meltblog

NOTABLES:
Unfortunately, tickets are now sold out
Free Wi-Fi this year!
Hyatt controversy?

CONVENTION PROGRAMMING:
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday (Kids’ Day)

PUBLISHER/BOOTH SCHEDULES/EVENTS:
Abrams schedule
Active Images schedule
Antarctic Press schedule
BOOM! schedule (Including the preview for my own new book!)
Cartoon Network and Asult Swim schedule (plus the ATHF Search for a Carl look-alike)
CBLDF schedule
Comicmix & Insight Studios schedule
Darwyn Cooke/Cameron Stewart/David Bullock booth extravaganza
DC schedule
Dial R Studios schedule
Dr. Sketchy’s
Drawn & Quarterly schedule
Fantagraphics schedule
First Second schedule
IDW schedule
Impact Books schedule
INDEPENDENTS screening
Jill Thompson/Brian Wood/Cliff Chiang booth scheduel
Man of Action schedule
Naked Fat Rave schedule
NBM schedule
Oni schedule
Pantheon schedule
Papercutz schedule
Shepard Fairey’s Dexter poster
Shocker Toys - Metalocalypse and The Maxx
Spectrum schedule
The Blvd schedule
Top Shelf schedule
Udon schedule
Viz schedule

More to come as info is released…

I am writing the four-issue miniseries THE REMNANT based on a story by Stephen Baldwin and Andrew Cosby, with art by smoking-hot newcomer Julian Totino Tedesco and covers by Paul Azaceta. There will be a 16-page preview book for sale at SDCC next week.

Click here for larger versions of these thumbnails and the full press release>>

Steve Niles & artist Kime Buzzelli hit Meltdown Comics for a rare appearance and signing of “The Lost Ones” Select City National Tour To Promote Graphic Novel Produced By Zune Arts

In anticipation of the upcoming Zune Arts graphic novel, author Steve Niles and illustrator Kime Buzzelli will be making an appearance and signing of their latest collaboration, The Lost Ones at Meltdown on Friday July 31, 2008.
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This week I interview Jim Hardison, whose first comic THE HELM hits stands from Dark Horse tomorrow with art by Bart Sears. THE HELM may be Jim’s first foray into the comics medium, but he has a lot of experience in both story and characters and plenty of wisdom to share on the writing process.

It’s been said that to make writing a career you have to sell more than just a story: you have to sell yourself. Do you find this true, and do you have any insight to share on selling oneself?

I’ve found that selling a story is a lot easier if you’re passionate about it—maybe because people can get caught up in your passion and feel moved by the things that are moving you. In the event of a face to face pitch, it certainly helps to be excited about the characters, about the concept and about what the story means. Of course, it has to be a really good story and it has to be thought out from all the angles or that passion won’t take you very far.

What would you say is the #1 mistake you see aspiring writers making?

Writing about external conflicts rather than internal ones. External conflicts are interesting and engaging, but if that’s all you’ve got (people wrestling with other characters or the environment) it will be a lot more difficult to connect with the audience. It’s much easier for the audience to connect with a character that is flawed and vulnerable than with one that is perfect and aloof. If you’ve got a great internal conflict for your character, it will lead him into all kinds of external conflict, but if you’ve only got external conflict, your story isn’t likely to mean very much to people unless they’re experiencing that exact same situation.

Read the entire interview here >>

IRON MAN 2
According to Nikki Finke’s Deadline Hollywood Daily, Jon Favreau has come to terms with Marvel and will return to direct Robert Downey Jr. in a sequel.

THE MAN OF STEEL
Is change afoot? Depending on who you believe in a report from Ain’t It Cool News, director Louis Leterrier (of the recent “Incredible Hulk”) may or may not have entered into discussions with the studio about replacing Bryan Singer.

What’s most interesting about that is the timing, as both The Hollywood Reporter and Variety are reporting that Warner Brothers and DC Comics are feeling pressured by Marvel’s cinematic success, and that change may be coming. It was more than a rumor, because the company had to issue a statement: “While we are not going to go into the specifics of the meetings, we’re constantly looking at how best to exploit the DC Comics characters and properties. DC is an incredibly valuable asset to Warner Bros. and plays an important role across the entire studio by providing development and franchise opportunities for all media, including films, television, home entertainment, animation, consumer products, video games and digital platforms.” Hm …

KICK ASS
A new article in the Evening Times discusses the Matthew Vaughn-helmed adaptation, which is set for April 2009, as well as what could be next from Millar’s stable of ideas.

Boom! Studios has promoted Matt Gagnon to managing editor. The former buyer and purchasing manager for Meltdown Comics in Hollywood joined the company in March. …

Back to Wednesdays next week, and after the jump, the comics of July 16th, 2008:

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Grant Morrison unveiled his new website this week (go check it out!)…

And what’s this I see in the new photo gallery?

Why, it’s Grant, here at the world-famous Meltdown holding forth in both a manner and a suit that only he could!

(On a lesser note, this humble blogger also unveiled his own new site this week. Seems to be a good time for such things.)