TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE TO SHOW FIRST TASTE OF GAME VISUALS AND OFFER FANS A CHANCE TO NAME SOME IN-GAME TRANSFORMERS CHARACTERS AT NEW YORK COMIC CON

JAGEX TO OFFER FANS THE CHANCE TO VOTE FOR THE NAME OF TWO IN-GAME CLASSES, SHOWCASE CONCEPT ART AND SHOW FIRST LOOK GAME VISUALS

CAMBRIDGE, UK, October 13, 2011- Jagex Games Studio, one of the largest independent games developers and publishers in the world, and makers of the upcoming TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE MMO, today announced their exciting plans for New York’s Comic-Con; which runs from Thursday October 13 to Sunday October 16

Visitors who pass through the enclosed stand will also be some of the first to view footage showing what the browser based MMO will look like, experience the graphical style and direction and be able to see firsthand how the Jagex development team is working with Hasbro to create the look and feel of the game through live concept art and animation demonstrations.

In addition to the activity on the show floor, members of the TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE development team will be taking part in the following panel sessions at the show:

Date: Friday, October 14
Time: 7:45 pm – 8:45 pm
Location: 1A24

I don’t obsess over filling single-issue gaps in my comic collection. I don’t have a wishlist of rare action figures or other collectibles that I’m hunting down. I don’t like to play dress up. In short, I’m not much for comic conventions.

This doesn’t mean I’m not glued to my computer refreshing all the announcements and soaking in the spectacle of these events as relayed by the comic and pop culture media embedded in the trenches. But it’s a heck of a lot cheaper and less stressful to find out Brian Bendis’s plans for the Avengers from the comfort of my own home. A trip to San Diego to be stampeded by Storm Troopers and zombies isn’t worth it to me, when I can catch all the highlights online and on G4 sans Nerd Flu and travel expenses.

But when Reed Exhibits decided to bring the San Diego model to my own New York City a few years ago, offering the East Coast its own Comic Con, I had to get my aspiring comic scribe/life-long fanboy ass to the Jacob Javitz Center. And when my efforts at that first show led to my comic Division 18 getting published, I was hooked. I got to sign and sell my own book at NYCC 3. One of my best friends was a guest of honor at NYCC 4, which also happened to be my daughter’s very first big comic-centric event. The New York Comic Con is my show. So you can imagine how I might take offense at Wizard, the new sponsor of the Big Apple Comic Con, for announcing plans to pit the BACC directly against NYCC in 2010.

This is not the first time Wizard has done this with their events, but it is the first time it has threatened to complicate my own social plans.

Is this a cheap stunt to get attention for the show that used to take place in a hotel lobby? From what I’ve seen and heard from those who attended, minus the presense of Marvel or DC, and despite the all-new, all-bigger venue at Chelsea Pier, this past weekend’s first showing of Wizard’s BACC wasn’t much more than a flea market with a cover charge. Pay to get in so you could pay for more stuff inside. No event vibe, no exciting announcements or debuts, and a lackluster showing of celebrities and creators.

I’m sure there are plenty of fanboys and fangirls happy for the excuse to gather, in costume or not, at this sort of event…but why would Wizard take advantage of those fans’ natural geek OCD by canibalizing their already-planned NYCC weekend? BACC could be the warm-weather alternative for East Coast comic con goers, but instead, it is going to be the source of confusion and headaches for the children of all ages who have to choose to either trudge back and forth between venues or choose one show over the other. Most likely, Wizard will once again have the weaker line-up…but that just means any creators and other vendors who have loyalty to Wizard will suffer as well.

Really, the only reason I can see for Wizard scheduling their next show head-to-head with NYCC is to stick it to Reed Exhibits and the NY show itself–the act of an impetuous child, just like you’d expect from the people who publish Wizard Magazine. If you don’t believe that the people running Wizard’s event are childish, consider this story from this weekend’s BACC.

So what is up with Wizard and the new BACC? My choice is easy for October 2010–the rest of you have a year to sort through the convention clutter. But unless Wizard has a master plan that will see October declared comics month in New York, with geek-geared fun coinciding with the simultaneous shows citywide, we may all be better off staying home and “watching” the shows online.

Just got a call from the NYCC crew (Larry, Mark and Tonya) that the Wizard people kicked them out of Big Apple Con! Too funny. They had a whole bevy of security guards escort them out. Wow.

He goes on to contrast how Wizard staffers were welcomed into NYCC in the past and allowed to hang out and look around. Click here to read the whole post.

Here’s hoping I don’t have any problems picking up my staff pass tomorrow. Who knows what fun I might miss!

Jason Aaron
Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Lee Bermejo
Simone Bianchi
Dennis Calero
Keith R.A. DeCandido
Phil Jimenez
JG Jones
Ron Marz
Tony Moore
Rick Remender
Eduardo Risso
Brian Wood

Also, 25% Off All Graphic Novels, plus variant covers for those who care about such things: Dark Avengers #1 by Adi Granov and Witchblade #124 by Tyler Kirkham

Check http://www.midtowncomics.com/custompages/nycc-2009.asp for updates

Jason Aaron
Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Lee Bermejo
Simone Bianchi
Dennis Calero
Keith R.A. DeCandido
Phil Jimenez
JG Jones
Ron Marz
Tony Moore
Rick Remender
Eduardo Risso
Brian Wood

Also, 25% Off All Graphic Novels, plus variant covers for those who care about such things: Dark Avengers #1 by Adi Granov and Witchblade #124 by Tyler Kirkham

Check http://www.midtowncomics.com/custompages/nycc-2009.asp for updates

Norwalk, CT, November 13, 2008: Two more notable comic book celebrities will be joining the festivities at New York Comic Con (NYCC) this year as Guests of Honor. Affording thousands of fans the opportunity to meet them in person, Geoff Johns, who is well-known as a comic book writer of a number of DC Comics characters, including Superman, Green Lantern and the Flash as well as for his work as a screenwriter; and superstar artist Jim Lee, known for his acclaimed artistic runs on titles including BATMAN, ALL STAR BATMAN and WILDCATS, will be attending NYCC to help launch the new Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing game, DC Universe Online (DCUO), produced by Sony Online Entertainment for PLAYSTATION 3 in collaboration with DC Comics and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

Both Johns and Lee will be signing autographs and they will conduct a large DC Universe Online event on Saturday, February 7, 2009. New York Comic Con will take place at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City, February 6 – 8, 2009.

“Having both Jim Lee and Geoff Johns at our show is a great ‘get’ under any circumstance, but it’s especially cool to have them here to as part of DC Universe Online,” notes Lance Fensterman, Vice President and Con Manager for NYCC. “They will do a fabulous job entertaining our fans and I know that they will attract huge crowds, not only for autographs but also for their demonstration. I am enormously grateful to them for participating in New York Comic Con and we’re pleased to have them as Guests of Honor.”

“Jim and Geoff represent two of the top talents in comics, so it only makes sense that they’d transfer those skills to the gaming world,” said Dan DiDio, SVP and Executive Editor for DC Comics. “It’s a perfect fit to have them named Guests of Honor at New York Comic Con.”

GEOFF JOHNS: Johns began writing for DC Comics with Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. Through the years he has written primarily for DC and was responsible for the return of Hal Jordan in 2005 as the writer of the Green Lantern: Rebirth mini-series and subsequent Green Lantern ongoing title. In 2006 Johns reunited with his mentor Richard Donner on the Superman title Action Comics and this year it was announced he would write and Ethan Van Sciver would draw the miniseries The Flash: Rebirth, focusing on the return of Barry Allen as the Flash. He recently wrote an episode of Smallville that introduced the Legion of Super-Heroes to the world of live action for the first time. Johns is a principal writer for DCUO, where he has been tasked with bringing the DC Universe to life.

JIM LEE: Acclaimed comic book illustrator Jim Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea in 1964. Today, Lee is the creative director of WildStorm Studios (which he founded in 1992) and the penciller for many of DC Comics’ bestselling comic book and graphic novels, including All Star Batman and Robin, The Boy Wonder, Batman: Hush, and Superman: For Tomorrow. He also serves as the Executive Creative Director for the upcoming DC Universe Online videogame. In his spare time, Jim notes that he enjoys a good laugh or two.

ABOUT NEW YORK COMIC CON: New York Comic Con is the East Coast’s biggest and most exciting popular culture convention. Our show floor plays host to the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television. Our panels and autograph sessions give fans a chance to interact with their favorite creators. Our screening rooms feature sneak peeks at films and television shows months before they hit either big or small screens. And with dedicated professional hours, New York Comic Con is a market place, bringing together the major players in the entertainment industry. New York Comic Con is the second largest pop culture convention in America and the only one that takes place in the comic book, publishing, media, and licensing capital of the world — Gotham City. Further information can be found at newyorkcomiccon.com.

ABOUT REED EXHIBITIONS: The New York Comic Con is operated by Reed Exhibitions, the world’s leading events organizer. In 2007, Reed brought together over six million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today, Reed events are held in 38 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and organized by 39 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a FTSE-100 company and world-leading publisher and information provider. In 2006, Reed Elsevier made adjusted profit before taxation of £1,052 million on turnover of £5,398 million.

Norwalk, CT, November 12, 2008: New York Comic Con (NYCC) has today revealed that George Pérez will be a Guest of Honor at the show where he will be making his first convention appearance in well over a year. Mr. Pérez is the second Guest of Honor announced for New York Comic Con where he will be joining J. Michael Straczynski whose Guest of Honor appearance was announced last month. Pérez will be appearing at New York Comic Con on behalf of the Hero Initiative, a non-profit enterprise strictly dedicated to helping comic book creators in need. While further details about his participation in NYCC are forthcoming, officials note that Pérez’s appearance will be anchored around a special workshop benefiting the Hero Initiative which will take place on Saturday, February 7, 2009.

New York Comic Con is the second largest popular convention in America and by far the largest to take place on the East Coast. This year, it will take place February 6 – 8 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. Tickets are on sale at www.nycomiccon.com and more personal insights about the show, programming and guests are available via Show Manager Lance Fensterman’s blog, www.MediumAtLarge.net.

“George Pérez is a major talent and a fabulous Guest of Honor for us,” Fensterman notes. “Of course, he’s hugely famous and will attract tons of fans, but the fact that he’ll be at our show to further the cause of the Hero Initiative makes it that much better! We’re getting an awesome guest, who is lots of fun, and we’re making room for a great cause at the same time. We’re very grateful to the Hero Initiative for helping to make all of this possible.”

GEORGE PÉREZ: Pérez is a multi-award winning, highly respected comics artist who has drawn many landmark comics in his long career, including THE NEW TEEN TITANS, CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE, JLA, FANTASTIC FOUR, WONDER WOMAN, THE AVENGERS, JLA/AVENGERS, SACHS & VIOLENS, HULK: FUTURE IMPERFECT and the current hit FINAL CRISIS: LEGION OF 3 WORLDS. 2009 marks Mr. Pérez’ 35th year in the comics industry and the New York Comic Con is his first comics convention appearance since April 2007. George is also a chairman of the Hero Initiative, a comics industry charity which is sponsoring his appearance and to whom George donating proceeds. Born and raised in the Bronx in 1954, George currently lives in Florida with his wife of 27 years, Carol Flynn.

THE HERO INITIATIVE: In late 2000, a consortium of comic publishers came up with the idea to create a financial safety net for comic creators, much in the same fashion that exists in almost any other trade from plumbing to pottery. By March of 2001, the federal government approved The Hero Initiative as a publicly supported not-for-profit corporation under section 501 (c) (3).

Since its inception, The Hero Initiative (Formerly known as A.C.T.O.R., A Commitment To Our Roots) has had the good fortune to grant over $200,000 to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today.

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays’ creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.