Recently in Long Beach Comic Con Category

Comic writer, publisher ZEN at the 2012 Long Beach Comic Expo. (Photo courtesy Robert's iPhone)


In the indie comic book, "Pink Power," a pair of magic underpants are all that stands between an unsuspecting world and pure evil.

It's OK to laugh, it's a comedy.

Pink's publisher and writer ZEN is all good about keeping the funny in the funny books. When he's not battling discrimination against folks who go by one name, the Long Beach-based creator hits local comic shows to pimp his latest works.

ZEN spoke with us from the expanded artist alley at the 2012 Long Beach Comic Expo on May 12.

Hang on, allow me to channel Dennis Hopper's memorable performance from "Speed."

"Pop quiz, hotshot...

You have a major jones for stories chock-full of monsters, pirates and pistol-packin' heroines.

What do you do?"

Well, if you're writer-artist Stephanie Lesniak and love Robinson Crusoe-type stories with a twist, you co-create the comic book "Blazin' Brandy."

The animation designer, who has worked on several Cartoon Network shows, including "Regular Show," was an exhibitor at the Long Beach Comic Expo. Lesniak took a few beats to talk to Modern Mythology about her comics work.

Would-be Sith Ahmand Young of Santa Ana bows to the dark overlord Darth Vader at Long Beach s Comic Con. (Brittany Murray Staff Photographer)

By Kelly Puente
Staff Writer

PHOTO GALLERY

LONG BEACH - Hundreds of superheroes, villains and pulp fiction icons descended upon downtown on Saturday for the Long Beach Comic and Horror Con.

The third annual event at the Long Beach Convention Center kicked off on Saturday and runs through today with a whirlwind of comic book signings, film screenings, Q&A sessions, Jedi fighting demonstrations and outrageous costumes.

The inaugural event in 2009 drew an estimated 6,300 fans. This weekend, organizers expect a crowd of more than 7,000.

First District City Councilman and self-proclaimed comic book geek Robert Garcia, who was on hand to buy a few comics, said organizers have signed on for another year.

"We're excited to have them back next year for the fourth year," he said. "It's great we can have something like this in our backyard."

To coincide with Halloween, horror was added to this year's menu with a two-day Might and Fright Film Festival screening horror films and shorts. Also new this year is a masquerade ball with costume contests in several categories.

Notable appearances for the weekend included iconic horror movie director John Carpenter ("Halloween," "The Thing"), Shane Black (director of the upcoming "Iron Man 3"), writer Steve Niles ("30 Days of Night"), actor-producer Thomas Jane ("Hung"), and actor Seth Green of the animated TV shows "Robot Chicken" and "Family Guy."

Eric Sales of Huntington Beach was one of more than 60 fans waiting in line for an autograph from Carpenter.

"He's a legendary director," Sales said. "My favorite Carpenter movie is `Big Trouble in Little China."'

Ronnie Relosa was among the dozens waiting in line for an autograph and hopefully a sketch from Kevin Eastman, the co-creator of the original "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" comic books.

Relosa, a 38-year-old warehouse worker from Lakewood, said he's been collecting comic books since junior high. He now has more than 500 stored in his closets and garage.

"I like that I can come to a convention like this in Long Beach because I can't make it down to the big one in San Diego," he said. "My wife won't sign off on the trip."

From Bat Girl and Superwoman to Thor and the Ghostbusters, hundreds of fanboys and fangirls came dressed as their favorite characters.

John Garcia, a 28-year-old Cal State Long Beach graduate student, spent two weeks working on his elaborate "Henchman 21" costume from the animated series "The Venture Bros" on Cartoon Network. The black and yellow spandex with bright orange wings transforms him into a deadly monarch butterfly, he said.

Also on hand signing comic books on Saturday was The Go-Go's guitarist and comic book creator Jane Wiedlin.

When she's not touring with her all-female punk band, best known for their 1982 hit "We Got the Beat," she's creating comics such as "Lady Robotika" and writing for the latest "Simpson's Tree House of Horror" comic with partner Bill Morrison.

Wiedlin said she's always been a science fiction fan and recently discovered her love for comics.

"What I love about comics is the same thing I love about science fiction," she said. "It's being in that alternative universe where anything can happen."

LONG BEACH -- Capes, tights and things that go bump in the night will invade Long Beach this weekend.

The Long Beach Comic and Horror Con will run Saturday and Sunday at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

This year's comic book convention has added horror to the menu, as it coincides with Halloween, though the show will run two days instead of three this time.

Martha Donato and Phil Lawrence, Comic Con organizers, said they made a concerted effort to enhance the number of panels and programming this year.

"We cut a day and we wanted to make sure the two-day show was really worth the value," Donato said.

Among those slated to appear this weekend are iconic horror film director John Carpenter ("Halloween," "The Thing"), Shane Black (writer of "Lethal Weapon," "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" and director of the upcoming "Iron Man 3"), writer Mark Waid ("Daredevil," "Incorruptible"), actor-producer Thomas Jane ("Hung," "The Mist"), and returning to the scene this year is Seth Green of stop-motion and animated TV show "Robot Chicken."

To add some of the horror to the event, it will include a two-day Might and Fright Film Festival, screening horror films and shorts.

The convention also features more than 300 comic book retailers and other exhibitors, as well as comic book panels, how-to seminars, film screenings and Q&A sessions.

While costumed fanboys and fangirls are to be expected throughout the event, the real showcase will be Saturday night at the inaugural Masquerade Ball in the promenade ballroom of the Convention Center.

Organizers expect more than 7,000 attendees, Donato said.

Want to go?

What: Third annual Long Beach Comic and Horror Con

Where: Long Beach Convention Center

When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

Admission: $25 each day; $45 weekend ticket

Information: longbeachcomiccon.com

Long Beach Comic & Horror Con has released its official programming schedule.

Among those slated to appear this weekend Oct. 29-30 are horror master general John Carpenter ("Halloween," "The Thing"), Shane Black (writer of "Lethal Weapon," Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" and director of the upcoming "Iron Man 3"), writer Mark Waid ("Daredevil," "Incorruptable"), actor-producer Thomas Jane ("Hung," "Give Em Hell Malone"), artist Darwyn Cooke (IDW's "Parker"), Jane Wiedlin ("Lady Robotika," "Simpsons Tree House of Horror") writer Jimmy Palmiotti ("All Star Western"), Steve Niles ("30 Days of Night") and returning to the scene this year are Felicia Day and the cast of "The Guild" and Seth Green of "Robot Chicken."

And you can expect some local talent in the house this weekend as well. Writer-artist Jerrell Conner ("Revelations: The Prophets" stationed at booth #1610A), James Riot ("The Path" will be at booth #2009A)  and Todd Nauck ("Iron Age" will be at table #1801).

There will also be a bevy of panels for creative types to get some insight from industry pros on self publishing, writing and filmmaking. We'll go into more detail as the weekend approaches.

Long Beach Comic Con will join forces with local collective Comic Book Sunday! for the Might and Fright Film Festival.

This year's show runs two days instead of three. Martha Donato and Phil Lawrence, LB Comic Con show organizers, said they made a concerted effort to enhance the number of panels and programming this year.

""We cut a day and we wanted to make sure the two-day show was really worth the value," Donato said.

And of course, attendees and contestants will show off their costume creativity at the inaugural Masquerade Ball Saturday Oct. 29  8:30 p.m. in the promenade Ballroom of the Long Beach Convention Center.

This year's Long Beach Comic & Horror Con takes place Oct. 29 and 30 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Single-day tickets are $25 and tickets for the weekend are $45. Passes are available for purchase at the Long Beach Comic Con website.

Writer Mark Waid will team with Joshua Hale Fialkov to host a writing workshop at the Long Beach Comic & Horror Con Oct 30.

Award-winning writers Mark Waid ("Daredevil," "Irredeemable") and Joshua Hale Fialkov ("I, Vampire") are teaming to host a comics writing workshop during the Long Beach Comic & Horror Con Oct. 30.

Attendees will learn some of the techniques and strategies utilized by these two prominent comic pros in this two-hour seminar. Tickets are $50 and seats are limited to about 25.

Waid is as well known for his encyclopedic knowledge of comics history as his writing chops. Fialkov's successful digital publication strategy for his crime thriller "Tumor" earned the attention of the industry (And especially me, since I expect to use a similar approach for my own series).

Tickets are available online at http://shop.longbeachcomiccon.com/

This year's Long Beach Comic & Horror Con takes place Oct. 29 and 30 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Single-day tickets are $25 and tickets for the weekend are $45. Passes are available for purchase at the Long Beach Comic Con website.

Attendees to October's Long Beach Comic & Horror Con who want to show off their costume creativity at the inaugural Masquerade Ball will now have until Oct. 15 to register.

The Masquerade Ball takes place Saturday Oct. 29  8:30 p.m. in the promenade Ballroom of the Long Beach Convention Center.

Although the title makes it sound like it's a party, the Masquerade Ball is actually a contest that will be judged in a variety of categories including best re-creation, most humorous and best original design.

"A panel of guest judges, assembled from professionals in costume-related fields, will select winners," according to the official rules on the Long Beach Comic Con website.

To request an entry form please contact masquerade@longbeachcomiccon.com and check out the complete announcement and rules here.

This year's Long Beach Comic & Horror Con takes place Oct. 29 and 30 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Single-day tickets are $25 and tickets for the weekend are $45. Passes are available for purchase at the Long Beach Comic Con website.

Just like many visiting the LB Con this weekend I'm going to seek out a few of my favorite comic creators and Amanda Conner is one of them.

I only asked her a few questions on camera: How's the action-packed and humorous "Power Girl" comics series?  And some reaction from being the first woman artist to break into the Wizard Magazine Top Ten.

We even get a visual cameo from "Jonah Hex" writer Jimmy Palmiotti.

BOOM Studios is having a "Drink Up."

As the press release from BOOM! Studios says: "a 'Drink Up' is just like a 'Meet Up' but with people drinking."

This gathering is similar to what Editor-In-Chief Mark Waid and the BOOM! crew put on during the San Diego Comic-Con.  There's no need for tickets and it's an open event for fans and creators to meet and talk.

It starts 6 p.m. at The Auld Dubliner across the street (Pine Avenue) from the Convention Center.

Wait!  I forgot the occasion... BOOM! is announcing their new series "Incorruptible" and it takes off on the concept of Waid's other series "Irredeemable."  He tells you a little more in the video clip above.  I also asked the BOOM! editor about the moves they are making with digital comics.

Before this evening event Waid will participate in "50 Questions in 50 Minutes with Mark Waid" at the LB CON at 1 p.m. this afternoon.  Bring your questions to Room B and make 'em good ones.