2008 Merchandise & Miscellaneous News Archives
September 20, 2008: A Report from Dragon Con '08
Superman Homepage member Mike Kelly (aka MikeK) attended Dragon Con '08 in late August, and has sent in the following report with photos from his time at the con.So I'm sitting in the Hyatt lobby Thursday night, the night before Dragon Con officially begins, consulting my program to see what's scheduled for Friday, when a guy walks over from the hotel bar with drink in hand and asks, "What looks good?"
I shrug. "What do you like?"
"Everything. I like everything."
"Could you be more specific? TV? Movies? Books?" (Nah, probably not books.) "They've got it all."
"Do they have this show every year?"
"Yup."
"Different city every year?"
"You're not staying here for the convention, are you?"
"No," he admits. "For a football game." (Like a lot of people, I learn later, thanks to someone leaking the code for con room rates.) Then a girl walks by wearing - and doing justice to - a Princess Leia slave costume, and he gasps. "Whoa, she's almost naked! Are they all like that here?"
"Look around," I suggest, pointing out the fully-clad majority of female fans.
Before we can bond further, his buddies appear and haul him off across the lobby. One stumbles into a tall free-standing Con banner, tipping it over. To their credit, they try to upright it before moving on to their further adventures, and as I return to planning mine, I'm struck by the question that will dog me all weekend:
What's this got to do with Superman?
I've gone to Dragon Con for nearly a decade and come here to the Homepage about as long. When Steve's sister Car-El suggested I write a report on it this year, I figured I'd file one every day or so from the scene, like Neal.
But I'm not Neal. I can't write page after page on the fly like he can, or makes it look like he can; I need the dark and quiet of my lair, even if that's a hotel room. And who goes to Dragon Con to stay in their room? If you venture out, though, even if you plan to see as much as you can, you'd better know going in that, no matter what, you'll miss most of it. Ever been to the Superman Celebration in Metropolis (or read about it here)? Multiply that by every SF/Fantasy character, actor, writer, comic, book, movie and TV show with any fan/cult following whatsoever, then turn them all loose in downtown Atlanta over Labor Day Weekend (this year, August 29th to September 1st ). Four days at four hotels (up from three last year) transformed into a fandom campus for Trekkers, stormtroopers, Whovians, hobbits, Galacticans, and geeks of all stripes (except furries, perhaps; don't recall any furries). Thirty-seven separate tracks of programming, not counting gaming and dealer space.
I heard we had sixty thousand people this year.
I consider myself part of all those groups, much as all slaves were Spartacus. So I wasn't there just for Superman, though he was a big part of it for me. Now that I'm safely ensconced back in my lair, I can share that with you.
Thursday, August 28th
Though the con starts Friday, lots of us arrive Thursday when registration opens. I fly down and take the MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority?) train from the airport practically to the doorstep of my hotel, the Hyatt. When I ride this escalator up from Peachtree Center station, I feel I've truly arrived; what it lacks in speed, it makes up for in inducing vertigo.
Scratch that. I've really arrived when I enter the Hyatt and look up at this.
Breathtaking? I thought so too until the first time I walked over to the Marriott next door.
To quote a friend of mine, it's like standing inside a giant rib cage. To quote Ray Bradbury, "This hotel IS science fiction!"
Back when the con was small enough for these two to hold it, you could spend your entire trip from the airport and back again without leaving a roof over your head, thanks to skywalks like this - that is, if that's important to you.
What will be: the food courts they also lead to. In Metropolis last June, we'd probably all have died from scurvy if not for the banquet buffets; that's not a problem here. My rule: never eat anyplace I can go to at home - no Subway or KFC - but I make an exception for Dairy Queen when I need ice cream at midnight.
Enough travelogue. I check in, go up to my room to unpack, then down to registration where I get in a line that snakes outside and all the way around the block - or the hotel, which amounts to the same thing. The woman ahead of me talks about college Psych papers she wrote on Batman. I get my badge and program, go up to the lobby to study it, and you know where that leads.
Over the weekend, I keep my eye out for anyone in Super-costume who'll pose for a picture. This fellow is my first; when I tell him it's for the Homepage, he says he used to post here as Indianakin (sp?).
Next comes this guy
As Thursday ends, I enjoy my last full night of sleep for four days.
Friday, August 30th
There's a Comics track, but the Superman panels aren't part of it this year; rather, they're in American Science Fiction/Fantasy Classics. Friday has three and I see two.
The first, at 1 p.m., is Part One of a three-part lecture/slideshow on "70 Years Of Superman In The Media" and covers the 1940s-60s. When we grumble about Smallville or the movies changing canon, it might help to be reminded that the Fleischer cartoons introduced flying and that Perry and Jimmy first appeared on radio - as did kryptonite, which was created to cover Superman's absence while Bud Collyer took a vacation.
Another fun fact I learn: after Pearl Harbor, Paramount fired Fleischer when he refused to turn the cartoons into war propaganda, which explains some changes in the later ones.
2:30 brings "An Hour With Lex Luthor," i.e. Michael Rosenbaum. I miss the first few minutes because they've switched rooms on me, but I catch most of it. No Smallville news, but if you read or heard Neal's recent interview with him, you know how entertaining he can be; after all, he claims he's a comedian first. And with a full head of hair and a beard growing, he's looking more like Affleck than Lex.
7:00 p.m. On the one hand there's "Kryptonite Gum With Free Purchase," a discussion of Smallville Season 7, probably much like many Monday Chat Hours here at the Homepage. On the other, a showing of Joss Whedon's Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog which I missed when it was offered free online. Guess which I choose? It means another long line and Captain Hammer's no Kal-El, but it's a lot of fun. The live performers miming all the parts - including the ducks - off to the side give it a Rocky Horror vibe which the crowd eats up, but I keep my eyes on the screen since, of course, I haven't seen the real thing before.
Saturday, August 30th
How much does Atlanta love Dragon Con? On Saturday morning, they close the street in front of the Hyatt for several blocks, maybe a mile, for the costume parade. It starts at 10 and lasts about an hour. Forget what I said about never stepping outside if you want a good view, which I do. And this year, I do it all for you.
Please keep in mind, I'm not a professional photographer and I'm especially vexed by my phone camera's lag time between clicking and shooting. For example, I'd swear Zod is facing my way when I snap these:
OTOH, sometimes you catch things you never expect. What does Supergirl see that no one else does? (Guess that's why she's Supergirl.)
Yes, that's Adam West, but not one of his original Batmobiles... not if it's the same near-perfect replica they had a parade or two ago.
As for the rest, I'll just send Steve all my pictures that turned out halfway decent and let him choose which ones are worth posting. Some are relevant to Superman or DC, some aren't, but if you don't see the Power Girl Pin-up League, you know whom to blame.
Unfortunately, the parade is scheduled opposite Part II of "70 Years Of Superman..." which covers the 70s and 80s. But the Homepage's own Michael Bailey is there, and he fills me in when I meet up with him later.
That afternoon finds me in two more long lines, first for the Deep Space Nine reunion and then for the big Galactica panel. That evening, I wander into the film festival and stay until 5 a.m., where I learn the arcane link between the bombing of Nagasaki and Japanese nunsploitation movies.
The guy who runs it looks like Lionel Luthor.
Sunday, August 31st
In the food court at lunch, I meet this guy. Actually, I forget if it was Saturday or Sunday, but Saturday has enough pictures already.
Definitely Sunday, though, when I get up early for a panel with Ami Dolenz, actress and daughter of Mickey of the Monkees; and later one with Yancy Butler, star of Witchblade and daughter of the drummer of the Lovin' Spoonful. Each mentions a childhood brush with John Lennon, and I wonder what it would be like to get them both onstage together.
There's one with Adam West, too, and I'm perversely curious to hear what he thinks of Dark Knight if he's seen it. But he never shows, so while we wait, I catch up on some sleep. (Later, I'm told he lost track of time while signing autographs.)
In many ways, Sunday night's Masquerade Contest is the climax of the con. Some years I go, some I don't. This year I don't relish another long line, plus I want to catch a Webcomics panel at the same time. Besides, all the contestants will be in the lobby later on, among a sea of costumers who won't part until 2 or 3 a.m.
Here's the Marriott as things get rolling:
And here are the Superfolk I catch that night:
The guy with Batman? He's the best, a friend of a friend of mine. Comes as Superman every year but wears many other costumes, too, often several in one night - Blackhawk, Captains Hammer and America, even Supergirl one year when he lost a bet.
I wander the halls into the wee hours, ultimately winding up back at the film festival for zombie/cannibal night.
Monday, September 1st
Last day of the con and it's winding down. Some people are already leaving but I prefer to relax and fly home tomorrow.
At 1 p.m., I rejoin Michael Bailey at Part III of "70 Years Of Superman..." which covers the 90s to the present. When it gets to him "stalking" Lois in Superman Returns - which I don't believe he did, but I hold my tongue - I wonder, why does it never come up that he did the same thing in the pilot of Lois & Clark? (The scene was cut for time when it first aired, but restored later. Don't know if it's on the DVD.) Maybe I should have mentioned it. Guess I just did.
Afterward Michael stays to interview the moderator. We say goodbye and I stroll over to the Walk Of Fame, which is half-empty but Ami Dolenz is still there... so I have to ask if she and Yancy Butler have ever compared notes on their early years.
She says sure, she knows her from growing up "in the L.A. scene and all." But wait... didn't Butler say she'd been raised in Greenwich Village? Is Dolenz telling me what she thinks I want to hear? Ah well, she's so friendly, I just thank her and move on. There are worse ways to cap the con than being humored by someone like her.
But what's it got to do with Superman? Well, she was on Superboy once.
Mike Kelly (aka MikeK)
2008 Merchandise & Miscellaneous News
Listed below are all the Merchandise & Miscellaneous News items archived for 2008.- January 2, 2008: Heroes Alliance update... SUCCESS!
- January 8, 2008: Superman in the Mass Media and Marketing
- January 9, 2008: Indianapolis Super Heroes Museum Closes
- January 12, 2008: Artist Scott Stewart Soars with Superman
- January 31, 2008: Cleveland to Celebrate Superman
- February 1, 2008: Boys of Steel Book Illustrates Superman's Creation
- February 9, 2008: Second Annual Metropolis Comic Show
- February 9, 2008: Cleveland Gearing Up for Superman Celebration
- February 10, 2008: Mattel to Release More JLU Action Figures
- February 13, 2008: Writers Vote to End Strike
- February 13, 2008: Who Wants To Create A Super-Heroine Contest
- February 14, 2008: Superman vs. The Abomination Fan Animation
- February 17, 2008: DC Direct on Display at Toyfair 2008
- February 17, 2008: Howard Soars as Superman in Dunk Contest
- February 19, 2008: Exclusive Superman vs Hollywood Interview with Jake Rossen
- February 21, 2008: Superman vs Hollywood Exclusive Excerpt
- February 22, 2008: Mattel Reveal DC Figures at Toyfair 2008
- February 22, 2008: Modern-Day Athletes Emulate Superman
- February 22, 2008: Superman Featured in New Movie Museum
- February 22, 2008: Podcast on Superman in the Golden Age
- February 25, 2008: Book Preview: Guess Who's Adopted?
- February 25, 2008: Metropolitan Museum Salutes Superhero Fashion
- February 27, 2008: Otis, Chloe & Lois at Metropolis Superman Celebration
- March 2, 2008: Alex Ross Age of TV Heroes Book Cover
- March 5, 2008: Superman Exhibits in New Movie Museum
- March 5, 2008: Press Release for 2008 Superman Celebration
- March 11, 2008: Superman Rollercoaster Takes Top Spot Again!
- March 13, 2008: The Search For Superman in Metropolis, IL Begins
- March 13, 2008: Superman Celebration Fan Film Contest
- March 13, 2008: 15th Annual Superman Auction & Dinner
- March 28, 2008: Superman Homepage on Tonight Show with Jay Leno
- April 1, 2008: Superman Items Sold in Hollywood Auction
- April 1, 2008: Superman Homepage Pranks for April Fools Day 2008
- April 2, 2008: New Speeding Bulletin Logo
- April 2, 2008: Superman Related Names in America
- April 4, 2008: Superman Homepage Merchandise Now Available
- April 7, 2008: Superman Theme to Up-Coming Funky Winkerbean Comic Strip
- April 17, 2008: Radio's Lois Lane Accuses Money Adviser of Fraud
- April 19, 2008: Batman & Superman Invade Mortal Kombat's Outworld
- April 23, 2008: Mattel and DC Direct at New York Comic Con
- April 24, 2008: Superman vs. Attax Fan Animation
- April 28, 2008: Bob Holiday Recovering From Heart Surgery
- May 1, 2008: Calgary Comic Con 2008 Report
- May 2, 2008: A Review of Michael Daugherty's Metropolis Symphony
- May 3, 2008: Giorgio Armani Joins Forces With Superman
- May 3, 2008: House That Superman Was Created In To Be Restored
- May 5, 2008: Superman Exhibit at Summer of Superman Event in Cleveland
- May 5, 2008: Kevin J. Anderson Working on Second Superman Novel
- May 6, 2008: Stylish Superheroes at NY's Metropolitan Museum of Art
- May 7, 2008: Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy Exhibition Opens Today
- May 7, 2008: Superhero: The Secret Origin of a Genre
- May 9, 2008: City of Metropolis, Illinois Attempts Superman-Themed World Record
- May 12, 2008: Five Finalists Revealed in Metropolis' Search for Superman
- May 13, 2008: Brad Meltzer Writes Book on Jerry Siegel's Father's Murder
- May 13, 2008: Superman Exhibit at Summer of Superman Event in Cleveland
- May 14, 2008: Schedule of Events for Superman Celebration in Metropolis, Illinois
- May 15, 2008: New Superman Checks and Accessories
- May 18, 2008: Josh Boultinghouse Wins Metropolis' Search for Superman
- May 20, 2008: Superman Image from Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
- May 21, 2008: More DC Character Checks Available
- May 22, 2008: Bizarro on Cover of Sports Illustrated Magazine
- May 26, 2008: Joe Shuster Heritage Minutes Video
- May 30, 2008: Superman Celebrations in Spain and Costa Rica
- June 2, 2008: U.K. DC Comics Super Hero Collection Magazine
- June 2, 2008: Monthly Update for Superman Bob Holiday Website
- June 4, 2008: MSN Rates Superhero Costumes
- June 4, 2008: Redesign Superman's Costume and Win Prizes
- June 6, 2008: Licensing Expo to Expand Supergirl Products for Girls
- June 10, 2008: TONNER Expands Superman Figure Line
- June 10, 2008: Mattel Coy on Superman Movie Action Figures
- June 11, 2008: Spokane Comic Con 2008 Report (from June 7)
- June 12, 2008: DC Comics Postal Stamps in Singapore
- June 13, 2008: Comic Book Rabbi Making Florida Personal Appearance
- June 14, 2008: Video News Report from Metropolis Superman Celebration
- June 14, 2008: Florida Recruits Superman to Combat Smoking
- June 14, 2008: AFP Looks at Superman's 70 Year Legacy
- June 15, 2008: Site Owner Steve Younis Honored in Metropolis
- June 17, 2008: JLU Action Figure Line Continues with New Look
- June 20, 2008: Mattel Could Release Superboy Action Figure
- June 25, 2008: Director Peter Segal Talks Captain Marvel and Superman
- June 26, 2008: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe at San Diego Comic Con
- June 28, 2008: Exclusive DC Cartoon Tumbler available at Wizard World Chicago
- June 28, 2008: Details on DC Universe Online Emerge
- June 28, 2008: Seinfeld and Superman Interview
- June 28, 2008: Bob Holiday Updates Broadway Memories
- June 28, 2008: The Heroic Life Story of Scott Cranford
- July 1, 2008: Update on the Superboy Legal Debate
- July 2, 2008: The Other Building Where Superman Was Created
- July 2, 2008: Honda Accord Euro Commercial Shows How It's Done
- July 7, 2008: Redesign Superman's Costume Winner
- July 8, 2008: RedEye's Best Superhero Tournament
- July 9, 2008: Midway Reveals Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe Game Play
- July 9, 2008: DC Universe Online - Artwork Trailer
- July 10, 2008: Tonner Announces Comic-Con International Exclusives
- July 11, 2008: Comic-Con International 2008 Schedule
- July 13, 2008: Comic-Con International Friday and Saturday Schedules
- July 13, 2008: Superman 70th Anniversary Celebration in Chile
- July 15, 2008: Steve Younis Interviewed on Perth Radio
- July 16, 2008: DC Universe Online and MK vs DC Trailers
- July 17, 2008: Alter Ego #79 Special Superman Edition
- July 17, 2008: The Homepage Jamboree on Views From The Longbox
- July 21, 2008: Superman World Record Attempt
- July 23, 2008: Jim Lee Talks DC Universe Online
- July 25, 2008: Comic-Con - DC Universe Online Panel
- July 25, 2008: Comic-Con - Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Panel
- July 25, 2008: Comic-Con - Mattel & DC Direct Panels
- July 25, 2008: Glu to Bring Superman/Batman Game to Mobile Phones
- July 25, 2008: A Report on Toledo's Superman Celebration
- July 29, 2008: Fans Visit Jerry Siegel's Home
- July 31, 2008: Comic-Con - Part 1: DC Universe Online MMO RPG
- July 31, 2008: Al Gore is Jor-El
- August 1, 2008: Comic-Con International Report: Part 2
- August 2, 2008: Sales of Fake Superman Suits on the Rise
- August 8, 2008: More Documents from the Superman/Superboy Lawsuit
- August 19, 2008: Marc Nobleman Talks Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman
- August 19, 2008: The Book of Lies Trailer Released
- August 20, 2008: A Videogame Examination - Superman III and Atari
- August 27, 2008: USA Today Examines Mitchell Siegel's Death
- August 28, 2008: Meltzer's Novel Weak on Actual Facts?
- September 1, 2008: Superman Krypto-Collectibles at Jollibee in the Philippines
- September 1, 2008: New Content Now Online at SupermanBobHoliday.com
- September 1, 2008: Brad Meltzer Explains Why He Loves Superman
- September 2, 2008: Charity Auction to Save House Where Superman Was Created
- September 3, 2008: Exclusive Artwork Images for Siegel House Fundraiser
- September 9, 2008: DC Super Heroes Shoes
- September 11, 2008: Over $34,000 Already Raised For Siegel House
- September 14, 2008: Full Roster Released for Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe
- September 16, 2008: Geoff Johns Writing for DC Universe Online
- September 16, 2008: Kevin J. Anderson Talks About First Encounter
- September 17, 2008: Second Week of Auctions Raises $50,000 for Siegel House
- September 17, 2008: Six Flags Makes Superman: Ride of Steel Even Better
- September 19, 2008: Pre-Order Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
- September 19, 2008: A Chat with Brad Meltzer
- September 20, 2008: A Report from Dragon Con '08
- September 20, 2008: Exclusive Interview with Brad Meltzer
- September 22, 2008: A Chat with Brad Meltzer
- September 24, 2008: Part 2 - Kevin J. Anderson on First Encounter
- September 24, 2008: Northeast Ohio Volunteers Join National Day of Action
- September 25, 2008: Top Trumps DC Super Heroes 2
- September 25, 2008: Superman Visits Trinity Church
- September 25, 2008: Neal Bailey Writes Hillary Clinton Comic for Bluewater
- September 29, 2008: Superman/Superboy Lawsuit in WB Quarterly Report
- September 30, 2008: Hallmark Celebrates Superman
- October 1, 2008: $117,222 Raised to Save Siegel House
- October 2, 2008: Dwight Howard to Wear Superman Shoes
- October 4, 2008: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Box Art Revealed
- October 5, 2008: Superman/Batman Painting Sells For Record Price
- October 7, 2008: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Kollector's Edition Details
- October 9, 2008: Internet Blog Becomes Part of Superman Lawsuit
- October 13, 2008: Robert Erwin Helps Save Siegel House
- October 13, 2008: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Updates
- October 14, 2008: DC Universe Wave 6 Action Figures
- October 14, 2008: Historic Lost Superman Footage Now Online
- October 17, 2008: I was born on Krypton Jokes Barack Obama
- October 21, 2008: Screaming Tiki Con Report
- October 22, 2008: First Ever Superman Toy Listed on Ebay
- October 22, 2008: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Video - Alex Ross Paints Cover
- October 22, 2008: Prepaid Superman Visa Card in Australia
- October 25, 2008: Two Superman Stories in This American Life Podcast
- October 27, 2008: Superman Joins David's Cookies
- October 27, 2008: The Dark Knight Meets Superman
- October 28, 2008: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Super Moves & Pro Moves
- October 28, 2008: Senior Producer Yanagi Talks DC Universe Online
- October 29, 2008: Noel Neill Statue Website Launched
- October 30, 2008: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Story Trailer
- October 31, 2008: T-Shirts Show Superman's Universal Appeal
- October 31, 2008: DC Universe Online Website
- November 6, 2008: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe - Kombat Modes
- November 6, 2008: Superman Court Case Dates Set
- November 7, 2008: Superman Wall Calendars for 2009
- November 7, 2008: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe - Holofoil Postcards
- November 8, 2008: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe - Ultimate Mash-Ups
- November 10, 2008: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Rage Trailer
- November 12, 2008: More Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Videos
- November 14, 2008: The Superman Orchestra - Tonight!
- November 14, 2008: The Joker in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
- November 17, 2008: Beethoven & Superman
- November 18, 2008: DC Universe Battle for Metropolis Action Figures
- November 19, 2008: New Superman Video Game Stalls?
- November 19, 2008: More Videos Added to SupermanBobHoliday.com
- November 22, 2008: Super Bricks Available from Siegel House
- November 26, 2008: Jim Lee Discusses DC Universe Online
- November 27, 2008: Superman at the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
- November 27, 2008: Superman Movie & TV Costumes on Auction
- November 28, 2008: Supermen of America Member Ring on Ebay
- November 29, 2008: Patricia Marand - Broadway's Lois Lane - Dies
- December 3, 2008: All-New Superfriends Hour - Season One, Volume Two
- December 4, 2008: Superman During World War II Lecture
- December 5, 2008: Gray and Palmiotti Talk Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
- December 9, 2008: DC Universe Online Austin Studio Tour
- December 10, 2008: Superman Defeats the Ku Klux Klan
- December 27, 2008: Superman Be@rBrick in Japan
- December 29, 2008: DC Universe Action Figures in 2009
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