Superheroes love to party! Remember the Batusi? As if a full day of comics, discussions, musical performances and presentations weren’t enough, FANATICON is pleased to announce both a Kick-Off Party on Friday, May 14 and an After Party on May 15! The managers, bartenders and performers at Grove House Entertainment Complex have been extraordinarily helpful and enthusiastic about hosting us! They have some great events planned and a few surprises, as well. Check out the schedule below, and remember…you get $2 off the cover change when you come in costume! See you there!
FRIDAY, MAY 14 FANATICON KICK-OFF COSTUME PARTY Scandals Nightclub (10:00 PM - 3:00 AM)
Cover: $6 (members), $8 (guests), $10 (18 to 20)
Featuring: DJ Dance Party w/DJ Zorro & DJ Acolyte
Plus: Super Hero/Villain Drag Show (1:00 AM)
P.S. All FANATICON volunteers get FREE admission to BOTH parties! Volunteer today!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/16 at 02:46 PM •
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Thursday, April 15, 2010
Baked Asheville and Funtastic Faces Join FANATICON Lineup!
Man (or woman) cannot live on comics alone. We require sustenance, especially when there are over 70 tables of comics, art and collectibles to look through. Luckily, Baked Asheville will be joining us on the day of the event to serve up some fun and yummy treats to help keep your energy up! If that doesn’t put a smile on your face, then Funtastic Faces will be happy to! If your Spider-Man costume doesn’t quite fit the way it used to, don’t worry. Funtastic Faces will paint a mask on for you! You can learn more about Baked Asheville and Funtastic Faces below, or on our Exhibitor Profiles page.
Baked Asheville From the depths of yearning for a biscotti with unique flavor, crunch without causing dental work and freshness without preservatives rose the idea for Baked Asheville. What the owner considers a “micro bakery” started in Asheville in 2008. The biscotti has grown in popularity and the products available have grown to include chocolate babka, specialty cookies and breakfast foods. Come see us and taste the treat that gave us our start at the Asheville City Market most Saturdays.
Funtastic Faces Face Painting Funtastic Faces Face Painting specializes in transformative full faces, glamorous crowns, wonderous masks and unique cheek art. This special style of face painting is guaranteed to make your next special event amazing.
See you at FANATICON!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/15 at 08:32 AM •
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Tuesday, April 13, 2010
FANATICON Rocks!
Our Programming Schedule just keeps growing! In addition to our artists, vendors, panel discussions and special guests, we’re very pleased to announce the musical lineup for the show! FANATICON will feature live performances by How I Became the Bomb and everyone’s favorite superhero punk band, The Falcon Lords! But that’s not all! FANATICON attendees will also be treated to a live performance by the cast of ACT’s Little Shop of Horrors! See below for additional info and videos featuring our lineup!
Little Shop of Horrors (Asheville Community Theatre) A down-and-out skid row floral assistant becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. The cast will be performing a number from the show at FANATICON! Little Shop plays April 30 - May 16. For tickets, please visit the ACT website or box office.
How I Became the Bomb How I Became the Bomb formed in 2005 in the university hub of Murfreesboro, TN. Childhood friends Adam Richardson and Jon Burr conspired with like-minded popsters Ricky Bizness, Rusty Hanberry and Andy Spore to make music they wanted to hear. Something big. Something bold. Something cinematic. Learn more about the band at their official website and check out their video below!
The Falcon Lords The Falcon Lords are a band of crime-fighting superheroes. They love music and relaxing in their volcano lair. FANATICON is happy to welcome them back to Asheville! Learn more about The Falcon Lords at their official website and check out some of their amazing adventures in the video below.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/13 at 09:20 AM •
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Monday, April 12, 2010
FANATICON Adds Kipper’s Trivia to the Programming Schedule!
We are very pleased to welcome Kipper’s Trivia Night to FANATICON! Kipper’s Trivia is known throughout Asheville as a fun, fast-paced test of your knowledge of movies, TV, music and all things pop culture and geeky! On the day of the event, Kipper will be presenting a special “FANATICON Edition” of his quiz show for our attendees. So get your team together and enter to win some fun and fabulous prizes! And be sure to catch Kipper’s “Totally Rad Pop Culture Showdown” every Monday at 9:00 PM at Fred’s Parkside Pub and Grill in Asheville.
Kipper’s “Special FANATICON Edition” Trivia Contest is scheduled for 12:00PM in the Panel Discussion Room at FANATICON (Saturday, May 15, 2010). To see the full programming schedule, just click here. Learn more about Kipper’s Trivia Night at his official website.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/12 at 10:27 AM •
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Friday, April 09, 2010
FANATICON Presents “My Hero”
Don’t forget the Volunteer Meeting on Saturday, April 10 at the Asheville Art Museum Library. In the meantime, enjoy this short and sweet romantic comedy featuring the FANATICON Players.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/09 at 12:26 PM •
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Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Calling All Volunteers! Meeting This Saturday!
Hi FANATI-FANS! We are having our first Volunteer Meeting this Saturday, April 10 at 11:00AM at the Asheville Art Museum Library. If you’re interested in taking part in FANATICON and lending a hand to make it a big success, we’d love to have you join us! The Asheville Art Museum Library is located on the first floor of the museum, near the reception desk and gift shop. We’ll have signs up, or just ask for directions at reception.
We’ll be going over all the volunteer opportunities available on the day of the event, as well as marketing events preceding the big day. Here’s a brief list of what we’re looking for:
• Traffic control (assisting and directing vendors and exhibitors at load-in and break-down)
• Greeters (welcoming people to the convention and passing out swag bags)
• Security (assisting with crowd control and safety)
• A/V (keeping all our audio/visual and computer equipment in working order for presentations)
• Heroes and Hero Handlers (pull on the tights and be a hero for the day or assist a hero throughout the event)
• Much, much more!
Please let me know if you have any questions! See you this Saturday at 11:00AM! Thanks!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/06 at 08:25 AM •
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Friday, March 26, 2010
Get Your Game On at FANATICON!
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or strictly a beginner, FANATICON has a game for you! We’re very pleased to announce that FANATICON will offer space for open gaming throughout the day of the event! We will have a limited number of popular games available (Magic the Gathering, Warhammer, Settlers of Catan, etc.), but advanced gamers should definitely bring any game they wish to play (as well as any necessary supplies). FANATICON will provide the tables and fellow players.
Friendly and knowledgeable moderators will be on hand to answer any questions you might have or help you jump in and join the fun! Check below for times and locations or see the entire FANATICON Programming Schedule here:
GAMING @ FANATICON
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Pack Place Mezzanine and Mezzanine Board Room)
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Asheville Art Museum
More programming updates coming soon! See you at FANATICON!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/26 at 07:30 AM •
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Friday, March 19, 2010
FANATICON Presents “Special Occasion”
We’re pleased to introduce the premiere of FANATICON‘s first video promo. It’s a short, but sweet tale about a Mandalorian on a mission. Check it out and be sure to share it with your friends!
Special thanks to Gary Monday at Whole Armor in Asheville, as well as Cord Wartman, a member of the Mandalorian Mercs, an awesome costume club exhibiting at FANATICON.
See you there!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/19 at 07:05 AM •
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Wednesday, March 17, 2010
FANATICON Announces Programming Schedule!
We are very pleased to announce that Craig Fischer will be joining us on Saturday, May 15 as a FANATICON guest! Mr. Fischer is an associate professor of English at Appalachian State University, where he teaches courses on film and comics. His articles have been published in The Comics Journal and The International Journal of Comic Art. He served on the executive committee of the International Comic Arts Forum (ICAF) from 2005 to 2007. Currently, Mr. Fischer blogs with comics scholar Charles Hatfield at ThoughtBalloonists.com, and is a judge for the 2010 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards.
In addition to participating in panels throughout the day, Mr. Fischer will be moderating the discussion with FANATICON Special Guest Butch Guice. We are thrilled to have Mr. Fischer joining us!
Now, for the moment you’ve all been waiting for! Below is the preliminary FANATICON Programming Schedule. We will be adding more events and happenings in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
9:30—10:00
FANATICON Opening Ceremony Join us for a quick and fun ceremony to open the first annual FANATICON! We have a few surprises in store, so you’ll definitely want to be able to say, “I was there!” Plus, the first 100 attendees through the doors will get free comics! (Pack Place, Outside the Museum)
11:00—12:00
Kids & Comics Comic books are often a child’s first introduction to art and literature. Comic book creator Kyle Puttkammer (Galaxy Man Comics) and Asheville educator Susan Stanley will discuss the positive impact comics have on kids, what current titles are suitable for all ages and how to share an interest in comics with the whole family. (Panel Discussion Room - Lower Level)
Zombie Nation with Dan Burello An in-depth discussion of zombies, comparative mythology and the collective unconscious. What drives the recent obsession with the undead? What purpose does it serve the collective psyche when we participate in a Zombiewalk, or read WWZ, Fragile or even The Road. When we watch Night of the Living Dead or I Zombie, what ritual is enacted? Apocalyptic art is everywhere. Why has the current culture spawned it and embraced it? What happens in the culture when it disappears? Join horror writer, psychology professor and Asheville Zombiewalk creator Daniel M. Burrello as we explore these issues and more! (Diana Wortham Theater)
12:00—1:00
Color My World: An Introduction to Comics by Craig Fischer New to comic books? Want to learn more about them? Join Thought Balloonists blogger and ASU professor Craig Fischer for a lively, heavily-illustrated discussion of the ways comics entertain readers. Fischer will begin with an introduction to comic-fan vocabulary—Do you know what the gutter is? Or what floppies are?—and then will talk about the form of comics, focusing on how artists use realistic and cartoony drawing styles, panels and page layouts to tell stories. Come discover why comics may be the most important literary medium of the 21st century! (Diana Wortham Theater)
1:00—2:00
Costume Parade Take your cape to the cleaners and polish that armor! It’s time for the first annual FANATICON Costume Parade. Whether a hero or a villain, inspired by comics, movies or your own vivid imagination, come display your creativity and strut your stuff across the Diana Wortham Theater stage. Costume fans of ALL AGES are welcome and every participant will receive a prize! (Diana Wortham Theater)
Self-Publishing 101 How many times have you thought about creating your own comic book, with your own characters and stories? Think it’s an impossible dream? Think again. Hear from the authors and artists themselves who are creating and publishing their own work. Jake Bible (Dead Mech), Johnny Rigsbee (Divine Wrath), Matthew D. Smith (The Adventurers of Liberty City) and Gary Kwapisz (Conan, The Punisher, Civil War Adventure) join us for an informative and inspirational discussion on how to make your dreams a reality. (Panel Discussion Room - Lower Level)
2:00—3:00
A Conversation with Butch Guice Featuring FANATICON Special Guest Butch Guice Moderated by Craig Fischer Since beginning his career, Butch Guice has worked for such comic book giants as DC and Marvel, as well as independent publisher Dark Horse. He has taken on some of the world’s most recognizable comic book titles in his work, including X-Factor, Birds of Prey and the biggest hero of them all, Superman. Most recently, Guice collaborated with industry luminaries Ed Brubaker and Bryan Hitch on Marvel’s major publishing event, Captain America Reborn. He is currently working on the on-going Captain America series. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to interact with a comics professional working at the highest level of the industry. Mr. Guice will be meeting fans and signing after the presentation. However, due to time constraints, he will not be able to do sketches. (Diana Wortham Theater)
3:00—4:00
The Digital Canvas Computers have provided a diverse new set of tools and a dynamic canvas for artists to express themselves. Artist Kaysha Siemens (Eldanis) will provide a step-by-step demonstration of the process of creating digital artwork and using technology to let your imagination and talent run wild. (Panel Discussion Room - Lower Level)
Adventures in Costuming Members of the Rebel Legion Blue Ridge Base international Star Wars costuming organization will present a lively and instructional presentation on how to take your costuming skills and interests to the next level. From sewing to materials to authenticity, this panel may just inspire you to join in the fun, whether for Halloween or next year’s FANATICON! (Diana Wortham Theater)
4:00—5:00
In Search of Steve Ditko (Peter Boyd Maclean, 2007, 60 minutes)
Introduction by Craig Fischer Hosted by BBC personality Jonathan Ross, In Search of Steve Ditko is a provocative documentary about one of the most creative and enigmatic figures in comics: Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko. Various comics writers and artists—including John Romita, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman and Stan Lee—talk about Ditko’s inspirational art and unorthodox personal beliefs. This is a rare US screening of a BBC production. Don’t miss it! (Diana Wortham Theater)
“The show has an amazing roster of interviewees…Wittily and intelligently written, without a trace of condescension towards comics, [In Search of Steve Ditko] is a model of what documentaries about comics should be like.”
-Comics historian Peter Sanderson.
More information coming soon, including live music, gaming and evening programming! Check the Schedule Page for updates!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/17 at 11:07 AM •
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Friday, March 12, 2010
ActionFest Comes to Asheville!
If the long wait for FANATICON is starting to take its toll on all the comic book fans out there, have I got great news for you! This April, Asheville will be the home to the inaugural edition of ActionFest, the world’s first film festival devoted exclusively to action cinema!
Created by Carolina Cinemas founder/Magnolia Pictures co-founder Bill Banowsky and famed action director and producer Aaron Norris (Missing in Action III, Walker, Texas Ranger), the festival will take place at The Carolina Asheville Cinemas from Thursday, April 15th to Sunday, April 18th. ActionFest opens with the world premiere of Neil Marshall’s bloody sword and sandal epic, Centurion. Plus, the recipient of its first annual Lifetime Action Achievement Award will be none other than legendary martial artist and action movie superstar Chuck Norris!
Tickets for ActionFest will go on sale in early April; individual show tickets are $10, while festival badges purchased before April 1, 2010 will be $65. Tickets can be purchased at www.actionfest.com. You can also follow ActionFest on Twitter at @actionfest. And check out the trailer below. This’ll get your adrenaline pumping!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/12 at 08:35 AM •
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