• Global Viz:
  As expected, there were a good number of announcements at the New York Comic Con last weekend, but the ones that floored me involved manga publisher Viz working with western creators. First off, Stan Lee will be writing a series for Jump SQ magazine (a Japanese manga magazine published by Viz’ parent company) with Shaman King creator Hiroyuki Takei, Ultimo. With that team, it sounds like a sure bet Ultimo will make a quick hop to our side of the pond.
  However, the bigger news to me is the announcement that Viz is planning on publishing original graphic novels. I’m feeling pretty hopeful about this initiative, when Viz’ competitor Toykopop started publishing their “global manga”, we got some great gay-inclusive titles like OffBeat, Steady Beat and the incredible 12 Days. Then again, Tokyopop was publishing titles like Fake and Gravitation long before they started accepting submissions. (And I’m having trouble of thinking of any Viz titles with gay characters, aside from The Gentlemen’s Alliance Cross.)
  
  
• Hughes Vogues:
  Easily, the most buzzed-about piece of swag from the NYCC was this promotional fashion magazine-inspired poster featuring the Women of the DC Universe by Adam Hughes. I am just in awe of this piece, especially how you can identify most of these characters through the personality they display on paper and with subtle clues to their trademark costumes in the different gowns. Can you identify who’s who without checking the caption?

  
  From left to right: Catwoman, Oracle, Zatanna, Black Canary, Power Girl, Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batwoman, Vixen, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn

  I’m pretty pleased to see Batwoman is a part of the group. Considering how many times her solo series has been put off, I’m happy to see some acknowledgment of Ms. Kane.
  The poster has inspired Johanna Draper Carlson to announce a contest (timing and prizes TBA) for someone to do a version featuring the men of the DCU. Do you have a feel for how Dick Grayson or Kyle Rayner would wear a suit differently?
  
  
• Time for a catnap:
  In other news of lesbians in the DC Universe, DC announced at the NY Comic Con that the GLAAD award-winning title, Catwoman would be ending. Considering how this has been one of DC’s most mainstream queer-inclusive titles since it began, that’s disappointing to hear (though isn’t Holly off being a goddess – literally – these days?). On the other hand, another lesbian-inclusive series, The Secret Six, will be making a return with Gail Simone continuing to handle the concept. Under Simone’s pen, we got a Secret Six that was run by Scandal Savage and a newly hunkified Catman, I hope that continues:

  

  Which brings this bulletpoint full circle.
  
  
• Spending your gay geek dollars:
  You might have noticed a story in the news about GLAAD pulling out of a San Diego Pride event at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in your news reading this week but I thought it would be worth bringing up to gay geeks that the Manchester Grand Hyatt is a popular option for those attending ComicCon. I know a hotel room for ComicCon is harder to get nowadays than a copy of the Star Wars Holiday Special, but would knowing about Manchester’s stances make you pause about getting a room at his hotel?
  
  After the break, find out which classic BBC sci-fi series might be getting a revamp, check out the trailer for Mortal Kombat vs. the DC Universe and more!

From our perspective the most frustrating thing about this year's New York Comic Con wasn't the already-anticipated lack of gay characters in any of the big comic, film, or video game presentations or booths. After all, we weren't expecting much. Sadly, though we were thrilled to have a panel of our own, our biggest frustration was with the gay panel discussion, for which we had higher hopes.

Check out the descriptions of two panel sessions listed in the Con program, and see if you can spot our frustration...

In one room a session titled Disguised as Clark Kent "explores how the Jewish backgrounds of the creators of the best-known superheroes helped make them our most familiar pop icons." At the same time and right next door is a session called Sticky Pages: NY Comic Con Super-Queero Edition!, which looks at "What's good, bad, and ugly in the industry today... Featuring a visit from Special Guest CAPTAIN CONDOM!"

The sexualized program name alone put us at odds with the event; what message does this send to the comics industry, the press, and the thousands of fans attending the con? The panel was made up of a good mix of independent and corporate comic book artists, writers, editors, and publishers. And the very talented members of the perhaps overbooked 9-person panel had interesting insights to queer representation in all areas of the comics world. It was difficult, however, for us to not be distracted by Captain Condom, who stood on the stage with arms folded behind the moderator for the entire event.

Hulk not happy with poor gay representation at Con
(and did someone try to stuff a dollar in his pants?)

Also unfortunate was the extension of the sexualized discussion into the panel discourse. Half the moderator's questions seemed out of place and we wondered whether the session next door was also asking its panel what characters they thought were hot, if they'd rather have Supergirl or She-Hulk, and whether the writers and artists would sleep with their fans?

Interestingly, none of the audience questions were even remotely sexual. The audience wanted to know how receptive publishers were to gay storylines, whether being gay ever created career obstacles, and how public reaction affected editorial decision-making in mainstream comics.

The talented folks on the panel had some very interesting insights to offer on these topics. Among them we learned that employees, writers, and artists of mainstream publishers don't find being out very difficult. The discussions at the mainstream publishers are less about whether there should be new LGBT characters, but rather how they should be formed. At the same time the panel acknowledged that mainstream houses tend to look for very 'vanilla' LGBT characters in their search to appeal to the broadest possible audiences. And of course that progress in LGBT representation is very slow.

YAOI, or "Boys' Love" comics, are becoming more popular Stateside

We, like the audience, were interested in all these questions and lines of discussion. And it was heartening to see so many talented LGBT editors, artists, writers and publishers out there giving us these great gay characters and storylines. But walking away from the panel we couldn't help but feel a little bummed about how this came across to the industry professionals, press, general audience, and LGBT attendees at Comic Con.

More pics from the Con after the break! 

• I wish I knew how to quit you, Zhao Yun?:
  So if I understand correctly, Warriors Orochi plays like Dynasty Warriors game but has a homoerotic storyline? Sign me up!
  
  
• It's still new to us:
  If you're up for some dense reading, Prism Comics just posted a transcript of the Gays in Comics Panel that took place at this year's Comic-Con in San Diego. The panel included Heroes writer Chuck Kim and DC Comics President Paul Levitz -- who doesn't speak to the public very often. There are bits to inspire grumpiness and bits that are just inspiring but since it's all from July I'll let you find them on your own.
  
  
• Objection -- overcrowded market!:
  Drat, the Harvey Birdman video game gets delayed to avoid a crowded Christmas market. I was looking forward to this one as a Phoenix Wright-type game that I could play without buying a Nintendo DS. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Quest family shows up.
  
  
• From the dept of Equal Opportunity Objectification:
  Oh, my. Kotaku adds a promises to start focusing on "boomhound" to balance their abundance of "jubbie" posts. Okay, so apparently I've been under a rock about slyly bawdy discourse (I probably revealed too much by using the phrase "slyly bawdy discourse" didn't I?) but if you like campy anime art with muscle-y guys, Kotaku will be covering it.
  
  
• Link of the week:
  Did you know that Sunday is Wonder Woman Day? Excalibur Comics in Portland will be auctioning Wonder Woman sketches for Domestic Violence Charities by a variety of artists including Patrick Fillion, Colleen Coover, J. A. Fudd and Roberta Gregory. Unsurprisingly, this was organized by Wonder Woman enthusiast (and out writer) Andy Mangles.
  
  

If you never been to Comic Con International in San Diego, its an experience you'd have a hard time imagining. It's totally unlike any other comic convention -- you don't have a chance at getting some personal time with anyone working for the major publishers and the crowds make it impossible to browse through the dollar comic bins that seem like a good value anywhere else. Movie studios and TV networks have as dominant a presence as the major comic publishers and toy makers.

Last year's Comic Con boasted 123,000 attendees -- that's about the population of a small city, so just imagine a small city populated entirely of pop culture enthusiasts appearing for four days. The exhibition floor is 460,000 square feet -- you can easily fill a half day just browsing through the aisles. Getting a hotel room is now a greater challenge than getting Madonna concert tickets and Comic Con is now a key part of promoting a TV show (in fact, there were some ruffled feathers this week at the TCA tour when it turned out that ABC was holding back a Lost announcement for Comic Con attendees, instead of the TV critics at the press tour.

The one booth every gay comic reader should seek out at Comic Con is Prism Comics' booth. Prism is an organization dedicated to supporting gay visibility in comics, taking very direct action by making it easier for gay comic fans and gay comic creators to find each other, boosting the market power of both groups. To that end, every year Prism puts out the Prism Guide to Comics, which contains a directory of out creators, information on how to learn more about those creators along with articles and interviews, with the new Guide debuting at Comic Con. Prism also puts out "The Gay Agenda" -- their guide to the Comic Con for LGBT fans. Most importantly, Prism offers the space to LGBT creators, helping them to keep from getting lost in the flood of Small Press and Artists' Alley booths.

Some of the notable events for gay fans at Comic Con include yesterday's Torchwood panel as well as a preview of Lionsgate's upcoming films where Clive Barker was expected to promote Midnight Meat Train, a film based on the short story of the same name.

Tomorrow's panels start with a screening of Pushing Daisies followed by a Q&A session with series creator Bryan Fuller and the cast of Pushing Daisies, including Kristen Chenoweth. I understand the first 300 people in line will get some free pie. Hmm, pie for breakfast. If anyone reading this will be attending the panel, please send Bryan Fuller a "OMGIloveWonderfallsandDeadLikeMesomuch!" on my behalf. Tomorrow's panels end with the annual Gays in Comics panel, which is followed by a social mixer. Saturday night programming includes a screening of The Sarah Silverman Program followed by a Q&A with the entire cast, including Brina Posehn and Steve Agee, who play her gay neighbors. There's also the incredibly popular Masquerade Ball which a friend aptly described to me as "straight people's version of a drag show."

Of course, that's just a tip of the iceberg. Comic Con has become one of those experiences so huge you don't really have to try to fill your schedule, but instead learn to prioritize your day.