This past weekend Will and I attended the 2012 Baltimore Comic Con. We spent two days attending panels, snapping photos and buying art for tons of great exhibitors at the show. It was a blast and this week I’ll be recapping the events highlights in a few posts. First up, let’s talk about the panels! Check out the most notable remarks from people like Garth Ennis, Phil LaMarr and more!
The British Invasion Panel
“In the 1980s, a number of British writers and artists started producing work for American comics and brought a fresh take that appealed to fans and critics alike. That creativity is kept alive today by creators including Brian Bolland (Dial H), Mark Buckingham (Fables), and Barry Kitson (Captain America). Join them and moderator Robert Greenberger for a lively and fun look at their work and the British Invasion of American comics.”
This panel was more of a listen and learn environment. Greenberger posed questions to each artist individually asking them to talk about their experiences starting out. Here an interesting anecdote from artist Barry Kitson who said “My entire career is based on luck.”
On his first professional assignment:
“I went back to Marvel Comics in London and showed them my work and they said they quite liked it. They asked ‘what have I had published?’ Well I told them I hadn’t had anything published. They got back and said ‘Well, we only used published artists.’ I thought, how does this work?”
Later Barry was invited to a get together with some of the Marvel team:
“Those of you who were in the bars with us last night know that I can sometimes get a bit…social.”
Once Kitson returned to the Marvel offices with a script draft he was supposed to turn into the editor, he was surprised to learn that a new editor had taken his place. But there was one saving grace at the offices:
“I walked by and everyone seemed to have remembered me from this party. Everyone was saying ‘Oh Barry! Good to see you again!’ [I guess the new editor] thought ‘Oh god everyone knows him, I better give him something to do!’
Later the editor said:
“The only story we’re generating is Spiderman, are you interested in that?”
Pretty sweet deal.
Dynamite Entertainment Panel
“Join writer Garth Ennis and Dynamite Editor Joe Rybandt for a lively hour of discussion on all things Boys, Battlefields, Dynamite, and more!”
I’m familiar with Ennis’ work but I haven’t had the chance to read anything yet. One of his biggest series The Boys takes place in a present day world where superheros exist. Most superheros however are corrupt and the CIA has put together their own group of superheros that are tasked with monitoring the community. Garth’s work is known for its extreme violence and sexuality. The work is thematically rich and 100% adult.
An upcoming film adaptation of The Boys has been announced with director Adam McKay the last name attached to the project. But Ennis stated that everything to come out about the film so far is rumor as far as he is concerned.
Phil LaMarr Panel
“You may know Phil LaMarr from his five-year run on Fox’s MADtv. Or you may know him from his voice work on such animated shows as Justice League Unlimited, Static Shock, Futurama, and Family Guy. Here’s your chance to spend an hour with Phil and learn even more about this talented actor, comedian, and life-long comic fan.”
LaMarr is a talented voice artist which made for a really entertaining panel. It was an open discussion panel where he answered every question from the audience with only one exception: No ‘what’s your favorite?’ He suggested that people ask questions that were really personal to them and not general questions that wouldn’t help them gain any insight.
I’d like to put the audio for this up at a later time, possibly on our podcast so you can hear some of the great back and forth. One positive note for any Samurai Jack fans though, Phil noted that there are definitely plans to create a full length 2D conclusion to the series if the production is able to get funding.
Stay tuned all week long for the rest of our Baltimore Comic-Con coverage!