WDW Daily News

Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) today announced that ASUS will serve as the Preferred Gaming Monitor Partner at Wizard World pop culture, comic con and gaming conventions throughout 2016, beginning with Portland, February 19-21

ASUS monitors will be featured in eSports competitions and free play areas at Wizard World comic con and Gaming events. The industry-leading monitors will also be integrated with Official Anime Entertainment Partner BANDAI NAMCO’s Tekken 7 gaming cabinets. Wizard World is the only tour in the U.S. offering consumers a chance to free play the pre-release game and even compete in tournaments for cash and prizes.

“Teaming with ASUS is another important step in providing our fans with the best quality to enhance their experience at Wizard World shows,” said John Macaluso , CEO, Wizard World, Inc., “We hope that this is just the beginning of a mutually prosperous partnership with such a significant global player in the tech world.”

Vivian Lien, Chief Marketing Officer at ASUS Computer International, believes this close partnership strongly supports both eSports and the growing community of gamers. “Although eSports has become an incredible phenomenon recently, ASUS has been developing industry leading motherboards, notebooks, graphics cards and monitors for gamers since day one. We’re excited about this opportunity to provide monitors for the Wizard World Tour, and can’t wait to see the results from these intense the competitions.”

The 2016 Wizard World convention schedule is comprised of 18 events, celebrating pop culture, movies, television, cosplay, comics, gaming, sci-fi, graphic novels, toys, anime, original art, collectibles, contests and more. Wizard World will also allocate significant space on the exhibit floor for major gaming-focused activations and a live streaming competition stage at 10 of its conventions to be held in the following cities: Portland, Ore. (Feb. 19-21); St. Louis (April 1-3); Minneapolis (May 6-8); Philadelphia (June 2-5); Sacramento , Calif. (June 17-19); Columbus, Ohio (July 29-31); Orlando, Fla. (August 5-7); Chicago (August 18-21); Austin, Texas (September 23-25); and Pittsburgh (November 4-6).

Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) and Marvel today announced that the Star Wars: Darth Vader Down #1 Mike Mayhew ComicConBox™ Variant Covers will pay tribute to the iconic original Star Wars Episode VI: Revenge Of The Jedi Movie Poster (the name of the film was later changed to Return of the Jedi).

There are actually three versions of the cover; the first is a regular edition, the second version is a Black & White Sketch cover version, and a third – Subscription Only Variant, is a Virgin cover, so the original art can be seen in its entirety.

“Mike Mayhew was the first and only choice to pay homage to this classic Movie poster,” says John Macaluso , Wizard World CEO. “Mike captured the essence and power of Darth Vader, and we were super-excited when he accepted the job! We were so taken aback by the original art that we saw from Mike, that we decided to bonus every single ComicConBox for December. Every subscriber will receive both the original and Sketch Black & White version. Consider this an early holiday gift from Wizard World and Comic Con Box!”

“Vader Down is going to be nothing short of epic and we’re thrilled that Mike Mayhew could bring his classic style to this exciting variant cover,” says Marvel SVP Sales & Marketing David Gabriel . “We can’t wait for fans to get their hands on this twist on the iconic poster.”

The extremely limited Virgin Variant Cover will be available to 3-month subscribers only.

Go to http://comicconbox.com to order your subscription today.

Fans can join ComicConBox™ at http://ComicConBox.com and can interact with the service on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and other social media outlets as well as via email atSupport@ComicConBox.com .

The 2016 San Diego Comic Con will take place Thursday, July 21 through Sunday July 24, 2016.  The Preview night will take place Wednesday July 20, 2016.  Stay tuned for more information as we receive it.

Whether you know him best as Captain Kirk, T.J. Hooker, Denny Crane or even the Priceline Negotiator, William Shatner has been a dominant figure in pop culture for a half century.

Always a hugely popular Wizard World guest, Shatner will appear five Wizard World shows in the coming months. He’ll meet fans, sign autographs, pose for photo ops and conduct an always entertaining Q&A panel.

“Beam” over to meet him in Pittsburgh (Sept. 11-12), Columbus (Sept. 18-19), Fort Lauderdale (Oct. 2-3), New Orleans (Jan. 8-9) and Portland (Feb. 19-20).

Find Your Shatner Pittsburgh VIP Admissions Here!
Find Your Shatner Columbus VIP Admissions Here!
Find Your Shatner Ft. Lauderdale VIP Admissions Here!
Find Your Shatner New Orleans VIP Admissions Here!
Find Your Shatner Portland VIP Admissions Here!

Following the successful, precedent setting two-day CONtv LIVE live-streaming program from Wizard World Comic Con Chicago last weekend, CONtv continues to innovate in the space with a virtual ‘Con’ beginning today and ending Friday, September 4.  The virtual Con will offer fans backstage access, showcasing the highlights from Chicago, including exclusive top Celebrity Q&A moments, interviews, workshops, game play and more – available only on CONtv.

Additionally, CONtv announced it has surpassed 500,000 App downloads across a broad spectrum of connected devices including Android and Mac iOS, Samsung Smart TV, Roku Players and Roku TV. CONtv is a partnership between Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM) and Wizard World (OTCBB: WIZD).

“Fanboys and fangirls loved CONtv LIVE and wanted more,” said Chris McGurk, Chairman and CEO, Cinedigm. “I’m thrilled we can bring them their favorite panels, celebrities, interviews, and behind the scenes video game play straight to their homes.  Going forward, live-streaming will play a pivotal role on CONtv, offering unprecedented access to a variety of Comic Cons, fan events and gatherings nationwide.”

“It was great having all of the top Comic Con celebrities, like Jeremy Renner, Michael Rooker, Stephen Amell, Burt Reynolds, Bruce Campbell, Eli Roth and Lorenza Izzo, Zach McGowan and so many other guests come hang out with us on the CONtv backstage set,” said CONtv LIVE weekend co-host Erin Darling. “Hopefully, audiences at home will have as much fun watching as we had filming!”

The Virtual CON lineup will include:

· Wizard World Comic Con Chicago highlights featuring Jeremy Renner (Avengers, Mission Impossible), Ben McKenzie (“Gotham”), Stephen Amell (“Arrow”), the legendary man with the mustache Burt Reynolds (Cannonball Run, “Archer”) and Ian Somerhalder (“Vampire Diaries,” “Lost”)
· Expert discussions on Deadpool, Racism in Comics, filmmaking, horror, superheroes, and vampires
· Gameplay with the cast of Mortal Kombat X while discussing the new game
· Hangouts with filmmakers from the Bruce Campbell Horror Film Festival, including a sit down with some of the creative minds behind “Tales of Halloween,” a new horror film anthology and an exclusive interview with Eli Roth (Hostel, Inglorious Bastards)to discuss his upcoming movie The Green Inferno.
· Highlights from cast of Evil Dead and Evil Dead II reunion hosted by Bruce Campbell. Guests include Ted Raimi, Betsy Baker, Sarah Berry, Kassie DePaiva, Ellen Sandweiss, Teresa Tilly, Danny Hicks
· Top moments from Cosplay LIVE! Competition featuring guest judges and professional Cosplayers Heather 1337, Jenifer Ann and Toby Markham aka Sith Camaro along with celebrity judge Jason David Frank
· And more!
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Wizard World Comic Con Chicago is almost upon us, and fans of the Midwest’s largest pop culture festival is ready for another banner year. Four-day general admission passes have SOLD OUT, but individual single-day and most VIP admissions are still available.

With a powerhouse lineup of celebrity guests that includes Jeremy Renner (Avengers), Norman Reedus (“The Walking Dead”), Nathan Fillion (“Castle”), Stephen Amell (“Arrow”), Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead), Burt Reynolds (Smokey and the Bandit), Ben McKenzie (“Gotham”), WWE® Superstar Undertaker® and many more, interest in Wizard World’s flagship show is higher than ever.

Single-day tickets for Saturday, August 22, are almost gone too, as are some VIP packages.

All paid attendees also receive the highly collectible exclusive limited edition variant cover of The Walking Dead #1, drawn by Whilce Portacio (VIP’s get a second black & white sketch cover too!).

Click here for a review of all available tickets, but don’t wait, because Wizard World Comic Con Chicago, Thursday through Sunday at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center is proving to be the hottest ticket in town.

Q&A sessions with Jeremy Renner ( Avengers: Age of Ultron, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation), Burt Reynolds ( Smokey and the Bandit), Stephen Amell (“Arrow”), Emilie de Ravin ( “Once Upon a Time”), Ian Somerhalder (“The Vampire Diaries”), Tobin Bell ( Saw, Saw II), WWE® Superstar Daniel Bryan™ and Diva Paige™, Milo Ventimiglia (“Gilmore Girls,” “Heroes”), Caroll Spinney (Voice Actor/Puppeteer – “Sesame Street”), Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead), Michael Rooker (“The Walking Dead,” Guardians of the Galaxy), costume contests, comics-themed sessions and more are among the programming panels scheduled at Wizard World Comic Con Chicago, August 20-23 at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Most programming is included as part of the standard event admission.

Some highlights of the more than 120 hours of programming scheduled include:

• Interactive Q&As with Renner (Sunday, 2:15 p.m.), Reynolds (Saturday, 2:15 p.m.), Amell (Saturday, noon), Ventimiglia (Friday, 5 p.m.), de Ravin (Sunday, 11:15 a.m.), Somerhalder (Saturday, 11 a.m.), Bell (Friday, 6 p.m), Spinney (Friday, 3 p.m.), Rooker (Sunday 12:30 p.m.), Kristy Swanson (Sunday, 2:30 p.m.), Brett Dalton (Saturday, 4 p.m.), Scott Wilson (Friday, 4 p.m.), Jodie Sweetin (Saturday, 6 p.m.) and others

• Dual Q&A sessions with “Serenity”/Firefly trio Nathan Fillion, Summer Glau , and Adam Baldwin (Saturday, 3 p.m.), “Doctor Who” duo Billie Piper and Arthur Darvill (Sunday, 11:30 a.m.), survive the streets of Gotham with Ben McKenzie and Sean Pertwee (Sunday, 1:15 p.m.), and The Boondock Saints tandem Sean Patrick Flanery and David Della Rocco (Sunday, noon)

• Evil Dead I & II reunion hosted by Campbell, featuring Danny Hicks, Betsy Baker, Sarah Berry, Kassie De Paiva, Ted Raimi and others (Saturday, 5 p.m.)

• Screenings of “Supergirl” presented by CBS 2 (Saturday, 1 p.m.) and “Scream Queens” presented by FOX 32 (Saturday, 2:30 p.m.)

• Join the master of horror, Eli Roth and the star of The Green Inferno, Lorenza Izzo , for an exclusive preview of the film (Sunday, 2 p.m.)

• Go to Hell and Back with comedian Nick Swardson (Saturday, 5:30 p.m.)

• Meet & Greet with Ian Somerhalder, Damon Salvatore himself (Saturday, 10 a.m.) (Paid event)

• World Of Warcraft Composer Jason Hayes and his video game tribute band ‘Critical Hit’ perform original arrangements and electrifying live concerts of music from the most celebrated videogames of all time (Saturday, 6:30 p.m.)

• Comics-themed sessions with Tom Cook (Saturday, 4:30; Sunday, noon), storytelling with Michael Golden (Saturday, 4 p.m.), learn how to write comics with “Green Arrow’s” Mike Grell, “Billy Dogma’s” Dean Haspiel and “Archie’s” Barbara Slate, “Batman Adventures’” Ty Templeton and “Spider-Man’s” Danny Fingeroth (Saturday, 5:30 p.m.), “Beloved Villains” with Genese Davis, Adam G. Simon, Eric Kieron Davis (Friday, 6:30 p.m.), and others

• CONtv Presents a Q&A session with Green Power Ranger Jason David Frank (“Mighty Morphin Power Rangers”) (Saturday, 3 p.m.). Then join him for the ‘Green Power Ranger Half-Hour of Power’ karate class for all ages (Sunday, 1:30 p.m.)

• Step into the ring with WWE® Superstar Daniel Bryan™ (Thursday, 8 p.m.), WWE® Diva Paige™ (Friday, 7 p.m.)

• Costume contests for adults (Saturday, 7 p.m.) and kids (Sunday, 3:30 p.m.), plus cosplay-themed sessions with Wizard World personality Damian Beurer (Thursday, 7 p.m.) and others

• Meet-and-greets with Jason David Frank (Saturday, 5:30 p.m./Sunday 11 a.m.) (Paid events)

Unless noted, programming events take place in the designated General Programming Rooms at the Greater Chicago Convention Center. VIP tickets or additional costs may apply to ensure access to select activities, as noted.

A full list of Wizard World Chicago Comic Con programming is available at http://www.wizardworld.com/programming-chicago.html (subjects, guests, times and rooms subject to change).

Wizard World Chicago Comic Con is the 15th of 24 events currently scheduled in the 2015 series produced by Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD). For more on the event, visit www.wizardworld.com/home-chicago.html

Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) today announced details of “ Kick off the Con,” the first official event of Wizard World Comic Con Chicago. The evening features some of the top celebrities, cosplayers, and artists in comic and sci fi entertainment on Wednesday, August 19, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Level 257 (2 Woodfield Mall, Unit A, Schaumburg, located between Sears and the entrance to Stir Crazy on the lower level, east side of Woodfield Mall).

Special guest celebrities expected to attend include Michael Rooker ( Guardians of the Galaxy, “The Walking Dead”), Milo Ventimiglia (“Heroes,” “Gotham”), Sean Patrick Flanery ( Boondock Saints), Barry Bostwick ( Rocky Horror Picture Show, “Spin City”), Chris 51 (“Epic Ink”) and others.

Tickets for “Kick off the Con,” which include a one-hour Level Up card for free game play at Level 257, one house cocktail, beer, or wine and complimentary appetizers, are $20 “early bird,” $30 with transportation to and from Hyatt Regency O’Hare, available at wizd.me/KOTCChicago.

“Kick off the Con” is presented by Wizard World, Level 257 and Verizon.

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Norman Reedus, star of “The Walking Dead,” returns to Wizard World Comic Con when he appears in Chicago next month.

Reedus, a hugely popular Wizard World guest also well-known to fans for his work in The Boondock Saints and Blade II, portrays the volatile “Daryl Dixon” in the hit cable series. His character’s breakout stardom on the show is one of the biggest in television history.

The personable Reedus is scheduled to appear at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center on Sunday, August 23.

Find Your Norman Reedus VIP Admissions Here!