WIZARD WORLD TEXAS 2005 RECAP

[MattBrady]

by JK Parkin

This past weekend marked the last stop on the “Wizard World Tour” for 2005, as Wizard World Texas rolled into the Arlington Convention Center. Attendance was a bit sparse on Friday and Sunday, but picked up Saturday, as people were no doubt drawn in by appearances by Sean Astin, Margot Kidder and Ron Perlman.

And while Marvel and DC had multiple panels during the con, they mostly focused on projects that had already been announced earlier in the convention season. Both companies did let a few new tidbits slip out, though.

On the Marvel side, Associate Editor Nick Lowe gave “The Lowedown” on several projects:

• In the tradition of their “King” teaser, Lowe flashed up an image featuring a plethora of Marvel characters under the words, "Whose side are you on?" but said coyly that he was only allowed to show it for a few seconds. He didn’t offer any other details on the project. Newsarama Note: Look for the revelation of what this refers to later today on Newsarama.

• Lowe also showed artwork from Ultimate Wolverine vs. Ultimate Hulk by Lenil Francis Yu, which showed the Hulk ripping Wolverine in half. The mini-series is written by Lost's Damon Lindelof.

• Lowe said a fairly major character will die in X-Men: Deadly Genesis.

• The Illuminati, the group made up of Reed Richards, Namor, Black Bolt and others, will play a role in the upcoming Planet Hulk crossover event.

• Apocalypse returns to the X-universe next year, both in the pages of X-Men and in an Apocalypse vs. Dracula title written by Frank Tieri and drawn by Clayton Henry, with covers by Jae Lee.

• Another Defenders run by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMattis and Kevin Maguire is in the works.

• Pascal Ferry has signed an exclusive contract to Marvel. Ferry is working with Orson Scott Card on the second Ultimate Iron Man miniseries, which is due next summer.

• A fan asked about the recent placement of ads in Marvel comics, particularly the placement of the Honda Civic ad at the front of many comics over the last couple of months. Lowe said that those who work on the editorial side weren't happy with the placement of that particular ad either, and they were working to push ads to the back of the books.

• Lowe said that Kevin Smith is now working on finishing Daredevil:The Target, since Spider-Man/Black Cat is finally done. Lowe, who is associate editor for that project, said it has been an "albatross around my neck" since it fell behind schedule.

• Lowe shared the cover to Astonishing X-Men #13 during his presentation, adding that the last page of Astonishing #12 is a major hint as to what will be seen in the coming issues, that is, a reunion of the classic Hellfire Club.

Con attendee Bryan Hitch said Saturday he has signed an extension to his exclusive deal with Marvel, keeping him with the company until 2009. The artist added that his next major work will be in the Marvel Universe proper, rather than the Ultimate universe. Hitch participated in a panel previewing the Ultimate Avengers animated DVD, which featured the Ultimates fighting the Hulk. Two Avengers DVDs, due early next year, will be followed by animated Iron Man and Dr. Strange DVDs.

In other Marvel news, Peter David announced on Sunday that he would write a five-issue Wonder Man limited series in 2006. While signing comics, Peter David commented that he had just finished the 10th chapter of Spider-Man: The Other, and said while his first three issues were more about the set up and character building, the 10th chapter was full of action and would "knock over the apple cart."

On the DC side, Bob Wayne, VP of Sales, and Dan Didio Senior Vice President, Executive Editor, DC Universe were a lot more coy about DC's 2006. Before panels on Friday and Saturday, they said up front that they wouldn't be revealing anything about who lives or who dies in Infinite Crisis. Every time they discussed a character, they threw out the caveat "if they are still around after Infinite Crisis." Flash, of course, took the brunt of these jokes.

This didn’t stop fans from asking those questions, and some even tried to bribe the panelists with Budweiser (beer was readily available at the convention). Didio, who found a few bottles waiting for him on stage at Saturday’s panel, joked that he would happily reveal any Infinite Crisis plot points to whoever gave them to him. Alas, that didn’t happen; perhaps if they’d gone with Shiner Bock …

Some DC tidbits, which were few and far between, included:

• Wayne said that an announcement about Absolute Sandman was forthcoming this week. "Try to be surprised," he joked.

• Marv Wolfman will co-write a coupe of issues of Teen Titans with Geoff Johns, as well as 2006’s Teen Titans Annual. As mentioned by Geoff Johns in his Newsarama Q&A, Captain Carrot is also slated to appear in Titans.

• 52, the tentatively titled weekly comic between Infinite Crisis and One Year Later…, will launch in May. Wayne said the price point for the series remains to be announced; Didio said he wasn't even sure what it would be, but he did add that the four writers on the series -- Greg Rucka, Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison and Mark Waid -- were all literally writing every issue together, rather than rotating each issue. He also started to reveal something about the back-up stories planned for each issue until Wayne stopped him.

• New volumes in the Showcase format will include Justice League of America, Green Arrow and House of Mystery.

• When asked about the recent Stephen King announcement by Marvel, Didio and Wayne said they were both fans of King and each shared stories of meeting him. Didio said that projects of this nature brought more attention to comics, which was “good for the overall industry."

While neither Marvel nor DC had booths, several Dallas-based independent comic companies, like Viper Comics and Beckett Comics, had a decent presence at the con. Jeff Amano of Beckett shared with fans images from their next project, Gepetto's Monster. In the Beckett tradition of combining fairy tales with different genres, the book will combine the stories of Pinocchio and Frankenstein. Viper, meanwhile, had flyers teasing a new title called Villains coming out in 2006.

Aspen Comics, meanwhile, came out in full force, with the line to meet Michael Turner stretching out of the convention hall all day Saturday. During a panel that afternoon, Turner outlined his schedule for the coming year. He’s finishing the final six issues of Soulfire, followed by his Marvel project in 2006. Turner also said he will write a new Aspen series that's due next summer, with art by Micah Gunner.

“Thanks to all who stuck with me through the surgeries and radiation,” Turner said. “We’re hoping to get back on track.”

[Bevbos]

Wonder Man by David sounds most intriguing! And... Apocalypse vs. Dracula? ha ha... sounds crazy enough to work.

(first post... yaaaaaaah)

[onslaughtall]

yay for Apocalypse coming back!!!

[Da_Black_Goku]

Apoc v Dracula? Uhm... okay.

I knew he wouldn't stay dead for long.

[von Doom, M.D.]

I think Planet Hulk just sounds like it has the most potential for absurd amazingness that it may be the first Marvel crossover I'll check out since Onslaught.

[McAlice]

Give us a price for 52* already DC

[BlueThunderArmy]

I'm up for more Giffen/DeMatteis on Defenders, but let's make it an ongoing to give them room to breathe.

[Big Red]

Apocalypse vs. Dracula!!!!!!

Who gave the thumbs up to that idea???


I am, however, looking forward to the Wonderman mini. He's one of my favorite B characters and I think that PAD will do him justice.


I also tempted by the Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk.
Sounds like crazy fun.

[BrotherI]

Wow, I was actually cheered up by these announcements. I wonder how many issues of Sandman will be in the Absolute? Hopefully it will eventually collect the Amano one, Dreamhunters.

[Lord Ice]

Originally posted by MattBrady
Captain Carrot is also slated to appear in Titans.

[Bsubeyond]

He also started to reveal something about the back-up stories planned for each issue until Wayne stopped him.

So, what was Didio getting ready to say?

[algertman]

52 will have back up stories? Cool.

More Absolute Editions? Awesome, just don't do that Azz/Lee Superman story, boy was that crap

[ZAXILLA2]

Originally posted by MattBrady

• A fan asked about the recent placement of ads in Marvel comics, particularly the placement of the Honda Civic ad at the front of many comics over the last couple of months. Lowe said that those who work on the editorial side weren't happy with the placement of that particular ad either, and they were working to push ads to the back of the books.

These freaking things have been buggin the hell out of me!

[Gordon McAlpin]

Absolute Sandman? That seems like an odd choice, since Sandman was never really an artist's book. The only artists (who did more than a single issue, I mean) that I really liked on the series were Jill Thompson, Marc Hempel… Charles Vess, of course. Dringenberg had moments of total brilliance. Maybe another couple I'm forgetting. But still -- these represent less than 1/4 of the series.

If they're going to step up the coloring on some of the earlier volumes, I might get a couple of them. Definitely the Kindly Ones, though, without a doubt. I know a lot of people think I'm insane, but Hempel was far and away my favorite artist on Sandman.

[wishlish]

Originally posted by MattBrady

• Wayne said that an announcement about Absolute Sandman was forthcoming this week. "Try to be surprised," he joked.

Kinda tough to be surprised, since Gaiman mentioned this project in his blog. Gaiman mentioned they were going to recolor the first twenty or so issues, which I'm all for. Anyone wanting a trade of the first few issues has to put up with poor color and ink reproduction.

As for how many issues? Well, they've fit 12+ in most recent run, and seem like they could go to 15. I'd be surprised if the first volume contained the first three arcs; I'd more expect the first two arcs and some extras.

Now, if DC could just fix their process for making the slipcases, or better yet junk them altogether... I own all of the Absolute books, and the slipcases are junk. Just poorly slapped together cardboard that tears at the first hint of book removal or insertion. I've seen sturdier tissue paper. Just junk them; they don't make the product any more accessible. Marvel and Image have been making high-quality hardcovers without them.

[Gordon McAlpin]

Originally posted by wishlish
Gaiman mentioned they were going to recolor the first twenty or so issues, which I'm all for. Anyone wanting a trade of the first few issues has to put up with poor color and ink reproduction.

Oh! Right on. Definitely getting Doll's House, too, then.

[Hoffmeister]

Little note: it's Micah Gunnell, NOT Micah Gunner. Or you might as well call Jim Lee Jim Leah.

[norwscaper]

absolute sandman?!?! how massive would that be?

even better question, how insanely expensive will it be?

...and how soon can i get a copy

[Goodhomerjay]

Finally the return of Apocalypse! Him fighting Dracula sounds like a treat! Surprisingly excited about the Wonder Man mini.

Here's me fearing Banshee is going to die in Genesis...

[Rob Helmerichs]

Hey, norwscaper, could you please fix your .sig? It really screws up the formatting of the page...

[Caramuru]

Originally posted by MattBrady
• Another Defenders run by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMattis and Kevin Maguire is in the works.

Lowe said that those who work on the editorial side weren't happy with the placement of that particular ad either, and they were working to push ads to the back of the books.

• Marv Wolfman will co-write a coupe of issues of Teen Titans with Geoff Johns, as well as 2006’s Teen Titans Annual. As mentioned by Geoff Johns in his Newsarama Q&A, Captain Carrot is also slated to appear in Titans.

Gepetto's Monster.

[Rabid Monkey]

Wow. Apocalypse vs. Dracula. I think that falls under the "Just Ridiculous Enough to Buy" umbrella. I don't see where it could be any less entertaining then that old issue of Thor where the Thunder God took on Drac.

One of my favorite X-villains taking on the king of Marvel's 70s monster comics? I'll definately check it out!

[Nthman]

Dracula is about to go from undead to seriously dead after apocalypse get's his hands on him. I know he is mystical and almost never can be killed permanently but dam if that isn't that some kind of a mismatch.

[wishlish]

Originally posted by norwscaper
absolute sandman?!?! how massive would that be?

even better question, how insanely expensive will it be?

...and how soon can i get a copy

While we don't know a final cost, Absolute Hush cost $50, and Absolute Watchmen cost $75. Both reprinted 12-13 issues. We're probably looking at a price point closer to Watchmen because of the recoloring job.

And Watchmen covered 12 issues; Sandman is 75 issues, plus the special (plus the Death issues, if they go that way). So you're looking at probably 6 volumes, which, if they price it Watchmen style, would mean a retail of (gulp) $450. If priced closer to Hush numbers, $300.

This is, of course, retail pricing, not final pricing, and many mail order retailers would probably discount this set 30-40%.

This is also assuming DC doesn't price this down, and doesn't go the Omnibus route. Marvel's FF Omnibus has 30 issues for retail $100. You could fit all of Sandman into 3 of these.

Thus, I estimate we're looking at a retail price of 300-500 bucks. Get a discount of 35% and sell off your old TPs on eBay, and it's a bit less pricey.

[Snowspinner]

I don't see why DC would be worried about the Dark Tower miniseries, actually... yeah, it'll sell the pants off anything they have, but are the people who come in for it going to be drawn more to the rest of Marvel's line (Superheroes), or to the Vertigo and Wildstorm books? Yeah, the Dark Tower series will sell fabulously for Marvel... but the long term benefit on that is DC's.