George Perez, Geoff Johns, Jim Lee Added as NY Comic-Con Guests of Honor
Two more notable comic book celebrities will be joining the festivities at New York Comic Con (NYCC) this year as Guests of Honor. Affording thousands of fans the opportunity to meet them in person, Geoff Johns, who is well-known as a comic book writer of a number of DC Comics characters, including Superman, Green Lantern and the Flash as well as for his work as a screenwriter; and superstar artist Jim Lee, known for his acclaimed artistic runs on titles including BATMAN, ALL STAR BATMAN and WILDCATS, will be attending NYCC to help launch the new Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing game, DC Universe Online (DCUO), produced by Sony Online Entertainment for PLAYSTATION 3 in collaboration with DC Comics and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
Both Johns and Lee will be signing autographs and they will conduct a large DC Universe Online event on Saturday, February 7, 2009. New York Comic Con will take place at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City, February 6 – 8, 2009.
“Having both Jim Lee and Geoff Johns at our show is a great ‘get’ under any circumstance, but it’s especially cool to have them here to as part of DC Universe Online,” notes Lance Fensterman, Vice President and Con Manager for NYCC. “They will do a fabulous job entertaining our fans and I know that they will attract huge crowds, not only for autographs but also for their demonstration. I am enormously grateful to them for participating in New York Comic Con and we’re pleased to have them as Guests of Honor.”
“Jim and Geoff represent two of the top talents in comics, so it only makes sense that they’d transfer those skills to the gaming world,” said Dan DiDio, SVP and Executive Editor for DC Comics. “It’s a perfect fit to have them named Guests of Honor at New York Comic Con.”
GEOFF JOHNS: Johns began writing for DC Comics with Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. Through the years he has written primarily for DC and was responsible for the return of Hal Jordan in 2005 as the writer of the Green Lantern: Rebirth mini-series and subsequent Green Lantern ongoing title. In 2006 Johns reunited with his mentor Richard Donner on the Superman title Action Comics and this year it was announced he would write and Ethan Van Sciver would draw the miniseries The Flash: Rebirth, focusing on the return of Barry Allen as the Flash. He recently wrote an episode of Smallville that introduced the Legion of Super-Heroes to the world of live action for the first time. Johns is a principal writer for DCUO, where he has been tasked with bringing the DC Universe to life.
JIM LEE: Acclaimed comic book illustrator Jim Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea in 1964. Today, Lee is the creative director of WildStorm Studios (which he founded in 1992) and the penciller for many of DC Comics’ bestselling comic book and graphic novels, including All Star Batman and Robin, The Boy Wonder, Batman: Hush, and Superman: For Tomorrow. He also serves as the Executive Creative Director for the upcoming DC Universe Online videogame. In his spare time, Jim notes that he enjoys a good laugh or two.
“George Pérez is a major talent and a fabulous Guest of Honor for us,” Fensterman notes. “Of course, he’s hugely famous and will attract tons of fans, but the fact that he’ll be at our show to further the cause of the Hero Initiative makes it that much better! We’re getting an awesome guest, who is lots of fun, and we’re making room for a great cause at the same time. We’re very grateful to the Hero Initiative for helping to make all of this possible.”
GEORGE PÉREZ: Pérez is a multi-award winning, highly respected comics artist who has drawn many landmark comics in his long career, including THE NEW TEEN TITANS, CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE, JLA, FANTASTIC FOUR, WONDER WOMAN, THE AVENGERS, JLA/AVENGERS, SACHS & VIOLENS, HULK: FUTURE IMPERFECT and the current hit FINAL CRISIS: LEGION OF 3 WORLDS. 2009 marks Mr. Pérez’ 35th year in the comics industry and the New York Comic Con is his first comics convention appearance since April 2007. George is also a chairman of the Hero Initiative, a comics industry charity which is sponsoring his appearance and to whom George donating proceeds. Born and raised in the Bronx in 1954, George currently lives in Florida with his wife of 27 years, Carol Flynn.
THE HERO INITIATIVE: In late 2000, a consortium of comic publishers came up with the idea to create a financial safety net for comic creators, much in the same fashion that exists in almost any other trade from plumbing to pottery. By March of 2001, the federal government approved The Hero Initiative as a publicly supported not-for-profit corporation under section 501 (c) (3).
Since its inception, The Hero Initiative (Formerly known as A.C.T.O.R., A Commitment To Our Roots) has had the good fortune to grant over $200,000 to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today.
The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays’ creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.
The Featured Guests at New York Comic Con include:
COLLEEN DORAN: Colleen’s current projects include the upcoming Stealth Tribes graphic novel with Warren Eillis for DC/Vertigo, and Gone to Amerikay with Derek McCulloch, also for Vertigo. She has illustrated projects for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and The Lord of the Rings. Recent awards and honors include Artist in Residence at the Smithsonian Institute and exhibits at Gallery Nucleus and The Krannert Art Museum, University of Chicago. Her previous credits include J. Michael Straczynski’s The Book of Lost Souls, Amazing Spider-Man, Sandman, Captain America, Wonder Woman, A Distant Soil, The Legion of Superheroes, The Teen Titans, Walt Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Orbiter, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Anne Rice’s The Master of Rampling Gate, Clive Barker’s Hellraiser, Tori Amos: Comic Book Tattoo, Girl to Grrrl Manga, The Silver Surfer, and Lucifer. Colleen will be appearing in Artist Alley.
BOB LAYTON: With writing partner David Michelinie, Bob re-imagined Marvel’s Invincible Iron Man, transforming it from a low-end book into one of Marvel’s all-time best sellers. Second only to his tenure on Iron Man, Bob is also known for his innovative contributions to the Valiant Comics line as Editor-in-Chief and Senior Vice President. Bob has also been involved in many creative aspects of film and television throughout his career, working with such Hollywood luminaries as Howard Stern, Tracy Torme, Scott Winant, Jon Zinman, and George Romero.
DAVID PETERSEN: Born in 1977, a steady diet of cartoons, comics, and tree climbing fed David’s imagination and is what still inspires his work today. David was the 2007 Russ Manning Award recipient for Most Promising Newcomer, and in 2008 his Mouse Guard won Eisner Awards for Best Publication for Kids and Best Graphic Album – Reprint. He received his BFA in Printmaking from Eastern Michigan University where he met his wife Julia. They reside in Michigan with their dog Autumn. For more info about David, visit mousegard.net.
IVAN REIS: Born 1976 in São Paulo, Reis is a Brazilian comic book artist. For three years, he worked for Mauricio de Sousa in Brazil. He began his international career for Dark Horse working on titles such as Ghost, starting with issue 17 and acting as regular artist until that title finished at issue 36. There, he also worked on The Mask, Time Cop and Xena. Later, he worked for Lightning Comics. At Vertigo, he pencilled an issue of Grant Morrison’s The Invisibles. He became better known for Lady Death. Reis also worked on Thing & She-Hulk: The Long Night, Avengers Icons: Vision, Captain Marvel, Iron Man, Defenders and Avengers for Marvel Comics. Since 2004, he’s an exclusively DC Comics artist and has worked on Action Comics, Teen Titans, Rann-Thanagar War, Superman, and Infinite Crisis. He’s currently pencilling Green Lantern Vol. 4, Sinestro Wars and Secret Origins. Ivan will be appearing in Artist Alley.
JOE SINNOTT: Joe begins his 59th year working for Marvel Comics in 2009 and has also worked for Treasure Chest, Dell, Charlton, ACG and Archie Comics. Joe is best known as Jack Kirby’s inker on The Fantastic Four. His other work includes Thor (including Thor’s first appearance in Journey Into Mystery #83), Captain America, Avengers, Defenders, Hulk, Silver Surfer, and Nick Fury. Since 1991, Joe has been inking the Sunday Spider-Man strip for King Features. See joesinnott.com for more on Joe.
HERB TRIMPE: Comics Legend Herb Trimpe worked for Marvel Comics during a 30-year-period drawing many characters from the Marvel Universe. Herb worked on dozens of titles and is widely remembered by fans for his work on Captain Britain, GI Joe, Defenders, Godzilla, and Shogun Warriors, but for many fans and collectors, Herb is best known as the definitive Hulk artist, having started working on the character in Tales To Astonish, and then continuing to pencil the Hulk for most of the first 100 issues in his own series. This of course includes the 1st appearance of one of the most popular characters of all time, Wolverine in Incredible Hulk #181 (after a last panel cameo in #180). You can find more information about Herb at comicbook-art.com. Herb will be appearing in Artist Alley.
LEINIL YU: Yu’s interest in comics was sparked by a copy of How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way when he was 11. It was later reinforced by positive responses from talent scouts from Wildstorm/Homage and Dark Horse, published fan art in Wizard Magazine, and his first professional work on Entity’s Aster. Leinil’s major break was Whilce Portacio’s tutelage where the training landed him his first mainstream gig: Wolverine. After a successful run, he later took on The Uncanny X-Men, X-Men, Highroads, Superman: Birthright, Silent Dragon, Ultimate Hulk, Ultimate Wolverine, New Avengers, Marvel’s 2008 Epic – Secret Invasion – and various and film and game concept art. Leinil is appearing in Artist Alley. Leinil will be appearing in Artist Alley.
Other artists who will be appearing at New York Comic Con include:
* Eddy Barrows * Mark Brooks * Bob Budiansky * Cliff Chiang * Abby Denson * Tom DeFalco * Tommy Lee Edwards * Michael Golden * Sanford Greene * Larry Hama * JayJay Jackson * Kris Justice * Jay Leisten * John Paul Leon * David Mack * Frank McLaughlin * Ariel Olivetti * Joe Prado * Eduardo Risso * Alex Robinson * Dave Roman * Christian Slade * Jeo Staton * Christina Strain * Mark Texeira * Ron Wilson * Renee Witterstaetter *