NY Comic-Con Journal: Day 0

So it all begins tomorrow… 🙂

Actually, it technically began about 3 hours ago as the ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference for Professionals is today, a series of panels on the past, present and future of graphic novels. Something I would have loved to attend, but alas, taking off tomorrow from work is about as much as I can handle. [EDIT: Tom McLean’s coverage at the link.]

The next three days promise to be a whirlwind of activity, with tomorrow probably being the most relaxed; once I get there, at least. Over the next 19 hours, I have to print some updated business cards and promo flyers for the booth; finish putting together the art showcase presentation that will be projected throughout the party Saturday night, and possibly during the indie roundtable on Sunday; prepare the agenda for both panels I’m moderating; coordinate the sparse coverage we’ll have and figure out how we’ll be presenting it…and I’m sure there’s a few other things I’m forgetting. Like sleep, perhaps?

Tomorrow, I’m planning to attend several panels, including:

Is The Pamphlet Doomed?
Description: As sales of graphic novels soar, and comics find big audiences on the web, traditional comics periodicals are also evolving. Join us for a frank discussion of marketing strategies and new formats.

State of the Industry Panel
Description: Top comic industry leaders come together to discuss the current state of the industry and make predictions for the future. Panelists: Bill Schanes, Diamond Comic Distributors; Paul Levitz, DC Comics; Joe Quesada, Marvel Entertainment; Michael Silberkleit, Archie Comic Publications, Inc.; and Stuart Levy, TokyoPop.

Distributing: What You Really Need to Know
Description: A discussion and Q&A with the representatives with the four major distributors.

Mondo Marvel
Description: 2006 promises to be a major turning point for all things Marvel! Join Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada, Marvel editors, and special guests Keith Giffen (Annihilation), Greg Pak (Planet Hulk), and more as they discuss all things Marvel!

The first three are back-to-back-to-back, and there’s an hour break before the Marvel panel which I’m going to mainly because Charlie Huston‘s supposed to be there and I’m curious to see him interacting in that milieu.

After that, I’ll swing by our booth and hit artist’s alley to see what’s what and who’s who. Hope to put some more faces to names, always an interesting part of these things, and pick up some interesting new comics. And promote the hell out of the party, of course!

My cousin Juan is hooking me up with a wireless laptop so I should be able to stay connected throughout the show. Not sure how much we’ll be updating over at PopCultureShock; we can’t possibly match NEWSarama’s coverage, so I figure we’ll opt for using the Buzz Blog for brief panel updates and then post a wrap-up on Monday or Tuesday. We were hoping to do a few podcasts, too, but I’m thinking that might slip through the cracks this time.

I’ll also be posting randomly here, of course, with the kind of stuff I tend to avoid writing under my official byline over at PopCultureShock. I try to reserve my snark and bile for the blog, while keeping things a bit more professional over there.

…

Shut up. I said, “I try”!

Written by Guy LeCharles Gonzalez

Guy LeCharles Gonzalez is the Chief Content Officer for LibraryPass, and former publisher & marketing director for Writer’s Digest. Previously, he was also project lead for the Panorama Project; director, content strategy & audience development for Library Journal & School Library Journal; and founding director of programming & business development for the original Digital Book World.

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