One of the great things about Comic-Con is the opportunity to check out lots of indie press stuff that you might not get to see anywhere else. Oni Press has one or two majorly hit titles (like Scott Pilgrim) but also produces a lot of great stuff that doesn’t enjoy quite the same high profile – even though it probably should.
This year, Oni is taking some pretty incredible stuff to Comic-Con 2013: an exclusive Mysterious Strangers set of two with interlocking Mike and Laura Allred covers; a Comic-Con exclusive of Letter 44 (from Swamp Thing and Thunderbolts writer Charles Soule); a limited edition, full-color Dana and Nola print by Same Kieth (The Maxx); Courtney Crumrin Barrettes and much, much more.
The company will also host a host of panels including Breaking Into Comics Right Now and You’ve Broken Into Comics, Now What? How to Be A Pro. For a complete list of neat Oni stuff and panel times and subjects, follow the jump.
Oni Press Announces Plans and Exclusives for San Diego Comic-Con 2013!
Portland, OR (July 15, 2013) – Oni Press is excited to head south for another action-packed San Diego Comic-Con International next week. For an annual gathering of such magnitude, only a jam-packed agenda of signings, panels, and exclusive items will suffice!
To that end, here are Oni Press’ offerings and wares for this year’s show, available in specified locations and at the Oni Press booth, #1833!
Exclusives and Premieres
The Mysterious Strangers #1 and #2 Oni Press Exclusive Set
$30 – Featuring interlocking variant covers by Mike and Laura Allred, this is the perfect way to dive headlong into the four-color, two-fisted adventures of Chris Roberson and Scott Kowalchuk’s supercool, supervintage superteam!
Limit 2 per customer.
Letter 44 #1 – Oni Press Exclusive Black & White Edition
$10 – The debut of the new ongoing series by hot writer Charles Soule (Swamp Thing, Thunderbolts)! 150 million miles from Earth, a group of intrepid astronauts have ventured forth to greet an extraterrestrial force, but are they friend or foe? In the cold vacuum of space, it’s mankind’s most thrilling adventure, and on Earth, it’s the American government’s most closely held secret. If that doesn’t sound like a recipe for a thrilling comic, we’ll eat our space helmets! Charles Soule and Alberto Jiménez Alburquerque’s thrilling new full-color series doesn’t officially hit stands until October, but eager fans can get an advance look with this exclusive black and white edition.
Limit 2 per customer.
Diesel Sweeties: I’m a Rocker, I Rock Out HC
$40 – This hardcover volume, the first in a series of themed collections of R. Stevens’ wildly popular web cartoon, makes its world premiere at SDCC! Join a colorful cast of characters as they navigate real world problems, like going to record stores and falling in love with robots!
Limit 2 per customer.
Sam Kieth – Limited Edition Dana and Nola Print
$15 – One of comics’ most vividly unique and daring artists, The Maxx creator Sam Kieth’s one-of-a-kind works have dotted the comics landscape for decades. This year, he brings a spectacular full-color print to con-goers. Be sure to get it signed by the man himself!
Limited to 250 pieces. Limit 2 per customer.
Wars in Toyland HC
$19.99 – Joe Harris (The X-Files) and Adam Pollina’s (B.P.R.D., X-Force) hardcover graphic novel premieres at Comic-Con! Toyland was once a place of wonder and beauty, at least until the teddy dictator Roxbury took over. After Matthew’s brother and playmate, Alex, disappears, Matthew finds himself carried into Toyland by his own loyal toy soldiers. Matthew soon learns that Alex has been here, too — and is now being held captive by Roxbury. Leading an attack on the teddy bear’s fortress, Matthew never considers that his brother might be beyond saving.
Capote in Kansas – Special Edition Hardcover
$19.99 – Ande Parks and superstar artist Chris Samnee‘s (Daredevil, The Rocketeer: Cargo of Doom) critically acclaimed book makes its hardcover edition debut!
Murder. Not intricately plotted "whodunit." Not fiery passionate fury. But dirty, sad, disturbing actions from real people. That’s what Truman Capote decided to use for In Cold Blood—his bold experiment in the realm of the non-fiction "novel." Following in that legacy is Capote in Kansas, a fictionalized tale of Capote’s time in Middle America researching his classic book. Capote’s struggles with the town, the betrayal, and his own troubled past make this book a compelling portrait of one of the greatest literary talents of the 20th century.
Courtney Crumrin Barrettes
$8 – Emulate the sleek style of Ted Naifeh’s Courtney Crumrin with these spooky signature barrettes! We can’t guarantee they’ll let you commune with otherworldly beings, but they couldn’t hurt your chances, either!
Scott Pilgrim Volumes 2 and 3 Collector’s Editions
$100 each – Bryan Lee O’Malley’s epic saga of love, loss, growing up, and sweet boss fights continues its smash hit run into full-color, hardcover collections! Limited quantities on hand.
Limit 2 each per customer.
Scott Pilgrim Volumes 1-3 Evil Editions also in stock for $40 each.
Signing Schedule – Booth #1833
Thursday, July 18th
12:00 – 2:00
Lars Brown, North World
Joe Harris, Wars in Toyland, Ghost Projekt, Spontaneous
Joey Weiser, Mermin
Rick Spears, Black Metal
Ray Fawkes, One Soul, Possessions, Apocalipstix
2:00 – 4:00
R. Stevens, Diesel Sweeties
Nunzio DeFilippis, The Avalon Chronicles, Bad Medicine, Play Ball, Past Lies
Christina Weir, The Avalon Chronicles, Bad Medicine, Play Ball, Past Lies
Scott C., Double Fine Action Comics
Brendan Hay, Rascal Raccoon’s Raging Revenge
4:00 – 5:00
Sam Kieth, My Inner Bimbo, Ojo
Mike Norton, The Curse
Ted Naifeh, Courtney Crumrin
Joe Harris, Wars in Toyland, Ghost Projekt, Spontaneous
Joey Weiser, Mermin
Friday, July 19th
10:00 – 11:00
Joe Harris, Wars in Toyland, Ghost Projekt, Spontaneous
12:00 – 2:00
Scott Kowalchuk, The Mysterious Strangers
Joey Weiser, Mermin
Rick Spears, Black Metal
1:00 – 2:00
Chris Samnee, Capote in Kansas
2:00 – 4:00
Ted Naifeh, Courtney Crumrin
Chris Schweizer, Crogan’s March, Crogan’s Loyalty, Crogan’s Vengeance
R. Stevens, Diesel Sweeties
Scott C., Double Fine Action Comics
Lars Brown, North World
4:00 – 6:00
Chris Roberson, The Mysterious Strangers
Scott Kowalchuk, The Mysterious Strangers
Charles Soule, Letter 44
Chris Schweizer, Crogan’s March, Crogan’s Loyalty, Crogan’s Vengeance
Joey Weiser, Mermin
Saturday, July 20th
10:00 – 11:00
Scott Kowalchuk, The Mysterious Strangers
Mike Norton, The Curse
Chris Schweizer, Crogan’s March, Crogan’s Loyalty, Crogan’s Vengeance
Joey Weiser, Mermin
12:00 – 2:00
Joe Harris, Wars in Toyland, Ghost Projekt, Spontaneous
R. Stevens, Diesel Sweeties
Scott C., Double Fine Action Comics
Lars Brown, North World
Brendan Hay, Rascal Raccoon’s Raging Revenge
2:00 – 4:00
Chris Roberson, The Mysterious Strangers
Scott Kowalchuk, The Mysterious Strangers
Ted Naifeh, Courtney Crumrin
4:00 – 5:00
Charles Soule, Letter 44
4:00 – 6:00
Joe Harris, Wars in Toyland, Ghost Projekt, Spontaneous
Chris Schweizer, Crogan’s March, Crogan’s Loyalty, Crogan’s Vengeance
Joey Weiser, Mermin
Joshua Williamson, Sketch Monsters
Sunday, July 21st
10:00 – 11:00
R. Stevens, Diesel Sweeties
Joey Weiser, Mermin
12:00 – 2:00
Joe Harris, Wars in Toyland, Ghost Projekt, Spontaneous
Scott Kowalchuk, The Mysterious Strangers
2:00 – 4:00
Mike Norton, The Curse
Rick Spears, Black Metal
Lars Brown, North World
4:00 – 5:00
Joshua Williamson, Sketch Monsters
Joey Weiser, Mermin
Panels
Come say hi to your favorite Oni Press creators and staffers at a wide array of panels throughout the show!
The Oni Press RevolutiONIze Comics Panel – Friday, July 19th – 11:00AM – Room 32AB
This is where you will get the chance to hear from some of the industry’s most acclaimed creators! John Schork (Director of Publicity) and James Lucas Jones (Editor in Chief) talk with Joe Harris (The X-Files) about his debut graphic novel Wars in Toyland, as well as creators Ted Naifeh (Courtney Crumrin) and Natalie Nourigat (Between Gears).
Also, don’t miss a special announcement about a shocking new upcoming series from Rick Spears (Black Metal), and of course, Free Oni Press comics!
Guaranteed by Oni Press’s totally biased employees to be "the most fun you’ve ever had at a panel.”
The Pitching Hour Panel – Thursday, July 18th – 12:00PM – Room 5AB
Jermaine Turner (Director, Disney/ABC Cable Networks Group), Ted Biaselli (VP Programming, The Hub Network), Jill Sanford (VP, Nickelodeon Orig. Series TV Animation), Derek Hoffman (VP, Donner Co.), Ivan Brandon (Writer/Publisher, Offset Comics), Charlie Chu (Editor, Oni Press), Lindsay Rostal (Game Producer, The Odd Gentlemen), Jennie Kong (PR Strategist), a surprise guest or two and your moderator Dan Evans III (Freelance Writer, Stoopid Monkey) will take an idea from conception through production for various media. This process will include creating a pitch document, obtaining agents, and getting a pitch meeting. The panelists will explain, through hypothetical example and humorous stories, the process that new creators should adapt while making their way through the creative battleground of the entertainment industry. Knowing that each project is unique, there will be a Q&A to allow the audience to really hone in on the solutions to obstacles they may encounter. Also on hand will be Brendan McFeely (IP lawyer, Kane Kessler) to give creators insight on protecting their ideas as they navigate Hollywood!
The Editor in Chief Panel – Thursday, July 18th – 4:00PM – Room 32AB
Comics may be experiencing a new Renaissance thanks to all the movies, TV shows, and transmedia properties that have brought in thousands more readers, but to publishers, there’s much more to it than that: The stories are better, the art is better, and the production values are higher! In this rare opportunity, gain some valuable insight as the current editors in chief of some of the top comics and graphic novel publishers come together for a lively discussion on topics that include the state of comics publishing today, challenges they face in an ever-evolving marketplace, how they broke into the industry, and much more! Moderator Kiel Phegley (news editor for Comic Book Resources) leads a discussion that includes panelists Stephen Christy (Archaia Entertainment), Matt Gagnon (BOOM! Studios), James Lucas Jones (Oni Press), Chris Ryall (IDW), and Bob Schreck (Legendary Comics).
Breaking Into Comics Right Now – Friday, July 19th – 5:00PM – Room 32AB
If you’re an aspiring comic book creator, this is a panel you don’t want to miss! Join some of comic book publishing’s top decision makers, including BOOM! Studios Editor in Chief Matt Gagnon, Oni Press Editor in Chief James Lucas Jones, Avatar Press Vice President of Publishing and Managing Editor Jim Kuhoric, and Archaia Editor in Chief Stephen Christy as they give you the most up-to-date and practical advice on how to break into the comic book industry right now.
You’ve Broken Into Comics, Now What? How to Be a Pro – Saturday, July 20th – 10:00AM – Room 28DE
You’ve found your collaborators, you’ve worked hard and gotten some comics made. Oh God, now what? Co-moderators writer Christopher Sebela (High Crimes) and Oni Press editor Charlie Chu (The Sixth Gun) address having a career in comics, behaving like a professional, and managing expectations once you are a working creator. Panelists include writer Joshua Williamson (Captain Midnight), writer/artist Natalie Nourigat (It Girl and the Atomics), and cartoonist Sloane Leong (The Softest Shadow, Labyrinth’s Lament).
Beautiful Books: Graphic Design in Comics & Graphic Novels – Saturday, July 20th – 5:00PM – Room 4
Robbie Robbins, (IDW SVP/graphic artist), Keith Wood (Oni Press art director), Fawn Lau (VIZ graphic designer), Christopher Ross (Top Shelf director of digital publishing and book designer), and cartoonist/designer Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT) present a roundtable discussion about the shifting trends in graphic novel book design and the industry movement toward books as art objects. Moderated by Oni Press Editor in Chief and hopeless graphic design snob James Lucas Jones.
Build Your Own Monster with Oni Press and Friends! – Sunday, July 21st – 12:00PM – Room 32AB
Join artists Ted Naifeh (Courtney Crumrin), Scott C. (Double Fine Action Comics, Great Showdowns), Joey Weiser (Mermin), and others for a fun interactive monster-creation art battle! Kids of all ages are welcome, and every attendee receives free comics!
Spotlight on Ted Naifeh – Sunday, July 21st – 1:30PM – Room 8
Comic-Con special guest Ted Naifeh talks about his work on the all-ages titles Courtney Crumrin and Polly and the Pirates and reveals what’s in store for the Eisner Award-nominated writer/artist. Moderated by Oni Press and Courtney Crumrin Editor Jill Beaton.