Alternative Press Expo (APE) 2010

As you may, or may not, recall, I missed out on San Diego Comic-Con this year, for the first time in about 14 years. It was a big bummer. Even though I couldn't make it to SDCC, I was excited to hit up the Alternative Press Expo -- or APE -- last weekend in San Francisco.

APE is run by the same folks who put on WonderCon (also in SF) and San Diego Comic-Con. But it is really nothing like a "typical" comic book convention. This was my 7th or 8th APE Con, and over the years, I believe it has become my favorite event of the convention season. In addition to catching up with my geeky & creative friends, APE offers up a lot of interesting small/self-published comics, art/prints from a range of artists (many who are up-and-coming in the comic/animation/web world), and various other products that you can't find just anywhere.

I always leave APE so excited about the treasures I've collected over the day. This year was no exception. If anything I wish I had more time to explore the concourse floors, as the convention seemed to about double in size this year. The attendees are a really fun, mostly local crowd. My only complaint is that, while the Concourse is fairly convenient -- located right off the freeway and plenty of parking nearby -- there doesn't seem to be a great range of food options in close proximity. On the plus side, it's the only convention I've been to where you can drink on the floor. So, hooray for that!

Here are a few pics I took along the way.

Convention center floor just before opening:

Sparkly art by Charlene Kelley (my husband purchased one of these for his Marion collection):

My new owl print by Ashley Burke:

Plushie food, including a giant hamburger by Jakc Designs. PS - I'll do another entry on the Adventures of Slider (or "Bored at the Airport Part I") soon.

Felt octopus by Jackie Huang:

Beastlies by Leslie Levings:

What Kind of Geek are You?

(via Laughing Squid)

I'm not familiar with Flowtown, but I think this flowchart/graphic is pretty cool! (click to embiggen)

I pretty clearly fall under the "Pop Culture Geek" though apparently am a hybridization of several geek forms. I can live with that.

Based out of San Francisco, apparently Flowtown is a

Social media marketing platform that helps businesses transform email contacts into engaged customers

I'm not sure I totally know what that means (it would require more reading, and honestly, it's Thursday and I'm tired and still need to pack for a red-eye flight). Anyway, good luck to them. If they work with infographics and cultural phenomena, I'm sure I'll be seeing them again soon.

SF Alternative Press Expo this Weekend!

The fast-becoming-my-favorite-convention, the Alternative Press Expo (or APE) is happening again this weekend in San Francisco at the Concourse Center. I will be there all day Saturday, with bells on, working at the ever-fabulous booth of Allen Spiegel Fine Arts. I know my good friend, and recently published (!) J.D. Arnold will be there with his new book, BB Wolf & The 3 LPs. And of course, the amazingly talented Scott Morse will be there --- can't wait to see what he's working on these days!

If you are in the City, I hope you will check it out -- this is one of the best, most interesting small conventions happening. Lots of up-and-coming writers and artists, tons of interesting small press publications, and some very cool niche products that this very creative community puts out.

I'm bringing an extra tote bag to bring back my bounty!

Walking Dead Gifts for You

The premier of AMC's The Walking Dead in just few weeks away, and you better believe, this no lost marketing opportunity! Comics Alliance reports that Robert Kirkman's fan favorite is branching out into novels and plushie toys, so you too can get your zombie on!

Just in time for Halloween/Christmas/Zombie Apocalypse:

Banksy Directs Opening of The Simpsons and it is Dark

(h/t Laughing Squid)

Wow, the Internet was totally abuzz this morning about the opening sequence of The Simpsons last night, directed by elusive artist, Banksy. I haven't had a chance to watch the whole episode yet, but after all the posts on the opening, I had to check it out. And you know what? That shit is dark.

Watch it:



I've now read a deconstruction of the sequence, noting that it is commentary on the West's dependence on East Asian sweatshops to produce our cheap goods. Well, certainly that is true, but I guess I wasn't expecting it in the opening sequence of an animated show on Fox.

But honestly, what bothered me most about it was the sad unicorn, used to punch out the middle of DVDs before they are packaged. Yeah, I know it's an animated version of an imaginary animal. I can't explain it, but it bummed me out. The rest is obvious (and of course depressing and sad, and now I feel guilty about, well, lots of things) in its message.

I'm a little surprised Fox let the sequence air, and there is an interesting interview with one of the show's producers about how the whole thing came to be (go read it here). It's certainly at the opposite end of spectrum from the Kei$ha opening sequence they did last year. In fact, despite how dark the Bansky intro is, if this is now a "thing" -- to change up the opening sequence in a variety of ways -- I'm in full support. This is probably the most buzz on The Simpsons in quite a few years, so good. Also, reminder: don't buy so much crap from China. Or something.

Sigh...

Ay, caramba!

Nostalgic Gifts for Your Favorite Geek

Now that it's October, it's time to start thinking of Christmas/Hanukkah presents for that special geek in your life. If your Geek is 30+ you might check out some of the rad 80's inspired gifts from Think Geek.

Stay Puft Caffeinated Gourmet Marshmallows:



Key words here are "caffeinated" and "gourmet"

Ghost Lamps (a la Pac Man):


They glowwwww.....


Actually, just check out Think Geek, even if these aren't quite for you or your lovable nerd -- they have truly awesome, fun gifts.

Bringing the Awesome to NYCC

New York Comic-Con started today. And given that it takes place in October, you've got to expect some amazing costumes from the geeks. Believe that they will bring it, just don't bring those functional weapons.

But mostly, this whole post is so I can share the following photo with Rebel Agenda:



Good, right?

And to give credit where credit is due, I borrowed this picture from an article about the NYCC weapons policy via Comics Alliance. The policy is summed up as: "Basically, don't be an idiot." If only people would follow this basic rule ALL the time.

Apparently the Internet Might Also Think I am Geeky

...and based on my searches and web browser history, they aren't wrong.

My AdChoice image for Yahoo! Mail:


Love it!!

Now if only they would do an "inner superhero" campaign -- if I got Firestar that would be awesum!

Am I the Only One Disappointed by New Fall TV?

I've been encouraged to share an opinion if I have one, and I have a couple on two of this fall's new TV shows. Hardly controversial but I have to start somewhere.

There were 2 shows--Undercovers and Running Wilde--that I was excited to check out because of those involved with the show, thinking that either could be promising. But it turns out that star involvement doesn't always correlate to quality TV fare. 'They can't all be winners!"




Undercovers piqued my interest primarily because of JJ Abram's involvement. I loved Alias, another spy show, and I am currently loving Fringe, a supernatural mystery, wrapped in a conundrum. However, I got lost in about Season 2 of Lost... On paper, this should be a show I like -- like the actors who play the leads (Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Steven & Samantha Bloom). They are very pretty to look at, the show is moderately well paced, there is decent action, exotic locations, spies in costumes, etc. All the basic components of a spy show. But meh, something is missing from the overall total.

Steven & Samantha are already married, so perhaps it is the sexual tension that is missing. The show is referred to as being a bit like Hart to Hart (a show I liked as a kid). Or perhaps it is the completely unbelievable way that Gerald McRaney as the CIA contact who shows up to engage the Blooms in covert field missions that only they are qualified to run. After being out of the CIA for 5 years. By the way, they are currently caterers. Ummm....what now?

For JJ's sake, I tried. But this one needs to have some re-tooling to get back on track and keep my attention. I'll give it another shot before totally abandonment, but likely not more than 3 episodes. Unless there is nothing on or a sporting event X (fill in with baseball playoffs, football, and so on).



The 2nd show, Running Wilde, I primarily watched because of Will Arnett, whom I adore, and David Cross, both of Arrested Development--a fantastic show that Fox canceled way too soon. I really wanted to like this show for Will's sake. Sadly, so far Running Wilde falls terribly short of expectations. There are a couple of chuckles along the way, but overall, it's not very funny, even in a peculiar way. Sadly, I'm not sure what would make the show better at this point. I give this show about 2-3 more episodes. Sigh -- too bad.

There a few other shows I'm keeping an eye on: Hawaii 5-0 (pilot was better than I thought), The Event (despite some crazy time jumping, the first 2 eps had potential), and Nikita (which competes with something else so I'll have to wait and watch this later).

Now, let's go Spring Replacements!! You're up!

Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy

So, I like Emma Stone and she's coming off a reasonably well marketed movie with Easy A, so I don't have anything too terrible to say about her being cast as Gwen Stacy in the Spider-Man reboot (reported here on Superhero Hype). Maybe it's just that, so far, I haven't heard any press releases about the new movie overall that have got me excited yet. It's going to be a real challenge to live up to Sam Raimi anything, as far as I'm concerned. Certainly not a lot of time has passed between the last Spidey and this new franchise, which makes comparisons obvious and awkward. And do we really have to tell the origin story all over again, just because it's a new cast and director? God, I hope not. Added bonus: it's going to be released in 3D, so there's that. I bet America will be sick to death of 3D by the time this movie releases (scheduled for July 3, 2012).

I want to be excited about the onslaught of comic book movies that are in production but there are quite a few I'm just not feeling. Over-hyped. Schlocky. Soft sounding scripts or simply re-dos of origin stories. AGAIN. I hope Spidey Redux (my name, since I haven't heard an official title) isn't one of them. We'll know more when the trailer is screened at Comic-Con next summer, which I'm sure is the plan.

PS - they say that Emma Stone is a natural blond, but in looking for an image of her, I only see her as a red head.