By Grabthar’s Hammer,
by the suns of Warvan; Dragon Con is almost upon us!
In just a few short weeks
it will once again be time to strap on those costumes, stock up on
camera batteries, and drink like you’re South of Valhalla. The
biggest and best nerd event in the world is hitting Atlanta like the
Juggernaut, bitch, and you absolutely do not want to miss it. Nowhere
else can find such a magnificent combination of genres and partying.
Officially, anyway. I can
tell you for a fact that people will be out and partying as early as
Wednesday night. I went down on Thursday night for the first time
last year and it simply did not work for me. I need Friday during the
day to get my non-hungover, sober activities out of the way. I missed
that last year due to an overabundance of party Thursday night and it
really threw off my whole weekend. Plus, I am old and four straight
nights of drinking is not good for me.
You might be wondering
how one can manage even three straight nights of drinking at a comic
book convention. It’s because Dragon Con takes place across five
hotels (FIVE! – Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta Marriot Marquis,
Hilton Atlanta, Sheraton Atlanta, and the Westin Peachtree Plaza)
within walking distance of one another in Downtown Atlanta and the
party does
not stop.
From around 7 PM on Thursday (or like I said, Wednesday if you ask
some folks) until 6 PM on the following Monday you can find some way
to amuse yourself every minute of the day. I love
sleeping, but Dragon Con is the one time of year that I resent my
body’s need for it.
Dragon Con is my favorite
event of the entire year. There is quite literally something for
everybody, regardless of your taste in genres. I wrote a couple of
paragraphs attempting to run down the list, but they were all just
too long and arduous to read (and write). Instead of melting your
mind with prose descriptions of what’s available, here’s a simple
list of the Tracks being represented, with a brief note if I feel
explanation is needed.
Side
Note: If you don’t know, “Track” is the term used in reference
to all of the events involved in a particular genre or field of
interest. For example, the Trek Track encompasses all things Star
Trek. There are panels featuring celebrity guests, genre experts, and
fans. There are also parties and events such as the Miss Star Trek
Universe Pageant, which involves costuming as various species from
the Star Trek universe. So to make things easy, you simply find the
Track that represents your area (or areas) of interest and look for
that schedule. Typically most or all of the events for one Track will
take place in the same hotel and even the same general group of
rooms. It all depends on the size of the Track.
Alternate History
– Basically Steampunk – think Jules Verne
American Sci-Fi
Classics
– Celebrating science fiction movies and TV of the past
American Science
Fiction and Fantasy Media
– Modern and current
Animation
Programming
Anime-Manga
Programming
Apocalypse Rising
– Media dealing with the many different ways that civilization
could end, as well as what happens afterward
British Sci-Fi
Media
Costuming
Electronic
Frontiers Forums
– Internet, law, technology and their impact on society
Fantasy Literature
Filk
– Folk music about genre topics
Horror
Independent Film &
Festival
Kaleidoscope
– Focused on entertainment for kids and young teens
Paranormal
Podcasting
Puppetry
Robotics and Maker
Science
Science Fiction
Literature
Silk Road: Asian
Cinema and Culture
Skeptics
Space
Stargate Multiverse
Star Wars
Tolkien’s Middle
Earth
Trek Track
Urban Fantasy
– Essentially this is classic horror brought into the modern world
Whedon Universe
– About all of the works of the Nerd King, Joss Whedon
Writers’ Track
– Where writers help writers
X Track
– I’ve got to be honest – I’m not sure of the difference
between this and American Science Fiction and Fantasy Media
Young Adult
Literature
That’s an amazing
thirty-two Tracks covering every major aspect of genre entertainment
and some straightforward real-world subjects as well – Electronic
Frontiers, Science, Space, and more. So even if you’re not into the
more fantastic elements of fandom, you can still find ways to spend
your weekend. And if you don’t see your particular favorite above,
chances are it is folded into another Track. For the time being,
anyway. As fandoms get bigger or smaller Dragon Con has shown the
ability over the years to adapt its Tracks and programming to suit
current demands.
Today I’m here to go
over the Dragon Con 2013 Progress Report. As of right now it is not
available online, but you can visit your local comic shop to pick one
up. Or if you’ve already registered you can expect it in your
mailbox any day now. The Progress Report is simply a pre-final update
to the Guest List and some of the Special Events happening at Con.
The final Program should be out a week or so before Dragon Con and
the full schedule will be in that. But for right now there’s still
plenty to look at as part of a pre-emptive strike on preparing for
Con.
Last year’s
registration process was fantastic. The new system of barcodes for
checking in and getting the badge you will need to participate worked
beautifully. And that’s an important point – you will
need a badge to gain access to Dragon Con events and parties and –
in most cases now – hotels. So don’t forget your badge or leave
it in the room because it detracts from your costume. You need that
thing.
One huge change to Con
this year is that the vendors will now be located in the Atlanta
Americas Mart. There simply wasn’t enough room for all of the
exhibitors, vendors, and events in the hotels (FIVE OF THEM). I think
this was a smart move. I never liked the vendors being down in the
bowels of the Marriot. It was humid, crowded, and I always felt
rushed. Plus the exhibitor rooms – which are just costlier vendor
tables – were several floors up from the main vendor room. It was
time-consuming to take in all of the vendors at once. Now they will
all be in one place and you can do all of your shopping in one shot.
The vendors were located in the Americas Mart years ago and that is
my fondest memory of the vendor hall. It felt very open and
comfortable. I was able to take my time and really look at
everything. I’m looking forward to checking it all out this year.
Side
Note: The Comics and Pop Art hall and Art Show have not moved. They
are still in the Hyatt. I realize they weren’t in the same location
as the vendor hall before, but you spend money there, so it was a
question I had.
Last year I barely set
foot in the guest hall. I lost my Friday time and whenever I went by
after that the lobby outside was packed. That’s not happening this
year, because there are just too many people I need to meet. What
follows is not a full list of the guests, just the ones that I am
interested in. What’s in the Progress Report isn’t even complete,
as Dragon Con usually saves a couple of big announcements for the
week of Con. I don’t know if they will this year because, quite
frankly, the guest list is already stacked.
The Progress Report
breaks the guests up into Featured Guests, Additional Featured
Guests, and Attending Professionals. I’ll hit the Performers last.
Featured
Guests
Amy Acker
– I loved her as Fred on Angel
and was (and still am) infuriated by her transformation into Illyria.
She’s been great on Supernatural
and Dollhouse
and I just found out she was Huntress on Justice
League Unlimited.
That’s why the Progress Report is so great! I’ve got a Fred
figure I’d like to get signed.
John Barrowman
– I did not get to meet him last year. I plan to this year. The guy
is just such an amazing powerhouse of enthusiasm and I admire that a
lot.
Nicholas Brendon
– The first time I ever watched Buffy
I really identified with Xander. Like, way too much. He’s one of my
favorite characters in TV history. It’s a shame they’ve made him
such a douche in the comics. Anyway, me and Monkey went to the Buffy
panel last year and decided we needed to run to the vendor room and
buy some figures to get signed. This was Sunday, and by the time we
got to the celebrity room most folks were gone. So I’ll be
bringing my Ice Cream Xander back in 2013 to get that autograph.
Jim Butcher
– I absolutely love The
Dresden Files.
Butcher’s fantasy series Codex
Alera
is also fantastic. I’d like to get a book signed.
Amanda Conner
– Yeah, I got some stuff signed at HeroesCon, but if I see she’s
got a spare minute I’m gonna bug her. She was awesome. Plus, I’ve
picked up another art book since then.
Peter Davison
– The Fifth Doctor is not actually included in the Progress Report,
but he is confirmed and I can’t very well overlook him. I couldn’t
be more excited about Davison’s presence and he is definitely the
Main Event of the guests for me. This will bring the number of
Doctors I have met up to three and that is simply mind-boggling. Just
a few years ago I never imagined I would meet any
of the Doctors, let alone multiple ones. I can’t even tell you how
amazing this is. There is no celebrity on this planet that is bigger
to me than one who has played the Doctor.
Eliza Dushku
– I am definitely a fan. Faith is the other figure I bought last
year that I couldn’t get signed.
Michael Frith
– I really hope I can see this man on a panel. He was a Creative
Director for Jim Henson Productions and had a hand (pardon the pun)
in The
Muppet Show,
Muppet
Babies,
and Fraggle
Rock.
Josh Gates
– This man is my current hero. Not because he is constantly going
off in search of Cryptids and ghosts on Destination
Truth,
but because he goes crashing fearlessly about in places where there
are perfectly mundane things that could cause his demise. I would
love to interview this guy.
John Glover
– Fantastic as Lionel Luthor on the completely bonkers non-Superman
show Smallville,
but absolutely magnificent as Dr. Jason Woodrue in Batman
& Robin.
This man is a force of nature.
Jamie Hyneman
– Mythbusters
is one of my addictions. I can’t get enough of the show and I have
a tremendous amount of respect for Mr. Hyneman’s stoic, logical way
of being.
Sylvester McCoy
– I snagged the coveted McCoy autograph – two of them, in fact –
a couple of years ago. But I will definitely attend one of his panels
if I am able. His from two years ago is one of the best I have seen.
Kathryn Mullen
– She has done a lot of work with Jim Henson Productions. I’ve
got to tell you – puppeteers – likely because of the nature of
their work – are some of the most entertaining speakers. They’re
very animated and entertaining. If you have a chance, check out some
of the Puppetry Track panels.
Edward James Olmos
– I started watching Battlestar
Galactica
right before last year’s Dragon Con. I’m not done yet because the
fourth season is kind of not great. But Olmos’ performance as Adama
is fantastic – one of the most powerful I have seen on television.
I’m hoping to finish the series up in time for Con so I can try to
attend some of the panels.
Jimmy Palmiotti
– I didn’t get to meet him at HeroesCon, so I would like to here.
He has a huge number of great comics to his credit, but right now he
is co-writing the very best comic book that DC is publishing –
All-Star
Western.
He’s also writing What
If? – AvX,
which is quite good.
Tahmoh Penikett
– This guy is just cool. He’s been in Dollhouse,
Battlestar,
and a bunch of other genre shows.
CCH Pounder
– She’s probably best-known for her roles on The
Shield
and Warehouse
13, but
to me she is
Amanda Waller. Nobody else will ever equal her performance as The
Wall on Justice
League Unlimited.
Linnea Quigley
– My favorite of the Scream Queens. I couldn’t catch her at Days
of the Dead, maybe I’ll be able to here.
MICHAEL
ROOKER!!!!!!
– Okay, I know I said Peter Davison is the Main Event. And I meant
it. But Michael Rooker is an American legend. I love this guy. The
first thing I ever saw him in was Henry,
then Mallrats,
and then he was just everywhere. He was the best thing about The
Walking Dead
every week. Rooker is the man.
Erin Ryder
– Not to take away from other ladies that accompany Josh Gates on
Destination
Truth,
but the show just isn’t as good when Ryder isn’t on.
Adam Savage
– Badass nerd hero from Mythbusters.
He’s here every year and I’ve never seen him. My schedule isn’t
ever right to catch his panel and event appearances and he doesn’t
sit around the guest hall. I’m just going to get my picture with
some random Stormtrooper and say it’s him.
William Shatner
– Duh.
William Stout
– Production designer on Masters
of the Universe.
I would love to talk to this guy.
Kristine Sutherland
– I want to get my picture taken with her and Nicholas Brendan to
be in the middle of that sweet sexual tension.
George Takei
– We actually saw Mr. Takei get accosted in the middle of an
intersection a few years ago. Pro Tip – Don’t stop celebrities in
the middle of an intersection, dum-dum. He handled it with the grace
you would expect. I have to say, Takei seems to have cemented his
role as one of America’s Darlings in recent years. Good for him.
Natalia Tena
– I try not to be too piggish or shallow these days, but this lady
is just hot. Don’t; get me wrong – she was great as Nymphadora
Tonks and is even better as Osha on Game
of Thrones.
But damn. Hot lady.
Billy Dee Williams
– I wish I had an extra Vintage Lando for him to sign. Those things
were on clearance a couple of years ago. Maybe I can find one of the
Skiff Guard versions that came out last year.
Additional
Featured Guests
Davey Beauchamp
– Of Amazing Pulp Adventures and Gallifrey Pirate Radio
Michael Gordon
– Earth Station One’s Golden Boy and writer of Tiki
Zombie
Mike Grell
– Classic comic book artist most notable (to me) for his work on
Green Arrow
Ernie Hudson
– Too many awesome roles to count. I own one Ernie Hudson figure,
but it’s out of the package. I’ll try to get a picture with him.
Mike Phirman
– Half of the comedy musical act Hard N’ Phirm with Chris
Hardwick. I just now found out he’s a guest. I hope he’s going to
be performing as well.
Van Allen Plexico
– Showrunner of the White Rocket Podcast and owner of the coolest
name I have ever heard in my life.
Andy Runton
– Creator of Owly,
the best all-ages comic around
Kelly Yates
– Comic book illustrator, best known (to me) for his work on IDW’s
Doctor
Who
Performers
Calabrese
– The greatest horror rock band in the world is back again! I can’t
wait to see these guys, hopefully at midnight on Saturday
Professor Elemental
– Victorian hip-hop – if his rhymes are anywhere near as good as
Pops’ from Regular
Show
I’ll be impressed
The Gekkos
– Listed as a nerd rock band – obviously I’m curious
Voltaire
– I’ll try to catch this guy’s show
For the full list of
guests and performers, go to DragonCon.org.
Obviously you can’t
just base an event of this magnitude on guests. They’re important
and all, but there has to be stuff going on. Dragon Con has more
stuff going on than you would be able to do in a month, let alone in
four days. Here’s just a little sample of the scheduled events
(once again – the stuff I care about):
Events
12th
Annual Dragon Con Parade
– You haven’t really lived until you’ve seen a platoon of
Stormtroopers march down Peachtree Street accompanied by monsters,
Ghostbusters, Starfleet Personnel, fairies, wizards, kings, knights,
and the combined might of the COBRA army. It’s stunning and
unforgettable. As much as I’ve gone on about the spectacle of Man
of Steel
and Pacific
Rim,
they’re really nothing compared to the Dragon Con parade.
The Armory
– And exhibit of weapons throughout the ages, sometimes accompanied
by Kevin Dockery and various other authors and experts.
Art Show
– A huge gallery of prints, paintings, sculptures, and all kinds of
other pieces of art. There’s some kind of fancy pants way to bid on
this stuff that I don’t quite understand. Last year was the first
time I had ever even gone in and it was pretty cool. I’ll be back
this year.
Celebrity Photos
– This is kind of tricky. Some guests do photo ops, some don’t.
Some guests charge for photos, some don’t. Some just do them at
their table in the guest hall, some go through a complicated process
that involves a third-party photographer. Sometimes there’s no
indication of where the guest stands on any of this, so don’t be
afraid to ask. Chances are if it’s a bigger name guest they are
going through the photographer. So here’s the site where you can
pre-pay for that (which I’ll admit is convenient):
Charity Auction
– This year’s auctions are to benefit Noah’s Ark Animal
Sanctuary, Georgia Conservancy, and the Marcus Autism Center. The
items up for auction can be found at
http://tinyurl.com/dragoncon-auction.
Comics and Pop Art
– A hall full of some of the best and brightest at Dragon Con. If
comics are your thing, this is the place to meet many of the
creators. Also featured here are many sculptors, designers, and other
kinds of artists. I usually hit this room several times throughout
the weekend.
Dragon Con
Burlesque
– I think it’s pretty obvious what this is. I haven’t been yet,
but I would certainly like to go if I don’t have a conflict. This
troupe also presents the Pin-Ups By the Pool party at the Sheraton.
I’d love to go, but it’s at the same time as a certain other
event…
Bob & Carl:
Sci-Fi Janitors Present The Late Night Puppet Slam
– While nothing will ever take the place of the last event on this
list as the Main Event of Dragon Con, the Puppet Slam comes mighty
darn close. Puppeteers from all over the country come together to
perform a variety show consisting of more kinds of puppetry than you
knew existed. It’s hilarious, entertaining, and at times quite
filthy. I’ll never get the image of Nate’s ass out of my brain.
Walk of Fame
– This isn’t so much an event, but it’s what they call the
place where they keep the celebrities. Obviously worth a visit. I’m
not sure if it’s in the Hilton again this year.
And finally…
DC FRAKKIN’ W!
– Ladies and gentlemen, nothing can prepare you for the madness
that is Dragon Con Wrestling. Some of the craziest athletes ever to
compete in the squared circle will converge on the Hyatt Centennial
Ballroom to wreak havoc upon each other for YOUR entertainment. Past
years have included such awesome talents as Shop Teacher, Cupcake
Sting, Sprinkle Genie, the Indietaker, Jack Wagon, Seanbaby, Bloated
Bobby Auschwitz, Shastaphonic, Peter Pumpkin Balls, the Legion of
Gloom, Chip Motherfucking Day, and the Lord and Master of Wrestling
Mickey
Rourke
I don’t know if any of
these uncontrollable maniacs will be returning this year, but whoever
is there you can rest assured that DCW Chairman Buck Gently will be
there as well.
IT”S GONNA BE INSANE-O.
If you doubt how much
amazing fun DCW is, you should go and read my past recaps RIGHT NOW:
In addition to all of
that, Dragon Con has contests, pageants, and workshops on writing,
dancing, self defense and more.
It would be remiss of me
to overlook gaming.
Gaming is a huge part of
Dragon Con that I have never really taken part in because I simply
don’t do that. But I have cruised the halls of the gaming rooms
around 2 AM and I have to say – it’s impressive. Those people are
dedicated. Pretty much any kind of gaming you can think of is
available, including LARPing, which is the one thing that I might
give a shot one day. If only for the fact that I would get a good
article out of it.
Some quick tips before I
wrap this thing up:
- Make lots of lists – costumes, food, things to bring to get signed, things to look for from the vendors, people you want to meet; all that stuff. Dragon Con is too big. You’ll never remember it all otherwise.
- Download the app. The Dragon Con app is available on iPhone and Android and was invaluable right out of the gate when they first introduced it two years ago. I LOVE IT. It hasn’t been updated to 2013 yet, but I’m sure it’s coming soon. It contains all of the info you need to navigate Con – maps, schedules, locations – and is updated constantly. You can even create a schedule with reminders.
- Listen to the ESO Network’s series on Dragon Con. There is so much valuable information in those, as well as knowledgeable guests. Here are links:
- Finally, when you run into people in costumes, be respectful and appreciative. I’ve made some costume faux pas in the past, and been victim to some myself – part of the reason I don’t do actual costumes anymore. Those people put countless hours of work and thought into creating costumes and then wear them out in public to enhance the overall atmosphere of the con. Check back when the official Needless Things Dragon Con coverage starts on August 19th and I’ll have a whole lot more to share with you about costuming and cosplay, straight from the people that do it. That’s the theme of this year’s coverage – costumes and cosplay. I’ve already got some stuff lined up and Little Pond is helping out with some Q&As. It’s gonna be good stuff.
Until then, keep checking
DragonCon.org and making those plans.
-Phantom
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