L.A. Comic Con - First & Last Day 2022!

The Los Angeles Convention Center held the last of the three day Los Angeles Comic Con!  The banner for the con featured the mascot, an orange octopus with a sci-fi dome head holding its brain?  The majority of the convention was located in South Hall with the main stage, Artist’s Alley, and many vendors. The first dealer that I visited was Animation Legends, I bought several animation cels from their website: https://animationlegends.com, and it was great to see them at a con. I found their selection and prices incredible, usually priced at the pass level, but here were cels from Saturday morning animated shows and anime. I saw cels of X-Men: The Animated Series, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and Star Wars: Ewoks. 

The crowds outside of L.A. Comic Con, author’s photo. 

The first artist I saw was Creees Lee who is currently working on Tiger Division for Marvel Comics. Review here: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2022/11/tiger-division-1-review.html. He mentioned re-designing the Taegukgi character. I also happened to meet Tone Rodriguez who worked on all of the Hero Initative 100 Project books. The group’s slogan is “Helping Comic Creators in Need”, we have seen especially this year, that the health of comic creators is very important. Buying anything from their site is so important: https://www.heroinitiative.org. If you value the people who bring your favorite comic books which in turn form the Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC films, and more, check them out. I mentioned to Tone about bringing the 100 Project books to cons and getting them signed by many of artists. They are great to meet. This has led me to looking for their comic books. 

The artist has worked on many comics including Violent Messiahs for Image and OMG A Horror Anthology for Aequitas Comics. Another independent comic book that caught my eye was The Mask of Haliya from Kwento Comics. Their slogan is “The First All Asian, All Women Comic Book Company.”  At the table was producer, Waverley Lim, and writer, Kaitlyn Fajilan. The comic features teen girl, Marisol Reyes, caught in supernatural adventures. The first two issues and more info is available at their site: https://kwentocomics.com. My usual con visit is at the Edgar Rice Burroughs table, not only to chat about Tarzan on film, but also John Carter (2012), books and comic books.  The latest novel is Victory Harben: Fires of Halos by Christopher Paul Carey. It is the conclusion to the Swords of Eternity storyline that has moved through various novels and comic books. Carey is the ERB Universe creative director. 

Tarzan and the Lost Secrets of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe panel, author’s photo. 

You can find info of one of the most creative, world building author, and order books and other merch at: https://www.edgarriceburroughs.com. On the Tarzan and the Lost Secrets of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe panel was artist, Mike Dubisch, who drew the online comic that was collected into a hardcover graphic novel, I Am A Barbarian. This deals with Britanicus who is tied to the Roman emperor Caligula. Carey on the panel noted that many secrets were tied to what Burroughs called “angles.” This was from his writing, The Ghostly Script, included with the Victory Harben novel. At the panel, James Sullos, the president of ERB, Inc., revealed that there will be Tarzan in live action in 3 to 4 years. John Carter of Mars will be back on television and animation. 

Other properties include Carson of Venus and Beyond the Farthest Star. Streaming shows could make these fantastic IPs possible.  An interesting cosplayer is Joanie Brosas who was on the Asian Representation in Comics and Media panel. Brosas started out cosplaying and then related, “I started catering the character to me and making it my own.” The panel also featured actress, Leilani Shiu, was in The Mandalorian and played the Jawa, Teeka, in Obi-Wan Kenobi.  “They get to see me without my mask. Usually I wear my outfit and don’t see my face. For the Asians they get all excited and go, I didn’t know you were Asian. Then, it opens doors that you can be yourself.” Also at the panel was artist, Don Aguillo, who has worked on King Spawn for Image Comics. There were many subjects discussed about art and film.  L.A. Comic Con has great opportunities to meet artists, creators, and buy comics and other collectibles. 

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