I just attended the Wizard World Portland Comic Con and was pleasantly surprised all three days were filled with enough excitement to fill the convention center. I am not sure what the final attendance numbers were but for a main event in a city the size Portland, Oregon it was very crowded. More than enough to have Wizard World to reschedule in 2014 for January 24, 25, and 26, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Wizard World has the pull to bring many of the big names in entertainment and pop culture they put on a great show. I really liked the children area with activities and puppet show to entertain the kiddies. Also some one designed a rest area for weary comic con goers with access to free power plugs to energize your electronic devices, welcome to the 21st century.
The entertainment world was represented stars like Michael Rooker and Norman Reedus actors in the Walking Dead, Seven new “strangers” of The Real World by MTV, plus the house dog Daisy. Bruce Campbell, Actor who played in Army of Darkness; Evil Dead; Burn Notice and Spider-Man. James Marsters very popular Actor from Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Caprica, Torchwood, and Smallville, Henry Winkler EMMY AWARD WINNER Actor who made the role Fonzie famous in Happy Days and also played in Royal Pains; The Waterboy; Night Shift; Click and Arrested Development. Dean Cain Actor played Clark and Superman in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, also played in 90210 and Smallville. Morena Baccarin Actress in Homeland; V; Stargate SG-1; Serenity and Firefly, plus Brent Spiner Actor was Data the Android in Star Trek: The Next Generation and the weird looking scientist in Independence Day. Lou Ferrigno Actor in The Incredible Hulk; The King of Queens and Hercules and many more.
The comic world was represented by Stan Lee, EISNER AWARD HALL OF FAMER, Creator, writer – Spider-Man, X-Men, Avengers, Fantastic Four and more, also Chris Claremont Writer of Uncanny X-Men; Spider-Man; The Avengers; Daredevil; Hulk; Fantastic Four; Wolverine; Iron Man; JLA and Thor. Kurt Busiek EISNER AWARD WINNER Writer of Astro City; Superman; Thor; Iron Man; Captain America; JLA; Avengers and Spider-Man. Mike Deodato Jr. Artist for Amazing Spider-Man; Wonder Woman; Batman; Incredible Hulk; Wolverine: Origins and X-Men. Agnes Garbowska Artist for Girl Comics and Spider-Ham 25th Anniversary Special. Michael Golden Artist and writer for titles Batman Spider-Man; Hulk; X-Men; Daredevil; Star Wars; BSG and The Punisher. Mike Grell Artist for Green Arrow; Green Lantern; Warlord; Action Comics; X-Men and Iron Man. Greg Horn Artist for Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark; X-Force; Blackest Night; Wonder Woman and The Flash. Scott Lobdell Writer for Superman; Teen Titans; X-Men; Superboy; Angel; X-Men; Buffy; FF; Journey Into Mystery and Spider-Man. Gail Simone Writer for Batgirl; Firestorm; Birds of Prey; Wonder Woman; Action Comics; JLA and X-Men. Matt Wagner Writer/Artist for Grendel; Batman; Green Arrow; Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity; Wolverine and The Sandman, wow and so many more.
The panels were good with titles like BREAKING INTO COMICS with with writer David Campiti and artist Mike Deodato. STORYTELLING WITH MICHAEL GOLDEN: TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, Michael as he shares his fundamental rules for how to craft your story and take it to a professional level. THE FILMATION GENERATION: SUPER-HEROES, SCIENCE FICTION AND SONG with director Best-selling author and documentary director Andy Mangels. SCIENCE FICTION WRITERS: IMAGINING OUR FUTURE with science fiction authors William Hertling, David D. Levine and Daniel H. Wilson along with Chris Claremont moderated by Erik Wecks. THE ARTIST LIFE: WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A WORKING ARTIST IN THE INDUSTRY? Panel with artists Mike Deodato, Carlos Pacheco, Dan Schaefer, Brett Weldele, and David Campiti the artist discuss how to work in the comic world. All the panels were well done and informative.
The staff was courteous and helpful and the dealers floor was full of deals on comics and pop culture memorabilia, and there were many original costumes of heroes and characters in pop culture by attendees of the convention and many were very good. It was a pleasant experience for those who spent one day or all three. Comic conventions are in full swing for 2013, if you can make plans to attend as many as you can this year and have fun, life really is too short. We will keep you posted about the Comic Con happenings. Check out the area you live and the closet convention to you and join us there. You know if it is about comics we will be talking about it at Comics Talk. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. 🙂 Walt
I was near Portland and missed the Comic Con. Thanks for telling me about it so I don’t miss the next one.