theBLVD is one of our favorite artists collectives, and this year, the promise to “bring the comics back to Comic-Con.” Someone had to do it! As ringleader Bernard Chang writes, “The artists and writers are the backbone of industry — not the backside.”
TheBLVD Studio celebrates its FIFTH year on the exhibitors floor (booth #1821) at the 40th annual San Diego Comic Con International (July 22nd-26th), the nation’s largest and still growing celebration of pop culture and comic books. This year, the fan-favorite group of JOHN PAUL LEON (The Winter Men, Howling Commandos, DMZ), TREVOR GORING (What If? Fallen Son, Outlaw Territory, Waterloo Sunset), SEAN CHEN (Dark Reign: Fantastic Four, Iron Man), TOMMY LEE EDWARDS (Wolverine, 1985, The Book of Eli), and BERNARD CHANG (Wonder Woman, Iron Man:The End) has moved to a new location, across the aisle from legendary comic book artist Neal Adams (#1829). “It was important to link up with other comics pros,” said LEON, “after all, our motto is ‘Bringing Comics Back to Comic-con’ and by relocating closer to a core group of artists, we can hope to create a better synergy.” Traditionally, Comic-Con has an “artists alley” section, but over the years, they have been pushed all the way back into the far back corner of the show floor, next to the rest rooms and loading docks.
“The artists and writers are the backbone of industry — not the backside — and while movies, toys and video games have all helped to expand our core audience, we should not turn our backs on what has made this show great,” added CHANG.
All the members of theBLVD studio will be on hand, chatting and meeting with fans and friends, signing autographs and giving portfolio reviews, as well as selling commission sketches, original comic book art, prints, and limited copies of their acclaimed sketchbooks.
They will also be announcing new upcoming projects, including EDWARDS’ role in helping create the dramatic visual styling of the next Hughes Brothers movie, “The Book of Eli”, starring Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman, and GORING’s new graphic novel “Iron Siege” (Image) and “The Unseen Art of Hollywood: A Celebration of Film Storyboards” (Hermes Press); as well as celebrity guest appearances, including Parry Shen (“Better Luck Tomorrow”) to promote “Secret Identities”. TheBLVD will also be hosting Studio 407, with creators Alex Leung and Matt Bradford (“Night and Fog” graphic novel); and Ben Fisher and Michael Henderson (“Smuggling Spirits” graphic novel); as well as announcing their upcoming collaborative prestige art book.
