PEACOCK CELEBRATES ORIGINAL SERIES HYSTERIA! WITH EXCLUSIVE PANEL AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK FOR FANS AT NEW YORK COMIC CON

The Pop-Horror Thriller’s Panel with the Series Creators and Stars Julie Bowen, Anna Camp and Bruce Campbell to Take Place on Thursday, October 17 in Room 405

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17:

PEACOCK PRESENTS: SATANIC PANIC HORROR THRILLER HYSTERIA! PANEL
Join stars Julie Bowen, Anna Camp and Bruce Campbell, and showrunners and executive producers Matthew Scott Kane and David A. Goodman, for a look into Peacock’s original pop-horror thriller series Hysteria!, a tale of murders, kidnappings, and reported “supernatural activity” that triggers a small town’s witch hunt set during the “Satanic Panic” of the late 1980s.
WHEN: 5:00 – 6:00 PM on Thursday, October 17
WHERE: Room 405 – Javits Center (429 11th Ave., NYC)

HYSTERIA! NYCC ROUNDTABLE PRESS ROOM
WHO: Hysteria! stars Julie Bowen, Anna Camp and Bruce Campbell, and showrunners and executive producers Matthew Scott Kane and David A. Goodman.
WHEN: 3:00 – 4:00 PM on Thursday, October 17
WHERE: NYCC Press Room #2 – Javits Center (429 11th Ave., NYC)
**Please note, press RSVP is required and press room participation/attendance requires confirmation. RSVP to hysteriapr@civic-us.com**

ABOUT HYSTERIA!
When a beloved varsity quarterback disappears during the “Satanic Panic” of the late 1980s, a struggling high school heavy metal band of outcasts realize they can capitalize on the town’s sudden interest in the occult by building a reputation as a Satanic metal band, until a bizarre series of murders, kidnappings, and reported “supernatural activity” triggers a leather-studded witch hunt that leads directly back to them.

Premiere Date: October 18, 2024 (Binge)

Writers / Executive Producers: Matthew Scott Kane and David A. Goodman (The Orville)

Executive Producers: John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Dungeons & Dragons, Game Night); Chris Bender and Jake Weiner for Good Fear Content (My Spy, Mulan, Under the Silver Lake)

Supervising Producer: Scott Stoops for Good Fear
Director (101 & 108) / Executive Producer: Jordan Vogt-Roberts (The Kings of Summer, Kong: Skull Island)

Series Regulars: Julie Bowen, Anna Camp, Emjay Anthony, Chiara Aurelia, Kezii Curtis and Nikki Hahn

Recurring Guest Stars: Bruce Campbell, Garret Dillahunt, Nolan North, Elijah Richardson, Milly Shapiro, Allison Scagliotti and Jessica Treska.

New York Comic Con Unveils Programming Schedule for 2024 Show

ReedPop, the world’s leading producer of pop culture events, today revealed a look at New York Comic Con’s (NYCC) jam-packed programming lineup for this year’s convention. Returning to the Javits Center in New York City on October 17-20, 2024, fans will experience the best of pop culture with the biggest special guests, publishers, cosplayers, and more.

Programming highlights for this year’s event include:

Apple TV+ presents “Shrinking”
Apple’s acclaimed, hit comedy “Shrinking” follows a grieving therapist who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes to people’s lives … including his own. Join us for an exclusive panel with some of the brilliant minds behind the camera and the ensemble cast who make the Apple TV+ fan-favorite series so beloved. Panelists will include Emmy-Award winner, co-creator and executive Producer Brett Goldstein, executive producer, co-creator and star Jason Segel, as well as Emmy-Award nominee Christa Miller, Emmy-Award nominee Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell and Ted McGinley. “Shrinking” season two will premiere globally with the first two episodes on Wednesday, October 16.

Thursday, October 17, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Main Stage

Marvel Comics: Next Big Thing
This is it, True Believers – the biggest comics panel of the weekend! Editor in Chief C.B. Cebulski, VP & Executive Editor Tom Brevoort, VP of Digital Media & Creative Strategy Ryan Penagos – aka Agent M – and other Marvel guests including writer Ryan North (Fantastic Four) are here to give fans a glimpse into the future of your favorite heroes – including the thrilling adventures of Marvel’s First Family, the newest milestones of mutantkind, the future of the Ultimate line, and more! Plus – What does the future hold for the Marvel Universe now that Doctor Doom has become the Sorcerer Supreme? Attendees who stay until the end will receive an exclusive giveaway comic book!

Thursday, October 17, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Room 409

The Cast of Starship Troopers
When you battle 6 trillion enemies that will eat you alive, there are only two rules… EVERYONE FIGHTS. NO ONE QUITS! Join Casper Van Dien (Juan Rico), Dina Meyer (Dizzy Flores), Denise Richards (Captain Carmen Ibanez), Seth Gilliam (Sugar Watkins), and Michael Ironside (Jean Rasczak) for an out-of-this-world panel at New York Comic Con! Hosted by Josh Horowitz, this panel will dive into the legacy of Starship Troopers. Don’t miss this chance to hear from the stars of the cult classic and relive the epic sci-fi adventure!

Thursday, October 17, 12:30 PM, Room 405

A Conversation with Josh Brolin: Insights and Stories with Steve Weintraub
Join Josh Brolin for an exclusive sit-down with Steve Weintraub at New York Comic Con! In this engaging panel, Brolin will delve into his diverse career, sharing insights and behind-the-scenes stories from his most iconic roles. Steve Weintraub, known for his in-depth interviews and industry knowledge, will guide the conversation, offering fans a unique opportunity to hear directly from the acclaimed actor. Don’t miss this chance to get up close and personal with one of Hollywood’s most dynamic stars!

Thursday, October 17, 2:00 PM, Room 405

Moon Man Panel featuring Kid Cudi
Two-time Grammy Award-winning musician Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi took NYCC by storm last year, surprising everyone with MOON MAN, his first step into comics. Now, Cudi is back, with co-writer Kyle Higgins (Radiant Black) and artist Marco Locati for a can’t miss panel packed full of behind-the-scenes secrets and announcements!

Thursday, October 17, 2:00 PM, Main Stage

Peacock Presents: Satanic Panic Horror Thriller Hysteria!
Join stars Julie Bowen, Anna Camp and Bruce Campbell, and showrunners and executive producers Matthew Scott Kane and David A. Goodman, for a look into Peacock’s original pop-horror thriller series Hysteria!, a tale of murders, kidnappings, and reported “supernatural activity” that triggers a small town’s witch hunt set during the “Satanic Panic” of the late 1980s.

Thursday, October 17, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Room 405

The Cast of Red Dead Redemption
Join the cast of Red Dead Redemption 2 for an unforgettable panel at New York Comic Con! Roger Clark (Arthur Morgan), Rob Wiethoff (John Marston), Benjamin Byron Davis (Dutch van der Linde), Alex McKenna (Sadie Adler), and more—including Noshir Dalaal (Charles Smith), Kaili Vernoff (Susan Grimshaw), Mick Mellamphy (Sean MacGuire), Peter Blomquist (Micah Bell), Meeya Davis (Tilly Jackson), Robert Bogue (Red Harlow), Curzon Dobell (Hosea Matthews), Jim Santangeli (Joe), and Gabriel Sloyer (Javier Escuella)—will share behind-the-scenes stories and reflect on the game’s legacy. Fans can engage in a live Q&A with the actors who brought these beloved characters to life. Don’t miss this unique chance to dive deeper into the world of Red Dead Redemption 2!

Friday, October 18, 12:30 PM, Room 405

IDW Publishing: The Next 25 YearsFears
From groundbreaking horror to epic fantasy, the award-winning publisher is celebrating 25 years of innovative storytelling… but what comes next? Fans at NYCC will be the first to discover IDW Publishing’s unprecedented plans for 2025 and beyond. Once these secret comics emerge from the shadows, shivers will be sent down spines, and the entire comic book industry will be talking about IDW’s upcoming releases.

Friday, October 18, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM, Room 1C03

BlumFest NYCC
The annual October celebration of all things Blumhouse – makes its much-anticipated return to NYCC with its biggest slate of movies ever. Jason Blum, the visionary producer behind some of the most electrifying films in modern horror, reveals plans for Blumhouse’s 15th anniversary in 2025 and it’s going to be BIG. Be the first to see the world premiere of the trailer for Wolf Man, directed by Leigh Whannell, chilling first-look footage from Christopher Landon’s Drop, Jaume Collet-Serra’s The Woman in the Yard, a look at the highly-anticipated M3GAN 2.0 and many other surprises you won’t want to miss.

Friday, October 18, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM, Empire Stage

Bear McCreary: Musical World-Building
Join Bear McCreary, the celebrated composer of projects as diverse as God of War, Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Walking Dead, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Outlander, Battlestar Galactica, Percy Jackson & the Olympians, and his new rock concept album The Singularity, as he explores the dramatic impact of music on the creation of fictional worlds, fueled by collaborations with artists from across all disciplines. Bear will be joined by several integral The Singularity contributors from the music and comics realms, including Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/composer Rufus Wainwright, renowned writer Mat Groom (Inferno Girl Red, Self/Made), comics writer & filmmaker Kyle Higgins (Radiant Black, No/One), and multiple Eisner & Harvey Award-winning cartoonist Ramón K Pérez (Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand, Jane).

Friday, October 18, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM, Main Stage

Charlamagne Tha God Presents ILLuminati – Hip-Hop and Comics Collide in New AWA Graphic Novel
Los Angeles has its secrets and fame has a price. When a rising hip-hop star dies under mysterious circumstances, her psychic twin sister journeys to the City of Angels to uncover the truth and becomes entangled in a dark conspiracy around power, fame, and pop culture. Join hip-hop legend Charlamagne Tha God as he presents ILLuminati, a story written by acclaimed writer Bryan Edward Hill that tackles head-on the enduring urban legend of The Black Illuminati. The panel will also include comics legend and ILLuminati artists Denys Cowan, and AWA Chief Creative Officer Axel Alonso, for a conversation moderated by Music Executive & Journalist Rob Markham around AWA’s all-new graphic novel blending comics and hip-hop like no other story.

Friday, October 18, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM, Room 1C03

Inside the Haunting World of The Fall of the House of Usher: A Panel with Mike Flanagan and Cast: Dive into the eerie world of The Fall of the House of Usher with the cast and director at New York Comic Con! Join director Mike Flanagan, and stars Carla Gugino (Verna), Kate Siegel (Camille), and Rahul Kohli (Leo Usher) as they discuss the creation of this spine-chilling series, inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s classic tale. The panel will explore the creative process, share behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and answer fan questions. Don’t miss this chance to get an exclusive look into the making of The Fall of the House of Usher!

Saturday, October 19, 12:30 PM, Room 405

From Earp to Ear: Wynonna Earp’s Adventures Continue on Audible
From 2016-2021, fans fell in love with the great-great-granddaughter of legendary lawman Wyatt Earp through the TV series, Wynonna Earp. Following the final installment of the TV series, Wynonna is now coming to audio with new stories to tell. Join Melanie Scrofano, Tim Rozon, Katherine Barrell, and writer Emily Andras in conversation with Maureen Ryan, contributing editor at Vanity Fair, as they preview the forthcoming Audible Original Wynonna Earp: Tales from Purgatory which picks up with Wynonna and her soulmate, the legendary lawman Doc Holliday as they hit the open road in search of the promised land: Dollywood. Naturally, the trail is bumpier than expected while Wynonna catches us up on many fan-favorite characters from the series through an anthology-style collection of stories from Purgatory. This scripted audio drama will feature original cast members Melanie Scrofano, Tim Rozon, Dom Provost-Chalkley, Katherine Barrell, Varun Saranga, Dani Kind, Martina Otiz-Luis, Greg Lawson, and writer Emily Andras.

Saturday, October 19 from 4:45 PM to 5:45 PM in Room 409

Sweetpea Screening and Q&A with Ella Purnell
Join Ella Purnell, star and executive producer of her new series, “Sweetpea” as she discusses the dark and twisted coming-of-rage series premiering on STARZ on October 10. Rhiannon Lewis doesn’t make much of an impression – people walk past her in the street without a second glance. She’s continually overlooked for a promotion at work, the guy she likes won’t commit, and her dad is really, really sick. Then everything in her life turns upside down. Rhiannon is pushed over the edge and loses control. Suddenly the wallflower is gone, and in its place is a young woman capable of anything… Rhiannon’s life transforms as she steps into a new, intoxicating power, but can she keep her killer secret?

Saturday, October 19, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Room 405

Fox Entertainment Presents Grimsburg
Grimsburg centers on Marvin Flute (Emmy winner Jon Hamm, who also executive produces the series), who may be the greatest detective ever to catch a cannibal clown and correctly identify a mid-century modern armoire. But there’s one mystery he still can’t crack — himself. To do that he must return to Grimsburg, a town where everyone has a secret or three, and redeem himself in the eyes of his fellow detectives, his ferocious ex-wife and his lovably unstable son. Join panelists Jon Hamm, Alan Tudyk, showrunner Chadd Gindin and more for a behind-the-scenes look at Season Two of Grimsburg, followed by a Q&A. The panel will be moderated by Michael Schneider (Variety).

Sunday, October 20, 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM, Main Stage

Fox Entertainment Presents Universal Basic Guys
Universal Basic Guys centers on two brothers, Mark and Hank Hoagies, who lose their jobs to automation and are given $3,000 a month in a new basic income program. Now, they’re using their free time and free money to find purpose in a world where they’re no longer needed. Join co-creators and executive producers Adam Malamut and Craig Malamut for a behind-the-scenes look at Universal Basic Guys. The panel will be moderated by Michael Schneider (Variety).

Sunday, October 20, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM, Room 405

“Saturday Night Live”: Louie Zakarian, Sarah Sherman and the Art of Special F/X Makeup
Go behind the scenes of “Saturday Night Live” in its milestone 50th season with the show’s Emmy Award-winning Make-Up department head, Louie Zakarian, and cast member Sarah Sherman. Zakarian is a 30-year veteran of “SNL,” responsible for designing and executing the show’s renowned prosthetics and special F/X makeup. In conversation with Sherman, Zakarian will speak to the process of creating memorable characters, transforming a cast member in a matter of seconds, refining the show’s approach to evolving technology, and showcasing some of “SNL’s” most iconic makeup moments.

Sunday, October 20, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM, Room 408

A House of the Dragon Retrospective
Join House of the Dragon stars Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), Fabian Frankel (Criston Cole), and Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon II Targaryen) at New York Comic Con for a Season 2 retrospective! Sitting down with moderator Josh Horowitz of Happy Sad Confused, the cast will share behind-the-scenes stories, reflect on the season’s key moments, and answer fan questions about the Targaryen drama. Don’t miss this chance to hear from the stars of HBO’s epic series as they dive deep into the world of Westeros!

Sunday, October 20, 11:00 AM, Empire Stage

In addition to the programming schedule, NYCC recently released the exhibitor list for this year’s show, promising a packed Show Floor featuring ThrillJoy, Funko, Marvel, Scholastic, Penguin Random House, Bandai, CapCom, Webtoon, Crunchyroll, and more. This was followed by the release of this year’s incredible Artist Alley roster, which includes Jeff Lemire, Dexter Vines, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Frank Cho, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Tom Taylor, in addition the Writers Block lineup featuring Hugo- and Nebula Award–winning Nigerian American writer and storyteller Tomi Adeyemi, No.1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author V.E. Schwab, R.A. Salvatore, Gail Simone, John Jackson Miller, and more.

In addition to the above programming, NYCC 2024 previously announced a star-studded lineup of celebrities heading to NYCC this year for Photo Ops and Autographing, including Marvel Cinematic Universe stars Paul Bettany, Josh Brolin, and Hayley Atwell; Matt Smith (Doctor Who, The Crown, House of the Dragon); Fallout stars Ella Purnell, Walton Goggins, and Aaron Moten; Marisa Tomei (Spider-Man: No Way Home, My Cousin Vinny); cast members from House of the Dragon Tom Glynn-Carney, Fabien Frankel, and Matt Smith; Clerks duo Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes; and cast members from fan-favorite films and TV series Starship Troopers, Psych, Shameless, and Futurama. A special ticketed event “Happy Sad Confused 10th Anniversary Live Special” featuring podcast host Josh Horowitz will also take the stage with guests Sam Heughan, David Harbour and more to be announced.

Tickets for New York Comic Con 2024 are available now for Thursday and Sunday, in addition to NYCC @ Home tickets for Popverse Superfans interested in streaming some of this year’s biggest panels from home. Fans can sign up to become Popverse Superfans at thepopverse.com. Stay up to date on the latest New York Comic Con news at NewYorkComicCon.com and on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

NICKELODEON CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS
AT NEW YORK COMIC CON 2024

Nick’s Booth to Feature Immersive Tribute to SpongeBob SquarePants
Pilot Episode, “Help Wanted”; Legendary Voice Talent to Appear on Exclusive Panel

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Video Game and Max & the Midknights Animated Series
Panels Presented at Convention

Nickelodeon continues to celebrate the landmark 25th anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants with an immersive experience at its booth that pays homage to the iconic first episode of the world’s most famous yellow sea sponge at New York Comic Con 2024. During the four-day convention, Nick’s booth on the convention center floor (#1523) will re-create and transport fans into the “Help Wanted” pilot episode with 3D-animation, augmented reality (AR) and replicas of SpongeBob’s pineapple home and The Krusty Krab.

Nickelodeon and Paramount invite fans to three panels during the convention: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Video Games and Virtual Worlds,” showcasing the popular video game world; “Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants 25th Anniversary Celebration,” a dive into the undersea world of Bikini Bottom and “Nickelodeon’s brand-new fantasy series, Max & the Midknights!,” a behind-the-scenes look at the all-new animated series.

The following is a rundown of Nickelodeon’s activities:

PANELS

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Video Games and Virtual Worlds
Thursday, 10/17 from 8 – 9pm (Room 408)
From PC and console to mobile and virtual worlds, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have brought Turtle Power to countless original video games over the past few decades – and there’s more on the horizon. Join Doug Rosen, Paramount’s SVP of Games & Emerging Media, as well as representatives from Outright Games, Super Evil Megacorp and more to learn about the latest TMNT releases and get exclusive sneak peeks into these tubular titles.

Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants 25th Anniversary Celebration
Friday, 10/18 from 11am – 12pm (Empire Stage)
Jumping Jellyfish! Grab a spatula and get ready to celebrate 25 years of one of the most popular characters and beloved animated series of all time – SpongeBob SquarePants. Join the legendary voice cast Tom Kenny (SpongeBob), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), and Mr. Lawrence (Plankton), along with executive producers Marc Ceccarelli and Vincent Waller as they pay tribute to the popular origins and reveal what’s happening next in Bikini Bottom. It’s going to be F.U.N.

Nickelodeon’s brand-new fantasy series, Max & the Midknights!
Sunday, 10/20 from 11am – 12pm (Room 405)
Join creator and executive producer Lincoln Peirce (Big Nate), showrunners and co-executive producers Sharon Flynn and David Skelly, and a host of other exciting panelists as they reveal how this cinematic and groundbreaking new TV series was transformed from the best-selling book series to the screen! Dragons! Monsters! Swords and sorcery!

DAILY BOOTH ACTIVITY

SpongeBob’s Interview Prep Experience
Help wanted! Step inside SpongeBob’s pineapple home to prepare for the big job interview at The Krusty Krab. Fans will complete exercises in SpongeBob’s weight room to ensure they are in top fry cook shape. Once finished, guests can scan their personal QR code to collect their shareable video file on their device.

SpongeBob’s Hungry Anchovy Frenzy
Grab a spatula and step up to the virtual grill to feed those hungry, hungry anchovies! In this one-of-a-kind digital whack-a-mole game, players have one minute to fling out as many virtual Krabby Patties as possible to feed the hungry lunch crowd. It’s a mad dash to the end of the shift, where players can earn their rightful spot as The Krusty Krab’s newest and greatest fry cook!

The Krusty Krab Mast Photo Moment
Ascend from SpongeBob’s pineapple and enter the vibrant world of The Krusty Krab, but watch out for the anchovies! Snap a photo by the iconic Krusty Krab mast just like Mr. Krabs and Squidward in the pilot episode.

Costumed Character Appearances: SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star will make appearances at Nick’s booth at select times during the convention.

Giveaways: Special giveaways and posters will be handed out throughout the convention.

Since its launch July 17, 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has reigned as the most-watched animated series for 22 consecutive years, while generating a universe of beloved characters, pop culture catchphrases and memes, theatrical releases, consumer products, a Tony award-winning Broadway musical and a global fan base. SpongeBob SquarePants is one of the most widely distributed properties in Paramount history, seen in more than 180 markets, translated in 30+ languages, and averaging more than 90 million total viewers every quarter. SpongeBob SquarePants was created by Stephen Hillenburg and produced by Nickelodeon in Burbank, Calif. The character-driven cartoon chronicles the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurable optimist and earnest sea sponge, and his undersea friends.

So, Tony Stark is back. That will be the big takeaway for those who didn’t attend the 2024 edition of San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). For those who waited in line after line to attend the Marvel panel on Saturday, it was probably a fantastic moment. But that’s only 6,000 of the 130,000 who enter the exhibition hall on Saturday. That’s not including the 100,000s outside taking part in offsites, parties, signings, etc. So, while we always enjoy a little bit of Robert Downey Jr. in our lives, this year’s SDCC had a lot more for those who may not have wanted to spend Friday in a line in the hopes of waiting in line on Saturday.

In my prior wrap-ups of SDCC, I made note that the COVID-19 pandemic and writer’s strike seemed to hamper things, whether it was the attendees, the celebrities or everyone. 2024 is by no means perfect, there were plenty of messes left and right, but this was the first time since 2019 that things began to feel normal. Yes, there were people wearing masks, but to each their own when it comes to safety. Yes, there was a strike called by SAG-AFTRA against major video game publishers, but the festivities went on, delighting young and old, geeky, nerdy, dorky, and even the local passerbys of San Diego.

While we didn’t make it to the exhibition floor for Wednesday’s preview night, we did make it to several fantastic offsites. While the swag wasn’t available for the press preview, Adult Swim made it’s triumphant return after a one-year hiatus with a pirate party, featuring games and photo opportunities from shows like “Rick and Morty” and “Smiling Friends.” Adult Swim, as they always do, cranked the fun up to 11 in coming days with live wrestling events, daily DJs and swag that might be too big to fit into your carry-on. We also checked out Paramount+’s Lodge, which showcased some upcoming shows, like “Dexter: Original Sin” and “Tulsa King” while celebrating 25 years of Spongebob. Wait…25 years…geez I’m getting old. While both were fantastic events, especially the free drinks and pizza at the Lodge, the “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” activation was a combination of “Apes” history and the magic of modern special effects. Not only did they have a museum of Ape film artifacts, highlighting the rich history that stretches back to 1968, but several actors and crew from the latest film were on hand to talk with fans and press. If you attended, you also could had a few drinks and hors d’oeuvres with them.

The action kept rolling Thursday, although the day began with a bit of a whimper. Focus Features was celebrating 20 years of “Shaun of the Dead” with a Winchester Tavern pop-up. The only problem was, there was no air-conditioning and the free beer couldn’t be consumed on-site. As soon as word spread, it became one of the least frequented offsites of the weekend. Thankfully FX and Hulu’s Animayhem offsite activations were up next and offered some decent swag and reprieve from the heat. Knowing that they’d be under the blaring California sun, FX offered free, customized umbrellas (even if the line was an hour long) before exploring various other portions of their activation. However, FX was a mixed bag as many thought the wait to get into “The Bear” activation wasn’t worth it. Hulu managed to help fans beat the heat by setting up misting fans and overhead awnings to ensure those waiting in line for their activation didn’t leave with a wicked sunburn. The activation featured various activities, food and a collection of pins that fans of “Solar Opposites,” “Futurama” or “Hit Monkey” will treasure forever. While the day could have ended with a load of panels, instead MediaMikes’ first panel of the day hosted by Fandom, ended with us going to Fandom’s 20th anniversary party. You can read more HERE.

With offsites out of the way, Friday and Saturday was loaded with exploring the exhibition hall and attending various panels. The exhibition hall reminds us that while the big players, LEGO, Marvel, and others, take up the most space on the sales floor, fans will always find that small booth, that tiny artist, or that one thing stowed away that will ultimately bring the biggest smile to their face. For me, it was a photo with Lloyd Kaufman. The legendary director/writer/everything gladly talked with those who knew Troma, ensuring everyone who stopped by will remember him as Uncle Lloyd. One stand-out panel from the day was the audiobook preview of “Red Dead History” with Arthur Morgan (voiced by the highly personable Roger Clark) attending the panel and snapping selfies with fans of the 2018 game. While I could continue to gloat about the various panels with their various surprises, it would become a long winded article of me bragging.

What is the big takeaway from this year’s SDCC? Was it perfect? No. Was it amazing despite its flaws? Yes. It usually is. SDCC offers enough unique experiences so that you won’t be bored. Want to check out board games that could one day become the next “Axis and Allies?” SDCC has got you. Want to check out some independent films? SDCC has got you. I say all this because there were rumblings, just like in prior years, that SDCC could go somewhere else. But it’s hard to beat San Diego weather and the Gaslamp district’s amenities. While it’s impossible to do everything, it’s possible to get a life changing experience, no matter who you are or what you enjoy. Scout out those panels, ask those questions when attending, compliment the cosplayers, talk to strangers about the great time or to get some insight on other happenings and most important, put on some sunscreen. As a Midwesterner, where an average summer day feels like Satan breathing down your neck, the mid-to-upper 70s can trick you into thinking you won’t crisp up in a few hours.

In 1999 I was the promotions director of the largest independent theatre chain in Kansas City.  It was in this position that I first met Chris Jackson.  Jackson had an idea for a local event and I was more then happy to lend a hand.  Later that year, at the Overland Park International Trade Center in Overland Park, Kansas, Planet Comicon Kansas City was born.  Twenty-five years later, the show continues to constantly grow, evolve and amaze!

Fun for Wookies of all ages! (photo credit: Dan Lybarger)

What makes PCKC so unique is that every year there is something new added to the event to make it special.  This year it was a large game area where fans could line up to play an assortment of classic and newer video games. 

Jon Bernthal (photo credit Dan Lybarger)

Another staple of the show is that they keep their celebrity guest list fresh, mixing in newer talents, including The Punisher himself, Jon Bernthal and the MCU’s Paul Bettany, with well-loved celebrities from the past, including this year the amazing Henry Winkler.  I first met Mr. Winkler fourteen years ago and he was actually the very first celebrity interview posted on this site.  He was kind and gracious then and, by all accounts of the fans I spoke to this year, he hasn’t changed a bit!

Paul Bettany (photo credit: Dan Lybarger)

I can’t recall how many fans attended the show in 1999, but I can tell you the turnout was nothing compared to the nearly 50,000 that have attended the show, now held at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri, in recent years. 

COSPLAY is a staple at PCKC. “Death Becomes Her” (photo credit: Dan Lybarger_

For those of you marking your calendars, next year’s PCKC is scheduled for March 21-23, 2025.  If the past quarter century is any indication, the next twenty-five years are going to be incredible!

 

Media Mikes has teamed up with their friends at Planet Comicon Kansas City to give (5) random readers a chance to win a pass for (2) to attend the 25^th Anniversary PCKC the weekend of March 9-10, 2024.

I am proud to say that, in one shape or another, I have been involved with this event since it began and I can honestly say it has grown into one of the best and visited events in the country.  This year’s guests include Henry Winkler, Ron Perlman, Paul Bettany, Adrienne Barbeau and Keith David.

To win your passes, all you have to do is let us know in the comments below what celebrity guest you would like to see at a future show.  We have been running this contest every year since 2010 and I can tell you that several of the guests you have suggested have later been invited to the show.

(5) random entries will be chosen and they will receive a pass for (2) to attend the show.  The contest ends at 10:00 pm (CST) on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.  Winners will be notified by email that evening.  GOOD LUCK!

PHOTOS BY JANE JONES CLARK

 

It’s been called one of the best Horror Conventions in the country.  And the 15^th Annual Scarefest, which was held in Lexington, Kentucky last month, did not disappoint.

 

An amazing and varied array of celebrity guests, a venue capable of welcoming 20,000 fans without it feeling crowded and some very unusual vendors made the show a blast to attend.  Throw in the amazingly kind citizens of Lexington and you have the makings for a wonderful weekend.

While the show is Horror-centric, featuring true genre’ icons as Kane Hodder and Adriene Barbeau as well as cast reunions from such films as Day of the Dead, Creepshow, Halloween, Sleepaway Camp and Friday the 13^th. Also in attendance:  two of the most influential make up artists in the history of film, Tom Savini and Greg Nicotero.

There was another cast reunion that took me 600 miles to attend: the rare quadruple punch of Richard Dreyfuss, Jeffrey Kramer, Jeffrey Voorhees and Susan Backline from the greatest film ever made, JAWS.  Other guests that I enjoyed meeting included Dylan McDermott, Jack Osborne, David Arquette and the always underappreciated Clint Howard. 

One of the highlights for me was the JAWS panel in which Richard Dreyfuss, who had just come from New York City where he had seen the play “The Shark is Broken,” was asked his thoughts on the show and he didn’t hold back.  If you haven’t seen the show, it takes place aboard Quint’s vessel, the ORCA, during the filming of JAWS.  In the show, Dreyfuss is portrayed as, in Dreyfuss’ word to “Vanity Fair” magazine, “a big jerk.”   On a brighter note, my partner in crime Jane and I handed out fliers and t-shirts promoting our JAWS 50 Facebook group, ensuring that each of the JAWS cast members got a shirt.  Susan Backlinie loved hers!  We also met up with several JAWS fans from all over the world that were part of the group and some that soon would be. 

The show was laid out perfectly, with celebrity guests and vendors having ample space to greet their fans or ply their wares.  My pick for “most unusual vendor” was a gentleman who not only had created a card game based on real-life serial killers but was selling shadowboxes containing a photo of where a particular killing had taken place as well as actual dirt from the scene!

 

One final note concerning the Scarefest staff.  I’ve been involved in similar conventions for over 40 years and the staff at Scarefest were among the friendliest I’ve ever come across.  I spent a lot of tome with the JAWS people and the staff was both helpful and courteous to celeb and fan alike.  Also, unlike some conventions where you have to stand back and away from a celebrity table unless you’re purchasing something, the staff here was very cool with allowing fans who just wanted to say hello to their favorite celebrities the opportunity to do so.

 

All in all, it was a great weekend.  One I hope to repeat next year!

 

Kid Cudi Surprises Star Trek Fans on New York Comic Con Stage

During the Star Trek Universe Panel at New York Comic Con, Scott Mescudi, better known by his stage name Kid Cudi, wowed “Star Trek” fans in a surprise appearance to a packed room discussing his exclusive collaboration as part of “Star Trek’s” all-new “Boldly Be” campaign.

The panel was moderated by Josh Horowitz, best known for his work as a correspondent for MTV News and as a host of the podcast, Happy Sad Confused. Horowitz kicked off the panel by welcoming the crowd and introducing Executive Producer and the person at the helm for the Star Trek franchise, Alex Kurtzman, who debuted never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage of Kid Cudi’s collaboration with the “Star Trek” universe.

Photo Credit: Catherine Powell/Getty Images for Paramount+

Kurtzman then shocked the New York Comic Con audience by introducing Kid Cudi himself for a brief moderated conversation, where he shared discovering his love of “Star Trek” through his father, as well as details behind the exclusive partnership – which includes a capsule streetwear collection, an immersive Fortnite gaming experience, and a new single, “Heaven’s Galaxy,” out now.

Photo Credit: Catherine Powell/Getty Images for Paramount+

The panel also treated fans to a special advance screening of an all-new episode from the current season of the hit Paramount+ original animated comedy series, Star Trek: Lower Decks, followed by a conversation with Alex Kurtzman and fellow Executive Producer, Mike McMahan. Season four of STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS is produced by CBS’ Eye Animation Productions, CBS Studios’ animation arm; Secret Hideout; and Roddenberry Entertainment. Secret Hideout’s Alex Kurtzman, Roddenberry Entertainment’s Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth and Katie Krentz (219 Productions) serve as executive producers alongside creator and showrunner Mike McMahan. Aaron Baiers (Secret Hideout), who brought McMahan to the project, also serves as an executive producer. Titmouse (Big Mouth), the Emmy Award-winning independent animation production company, serves as the animation studio for the series.

Photo Credit: Catherine Powell/Getty Images for Paramount+

After the panel, Kid Cudi then stopped by the official Star Trek x Kid Cudi booth, surprising “Star Trek” fans on the Javits show floor.

Photo Credit: Catherine Powell/Getty Images for Paramount+

The “Boldly Be” campaign takes its inspiration from “Star Trek’s” ethos of IDIC (Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations), the basis of Vulcan philosophy that the vast variables create truth, beauty, and strength.

The campaign kicked off on October 12th at the start of New York Comic Con with the release of an original Kid Cudi song inspired by “Star Trek” titled “Heaven’s Galaxy.” Fans can also visit the Star Trek x Kid Cudi booth that will showcase the capsule collection and a first look at the Fortnite gaming experience at NYCC on the Javits show floor from October 12 – October 15, booth 2653.

“Heavens Galaxy” was written by Cudi, produced by longtime collaborator Dot Da Genius and inspired by Cudi’s own fandom of Star Trek. It is available now on all streaming platforms.

Further celebrating the partnership, the Kid Cudi x “Star Trek” capsule collection debuted this week at New York Comic Con including tees, crewnecks, hoodies, a custom button-up t-shirt and a colorful leather varsity jacket with robust chenille and embroidery details. The collection will have a preorder window exclusively for attendees at NYCC, followed by the global release on shop.kidcudi.com on October 16.

Fans can also join “Star Trek,” Kid Cudi, and Fortnite as they embark on an out-of-this-world music and gaming collaboration like nothing this Galaxy has seen before! Star Trek x Kid Cudi: Mirror Mayhem brings Kid Cudi into the worlds of both “Star Trek” and Fortnite to perform his brand-new “Star Trek”-themed music collaboration “Heaven’s Galaxy” as well as never before heard songs from his new album INSANO. Boldly Go as you partner with Captain Skyles (Kid Cudi) on a mission to uncover the source of a sonic anomaly that threatens the peaceful planet Vada. Beam down to explore, discover, and defend a world these forces are threatening to tear apart. It’s up to you and other Starfleet recruits to work together with Captain Skyles to uncover the source of this musical malady and restore the harmony of Vada while there’s still time! The immersive Fortnite gaming experience is now live. Watch the game trailer here that can also be viewed at the NYCC booth today and throughout the weekend.

Follow @StarTrek on social and stay tuned to StarTrek.com for more details on how to get involved with “Boldly Be.”

@StarTrek
#StarTrekBoldlyBe

Listen to new song “Heaven’s Galaxy” HERE
Watch the Fortnite gaming experience trailer HERE

NICKELODEON ORDERS THIRD SEASON OF AVATAR: BRAVING THE ELEMENTS

All-New Firebending Season of Fan-Favorite Podcast Slated to Debut January 2024

Nickelodeon has announced the renewal for a third season of Avatar: Braving the Elements, the official companion podcast for Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra. Hosts Janet Varney (the voice of Korra) and Dante Basco (the voice of Prince Zuko) announced the news by a special video message to fans during the “Water, Earth, Fire, Air: Continuing the Avatar Legacy” panel at New York Comic Con 2023. Produced by Nickelodeon, the third season of Avatar: Braving the Elements will debut in Jan. 2024 and be available wherever podcasts are heard.

In season three (40 episodes), Varney and Basco re-watch Book 3 of the classic animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender, offering fans an intimate look inside the popular story where they will break down key themes, notable battles, and share behind-the-scenes stories and trivia. The all-new season will rollout weekly and feature multiplatform elements, including video shorts and corresponding YouTube content.

Award-winning Avatar: Braving the Elements extends the Avatarverse for loyal fans who grew up with the beloved franchise. In this weekly podcast, hosts Janet Varney and Dante Basco continue to re-watch every episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Special guests from cast members to producers to superfans drop in to explore elements of Book 3 and reveal secrets behind the making of the series. Fans can binge the first two seasons now to catch up on the podcast.

About Avatar: The Last Airbender
Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender emerged from its three-season run (61 episodes), from February 2005 to July 2008, as one of the most beloved animated properties in history. Honored with a Peabody Award and Primetime Emmy, along with multiple Annie Awards and Genesis Awards, the series follows the adventures of the main protagonist Aang and his friends, who must defeat Fire Lord Ozai and end the Hundred Year War to restore balance to the Four Nations.

In addition to the series’ success, the property has also been translated into several bestselling book series, which continue to roll out new original stories. The graphic novel series most recently spent two months on the New York Times Graphic Books Bestseller list in 2020, and the young adult novels have spent 24 total weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and have close to 700,000 copies in print. The DVD and Blu-rays are also incredibly successful, with the “Avatar: The Last Airbender: The Complete Series” generating nearly $38MM in retail sales since its 2015 release.

“BELIEVE IT!” VIZ Media Recap From NYCC 2023
VIZ Media had a successful NYCC this year with a panel dedicated to everyone’s favorite ninja, Naruto! The official Naruto Shippuden anime celebration featured Comic-Con special guest Maile Flanagan – the iconic voice of Naruto Uzumaki.

What’s New:

NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS
The 3D action fighter launches 11/17 on PlayStation, XBOX, Nintendo Switch, and Steam

PLAY THE FULL NARUTO STORY FOR THE FIRST TIME
Each STORM game in the past focused on one arc, but now you can play all of them in one – from the Chunin Exams to the final battle with Sasuke
LARGEST ROSTER EVER

130+ playable characters, including Indra and Ashura Otsutsuki and Kara members Jigen, Delta, Boro, and Koji Kashin

NEW SIMPLE CONTROL MODE streamlines combos and attacks for newcomers and veterans alike so users can perform combos and actions with one button

SPECIAL STORY MODE has a game-exclusive story where Boruto meets a mysterious stranger in an online game and soon finds himself trying to prevent the Fifth Great Ninja War

Naruto Shippuden Set 1, out October 17, 2023
Naruto returns to the Village Hidden in the Leaves a little bit older and a whole lot stronger!
4 Disc Blu-ray Set, 27 Episodes (1-27)
SPECIAL FEATURES: Storyboards, Clean Open and End Videos, Voice Actor Featurette: Return of a Ninja, Art Gallery, Trailers

 

 

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: The Official Coloring Book is packed with over 70 line art images from the phenomenally popular anime based on the best-selling manga by Masashi Kishimoto.

 

Limited edition Jade City Naruto Shippuden Hot Sauces from and popcorn seasonings jadecityfoods.com.

Limited edition Naruto Shippuden x HOT TOPIC apparel capsule now available from hoptopic.com

Image Comics will be in full-force at New York Comic Con this year with an exciting lineup of can’t-miss panels. Each of these Image Comics panels will be bursting-at-the-seams with jaw-dropping announcements sure to cause a stir!

—FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13 PANELS—

Image Comics Presents: the new wave of comics storytelling, character, and talent
Friday October 13 @ 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
Location: 406.3
Join Rodney Barnes (KILLADELPHIA), Ryan Parrott (TBA), Charles Soule (HELL TO PAY, EIGHT BILLION GENIES), Will Sliney (HELL TO PAY), Ethan Sacks (A HAUNTED GIRL), and Naomi Sacks (A HAUNTED GIRL) for some special announcements of upcoming projects, and a conversation about genre, storytelling, industry secrets, and tricks-of-the-trade.

Geoff Johns & Gary Frank’s Mad Ghost: Building the Future
Friday, October 13 @ 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
Location: Room 406.1
With the recent news about Mad Ghost, you want to be here for the full story, direct from the source! The gears are in motion as you get in on the ground floor with Geoff Johns (GEIGER, JUNKYARD JOE, Justice Society), Gary Frank (GEIGER, JUNKYARD JOE, Doomsday Clock), plus other acclaimed guests, teasing what’s to come from your new, favorite imprint. Added bonus: Fans who join us for this memorable panel will get an exclusive MAD GHOST ashcan comic (while supplies last)!

Todd McFarlane Productions Spotlight Panel
Friday, October 13 @ 6 PM – 7 PM
Location: Room 408
Editor-in-Chief Thomas Healy discusses the current slate of SPAWN UNIVERSE projects, along with a few new announcements for the 2024 publishing schedule. Healy, along with SPAWN UNIVERSE artists Javi Fernandez, Carlo Barberi, Von Randal, and more surprise guests, will do a Q&A after the presentation with the SPAWN fans in attendance. It is sure to be one hell of a time!

—SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14 PANELS—

Image Comics’ Giant Generator imprint—Giant Generating Creator Owned Comics
Saturday, October 14 @ 12 PM – 1 PM
Location: 406.1
Rick Remender, curator of Image Comics imprint Giant Generator, discusses his 25 years of experience making creator owned comics with super star collaborators Jerome Opeña (SEVEN TO ETERNITY), Wes Craig (DEADLY CLASS), Matteo Scalera (BLACK SCIENCE), Max Fiumara (THE SACRIFICERS), Greg Tocchini (LOW) and the few other surprise guests. A round table discussion about the importance of creating creator owned comics with an eye on passion, commitment to quality, and forming a connection with the audience over merely generating pitches for other media.

Image Comics Presents: Bone Chilling new horror comics to read for Halloween
Saturday October 14 @ 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Location: 406.3
Join masters of horror W. Maxwell Prince (ICE CREAM MAN, SWAN SONGS), Dustin Nguyen (LITTLE MONSTERS), Ram V (TBA), Alex De Campi (PARASOCIAL), and Laurence Campbell (TBA) as they talk in depth about how to create jumpscares that jump-off-the page, characters you fear for, and what inspires them most when adding dark elements to their bestselling comics. There may also be a special announcement we let slip…

Pete Townshend’s Life House/Who’s Next Panel
Saturday, October 14 @ 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Room 406.3
Fifty years in the making, LIFE HOUSE, a new graphic novel based on Pete Townshend’s original screenplay and the genesis for The Who’s bestselling album, “Who’s Next.” Join the Life House team in a panel like no other! Pete Townshend will be on hand virtually from London, while live in the room at New York Comic Con will be LIFE HOUSE artist, Max Prentis, Editor Hannah Means-Shannon, and Rockbox CEO, Jeff Krelitz to discuss the development and creation of this holy grail of Rock N’ Roll finally available for fans to enjoy.

—BOOTH PROGRAMMING—
Rick Remender’s Giant Generator booth: Artist Alley HB907
Every Giant Generator deluxe HC from Remender’s personal stock (most 1st printings) will be available for sale as well as limited signed giclee prints by JG Jones, Bengal, and Andrew Robinson. The booth will also host signings with Max Fiumara, Jerome Opeña, Matteo Scalera, Wes Craig, Lee Loughridge, Dave McCaig, and more.

Kyle Higgins’ Massive-Verse/Black Market Narrative booth: #3810
Will be offering specials on Massive-Verse trade paperbacks, hosting creator signings and debuting some incredible new Massive-Verse pins from Kelly McMahon! Plus, 12×18” signed and numbered screen printed posters by Tom Whalen! Limited to 100 for RADIANT BLACK and 100 for ROGUE SUN. The booth will also host signings with Ryan Parrott (ROGUE SUN, SUPERMASSIVE), Melissa Flores (THE DEAD LUCKY, SUPERMASSIVE), Mat Groom (INFERNO GIRL RED, SUPERMASSIVE), Erica D’Urso (INFERNO GIRL RED), Valeria Favoccia (INFERNO GIRL RED), Brian Buccellato (NO/ONE), Geraldo Borges (NO/ONE), Rod Reis (C.O.W.L.), Francesco Manna (SUPERMASSIVE), Simone Ragazzoni (SUPERMASSIVE, ROGUE SUN), Michael Busuttil.

Geoff Johns & Gary Frank’s Mad Ghost booth: #3045
GEIGER and JUNKYARD JOE fans won’t want to miss swinging by—surprises and announcements abound.

Top Cow Productions’ Matt Hawkins Artist Alley booth: K-26
DESTINY GATE #1 – NYCC Exclusive Variant by Stjepan Sejic that will be available for only $20 each

Top Cow Productions’ Linda Sejic Artist Alley booth: K-27
DESTINY GATE #1 – NYCC Exclusive Variant by Stjepan Sejic that will be available for only $20 each

Top Cow Productions’ Stjepan Sejic Artist Alley booth: K-28
DESTINY GATE #1 – NYCC Exclusive Variant by Stjepan Sejic that will be available for only $20 each

Top Cow Productions’ Ryan Cady Artist Alley booth: F-04
DESTINY GATE #1 – NYCC Exclusive Variant by Stjepan Sejic that will be available for only $20 each

AMC NETWORKS RETURNS TO NEW YORK COMIC CON WITH
PANELS, SPECIAL SCREENINGS AND A LOOK AT WHAT’S AHEAD

Exclusive Early Screening of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season Finale
Followed by Executive Producer Q&A to Take Place Thursday, October 12

HIDIVE Hosts World Dub Premiere and Q&A for
The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes on Thursday, October 12

Shudder Presents V/H/S All Stars Panel Featuring Directors From Each Installment of the Popular Horror Franchise on Friday, October 13

AMC Networks Debuts New Scenes and Teasers from 2024 Series, Including
Orphan Black: Echoes, The Walking Dead: The One Who Live and Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire Season 2, Ahead of Daryl Dixon Screening

AMC Networks announced today its lineup at this year’s New York Comic Con, which runs from October 12 to October 15 at the Javits Center, including panels, special screenings and Q&As, along with an exclusive look at some of its most anticipated series in 2024.

A comprehensive schedule is below:

Thursday, October 12 from 4:15pm – 6:15pm; Empire Stage
NYCC attendees will be the first to see The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season finale ahead of its airing on Sunday, October 15 at 9pm ET/8c on AMC and AMC+, followed by a Q&A with Chief Content Officer of the Walking Dead Universe Scott M. Gimple, Showrunner David Zabel and Executive Producer Greg Nicotero and moderated by Entertainment Weekly’s Dalton Ross.

Ahead of the episode screening, attendees will get an exclusive first look at new scenes and teasers from Orphan Black: Echoes, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live and Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire Season Two.

Thursday, October 12 from 7:30pm – 9:30pm, Room 405
Fans can join HIDIVE for the World Premiere of the English dub of The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes followed by a Q&A hosted by Jacki Jing and featuring stars of the English dub, including voice actors Gabriel Regojo (voice of Karou) and Patricia Duran (voice of Anzu). The Annecy Award-winning film opens in U.S. theaters on November 3.

Friday, October 13 from 4:30-5:30pm; Main Stage
In celebration of the return of the popular V/H/S franchise – V/H/S/85 begins streaming on October 6 – Shudder brings together directors from each installment of the horror phenomenon to talk about their respective films, the horror genre today, the evolution of the franchise and what’s to come. The panel, moderated by Shudder’s VP of Programming Samuel Zimmerman, will feature David Bruckner (V/H/S/1), Chloe Okuno (V/H/S/94), Natasha Kermani (V/H/S/85), Jason Eisener (V/H/S/2), and Tyler McIntyre (V/H/S/99), among others.

CRUNCHYROLL HOSTS WORLD PREMIERE SCREENING OF
“MY HERO ACADEMIA” SEASON 6 ORIGINAL EPISODE:
“UA HEROES BATTLE” AT NEW YORK COMIC CON 2023
World Premiere Screening to Take Place on October 13 at NYCC

© K. Horikoshi / Shueisha, My Hero Academia Project

Join Crunchyroll at New York Comic Con this fall for the world premiere of an all-new original episode from My Hero Academia Season 6 entitled “UA HEROES BATTLE”. The screening will take place on Friday, October 13 at 5:00 PM ET at the Empire Stage for all badge holders attending NYCC.

This early, exclusive world preview will feature the English dub and will be available to NYCC attendees before it is screened in Japan. Get ready for some card-game action that will showcase your favorite heroes like never before! Also in celebration of this premiere, Crunchyroll will be giving away limited edition character cards at the screening provided by UVS Games that are based on the new original episode and playable with the My Hero Academia Collectible Card Game. Attendees can also receive these special My Hero Academia cards as a gift with a purchase at Crunchyroll’s merch booth on the show floor.

“UA HEROES BATTLE” is animated by BONES (Mob Psycho 100; Bungo Stray Dogs), based on the popular manga series My Hero Academia written and illustrated by Kohei Horikoshi.

My Hero Academia Season 6 original episode “UA HEROES BATTLE” Official Synopsis:
The third year, Mirio Togata, pays a visit to the students of Class 1-A, who are bored because they are not allowed to go outside. He brings them a card game called U.A. Heroes Battle that the support course made. This game, where players can use cards of various U.A. students, is tough, just like U.A. itself. Who will win the card battle?!

About My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia is a TV anime based on the popular comics by Kohei Horikoshi serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump (Shueisha) and over 85 million copies sold. It is set in a world where about eighty percent of the population has a superpowered Quirk. Heroes protect people and society from accidents, disasters, and villains—criminals who use their Quirks for evil. The story of Izuku Midoriya and his classmates at U.A. High School and their growth, fights, and friendship unfolds as they aim to become such heroes.

My Hero Academia garnered a nomination from the Hollywood Creative Alliance this year for Best Animated Series at the HCA TV Awards.

My Hero Academia on Crunchyroll: www.crunchyroll.com/my-hero-academia
Official English Facebook: www.facebook.com/MyHeroAcademia
Official English Twitter: www.twitter.com/mhaofficial
Official English Instagram: www.instagram.com/plusultra/

Last year I wrote the following in my post-San Diego Comic Con 2022 write up, “Here at MediaMikes, we’re fairly confident SDCC 2023 will be better.” I’m glad I didn’t say that we’re fairly confident things will get back to a chaotic normal. SDCC 2023 could be summarized as last-minute disorganized chaos. From 2020-2022, it was the pandemic that rattled things in San Diego, but now it’s the strike.

First off, we’re not blaming the writers or actors. What they’re doing is noble and they deserve the pay and respect that they’re demanding. We even got to talk to a few striking writers and actors at SDCC and they expressed their utmost appreciation and admiration for the convention. But what that did to the studios attending, as well as the fans attending, is what really caused some of the more massive headaches at this year’s iteration of SDCC. I don’t want this to be a negative piece, so I’ll start with some of the positives we witnessed at SDCC.

Because the infamous Hall H didn’t have Marvel or big names, a lot of the people who would most likely be spending their weekend in line for Hall H had plenty of time to visit a busy exhibit floor, which we assumed translated to more cash for those selling their merchandise; and there was plenty to go around. From the usual comics and art, we saw a fascinating array of goods directed at all nerds, including those who aren’t. If those Hall H line people weren’t going to the sales floor, they were going to smaller panels where some much deserved unknowns got some well-deserved attention. In the few smaller panels we attended, we definitely noticed rooms filling to capacity which meant more eyeballs on small studios and products. We think that’s great for independent artists and others who were still able to attend.

The lack of Hall H luster also meant that SDCC offsites were busier. Some of the studios and entities really stepped up their game this year with free goodies that were worth their weight (and wait) in gold. For instance, “Only Murders in the Building” had fans solving puzzles for Selena Gomez make-up products (which aren’t cheap) while Paramount+ showcased a wide variety of their programs with goods along-the-way, including an actual “Good Burger,” spray-on tattoos, and “1923” photo ops. For Trekkies, you also got your chance to sit in THE captain’s chair. Hulu also managed to hand-out boxes of TV show pins that delighted hardcore fans of “Futurama,” “Solar Opposites,” and other animated shows. As for the best offsite, it really goes to “Interview with the Vampire,” by AMC+. The immersive offsite offered food, drink, goodies, posters and a near bite on the neck.

Unfortunately though, not all that glitters is gold. A24 may have a mess on its hands because of its “Talk to Me” screening. Nothing against the directors or actors, but A24 really bungled the secret screening, leaving hundreds and hundreds of upset fans, some of whom had waited all day to see the movie. While A24 movies may be fantastic, their PR and handling of the screenings are abysmal. That being said, the people behind SDCC have plenty of blame as well. Because of the strike, the biggest name attending this year was Jamie Lee Curtis who was touting her new comic book. Instead of moving her to Hall H, they kept her in a significantly smaller room which led to one of the longest lines of the entire con. They also have failed to bring back one vital thing for those who stand and walk all day, carpet. The floors would have been less merciful if fans got to actually stand on something that wasn’t concrete.

All in all, SDCC continues to be my geeky love/hate relationship. While I look forward to it every year and get excited with each passing day, the hate in the relationship sometimes boils over during or after the convention itself. As I become a hardened con goer, I’ve learned to pick and choose my battles every year. Even though I still go home licking my wounds, I also go home with fond memories and goodies. So even though my feet are sore, my skin is burnt and at times I found myself looking from the outside in on various things I wanted to attend, SDCC remains a flawed geek mecca. As for next year…let’s just hope the old phrase, “bad things come in threes,” doesn’t come to fruition for SDCC 2024.

Even before the start of this year’s Panic Fest, “Mayhem” director Joe Lynch was salivating all over social media about Panic Fest, dubbing it one of his favorite film festivals. So we’re now at the point where you don’t have to take my word for it. You would probably get the same reaction from several other actors and directors who’ve attended over the years, but let me reiterate that if you’re in the vicinity of the Screenland Armour in North Kansas City, you should check out Panic Fest. The horror festival gem of the Midwest has slowly been building an audience, of normies like me, horror aficionados, celebrities and everyone in between, and if 2023 was any indication, it’ll continue to grow without losing its indie luster.

Panic Fest kicked off Thursday, April 13, with THE Nicolas Cage as Dracula in “Renfield,” which may have been one of the rowdiest and off-the-wall screenings in America. Slipping into Friday was what people have come to expect, low budget films with a lot to say, like “Give Me an A.” I’m sure the opening five minutes would surely infuriate any self-described “pro-lifer.” This was followed by a screening of Ted Geoghegan’s new film, “Brooklyn 45,” with Ted in attendance. Friday night ended with jam packed screenings of “Sisu” and “Evil Dead Rise,” both crowd pleasers. I can now also brag that I watched the new “Evil Dead” with Barbara Crampton in attendance. Sure we weren’t sitting anywhere near each other, or even in the same row, but I won’t pass up a mild brag.

Saturday may have been the big enchilada as filmmakers and their cast/crew were in attendance for several screenings throughout the day, including “Abuprtio” and “Blue Hour.” Things really kicked off when “Black Mold” had its world premiere with about two dozen members of the cast and crew in attendance. Not to be out done, Joe Lynch led a double feature of films starring Barbara Crampton, “From Beyond” and “We Are Still Here.” Saturday also saw the world premiere of “Bury the Bride,” a film that may just put Spider One on the map once it hits Tubi next month. If you can predict the twist in the film with absolute certainty, props to you.

While the pandemic is fading into the rearview mirror, the effects lingered throughout some of the films. “Trader,” one of my favorites of the fest, was a wild single setting ride, and it wasn’t alone. A lot of films utilized minimal crews, minimal spaces and worked with minimal time. “Invoking Yell,” which I wasn’t too fond of, was impressively shot in 72 hours while “Bury the Bride” managed to fit its insanity in a week of shooting. Even with packed screenings, packed lobbies, and long lines, Panic Fest has yet to lose its repertory cinema charm, highlighting some of the best indie horrors on the festival circuit and not shying away from some bizarre offerings like “Razzennest” and “Trim Season.”

The mix of mainstream and low budget horror has been a staple of Panic Fest, but this year seemed to be another peak scaled by the founders of the genre festival. Co-founders Adam Roberts and Tim Canton talked before nearly every film, talking about where they saw it or how they heard about it, at times, hyping up the crowd while equally showcasing their love of the genre and how much effort goes on throughout the year to get content to Panic Fest. While the festival still boasts an impressive line-up in-person, it also offers an impressive line-up of virtual films, which I am still binging through. While I may still be tired and struggling to focus at work, I can at least say the exhaustion and sleep deprivation was well worth it because Panic Fest remains the best horror fest in the Midwest.