Comics Great Neal Adams Dies At 80

Above, Neal Adams and yours truly at the 2012 Comikaze Expo in Los Angeles.

by Armand Vaquer

Very sad news!

It is the kind of news that forces one to shout, "Aw, f*ck!"

Comic book artist great Neal Adams has passed away at age 80. He was the man who created the definitive Bronze Age Batman for DC Comics.

Don Glut posted the following on Facebook:

I just heard the sad news that artist Neal Adams -- who  back in the 1960s changed the look of comics -- has died at 80.  Neal illustrated one of my earliest professional stories, "Goddess from the Sea," in VAMPIRELLA #1. What a thrill it was for novice me to open that magazine and find that Neal had done the art for one of  my stories - and made it so much better than it actually was. And I'm so glad that last year -- finally --  in his Crusty Bunkers comic book shop right here in Burbank, CA, he autographed my original copy of that issue.

He also posted:

FYI, I just received this email message from Jim Steranko: Yeah, I was the first that Chris Adams called with the bad news. No prolonged suffering; he died in his sleep about 2-3 in the morning. Don't believe I can accept it—just cannot imagine the Comix World without Neal. At last weekend's show, a couple fanboys mentioned stories about he and I being adversaries—completely fabricated for PR hacking. Even though we were both hard-headed, opinionated SOBs, we NEVER had a negative word between us. Never!!! And I attributed that mostly to Neal!"

I was privileged to meet Neal Adams at the 2012 Comikaze Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center.  

I heard he was in ill health in recent months, but this was totally unexpected, at least to me. This is a big loss for comic book fans.

My sincerest condolences to his family and friends. 

Hear The Godzilla/Gamera Panel Podcast By Kaiju Kingdom

by Armand Vaquer

Last Friday (on Halloween), we had a panel discussion on Godzilla's 60th anniversary and Gamera's 50th anniversary at Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo.

Part of the program was a live podcast of the panel discussion conducted by the folks at Kaiju Kingdom. They have the audio available for Godzilla and Gamera fans to listen to. They titled it, "The Kaiju Kingdom Podcast: Episode 17 Assault On Comikaze."

Above, the Godzilla/Gamera panel at Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo 2014.

The website states:

In this weeks episode, the Kaiju Kingdom Podcast tapes before a live studio audience.. and by studio I mean convention crowd.  Chris and Jessica are live from Stan Lee’s Comikaze in Los Angeles California with special guests: Armand Vaquer, author of “The Monster Movie Fan’s Guide to Japan” Tom Franck, comedian and respected authority on Jumbo Machinders and friend of the show Mark Jaramillio. We talk the 60th anniversary of Godzilla, the upcoming 50th of Gamera and Mark wows the audience with a sneak peak at the films of Kaiju Gaiden.

To listen to the podcast of our panel discussion, go here. 

Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo 2014

by Armand Vaquer

Above, the gang's all here for the Godzilla/Gamera panel.

Another successful Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo is in the record books. The convention runs through Sunday, but this was it for me this year. It was a good way to celebrate Halloween.

Our panel on the 60th anniversary of Godzilla, the 50th anniversary of Gamera and other assorted topics (such as Godzilla 2014) were discussed by the panel as well as the audience members. The number of audience members were down from last year. We were in a much bigger room and, which is the unfortunate part, further away form the stairs, elevators and escalators. The problem was probably caused by the scheduling error in which the Comikaze organizers had to reschedule us an hour earlier as they had our moderator, Jessica Tseang scheduled on two panels at the same time. I am guessing that this was the only meeting room available.

Still, we had an enthusiastic audience and a good discussion. All agreed that the Legendary Pictures/Warner Bros. Godzilla was much better than the abomination of 1998.

Following the panel, I managed to sell many copies of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan, so the trek more than paid for itself.

After this, I wandered around in the exhibit hall and there were plenty of things to see. I did a double-take when I spotted Christine Nguyen on a banner at the New York Times booth (yes, they were there selling subscriptions). I'll have to send a photo to Christine.

I did pick up a 1970s Mechagodzilla coin bank for myself.

I ran into a comic book dealer I knew in Woodland Hills (before he closed his shop in 2004), Mike Frank. We caught up on things and I gave him a copy of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

As usual, Comikaze Expo was an enjoyable event and I am looking forward to next year's.

Here's some photos:

Above, there were plenty of comic books for sale. I almost bought several Silver Age issues of World's Finest. Photo by Armand Vaquer

Above, Mile High Comics was represented by this booth. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, there were two kaiju dealers at Comikaze Expo this year that I found. This was one. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a vacationing Godzilla waited to make a purchase at the above kaiju toy booth. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Comikaze Expo's main stage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a cosplayer celebrates Halloween. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a display of Marvel characters. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, I couldn't resist getting this Mechagodzilla coin bank. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Envy Model Management's Constance Nunes at the Muck booth. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a familiar face (Christine Nguyen) advertising the New York Times. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For more photos from Comikaze Expo, go here.

Girls and Corpses captures Ivonna Cadaver and Chanel Ryan for Comikaze Expo booth 1209

This weekend, October 31st to Nov 1st, Girls and Corpses booth #1209 at Comikaze Expo will feature Corpsy signing along with IVONNA CADAVER (Macabre Theater host) and Actress/Scream Queen CHANEL RYAN (Circus of The Dead). 

Girls and Corpses will also be holding a drawing each day for a Universal Classic Monsters complete 30 Film Collection including movies: Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolfman, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, Creature from the Black Lagoon and Phantom of the Opera all complete legacy collection. They are gorgeous box sets curtesy of Macabre Theater and Universal Studios.

G&C news:

- Girls and Corpses has just released their Winter Medical Marijuana issue of Girls and Corpses: www.girlsandcorpses.com

- Girls and Corpses Channel coming soon on Movie and Music Network: http://www.movieandmusicnetwork.com/

- Girls and Corpses Presents label now at TomCat Films: http://tomcatfilmsllc.com/

- Watch Ivonna Cadaver on new episodes of her Macabre Theater show on the YooToo America Network: https://www.youtoo.com/

- Chanel Ryan will soon be seen in Circus of The Dead and hair raising other films: http://www.www.chanelryan.com/indexx.html

For more info and directions on Comikaze Expo visit: http://comikazeexpo.com/

 

 

Godzilla/Gamera Anniversary Panel At Comikaze Expo October 31

by Armand Vaquer

Note: The time has been changed. Our panel begins at 5:00 PM.

Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo 2014 schedule is now out and a panel on Godzilla's 60th anniversary and Gamera's 50th anniversary will be held at 5:00 PM on Halloween, October 31 in Room 404AB of the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The participants, along with yours truly, will be the same as last year's panel and will be headed up by Jessica Tseang. I will have copies of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan available following the panel discussion. Our panels on Japanese monsters have been some of the best-attended (standing-room-only) at Comikaze, so make sure you get there early enough to get a seat.

Above, the panel at last year's Comikaze Expo.

Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo will be held October 31 through November 2.

For the full schedule for Friday, October 31, go here (.pdf format).

To access Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo's website, go here.

The Comikaze Expo Session On "Godzilla" and "Pacific Rim"

by Armand Vaquer

Above, the panel on "Godzilla" and "Pacific Rim" before the start of the session. 

It was  a good thing that we had a room that was double the size of last year's room for this year's panel on Godzilla (2014) and Pacific Rim (2013) at Stan Lee's Comickaze Expo.  All seats were taken and a dozen people had to stand in the back of the room. I was somewhat surprised as our session began an hour after the show's doors were opened to the public. I was wondering if they would make a beeline to the main hall instead.

Above, a panel's eye view of the crowd still coming in.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was an appreciative and enthusiastic audience of giant monster and robot fans. The panel consisted of Jessica Tseang (moderator), Bill Janczewski, Frank Woodward, Tom Franck, Chris Eaton, Scott Zillner and myself.

We began the session with our thoughts on Pacific Rim. Generally, all on the panel felt the movie "delivered the goods" with some minor quibbles. On the low box office, most felt the movie wasn't marketed right, leaving many people with the impression that it was another Transformers movie instead of giant robots battling giant monsters. But all believe that it will be a big hit in DVD and Blu-ray sales. Most wondered why it grossed better in China but not in Japan. One panelist voiced the opinion that Japan is just over-saturated with giant monsters and they can see giant monsters for free on television. Another said it was (probably) because it was mainly centered in Hong Kong.

Above, these session attendees show their support for "Pacific Rim."  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I repeated my opinion that I posted a week or so ago on this blog. The audience seemed to agree that Toho did a better job with the Millennium series MechaGodzilla movies by having jets do the heavy lifting of the robot, whereas Pacific Rim went beyond the boundaries of "suspension of disbelief" in having helicopters do the robot transporting. They also seemed to agree with me that while the CGI was probably the best (so far) for a giant monster movie, it still did not fully convey mass and weight of the robots (or monsters) as the traditional "suitmation" method with miniatures.

Each expressed hopes that next year's Godzilla will be a hit and generally like the direction the Godzilla design is heading.  I said that as long as Godzilla looked and acted like Godzilla, along with his atomic breath, it will be a winner as far as I was concerned.

As mentioned in my last post on Comikaze, there were a few SNAFUs. Jessica Tseang was disappointed that there was no Wi-Fi Internet available at the Los Angeles Convention Center to have Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah's android M-11, Robert Scott Field, to participate with the panel via Skype. We also planned to have audio/visual materials to show along with a recorded greeting by Max Borenstein, the scripter of Godzilla, but somehow the show's organizers didn't come through with any. But those problems didn't prevent us or the audience from enjoying the panel session. Jessica did a great job in keeping the session moving.

I did manage to sell the same number of travel guides following the session as last year.. Which helped to lessen the bite of the parking fees at the L.A. Convention Center, and then some.

Godzilla & Pacific Rim Panel At Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Tom Franck, Jessica Tseang and your truly at last year's Comikaze Expo.

The schedule for the 2013 Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo is now out and once again we will be holding a panel discussion on Pacific Rim and Godzilla.

It will be held Friday, November 1 at 2:00 P.M. at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

From the schedule:

I will have copies of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan available following the panel discussion.

To view the schedule for Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo, go here.

Mark your calendars!

Mars Attacks Stan Lee’s Comikaze

Source: Stan Lee's Comikaze News

 The Topps Company and Stan Lee’s Comikaze teaming up to bring MARS ATTACKS to Comikaze Expo this Nov 1-3! Topps - setting up shop at the Comikaze Expo for the first time - will bring an exclusive MARS ATTACKS trading card featuring Stan Lee himself facing off against their iconic Martian invader!

Limited to just 2500 cards and painted by Joe Jusko, the card entitled "Stan Strikes!" will be given away FREE on a first-come, first-served basis and available ONLY at Comikaze!

Topps will be on hand at this year’s Comikaze to promote the release of Mars Attacks: Invasion, the modern revival of the classic card series and the first all-new, story-based MARS ATTACK card series in more than half a century! A limited edition poster featuring Joe Jusko's stunning painting will also be available for sale at the Topps booth - signed by the artist - while supplies last!

 For ticket information, go here.

Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo 2013

by Armand Vaquer

A hair under a year from now, Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo will return to the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Next year's show will take place on November 1-3, 2013.

Above, comic book great Neal Adams and Armand at the 2012 show.

This year's show was a lot of fun and I highly recommend it.  It has everything: comics, anime, science-fiction, horror, fantasy, celebrities, writers, artists and more.

For more information on Comikaze Expo, go here.

Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo 2012 Report

by Armand Vaquer



Above, it was nice to see Wonder Woman (Kit Quinn) was able to attend Comikaze Expo.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.


Comikaze Expo was one big impressive show!  I mean, it was HUGE!

I just returned home from Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center where I participated in a panel on Japanese giant monsters and robots.  The panel also focused on Legendary Pictures' Pacific Rim (scheduled to hit theaters next July) and Godzilla (scheduled to hit theaters on May 16, 2014).

We had a full house in the room where the panel was held.

Above, Tom Franck, Jessica Tseang and Armand before the panel discussion started.



I thoroughly enjoyed the discussion.  It was probably one of the most enjoyable panels I've served on.  It was moderated by Jessica Tseang and, besides myself, included Tom Franck, who has the largest Japanese robot collection in the United States.



Above, the legendary Batman, Deadman and Green Lantern/Green Arrow artist Neal Adams and Armand.





Above, Adam "Batman" West.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.



The show itself had many celebrities including Adam West, Burt Ward and the best Catwoman of them all, Julie Newmar of the Batman television show of the 1960s.

There were comic book artists and writers galore in attendance.  I managed to get photographed with the man whose Batman artwork defined the Bronze Age Batman, Neal Adams.

I also managed to do some networking in relation to The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan (I also sold eight of them following the panel).  I met artist John Fasano and swapped a travel guide for one of his Godzilla prints.

It was a great show (the last day is tomorrow, so I recommend going) and many thanks to Jessica Tseang for making the panel a fun one!

Since a picture is "worth a thousand words," here's a few more of Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo:




Above, Comikaze Expo had lots of comic books for sale.





Above, the booth where official Comikaze Expo goods can be purchased. 





Above, the main hall.





Above, as the banners say, super-hero stuff can be bought.