JMS **NOT** at New York COmic Con Feb 6-8, 2009

[frulad]

Straight from their website-



Maybe this time I can finally meet you Jan...

[Jan]

Yay, JMS is coming back to the East Coast! It would be great if we could meet up, Frulad! Did we miss each other last time or weren't you there?

I like this bit:

J. Michael Straczynski has written for every medium except poetry, at which he sucks.

I'm a little surprised to see this, though. When he was there two years ago they *really* screwed up his autograph sessions twice. To be fair, though, it was only their second year in operation so they probably didn't know about the JMS "My people are coming" effect.

Jan

[OmahaStar]

Completely off topic, but ... That's a *really* good picture of Joe.

[Jan]

Completely off topic, but ... That's a *really* good picture of Joe.

Yeah, there've been several lately. We've been talking about that over on the moderated group and I think it's that we're seeing pics taken by professionals. Suddenly we're seeing pics that actually look like the guy I see at conventions.

Jan

[Qixotl]

An interview with JMS was posted onto the NYCC Blog site (MediumAtLarge.net). It veers in many directions, but it is stated that there will be a 1 hour panel session at NYCC specifically about B5. The interview leads to tidbits about Forbidden Planet, Thor 600 (and beyond), and this B5 info:

The first rule of subsequent storytelling is Do no harm to the original. So in terms of the future, the only thing that would compel me to return to the B5 universe would be if WB came around and said "Here's enough money to make a Really Big Movie, go and write whatever you want." I don't think the fans are owed more B5 sui generis, but I do think the fans might be owed more good B5. Ironically, WB never seemed interested in doing a big B5 movie just on its own terms, in recognition for what it is and was. But now that I'm suddenly doing all this movie work, they've started calling and saying, "So, how big a movie would it have to be for you to come back and make a B5 movie for us?" So we'll see.

http://www.mediumatlarge.net/2009/01/battlestar-would-win-jms-sits-down-with.html

[Dan Dassow]

New York Comic Con 2009 Videos

New York Comic Con 2009 Video #1
New York Comic Con 2009 Video #2

[Jan]

An interview with JMS was posted onto the NYCC Blog site (MediumAtLarge.net). It veers in many directions, but it is stated that there will be a 1 hour panel session at NYCC specifically about B5. The interview leads to tidbits about Forbidden Planet, Thor 600 (and beyond), and this B5 info:
http://www.mediumatlarge.net/2009/01...down-with.html

Thanks for posting that, Qixotl. Hopefully he names a *big* number.

New York Comic Con 2009 Video #1
New York Comic Con 2009 Video #2

Those are fun, thanks, Dan. And that reminds me...I still need to get my ticket.

Anybody else going?

Jan

[WorkerCaste]

Anybody else going?

Is there any word on JMS's appearences at the con? I'm thinking about going, but since it would mostly be about seeing Joe, I'd kind of like to know what that would entail. I've never been to a convention before (ok, there was one REALLY small one many years ago). I checked the web sit, but there's no info I could find on 2009 scheduling. When does that sort of thing usually get announced?

[Jan]

No sign of a schedule for JMS so far but they're usually not posted until a week or two out. JMS usually does a spotlight panel which is generally a Q&A session after he gives an update on whatever projects he's working on. Most of the time he also does a writing seminar which is also in a Q&A format but with the focus on writing and the business. He also often participates in comic group panels. From the interview, I gather that there's a panel about B5 planned but I don't know if that will be in addition or replace one of the other panels.

Stay tuned...As soon as I see a schedule or JMS posts what it is, I'll be posting it here.

Jan

[Qixotl]

The reported plan is to have the NYCC schedule out by the end of this week, but it will be somewhat incomplete due to most of the TV and film guests not being able to commit until a week or so before the con starts. I'd assume that Joe's schedule will be similar to the one for 2007 con: a panel or two each day and 2-3 signing times (though hopefully he will actually have an assigned table to sign from this year).

http://www.mediumatlarge.net/2008/12/panels-tv-and-movies.html

And WorkerCaste, if you have only been to a small con before, NYCC will be a completely new experience for you. There is far too much to do and many thousands of fans to interact with. It isn't a good place for people with agoraphobia (reportedly it is already the third largest annual convention in the city after only three years), but it is very entertaining for the rest of us.

[Jan]

(though hopefully he will actually have an assigned table to sign from this year).

I would imagine that JMS had a few things to say to them after the last time. Between schedule changes and con staff claiming a limited number of tickets for his signings, not to mention his having to take his autograph line up to the artist area (I heard, didn't see) it sounded like NYCC was still having some growing pains. I think that was only their second year, wasn't it?

Thanks for the info, Qixotl. And welcome, BTW.

Jan

[Qixotl]

I would imagine that JMS had a few things to say to them after the last time. Between schedule changes and con staff claiming a limited number of tickets for his signings, not to mention his having to take his autograph line up to the artist area (I heard, didn't see) it sounded like NYCC was still having some growing pains. I think that was only their second year, wasn't it?

Yeah, a lot of people "heard" about the autograph signing session in the Artists Alley. I found him wandering around that Saturday afternoon (he is surprisingly easy to spot in a crowd thanks to his height) and started to follow him around as he was talking with con heads and Marvel people in order to find a table. After all options were exhausted, he waved me and a few others over and asked us to shout "JMS signing [beat] in the Artists Alley!" with him. He immediately turned and belted that phrase out at the top of his lungs as he walked towards the spot he was informally sharing with Colleen Doran. We formed a train behind him and joined in as a chorus. The confused looks we were getting from other attendees were priceless. I got an extra personalization on my Midnight Nation book for helping out.

Yes, it was the second year. The reports from the first year were that many people with tickets were not even allowed into the Javits Center due to fire code issues, so it was a step up. I'm assuming that the bugs are mostly ironed out now.

Hey, the tentative schedule is now up:

http://www.nycomiccon.com/app/homepage.cfm?appname=100453&moduleID=2525&LinkID=31514&campaignid=61424907&iUserCampaignID=46645732

JMS on Babylon 5: The Great Maker Reminisces - Friday 4:45pm
JMS Spotlight - Saturday 2:45pm

He'll probably attend another panel or two, but those are the obvious ones.

[Jan]

Wow, that's much earlier than I was expecting! Thanks for finding it.

Thanks for the first-hand account of the *second* autographing fiasco. The previous day, JMS had a panel and had been told that his signing would be in the same room right after the panel. Just as it was ending they came and told him that there was another panel about to start in that room so they had to find him a table quickly to set up right outside the room. This, after they'd posted that there had to be tickets for his autograph *and* a volunteer was telling fans that JMS was limiting the signing to something low like 100 tickets. That's something that he simply never does; he always signs as long as anybody wants unless he's got other committments. Needless to say, the line was long and everybody got their stuff signed.

Jan

[frulad]

A rough schedule is up.

Of course, for the second year in a row, of one JMS's speaking sessions is scheduled opposite a panel on the history of the pulps which I'd also like to be at... GRRRRRrrrrr.

[frulad]

Anybody else going?

Jan

I'll definitely be there.