NYCC 2016: Marvel’s Cup O’ Joe Panel

Every year at NYCC (and I think SDCC), Marvel throws their Cup O’ Joe panel.  It’s a panel featuring a bunch of the creative Marvel talent as well as top brass, Joe Quesada, Axel Alonso.  Attending as well, Dan Slott, Sana Amanat, Khory Randolph, David Walker, Charles Soute and Nick Spencer.  The panel was ok, not thrilling, they really didn’t tease too far out from what was already on shelves, barely touching on books coming out the end of this month.  I mentioned in my post regarding the DC Rebirth panel the two very different experiences between the two companies banner panels for their comics.  Sitting down, the NYCC staff and outfitted security essentially levied threats, that if a photo was snapped during this panel, about comic books, or if anything was recorded, in this panel about comic books…not live action movies, tv or anything, that the offender would not only be removed from the convention but would face FEDERAL prosecution.  I’m not kidding, those are the words that came out of the pre-moderators mouth.  At a panel featuring pictures of comic books.  She went on to say that this would be the rule applied to ANY and ALL panels at comic con.  That in fact was not the case at all, but certainly the case for this super clandestine, literally half Q and A session with Marvel.  Now, I don’t know if the directive for no pictures was Marvel, Reed Pop, a miscommunication or what.  But that immediately soured me.  I’ve taken pictures at every single Cup O’ Joe for the last 5 years, but not today.  The only picture I have to share with you is the featured image and this…

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Kinda worth it, right?

The panel itself, all the panelists were great, Joe Quesada was cracking jokes, it was a discussion about coming books.  In short order:

The Inhumans vs X-Men – IVX will play out after the Death of X run.  It’s going to be brutal, lives will be lost.

Monsters Unleashed is going to be big fun and big battles.

Cap Take Back The Shield is gonna make things messy, there will be a D-Man wrestling match and we will see new Falcon Nicky Torres.

In Captain America 6 we will see more of the role that Cap played in starting the civil war, and in 7 his plans pan out.

Mosaic is about a jerk basketball player turned Inhuman, he loses his body and has to posses others.

Spider-Man Clone Conspiracy tackles Spidey’s promise not to let anyone else die, and Doc Ock is back.

Marvel is excited about their young and middle reader novel line with Black Widow Red Vengeance out 10/11, The Gauntlet out 10/25 and Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Meets World on 2/7/16.  There is also a younger reader book, a follow up to Rocket and Groot, Rocket and Groot Keep On Trucking a whacky adventure with Veronica the Tape Dispenser landing 4/4/17.

Jessica Jones gets a new comic run written by Brian Michael Bendis.

Daredevil will have his hands full in the Dark Art story line featuring a serial killer who is also an artist named Muse.  It was also mentioned that issue 16 will take place in the breath of a gunshot started on page 1 and finding or not finding it’s target on the last page.  Also coming up for Daredevil, in issue 17, we will find out how he got his identity back.

Powerman and Iron Fist is rolling with it’s new arc Harlem Burns.  It features a gang war / turf war driven by Tombstone, Cottonmouth, Black Cat, Mr. Fish, and a story will center around the crappiest villain team ever, the Fang Gang.

A new villain will be introduced as Alex Wylder from the Runaways.  We were told he’d be popping up as a persistent Marvel villain and potential big bad heavy hitter.

Iron Fists launches 3/17 and gets Danny Rand a sidekick!

Marvel closed their announcements talking about Madaya Mom an ABC news series.  Marvel has given art to the texts sent to ABC news from a  refugee family cut off from the rest of the world.  It will be powerful and moving and show a side of life many haven’t yet experienced.

Core to the tenants that Marvel discussed today were to continue to trumpet how diverse they are, how they tackle serious issues, how they tie into the real world.  It was a much more serious tone than in the DC Panel, which really felt more like…let’s have fun and make comics.  I feel like I’d like Marvel to stop trying to change the world and get to writing fun comics again.  Not saying they don’t, but comics is where I go to escape the real world.  Let’s lighten up, have fun and stop tackling issues.  That’s my take on today.  Know what I’m gonna do about it? Read Marvel and DC comics, and enjoy them both, anyway.

ComicBarCon 2015

**Updated** See End

It’s 2015.  Why has it taken this long to figure out that comics and drinking are natural allies?  Enter Inbeon Studios.  The group with the vision to put two great tastes that taste great together…together, and then add a third that may have hurt the overall experience for some.

Now, allow me to start with the fact that the show started at 3PM on a Saturday at the Nutty Irishman in Farmingdale NY.  There were about a dozen artist tables setup, and 3 bands set to perform.  Unfortunately, thanks to life and the way things happen, MUReview was only able to attend from about 6PM to 7:30.  Thankfully, we had time to take in all of the artist tables, eat some pretty good if incredibly salty wings (we would have bought another beer anyway…),  drink some tasty beer, meet some great people, and get a little “scared off” with some other folks by Mick James Is Dead (it’s a band, we will explain later).

The Nutty Irishman is kind of a big place, and for intents of the event it was split into a front half and a back half.  Front half was Nutty business as usual, the back half is where the convention was situated.  After grabbing our badges, compliments of Garret at Inbeon Studios, we entered the world of ComicBarCon.  Some good classic metal was playing on the PA, people were walking around in costume, and at any given time we were surrounded by about 50-75 people.  A nice crowd for a Saturday afternoon in Farmingdale.

We made a lap taking note of tons of great custom art from Christina Grande Photography. Jason Koza,  Taomoon’s Workshop, and now old friend of MUReview.net, Blue Hanzo.  We committed to the location of the corner bar for a quick bite and a beer.  While we were waiting for food to show up, I visited Joe’s Comics, signed up for an auction, Elastic Figures, grabbed a couple of neat rubber bandy figures for the kids.

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The interesting odd table out was Taomoon’s Workshop.  Not necessarily comic related, but the gentleman there was exhibiting some amazing pieces and is clearly very talented.

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Through the first hour of our attendance, Garret from Inbeon grabbed the mic a few times and talked up some of the artist tables and some of the raffle giveaways that were going on.  He also encouraged Con goers to find and take a picture with a Cosplay Harley Quinn, up it to Facebook and tag Inbeon to be entered for neat prizes.  I did that.

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I also made some time to go meet up with Derwin Roberson AKA Blue Hanzo.  I am happy to have picked up some awesome custom artwork that now adorns the walls in the kids room, and I’m also going to work with him on an awesome concept for a Nova Tattoo that I’ve been meaning to get for 3 years now.  This dude is the real deal and if you don’t know, now you know.


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After meeting up with Blue Hanzo, the next band was up.  We had already missed The Proletarians, next up, Mick James Is Dead.  The band was clearly into the showmanship that would relate well at a Comic Con.  The band was on stage playing in an intro while the singer was carted in in a coffin.  Fans were given black flowers to toss in the coffin as it rolled through the audience.  Once to the stage, assumedly, Mick James jumped out of the coffin and started their show.  When it comes to musical leanings, you can put me in the 90% metal side of things.  I’m also a little bit grumpy about learning and liking new music, so that’s on me.  Mick James is Dead had a unique sound, and while the band definitely had talent, it wasn’t my thing.  Unfortunately, it seemed like it wasn’t a lot of folks thing, as after about a half hour of playing it did look like the overall crowd had thinned considerably.

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Thanks mostly to the magic of parenthood, MUReview.net also had to leave during the Mick James set, but we stopped a few places before our exit.  We took a good look at Christina Grande Photography and artwork by Jason Koza and met the good folks behind both tables.

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On the way out we made sure to say hi to the good folks at the Inbeon Studios booth, they had some awesome artwork for sale!

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Wrap up

ComicBarCon 2015 was a great idea.  The artists were awesome, folks turned up in costume and everyone looked like they were having a good time.  If there was one thing that tripped it up, it was that at least for how it looked, one of the bands performing wasn’t necessarily a please all, super accessible type of band.  When you put comic book fans in a room, you’ve got a lot of different tastes in music that mix, and that makes it really tricky to find a band that is going to fit for that balance.  I can’t wait for ComicBarCon 2016, but these are the things I’d like to see different.  Take over a place like the Nutty Irishman.  The whole thing.  Put the comics and artists in the front and the more interactive / entertainment stuff in the back.  That way, when a band comes on that isn’t to someones taste, they can jump into the other room and not be overwhelmed.  Otherwise, all of the ideas were well executed and all of the people at Inbeon were fantastic to talk with and very enthusiastic for what they had going on.  Thanks so much for having MUReview down to the party!

Make sure you check out Inbeon Con Summer Edition August 8 from 10AM – 6PM at the Madison Theater at Molloy College in Rockville Center, NY.  Keep an ear out for more ComicBarCons happening near you!

Oh! I don’t want to forget.  When we were walking out, we saw just how comitted Mick James is Dead really was to the whole dead thing..check out their ride!

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**Update**

I just heard from one of the other ComicBarCon fans in attendance.  The closing band, The Native Alien Tribe had the collective club “jumpin'” and the night ended with a bang.  Very happy to hear that, and I can’t wait for the next one!

The LAST DAYS Come For More Heroes This June!

‘Ms. Marvel’, ‘Silver Surfer’, ‘The Punisher’ & ‘Black Widow’ Begin Their LAST DAYS Story Arcs!

New York, NY—February 20th, 2015— The skies grow dark and the end is nigh. Everything they know is about to come to an end. Fledgling heroes, soldiers and beings of pure cosmic energy alike face the end this June. And there is no coming back. Today, Marvel is pleased to present the first issues of four blockbuster LAST DAYS stories, leading in to the highly-anticipated Secret Wars. Beginning in June, be there as these heroes face their final hours and the obliteration of the Marvel Universe!

First, Dan Slott and Mike Allred bring you “The Death of Everything That Ever Was or Will Be” in SILVER SURFER #13. From the edge of Battleworld to the far reaches of the cosmos – every planet, moon and star has been extinguished. Except for the Surfer, Dawn and Toomie! How did they pull this off? And more importantly, can they figure out a way to bring everything back?

Then, the end of the world comes to Jersey City in MS. MARVEL #16 as G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona bring Kamala Khan to the brink of destruction, as she learns the hard way what it takes to be a hero. But is it too late for her to save the world she has sworn to protect?

When the end comes – will you fall into the darkness, or will you fight against the dying of the light? That is the question as Natasha Romanoff faces her LAST DAYS inBLACK WIDOW #19. Nathan Edmondson and Phil Noto take the most dangerous woman in the world to the very end of all things, as she finds herself unexpectedly connected to one of the darkest moments of her past.

Finally, when you live every day like it’s your last, what will you do when it finally comes? The end of the Marvel Universe won’t stop Frank Castle from doling out retribution in THE PUNISHER #19. Nathan Edmondson and Mitch Gerads take Frank Castle back into the fray for one last war. One of the Punisher’s allies falls. Someone picked the wrong fight.

Before Secret Wars can begin, the Marvel Universe must end. And it’s happening this June as the LAST DAYS story arcs begin in Silver Surfer #13, Ms. Marvel #16,Black Widow #19 and The Punisher #19!

SILVER SURFER #13

Written by DAN SLOTT

Art & Cover by MIKE ALLRED

On Sale in June!

Silver_Surfer_13_Cover

  1. MS MARVEL #16

Written by G. WILLOW WILSON

Art by ADRIAN ALPHONA

Cover by KRIS ANKA

On Sale in June!

 Ms_Marvel_16_Cover

BLACK WIDOW #19

Written by NATHAN EDMONDSON
Art & Cover by PHIL NOTO
On Sale in June!

 Black_Widow_19_Cover

THE PUNISHER #19
Written by NATHAN EDMONDSON
Art & Cover by MITCH GERADS
On Sale in June!

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To find a comic shop near you, visit www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook. 

NYCC 2013 – Marvel Cup O’ Joe Panel

Every year, the Cup O’ Joe panel is the one to go to at New York Comic Con.  This year wasn’t any different really, but the reason for that isn’t what you might expect….

I’d love to make you read on, but I’m spoiling the post with my favorite part.  All con, year over year actually, I go to Marvel Panels with a question in my head.  I never ask it, and so far, every year, someone else has.  This year, I didn’t think it was going to work out.

I can’t get to any panels tomorrow, I am bringing family in, so expect updates to be light, but I say that because, I won’t be able to ask any questions, or listen to any questions.  The last question that I will have heard the answer to was at Cup O’ Joe.  Joe Quesada had called “wrap up time” and brought up the last person to question.  The question came out like a ray of sunshine.  I’ll paraphrase.  “We have Thanos back, we have Starlord back.  Where is Nova (Richard Rider)?”.  That was it, the last question of my NYCC 2013, and it was the golden one.  The answer this time….wasn’t “He’s dead!”.  It was, that the Guardians of the Galaxy books are now touching on that and beginning to explain, which will continue, as well, the upcoming Nova (Sam Alexander) arc begins to address this as well.  So, if I went to the whole convention to hear one thing, that could have been it and I’d of left happy, but there was more.

Infinite Comics Deadpool – The Gauntlet

  • Infinite Comics continues it’s run with Deadpool, the Gauntlet.
  • Written by Gerry Duggan, he will introduce a very important person in Deadpool’s life.
  • When Deadpool breaks the fourth wall, he sees your browser history….

Disney Kingdoms – Seekers of the Weird

  • This is the first true merging of Disney and Marvel on the comic pages.
  • The series will explore of all things, an expansion of a Disney ride (Haunted mansion) that never came to fruition.

Marvel Universe Live

  • Joe brought Juliet Feld to the stage.  Juliet has done some impressive work with the likes of Ringling Brothers and a ton of other ‘live stunt / show acts’.
  • Juliet gave us a look at what she has been working on, Marvel Universe Live.
  • A live show featuring 25+ Marvel heroes and villains.
  • The show is set to go live in the Summer of 2014.
  • The show will feature an original story line and bring viewers up close and personal with the action.
  • We were shown an exclusive trailer…it was the logo.
  • Joe Quesada described that, for all the things he thought they couldn’t’ do in a live show…they are doing.

Fantastic Four

  • Tom Breevort is ending his run as FF / Fantastic Four editor.
  • As such, both books are ending with issue 16.
  • Tom was presented with some nice covers of the book.
  • In Q and A, Tom went on to say that the Fantastic Four is over, forever.
  • …then he said he was probably lying.

Empire of the Dead

  • To the stage came George Romero…I don’t have time to explain who he is, but trust me, he’s a pretty big deal.
  • George is eager to bring to comics, something that he would never have the budget or time to bring to the silver screen.
  • What is he bringing?  Zombies…and Vampires (and people) in New York city!!!
  • The story will focus on the human element and survival.

Miracle Man

  • Introduced in a video narrated / discussed by Neil Gaiman (not present), we were re-introduced to the long gone series.
  • Marvel will be re-publishing and finishing the series (Miracle Man 25).
  • Look for the reprint of the original and Niel’s run to start in January of 2014.