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News Report of 2008 Comic Con International:San Diego Con
by Don Ensign
This extended weekend of July 24-27, 2008 I attended the 39th San Diego Comic-Con. I attended with several purposes. Most central is my involvement with Christian Comic Arts Society and New Creation Now. This time we extended our small press table for the 12th year at the Con. We were flanked on each side by representatives of other spiritual traditions, Diablo Publishing and Necroscope (Coffin Kids). Curious passersby surreptitiously snapped digital photos of this seemingly odd confluence of soulish persuasions. One of the folks with Diablo picked up several tracts during the course of the convention and read them and then replaced them to our table. A member of New Creation Now Board of Directors Clint D. Johnson had a lively encounter with a self-professed agnostic who seemed intent on trying to create an argument over certain Bible texts. Our tracts and other freebies found ready acceptance and flew off the table. Also our book sales were much better than last year helping to more than pay for the table and for some of the inventory. I was personally gratified to see several people purchasing the 2008 Guide to Christian Comics that I have been working on the past several months. Numerous Christian believers who stopped by were encouraged by what they saw. Even Superman who claimed to be a Baptist stopped by for a visit. 2008 is his 70th anniversary. He didn't look a day over 40.
We also had a CCAS sponsored "Spirituality in Comics" panel. We make efforts to diversify our panelists and our move in that different this year was Holly Golightly, the happy and bright red-haired wiccan, who has written Sabrina the Teen aged Witch (Archie Comics). This panel perhaps covered familiar territory but it did provide food for thought for those unaccustomed to thinking in terms of the deeper nature of popular media.
Also on Saturday the Board for New Creation Now meet where we had a good discussion on the status of the numerous NCN projects and other issues facing the company. NCN members present were Ralph E. Miley, Clint D. Johnson, Wayne Cash, Kevin Yong and myself.
Saturday evening CCAS sponsored our first open forum get together of Christian fans and creators. We didn't know what to expect but there was a good turn out of mostly young people (and rightly so) where introductions were made followed by a brief summary of CCAS history given by Robert Flores, CCAS director and Ralph Miley, former CCAS director and president of New Creation Now. This lead up to a unstructured time of visiting and networking. This could very well become another CCAS convention tradition.
The next morning we had our traditional Sunday chapel service. Robert Luedke, writer/artist of the Eye Witness graphic novel series, gave an excellent devotional that ended up challenging the audience to make comics, graphic novels, artwork, costume design, sculpture and other creative projects for next year's convention. Kevin Yong video tapped the session as well as the Spirituality in Comics panel the day before. This was followed by a panel lead by Leo Partible that discussed trends and happenings with the Christian comics field. On the panel were Luedke, Robert Flores, Sergio Cariello, Clint Johnson and Jerrell Conner. This was likewise a very good panel with the participants grappling with issues of how to do comics from the heart of a Christian believer.
As with all conventions the four days slipped away into the files of memory and lots of good and not so good digital photos. Overall this was a very encouraging experience for everyone.
Photos from San Diego Comic-Con 2008
A view of the crowds
"Spiritual Themes In Comics" panel
Geek Displays
New Creation team at CCAS table
Christian Comic Arts Society at SD COMIC-CON 2008
The Christian Comic Arts Society will appear at this year's San Diego Comic Convention.
CCAS and New Creation Now have a table in Small Press at table #M12!
Also, please join us for our two CCAS panels at Comic-Con 2008!
COMIC-CON 2008 PANELS
Spirituality in Comics
Saturday, JULY 26
10:00-11:00am
ROOM 2
Spiritual themes weave a significant pattern in the story arc of our comics'
worlds. Hear from distinguished guests Cory Edwards (writer-director
Hoodwinked, Fraggle Rock: The Movie), Holly Golightly (School Bites, Sabrina
the Teenage Witch), Scott Wong (co-founder Brethren Entertainment), P.C.
Hamerlinck (Alter-Ego) and hosted by Leo Partible (Behind the Screen:
Insiders on Faith, Film & Culture).
Christian Comics Art Society
Sunday, JULY 27
10:30-11:30am
ROOM 24
Hear about the 2008 explosion of Christian-themed projects from major
publishers and network with other Christians. Panel features Michael Davis
(co-creator Static Shock), Sergio Cariello (The Lone Ranger), Jerrell Conner
(Revelations: The Prophets), Clint Johnson (Faith Walker), hosted by Leo
Partible (Behind the Screen: Insiders on Faith, Film & Culture). A short
sermon by Robert Luedke (Eye Witness) and worship music will precede the
panel discussion.
For more information on Comic-Con: http://www.comic-con.org For more
information on Christian Comic Arts Society:
http://www.christiancomicarts.com
For more information on New Creation
Entertainment: http://www.newcreationnow.com
Bigger and Better 2008 Guide to Christian Comics!
Scheduled for this summer and premiering at the Comic Con International: San Diego (July 24-27, 2008) is the 2008 Guide to Christian Comics. This year's issue is a full size 64-page edition with extensive coverage of the Christian Comics Industry. Besides the usual news and listings of current and upcoming comics, reports on important events, web comics, company information, important articles (including a an interview with New Creation Entertainment’s Ralph Miley and Don Ensign and a complete chapter from the upcoming Ragged Capes comic) there are also over 30 substantive reviews of recent Christian comics. This fifth annual edition of the Guide to Christian Comics is a Christian Comic Art Society and New Creation Entertainment publication. It's bigger and better than ever. Coming Soon.
NCN Internet Radio Interview
Monday, June 2, 2008
New Creation Entertainment officers were featured on the internet station, KJFJ hosted by Edward J. KJFJ is a internet radio station that features the best independent Gospel Artist. The station runs Christian programming 24/7. Clint Johnson and Ralph Miley were invited to do an interview segment. Clint, along with wife, Contemporary Gospel Artist Marjane' were interviewed a couple of weeks earlier. In that interview, Edward J. was introduced to Clint’s creation, Matthew Cross: Faithwalker. Having his interest teased by the FaithWalker concept, Edward suggested an exclusive interview with Clint Johnson about the character. Seeing the opportunity, Clint contacted Ralph about joining him on the interview to promote NCE.
The interview started at about 9:30 am at the KJFJ studio in El Monte, California. That interview would go on to last almost an hour. The Faithwalker theme by composer Marvin Paige of So Marvelous Entertainment featuring the vocal talents of Clint and Marjane was played during the interview. The NCE theme created by Paige, along with the Faithwalker instrumental, served as background music during most of the interview.
Clint and Ralph shared with the listening audience the growth and journey the Lord has taken NCE. Clint shared the vision and history behind the Faithwalker concept. Ralph gave a brief history of NCE and how it grew from a bi-monthly newsletter in 1996 to become an actual business in 2007. Miley also shared the ups and downs NCE has encountered and also many exciting future hopes and expectations. Edward agreed by faith to believe for NCE continued growth, as God wills, and that NCE will always honor Him.
Both Johnson and Miley felt that interview was a very positive experience. The staff of NCE wishes to thank Edward J. and the staff of KJFJ for allowing two of its members the privilege the share the vision of Faithwalker and New Creation Entertainment with a wider audience. The interview even garnered one caller, Clint’s wife Marjane. The interview will be rebroadcast on Saturday, June 7, 2008 at 4:00 pm pst on KJFJ’s website at www.kjfjfm.com. If you want more information about the station, you can e-mail them at kjfjministries@yahoo.com" kjfjministries@yahoo.com. As the Lord continues to open these doors of opportunity, NCE will endeavor to continue to share the vision.
New Creation Goes Hollywood
New Creation Entertainment at the 2008 Biola Media Conference
New Creation Entertainment’s first public exhibit was at the 2008 Biola Media Conference. The theme of this year’s conference was, "Designing for the Digital Age: Blueprint for Hollywood". The event was held at the CBS Studio Center in Studio City, California with Exhibitor booths set up on the CBS outdoor New York Street set. Biola University provided a light breakfast and lunch.
New Creation officers, Clint D. Johnson and Ralph Miley manned the NCE booth. This event provided an amazing opportunity for Christians in the entertainment industry to fellowship and network. Media representatives from the American Bible Society (Metron Press) and Zondervan (Z Graphic Novels) were in attendance and Regency University (The 700 Club) and Real Buzz Studios (Serenity) had company booths. Valuable workshops provided attendees with vital information about entertainment, promotions and the digital age.
New Creation printed over 800 flyers for promotional bags which were given to all conference attendees. Proverbs and Parables, New Crew, and Holy Superheroes were for sale at the NCE booth. A Special Proposals For Christian Comics booklet was given to interested individuals who visited the NCE booth. This booklet contains a brief history with an overview of NCE projects currently under development. A special PowerPoint presentation gave attendees a capsule history of the Christian Comic Arts Society(CCAS) and NCE.
Individuals representing several companies approached NCE about the possibility of producing NCE characters in animated form. After the conference, NCE representatives drove to the monthly CCAS meeting and gave a report of the day’s activities which provided local CCAS members their first look at the PowerPoint presentation and the NCE booth banner.
Many individuals made this event a very successful venture for New Creation. Clint Johnson, Robert Flores, and Kevin Yong worked at producing the attractive full-color flyers, and books made available at the conference. The eye catching NCE Booth banner, over 6 feet in height, was produced by Johnson and Flores. Art Garcia and Delia Castillo (with music by Marvin Paige myspace.com/somarvelousgospel) helped put together the very effective PowerPoint presentation. Ralph Miley assisted with organizing of the NCE booth and thanks to Scott Shuford for recommending that NCE take advantage of this special gathering. And special thanks to the people at the Copy Center in Santa Fe Springs, California for an outstanding job of printing. However, all thanks must be given to the Lord, Who opened this wonderful door of opportunity for NCE.
What next? Comic Con International: San Diego (July 24 -27, 2008) is the third venue for CCAS/NCE participation. This shows the growth and determination of CCAS/NCE to network with other Christians and share the gospel of Christ.
Photos
Three Amigos
Ralph Miley of NCE, Allen Weaver III of transition and Clint D. Johnson of NCE
Wonderful Turn Out
Exhibitor booths set up on the CBS outdoor New York Street set.
NCE Booth
NCE booth at seven in the morning.
Say Jesus!
NCE Officer Clint D. Johhson Cheesing for picture taken by event attendee Genine K. of Houston TX.