Highlights From Comic-Con 2012

Comic-Con 2012 got underway yesterday, and some interesting bits of news have been filtering out. Digital comic sales boomed over the past year — something to be expected given the trend with ebooks and newspapers. But oddly, print comic sales are up as well, to the tune of 18%. At a Firefly panel, Joss Whedon spoke briefly about how the series would have ended if he could have done it on his own terms. "I don’t think I would have killed anybody," he said. TV shows are a strong theme this year, which much discussion around The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones. All in all, about 80 television programs are represented at Comic-Con. The show is also highlighting the recent trend away from strict superhero stories. "Image Comics is indeed banking on 'superhero-ed out' readers, not only with Kirkman's The Walking Dead, (Kirkman has been called the 'unofficial mayor of Comic-Con') but with books like the spy-fi The Activity. The title's second issue, out next week, was co-plotted with actual Navy SEALs."

Comments

Re:Let me summarize

[crazyjj]

Yes, they're fat, white nerds. But this is slashdot. They're *OUR* fat, white nerds!

Tee-vee

[PeanutButterBreath]

So its TV-Con now, with a highlight being yet more discussion of a short lived, long dead show that still manages to be at least as interesting as anything that has been made since.

Re:Tee-vee

[decipher_saint]

...let me tell you about Star Trek

Re:Tee-vee

[ackthpt]

So its TV-Con now, with a highlight being yet more discussion of a short lived, long dead show that still manages to be at least as interesting as anything that has been made since.

All in all, about 80 television programs are represented at Comic-Con.

It's becoming Media-Con and people are letting it. Which is why I have no interest in attending. I'd rather go to a show closer to home which Hollywood isn't trying to take over. It's called Comic -Con and should seriously consider getting back to the business of Comics.

Re:Tee-vee

[macwhizkid]

It's becoming Media-Con and people are letting it. Which is why I have no interest in attending. I'd rather go to a show closer to home which Hollywood isn't trying to take over. It's called Comic -Con and should seriously consider getting back to the business of Comics.

A comic book is just a medium for telling a particular story. The notion of a "comic strip" was originally telling a story with a sequence of pictures. Television and film is arguably just an evolution along that path. In other words, focusing on stories regardless of the medium they're told in is going back to the original business of comics.

Personally, I have a hard time seeing Comic-Con as anything but a win for everyone involved. Fans love it for the interactivity, writers, artists and actors love it for the chance to get fans excited about their work, and I'm sure it makes plenty of money for the ownership. I suspect very few people in those groups want the event to go back to focusing solely on comic books.

Re:Let me summarize

[busyqth]

Lots of fat white people.

Hey I once thought comics were cool. Then I turned 13 and discovered girls. Never been back to comics since.

Then you discovered Slashdot. Never been back to girls since.

Re: But were there ponies?

[MSRedfox]

Why yes, there were ponies and girls. I know, it's hard to believe so here's a photo from Comic-Con proving both: http://twitter.com/bonniegrrl/status/223841022533304321/photo/1/large

Re:yeah yeah whatever

[ZorinLynx]

Slashdot Bronies represent! *brohoof*

(I feel silly doing that but what the hay)

Re:Let me summarize

[Grayhand]

Yes, they're fat, white nerds. But this is slashdot. They're *OUR* fat, white nerds!

I'm still waiting for the 250lb Princess Leias on mobility scooters.