Well, we may have not made as big a deal of it this year as in the past, but as you can see it’s not for lack of an incredible piece of art! We’ve been busy pretty much from sunup to sunup for the last forever, and as you blog readers may have noticed, not been posting with our normal regularity.

But hopefully this makes up for it! Presenting, ladies and gentlemen, the HeroesCon 2008 Advance Ticket Incentive Print! Featuring all-new artwork by Darwyn Cooke! Everyone with an advance 3-day pass will get one of these 11″ x 17″, signed and numbered EXCLUSIVE prints, printed on sexy thick paper and ever-so suitable for framing! FREE! The design may change a little bit by the time of the show, but that art will always be awesome, no matter how my design may screw it up!

Speaking of advance tickets: the deadline is Tuesday night, June 17, at 9pm. After that we will not accept anymore ticket forms. You can call for tickets at 704.375.7462, or go here and use the pdf form to fax a charge in. If I could get some time one year, we’ll get all that automated online, but for now you’ll have to step back into the 80’s, technologically speaking. And remember to be patient–our phones are RINGING OFF THE HOOK with ticket orders, and this isn’t going to help any! So give whoever answers a break, if you could–they’ll appreciate it!

Lo, tis sad news I bring you, ye faithful–Ed Brubaker has been forced to cancel his trip to his first HeroesCon this year due to some unavoidable developments at home. We’re crushed! I was personally looking forward to meeting Ed, who comes highly recommended by constant collaborator Matt Fraction. But Ed sends his most heartfelt apologies, and has already confirmed for 2009, so dry those eyes!

Also forced to cancel, again due to last-minute and unavoidable circumstances, is Daredevil artist Michael Lark. Oh, the hurt! But that still leaves 300+ guests for you to lose your mind over–imagine a HeroesCon so big that two big guests are forced to cancel, and the room is STILL packed!

But there’s a light on the horizon! As in the classic “Where The Red Fern Grows“, a tender shoot emerges from the soil to replace what has gone before! Joining the HeroesCon 08 Guest List this morning is writer Ivan Brandon, he of SECRET INVASION: HOME INVASION, MACHINE MAN, THE CROSS BRONX, NYC MECH, and the Eisner-nominated Image anthology 24SEVEN! Whoa Ivan!

Another late-night blog post! That’s what conventioneering is all about! I’ll cut out the chatter and get to posting: presenting the last of the additions (at least the ones that will get into the program book) to our HeroesCon 08 Event Schedule:

COVERING COMICS: Criticism, Reportage, and Gossip Room 219
The digital age has allowed a deeper understanding of comics criticism and reporting than has ever been possible before. Tom Spurgeon of the Comics Reporter moderates this discussion featuring some of the leading lights on the comics journalism scene, including Heidi MacDonald of The Beat, Tim Hodler of the Comics Comics magazine and blog, Matt Brady of Newsarama, and Johanna Draper-Carlson of Comics Worth Reading. From industry reporting and journalism to criticism and good ole gossip, this is sure to be a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the comics news!

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY DISCUSSION Room 207
The Comics Reporter‘s Tom Spurgeon moderates what’s sure to be one of the most fascinating conversations of the weekend, in this roundtable discussion featuring artist and Image publisher Erik Larsen, DC Executive Editor Dan Didio, artist and DRAW! MAGAZINE editor-in-chief Mike Manley, writer/artist Jimmy Palmiotti (COUNTDOWN, JONAH HEX), and writer and Boom! Studios Editor-In-Chief Mark Waid.

THE SILVER AGE OF COMICS Room 216
It’s hard to imagine a period in comics history filled with more creativity and experimentation than the Silver Age–and who better to lead a discussion on it than Roy Thomas, former Marvel editor-in-chief and current ALTER EGO editor. Roy is joined by GHOST RIDER co-creator Gary Friedrich, HULK #181 penciller Herb Trimpe, MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE penciller Ron Wilson, and others to be announced!

THE NEW ART COMICS Room 219A
From critical favorite hits like MAGGOTS and POWR MASTRS, to prominence in influential anthologies like KRAMER’S ERGOT, “art” or “abstract” or “out” comics are pushing the boundaries of the avant garde in comics. Join Tom Spurgeon of the Comics Reporter as he sits down with Picturebox publisher Dan Nadel, KRAMER’S ERGOT editor Sammy Harkham and publisher Alvin Buenaventura for a frank discussion of this leading edge of art in comics!

DISNEY’S KINGDOM COMICS PRESENTS: HOLLYWOOD AND THE GRAPHIC NOVEL Room 217A
Join recently announced Disney’s Kingdom Comics co-heads Ahmet Zappa and Christian Beranek as they discuss what it takes to navigate between graphic novels to film and back again.

COLLABORATION AND STORYTELLING IN TODAY’S COMICS Room 217BCD
Super panel moderator Tom Spurgeon conducts this chat with a who’s who of artists and writers, featuring Darwyn Cooke (DC NEW FRONTIER), Matt Fraction (INVINCIBLE IRON MAN), Jimmy Palmiotti (COUNTDOWN), Cliff Chiang (GREEN ARROW & BLACK CANARY), and Barry Kitson (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN). From collaboration with other creators, editors, or big company-wide crossovers, it can be tough to get your creative vision out there sometimes. This is sure to be a great discussion by some really entertaining creators!

NOT THE USUAL GANG OF IDIOTS: EC COMICS PANEL
Part 1: Kurtzman for Beginners
In the first half of this look at two of EC Comics most important creators, we present a Harvey Kurtzman retrospective that’s a veritable smorgasbord of presentations and events, including an overview of Kurtzman’s career by Thought Balloonist blogger Craig Fischer, and a close reading of “3-Dimensions!” a MAD story by Kurtzman and Wally Wood, by MIDNIGHT SUN cartoonist Ben Towle. Plus: a sneak peak at the new Kurtzman COMPLETE HUMBUG collection, forthcoming from Fantagraphics!

NOT THE USUAL GANG OF IDIOTS: EC COMICS PANEL
Part 2: A Chat With Al Feldstein (and Friends)
Ben Towle and Craig Fischer host an in-depth interview with Al Feldstein, EC artist and writer and MAD MAGAZINE editor extraordinaire! Along for the ride is a pair of celebrity funsters—FRED THE CLOWN and FIN FANG FOUR cartoonist Roger Langridge and CUL DE SAC comic stripper Richard Thompson—ready to roast and grill Feldstein about The Lighter Side of Editing America’s #1 Humor Magazine!

KIDS LOVE COMICS! Room 216
Featuring “Kids Love Comics” creators Jimmy Gownley, (AMELIA RULES), John Gallagher (BUZZBOY), and Josh Elder (MAIL ORDER NINJA), plus Michele Gorman, the Teen Services Manager at Charlotte’s amazing ImaginOn youth library, and the author of GETTING GRAPHIC: COMICS FOR KIDS. This is sure to be a fun and informative panel for kids and parents alike, with some of the country’s best all-ages cartoonists!

Holy Mackerel, those are some sweet panels. For all the times and days, check them out on our Event Schedule page–they’ll be the ones in red.

Woo-ee, talk about a last-minute update! But this one will make our man Rusty pretty happy!

Brand new to the HeroesCon 08 Guest List is good ole Rick Remender, the writer of a ton of stuff including THE ATOM, FEAR AGENT, CRAWL SPACE, SEA OF RED, STRANGE GIRL, THE END LEAGUE… I could go on all day. I would, too, except I’ve got eight other things I need to get to, one of them being bed–so to really experience the majesty of Rick Remender, I suggest you go right to the source at the convention.

But that’s not all–also new to the Guest List tonight is BATMAN and DETECTIVE COMICS artist Tommy Castillo. Besides his comics work, Tommy’s also worked extensively in movies and other media, and has a couple of art books to his credit, including DRAGONS, MYTHS, & MAYHEM!

Okay, time for bed–see you tomorrow! Tons more announcements to make!

As you know, our friend Mike Wieringo passed away last year. Mike was an extraordinarily popular figure among fans and pros alike, and the outcry over his passing was enormous. Now some of his closest friends and collaborators have come together to finish the last book he was working on! But the Hero Initiative says it a lot better than I do, in a press release sent out today:

LOS ANGELES (June 6, 2008) – The long awaited Mike Wieringo Tribute Book can now be yours at HeroesCon on June 20 before it is officially released everywhere on June 25th!

When artist Mike Wieringo passed away, he was in the middle of his latest Marvel Comics book, a What If? story. Mike had completed seven pages of what became a massive 27-page story. With Mike’s passing, Marvel Comics generously provided access to the script and Mike’s art to The Hero Initiative, and Mike’s friends stepped up to finish the story, and pay tribute to Mike. Now, What If…This Was The Fantastic Four?: A Tribute to Mike Wieringo is a massive, 48-page tribute book that contains the full story, and additional written tributes to Mike.

The tremendous list of talent participating in the book includes Jeff Parker, Arthur Adams, Paul Renaud, Stuart Immonen, Cully Hamner, Alan Davis, David Williams, Sanford Greene, Humberto Ramos, Skottie Young, Mike Allred, Barry Kitson, and Val Staples. Cover artwork is by Mike Wieringo and Paul Mounts, and The Hero Initiative is publishing the book with the full support of both Marvel Comics, and the family of Mike Wieringo.

Stop by the Hero booth to obtain your very own copy before it is available everywhere on June 25th. The book retails for $4.99. In addition, the following ten talented men will be signing the book at HeroesCon: Richard Case, Todd Dezago, Cully Hamner, Stuart Immonen, Barry Kitson, Nathan Massengill, Jeff Parker, Val Staples, Mark Waid, Karl Kesel and Matt Wieringo so don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity!

“Thanks to Marvel and The Hero Initiative, Mike’s friends got to work with him one more time and I get to experience seeing one of my brother’s comics on the stands again. That’s a thrill I never again hoped or expected to have. And it’s for a great cause that Mike would have been proud to be a part of,” said Matt Wieringo.

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays’ creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment. For more information, call 310-909-7809.

Well put, Hero Initiative! Be sure and visit their website for more information on this excellent charity!

Aw yeah! Remember all those sweet Indie Island shirts I had planned? Well, I haven’t forgotten them–in fact, we’re doing up this sweet Evan Dorkin and Sarah Dyer art as our first ever OFFICIAL Indie Island con shirt! Oh yes, it’s true! I just got this art today from Sarah, and as we speak it’s wending its way to our awesome screenprinters, and will be available for sale to one and all at HeroesCon!

Now, I know you’re thinking–wait, weren’t there supposed to be an ambitious SIX Indie Island shirts? I know, I know–I haven’t forgotten. But it was ambitious, wasn’t it? Well, I’m working on it–you should concentrate on just how great you’re going to feel wearing this shirt, available in a MULTITUDE of different sizes, and in some non-American Apparel styles too. I know, I know–my mistake. But I’m making good on it!

I’d write more but I’ve got to go sleepy-bye, so I can wake up early and get back to work on the greatest HeroesCon of all time! I just got back from a pre-show staff meeting, and it looks like we’re really firing on all cylinders. We’ll be bringing our “A” game this year, so you’d better bring a real high level game as well. At LEAST “B” level, I’m thinking. B+ would probably be better.

Who knows where we’ll put them, but we’ve got some late-breaking HeroesCon 08 Guest List additions!

Dave Dorman and Scott Hampton need no introduction to people who attend HeroesCon each year, but just in case: Dave is the highly recognizable painter of literally ZILLIONS of Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and many other high-profile properties! Scott is another high-profile painter, although most of his work is on the macabre side of things. Besides work on SPOOKHOUSE and an issue of DC’s SOLO dedicated to him, Scott has also provided the gorgeous art to BATMAN: GOTHAM COUNTY LINE and HELMET OF FATE, among many others.

Rod Whigham really should have been on the guest list a month ago, but I totally spaced! Sorry, Rod! Rod’s worked all over the place, on titles as diverse as PUNISHER, JUSTICE LEAGUE, FLASH, and DOC SAVAGE, as well as many others. These days he draws the newspaper strip GIL THORP!

And a couple more names to add to the Cancellation list–unfortunately our buddies John Lucas and John Beatty won’t be able to come this year, although hopefully we’ll be able to get them back next year! You can see a list of all the cancellations on our Guest List page, underneath the “RECENT ADDITIONS” column.

Well, while it’s not normally our wont to post to the blog on the (what?!) weekend, we’re burning the midnight oil getting ready for things, and have been chugging away on the packed HeroesCon 08 Event Schedule! Progress on the over 300 bios I have to write is not as sunny, but we’ll leave that for a different blog post. For now, new schedule (note that some of these panels are pending final approval from participants, and like everything else is subject to change:

CONVERSATIONS: Roy Thomas and Gary Friedrich Room 216
This is sure to be a fascinating discussion, between former Marvel Editor-In-Chief and Alter Ego editor Roy Thomas, and Ghost Rider co-creator and Marvel writer Gary Friedrich. Listen as they discuss the Silver Age of the House of Ideas, the creation of Ghost Rider, and much more!

THE FUTURE OF PODCASTS IN THE MEDIA Room 213A
Heidi MacDonald of The Beat moderates this panel featuring a who’s who of comics podcasting talent: Jimmy Aquino of Comic News Insider, Charlito and Mr. Phil of Indie Spinner Rack, Brian Christman and Adam Murdough of Comic Geek Speak, and most likely a bunch more guests from our Podcast Arena!

WEBCOMICS ROUNDUP Room 213BCD
Join the Comics Reporter‘s Tom Spurgeon for a roundtable discussion on webcomics, from conception and creation to marketing and–what?–profitability. With guests Nicholas Gurewitch, David Malki, Julia Wertz, Chris Harding, Danielle Corsetto, and more!

CRAFT IN COMICS: Jaime Hernandez, Jim Rugg, and Frank Santoro in Conversation 213A
Less a conversation on materials and techniques and more a conversation on ideas and beliefs, this panel will focus on tradition and innovation in composition and drawing for comics. From Jaime’s insistence on not using photographs as reference in his comics to Jim’s clarity of composition and Frank’s careful color choices, there are countless tenets of craft that are largely underappreciated by readers. This panel will investigate these ideas and attempt to illuminate and outline them in a lively conversation led by Frank Santoro.

THE FUTURE OF PODCASTS IN THE MEDIA Room 213A
Heidi MacDonald of The Beat moderates this panel featuring a who’s who of comics podcasting talent: Jimmy Aquino of Comic News Insider, Charlito and Mr. Phil of Indie Spinner Rack, Brian Christman and Adam Murdough of Comic Geek Speak, and most likely a bunch more guests from our Podcast Arena!

NEWSPAPER STRIPS: Keeping It Fresh After All These Years Room 216
Our own Andy Mansell moderates this panel featuring some of the brightest stars of classic newspaper strips! With Jim Scancarelli (GASOLINE ALLEY), Marcus Hamilton (DENNIS THE MENACE), Irwin Hasen (DONDI), June Brigman (Brenda Starr) and Alex Saviuk (SPIDER-MAN)! Explore the challenges of taking over an iconic strip, and keeping it fresh day in and day out!

TORI AMOS’ COMIC BOOK TATTOO ROOM 217A
Heidi MacDonald moderates a panel of cartoonists, writers and artists hand selected by Tori Amos to reinterpret her music into sequential art. Features previously unseen images exclusively from the forthcoming book from Image Comics!

Check the Event Schedule page for all the times and to see all the zillion other events going on! Is that enough for you? Well, I’ve still got some more coming, but good GRAVY, I’ve been at the computer all day and haven’t even had a shower yet. The dog won’t even lick my feet anymore. Gross! More to come–TODAY IS JUNE 1ST! Just under three weeks to (gulp!) go!

Big news this week: while there are individual room nights still available at both, it looks like we’ve effectively sold out both the Hilton Charlotte Center City AND the Westin Charlotte! What? Seriously? Oh yes–fortunately Shelton has been casting his net farther and farther out, as we could see from pretty much the first day we announced our HeroesCon rates at those two hotels that the rooms were going WAY faster than normal.

So Shelton has signed contracts with TWO more hotels: the Hilton Garden Inn Uptown, and the Hampton Inn! Both are just two blocks east of the Convention Center, and both are providing us with $99/night rooms! So if you’ve been hanging onto some overpriced room reservations because you couldn’t find anything better, ditch em and call:

HAMPTON INN: CHARLOTTE UPTOWN
1.800-HAMPTON

or

HILTON GARDEN INN
1.877.STAY.HGI

BE SURE TO SAY THAT YOU WANT THE “HEROESCON RATE”. There’s a good chance that the rate won’t go “live” until Monday, so try back then if it’s not working yet. And as before, if you have any problems, please feel free to comment below–Shelton and I both will be monitoring this post closely, and will try to address any problems as quickly as possible! Remember to be polite!

Our good buddies over at the HERO Initiative are bringing 70’s and 80’s great Ron Wilson to the HeroesCon 08 Guest List! I know a ton of people are going to love this news, especially our employees Phil and Rusty! His appearance will be to benefit the Hero Initiative, which–well heckfire, they say it better than I do, both about Ron and themselves! Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Jim McLauchlin (emphasis mine):

“Longtime Marvel Comics artist Ron Wilson worked extensively for the publisher from the 1970s through the 1990s, notably on Marvel Two-in-One and The Thing. He also made contributions to Power Man, Incredible Hulk, and What If? It’s only very recently that Ron started hitting the convention circuit, so his appearances have been very few.

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays’ creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment. For more information, call 310-909-7809 or visit http://www.heroinitiative.org/.”