Comic Book Convention: Wizard World Los Angeles
Published March 21, 2006
Wizard World Los Angeles is a large annual comic book convention with a focus on superhero titles. It's but one facet of the Wizard universe spanning multiple magazines, a website, and conventions across the country each year. This is only the third year for the LA show, and the first one actually held in LA following initial outings at the Long Beach Convention Center.
The move to the LA Convention Center gives the show plenty of room to grow, which was plainly evident by the booths that didn't quite stretch to the limits of the single hall hosting this year's event. Wizard World's biggest event is its annual Chicago summer show, and for anyone who has attended that one, the LA event space appeared to be roughly half its size.
Wizard has a tough market in Southern California competing with San Diego's Comic Con International, the world's largest, but its new location makes it ideal for ease of access by entertainment industry guests. The only problem is that Hollywood hasn't really caught on to its existence yet, so the caliber of guests thus far has leaned decidedly toward B-list status or less. On the upside for comic fans, the lack of Hollywood attention makes this much more of a true comic book convention that the mass media spectacle of San Diego.
The show ran for three days this year, with the biggest concentration of special guests and visitors on Saturday. I hit the floor after noon on Saturday and immediately noticed how much easier it was to move around compared to the hysteria of San Diego. I'm not suggesting that the show was dead, but it definitely wasn't overcrowded.
The media company booths were all aligned by the front doors, so visitors were funneled past the big players first and gradually moved back through smaller publishers to the retailers in the back section of booths. Yes, there were actual dealers selling real live comic books at the show, not a ton of them, but enough that visitors could easily shop for classic golden and silver age comics or the latest releases, as well as graphic novels, manga, toys, DVDs, and apparel. Past the retailers was a lonely assortment of gaming tables and an artists' alley with a few top artists such as Tim Sale and David Mack tucked in between the up and comers.
- Comic Book Convention: Wizard World Los Angeles
- Published: March 21, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Books
- Filed Under: Culture: Business and Economics, Books: Comics and Graphic Novels, Culture: Media
- Writer: El Bicho
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Comments on this articleComments
I think the writers is a little confused: Carpenter went there early and inmediately went to LUNCH. When the booth's open officialy, she had both a line for photos and a autographs! She had the best booth of the Wizard.
She was there not for 20 minutes but most of three hours (2 to 5 p.m.) and the fans keep going after her when she was leaving! Check the forums of boosterevents.com ... And You'll see that also it had a lot of movement because the printer machine had problems and some files were lost and had to do some retakes of the pictures.
Please tell the writer to check the information and be accurate. Charisma Carpenter's booth was the best, followed by Andy Hallett in popularity.!
Hmm, let's see...I was personally standing by the autograph area at the exact time when they announced over the PA that she would be appearing there. I watched her take over the booth and saw just a few curious people standing around. Then I went up and down one aisle of the floor and by the time I got back 20 minutes later she was packing up with nobody left in queue, nobody sadly watching her leave, and no indication that she was coming back.
Again, sorry but check the forums at boosterevents and some LJ, if you don't want to go to some ATS or BTVS site/forum to check. And I checked with some other people that went mostly for other pannels and told me the same about the ATS people, specially Carpenter that I posted. And, other one confirmed that were serious troubles with the printer for the pictures of her booth. Also, a friend of mine has a picture of her at the car and the hour was the one I posted. I don't know what to tell you. I read that she was really early considering the schedule they gave her (mistake, maybe?) and she went to lunch and came back for the official hour of openning. I'm not saying you're a liar, really. Maybe she was early and they announced her just in case someone wanted some picture or something. And then she went to lunch to come back later? (I also read that someone was waiting almost 20 minnutes until the opening, in the line and she was right in time, not very early). I don't know, but letting aside the fans, I know people that went there and told me they had to wait a lot for the autograph they got for me from her and also Hallett (broken leg here)...It's not that They're fans of Angel to not be objective about that. Really, don't know what to tell you but that's what I know from people there and from what I read in several places. It wasn't bigger like in London or so much people like her Comic-Con appereance, but all of them told me that they were a lot of people for her and Hallett, less for the others, but still far from desert...
Andy, what is this noble cause you think you are fighting? Do you really have so little going on in your life that you feel compelled to defend a young woman's honor who has no idea you exist? You're not going to get a date with her. All you are doing is making the Babylon 5 fans realize they are cooler than Buffy fans. Give it up now.
Good to read that personal attacks are not allowed... So what's going with that message from RogerMDillon still there?, that by the way, really shows his IQ level. Also, check ifMagazine "...and Charisma Carpenter (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, VERONICA MARS) caused quite the traffic pile up in the booth on Saturday." And also all the things that says abot Angel's actors.
So, my problem is that what it was posted was NOT what it happened. Period.
Mr Dillon's point was harsh, Andy, but if I'd edited it we'd all have lost the chance to chortle over his B5/Buffy remark. Classic.
You Americans!
Andy, that's not your only problem.
How did you feel personally attacked by my previous comments? Don't tell me you actually think defending Charisma's honor will get her to drop the restraining order? I apologize that I didn't realize how deep your feud with B5 fans goes. With your hypersensitivity it's no wonder you got booted out from the "Xena, Princess Warrior" fan club.
P.S. Make sure you don't watch the old SNL episode that William Shatner hosted.
I think that saying to someone that only is pointed that this articule is wrong, things like: "you're fighting a noble cause?" or "That I'm doing this because I want to date Charisma" or sarcastic things like that, it's offensive. Because you're dismissing an poster. simply because of that. Also, and this is to point how stupid your comments are.... it's Andy as in Andrea, a girl. A heterosexual girl, by the way. so not sexual interest her. Obviously you only make things that could get you that benefit... Poor you. I only pointed that this was seriously wrong. Sorry to try to correct a mistake!!!! But obviously the tendence here is to dismiss people and fandom, right? So no surprise about the inacurate information that this articule gives.
You were also being dismissed because of your poor spelling and grammar, but thanks for taking time from your X-Men 3 Tent City Magic tournament to respond.
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i've been attending the philly-wizard show for years, and they have been the best shows that i have ever attended...the crowds have gotten larger with each year, and the show has morphed into a big entertainment/comics/gaming show in recent years...if you are a desktop/tabletop gamer this show is a must....and video games companies have increased their presence at the show in recent years as well...i can't wait til june!