Got this press release e-mailed to me this afternoon. The subject itself wasn’t a biggie for me, though I’m not sure how often Mark Millar makes his way to Chicago. The event that Wizard Entertainment labels for themselves as struck me as different than what I’d gone to for the last ten years straight.
MARK MILLAR NAMED GUEST OF HONOR
AT CHICAGO COMIC-CON!The Charismatic Writer Of Kick-Ass And Fantastic Four
Brings The Party To The Windy CityCongers, NY (February 4, 2009) – Veteran comic scribe Mark Millar is currently setting Hollywood on fire with properties like Wanted and Kick-Ass, and now the Scottish sensation will be meeting and greeting fans at Chicago Comic-Con. Known for his larger-than-life characters and action sequences that make Michael Bay movies look like “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” fans are guaranteed a rip-roaring good time when they meet Millar at any one of his numerous panels and signings taking place all weekend long.
Millar proved to be the first blockbuster writer of the new millennium with his groundbreaking and high concept action stories in both Ultimate X-Men and The Authority. Millar raised the bar for himself even further with The Ultimates, a series that became the blueprint for how superhero comics are written in the 21st Century. Millar has left his mark on nearly every one of Marvel’s heavy-hitting characters in titles such as Marvel Knights: Spider-Man, Wolverine and, currently, Fantastic Four with Ultimates artist Bryan Hitch.
“We are thrilled to feature Mark as Guest of Honor for Chicago Comic-Con,” said Wizard Senior VP/Operations Joe Yanarella. “Wherever Mark goes, there’s sure to be a party and this show will be no different. Mark has some special surprises planned for the show that will definitely have fans excited.”
Millar’s creator-owned work has proven to be as explosive and popular as his many other projects. His mini-series with fellow Chicago Comic-Con attendee JG Jones, Wanted, became a major motion picture starring Angelina Jolie and was one of the biggest blockbusters of the 2008 summer movie season. The adaptation of his current smash hit comic series, Kick-Ass, stars Nicholas Cage and is being unleashed on theaters later this year.
Don’t miss this opportunity to meet Mark Millar. Be sure to go to www.wizardworld.com for updates about guests and programming and to save 15 percent off the price of tickets by ordering now. Chicago Comic-Con returns August 6-9, 2009 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
I know they’ve rebranded themselves over the years here in Chicago, but I can’t recall the last time Wizard referred to their local event as “Comic-Con.”
And not once in the press release do they say “Wizard World.”
A coincidence in light of the news this week from their competition?
I don’t know. Feedback is welcome.
February 5th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
For some reason, I kept reading the bolded words as “Chicago-Con” (skipping the intervening “Comic”) and thought, “Hey, they’ve gone back to the old classic name, from the days when the convention there was more about celebrating the entire history of the genre instead of focusing on the latest ‘hot’ comics or creators.”
But that conclusion’s probably just as wrong as my misreading of the name.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
I don’t see this convention being around in two years. Who knows, maybe Wizard won’t be around in two years, either.
February 6th, 2009 at 3:27 am
I believe Millar was at Wizard World Chicago two years ago.
The great weakness of Wizard World Chicago is its abysmal location: The convention is not in Chicago proper, but in the mafia-run satellite suburb of Rosemont, and is held in a dreary Soviet-style convention center surrounded by nothing but chain hotels and expensive, deeply cynical cafeteria food. It is not one of the “fun” conventions to attend for either creator or fans; it is essentially a shopping opportunity for local people. The one grace for creators is that the event is very close to airport.
The new rival convention will be downtown on the lakefront, within easy bus and taxi reach of bars and restaurants. It is a much more convenient option for convention attendees, and likely a more appealing aesthetic prospect for creators. Wizard SHOULD be nervous.
February 6th, 2009 at 6:22 am
11 Years after purchasing the great Chicago Comic-Con. Wizard finally decides to use the name.
It must suck to be part of the Wizard con staff. Knowing that a group that knows how to organize and run a show of the magnitude of a Chicago Con is coming in 2010. Wizard will be gone from Chicago area in 2 years.
Hopefully they can step up their game this year… Ah who am I kidding, they’ve had 11 years and couldn’t do it, why start now?
I look forward to seeing everyone in Chicago in April of 2010.
JWSJr.
February 6th, 2009 at 7:38 am
I’ve been attending this show for 22 years. My best memories are from the Chicago Comi-Con days at the Ramada Inn a little further west. Even though the event would be packed, it felt very homey in those hotel ballrooms…
I’m glad to see the name return, at least.
February 6th, 2009 at 9:17 am
Oh Richard Ho, where for art thou? I miss that guy.
February 6th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Close, but not quite.
“Chicago Comicon.” Not “Comic-Con.”
San Diego, however, is called “Comic-Con.”
-J
February 6th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Whoop-dee-doo.
Still not going this year, for the first time in 30 years. I’ll wait till 2010 and spend my money at a convention that’s more about comics and less about self promotion.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Amen, Kevin, amen. I haven’t gone in a few years now, after being so excited about moving to a city with a major comics convention when I first came to Chicago. I also note that Wizard has again scheduled its show on the same weekend as Lollapalooza, which may not be a big deal for a lot of people, but for me its major. I literally jumped for joy when I heard the 2010 announcement, especially that it would be held at the MUCH more convenient and MUCH nicer McCormick Place, which is actually IN Chicago.
Wizard World Chicago Comiccon of Comics (or whatever the hell they are changing it to) will soon be dead.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
another nail in the coffin for Wizard, changing the name like that…
can we start taking bets, how much longer Wizard will be around for?!?
February 6th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I can’t say I’m surprised that Wizard would pull a dick move like this…dick moves are their M.O. I can’t wait till they are run out of town by a real comic convention in 2010.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
The only people who are going to find the Reed con’s location convenient are people who already live in the city. For the rest of us, it’s much more inconvenient to drive to, especially on a Friday. The parking will probably cost more than the commuter lot at the Rosemont Convention Center as well and good food is still just as far away (they have cabs and buses in Rosemont too y’know). I’m looking forward to the Reed convention not because of it’s location but because of what I hope they’ll do with the con and it’s guests. I also don’t know if Reed’s location is adjacent to any hotels which is going to be an issue for those people who like to take stuff back and forth from their rooms.
As for Wizard changing their name? That’s a pretty obvious attempt to confuse people now that Reed is moving in on their territory. They might want to try doing some actual convention planning instead. Maybe try catering to the fans instead of the pros.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Looks like Wizard was careless in purchasing a domain for ChicagoComiccon.com
Reed purchased the domain for their event.
http://www.chicagocomiccon.com/
Will someone at Wizard get a clue to running an event?
February 6th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
I was excited about the new con until I saw it was to be at McCormick Place. It is very misleading for them to keep saying it’s in “downtown Chicago.” I drive by McCormick Place every day on my way into downtown Chicago. MP is at the far southern edge of what anyone would consider part of the Loop (downtown). Most of the entertainment in the city is on the north side of the Loop, at least two miles away from McCormick place. Parking is often difficult and expensive. It’s also hard to simply walk there, like you can do at the San Diego Convention center, because most streets do not actually lead to McCormick Place. It’s surrounded by ramps and highway-type streets, like Lake Shore Drive’s layout is in that area. I’m not even sure if it’s easy to stroll out of it to walk to the lakefront.
There’s probably public transportation, but nothing better than taking the El from the Rosemont Convention Center right into several places in the Loop. I’m no fan of the Rosemont location, but someplace near Grant Park or the Chicago River would have been better.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
2010 is the year that changes everything. Chicago will mark the beginning of the end for Wizard, and moving New York to early October will seriously change the playing field for the new owners of Mid Ohio-Con.