Comicpalooza
{{short description|Science fiction convention held in Houston, Texas}}
{{Infobox Convention
| name = Comicpalooza
| image =
| status = Active
| venue = George R. Brown Convention Center
| location = Houston, Texas
| country = United States
| first = 2008
| website = https://www.comicpalooza.com
}}
Comicpalooza is a large annual, multi-genre, comic book, science fiction, anime, gaming, and pop culture convention in the Southern United States and is held in Houston, Texas. The event is organized by John Simons, the originator of the event along with Startling Events, LLC.{{cite web |url=http://www.portfolio.com/companies-executives/2010/02/26/houston-comics-convention-adds-sponsors-celebrities-to-give-boost |title=Houston Comics Convention Adds Sponsors Celebrities to Give Boost - Companies & Execs - Portfolio.com |access-date=2010-06-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100730013547/http://www.portfolio.com/companies-executives/2010/02/26/houston-comics-convention-adds-sponsors-celebrities-to-give-boost/ |archive-date=2010-07-30 }} The event hosts the annual Comicpalooza Fandom Awards.{{cite web|url=http://herospy.com/2010/comicpalooza-fandom-awards/|title=HeroSpy.com|website=herospy.com|access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402101341/http://herospy.com/2010/comicpalooza-fandom-awards/|archive-date=2 April 2015}} It is the fourth largest Houston-based organized event behind Houston Rodeo, Houston Pride, and Astroworld Festival.
History
=2008=
The first Comicpalooza was held July 19, 2008. The event took place in the lobby of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema located in Houston, and corresponded with the release of the film The Dark Knight.{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25421|title=Comicpalooza: Houston's Innovative Convention|date=26 March 2010|website=comicbookresources.com|access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001151/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25421|archive-date=4 March 2016}} The event included a handful of tables with local comic book artists.
=2009=
In 2009, Comicpalooza expanded to a two-day event which took place at West Oaks Mall. Question and answer sessions and a charity live art auction were added to the event. Guests included: David Mack, Terry Moore, Steve Scott, Tom Hodges, Mat Johnson, Andy Kuhn, and Dirk Strangely.
=2010=
In 2010, Comicpalooza expanded to a three-day event, taking place at the George R. Brown Convention Center attracting over 3,000 attendees the previous year.{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6934293.html|title=The Force draws 3,000 'superfans' to Comicpalooza|website=chron.com|date=28 March 2010 |access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408215831/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6934293.html|archive-date=8 April 2010}} The event no longer focused exclusively on comics, but expanded to include science fiction, fantasy, horror, steam punk and other genres. During this year, the convention was held on the 2nd floor of the George R. Brown, in the smallest middle section of the convention center. In addition to Q&A sessions and the live art auction, Comicpalooza hosted celebrity guests, a three-day film festival, costume contest, live DJ room, cockpit simulators from MechCorps Entertainment LLC of the BattleTech Centers, and a $5,000 Magic: The Gathering tournament in addition to opening gaming and numerous panels by fan groups. The event also included a performance by the Intergalactic Nemesis Live-Action Graphic Novel and touring music act Dead P.A. Guests included: Bruce Campbell, Ray Park, Nicholas Brendon, Peter Mayhew, Jason Dohring, Francis Capra, Dichen Lachman, Phil Foglio, David Malki, R. K. Milholland, Brian Denham, Larry Elmore, Rob Liefeld, David Mack, Jim Mahfood, Humberto Ramos, Dirk Strangely, Ben Templesmith, Ethan Van Sciver, Bernie Wrightson, and others.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.chron.com/peep/2010/02/bruce_campbell_to_attend_comic_1.html|title=Bruce Campbell to attend Comicpalooza|date=16 February 2010|website=chron.com|access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219075046/http://blogs.chron.com/peep/2010/02/bruce_campbell_to_attend_comic_1.html|archive-date=19 February 2010}}
=2011=
Comicpalooza 2011{{cite web|url=http://www.comicpalooza.com|title=Comicpalooza Houston 2018 - Texas' Largest Entertainment & Pop Culture Event|website=Comicpalooza|access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426140907/https://www.comicpalooza.com/|archive-date=26 April 2018}} was held May 27–29, and featured a Zombie theme and an Anime component for the first time.{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2010/10/11/daily20.html |title=Anime component added to Comicpalooza - Houston Business Journal |access-date=2010-11-05 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805233023/http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2010/10/11/daily20.html |archive-date=2012-08-05 }} With the previous years turnout, the convention expanded to two bigger halls on the 3rd floor. That year presented new features, including Houston Roller Derby, Local Wrestling, the International Quidditch Association, and local fan groups of the presented genres. Guests included Edward James Olmos, Meaghan Rath, Sam Trammell, Jeff Hughes, Arthur Suydm, Alejandro Garza, Jon Hughes, and much more. Fan groups included the Houston Area Ghost Busters,{{cite web |url=http://houstonareaghostbusters.com/ |title=Houston Area Ghostbusters |access-date=2012-05-21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519065908/http://houstonareaghostbusters.com/ |archive-date=2012-05-19 }} the Star Garrison of the 501st Legion,{{cite web |url=http://www.stargarrison.com/gateway/main.php |title=The Star Garrison of the 501st Legion |access-date=2012-05-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426030918/http://www.stargarrison.com/gateway/main.php |archive-date=2012-04-26 }} and the Texas Lego users group,{{cite web|url=http://www.texlug.org/|title=TexLUG- Texas LEGO Users Group|website=www.texlug.org|access-date=26 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120152004/http://www.texlug.org/|archive-date=20 November 2017}} which displayed a variety of unique variety of never before seen Lego items. Attendance was roughly 10,000.
=2012=
Comicpalooza 2012 was held on May 25–27, 2012. Guests included Kristin Bauer, Michael Biehn, Jennifer Blanc, Julie Caitlin Brown, Larry Wade Carrell, Claudia Christian, David Della Rocco, Sean Patrick Flanery, Nick Gillard, Britt Griffith, Richard Hatch, Dylan Horne, Ernie Hudson.
=2013=
Comicpalooza 2013 was held on May 24–26, 2013. It was the year it made media history that was featured in numerous publications all over the world for the Guest panel featuring Sir Patrick Stewart{{Cite web|url=http://www.today.com/popculture/patrick-stewart-hugs-domestic-abuse-survivor-tells-violence-his-childhood-6C10145579|title=Patrick Stewart hugs domestic-abuse survivor, tells of violence in his childhood|last=Cooper|first=Gael Fashingbauer|website=TODAY.com|date=31 May 2013 |access-date=2016-03-21|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320235739/http://www.today.com/popculture/patrick-stewart-hugs-domestic-abuse-survivor-tells-violence-his-childhood-6C10145579|archive-date=2016-03-20}} and his emotional response to a question by a fan regarding domestic violence. Other guests included Michael Golden, Scott Steiner, Danny Trejo, Tom Kane, Benjamin Percy, Rachel Caine, Joseph Gatt, Michelle Rodriguez, Armin Shimerman, Rene Auberionois, Avery Brooks, Kris Holden-Ried, Zoie Palmer, Sam Huntington, Tabith St. Germain, Andrea Libman, Craig Parker, Richard Horvitz, Bernie Wrightson, Abney Park, Alan Dean Foster, George Perez, Jacqueline Carey, Chris Claremont, Julie Bell, Boris Vallejo.
=2014=
Comicpalooza 2014 was held on May 23–26, 2014. Guests included Jason Mewes, Stan Lee, Jim Cummings, Rose McGowan, Peter Davison, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. cast: Clark Gregg, Elizabeth Henstridge, Brett Dalton, Ming-Na Wen, as well as Jim Steranko, Austin St. John, Davis Yost, Bret Hart, Kevin Nash, Johnny Yong Bosch, John Barrowman, Paul McGann, Sylvester McCoy, Colin Baker, Tony Lee, Lou Ferrigno, Tricia Helfer, John Scalzi, Kevin J. Anderson, and Ksenia Solo.
=2015=
Comicpalooza 2015 was held on May 22–25, 2015. Guests included Rosario Dawson, Chloe Bennet, NASA astronaut Stan Love, as well as Summer Glau, GWAR, David Ellefson, Marky Ramone, Jason Isaacs, Sting (Wrestler), Ramond E. Feist, Henry Winkler, as well as the cast of "Gotham": Cory Michael Smith, Cameron Monaghan, Sean Pertwee, Camren Bicondova, Donal Logue. Also featured were Mercedes Lackey, Larry Dixon, Walt Simonson, Louise Simonson, Rachel Caine, Linda Blair, George Takei, Stan Lee, Tuatha Dea, Laurie Holden, Jeff Smith, Jonathan Maberry, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Kevin Eastman, Peter David, Simon Bisley, Katie Cook, and Basil Gogos.
= 2016 =
In 2016, Comicpalooza hit another milestone. As one of Houston's leading destinations, Comicpalooza bridged a deeper partnership with the [https://www.visithoustontexas.com/about-us/ Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau]. Comicpalooza 2016 was held on June 17–19, 2016. Guests included Kate Beckinsale, Lou Ferrigno, The Boondocks Saints' stars Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flannery, David Della Rocco, Clifton Collins Jr., and Brian Mahoney. Others included Ric Flair, Eliza Dushku, Kel Mitchell, Dead 7's Chris Kirkpatrick, A.J. McLean, Jeff Timmons, Eric-Michael Estrada. Also featured were Charlie Hunnam, Lennie James, Dominic Cooper, Fear Factory's Burton C. Bell and Dino Cazares, Star Wars alumni Peter Mayhew and David Prowse, Walter Koenig, as well as the cast of Aliens reunion: Sigourney Weaver, Bill Paxton, Paul Reiser, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn and Mark Rolston.
= 2020 =
The 13th annual event was cancelled and deferred to 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic was to blame.Homer, Michelle. [https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/comicpalooza-2020-canceled-in-houston-due-to-coronavirus-crisis/285-b2c0f2aa-7eca-4481-a7ab-e32ade8330d8 "Comicpalooza 2020 canceled in Houston due to coronavirus crisis: The signature pop-culture festival was expected to draw more than 50,000 attendees and more than 600 merchants,"] KHOU website (Mar. 26, 2020).
Comicpalooza with anime, manga, video games, cosplay and Japanese culture
Comicpalooza has featured Anime for the first time in the convention and was held May 27–29, 2011 at George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.{{cite web | url = http://animecons.com/events/info.shtml/2474 | title = Comicpalooza 2011 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2013-03-29 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140104213333/http://animecons.com/events/info.shtml/2474 | archive-date = 2014-01-04 }} Guests included: Leraldo Anzaldua, Maggie Flecknoe, Tiffany Grant, Josh Grelle, Taylor Hannah, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Brittney Karbowski, Mark Laskowski, Monica Rial, Claire Hamilton, Richard Steven Horvitz, and Veronica Taylor.{{cite web | url = http://animecons.com/events/info.shtml/3212 | title = Comicpalooza 2012 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | access-date = 2013-03-29 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140104213000/http://animecons.com/events/info.shtml/3212 | archive-date = 2014-01-04 }}
In 2016, Comicpalooza has featured Japanese street fashion for the first time to increase more attendees who are interested in J-Fashion.
=Event history=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.comicpalooza.com Comicpalooza Official Website]
- [https://www.comicpalooza.com/blog/ Comicpalooza Official Blog]
- [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25421 Article from Comic Book Resources]
{{Multigenre conventions in North America}}
{{Texas SF Conventions}}
{{Houston |state=autocollapse}}
Category:Comics conventions in the United States
Category:Multigenre conventions