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RVA Comics X-Change: Issue 39 — GalaxyCon 2020 Edition

Ash Griffith | March 10, 2020

Topics: Aladdin, Brian O'Halloran, Clerks, comics, comics conventions, Comics X-Change, cosplay, GalaxyCon, GalaxyCon 2020, Gilbert Gottfried, Greater Richmond Convention Center, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Linda Larkin, Pikabug, Robin Williams, Shannon Elizabeth, View Askewniverse

Happy Tuesday, comics fans! Welcome back to your favorite bi-weekly go-to for comics news and talk in Richmond. Not only that, we are your best go-to for in-depth coverage of the biggest annual comics and pop culture event in the River City – GalaxyCon Richmond. 

Conventions are beautiful events for many reasons; they bring people of all walks of life and interests together under the same roof, and also allow said people to experience the media that brings them joy in a new way. From artist alley, to vendors, to question and answer panels, to even shaking your favorite actor’s hand, conventions are full of magical events for so many people.

Naturally, this year’s GalaxyCon Richmond was no different. If last year’s line-up of celebrities and creators was excellent, then this year’s topped it as a solidified supreme. The unofficial theme of the year must have been “reunion,” as many franchise’s actors and creators joined forces once again, some having not each other in years.

From the central cast of The WB/CW’s Smallville to Disney’s Aladdin and even nerd king Kevin Smith’s View Askewniverse, many different casts were reunited on the floors of GalaxyCon. It was a mighty good time to be a fan of, well, almost anything.

Linda Larkin is best known to many children of the 90s as the speaking voice of Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin (1992). If her fans thought that they were the ones most excited to meet her and the cast, they have some competition. While she travels the convention circuit a few times a year, no one was more excited to be at this convention, and see the Aladdin cast reunion, than the princess of Agrabah herself.

“It’s really nice for [the cast to be back together],” said Larkin. “It’s just really nice to be able to meet people that love the movie, and all of us [to] be together when that happens. It’s really nice. ”

The best part for Larkin was certainly meeting the fans. Voice actors usually don’t record many parts of their script, if any at all, with other actors, so getting to see and meet other people who share the passion for her projects is her favorite. If you grew up with this film and let her know, she was just as excited to talk to you as well.

“It’s very moving to me,” said Larkin. “It’s very touching when I see another person across from me, and they’re telling me, and I can see in their eyes that this movie imprinted on them in a way that is lasting. I just feel really lucky to be a part of that for them.”

The event Larkin was most excited for was without a doubt the question and answer panel with the remaining members of the cast – Steve Weinger (Aladdin himself), Gilbert Gottfried (Iago), Jonathan Freeman (Jafar), and Frank Welker (Abu and the Cave of Wonders). Rarely are they ever together, and even then it is usually in smaller groups. It has been a long time since all of the remaining cast has been in the same room together.

The event was held on one of the main stages of the Greater Richmond Convention Center, which meant that the panel was held in a very large, almost stadium-sized room. The projection screens on either side of the stage were gratefully appreciated. Families, small children, and adults in their twenties and thirties filled the packed room, with barely a seat left to spare. With five minutes until the panel was set to begin, the long line to ask questions was already filling.

The cast answered a variety of questions, ranging from favorite recording memories to casting memories, and even their favorite lines from their individual characters. Two subjects, however, were the most popular in rotation – the shock of the film’s immediate and long-lasting popularity, and working with the Genie himself, Robin Williams. 

Most of the cast remembered Williams just the way we as fans assumed he was – kind, supportive, and hard-working. Weinger recalled Williams improvising parts of a scene with him, where Weinger’s Aladdin (in disguise as Prince Ali) is still trying to woo Princess Jasmine, while Williams’ Genie (in disguise as a bumblebee) advises him to just “beeeeee yourself.”

Of all the memories, the one that got many of the adults who are familiar with Gottfried’s long stand-up comedy career was when he recalled sharing the stage with Williams at a comedy show. When Gottfried was kicked further down on the lineup, Williams fought for him by insisting that he himself go early instead of Gottfried, because he had “friends who were here to see Gilbert.” 

As per usual at conventions, there were many cosplayers walking the exhibition halls. From Sailor Moon to Rey and Supreme Leader Kylo Ren from the Star Wars series, there was something for everyone. Among the booths and events were even tables and events specifically for the cosplay bunch.

A few tables were set up for cosplayers to quickly mend their costumes, or fix hair and makeup. Many cars were in attendance for fans to pose with, such as K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider, the Metallicar from Supernatural, and the Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters; plus, for the anime fans, Grace Klich’s Pikabug was hanging out as well.

Not only were there multiple costume contests, costumed pro wrestlers had a strong presence in the back of the exhibition hall as well. Who will win in a battle of Link versus StarLord? Only the headlock will tell. 

Pulling a strong audience amongst the question and answer panels was the reunion of some of the View Askewniverse’s favorites. Kevin Smith’s beloved franchise saw a new addition last year with the Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, starring Smith and Jason Mewes. As Smith recently finished up the Jay and Silent Bob Reboot Roadshow tour to promote the film, some of the cast, including Mewes, came back to Richmond to say hello.

Friday night’s View Askew Reunion Q&A panel was attended by Brian O’Halloran (Dante Hicks, amongst others), Shannon Elizabeth (Justice), and Mewes (Jay). Like the Aladdin cast, much of the cast of the films had not seen each other in person in a while. That was not true, however, of O’Halloran and Mewes. O’Halloran joked that he “sees this motherfucker all the time.”

O’Halloran and Mewes answered the majority of the questions, which ranged from favorite memories of the series (mostly centering on Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, the only film aside from Jay and Silent Bob Reboot in which all three of them appeared), to filming, and of course what it is like to work with Smith himself. O’Halloran fondly recalled that filming the View Askew films is much like “what [he] imagined summer camp is like.”

Of course, the biggest questions centered around Clerks 3. There are always some theories or mystery around Clerks 3 and whether or not it will happen; quite frankly, there have been for many years. Allegedly there was a script previously written for it, but a test audience found it to be entirely too dark, so it was scrapped. 

However, O’Halloran confirmed during the panel that the film is a go, and the usual cast of characters are just waiting on Smith to finally finish the script.

That does it for this week, comics fans! We hope you enjoyed part one of our coverage of GalaxyCon. Stay tuned for more, as we dig deep into Artist Alley, talk with some of your favorite comic creators, and present a very special interview with the men of Clerks themselves, Brian O’Halloran (Dante Hicks) and Jeff Anderson (Randal Graves), as they talk to us about the convention and the future of the series.

Until next time.

All Photos by Ash Griffith

RVA Comics X-Change: Issue 38 (GalaxyCon 2020 Preview Edition)

Ash Griffith | February 25, 2020

Topics: Aladdin, All-Star Superman, Amy Mebberson, Avengers: Endgame, Becky Cloonan, Brian O'Halloran, Christopher Priest, Clerks, Clue: Candlestick, comics, comics conventions, Comics X-Change, Dash Shaw, Disney Princess Comic Strips, Emi Lenox, Emitown, GalaxyCon, Gilbert Gottfried, Gotham Academy, Green Lantern: Sleepers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Invader Zim, Jason Mewes, Jeff Anderson, Linda Larkin, Michael Rooker, Michael Rosenbaum, Richard Horvitz, Ricki Simmons, Scott Weinger, Sean Gunn, Smallville, the walking dead, Tom Welling

Happiest of Tuesdays, comic fans! Welcome back to your Richmond Comics X-Change: GalaxyCon 2020 Preview Edition. This week we see the opening of GalaxyCon in Richmond, and for year two, we are going to get you prepared just in time to meet all of your favorite actors, comic book authors, and — for the auto nerds out there — even a few of your favorite sci-fi and fantasy vehicles that will be in attendance this year, as well.

February 28th marks not only the opening of GalaxyCon’s Richmond dates, but the second year of GalaxyCon making its appearance in the River City. GalaxyCon has been a gem for central Virginia for many reasons, but undeniably because of the guests. GalaxyCon has brought in a variety of people from various films, television series, comics, and even anime that fans in Virginia otherwise would not have a chance to encounter without traveling quite a distance.

As we inch ever closer to the big event, we at RVA Magazine have compiled a to-do list of comics we recommend you check out before this weekend — or if time is not your friend, in some cases a film or two — just to catch you up to speed. While this is by no means a complete list of all of the guests in attendance, it should be sufficient enough to have you ready to walk in to the convention center to take on anything. Let’s dive in.

Gotham Academy Vol. 1, by Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, and Karl Kerschl

Only in Gotham City can a prestigious prep school for the elite be so much more, and so much weirder than it looks. Gotham Academy is a monthly teen drama featuring occasional appearances by, naturally, Bruce Wayne (who is a benefactor of the school) and many secret ties to old Gotham. Cloonan will be in attendance at this weekend’s festivities and is best known as, among other things, the first woman to draw Batman for DC comics. 

Clerks. The Comic Books, by Kevin Smith, Jim Mahfood, Phil Hester, and Ande Parks

Smith didn’t just manage to catch lightning in a bottle when he created the iconic comedy Clerks, he dumped it all over the place in what resulted in the View Askewniverse franchise (named after his production company, View Askew, which he owns with longtime friend and business partner Scott Mosier). As the story goes, one of the ways Smith financed the production of the film was by selling off his comic book collection; in the end, it only makes sense that his magnum opus received the comics treatment as well. The series features the ongoing stories of the main characters from the film — Dante Hicks, Randal Graves, Jay, and Silent Bob (snootch). Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, and Jason Mewes (who played Dante, Randal, and Jay respectively) will all be in attendance this weekend along with Shannon Elizabeth (who was in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back as Justice, Jay’s love interest). 
Related Film Recommendation: Clerks (of course), and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.

Green Lantern: Sleepers: Book 1, by Christopher Priest and Mike Baron

The Green Lantern seems to have it all. He’s a member of the Justice League, and he’s the heir to the greatest weapon in the universe: the iconic Green Lantern ring. The problem? It looks like his girlfriend is in love with a normie who is about to become the most powerful villain he has ever faced. Awkward. One of writer Christopher Priest’s claims to fame is as the first African American editor in mainstream comics. The heroes he has helped shape besides Green Lantern include Black Panther and Deathstroke. Priest will be in attendance this weekend.
Related Film Recommendation: Black Panther (Let’s forget that the Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern flick ever happened). 

Clue: Candlestick #1, by Dash Shaw

Shaw, who is a Richmond native and will be making an appearance at GalaxyCon this weekend, makes his own twists and impressions on the classic mystery story by reimagining it as a psychological drama. Spoiler: It’s always Colonel Mustard. Always. 

Emitown Vol. 1, by Emi Lenox

From the comedy to the tragedy, cartoonist Emi Lenox, who will be there this weekend, drops her diary in graphics to the world. Originally starting out as a web comic, Emitown was eventually picked up by Image Publishing for publication. 

The Walking Dead: Compendium One, by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn, and Tony Moore

This iconic series needs no introduction. Originally introduced in 2003 and unexpectedly ending in July 2019, the beloved comic spawned a long-running series on AMC of the same name. GalaxyCon guest Michael Rooker played Merle Dixon (brother to Daryl) in the first three seasons of the series before meeting his demise. 
Related Television Recommendation: The Walking Dead, of course.

Invader Zim Vol. 1, by Jhonen Vasquez, Eric Trueheart, and Aaron Alexovich

The king of quirk and Hot Topic t-shirt sales, Invader Zim, is back in the last few years in the form of a comic series, though #50 will be the last before a quarterly series begins. Originally beginning as a cartoon on Nickelodeon in 2001, the show followed the misadventures of an alien named Zim looking for world domination with the help (or lack thereof) from his robot sidekick, Gir. The show was ended after two seasons, but revived in 2015 as a comic. Voice actors Richard Horvitz and Ricki Simmons (Zim and Gir respectively) will be there to fill the doom-shaped hole in your heart. 
Related Television Recommendation: Invader Zim

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1: The Final Gauntlet, by Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw

Starlord is back, the world is on fire, and Thanos is finally dead…. Kind of? Fans of the popular films will be sure to enjoy digging deeper into the universe with our favorite 80s songbird, Peter Quill, and his friends. Sean Gunn is best known as Kraglin in the series, and will be in attendance this weekend. 
Related Film Recommendation: Avengers: Endgame

All-Star Superman, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely

In this retelling of the classic Superman mythos, our favorite hero battles Bizarro and Zibarro Superman and tackles the revenge of Lex Luthor, amongst other tales. Superman is one of the most retold stories in comics history, with one of the best interpretations undeniably being the television series, Smallville. Starring Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum (who will both be in attendance) as Clark and Lex respectively, the series watches the man of steel grow as a teenager and all of the pitfalls that entails. 
Related Television Recommendation: Smallville

Disney Princess Comic Strips Collections, by Amy Mebberson

In a tale as old as time, even Disney princesses get the comics treatment. While the princesses have always had their own comics, Mebberson’s touch is quirky, fun, and dressed in adorable artwork. While Mebberson will not be in attendance this weekend, we can do you three better. Linda Larkin, Scott Weinger, and Gilbert Gottfried (Princess Jasmine, Aladdin, and Iago respectively) will all be there to answer your questions about a whole new world with you. 
Film Recommendation: Aladdin (2019) – While the Disney remakes are a hot topic, this new take on the classic tale starring Will Smith brings its own touch to the classic animated film that can’t be missed. 

That does it for us this week, comic fans. We leave you today with plenty of homework ahead of you, but much like us, we bet you’re counting down the minutes until the doors open at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Friday at noon. We’ll hopefully see you this weekend at the convention! Otherwise, until next time, comic fans.

Top Photo: GalaxyCon 2019, by Ash Griffith

RVA Mag Comics X-Change: Issue 5 — Comicon Edition

Ash Griffith | October 30, 2018

Topics: Aubrey Sitterson, comics, comics conventions, Comics X-Change, cosplay, Diva Dynamite, Rod Van Blake, Telegraph Comics, VA Comicon

Good afternoon, comics fans! Welcome to another edition of RVA Comics X-Change, your biweekly go-to spot for comics and pop culture. This week, instead of getting you the best recommendations for the next two weeks, we decided to make a pit stop at VA Comicon, which took place last weekend, and give you the lowdown on what you missed. 

Housed at the Richmond Raceway, the 2018 VA Comicon was on the smaller scale, but still proved to be a popular hub for Richmond’s comic community and casual fans alike. As cosplayers walked around the center, various vendors were set up. They ranged from casual fans selling their collections to genre writers; there was even a table set up for Breakout, an escape-room franchise in Midlothian. 

Fellow RVA Mag writer John Donegan was kind enough to help me maneuver our way around the arena full of people (and even got himself 3D-printed). With so much happening all around, we had to stop a few people and ask what was going on. 

Katie and Richard, aka Team Rocket

Meet Richard and Katie, your friendly neighborhood Team Rocket cosplayers. Neither of them had ever been to a comic convention before, but upon learning that there was one nearby, they decided they had to investigate. Understandably, they had a lot of requests for pictures as they walked the floor. 

“I’m surprised, I didn’t expect so many people to talk to us,” said Katie. “I’m enjoying the attention,” added Richard.

Aubrey Sitterson

Among the professionals in attendance was comic writer Aubrey Sitterson, who wrote The Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling. Sitterson is actually a Richmond native, but he currently lives in Los Angeles. With such powerhouses on his resume as Marvel, DC, and IDW Publishing, I was sure he does conventions on the West Coast all the time.

Any difference between East and West Coast cons?

“It’s a lot colder here, man,” said Sitterson. “I don’t see too much of a difference. The neat thing about comic book conventions is that there are about a dozen different ways to do Comic Con. There are people who do cosplay and take pictures, people who check out comic books — my favorite people. I like that there is such a huge variety of stuff to do for people.” 

Rod Van Blake

Sci-Fi novelists were certainly in attendance, and we had the joy of meeting with author Rod Van Blake at his table. Van Blake is currently working on the third novel in his series, Ancient Illumination. He’d come to VA Comicon to talk to fans about his novels — and sell a few, too. Van Blake lives in the area and mostly tries to stay relatively local, going as far as Baltimore Comic-Con or Awesome Con in DC. This makes selling the novels easier, and, he joked, makes it so he doesn’t have to lug around a hundred books at a time. 

How is being a vendor at a convention different than being a passing fan? A little bit, he remarked.

“It’s a lot more leisurely when you’re just walking around looking at stuff,” said Van Blake. “I tend not to sit down as a vendor, because I like to engage people as they come by and tell them about the book. I still get to meet a lot of nice people and see the crazy costumes as they walk by.”

Kate DeNeveu and David Murray of Telegraph Comics

Naturally, even a few comic shops were in representation. Charlottesville’s Telegraph Comics made an appearance, albeit without any comics to sell, instead bringing posters and other paraphernalia. They thought smart; realizing everyone else would be bringing the comics, they decided to bring the easier-to-carry things. 

“We’ve been wanting to try out smaller, more local shows,” said one of the owners, Kate DeNeveu. “There’s always an enthusiastic crowd.”

And of course, just to round it out, there was also a wrestler in attendance. Wrestler Dynamite Diva was undeniably more excited than anyone else to be there.

Dynamite Diva

“This is my first comic-con; I got an invite, and wanted to see what it was all about,” said Dynamite. “I have one of these crazy characters that kind of blends right in, so I actually blend somewhere.”

The wrestler herself couldn’t name every costume she saw at the convention, but she recognized a few. “My son gets me into all of this anime stuff because he has me at home watching it,” she said. “He would probably be able to say all of them right off. ”

And so another successful VA Comicon comes to a close. Did we see you? Any favorite costumes?

Your recommendation for this issue, as we head into November, is to keep your eyes peeled for the Avengers: Infinity War 4 trailer that is to be released this upcoming month. What are you looking forward to with the new trailer? Any theories? 

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