If there's anyone here in Los Angeles, Comikaze 2012 is coming on September 15-16.
September 15th will be the big reunion of the Batman 1960s TV show cast, with Adam West, Burt Ward, and Julie Newmar. http://comikazeexpo.com/
Michael Uslan will also be at the convention, but I'm not sure what event he'll be part of. Plus, I'm sure DC will have a panel that weekend.
Like last year, I plan to attend and write up a report on the Bat-reunion, Uslan, as well on anything else Bat-related.
If anyone will be there, I will be dressing up as either John Blake (if I get a haircut and police badge) or Bruce Wayne (if I can get a cane). We'll see what I can get within the next couple weeks...
Sounds great Ben.
Do you think you'll get the opportunity to ask Uslan any questions?
I hope so. We'll find out soon when he'll be appearing/speaking and, if it's a panel, I'll certainly try to ask him a question for the site.
I hope you get the opportunity to talk to Uslan.
I would love to ask him about some specific comic influences on Batman Returns. He's always a bit vague about that subject in interviews and usually just says something about the "vampiric" Batman stories of the early nineties. I'd like to narrow it down a bit and confirm/deny the influence of stories like Catwoman: Her Sister's Keeper (1989) and The Penguin Affair (1990). I'd also like to know what specific "vampiric" Batman stories he says Burton was into. I'm assuming he's talking about the stylistic influence of comics like Grant Morrison's Batman: Gothic (1990) and Peter Milligan's Batman: Dark Knight, Dark City (1990). Or he could be talking about actual vampire stories such as Batman and Dracula: Red Rain (1991). Either way, I'd like clarification.
But since you may only get one question, if any, it might be better to ask about something more contemporary like The Dark Knight Rises, The Dark Knight Returns animated movie or the future of the franchise as a whole. Regardless of what you ask him – if anything – I'll look forward to reading your report about the event. It sounds like the sixties TV show reunion will be a big highlight of the day. It's always great to hear from Adam and Burt.
And concerning your costume, I think you should go as Blake. If you go with the Wayne look you'll have to maintain that limp for the whole day, which could get pretty tiring when you're waiting in line for panels. On the other hand, the dressing gown would probably be more comfortable than the leather jacket. And if anyone pushes in front of you in the lines you can just whack them over the head with the cane.
Thanks, Silver. When I find out more about Uslan's appearance, I'll see what I can do.
QuoteAnd concerning your costume, I think you should go as Blake. If you go with the Wayne look you'll have to maintain that limp for the whole day, which could get pretty tiring when you're waiting in line for panels. On the other hand, the dressing gown would probably be more comfortable than the leather jacket. And if anyone pushes in front of you in the lines you can just whack them over the head with the cane.
Haha, I've been leaning more towards Blake, too, and saving the Bruce Wayne look for a Halloween party, where it'd be easier to do the fake limping.
I'll try to get pictures of any costumed characters at the convention. On top of the usual Batman character cosplay, I'm sure there'll be a bunch of TDKR-related costumes this year, especially Bane and Catwoman. I'd be interested to see if anyone tries to do Marion's Talia or Judge Crane...
Update: Kevin Smith will be there, apparently to do a live podcast with Adam West for his Fatman on the Batman show!
http://comikazeexpo.com/kevin-smith-2/
Also, Neal Adams will be in attendance.
http://comikazeexpo.com/neal-adams/
Whose dick do I have to suck to get a free plane ticket over there?
That sounds like an awesome line-up
Quote from: Paul (ral) on Sat, 8 Sep 2012, 21:00
Whose dick do I have to suck to get a free plane ticket over there?
The homosexual Green Lantern's.
The schedule has been released.
http://comikazeexpo.com/panels-and-programing/
Here are the panels/shows I will probably be covering:
11:00AM Batgirl: Spoiled Stunt Show
A stunt show demonstrating the fights and stunts from the upcoming web series Batgirl: Spoiled, starring Marisha Ray (who appeared in the 1960s Batmobile vs. 1989 Batmobile video, washing the 1960s Batmobile in a bikini...) as the Stephanie Brown Batgirl.
1:00PM Batgirl: Spoiled
This will air the first episode of the webseries, a week before it hits the Internet, followed by a Q&A with the cast and crew.
2:00PM Spotlight on Michael Uslan
Q&A with the Boy Who Loved Batman (and helped bring him to life in the post-Adam West age).
3:00PM Batman: The Classic Series
Adam West discussing his time on the show with Kevin Smith in a live "Fat Man on Batman" podcast. I believe this is when the cast reunion with West, Burt Ward, and Julie Newmar happens as well.
5:00PM Comics on Comics
Apparently this is a talk show that "pits comedians against comic creators." Michael Uslan and Thomas Jane (what a combination) are among the guests.
On Sunday, there is going to be a panel debating who is the best Robin. However, I will only be going on Saturday, where a majority of the big guests are coming, so I won't be attending that (as much as it sounds fun).
This is going to be a lot more material than last year's (if I can make it into all of these panels). I'll try my best to capture all the good stuff and share in an article on Sunday.
BatmAngelus' first report from Comikaze Expo 2012
"Fatman on Batman": Kevin Smith meets Adam West
http://www.batman-online.com/features/2012/9/17/comikaze-report-kevin-smith-meets-adam-west
Another report from BatmAngelus
This time it's the Batgirl Spoiled panel
http://www.batman-online.com/features/2012/9/17/comikaze-report-a-look-at-batgirl-spoiled
BatmAngelus' 3rd report from Comikaze
He covers Michael Uslan's 2 panels!
http://www.batman-online.com/features/2012/9/17/comikaze-report-michael-uslan-the-boy-who-loved-batman
Coming very soon - a 1on1 interview by BatmAngelus with Uslan himself!
The interview with Michael Uslan is coming up very soon.
In big news, I have invited Uslan to take a look at our comic book influences articles and will be sending him the links once the interview is posted and I do some editing on the B89 article.
In the meantime, if you'd like to listen to the Kevin Smith-Adam West interview and hear about other things I didn't cover in the report, check out the recording here:
http://smodcast.com/episodes/adam-west-true-west/
Your coverage of this event has been amazing! I was expecting maybe a vague overview of the day, but this has been a really enjoyable blow-by-blow account. I've read the three features that have already been posted and I can't wait to read the Uslan interview. I'm really impressed that you managed to land an interview with him in the first place. You truly are the man.
Concerning those comic to movie features, I actually came up with a whole bunch of extra comic references for Batman Returns back in the summer. I kept meaning to post them but never got around to it. I'll put some of the more prominent comparisons in the appropriate thread sometime this evening. I don't know if there'll be time to add them to the feature before Uslan takes a look at it, but at least they'll be on the site.
Thanks, Silver. I was also expecting to write a vague overview, like last year's when there were only two Bat-related panels and the main speakers were New 52 writers. But each event this weekend was full of so much in-depth information that I thought it'd be an injustice to each one if they were all lumped together into one big article.
As for the comic references- I want to edit the B89 one to make it more structured, anyway. Perhaps Paul could give us both editing powers and we could spruce up both articles before I send them to Uslan?
On another note, here's a little bit about how the Uslan interview came about:
This is only Comikaze's second year and while it's not yet as big as the San Diego Comic Con, I think there's a huge advantage to going to a convention that's not only in Los Angeles, the epicenter of the entertainment industry, but also much smaller and more intimate, where you don't see people sleeping out on the streets just so they can make it into one panel. It makes it much easier to approach and talk to the speakers.
In the case with Uslan, I honestly wasn't expecting to land an interview either. But he came across as extremely friendly and approachable in both of his panels and even invited fans to have a chat with him. I just knew that, if I asked to speak with him for a five minute interview, he would say "yes."
At the end of the Comics on Comics panel, my friend turned to me and said, "If I had the guts, I'd ask him about the Justice League thing." I replied, "You want me to ask him?" And, to his surprise, I went up.
The size of the room and crowd made it extremely easy for me to go up to the stage after it was over. While he was busy signing copies of his book, I was lucky enough to notice his son, David, introducing himself to the other panelists nearby. I came up to him, told him that I wrote for this site, showed him Batman Online on my phone, and asked if I could speak to his dad when he was done. David was kind enough to agree and I waited for a few minutes until the Uslans were ready to leave the room.
David introduced me to his father and we went out in the hallway to do the interview there.
It ended up being eight minutes long, which is longer than what I had expected since Uslan was so open. At the end, David gave me his business card so I could send him the links to the interview and the comic book influences articles to show his dad. Then, I shook Michael Uslan's hand and thanked him, not only for the interview, but also for the Batman movies.
That's awesome. Uslan always seems like a nice guy in interviews, but you never know if someone's like that in real life or if they're just putting on an act for the cameras. But it sounds like he's the real deal. It was very cool of him and his son to allow you an interview. And an 8 minute interview at that! I'm can't wait to read it.
The event sounds like a real gem too – some amazing guests, but without the chaos of something like Comic-Con. Let's hope it stays like that in future years.
And I'll be happy to help tweak the comic comparison features. I'll follow your lead on those. Then hopefully Uslan will get back to us with some positive feedback about them.
QuoteThen, I shook Michael Uslan's hand and thanked him, not only for the interview, but also for the Batman movies.
That was a class move. I'd like to have shaken the guy's hand too. We Batman fans owe him a lot.
Quote from: BatmAngelus on Tue, 18 Sep 2012, 20:59
Then, I shook Michael Uslan's hand and thanked him, not only for the interview, but also for the Batman movies.
Love it. I got a bit of goosebumps just then. Really happy for you getting the opportunity Ben, but also really jealous! ;D
I'm editing a bit of code so you can update the articles.
The interview is now posted:
http://www.batman-online.com/features/2012/9/18/exclusive-comikaze-interview-michael-uslan