Comic-Con « Friends/Family/Fans of Max Allan Collins

San Diego Comic-Con 2012: Day One

Thursday, July 12th, 2012

Nate here —

Bud Plant returned to the Comic-Con this year with a great 50% off sale, and with my father recovering from walking the length of the impressive convention hall with his equally impressive haul of books, I’m taking over today’s mini-update to plug my panel on Thursday:

6:30-8:00 Lost in Translation— As some manga companies such as TokyoPop, CMX, and Bandai Entertainment leave the picture, other manga venues such as JManga are coming onto the manga scene. With so much change, this is a turbulent time for manga freelancers. Find out how the industry is faring in a question-and-answer session with William Flanagan (Madoka Magica Manga), Jonathan Tarbox (Fist of the Northstar), Shaenon Garrity (Hunter X Hunter), Stephen Paul (One Piece), Nathan Collins (Metal Gear Solid: Guns of Patriots) and maybe even some surprise panelists. Room 26AB

And if you’re at the con, don’t forget to go to M.A.C.’s panel from 5:00 – 6:00: First Comics: 30th Anniversary Extravaganza! at Room 23ABC. More details in his post below.

Finally, in order to have at least some content in this post about the Comic-Con preview night, here’s my vote for the stealth hit of the show this year…Mustache Monocles.

Tags: Appearances, Comic-Con, Comic-Con 2012
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San Diego Comic Con Sked

Tuesday, July 10th, 2012

Barb, Nate, and I will be attending the Comic Con again this year (Nate’s fiancee, Abby, will be along again as well!). I will be doing brief daily updates with pics.

Here’s my schedule (two panels):

Thursday, July 12

5:00-6:00 First Comics: 30th Anniversary Extravaganza!—Legendary ’80s independent publishing powerhouse First Comics is rocking into San Diego with the assembled might of extraordinary comics creators Bill Willingham, Max Allan Collins, The Fillbach Brothers, Steve Stern, Dan Cote, and Larry Young. With giveaways, surprise guests, elephants, circus clowns, and more as befitting a 30th Anniversary-come celebrate with First! Moderated by Ken F. Levin. Room 23ABC

Friday, July 13

5:00-6:00 International Association of Media Tie-in Writers: Scribe Awards—Max Allan Collins (Mike Hammer), co-founder of the IAMTW, will announce the winners of this year’s Scribe Awards for excellence in tie-in writing. He will be joined by this year’s Grandmaster Award “Faust” winner, Kevin J. Anderson (Dune), Stacia Deutsch (Batman), Glenn Hauman (Star Trek), Jeff Mariotte (CSI), Deborah Lynn Smith (Dark Shadows), and Dayton Ward (Star Trek) for a freewheeling look at one of the most popular and yet underappreciated branches of the writing trade. Followed by a Q&A session. Room 23ABC

Check out the free download of my original radio play, “Mercy,” for Fangoria’s Dreadtime Stories, which puts a movie idea I’ve been noodling with one its feet. I love this story and I love the way it turned out. There are three other of my radio plays available there as well, but a cheap download fee. My buddy Carl Amari produced and directed.

Here’s a link to a video interview I did with Mr. Media. My first experience with Skype finds me looking like a drunken aardvark with a beanie propeller hat. Something must be done.

Here, of all things, is a fun review of one of the DARK ANGEL novels Matt Clemens and I wrote together (we had a blast doing those and feel the trio of novels represent some of our best collaborations).

Here’s another fun review, this one of LADY, GO DIE!

Turns out “A Long Time Dead” (a Mike Hammer story by Mickey and me) was indeed nominated for a Dagger. We did not, however, win.

See you later this week.

M.A.C.

Tags: Appearances, Awards, Comic-Con, Comic-Con 2012, Dreadtime Stories, Interviews, Lady Go Die, Mike Hammer, Reviews, Spillane
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San Diego Dispatches

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

That’s me in this week’s pic fondling my Audie award, taken in my basement book room. Very proud of this one (for THE NEW ADVENTURES OF MIKE HAMMER: THE LITTLE DEATH). The crystal award is actually a very beautiful object. Thanks to producer Carl Amari (TWILIGHT ZONE radio series) for the great opportunity.

This will be a short update, but I will be posting on a daily basis from the San Diego Comic-con – expect the first missive to appear Thursday morning July 21 and every day thereafter through July 25. Look for pictures of celebrities who are, I hope, bigger deals than the one depicted with this posting.

Not long ago I went in to Chicago to meet with sports radio legend Mike North – a great guy, as smart as he is funny (which is pretty damn smart) – to continue exploring a movie project on his life, which is sort of Horatio Alger Chicago-style, from hot dog vendor to radio superstar. Sun-Times columnist Bill Zwecker covered it in his column, but you’ll have to scroll down past the GLEE stuff.

One of the fun things about the Internet is the occasional quirky, personal review of a book that turns up, very much not in the vein of traditional criticism. Check out this fun look at STRIP FOR MURDER from a reviewer who objects to my anti-anti-Communism – he prefers Joe McCarthy to Ed Murrow! Lots of discussion of Al Capp and Ham Fisher here.

And I liked this review of THE LAST QUARRY a lot – another quirky, personal but smart review.

We’ll close out with three more reviews of the Criterion Collection Blu-ray/DVD of KISS ME DEADLY, all of which mention my documentary MIKE HAMMER’S MICKEY SPILLANE.

Also, there’s a Criterion 50% off sale at Barnes & Noble, both the web site and the stores, and it’s a cheap way to pick up the greatest Mike Hammer movie of all time.

M.A.C.

Tags: Awards, Comic-Con, Comic-Con 2011, Quarry, Reviews, Strip for Murder, The Last Quarry, The Little Death, The New Adventures of Mike Hammer
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Comic Con Update #5

Monday, July 26th, 2010

Our last day at the con was fun, and saw both Nate and me snagging some bargains, but the crowds remained heavy — used to be Sunday was a light day at the San Diego Comic Con (I mean, Comic Con International), but no more. For the first time in all the years I’ve attended, I never made it around the entire room. The middle section, with the Hollywood stuff, was really clogged.

Bill Plimpton

I ran into some interesting people, like the genius animator Bill Plympton (pictured here). I stopped by a table to say hi to actor Thomas Jane, who judged the con film festival with me two years ago, and he didn’t remember me at all — I said hi, anyway. As always, I tracked down Maggie Thompson of the Comic Buyer’s Guide, and had a short but lovely conversation with one of my favorite people in comics fandom. Also talked to the con’s head honcho, old friend Jackie Estrada, and we discussed the possibility of a return of Seduction of the Innocent, not at the humongous San Diego affair, but possibly a WonderCon. Bob Chapman of Graffitti Design fixed me up with some great t-shirts, and I had a promising meeting with the Titan folks about future projects.

There are rumors that the con may leave San Diego, but I hope that never happens — it’s a lovely city and the kind where you can get away from the con and really enjoy yourself. We will be back in Iowa before you know it, where heavy rain is threatening the upcoming XL’S/Crusin’ concert for Great River Days…but word has it the show will go on. Stay tuned.

M.A.C.

Tags: Appearances, Comic-Con, Comic-Con 2010, Crusin', Seduction of the Innocent
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Posts Tagged ‘Comic-Con’

San Diego Comic-Con 2012: Day One

San Diego Comic Con Sked

San Diego Dispatches

Comic Con Update #5