Tag Archives: covid

Baltimore Comic-Con Goes Virtual for 2020 and Returns in person October 2021

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Baltimore Comic-Con has made a number of announcements regarding its 2020 event. Launching in cooperation with its friends at Mainframe Comic-Con, the 2020 show will be held as an online live event, replicating the comic convention you’ve come to love for these past 20 years but in a virtual environment! The Baltimore Convention Center has now confirmed that they will not be hosting any gatherings for the remainder of the calendar year while they continue services as a COVID testing center, as well as maintaining a COVID field hospital facility capability, housing hospital beds to support another surge should that occur. Exhibitors, retailers, Artists Alley, guests, the Ringo Awards, and programming will transition to an online live event, enabling fans the world over to experience the Baltimore Comic-Con!

The convention will be making announcements on its mailing list and social media, so please sign up and follow! If you’re a regular attendee, you’ll find yourself in a familiar environment. If you’ve never been able to attend (especially since geography and budget are no longer considerations), this is a great opportunity to come and get a taste of the show!

TICKETS
All tickets purchased for the 2020 event will automatically transfer to our October 22-24, 2021 show. Frank Miller Tickets will transfer as well — Frank has already confirmed his plan to attend in 2021. Additionally, AfterShock Comics, Source Point Press, and Valiant Entertainment have each donated $10 vouchers for ticket holders to purchase merchandise at their booths in 2021. Ticket holders will also receive comics and trade paperback/graphic novels electronically this year — Dark Ark Volume 1 and Animosity Volume 1 from AfterShock Comics, The Damnation of Charlie Wormwood TPB and DEK Volume 2 #1 from Source Point Press, and Bloodshot Book One TPB and X-O Manowar #1 from Valiant Entertainment. Additionally, BOOM! Studios will be providing PDFs of The Woods Volume 1 and Wynd issue #1, both by James Tynion IV and Michael Dialynas.

Funds received from ticket (as well as from exhibitor booth sales) enable the continuity of the show, paying for real costs such as the rental of the Baltimore Convention Center, ongoing operations expenses, and costs associated with marketing activities as examples. If you are suffering from a financial hardship due to the pandemic and simply cannot justify the wait until next year, the convention will do our best to issue refunds on a case-by-case basis, which may take time to do.

2021 GUESTS
While guests’ availability changes from year to year, Baltimore Comic-Con is hoping to re-book most (if not all) of the previously announced 2020 guests again, as well as complete some pretty amazing plans that were afoot when the world changed, both guest-wise and overall with respect to events at the show! While they are still in the process of working with confirmed guests, as of now, they have re-confirmed Marty Baumann, John Beatty, Brett Breeding, Howard Chaykin, Frank Cho, Becky Cloonan, Steve Conley, Katie Cook, Kristina Deak-Linsner, Garth Ennis, Mitch Gerads, Joe Giella, Gene Ha, Dean Haspiel, Greg Hildebrandt, Jamal Igle, Tom King, Joseph Michael Linsner, Bob McLeod, Carla Speed McNeil, Frank Miller, Terry Moore, James Pascoe, Andrew Pepoy, David Petersen, Brandon Peterson, Tom Raney, Afua Richardson, Louise Simonson, Walter Simonson, John K. Snyder III, Jill Thompson, Robert Venditti, Mark Waid, Gene Luen Yang, and Thom Zahler.

Around the Tubes

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Dark Nights: Death Metal: Trinity Crisis #1

It’s new comic book day! What are you all planning on getting? What are you excited to read? Lets us know in the comments below. While you wait for shops to open, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.

The Star – Toronto police officer ordered to remove ‘Punisher’ patch from uniform – Good, this not a character cops should be looking up to.

Kotaku – How To Make The Most Of Avengers’ Endgame – Who’s playing and what do you think?

Atomic Junk Shop – A web comic everyone should be reading: COVID Chronicles – Definitely one to check out.

The Beat – A Year of Free Comics: Magic is a virus and Noam the only survivor in The Fever King – Free comics!

Reviews

CBR – Dark Nights: Death Metal: Trinity Crisis #1
Comics Bulletin – Hellblazer: Rise and Fall #1

Working in a Comic Book Shop During COVID

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“I’m so thankful that my job is to sell people art.” – John Arminio, Comix Connection.

Guest John Arminio shares what it is like working at a comics store during this unprecedented time and how fans can support comics retail staff. Plus he makes some great suggestions of comics to buy.

John is a long-time comic book devotee and retailer who peddles his wares at Comix Connection in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Along with comics, another of his great passions is film, and you can hear him discuss that artistic medium on recent episodes of the podcasts Hellbent for Horror, Film ’89, and 26 Movies from Hell.

John has joined Graphic Policy Radio before to talk about:

Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/QuasarSniffer 

Visit the Comix Connection here: https://www.facebook.com/comix.connection/

New York Comic Con 2020 Goes Virtual with YouTube

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New York Comic Con logo

Today, ReedPop announced that New York Comic Con’s physical event at Javits Center will not take place as intended in 2020 and that they are officially partnering with YouTube on an all-digital event that will bring the excitement, community, and incredible content expected from NYCC directly to fans around the world.

From October 8-11, the New York Comic Con YouTube channel will exclusively live stream panels from leading entertainment brands. Starz will bring the epic American Gods, CBS All Access will feature the legendary Star Trek Universe, DreamWorks Animation will showcase the best of television animation, and Hulu and FX will add to the slate of exciting programming for fans worldwide. More news will be made in the coming weeks about the content including premieres, announcements, fan contests, and more.

In addition to the panels streaming live & on-demand exclusively via YouTube, fans will be able to participate in talent Q&A’s during panels, turn every panel into a watch party and geek out with other fans using YouTube’s Community and Live Chat features. 

ReedPop will also give fans the opportunity for experiences that will get them up-close and personal with meet & greets, live Q&As, personalized autographs, videos, and professional workshops. And while fans won’t be able to stroll the Show Floor and Artist Alley aisles at Javits this year, ReedPop is creating a virtual marketplace for fans to explore where exhibitors and creators will share their newest items. There will be more information on these exciting fan developments unveiled in the coming weeks.

Leading up to New York Comic Con’s Metaverse in October, ReedPop will be hosting Metaverse August from August 13-16 and give fans the ability to assemble together for a one-of-a-kind virtual experience with celebrities and creators, discover new releases, explore a marketplace, and access exclusive merchandise.

Top Philippine Comic Talent Team to Raise Money to Purchase PPE

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Working day and night, Filipino health workers tirelessly put their lives on the line in the fight against COVID-19. Throughout the global pandemic, they have proven themselves the real-life counterparts of our favorite comic book heroes. And, much like the superheroes who suit up to save the world, frontliners have their own kind of gear in the form of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Comic Odyssey, in association with Filbar’s and Planet X, and in partnership with Wunderman Thompson Philippines, has launched a fundraising campaign, “#SuitsForHeroes” to help purchase PPE’s for the frontliners. Accessible at SuitsForHeroes.com, Comic Odyssey has pledged to reward each donor’s contribution with store credit which can be used for back issues at Comic Odyssey’s BGC branch.

To promote the campaign, internationally-renowned Filipino comic book artists have graciously donated their time and talents to create artwork that paid tribute to the heroic frontliners. The list of contributors includes Leinil Yu, Stephen Segovia, Kajo Baldisimo, Whilce Portacio, Mico Suayan, and Harvey Tolibao with Levi Ramirez on colors. Towards the end of July, these exclusive pieces will be put up for auction to raise additional funds.

All #SuitsForHeroes proceeds will go to the following: Frontliner Feeders Philippines, Kaya Natin, and Philippine General Hospital Medical Foundation Incorporated.

Dragon Con Cancels its 2020 Convention Due to COVID-19

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While it’s not surprising, Dragon Con has officially announced that they are canceling the 2020 convention due to the threat of COVID-19. This is the first time in 34 years that the convention will not be held. The convention was to be held September 3 to September 7 and was expected to attract around 90,000 individuals to downtown Atlanta.

The convention has announced that it will instead hold a virtual live-streamed convention for free which will feature both classic panels and original programming to replace the 2020 convention. More details will be announced in the upcoming weeks about that alternative.

Dragon Con will return in 2021 with a five-day event from Thursday, Sept. 2 through Monday, Sept. 6.

Fans who already purchased memberships for the 2020 convention will be able to exchange them for a 2021 membership or seek a refund.

Planet Comicon Kansas City is Cancelled

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Planet Comicon Kansas City has announced that the convention that was to take place in August 2020 has been canceled. The convention was originally to take place March 20-22 but due to COVID-19 that was rescheduled for August 14-16. The safety of attendees comes first and unfortunately, the situation is not conducive for a convention.

They have released a full statement which you can read below as well as information concerning their refund/transfer policies.

Tampa Bay Comic Con is Off Due to COVID

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We called them the “Floridaman” of conventions when they announced the show must go on, but Tampa Bay Comic Con has announced that their 2020 show has been canceled. The rising cases of COVID-19 in the state was a concern to organizers. The convention was to take place July 10-12 at the Tampa Convention Centers.

In their announcement, the convention said that city leaders, as well as themselves, felt unease with the show going forward.

Any pre-purchased tickets or purchased booth space for vendors would have their purchases tranferred to next year’s show, slated for July 30 – August 1.

AMC Announces a July 15 Re-Opening

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AMC

Despite rising cases of COVID-19 and a first wave that’s still oncoming, AMC theaters has announced that they will be opening about 450 locations around the country. That’s about 90% of the moviegoing at AMC. All theaters will be re-opened by the end of July.

The chain has announced “AMC Safe & Clean,” a new initiative that will “meet or exceed health and safety directives set forth by federal, state and local authorities.”

This initiative includes “Seat capacity restrictions, social distancing efforts, commitments to health, new intensified cleaning protocols, contactless ticketing and expanded mobile ordering of food & beverages.”

You can read more details at their site.

The theaters will not require masks to be worn calling it a “political controversy.” The company has reverse course and will now require the use of masks. They will sell masks for $1.

In early July, the chain will list the opening dates of specific theaters, movie listings, and showtimes.

We’ll be reporting more I’m sure and first we want to see if AMC’s terms of service will change to indemnify them from attendees catching COVID-19 by attending their facilities.

SDCC 2020: San Diego Comic-Con@Home Details Begin to Emerge… and It’s Free!

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San Diego Comic-Con logo

When San Diego Comic-Con canceled the 2020 convention, they hinted at a digital version of the show. The first details have emerged as Comic-Con@Home will take place July 22-26, 2020 and the biggest news about it is… IT’S FREE!

No waiting in long lines or camping out, you’ll be able to attend this year’s San Diego Comic-Con from the comfort of your own home.

This includes panels, exclusives, limited merchandise, and even a virtual online Exhibit Hall complete with promotions, specials, and limited-editio products for the celebration. But, wait, there’s more! The convention will also include a masquerade, gaming, and other activities all of which can be participated in at home.

SDCC spokesperson David Glanzer said:

For the first time in our 50-year history, we are happy to welcome virtually anyone from around the globe. Though stay-at-home conditions makes this a very difficult time, we see this as an opportunity to spread some joy and strengthen our sense of community.

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