Archive for the 'Mesa' Tag
June 15th, 2009, 2:34 pm by Jayson Peters
This Saturday, June 20, is Free RPG Day, and gamers across the globe will be able to grab brand-new material for a variety of pen-and-paper roleplaying games — no overstock, retail-priced or dead product here. The goal is to get gamers inspired to play a new RPG, which can create sales through local game stores.
In the Valley, Gamer’s Inn in Mesa is listed as a participating retailer.
Sponsors include Wizards of the Coast, which contributed a Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition adventure module and Dungeon Tile; Paizo, which contributed a D&D 3rd Edition-compatible Pathfinder Bonus Bestiary (pictured); and Q-Workshop, which contributed unique gold dice. Many others are involved, and you can see what their contributions are at the Free RPG Day Sponsors page.
Posted in: Gaming • RPGs • D&D • Dungeons & Dragons • Free stuff • Mesa • Paizo • WotC | Post a Comment »
May 12th, 2009, 2:42 pm by Chris "KeL" Adams
 Long-time comic scribe Mark Waid will be signing from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 13th at Atomic Comics’ Mesa location, 1120 S. Country Club Drive. Waid has done lengthy runs on high-profile books for both DC and Marvel comics on such titles as The Flash, Fantastic Four, Superman and Captain America. He is perhaps best known for his collaboration with Alex Ross in Kingdom Come, the dystopic future tale of the DC Universe overrun by power-mad superheros and villians.
Waid is currently writing Irredeemable for Boom Studios. He’s been a pretty nice guy when I’ve met him in the past, so if you’ve got the chance, go down, say hello and get a book signed.
Posted in: Comics • Events • Mesa | Post a Comment »
May 6th, 2009, 12:01 am by Jayson Peters
 The original cast and creators of Mystery Science Theater 3000 will reunite 8 p.m. May 22 and 23 at the Mesa Arts Center for Cinematic Titanic, a live touring show that retains the format of the popular underground spoof show but ditches the robots (pictured with creator Joel Hodgson).
The Friday night show will mock East Meets Watts, while Saturday’s offering is Danger on Tiki Island. Both will be in the arts center’s Piper Theatre. Tickets cost $48 and are available from CinematicTitanic.com (click on “CT Live”).
The original cast includes Hodgson, Trace Bealieu, Frank Coniff, Mary Jo Pehl, and J. Elvis Weinstein.
Posted in: Events • Mesa • Movies • Sci-Fi & Fantasy | 1 Comment »
January 24th, 2009, 11:32 pm by Chris "KeL" Adams
The Arizona Ghostbusters were on hand to protect con-goers from spooks and spectres.
On Saturday, I ventured deep into the heart of downtown Mesa to check out this year’s Phoenix Comicon. I must admit that I was happy with the results. Every year that I’ve gone it has been larger and more professionally run. I remember the first year I attended, when it was held in the ballroom of a Best Western hotel in Phoenix. I could almost spit from one side of the entire convention to the other. Needless to say, it’s come a loooong way.
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Posted in: Comics • Conventions • Mesa • Phoenix | 3 Comments »
January 23rd, 2009, 9:33 am by Jayson Peters
Heading out to Phoenix Comicon this weekend? Send us your photos or share your favorite experiences — better yet, register and post your own!
The event runs noon to 8 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center St. Admission at the door costs $35 for the full event or $20 for Friday, $25 for Saturday and $15 for Sunday
You’ll definitely want to take a camera so you can get pics of the celebrities like Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner and Wil Wheaton — that’s half the freakin’ bridge crew from Star Trek: The Next Generation! — as well as all the great costumes people will be showing off.
Here are some helpful links:
If it’s your first time at the con, you might want to read up on past articles previewing the event, or check out Scott Kirchhofer’s first-person photo essay about his experience last year. It was his first time at a comic book convention, and it helped to prepare him for the utter Nerdvana that is the San Diego Comic-Con over the summer.
And don’t forget to check out Jess Harter’s delicious article on five restaurants within walking distance of the Mesa Convention Center. –JP
Posted in: Comics • Events • Conventions • Mesa • Phoenix | Post a Comment »
December 19th, 2008, 12:08 pm by Jayson Peters
New guests have been announced for Phoenix Comicon, Jan. 23-25 at the Mesa Convention Center.
Rob Liefeld will talk about Image United, the new Image founding members project coming out in 2009. He is the artist behind such titles as Youngblood, Onslaught, New Mutants, and X-Force.
Jim Valentino is a writer and artist who first made his start on normalman before moving onto titles at Marvel Comics. His most notable work for the company was as writer and artist on the futuristic superhero series Guardians of the Galaxy and selected issues of What If…? plus fill-ins on most of Marvel’s major titles. Valentino is one of the founding members of Image Comics in the 1990s, creating ShadowHawk. He will be on hand to talk about Image United, the new founding member project from Image coming in 2009.
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Posted in: Comics • Conventions • Mesa • Phoenix | Post a Comment »
December 5th, 2008, 2:35 pm by Jayson Peters
Spawn creator and Valley resident Todd McFarlane has joined the already stellar lineup of guests appearing at Phoenix Comicon, Jan. 23-25 at the Mesa Convention Center.
Details on signings and panels he’ll be participating in have yet to be announced. McFarlane will appear on the Saturday of the con (Jan. 24).
McFarlane became a comic book superstar in the 1980s due to his work on Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man franchise. In 1992, he launched Spawn, which became one of the 1990s’ most popular characters: the comic became an Emmy Award-winning animated series on HBO and a live-action feature film from New Line Cinema grossed $100 million.
Todd McFarlane photo by Anna Pena
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Posted in: Comics • Conventions • Mesa • Phoenix • Todd McFarlane | Post a Comment »
September 24th, 2008, 10:35 pm by Jayson Peters
Attention all you comic book guys and gals: you can save on admission to the Valley’s own comic book convention. If you act quickly.
Memberships to Phoenix Comicon 2009 cost $25 through Sept. 30. After that, the price will rise to $30.
The event will run Jan. 23-25 at the Mesa Convention Center. [MAP] Organizers say there will be more guests, more parties and dances, and this year the age for free child admission with a paid adult ticket is actually being RAISED to 12, from 10 last year. Nice! When was the last time we parents actually got a break? (Except for that tax thing.)
The impressive guest list so far includes Marina Sirtis, Counselor Deanna Troi from Star Trek: The Next Generation; geek blogger/author/TNG actor Wil Wheaton; Aaron Douglas, Chief Tyrol on Battlestar Galactica; Gil Gerard and Erin Gray from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century; Lou Ferrigno, TV’s Incredible Hulk; and comic book writer and Star Wars and Dune novelist Kevin J. Anderson. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Anime • Comics • Conventions • Deals • Mesa • Phoenix | Post a Comment »
January 26th, 2008, 3:26 pm by Scott Kirchhofer
 I’ve been a fan of comics my whole life and a pretty serious fan/collector for the last five years so it’s kind of shocking I have never been to a comic book convention until today. After spending about three hours at the Phoenix Cactus Comicon 2008 in Mesa I’ve got to admit it was a blast. First off I was way too excited to be there and when I was greeted by a bunch of Stormtroopers and Tusken Raiders I knew it would be a good day. As my friend Dana told me, “you’re such a con newb.” It was just so amazing seeing so many writers, artists, tv stars, and most importantly fans, show up in one place to celebrate something we all love. Walking through the vendors/artists area was probably the highlight of my visit. Never before have I seen so much comic book/anime/video game/sci-fi artwork and merchandise on display. It was crowded, loud and full of people dressed in comic book and anime character costumes. For a fanboy like me that’s a recipe for a good time. I actually wish I would have dressed up for the event. Standing in a sea of anime characters, I couldn’t help but feel naked without my Cloud Strife (from Final Fantasy) costume. I think I’ll leave that in my car from now on.
Being a huge fan of both of their works, I was probably most excited to attend the Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness panel. They were there to promote their new run on the (red) Hulk although most of their 45-minute Q & A session was about Heroes (Loeb is a co-executive producer and writer for the hit tv show), the writer’s strike, getting into the comic book biz, favorite projects they’ve worked on together (Superman/Batman), and generally what drives them to be creative and have fun doing what they do.
My only regret is that I couldn’t stay longer, but some of us have to work on Saturday. Here are some photos I took at the convention. Hope you enjoy them. And if you’re not busy tomorrow check out the second day’s schedule of events at the Phoenix Cactus Comicon 2008.
Ed McGuinness and Jeph Loeb signing autographs.
Wil Wheaton (from Star Trek: The Next Generation)
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO SEE MORE PICS FROM COMICON!
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Posted in: Anime • Comics • Events • Sci-Fi & Fantasy • Collecting • Conventions • Mesa • Phoenix • Scott Kirchhofer • Star Trek • Star Wars | 3 Comments »
January 24th, 2008, 9:34 pm by Jayson Peters
Phoenix Cactus Comicon 2008 is just about to get under way at the Mesa Convention Center. Superstar guest Wil Wheaton talks a bit about that in his latest blog entry.
Welcome to the Valley, Wil!
Other guests include Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca in Star Wars), Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi), comics legends Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness, Lou Ferrigno (TV’s Incredible Hulk) and Scrooge McDuck writer/illustrator Don Rosa, among many others.
For more information about the con and surrounding restaurants, click here.
You can also catch a first-person account of Comicon from Tribune graphic artist and comics guru Scott Kirchhofer.
Posted in: Comics • Sci-Fi & Fantasy • Conventions • Mesa • Phoenix • Star Trek | Post a Comment »
January 10th, 2008, 11:37 pm by Jayson Peters
Wil Wheaton, the Stand By Me star who went on to pilot the Enterprise as Ensign Wesley Crusher in Star Trek: The Next Generation - and was therefore reviled and envied by geeks everywhere as the Luckiest Kid in the Universe - has just announced that he will be at Phoenix Cactus Comicon!
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Posted in: Comics • Sci-Fi & Fantasy • Television • Conventions • Mesa • Phoenix • Star Trek • Wil Wheaton | Post a Comment »
December 28th, 2007, 10:18 pm by Jayson Peters
Sadly for the thriving community of Browncoats in the Valley, actor Nathan Fillion has been forced to cancel his scheduled appearance at the Jan. 26-27 Phoenix Cactus Comicon in Mesa (reported here), citing a scheduling mix-up.
In his place will be actor and former Mr. Universe Lou Ferrigno, who played the mean green machine in the late ’70s television adaptation of The Incredible Hulk.
Posted in: Comics • Events • Sci-Fi & Fantasy • Television • Conventions • Hulk • Mesa • Nathan Fillion • Phoenix | Post a Comment »
December 22nd, 2007, 11:48 am by Jayson Peters
 This just in: Nathan Fillion, AKA Capt. Malcolm Reynolds in the short-lived Fox series Firefly and it’s big-screen sequel Serenity, will attend Phoenix Cactus Comicon, Jan. 26-27 at the Mesa Convention Center, located on the southeast corner of University Drive and Center Street.
Fillion will attend to support the Kids Need to Read program. Pretty cool! He’ll talk about the program at the con 8 p.m. Jan. 26 - a Saturday - but he will be meeting with fans throughout the weekend. He’s also known for roles in Justice League, Slither, Desperate Housewives and the final arc of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Other guests include comic book legends Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness, Scrooge McDuck writer/illustrator Don Rosa, actor Jeremy Bulloch (who played Boba Fett in the original Star Wars trilogy) and Peter Mayhew, the man behind the Chewbacca suit! Plus many, many more.
Posted in: Comics • Events • Movies • Sci-Fi & Fantasy • Television • Uncategorized • Conventions • Mesa • Nathan Fillion • Phoenix | 4 Comments »
October 18th, 2007, 5:18 pm by Jayson Peters
Jeremy Bulloch, the actor behind the mask of intergalactic bounty hunter Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, will be a guest at Phoenix Comicon, Jan. 26-27 at the Mesa Convention Center.
A word of advice: Steer clear of downtown Mesa if you owe Jabba any money. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Comics • Sci-Fi & Fantasy • Conventions • Jeremy Bulloch • Mesa • Phoenix • Star Wars | Post a Comment »
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