Monday, September 9, 2013

Cheers! Blogfest 2.0 Announcement and Salt Lake Comic Con 2013: A Recap In 30 Pictures Or More!


Before we get into the details of the 1st Annual Salt Lake Comic Con, I have an important roasting announcement from the one and only topical Irish islander superhero dude, Mark "Madman" Koopmans:

Aloha!

Wow! It’s been a year already and we are about to launch Cheers! 2.0. Here’s some basic info - should you feel led to share:


What: CheersFest! 2.0. Someone deserving will be roasted like a little, brown coffee bean.

When: December (Exact date TBD)

Who: One person will be roasted via popular vote. This someone is a constant presence, is positive, possesses integrity, is involved in the online community (participating and hosting), is supportive of others and is a major force in the blogging community.

How: Once launched, each host has seven days to review comments and the selections made via their comments and pick one. We then present our selections and the co-hosts vote. The recipient (Roastee) is announced at least two weeks out and folks can join a Linky ahead of their roasting posting. Logistically, we have five co-hosts this year:


Save the month! Watch for more details coming your way soon!

*     *     *

Few events have happened in my life that have taken me by surprise; Salt Lake Comic Con is one of them. I've always wanted to go to a comic con. Growing up in LA, you would think I would've gone to San Diego long before now (didn't have the money). I then moved to Utah and wound up with a good job and a hot wife, but not much money to leave the state for a comic con (I'm cheap). And then this con happened. The guests were impressive, but I didn't think it would amount to much more than other local conferences I've been to.

Man, was I wrong!

According to fire marshals, some 70K to 80K people showed up on Saturday, making Salt Lake Comic Con the largest cultural event in the history of Utah AND the most attended first year convention in the nation - and I was part of that ... like taking a bite of history!

Tasty, tasty history ...

While I wasn't able to get a photo with either Stan Lee or William Shatner (sold out - and I'm cheap), I was able to let my inner geek out and enjoy the sites and sounds of an enormous crowd. I also got to hang out with some great writers, including some of my heroes like James Dashner, Brandon Mull, Larry Corriea, and others. Having my co-author with me made all the difference - rock the buddy system!

Now, as some people say, "photos or it never happened," so instead of telling you what I saw at Comic Con, I'll SHOW you. Here we go!

Salt Lake Comic Con: 2013
Bonus points if you know these characters!
 Who you gonna call?
A legendary trio!
Where's Waldo?
 Nice ... jacket ... (run!)
 
A Mighty and Amazing Widow Sandwich!
 Genre bending, perhaps?
 That costume is SMASHing!
They're taking the LEGO hobbits to Isengard!
 To the second floor, please?
Gotta catch'em ... MATH!
 Why's the rum gone?
 ROAAAAAAR!
Impressive ... MOST impressive ...
 I guess Ariel IS a water bender ...
 The next generation of Ecto!
 Black Cat - enough said ...
 The casting search for Wonder Woman is OVER!
 The joke's on Master Chief ... tee hee ...
 Rockin' the western steampunk!
 ... this dude made a kid cry ...
Livin the vida Loki!
 Best couple award!
 No soup for me!
 I can't tell what these guys are saying ...
 Get to da choppa!
 Brandon Mull signing - Series accomplished!
 
  They should move the conference into that Tardis ...
 
 Most complete ensemble!
 
 Everybody MOVE!
 
Who needs X-Men when you have X-Women?
 
Vintage ... got a couple hundred bucks?
 
 Robin just got Riddled!
 
 And for the grand finale ...
The Godfather of comics - Mr. Stan Lee!

I think this is the beginning of a new and beautiful tradition. I have no other comic con to compare this with, but given a few hiccups, I say the SLCC team did a great job. Take that learning curve and make next year an even better one! And me, with a better camera ...

If you couldn't make it this year, I hope you found enough in this post to participate vicariously. And until next time ... Excelsior!

Oh, and if you comment today, you could win a signed book!

Winner to be announced this Wednesday

Did you make it to the con and I missed you? Are you thinking of going next year (it'll be bigger!)? Who's down for some lunch?

I'm David, and Dean says "Hi!"

26 comments:

  1. Wow, that's a lot of people!! Cool it was the biggest first year ever. And how did that guy in the really tall costume get around?
    Ready to roast someone else this year!!

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  2. DPK, seriously LOVE the pics! I didn't know it was such a huge success... that that many people attended and broke records and everything--wow! I should've gone!

    And can't wait to see who will be roasted... we need votes!!!

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  3. SO COOL!!! What an experience. And why were you not in costume?!

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  4. I had to finish unpacking this weekend. I'm gonna definitely go the next time it's in town. Sigh. So much to do these days. Thanks for the pics, man. I feel like I was there!

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  5. I cannot contain my jealousy. But I'm so glad you had an awesome time! I am THERE next year.

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  6. I am so there next year. Looks like a blast!

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  7. That looks like so much fun! Thinking about possible nominations for Cheersfest.

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  8. Cons are so wild. I bet that guy with the wings had a fun time navigating the arena.

    Cheersfest - Arlee Bird.

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  9. Your pics are incredible! And those costumes...man. How much time and money to those people put into them? I've seen the guy with the steampunk wings on other sites, so he must go to a bunch of big cons.

    Wish I could go to one...I wonder how much flights are to Salt Lake for next year.

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  10. Looks like you had a great time! And here's to the upcoming nominations-- so many great writers and bloggers to choose from.

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  11. That ComicCon looks pretty wild. I've never been to one, but I've seen them popping up all over the country.

    Lee
    Wrote By Rote

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  12. Extraordinary funny pics! I can only imagine what it would be if they would see Father Dragon around, although I don't have a comic of my own...yet. Glad you had fun.

    I vote for Mark KoopmanS! (always forget the s).

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    Replies
    1. Al: You get *FREE* Lucky Charms for LIFE for mentioning my poor, lost oft-forgotten little "s."

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  13. never been to a comic con but I have been to StarCon in Denver for about 6 years running (living in Montana now) but it sounds like a good time...

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  14. So cool! You definitely have all the cool stuff in your part of the world.

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  15. Yay! I know that comment from Dean was for me. I love him! Thank you for the mention of me to Dean. I only met him three times while he filmed Lois & Clark!!!

    Love you bro!
    Wendy

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  16. I love that you said you went as a writer. Thanks for all the pics, I really want to go next year. Hmmm...Jamaican Superhero? Um...Anancy? Nanny of the Maroons (sorry she's our National Hero). For the second cheers fest I'm hoping for a roast of Mark. Alex was cool last year.

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  17. Wow, way to goooo David! Great pic with Dean Cain, he is still my number 1 Superman, best ever. Do it all again, next year! Looking forward to WOVEN coming sooner than later now!

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  18. 80,000 is a pretty amazing turnout for an inaugural con. And you met James Dashner? Wow. That Lego Isengard is awesome! Looks like you had a blast. Also, I'll totally be watching for this year's Cheers!

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  19. Dude,

    That is such a *COOL* pic of you and the Cain-man :)

    Yoda says: "Aahhh, poise good you show for Hollywood career."

    PS... and *THANKS* so much for highlighting CheersFest with the Salt Lake ComicCon. You didn't have to, and so I really appreciate ya, man :)

    PS: My Roastee vote is for Julie Luek - she of the awesome saucefulness :)

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  20. That con looked amazing! I hope to go to one, some day. Some day!!! Glad you had plenty of fun :)

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  21. The roasted blog fest sounds like fun. I shall have to join in the voting.

    I didn't know they did a Comic Con in Salt Lake, that is so much closer to my home than many of the others. Looks like actually going got that much more possible.
    They had a TARDIS. I think if I were there I would have spent much of the time standing by it, waiting for the Doctor.

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  22. I think it would be so cool to attend one of those, but Shatner would have to be there. I'll always have a soft spot for Captain Kirk.

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  23. The mermaid joke cracked me up!
    And I took the Jack Sparrow picture :)

    ComicCon was a blast. I wish I had a picture with Dean Cain!

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  24. Great pictures, thanks for sharing. I'd love to go to a ComiCon. Very jealous.

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