This creator-packed show, held June 20-22, was another fan favorite on the convention circuit this summer! The long lines on Friday alone attested to the excitement for the line-up that Heroes brought to the Charlotte Convention Center. Notable Indie guests included Evan Dorkin, Sarah Dyer, Jaime Hernandez, Jim Mafood, and Bryan Lee O’Malley. Other industry greats in attendance were Herb Trimpe, Michael Bair, Peter Laird, Nick Cardy, Al Feldstein, Frank Cho, Michael Golden, and David Finch, to name a few. Hero Initiative hosted a successful 10-Man Signing event in tribute to Mike Weringo, and several of the books that were signed were also submitted for the CGC Signature Series designation. In addition, there was a charity auction and an evening of remembrance where fans and creators could share their stories about Mike and his impact on the industry.
Many customers took advantage of CGC’s attendance and dropped off comics for submission. Due to the variety of guests,
there were numerous requests for Signature Series from new customers and veterans alike. CGC had assistance with the
Signature Series during this convention thanks to the efforts of Dan Partouche and Anthony Carpenter. Thanks, guys!
This show continues its legacy as a fan-supported, comic-oriented convention and CGC looks forward to attending again next
year!
Wizard World Chicago – Rosemont, IL – By Brad Bradley
The summer months bring about some of the biggest comic conventions of the year, and the last weekend in June brought us
one of the biggest of all — Chicago. Wizard World Chicago, as in previous years, was held at the spacious Donald E. Stephens
Convention Center, which was very fortunate as the number of guests was staggering! Big name guests included Warren Ellis,
Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Ross, Geoff Johns, Peter David, Arthur Suydam, and a great deal more. One particular writer/artist
that had a waiting line that stretched up, down, through, and around aisles was Image founder Todd McFarlane. Fans were
thrilled at the chance to meet these cherished creators, shake their hands, chat with them, and of course, get some of their
comics signed. Signatures that were witnessed by CGC were eligible for the prestigious Signature Series, which many fans took
advantage of.
People looking to submit their comics for grading didn't have long to wait, as Wizard World Chicago featured on-site
grading for Modern Age (1975-present) comics. This made many fans happy as they were able to pick up their graded and
encapsulated books before the show ended on Sunday.
Some of the more memorable events from the show include "Win, Lose, or Draw with Comic Creators!" where two fans were
chosen to play the game onstage with Ethan Van Sciver, Shane Davis, Adi Granov, Greg Horn, and Aaron Lopresti. Also, one
interesting panel featured a debate between Geoff Johns and Brian Michael Bendis on some of the controversial topics in comics
today.
When all was said and done early Sunday evening, a great many comic professionals, fans, and dealers were weary and tired,
but all agreed that Wizard World Chicago was a great success that everyone enjoyed.
