CBR: Wizard's Chicago Comic Con From The Floor

[CBR News]

Last weekend, the marquee show of the Wizard World tour hit the Chicago suburbs, and CBR was there to talk with talent, retailers and con organizer Gareb Shamus about the changing show, Rod Blagojevich and more.


Full article here.

[Angelo2113]

How was Wizard World this year comic book related?

[jessecuster3]

How was Wizard World this year comic book related?

Artist Alley was pretty lousy. I would say an equal amount of Toy/T-Shirt to comic booths. Most celebrity autograph booths were washed up TV stars, WWE ancients, or in one case an impeached governor.


The bargain bin graphic novels were the same at almost every booth.

[chamberx2]

How was Wizard World this year comic book related?

Short answer, it wasn't. After Patrick Stewart dropped out, I kinda knew the writing was on the wall. Gareb may talk big, but I think this con's on its last leg. As for the "record attendance," Wizard World always kind of rides the wave of San Diego's popularity. Also, C2E2 is actually IN Chicago, so you can enjoy the city as well as the show.

I don't think we even need to discuss how inappropriate Blago was as a guest.

[charlieromeobravo]

We went to the show on Saturday. I thought it was pretty good but it was much busier than in years past. Ordering tickets in advance online ended up not saving me a dime and the line for internet preorders stretched out the door and down the street. Cash and credit lines were 6 deep :)

All in all it felt like a 2nd tier event. It would have been nice if DH, DC, or Marvel had been there but I got some good indie and self published stuff from artist's alley and a couple of fun books from Avatar. Local dealers had good deals on trades, old issues, toys, etc...

I bumped into Ernest Thomas in the men's room. He played Raj on What's Happening. He was very nice. I also bumped into Richard Anderson, Oscar Golden from the original Bionic Woman. He's a thousand years old. I literally bumped into him on the show floor and he didn't seem to notice at all which was a little weird. Jake Lloyd was there too, with Daniel Logan. No one was talking to him which made me feel bad from. After all, Phantom Menace wasn't his fault :)

[charlieromeobravo]

I don't think we even need to discuss how inappropriate Blago was as a guest.

Yeah, that's what makes it feel like a 2nd tier event to me. No major figures from the comic world were there but lots of sci-fi related celebs. Then there was Ernest Thomas and Blago. They were clearly trying to get as many recognizable names there as they could but when you're letting guys like Blago in the door, you're clearly stretching things.

[chamberx2]

I bumped into Ernest Thomas in the men's room.

Dude...

[arsenal77]

"We had huge lines to get into the place, and it really was the culmination of a lot of marketing we do to a lot of new people"

No Gareb, it was the culmination of making those of us who preordered our tickets wait outside while people just coming in could pay cash and go straight to the con floor.

I've been attending this con for years, and this year was a complete travesty. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the way the floor was laid out. Anything comics related seemd like an afterthought, and shopping was nearly impossible. In fact, I came home with money. In years past, my friends and I attended WWC for the full weekend, but this year we jumped ship to C2E2, and could not have been more pleased. I only attended WWC for 1 day on Saturday this year. Thankfully, James Marsters, Nick Brendon, Mike Grell, and Linda Blair were amazing. If not for meeting them, the entire trip would have been a waste of time and money. I will be very cautious about attending WWC ever again, and Gareb's statements seem to validate my concerns. WWC will continue to grow it's list of loved, but ultimately lower tier, celebrities and cement itself as a an irrelevent, D-List, pop culture convention.

You're right Gareb. You don't have any competition. No one competes to be the loser.

[chamberx2]

Artist Alley was pretty lousy. I would say an equal amount of Toy/T-Shirt to comic booths. Most celebrity autograph booths were washed up TV stars, WWE ancients, or in one case an impeached governor.


The bargain bin graphic novels were the same at almost every booth.

That's what kills me. All these "celebs" advertised on their pluggers and they charge money after the initial admission cost. In the past, wrestlers and TV stars have had booths off to the side, but they weren't given top-billing in all the ads. Then there's the "creation experience" which just sounds...creepy.

[mortari]

It was a great show. Lots of people I hadn't seen in Artist Alley. Got some great original art.
The dealer area was a little more spread out than other shows, but found almost everything I was looking for.
I think it was over the best show in a long time.

[Andyb]

I really regret not going down there and selling my wristband. I had a weekend pass and after going on Thursday buying a few books, I just couldn't work up the energy to go back. I look at what Fanexpo has planned this weekend and there's no reason Wizard couldn't create a kick ass con if they wanted to, but they're happy having an autograph show and I'm not willing to support them any more.

[shadow_star_blu]

It was a great show. Lots of people I hadn't seen in Artist Alley. Got some great original art.
The dealer area was a little more spread out than other shows, but found almost everything I was looking for.
I think it was over the best show in a long time.

I don't know about it being the best show in a long time, I was there when they announced New Avengers and House of M, and it was crazy awesome! But other than the weird usual pervert art in artist alley there werent alot of people ive heard of before, a few huge names like Mark Texiera, J. Scott Campbell, Mike McKone, and a few other cool big name artists, and there wern't alot of cool indy artist but a few were kinda cool. I picked up a couple of books called Mid-Knight adventures that were funny and slick looking. And a book about a dragon and a goat that was neet. It was a ok show, but you could tell it was celeb based and no big 3 was a downer.

[profhaley]

I have stopped going to the Wizard Con for more than one day after being bored last year when I bought a four day pass. Due to the inefficient way the entrance line was run this year for prepaid attendees, I didn't get in until 11:25 on Saturday and left by 4:30 p.m.

My main reason that I went was to meet Adam West, Burt Ward, Julie Newmar and Joe Maduriera. My main complaint was Wizard placing the word "comic" back in the convention name. It is truly now an media culture con not a comic convention. As such I will be going to C2E2 for three days and Wizard Chicago Con for one day only if they bring in some people that I am interested in and can afford the autograph prices. The economy being the way that it is, I might not make it back next year...$30 to enter and $140 for three autographs.

The only other purchase I made was when I purchased a great Secret Six page from Jim Calafiore whom you should stop and see whenever he is at a convention.


Todd
profhaley

[DoyleDog]

man oh man after reading these posts i am so glad i didn't go i literally live 10 minutes from the convention center and couldn't work up enough energy to go. see you guys at C2E2

[chrisreeve]

I have been attending Chicago Comic Con since 1981 and I will not be going back next year because for two years in a row, Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse have not been in attendance. It used to be a place to get previews and hype about what was coming up in the future. This year, the floor set-up was lousy, and having the media guests, and gaming up front, clogged the entrance, and made it hot and uncomfortable to maneuver around. Not many big names in Artist Alley. Not worth the drive time, gas, parking, and entrance fee.