Posted in: Comics, Denver Comic Con, Recent Updates | Tagged: avatar press, boom studios, Comics, dc comics, denver comic con, entertainment, film, oni press, programming, tv, Weird Science Reunion

Spotlight On Denver Comic Con: How Do You Build A Roster Of Guests, Publishers, And Artists Into A Major Draw?

It's nearly upon us, the massive Denver Comic Con kicks off this Friday night on May 22nd, and runs through Memorial Day Monday until evening on the 25th. Numbers are predicted to hover around 100k this year, making it a challenger for one of the top conventions in the country, and it's gotten to that position in less than 5 years. I've been doing a series of interviews here on Bleeding Cool to find out their secrets of success, and also investigate the close relationship that exists between the convention and their charity Pop Culture Classroom, supporting children's literacy, a trait that sets them apart from other conventions.  Today, I'm going to ask DCC's Director of Programming, Bruce MacIntosh how the convention built up its roster of guests, publishers, and creators for Artists Valley, and what's new this year to add to those fields of the convention experience for fans.

Hannah Means-Shannon: How did you establish relationships to draw in your first guests for DCC when it opened? Was your previous experience working on conventions helpful in doing so?

Bruce MacIntosh: A couple of us who "created" Denver Comic Con and Pop Culture Classroom years ago, were seasoned con-goers and had been putting on a smaller comic convention here in Denver. So we really knew the nuts-and-bolts of contacting potential guests, and what it would take to make them happy. This translated pretty well to getting celebrity guests as well as comics guests – but the difference is that with celebs you are dealing with agents (who are a unique breed of animal!)

I had also established a lot of personal relationships with comic creators from Pittsburgh to Charlotte and New York to San Diego, so the groundwork was already laid to approach them now at the cons we "scout" and speak with them about coming to the Rocky Mountains. Since DCC is the first big comic con and there's so much to do here, this is "undiscovered country" for most creators and they are eager to come out and make a vacation of it.

HMS: What areas of fandom did DCC start off with in terms of inviting guests, such as comics, or film, TV, etc? Has there been a conscious attempt to add different areas of fandom each year regarding guests who attend?

BMcI: We've always focused on comic creators, but to bring in more of the public who were only familiar with comics through recent Marvel and DC movies, we knew we'd need to book TV and Celebrity guests; then when we got fans in the door for their favorite celebrity from The Walking Dead or Star Trek, we'd hit them with a convention hall of local artists and pros from DC and Marvel.

Each year, we've expanded Artist Valley (we have renamed the traditional area names to give them the Colorado "flavor", like Podcast Peak, Celebrity Summit, Merchant Mesa, etc.) from about 150 creators in 2012 – to over 400 this year. We're really proud that 80% of DCC's Artist Valley come from the vibrant and talented local creators the area has to offer; the rest are pros from the big publishers that comic fans read every Wednesday, from the Golden Age (Captain America artist Allen Bellman) to the hottest creators on the racks (Garth Ennis, Rafael Albuquerque, Art Baltazar, to name just a few.)

Every year, we also add or expand an area of Pop Culture, to appeal to a broader audience, because we want to include as many fans as possible under our "big tent"! For example, we continue to build our Reel Heroes Filmmakers Series, which focuses on what goes on behind the camera, with animators, directors, storyboard artists, special effects pros, stunt people, and so on.

This year, we re-imagined our Gaming area into the E.D.G.E. Expo: E for Entertainment – including videos, podcasts, streaming entertainment and more; D for Development and Design – for all makers, DIY-ers, crafters, coders, engineers and developers; G for Gamers – from the casual to the hardcore and from PC enthusiasts to console junkies; and finally, E for Education – for like-minded people who think pop culture, gaming and other media are great platforms for teaching young people about the world.

And, of course, the Cosplay Department Shindig (our world-class Costume Contest) continues to expand; as we have thousands of cosplayers who flock to downtown Denver every year to show off the outfits they have been working on for the entire year!

HMS: As the convention has grown, how do celebrities usually hear about DCC as far as you know? Is it through news reports, or more from other celebrities and the like?

BMcI: We've all heard the horror stories of cons leaving their celebs and comic guests stranded at the airport, or stiffing them for their fees, and from the start we have striven to set ourselves above those other events. Once a celebrity or comics guest comes to Denver, they spread the word that we treat them right, and in turn that has other celebs, comic creators, authors and merchants banging down our doors to come next year.

More importantly, we like to think we have the best fans in the world. When our guests find out how friendly and relaxed the fans in Colorado are, they not only have a great time and make a lot of money, they want to come back again!

HMS: Can you tell me a little about the genesis of the Weird Science Reunion, how that all came together, and what that entails?

BMcI: It took a lot of work to bring them together, but we've managed to corral Anthony Michael Hall (Gary), Ilan Mitchell-Smith (Wyatt), and Kelly LeBrock (Lisa) for a 30^th Anniversary Reunion of the main characters of John Hughes' 1985 film Weird Science. We tried to get Bill Paxton and Robert Downey, Jr., but Paxton is filming and RDJ is on the Avengers: Age of Ultron publicity tour and can't make it. (Although we're still hoping for a surprise visit…!!

The trio will be here signing autographs for the whole weekend, but Saturday evening is the big panel where they'll talk about how they came to be on the film, and will hopefully share some behind-the-scenes stories of one of the teen films that has come to symbolize the 80s. A couple months ago a couple of fellow Brat-Packers dropped into another event for an hour, and it blew up the internet, so we aren't exaggerating when we say that this is big news to bring together a reunion of the main cast of this film. But DCC is making a full night's event out of it, as the extra-long evening speaking appearance and Q&A will be followed by a signing and sale of a limited number of the film's iconic poster.

This is, by the way, a once-in-a-lifetime event: These three will never appear together at another con. So the fans who come to Denver are lucky enough to have Saturday or weekend badges and attend this event will be the only ones who will ever get to see this special reunion.

HMS: Can you give us an example of some of the film and TV celebrities coming this year and what they'll be involved with at the con?

BMcI: The list of film and TV actors coming to DCC is so long and tends to change from day to day, so fans should check the website, but some of the highlights are fan-favorite Gwendolyn Christie (Game of Thrones and the new Star Wars movie!), Doctor Who companion Karen Gillan (Amy Pond) and Sean Astin (Samwise in Lord of the Rings). We also like to have "themes" and bring out multiple guests from fan-favorite shows or movies, such as Once Upon a Time actors Sean Maguire (Robin Hood) and Rebecca Mader (the Wicked Witch), Walking Dead actors David Morrissey (The Governor) and Scott Wilson (Hershel Greene), and "Whedonverse" actors Amy Acker (Illyria), Emma Caulfield (Anya), and Clare Kramer (GloryC), and from Firefly/Serenity Alan Tudyk (Wash) and Jewel Staite (Kaylee).

Every year, we also like to bring out voice actors from cartoons and anime, so that fans can meet the people behind the characters and shows they grew up with. When Brian Cummings gets up there in front of the kids on the All Age Stage of the Kids' Lab on the show floor, they (and their parents) will surely recognize the voice of Papa Bear from the Berenstein Bears, and you may or may not know the name Vic Mignogna but anyone who has grown up watching anime will want to meet the voice of Eld from Attack on Titan, Ikkaku Madarame from Bleach or Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist! We're also really excited about the Animaniacs Reunion of all the actors from the 90s cartoon, Tress McNeille, Jess Harnell and Rob Paulsen. Among signings and panels, they'll be doing a full musical session of their Animaniacs songs like "Yakko's World", "Yakko's Universe" and "Wakko's America", with songwriter Randy Rogel. Maurice LaMarche will be on hand to revisit Pinky and the Brain with Paulsen, among many other animaniacal things.

Finally, we're doing another TV reunion of sorts, by bringing out the entire "cast" of this season's TBS series King of the Nerds. All the contestants will be reuniting for a variety of panels and "Nerd-Offs" with Denver fans, including several sessions in the Kids' Lab just for the under-20 crowd.

HMS: What comics publishers are attending this year? Is that a development from last year?

BMcI: This year, we're bringing in comics publishers that Denver fans have never had an opportunity to visit, such as Avatar Press, DC Comics, Boom! and Oni. So if you're a comic fan, there's really no excuse for not planting yourself in the middle of DCC this weekend!

HMS: Does expanding comics publishers present mean expansion possibilities for comics programming as publishers bring more comics professionals who work with them to the convention?

BMcI: When the publishers come to Denver, they bring their hottest creators to meet fans in Denver who have never had a chance to get up-close and personal with their favorite artist or writer. For example, Avatar Press is bringing writers Garth Ennis (Preacher), Max Brooks (Zombie Survival Guide) and Kieron Gillen (Iron Man), and artist Jacen Burrows (Crossed: Badlands), to do signings and speak on panels about their hot, new Avatar work. We're especially excited that they will be premiering the Alan Moore-written Providence at DCC 2015, with art by Jacen Burrows.

For the first time in Denver, DC Comics will be coming and presenting their "DC Entertainment – All Access" panels on Batman and "Master Class: Art History" with creators Dan Jurgens, Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, Jeremy Haun, Becky Cloonan, and many more!

Frankly, every year we get new publishers because they realize how their money and time can be better spent here in Denver; our fans just love them and the publishers and creators don't have to compete with the noise from car manufacturers, media conglomerates and wrestlers that have taken over other "comic" cons.

HMS: Can you tell us about the origin and development of Captain Colorado and what he represents about DCC?

BMcI: We wanted to create a mascot that typifies DCC's focus on education and kids, so we asked the lovable and talented artist, Jay Peteranetz, to help us create something memorable and fun. Captain Colorado has the same dreams as most of us did as kids (and some of us as adults still have) to be a superhero, and gets into Calvin and Hobbes-esque adventures with his pals, local icons Blue Bear and "Blucifer" (the DIA airport bronco: You have to visit to see it!) Captain Colorado will be all over this year's con, from the giant banner at the entrance to the Colorado Convention Center, to our Opening Ceremonies Limited Edition Souvenir book.

See you at Denver Comic Con? Events kick off this Friday night with the Opening Ceremonies and don't stop until Monday evening. Bleeding Cool will be there with a team of great reporters.

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