Wizard World Philadelphia

Next month is the grandaddy of all conventions in San Diego Comic Con. Some of you may have a convention itch that needs to be scratched sooner. If you're going to be in or around Philadelphia this weekend (or live in the area), Wizard has a means of scratching that itch. This weekend (June 19-21) at the Pennsylvania Convention Center is Wizard World Philadelphia. Last I checked there are still tickets available for the weekend show, and if you get them online you'll get 15% off. Granted, this isn't one of the bigger shows, however this year may be slightly different. Wizard has teamed with Video Game Expo to bring video gaming goodness to the show floor this year. So there's that. You can also get special edition schwag such as the above special edition Wizard Michael Turner tribute edition. So who's at the show that you should care about? Well, on the celebrity front you have the following: • Emma Caulfield (“Anya” on Buffy: The Vampire Slayer) • Edward James Olmos (“Battlestar Galactica,” “Blade Runner,” “Stand and Deliver”) • Lou Ferrigno (“The Hulk”) • Peter Mayhew (“Star Wars”) • Leyla Milani (“Deal or No Deal”) • Kristanna Loken – (“Terminator 3,” “Painkiller Jane”) • Ray Park (“Darth Maul Star Wars: Episode 1,” “The Toad X-Men,” “Snake Eyes GI Joe”) • Luciana Carro (New “Battlestar Galactica”) • Matt "The Terror" Serra (UFC Champion) • Yancy Butler (“Witchblade”) • Doug Jones (“Abe Sapien from Hellboy,” “Silver Surfer from Fantastic Four”) • Michael Hogan (“Battlestar Gallactica”) • Traci Brooks (TNA wrestling superstar) • Demolition (Superstar wrestling tag team) • Darcy DeMoss (“Friday the 13th Part VI”) • “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase (Wrestling legend) • The Honky Tonk Man (WWE superstar) • Herb Jefferson Jr. (Original “Battlestar Galactica”) • Jerry “The King” Lawler (WWE Hall of Famer) • Dawn Marie (Wrestling Diva) • Nidia (“WWE Tough Enough”) • Mia St. John (WBC International Boxing Champion) • Greg “The Hammer” Valentine (WWE superstar) • Virgil (Wrestling superstar) Yeah, there are quite a few wrestlers on that list, but there's also Kristanna Loken which should please any red-blooded male. On the creative front, there's the following: • Garth Ennis (The Boys writer) • Dan DiDio - DC Comics Sr. Vice President - Executive Editor • Steve Dillon - Wolverine Origins Penciler • JG Jones (Final Crisis artist) • Kevin Maguire (Batman: Confidential artist) • Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex writer) • Amanda Conner (Terra artist) • Joe Kelly (Amazing Spider-Man writer) • Paolo Rivera (Amazing Spider-Man artist) • Phil Jimenez (Amazing Spider-Man artist) • Billy Tucci (Shi creator) • Shane Davis (Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns artist) • Jim Calafiore (Batgirl artist) • Sean McKeever (Teen Titans writer) • Greg Pak (War Machine writer) • Khoi Pham (Mighty Avengers artist) • Dan Slott (Amazing Spider-Man writer) • Billy Tan (New Avengers artist) • Fred Van Lente (Incredible Hercules writer) • Howard Chaykin (Squadron Supreme writer) • Walt Simonson (World of Warcraft writer) • Brian Reed (Ms. Marvel writer) • Greg Horn (Ms. Marvel cover artist) • Dennis Calero (X-Men: Noir artist) • Max Brooks (World War Z author) If you can make it, it should be a great show. If not, check out here and/or the Omnicomic Twitter feed for updates. Full press release below. WIZARD’S COMIC-CON SET TO DAZZLE PHILADELPHIA ON JUNE 19-21, 2009 AT PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION CENTER Special Guests: Barack Obama Spider-Man Artist Phil Jimenez, Battlestar Gallactica’s Luciana Carro; WWE Diva Dawn Marie and Chewbacca Peter Mayhew Join Noted Comic Writers and Artists; Video Game Expo Tournament and Costume Contest To Highlight Philly Event. Hasbro’s Transformers honored as newest member of ToyFare’s Hall of Fame NEW YORK (April 20, 2009) –Wizard World Philadelphia, the region’s largest annual Comic-Con, video game and pop culture event, will return to the Pennsylvania Convention Center June 19-21, 2009, to dazzle pop-culture aficionados. “This year’s Comic-Con will showcase something for everyone - including movies, TV, toys, comics, video games, anime, sci-fi, horror and other forms of entertainment,” said Wizard CEO Gareb Shamus. Wizard World Philadelphia Comic-Con will feature a host of celebrity guests, a video game expo and tournament, costume contest and noted comic writers and artists, including Marvel’s world famous Barack Obama/Amazing Spider-Man artist Phil Jimenez. Also, the “Incredible Hulk” Lou Ferrigno; Battlestar Gallactica’s Luciana Carro (Capt. Louanne “Kat” Katraine); WWE Diva Dawn Marie and original Chewbacca Peter Mayhew will all make appearances. They will be joined by noted comic writers and artists Garth Ennis (The Boys, Crossed and Back to Brooklyn), JG Jones (Final Crisis artist), Kevin Maguire (Batman and Spider-Man artist), Walt Simonson (Vigilante artist, World of Warcraft writer), Joe Kelly (Amazing Spider-Man writer), Sean McKeever (Teen Titans, Terror Titans writer), Dan Slott (Amazing Spider-Man, Mighty Avengers writer), Billy Tan (New Avengers artist) plus many more. More than 200 in all – this year’s event is the largest expected turnout ever. Wizard World Philadelphia Comic-Con also will play host to the Video Game Expo (VGXPO), which attracted more than 24,000 fans in 2008, with competitors facing each other in the "Super Smash Bros. Brawl" tournaments, played on the Nintendo Wii, as well as "Halo 3" tournaments played on the Xbox 360. VGXPO also will feature "Breaking In" seminars aimed at providing employment tools and educational resources to people that want to find jobs in the video game industry. Everyone is also encouraged to come out dressed as their favorite character, with an opportunity to win thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. Top entries also will reach millions of fans via Wizard Magazine, wizarduniverse.com and wizardworld.com and other fan websites. Sign up at the Wizard Booth and become eligible for the big prize. For more information about Wizard World Philadelphia Comic-Con, go to: www.wizardworld.com.