UPDATED: ELLIS, MILLAR, HITCH, RUCKA JOIN HEROES FOR 2006

[MattBrady]

Most conventions don’t start announcing plans or guest lists 11 months in advance of the event.

But, as the past few days have shown, HeroesCon 2006 isn’t shaping to be like most conventions. As news of the debut of WizardWorld: Atlanta would fall on the same weekend as the 25th anniversary HeroesCon show in Charlotte, creators throughout the Southeast joined to show support for Heroes and its owner/organizer, Shelton Drum.

Then the support grew…and grew – with creators from around the country and other countries joining in to say that they would attend HeroesCon in 2006. Currently, the list for the show (with is still over 10 months away) is impressive, promising to make the venerable Charlotte show one of the highlights of the ’06 season. Since the last updates to the list, Warren Ellis, Mark Millar, and more have signed on, with Drum telling Newsarama early Monday morning that he already has half a dozen more names to add to the list.

Currently, the guest list for HeroesCon 2006 reads:

Art Adams
Bob Almond Black Panther, JSA All Stars, Warlock
Jim Amash Alter Ego Magazine, Sonic the Hedgehog, Spider-Man strip
Mark Bagley Ultimate Spider-Man, Thunderbolts, Amazing Spider-Man
John Beatty Captain America, Secret Wars, Batman
J. Chris Campbell Zig Zag, Project Superior, Wide Awake
Richard Case Rainbow 6: Lockdown webcomic, Negative Burn, Doom Patrol
Travis Charest WildC.A.T.S., Metabarons, WildC.A.T.S./X-Men
Cliff Chiang Human Target, Beware The Creeper
Steve Conley Astounding Space Thrills, comicon.com
Marc Deering Shadowhawk, The Pact, Blacklight
Warren Ellis Ultimate Fantastic Four, Planetary, Desolation Jones
Tom Feister Ex Machina, Iron Man, cover artist
Keven Gardner The Ride
Drew Geraci Birds of Prey, Nightwing, Thor
Gene Gonzales Tales of the Cherokee
Randy Green Emma Frost, New X-Men, Marvel Age cover artist
Sanford Greene Warlands, Neon Cyber
Raven Gregory The Gift, The Waking, Dead @ 17 Rough Cut
Cully Hamner Batman: Tenses, Red, The Ride
Scott Hampton Batman: Gotham County Line, Spookhouse, Life Eaters
Tony Harris Ex Machina, Legion, Starman, cover artist
Bryan Hitch Ultimates, Authority, JLA, Uncanny X-Men
Tom Hodges Star Wars artist
Adam Hughes Wonder Woman, Tomb Raider, JSA Classified, cover artist
Image Comics
Casey Jones Guardians, Jubilee, Fantastic Four, Birds of Prey
Rick Ketcham New X-Men Academy X, Marvel Adventures Spider-Man
Scott Kurtz PVP, PVPOnline
Jason Latour The Expatriate, Simpsons Comics
JD Mettler Ex Machina, Iron Man, Razor's Edge, Lobo/Authority
Mark Millar Ultimates, Marvel Knights Spider-Man, Wanted, Authority
Phil Noto New West, Beautiful Killers, Danger Girl, cover artist
Billy Dallas Patton Toy designer, DC Direct Elseworlds, Crisis on Infinite Earths
Jason Pearson Body Bags, The Ride, Hellboy: Weird Tales, cover artist
Andrew Pepoy Robin, New Warriors, Green Lantern
Brandon Peterson Strange, Ultimate X-Men, Green Lantern
Chris Pitzer editor, Adhouse Books, Project Telstar, Project Superior
Joe Pruett Desperado Publishing, Negative Burn
Greg Rucka Gotham Central, Wonder Woman, Adventures of Superman
Brian Stelfreeze Domino, cover artist
Karl Story Terra Obscura, Tom Strong, Ocean, Nightwing, Batman
J. Michael Straczynski Amazing Spider-Man, Rising Stars, Dream Police
Roy Thomas Alter Ego Magazine editor, former Marvel Editor-In-Chief, Conan
Mike Torrance Tsunami Studios, GI Joe, Thunderbolts, Lady Death
Ben Towle Farewell Georgia, Strange Eggs
Tim Townsend X-Men Age of Apocalypse, House of M, New X-Men
Ethan Van Sciver Green Lantern, Green Lantern: Rebirth, New X-Men
Gus Vazquez Marvel Age Spider-Man, Green Lantern, TMNT
Doug Wagner The Ride
Jason Walker Tsunami Studios
Mike Wieringo Fantastic Four, Tellos, Sensational Spider-Man
John Wycough Tsunami Studios
Kelly Yates Tsunami Studios, Tellos, JLA/JSA Secret Files

Update: 07.25.05 9:50 am
from Shelton Drum

Just 4 days ago, I was finally beginning to feel recovered after the very successful Heroes Convention 05, which was held just a month ago. When I turned on my computer Thursday morning and read that Wizard had scheduled a new Atlanta show for the same weekend as next year’s HeroesCon (June 30-July 2, 2006), I was flabbergasted. Before I’d even published my dates for next year, I had asked my contact at Wizard directly about the rumor of an Atlanta show, and even offered my support, provided it didn’t conflict with my own show. Another large show in the Southeast could only help all of us; but they said that they had no such plans at that time. WizardWorld: Philly, at the beginning of June 2006 was the closest show to mine on their schedule.

Well, the rest is history--since Thursday morning I have experienced the most astounding show of support from the comics industry’s professional and fan communities: from the many posts on nearly every online forum and message board, to the hundreds of e-mails and phone calls I’ve received. It’s been a humbling experience. While I’ve always tried to run the best show I could, and provide a positive, friendly place for comics fans, dealers and pros to congregate each summer, I never could have imagined anything like this! This is coming from a guy who started out selling comics from the back of his van at flea markets in the 70’s--for so many people to have come forward to say how much Heroes Convention has meant to them over the years has been one of the most moving events of my career in comics.

One unexpected side effect of all this hubbub is the reaction from the creator community--I’ve been swamped in e-mails from pros showing their support, usually by confirming for next year’s show right now. And this hasn’t been limited to guests that have become “family” over the years, like Adam Hughes, Mark Bagley, Cully Hamner, and Tony Harris: in the last four days, I’ve barely been able to keep up with the e-mails of pros who’ve never attended before, but have decided to make the trip this year. In roughly chronological order, Bryan Hitch, Greg Rucka, J. Michael Straczynski, Travis Charest, and most recently Mark Millar and Warren Ellis have all confirmed for HeroesCon 2006. And there are many more in “the pipeline”, where schedules are being checked and details hammered out, that we’ll probably be announcing over the next several days. There’s a complete guest list up on our website: http://www.heroesonline.com/con-guests.htm , although it grows every few hours!

Again, I can’t say enough how thankful I am to everyone who’s shown their support. I never expected to find myself in a spot like this--back on Thursday morning, when I informed my staff, they immediately said we should back down. Don’t blame them--putting on a show of the size and quality of HeroesCon, even with a staff of just five people, is an enormously expensive and difficult proposition under the best of circumstances. Trying to do it in direct competition with another show is suicide: for a small businessman, there’s no financial “net”--either you’re breaking even or somewhat successful, or you’re about to go out of business. But I decided to stick to my guns and make a stand, and apparently most of the comics industry is behind me! This year’s HeroesCon will be our 25th--how very fitting, that not only will it be our biggest ever, but will be so because of the incredible support of the creators and fans! Thanks again, on behalf of myself and my staff, to everyone who has written or called; I’m still working my way through all of the e-mails, so if I haven’t gotten to you yet, I promise I’m on my way! I look forward to thanking each of you in person at HeroesCon 2006: June 30-July 2nd!

Shelton Drum

Heroes Aren't Hard To Find
1957 E. 7th St
Charlotte, NC 28204
704.375.7462
www.heroesonline.com

Heroes Convention 06
June 30-July 2, 2006
Charlotte Convention Center

Update (2) - 07.25.05 - In a posting at CBGxtra Spencer Nodell, son of Green Lantern creator Marty Nodell announced that Matry would not only try to make the show, but also “pledge to pay the expenses for one new artist or indie publisher to the show.”

Spencer Nodell: “We’ve gotten so much out of Shelton’s shows over the years, we want to pay something back.

“Shelton has always been good to my parents over the years. The show’s problem is that it doesn’t have the best demographics, but it’s a terrific, traditional comics convention. Supporting his show just seems to be something we can do.”

The family already has a pool of creators in mind from whom it plans to draw. “We have a lot of friends who are indie artists who are publishing now and we haven’t yet chosen which one to take. We do have a basic pool already established, but anyone can ask about the offer.”

[Jeremy Williams]

In short, nobody will go to Atlanta.

[Comiccub]

I might actually have to go to this con. I have never been to Heroes Con but that is an awesome line up of creators.

Boycott Wizard Cons!!!

Boycott that rag of a magazine Wizard!

[Riliss]

Wow, this is turning into one hell of a convention.

[y2auld]

Based on that line up, I would go to Heroescon. If they would get Troma Films, Happy Cloud Pictures, and other films companies to do the con along with some hot female celebrities, it would make Wizard World Atlanta look more lame and wimpy.

[DrCool976]

Excellent News.

I really don't see the relevance of Wizard as a medium anymore.

Love my Newsarama!

Matt Brady > Gareb Shamus

[SDulaney]

Originally posted by y2auld
Based on that line up, I would go to Heroescon. If they would get Troma Films, Happy Cloud Pictures, and other films companies to do the con along with some hot female celebrities, it would make Wizard World Atlanta look more lame and wimpy.

But if they brought those groups in, it wouldn't really be Heroes Con anymore.

[Hunter]

Go Shelton!

[DrCool976]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/ne...em.cgi?id=5635

Great article in support of Shelton Drum.

[palefire]

Ha, Ha,

Excellent! I think Shelton is going to have to get ready for his biggest show yet.

[MarcDeering]

Hehe....talk about a 'coup.

[XpucknationX]

kiss my ass atla-- er, wizard

[Marxist 64]

Now that's a guest list!

[Switch]

WW:Atlanta is turning out to be a better and better idea for the folks of HeroesCon.

[Johnny Smith]

Now that's one great guest list!

Wonder how WW ATL's going to top that?

[Johnny Smith]

Originally posted by DrCool976
Excellent News.

I really don't see the relevance of Wizard as a medium anymore.

Love my Newsarama!

Matt Brady > Gareb Shamus

I agree with DrCool, for once.



Even with the Matt Brady > Shamoo bit

[Alfonso 3.0]

Too bad Wizard chose Atlanta as the place to play hardball, as I live there for a good portion of the year. It's a neat city that deserves a good convention as bad as it deserves a nightclub district with a minimum chance of getting shot in.

[Paquinero]

HEROES CON 2006 IS GOING TO BE AWESOME!!!

[fedres]

I don't leave the NE for cons, but might just go to this for these guys. Art Adams, Travis Charest, Tony Harris, Adam Hughes, Brandon Peterson, Jason Pearson, Cully Hamner...WOW!

[Jason A. Quest]

Nice to see all these people following my lead. I announced my intention to bring Holy Comics to Charlotte, and asked others to do the same 15 minutes after the news of World War Atlanta broke here on Newsarama, and ever since, everybody who's anybody has been scrambling to be there too.

[Fazhoul]

I've never been to a comic convention before but HeroesCon looks like it would a great place to start.

[DrCool976]

Yes. I'm sure Millar and Ellis saw that the creator of Captain Miracle was going to be at Heroes, well, they knew they'd better sign on to or risk missing an opportunity to be associated with such A-list talent.

[DrCool976]

I mean, really. The decision was out of their hands at that point.

The Most Marvelous Mortal!TM
written by award-winner* Jason A. Quest
illustrated by Ozzy Longoria
Coming in 2005!

By speaking the name of God: ""
young Billy Batista is transformed into Captain Miracle!
With super powers granted by the Almighty,
Captain Miracle fights the forces of evil:

Gaia Rites
a Pagan lesbian who values the earth more than men
Prof. Atheos
a Humanist whose inventions defy God's providence
Sodom al-Mohammed
an Islamic terrorist slaughtering American soldiers
The Anti-Miracle
the Captain's devil-powered counterpart
and...
a mysterious being who appears to be unstoppable!

[DrCool976]

Gaia Rites.

Heh.

[Jason A. Quest]

Originally posted by DrCool976
Yes. I'm sure Millar and Ellis saw that the creator of Captain Miracle was going to be at Heroes, well, they knew they'd better sign on to or risk missing an opportunity to be associated with such A-list talent.

Some people just don't get irony.

'Twas a jest, son.