Monday, September 24, 2012

Asbury Park Comic Con 2 This Weekend

These days, it seems like the Comic Con craze is at an all time high with no signs of slowing down in the near future. As counterpoint to the giant halls of Hollywood film representation, rows of video game try-out stations and endless miles of other promotions that are fun enough, but have little to do with actual comic books, a group of people have decided to get back to basics and are hosting their movement in a sleepy little state called New Jersey. Welcome to Asbury Park Comic Con!


Cliff Galbraith & Robert Bruce comment on the birth of the event... "We make comics, collect comics, and deal in rare underground comix, so we thought we'd like to make a con that embodied our sensibilities. As the major conventions grow exponentially, but focus less on comics, we felt a good old-fashioned con with a strong emphasis on comics was needed.

Our first show started small, just 32 tables in a bowling alley that was converted to a rock club that will be converted to a comic convention for one day. While it is our intention to eventually grow the size of our con, we intend to keep Asbury Park Comic Con about comics."

So ..yea you read that right. The event is held in a bowling alley...Asbury Lanes to be exact! I assure you this is the most punk rock comic con you will ever attend..and I say that in the best way possible. This show is about a love of comics with a space lined with indie comic creators and flanked by some of your favorite..and dare I say legendary individuals. Here's the lineup for this weekend...

EVAN DORKIN: Two time Eisner Award winner, creator of Milk & Cheese and co-creator of Beasts of Burden comics for Dark Horse Comics. BigMouthTypesAgain.com
SARAH DYER : Creator of Action Girl, writer for such television shows as Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Shin Chan, Superman, and Batman Beyond. HouseOfFun.com
LARRY HAMA : Legendary writer of over 150 issues of GI Joe: A True American Hero. Creator of Bucky O'Hare. Editor for Marvel and DC.
STEVE MANNION : Creator of Fearless Dawn and The Bomb comic books for Asylum Press. Steve is a former DC Comics bullpen artist. FearlessDawn.com
REILLY BROWN : Artist on Marvel's Cable & Deadpool, Incredible Hercules & Amazing Spiderman. ReillyBrown.tumblr.com
MIKE and MING : Mike Zapcic and Ming Chen of Kevin Smith's hit AMC television show Comic Book Men bring their popular podcast to Asbury Park Comicon for a live remote broadcast. Smodcast.com
CLIFF GALBRAITH : Creator of Rat Bastard, The Saurus Gang (Partyasaurus, Shopasaurus, et al), co-creator of the new comic Unbearable for Crucial Comics. RatBastardComics.com
DEAN HASPIEL : Emmy award winning artist, Dean Haspiel, created Billy Dogma, illustrated for HBO's Bored To Death and has written and drawn many comix, including Spider-Man, Batman, X-men & Godzilla. deanhaspiel.com
SETH KUSHNER : Kushner’s photography has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Time, Newsweek, L’Uomo Vogue, The New Yorker and others. His latest book, Leaping Tall Buildings: The Origins of American Comics (with Chris Irving) was released in May 2012. sethkushner.com
TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS : Known for excellent production values, Top Shelf's handsomely crafted editions combine the best in reproduction techniques with a unique, inspired design sensibility. Publisher of works by Alan Moore, Eddie Campbell, Craig Thompson and many more. topshelfcomix.com
STEPHEN DESTEFANO : Veteran storyboard, designer and background artist for top animated shows The Venture Brothers, Ren and Stimpy, Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Adventure Time, and many more. stephendestefano.blogspot.com
J.C. LUZ : Co-creator writer of Unbearable from Crucial Comics.

The show will also play host to independents KO Comics, Doom and Gloom Comics, Red Anvil, Constellation Park, Dead Horse, Plastic Farm Press, M3, JGM Studios, Mad Knits, The Wonder Wonder City, Megabrain Comics, Our Friend the Atom, Hermes Press, Tyranny of the Muse, Beer and Cookies, Think Illustraion, Curls Studio, Balance Studios, Angry Viking Press, Royal Flush, co2 Comics, Ink Bot, and Kantara. You’ll also find many a long box full of back issues to fill in your collections, independent artists (like our friends Little Punk People), toys for sale (by meeee), and even a Batmobile to greet you at the door. 

Hit up http://asburyparkcomicon.com for more info, tickets (of which $1 goes to Heroes Initiative for comic creators in need), directions and more. See you there!

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