NYCC vs Big Apple

When I was in High school, I used to frequent a comic shop in Flushing Queens. Back then it was a big deal going to one of those places. Normally I got my comics at the newsstand by my school. Cut to a few (well, many) years later and we had Michael Carbanaro (head of the Big Apple Con) as a guest on my radio show. Turns out that he was the owner of the very same comic book store I had gone to as a kid! During that show, I found out that b/c of the great convention debacle of (I believe) '96 he founded the Big Apple cons. The aforementioned debacle was a convention at the Javits center (in NYC) that was closed down by the Fire Marshal. Mike took it upon himself to get everyone there (seeing as how he had everything he needed to start a con, people, vendors, "celebs") to go to a Church and start his own convention company that very same day. For years it was a monthly con which was out of a church (actually the basement) near Columbus Circle. Once every year he held the "National" convention which was in November at a bigger location. I got to "know" Mike and we have a business relationship. As time went on, he moved to a bigger and better venue (across the street from Madison Square Garden) which is where all of his cons are held to this very day. He has had big cons, little cons and all types in between. If you may remember I have had tables at some of those conventions. It's where I have met quite a few contacts from the comic book industry.

Then along came the NYCC. Reed Exhibitions who did Book conventions said "Hey, Comics are books. Hell, part of the word comic book is book! Let's do a convention just on that." Of course at the time, they were unsure how things would go. The city was un-cooperative "Comics are for kids, there is no money the be had" and since the other "big name" in comics never held a con there (Wizard) they rented a small portion of the Javits center out. They only had two headliners (the Wrestler Kane and Milla Jovovich) but they promoted the hell out of it.

It sold out. Not only did it sell out, people who already had tickets to get in couldn't. It was a huge disaster and a huge success at the same time. The second year, the show was double the size and it still sold out. Same for the third. It keeps getting bigger and better each year. This year is to be the biggest yet, and it is being predicted that it will surpass the SDCC (which will celebrate 40 years in 2009) in just a few more years. The con has gotten so big that they are asking for $65.00 for a 3 day pass at the door (cheaper if you buy it online).

I "know" the Head of the NYCC (Lance Fensterman) too. He also has been a guest on our show. Once again, we have a professional relationship going. So I have no "sides".

But it seems that while Mike has been puttering along and getting headliners like George Lazenby (for his most recent con). Lance gets Stephen King, Neil Patrick Harris, Grace Park and Brenden Frasier just to name a few. Now yes, Lance only has one show a year, and Mike Still has many, but Lazenby?

I think there is place for both cons in NYC. but Mike has to set up to the plate, and Lance has to remember the roots of comic book conventions.

Sing along!

Now that I have figured out how to upload video, you just gotta listen to this:




I know this one has been on my Myspace for the longest, but here is a new one!





even tho these aren't my favorites, since this is a comic book blog I just have to put this one here:





and...since Bond just came out.....





of course you can see all his stuff on his you youtube channel by clicking the title of this post!

Catching up

OK, from the looks of things, EVERYTHING should from the website will be up in time for the NYCC. I just spoke to my good buddy Lance Fensterman (who was a guest on the show and just happens to be the head of the NYCC) and I can get my press pass. The third webmaster turned out to be all talk and no action so I have to go back to my second webmaster. He had gotten backed up because of a campaign that he was running, but now that that is over, he has s'more free time.

If I get really lucky, I might be able to give away one pair of free passes to the NYCC if everything is updated in time.

Also, (for those of you who bought my comic and want to see the rest) I will be getting on top of my publisher so that all the issues and the trade will be out next year.

Wish me luck!

History

I have to say it. I just didn't think that the world was ready for a Black President. I guess "24" had it right all along.

Morgan Freeman being President is no longer Sci-fi.


I am speechless.

Congrats to Obama.

Street Fighter: The Later Years

Just watch. It's 9 parts but totally worth it. As a bonus, I now have figured out how to post videos (at least the ones from youtube).



























I have heard on the rumor mill that they will make more based off of the new Street Fighter IV game (which will be out soon).

A shot in the arm

This past Sunday after watching Saw v (which was awesome BTW), I went to a "meeting" of some comic book guys. One of these guys waas an old High School friend of mine who wanted to make his own comic. He along with a couple of his friends had a weekly gathering that I was invited to. I have to say that it felt good sitting there and talking about comics, my company and their gaols and aspirations.

Now I have to admit, since the radio show went on hiatus, and then the economy went crazy, I haven't been as motivated as I should be regarding future cons that I should attend, pushing my publisher to put out the other books (and then the trade). But just being there, I got a little taste of motivation. Maybe these guys have the heart (and free time) that I have been looking for. Even if it is just me lending my expierence to help these guys out, that helps me get going again. Only time will tell. I plan to go again next Sunday.

Let's do the Time warp

Just for fun, I decided to go back and take a look at my old blogs. I did a quick update so you can see a contrast between then and now. It's taking longer than I had expected. I'm up to my 9/11/07 entry. Take this time to go back and re-read somethings. post some comments while you are at it!

Different format/Different Versions

Now bear with me here. My thoughts are all over the place regarding this subject as I find that I usually am about 10-15 ewords ahead of myself so by the time I type "THIS" word, I'm already thinging about Linda Carter as Wonder Woman...

I was watching the New Spider-man cartoon the other day, and then while changing VHS tapes (Yes I still use thos things to watch my tv shows) I came across an episode of Fox's Spider-man Unlimited.

Seeing that made me think about a conversation I was having about Paul Dini and the various Batman carttons that have come out in the past 10+ years. I was telling him about the new Brave and Bold Batman cartoon that will be coming out soon.

Finally, I saw a commrecial for the new Hulk movie coming out on DVD.

All of these things mad me think that it would be a good subject to talk about on my little blog.

The comic books are the source material. That is where all the tv shows, movies, and yes even radio shows start out from. No Superman comic, no Christopher Reeves meeting Tom Welling. No Hulk comic, no Bill Bixby hitching a ride. But those things never happened in the comic.

In the comics, the Hulk has fallen from outer space to earth without a scratch on him, yet Lou Ferrigno falls (about) 800 feet and the Hulk died. What I am saying is that while all this stuff comes from the comics, some of it doesnt translate to a different format. Look at X-men. the movies ditched the spandex and it worked.

My question (if you still are with me after all that) is how far are we willing to go to accept the changes? At what point do we lose the "core" of the comic in lieu of the masses? I never read League of Extraoidary Gentleman, but I really liked the movie. Alot of fans of the comic HATED that movie.

I'll leave you with this disjointed thought...Just because it's popular, doesn't mean it's good.

The future

While the whole world seems to be going to hell in a handbasket, I sit here trying to figure out how to get my radio show back on the air. Seems Brian wasn't able to get the skype thing going, so I'm back to looking to return to the airwaves. Last time I was in this position was during our first hiatus. That took forever to get past. I was hoping for a swifter return, but now I'm not so sure.

Every time I get just a little headway, something seems to put up a road block. I wonder if all companies went through this when they were starting out. The only good thing is that I can say that I know I can get myself back on the air and get my book in stores. Not sure how long that will take, but it will happen. I got this far, and I keep learning new things everyday to get me a little further.

The one thing that I know is that I have a quaility product, so that is my motivation to keep going.

Not sure what I'm going to do at the next con I go to. Without the radio show to promote, I'm not sure what (or how) to place on my table. Maybe I'll get the site re-launched before then and I'll have some new fliers ready to go....Might have to get my publisher to send me s'more copies of the book to sell.

Speaking of cons, I'm considering going to a con in Michigan (it would be all expenses paid, excluding transportataion to and from there). I'm just not sure if I'm ready for another drive across state lines so soon after SDCC.

September 30!

When I decided to make Tuesdaays "my" day to blog (Thursdays being he show day, and mon, wed, and fri being Hassan's day) I had no idea how many special "events" would fall on this day. Today is no different. It's my birthday! How old am I you ask? well, some say I can pass for 25, and others say that you are as old as you feel.

This Saturday, I felt OLD. I forgot my phone at my house and I needed to make a phone call, so I asked this girl to borrow her cell. She handed me a sidekick. I had no idea how to open it nor how to use it to make a call. I have never been computer savvy, but come on! Am I too old to figure out how to use a phone? So yes, technology got the best of me that day and I had to ask someone else for a real phone to use....

Tree falls

You know the old saying (or is it a question?).... If a tree falls in a forest and no one is there to see it, does it make a sound? There are so many great things out there. and alot of people just don't know it exists. By the same degree, there is a whole lot of crap out there and it seems that alot of people know it's out there. I did a couple of great interviews. I did some pretty good CBN shows. I have tried (and failed) many times to get my own tv show.

They say you should write for yourself first and foremost. They also say know your target audinece. So I made a show that I enjoyed making. 99.9% feedback was positive. I wrote a book that I enjoyed reading. 80% positive (altho most have only read the preview issue).

So, I thought to myself, "let me see who has heard this tree fall.". Post on this thread, or e-mail me at mtorres@thecomicbooknovice.com and just say "Hey I read your book/listened to your show". Let me hear from you.

The 'ol College try

If you click the title of this week's little blog, it will take you to the MFC Forum. As I have mentioned before, I am not really a computer guy, so bear with me as I work on the forum. Hopefully it will become a little focal point for all my.... supporters to come and hang out.

I just started it up two days ago (what better time to have a forum than after the radio show goes off the air) and I think it is coming along nicely.

As with everything else, tell your friends about it and have them sign up. Comments suggestions are always welcome and best of all, it's free!

Third time's the charm?

As some of you may have noticed, The site has been pretty stagnant since i got back from the SDCC. My second webmaster just got too bogged down wih (paying) work, kids and family life. Funny thing is that my first webmaster had the same problems! So now we are going to do another re-launch (hopefully by then the radio show will be bakk up and running) which should have all the interviews that I have done (and they're many still unaired). Also, I plan to (finaly) upload all the episodes from the first run of CBN so you can have (sort of) "new" content to listen to while we get back on track.

So keep checking back and let me know what you think! Also, any comments/suggestions/complaints about the site let me know so I can address them in the newest version of the site.

A writer reads.

So I find myself here once again thinking about what to write about. I thought hey, howsabout a list of the books I am currently reading? So just off of the top of my head....

Incredible Herc
Ms. Marvel
New Warriors
Avengers: Initiative
Mighty Avengers
New Avengers
Iron Fist
Batman and the Outsiders
JLA
Black Canary/Green Arrow
Trinity
Gen 13
Womder Woman
Secret Invasion
Final Crisis

(I'm sure they're more, I'll keep on adding to the list)

What are you reading?
What should I be reading?

The Four Marks

I was at a BBQ this past week and it came up in conversation that I was a fighter when I was little. I used to have a temper. Still do, but I have kept it in check since high school. It occurred to me that the people that I have met through my life only know one (or maybe two) of the four possible Marks that exist.

The first Mark which was from early childhood to around 1989. I had a temper, a clear view of right and wrong good and bad.
The second Mark wich started around 1988. I started to find my leadership role, and my personality.
The third Mark which came around 1999 is very contridicatory. I was depressed and full of life at the same time. Very witty and dedicated.
And the foruth and final Mark is the professional one. The private one.

Which Mark do you know?
How many "Yous" are there?

The Skype is the limit

We are trying to keep the show going (until we get some sponsors to go back live on the air), My co-host Brian Ferrera suggested we try and use skype to record a show online. Once we try that out we may start to update shows again. In the mean time I am looking for the tapes of our first time around of the CBN to upload that to the site.

My webmaster has been back-logged (guess he now understands the position the original webmaster was in) so the site is (very) slowly updating content. Hopefully it will all be up before the end of the year.

So I have been quiet for the past few days (well, week really). The show is on hiatus, but I think we might be able to do just podcasting soon. The coverages from the past two cons are being edited and (very slowly) being uploaded to the site. The book is out, and I have submitted it to Image comics and am looking into a few more places to see if I can get picked up again. The guys at Dark Elf Designs are ok with that based on our conversations (and since one of the heads of the company is inking the book, he will still get some $$).

It's weird haveing another Thursday with no show to do. Hopefully some of the potential sponsors will pick us up and we can go back on the air. Last time it took a couple of years before we were back. This time around I figure only (at most) a couple of months.

"What can I do to help?" you may be asking. Send me an e-mail, let me know if you have been listening to the show and what you think. If you want us back, let people know, spread the word, buy my book. Be active in our shows future.

August 14 show

Tonight (August 14, 2008 ) LIVE on "The Comic Book Novice" radio program Join me, Mark Torres, Hassan Godwin, and Terminal Press' Brian Ferrera as we discuss the role of the independent comic

What are your thoughts? Give us a call (631) 888-8811.

Not in New York? Not a problem, we have live audio streaming online at www.am1240wgbb.com

9pm Eastern Standard Time

Missed a show? Archives @ www.thecomicbooknovice.com

Now in our second consecutive year!

Support us!

Sponsors

Times are tough. While on my many road trips (all of them alot smaller than driving to California) I hear about (on the radio) how we are in a recession. Yet at the same time the Dark Knight is breaking box office records left and right and oil companies are making record profits. So I am puzzled as to if it is a good or bad time to be running a company, looking for sponsors.

Technically, I have been running this company since 2002 but we weren't "official" (or even incorporated) until 2006. Way back then I had a goal. To get my comic book out. Somewhere along the way I got a radio show. Now it's one of those things where I am the producer so It's my show. I pay for everything. To make money, I have to sell ad space.

When I first started, I focused on getting sponsors. That lasted me a little over a year. I had sponsors (a couple of them) but no one really knew about the show. This time around (after our lengthy hiatus) I focused on promotion of the show. I made a lot of contacts, did some really good interviews and gone to places I never thought I would be able to get to. So the word is out, but no sponsors.

I am rapidly approaching a point where we need a sponsor (or a couple of them) to keep the show going. The radio show is a good thing (everyone who has listened to it says they like it and the only complaint is that it is too short (better to be too short than too long). We are reaching an audience worldwide (according to the numbers on the site, people in Australia, and the UK are tuning in).

Now that the book (issue one at least) has been released, if the sales are good from that, I can use that money to keep the show going. So Buy my book, if you want to sponsor us, let me know, Promote your stuff. If you like what you see, support us.

Tonight's show

Tonight (August 7, 2008 ) LIVE(by popular demand) on "The Comic Book Novice" radio program Join me, Mark Torres, our very own Movie Mike and Terminal Press' Brian Ferrera as we discuss the mega movie Dark Knight.

This will be a free flowing conversation so spoilers may be mentioned (but really who hasn't seen this movie?).

What are your thoughts? Give us a call (631) 888-8811.

Not in New York? Not a problem, we have live audio streaming online at www.am1240wgbb.com

9pm Eastern Standard Time

Missed a show? Archives @ www.thecomicbooknovice.com

Now in our second consecutive year!

Support us!