Episode #45: Hey, Don't Dig Yourself A Hole...

So now that you guys have read Mike's notes about our trip to C2E2 we're going to go over our experience as a whole! Get some great personal insights into the second year of Chicago's aggressive new con as well as what exactly makes a good con experience. Thrill with Kinsel as we relate stories about butlering, using your kids as a front for your own selfish desires and how asking intensely stupid questions about spoilers can net you original art providing you're cute enough. That not enough for you? Well great because we've got our insights into the new Cap trailer as the rest of the crew finally caught up to what I sneaked at work on Monday! We also watch Mr. Popper's Penguins because SOMEONE needs to talk about it since Fox sure as hell isn't. Plus we have what may be the darkest installment of Lantern Corpsner EVER!

Also, wondering who Newton Gimmick is? Well you should go check out his site here. We mentioned him on the show and like a total moron I forgot to put anything in the blog post so you guys could see who we were talking about. He's got quite a bit of C2E2 coverage so you can see all the things I forgot about when I left my real camera at home.  Plus lots of reviews!

Michael's Adventures in Chicago!

Back from Chicago! Whew! What a trip! Why am I yelling!? Hang on! Lemme turn me down!

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Okay. That's better. Talking loud over the titular wind in the Windy City, as well as the loud-as-hell Greyhound "shuttles" to the con from the hotel (and vice versa) will cause a little increased volume. Nevertheless, WE'RE BACK, BABY! (Sorry. Last time. Well, not really. I had a few "squee" moments. Just Keep reading.)

So, we left for C2E2 (The Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo) Friday morning around 5:30 am. The drive took around 6 hours or so. Along the way, somewhere in Indiana, we saw windmills.



See? Pretty huh? I thought so.

So, we made it to the con. Not the biggest I've been to (Remember, I've been to Dragon*Con.), but the first comic-centric con.




So, the big thing I was excited about was getting to go to panels. Friday night, I got to go to the first DC Nation panel since last October.




From L to R: Bob Wayne, Gene Ha (bottom picture), Paul Cornell, Scott Snyder, Gail Simone, Bill Willingham and Dan DiDio. I have to admit, there wasn't a lot of news broken, unfortunately. DC is getting ready to close out Brightest Day and start up FlashPoint, and then the landscape of the DCU will be "forever changed by the events."

What we did get, though, were the beginnings of a campaign to get Paul Cornell a Capitan Marvel book. Fingers crossed.

Overall, really fun time at the panel.

Later that night, on the recommendation of a work friend and the concierge at our hotel (The Chicago Towers Sheraton) --



-- we went to a pizza place called Gino's East. Do yourself a favor. If you're ever in Chicago and want some FANTASTIC deep dish pizza, go to Gino's East. Look for this on the inside:



Saturday, I went to two panels. First up was China Mieville. Now, by listening to the podcast, you should know Mieville is one of my favorite authors right now. I am a huge fan. After going to that panel though --



-- I am a MASSIVELY HUGE fan. He was brilliant. In fact, I am going to do everything in my power to get him on the show. Until then, do yourselves another favor and go buy his books. Then read them. The City & The City is a good start.



Next was the DC Icons panel. It was a huge panel.



In this pic, from L to R: Tony Daniel, Ryan Benjamin, Kyle Higgins, Paul Cornell, Don Kramer, Phil Hester and Dan DiDio.



In this pic, you can see Bill Willingham being Dan DiDio's butler, due to a lost bet. Hilarity ensued. Not pictured is Eddie Berganza, who was the moderator of this particular panel. Again, the panel was very entertaining, but no real news was announced.

Saturday night, we went to a Chuck panel and signing. The actors were amazing, but the moderator was ... less so. Morgan, Captain Awesome, Jeff, Lester and the co-creator of the show were there. We also got a signed poster, which was cool.




Sunday was the day of all days. I got to meet two of my favorite creators, have them sign a book or two, and then got an awesome sketch.

First the sketch --



-- Franco (of Tiny Titans fame) drew me a Firestorm. Isn't he adorable?

Next, was me with Bill Willingham --



-- really great guy. I hope to see him again.

But, the highlight of the con for me was getting to meet one particular creator. He started off on Doctor Who, did Captain Brittan and MI:13 with Marvel, and now has been chronicling the adventures of Lex Luthor in Action Comics --



-- PAUL CORNELL!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Super guy. I really want to get him on the show too.

Anyway, those were the highlights of my C2E2 experience. Granted, that's not everything that happened ... for that, you'll have to listen to the show. Also, I have a few more pics that I'll be uploading to my personal Facebook page, so definitely check them out.

So now I'll leave you with this --



-- That's right ... the Sheraton had Microsoft Surface tables. That is all.

Episode #44: THE TITLE THAT COULDN'T FINALIZE!!!

We're back after a week break and boy we hope you missed us as much as we missed you! A lot happened in the gap so we waste no time getting to it here! Ever wonder what the Space Jockey looked like before he was all mummified-like?  Well we describe how it looked (in a Dark Horse comic anyway) as we SPECULATE on the true nature of Ridley Scott's upcoming 'Prometheus'! Before we get to that though, we've got some funkadelic music discussion for me to distract everyone with! Plus: our plans for C2E2! Express yourself with the ORCCACAST (or we'll remove "It's Raining Men" from the Jukebox)!

UCLA Chick

Ep 12 "Used" Lost Girls

This is the epic broadcast. I did not break it up, so be prepared for 2 and a half hours of listening glory! If this is too much for you guys, I will break up long sessions like this from here on forth. This episode covers (mostly) our return from C2E2 and all of the happenings. Happenings indeed! Mattbot and John "JD" Dennis were not there, but ask many relevant questions. Well, kind of... But it's no doubt great comedy. We talk a bit about X-Box 360 games and upcoming Cartoon Network shows. The debut of two new character make their a appearance here! Be ready for the funniest episode yet... "Used" Lost Girls.

- Jaysun

Cover Run: The DC Comics Art of Adam Hughes (Adam Hughes Cover to Cover)

Finally some Marvel Sketches!

This Hercules was drawn inside of my 'Smash of the Titans' hardcover by Fred Van Lente. He was an incredibly cool guy and I feel extra guilty for still not having gotten around to reading any of 'Action Philosophers' or the 'Comic History of Comics'. This is also only the first part of something; Fred didn't specify what but he told to come by to see him and Greg Pak at the Marvel booth later on. Unfortunately I didn't make it due to the eternity that was the line for Alex Ross. Jas posits that it might be Greg drawing Amadeus Cho but until I see him we can't be sure. Here's hoping the two of them come to Baltimore!



Paul Pelletier drew this Nova for me at the Marvel booth, after doing a Hulk for the guy in front of me. I wish I'd had the 'War of Kings' hardcover for him to sign. *Sigh*; maybe someday.



Hawkeye by Jim Cheung. I was a little surprised when he asked me which Hawkeye I wanted as I'd kind of forgotten about Kate from 'Young Avengers'. Jim did say as far as he knows, she's going to be keeping her name so I guess her and Clint will both be going by it in the near future. Jim McCann next to him but he left before I could ask him to sign it. They're both very very cool guys though. Jim once gave me directions to Dan Slott's table at Wizardworld!



This is my awesome Baron Zemo bust I got for $18; sorry I just felt like showing off. This is my second Marvel bust (after Hercules) and I've been planning to get him for years. Yes, that is Jas' copy of Gurren Lagann that I borrowed next to him.

The 3rd post of C2E2 sketches

Cliff Chiang did this gorgeous Traci Thirteen for me; someday I hope to get a Doc Thirteen to go with her.



Jeff Smith busted out this Fone Bone and Ted the bug for me after I wore the poor guy out with my stack of hardcovers to sign. He apparently hadn't seen the original individual hardcover Bone volumes in a while so it was nice to surprise him.



Hawkman by Franco and Hawkgirl by Art Baltazar. They're the team from 'Tiny Titans' that also write 'Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam' (with art by Mike Norton); they've been to every con we've gone to for a while and we always are sure to stop by.

The required 2nd post because of space limitations

Supergirl by Jamal Igle, a favorite of ours to see. He was sitting next to Paul Levitz who is an extremely nice guy as a sidenote and a lot less intimidating then I thought he would be.

Jim Calafiore made this Ragdoll for Jen while Gail Simone was signing next to him.

Patrick Gleason sketched this hilarious Mogo for Jas. I love his little hat.

C2E2 Gallery

Well we have a new episode coming later today but I thought I would give some teasers as to what happened to us at C2E2 in the form of the sketches we got. One of them isn't with me, one's a surprise for later and one I can't show... yet.

Jonah Hex by Jimmy Palmiotti. That's Garth Ennis' signature up top but... it's a long story we'll talk about later.

Jas' sketch of Arsenel by the hilarious Phil Hester.

Captain Marvel also by Phil, who was very relieved halfway through to learn that I did mean Billy Batson and not Mar-vell.

Mike Norton did this great Black Adam for me. Robert asked why he was smiling while saying 'grrr'. I think it's because he's having to pose for a family picture with Isis and Osiris.

Black Canary by the very very tall Mike Norton.

Off To Chicago

C2E2, the con Chicago DESERVES! (so they say) is this weekend, and 3/4 of the crew is heading up there! This will be my first year not attending Wizard World Chicago since 2003, but C2E2 promises to be what WWC hasn't been in a few years, a comics show. Lets see what they have. We will be reporting live from the event (Palm Pre's and Iphones in hands)and will do a healthy re-cap next week. So much traveling makes a guy's head spin. I'll be penniless on the trip, so have a good meal on me! Or send one my way! I accept care packages, send a St. Bernard if you must.
That picture is not of any of us, I took it from www.bleedingcool.com
It's a good picture, dontchya think?
P.S. Read that Kick-Ass...Kick-Ass (did I really type that?) review by Richard!