My stance on the CON WARS.

We've talked about this a bit on the podcasts I do (STUDIO CHATTER, BIGFANBOY, etc). But I thought I would expand on my thoughts a bit.

For those that don't know, Chicago used to have a show called the CHICAGO COMIC CON which I understand was very well run and loved by all. WIZARD MAGAZINE bought it a few years ago and since then has ran shows there under the moniker of "WIZARD WORLD COMIC CON." I've exhibited at those shows in the past. I can say while I had a good time there, as a creator/exhibitor, I got no special treatment. No personal touch. In fact, everyone seemed annoyed when any creator or exhibitor had questions. Contacting anyone through phone or email was impossible. Its just a crap run show and a dimestore to San Diego. It wanted to be like San Diego, but failed. And from what I've been told by many other people, since Wizard took over, the show has gone downhill. they've also tried to do another wizard show the same weekend as HEROES CON, a beloved con by all comic creators. Well, after a huge backlash on that agressive move, they cancelled the show and have since whittled their shows down to one: CHICAGO. This year, no appearance by MArvel, DC, Dark Horse or any of the standard comic publishers were there. As a result, all indie guys got some attention, which is nice. But it still shows the fact that Wizard, was on the way out.

And it also goes hand in hand how they run thier magazine, supposedly the industry standard magazine. Or as their moniker once said: "The Guide to Comics." I read wizard faithfully from 1993-2002. But then their magazine changed. No more price guide. Crap articles, old news, got rid of the GOOD articles, more movie focus, stupid lists, no indie comic focus, etc. In fact, artist Scott Kurtz (www.pvponline.com) this past week jokingly said that the magazine should change its name to "Megan Fox Tits Wolverine." The man speaks the truth, cause thats all that rag is anymore.

Anyway, the show was on the way out and therefore the more successfully run conventions by REED ENT. bought the OLD Chicago show and plans to run their first one there this next year. And their highly successful show called NEW YORK COMIC CON is happening as well. The publisher of Wizard has now bought rights to an old New York show and is running it the SAME WEEKEND as the New York show next year. "Pointlessly Agressive" as Cully Hammner put it.

So that brings you up to speed. Me? I just don't get it. In this bad economy, you want to divide the guests and fans like that? We don't need competition to make this industry survive. We need support. And What Wizard has done here is outlandishly horrid. Whats gonna happen is NYCC is gonna get the good dealers, main industry support and cool comic guests. Wizards BIG APPLE CON will get media stars and the people who couldn't get tables at the NYCC. Sure, William Shatner signing may pull in more attendance than say, Chris Claremont. Cause he's a better known household name. but its UNFAIR to comics fans. Great move from "the guide to comics."

And moreover, they claim to be a family oriented show. However, this past month when they held their first BIG APPLE show, they had suicide girls in exposed gear, and pole dancing girls dressed as robin and Batman. Yeah. Really family oriented, you know.

Ugh. I'm already sick of the he said, she said game of this. And its gonna be a looooooong time till next october. I'm not exhibiting at either shows next year. but I guarantee this as well: I will not exhibit nor will I ever attend a Wizard World related show ever again. unless this agression is dropped and thoroughly apologized for. Which probebly won't happen. So sorry Chicago fans. May be a while before I head back there again. unless its at the REED run show. We'll see about that in 2011.

So I hope ya'll heard what I had to say and maybe I spread some more awareness about it all. And if the dude from Wizard hears of this rant from a piddly ol' small press guy like me: Gareb, this is crazy. You are dividing an industry that should work together. Nut up and put out a decent publication and stop pissing on those who you claim to hold dear. That includes fans, publishers and people you've pimped in the past. Just change the date, apologize and make this all better. Nut up!

T