CA Staff
Photo Gallery: Even More Fabulous Cosplay From Dragon*Con 2014
While cosplayers are present at virtually every major convention celebrating comics, gaming, fantasy and science fiction, it’s Atlanta’s Dragon*Con that has become a a kind of Mecca to which most of the scene’s most dedicated hobbyists and professionals pilgrimage every year. The cosplay phenomenon can be compared to that of b-boying, where the primary inspiration is expressing creativity, performing and earning props from other people like themselves.
You can see what we mean in this gallery of fabulous photography by Pat Loika — convention photo master and host of the popular Loikamania podcast. Earlier this week we showed you a selection of Pat's photos featuring exclusively Marvel cosplayers, since there were just so many of them on point. Here's a non-Marvel gallery from Dragon*Con that expresses just how much fun cosplayers are having without us.
Photo Gallery: The Marvel Comics Cosplay Of Dragon*Con 2014
While cosplayers are present at virtually every major convention celebrating comics, gaming, fantasy and science fiction, it’s Atlanta’s Dragon*Con that has become a a kind of Mecca to which most of the scene’s most dedicated hobbyists and professionals pilgrimage every year. The cosplay phenomenon can be compared to that of b-boying, where the primary inspiration is expressing creativity, performing and earning props from other people like themselves. You can see what we mean in this gallery of fabulous photography by Pat Loika -- convention photo maestro and host of the popular Loikamania podcast -- whose shots from Dragon*Con express just how much fun cosplayers are having without us.
Marvel And Icon Comic Book Releases For November 2014 [Solicitations]
Courtesy of Marvel, ComicsAlliance brings you an advance look at new periodical comic books, collected editions and graphic novels going on sale in November 2014 (and in some cases beyond) from the publisher’s mainline Marvel Universe titles, Ultimate Comics, the mature readers MAX imprint and the creator-owned label Icon. All of the following books can be purchased at finer comic book shops, where you can also pre-order your selections to ensure you’ll get a copy.
DC And Vertigo Comic Book Releases For November 2014 [Solicitations]
Courtesy of DC Comics, ComicsAlliance brings you an advance look at new periodical comic books, collected editions, graphic novels, toys, statues and other collectibles going on sale in November 2014 (and in some cases beyond) from the publisher’s New 52 superhero line; the mature readers Vertigo imprint; the DC Entertainment brand of special projects, digital-first, all-ages and licensed titles; and the limited edition products from DC Collectibles. All of the following books can be purchased at finer comic book shops, where you can also pre-order your selections to ensure you’ll get a copy before they sell out.
POLL: The Best Of Summer 2014
President of the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation, Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa defines telescoping bias as simply the underestimation of time, and describes the phenomenon of as "though you're looking through a telescope where the details of what you see give you the impression that an object in the distance is much closer than it actually is." It is a consequence of this cognitive psychological condition that we find ourselves sitting here now, cognizant of the fact that it's August 11, 2014, even though it may seem to us that the summer began just a few days ago; that we were dreaming of what to be when we grew up only a few years ago; that we were actually born only yesterday. It is fascinating, frustrating, and terrifying, causing us to question our understanding of all events in our lives and anticipate the future with doubt and fear. It's on occasions like these that we feel compelled to take stock of that which truly matters in life.
To that end, we invite you take this poll of the best comic book stuff that happened this summer. Thank you.
Comics, Everybody: The History Of Star-Lord Explained!
With the still-can't-believe-they-actually-made-this-one Guardians of the Galaxy opening this weekend, it’s time again to break down the convoluted history of comics in the recurring feature we call Comics, Everybody! Courtesy of cartoonist Chris Haley of Let’s Be Friends Again and colorist Jordan Gibson, the subject of this edition has an uncommonly strong claim to the title of unlikely hero. Or at least, unlikely movie star. That's right, we're talking about Star-Lord, the Marvel Comics space hero created by Steve Englehart and Steve Gan.
Whether you’re new to Guardians and Star-Lord and curious to learn more about his ridiculous history or you’re a hardcore Marvel nerd looking to Um-Actually this feature into oblivion, you’ll be sure to enjoy this special tribute to the galaxy's newly famous nobody.
Photo Gallery: The Creators of San Diego Comic-Con 2014, Part 3
Among the colorful cosplay, massive booths, interactive displays and walls of merchandise at Comic-Con International in San Diego — colloquially known as SDCC — remains the most important component of the show: comic book creators. ComicsAlliance photographer and Loikiamania podcast host Pat Loika hit the show floor to catch the men and women who tell our favorite stories in sequential art and captured the enthusiasm that comes from fans getting to meet their favorite storytellers at one of the biggest conventions of the year.
Check back with ComicsAlliance throughout the weekend for more of Pat’s great photos from San Diego.
Photo Gallery: The Cosplay Of San Diego Comic-Con 2014, Part 2
As you know from our weekly Best Cosplay Ever feature, we are big fans of cosplay at ComicsAlliance. The comics, sci-fi, gaming and fantasy communities’ talents for homemade disguises, craftsmanship, and sartorial superheroics are definitely on display this weekend at San Diego Comic-Con, and you’d better believe our own Pat Loika is on hand to document as much as he can. Scroll down for some exceptional examples of superheroic cosplaying talent that we spotted in San Diego!
Photo Gallery: Those Wonderful Toys Of San Diego Comic-Con 2014
Even if you're not a toy collector, there's something inescapably cool about the action figures, statues and other gear on display at fan conventions. Whether they're massive and costs hundreds or even thousands of dollars, or little itty bitty things that still cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars, the toys found at San Diego's Comic-Con International serve the dual purpose of advertising new collectibles for those so inclined, but also standing as three-dimensional tributes to the comic book superheroes and other characters upon which Comic-Con and so much of fan culture was built -- in many cases, actually designed by the artists whose work we love so much.
For the non-collector, these are just really exquisite pieces of fan art, especially as seen through the lens of ComicsAlliance's SDCC photographer Pat Loika, who spent a lot of time in the DC Collectibles and Sideshow Collectibles to document what two of the industry's leading toymakers had to show off at the San Diego show.
Galactus Is Nigh: Sights From In And Around San Diego Comic-Con 2014 [Photo Gallery]
Photographer Pat Loika and the bloggers of ComicsAlliance explored the scene in and around the San Diego Convention Center during Comic-Con this past week, and what follows is a small compilation of the things they've uncovered. As you can see, SDCC is a hotbed of cosmic-religious strife, homeless Batmen, and Donal Logue.