetrap, art cars, unusual inventions and crafts is bound to have something for everyone.
Bay Area Maker Faire — May 30-31, 3009 — brought together craftsters, robot wranglers, science geeks, rocket builders, Burning Man artists, steampunks and more.
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Tags: Conventions, Maker Faire, R2-D2 Builders, Robots, Science & Tech, Steampunk
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(Jane Wiedlin poses with 501st and wee little fan)
Not all conventions are made equally. While San Diego Comic-Con International is still considered the Mother Ship of geektastic gatherings, some of the smaller conventions still hold a special place in my heart. San Jose Super-Con (held May 16-17, 2009) is one of those tiny conventions that still believe comics, not movies, are king.
Here’s a recap of what you might have seen/heard/witnessed/tweeted if you were there.
(501st greet a young recruit)
9 Comments » | Tags: Art, Celebrities, Conventions, Costumes, The 501st Legion
Creativity, Events | Permalink
Half the fun of going to WonderCon every year in San Francisco is seeing all the costumed fans who dress up as superheroes, pirates, steampunkers, movie and video game characters and even Muppets!
We’ve already profiled our favorite Star Wars costumes this year, but here’s a list of some of the other costumes we couldn’t get enough of.
Superheroes:
It’s just not a comic book conventions without fans dressing like characters in actual comic books. Little kids and growups alike don masks and capes to wander through the convention floor looking for crime and photos ops. As an added bonus, Batman actor Adam West attended WonderCon this year and got to see all variations of the masked man he made so famous.
Watchmen:
Just in time for the March release of the Watchmen movie, fans dressed up as their favorite characters like Rorschach, Silk Spectre and Sally Jupiter. No Doctor Manhattans were spotted, but then again it takes dedication to show up to WonderCon blue and naked.
Yip Yip Martians:
If you grew up watching Sesame Street, you’ll recognize the interplanetary visitors called the Yip-Yips — nicknamed for their yip yip language. They seemed right at home yipping around WonderCon.
1 Comment » | Tags: Conventions, Costumes, WonderCon
Events | Permalink
You’ll excuse me if this next blog post gets a little meta and breaks a fourth wall or something. See, for better or for worse, I volunteered to go head-to-head against Steve Sansweet with the new Uncle Milton Force Trainer. It’s the much buzzed about toy that scans brainwaves to activate a fan within an acrylic tube, that then levitates a Force remote (or, ping pong ball to you terrestrial laymen) to various heights. I tried it out on Friday and, after some practice, got the hang of it.
Not nearly enough practice for the big show on Saturday, though, as I went up against a venerable Jedi Master like Sansweet. He had perfected its performance, launching the remote into the stratosphere while I apparently failed to unlearn whatever it was I had learned. My Force remote barely budged. It’s as if I had a pocket full of ysalamiri jerky or something. And if you get that, you’re as big a geek as I.
Anyway, this was really a lead-in to showcase some of the online Clone Wars comics we have been doing since the launch of the show. I introduced Tom Hodges and Katie Cook, who were in attendance in the audience, and also was able to give a sneak peek (note, correct spelling of peek – you’re welcome) into next week’s webcomic, “Curfew,” by Katie, which introduces the Twi’lek girl character of Numa.
We then segued into discussing the Ryloth Trilogy — the series of episodes that we’re now in the thick of. “Storm Over Ryloth” debuted yesterday. “Innocents of Ryloth” and “Liberty on Ryloth” are still to come.
8 Comments » | Tags: Conventions, Uncle Milton, WonderCon
Events, The Clone Wars | Permalink
If you were lucky enough to be at the Big Apple for New York Comic-Con last week, you might have posed for a few photo ops with Chewbacca, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, members of the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion and the lovely ladies dressed as Slave Leia.
However, often times it’s the hilarious fan-made costumes that make us happy to be spreading the word of the Force. This low-rent version of Han Solo in Carbonite made us short blue milk out our noses from laughing so hard. Most impressive indeed.
Check out more costumes at NYCC here:
Star Wars: NYCC (via io9.com)
5 Comments » | Tags: Conventions, Costumes, Holidays
Events | Permalink
Some breaking news out of New York Comic-Con — Dark Horse Comics is telling an original comics story set during the Yuuzhan Vong invasion previously chronicled in the best-selling New Jedi Order series from Del Rey Books. This is no adaptation or retelling of a novel — no, Star Wars: Invasion is a brand new story by writer Tom Taylor and artist Colin Wilson. It starts this summer, first as an online preview, and then as a regular print comic.
Comic Book Resources has the scoop, with an interview with Taylor including art work samples from the series, and they look fantastic. The Yuuzhan Vong in full color glory — believe us, Skrulls have nothing on the Vong. These sickos killed Chewbacca, for crying out loud.
Click here for the announce (with Wilson interview) and here for a follow up interview with Taylor.
20 Comments » | Tags: Comics, Conventions, Dark Horse, NYCC
Books and Comics | Permalink
(Yoda sketch by Simpsons’ creator Matt Groening)
If you are still in awe over Fantagraphics Web Editor Mike Baehr’s Yoda Sketchbook featuring drawings from comic book icons such as Daniel Clowes, Lynda Barry, Tony Millionaire, Adrian Tomine, Gilbert Hernandez, Craig McCracken, and Mary Fleener, get ready to be impressed further.
Looks like Mike has some more amazing portraits of Yoda to add to the collection, and are now up on his Flickr set for our viewing pleasure. I met Mike face to face at this year’s Alternative Press Expo (APE) in San Francisco, and got to see the sketchbook in person. And let me just say it’s packed with truly creative renditions of our favorite Jedi Master!
Mike writes:
I’ve got the APE Yodas scanned and uploaded, including Matt Groening (WOO HOO) and a bunch of other great ones (Tom Neely: CRAZY; Lilli Carre: GORGEOUS) plus, fresh from last night, Bill Griffith (it’s a hybrid Yoda/Zippy)!
Check out the new Yoda portraits here:
Yoda convention sketchbooks
No Comments » | Tags: Art, Conventions
Creativity, Events | Permalink
(Photo by Allison Sohn)
Over Labor Day weekend sci-fi and fantasy-loving fans descended on Atlanta, GA for the yearly extrava-geek-ganza that is none other than Dragon*Con. One of the most exciting events of the con is the parade. Here’s some snapshots from the costume catwalk taken by artist Allison Sohn.
Check out more photos below.
1 Comment » | Tags: Conventions, Costumes, The 501st Legion
Events | Permalink
When you’re at San Diego Comic-Con, it’s nearly impossible to walk more than a few feet and not run into a fan in costume. Every year the convention center is flooded with various versions of superheroes, video game characters, horror film icons, pirates, steampunk kids, vampires, werewolves, manga and anime favorites, food mascots and of course lots and lots of Star Wars characters. Even though it seemed the Joker costumes dominated the con, the 501st and Rebel Legion were out in full force, as were fans dressed as Yoda, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, Jedi and even a couple of TIE Fighters.
Here’s a recap of some of the best costumes we spotted.
Clones! Clones! Clones!
With the highly-anticipated movie and TV show — The Clone Wars — on everyone’s minds, it was the 501st Legion members dressed as clone troopers and stormtroopers who dominated all the photo ops at the Star Wars Pavillion this year. There’s really no way to outdo the 501st when it comes to their impressive body armor and always-in-character demeanor. Nothing beats seeing a kid’s eyes light up when he sees a trooper walking towards him. It just wouldn’t be a proper Comic-Con experience without them. If you want to learn more about the 501st Legion, check out: Inside the Fighting 501st.
Rebel pilots
In addition to the 501st, there’s the Rebel Legion. These guys and gals dress as Jedi, Rebel Pilots, Princesses and even Wookiees, and show up to conventions, charity events and more, much like the 501st. If you’d like to find out more about them, visit the Official Rebel Legion site here.
Ahsoka Tano and Stormtrooper
Thanks to The Clone Wars, little girls everywhere get a new character to dress as for conventions and Halloween. Meet the latest sassy female to hit Star Wars — Ahsoka Tano.
17 Comments » | Tags: Comic-Con, Conventions, Costumes, LEGO, SDCC 2008, The 501st Legion
Events | Permalink
Senate Security Clone Trooper exclusive figure
If you’re in San Diego this weekend for Comic-Con, make sure to stop by the StarWarsShop booth where exclusives and swag galore await! There’s the exclusive Senate Security Clone Trooper action figure along with several others being revealed at Comic-Con this weekend.
Swag found at the StarWarsShop/Zazzle booths
And, of course, there’s the swag. Visitors to the StarWarsShop and Zazzle booths have already taken home five wonderful new Clone Wars exclusive prints, a plastic clone mask, and six different exclusive campaign buttons featuring various Clone Wars and Star Wars characters. These are the must-have freebies for Comic-Con — make sure to stop by and pick some up!
More pics after the jump –
No Comments » | Tags: Comic-Con, Conventions, SDCC 2008
Collecting, Events, The Clone Wars | Permalink
