George Perez is a guest at the the Las Vegas Comic-Con 2003

Las Vegas Hosts First Annual Comic-Con Next Month

The First Annual Las Vegas Comic-Con will be held in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center Friday, October 31 through Sunday, November 2, 2003.

"This will be the largest event of its kind in Las Vegas; a colorful gathering of artists, writers, creators, publishers, dealers, collectors and the general public," said Robert Brueggeman, Event Director.

The three-day show will have a wide variety of activities for adults and children interested in comics, anime, film, video games, and role-playing games. There will be celebrity autograph guests, interactive gaming contests, more than 400 exhibitors buying and selling comics, toys, art and movie memorabilia and a prize-filled Halloween party.

Virtually all areas of comic art and entertainment will be covered for children and adults, from science fiction to fantasy, from the superheroes of the 1930s Golden Age of comics to the most recent anime and action adventure card games, such as the popular Dragon Ball Z.

Says Diamond International Galleries President John Snyder, "Bob Brueggeman and his staff have made incredible progress in bringing this exciting event to the Las Vegas stage. The activities and entertainment promise to be among some of the best ever at an opening Comic-Con. This could very well become one of the finest conventions for the buying and selling of comic memorabilia. The event staff's cooperation, initiative and dedication should be rewarded with record-breaking attendance. I encourage everyone who can to come."

Publishers scheduled to attend include representatives of Cross Gen, DC and Wizard.

Among the many scheduled activities:

Question and Answer sessions with Brian Azzarello, Brian Michael Bendis, Dan Brereton, Jim Cheung, Roman Dirge, Butch Guice, Sean McKeever, Steven Niles, Brian Pulido (Crossgen/Code 6); Chris Reilly and many, many more.

Anime panels and screenings will be available from ADV Films, Animego, AnimeNetwork, Bandai Entertainment, Central Park Media, Dark Horse, FUNimation, Manga Entertainment, Synch-Point, TOKYOPOP, and Urban Vision.

Additional attractions include free demonstrations of the new Sony Playstation 2 Eyetoy interactive game camera, an XBOX Soul Calibur II tournament hosted by VGO Network and Penny Arcade and the on-site launch of Christopher P. Reilly's Punch and Judy: A Grand Guignol (sequel to The Comical Tragedy of Punch and Judy)

Admission to the show is $45 for a three-day pass (purchased by October 15), or $20 for a one-day pass; children, ages ten and under, are admitted free.

More than $40,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded during the Halloween Masquerade Party (ages 18 and up), starting at 7:30 p.m., Friday, October 31. Admission to the costume party is $20 per person; $18 with a Las Vegas Comic-Con pass. Cocktails and food will be available for purchase.


For additional information about the Con, call (866) 36-COMIC, or go to http:/www.LasVegasComicCon.com.