Comic-Con 2011 Exclusives - Our Faves

Comic-Con 2011 is two weeks away, so we're sending Jason on his annual trip to San Diego to report on the convention, panels, premieres, masquerade and after-parties. When he's done canoodling with girls dressed like the cast of Sucker Punch, he'll be stocking up on the exclusive toys, giveaways, art prints and comics to ensure that Hands in the Air headquarters looks like it was decorated by 12-year-old Star Wars nerds.

So what should convention geeks spend their money on besides deodorant, food not found in a 7-Eleven and etiquette lessons? Don't get your metal bikini bottoms in a bunch -- our picks for Comic-Con International 2011 exclusives are listed after the jump.

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Nozomi

Since I haven't been tweeting for a while, it's probably been tough for you to stalk me, so I figured I'd give you all a heads-up on the next place you can find and harass me. This Saturday, June 11, 2011, I'll be featured in the Nozomi - Hope for Japan Artshow, a charity auction with all proceeds going to Global Giving's Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund.

Here's the painting I made for the show, and you can bid on it this Saturday from 3 - 8pm in Long Beach, California:

"The Sun Always Shines" (12"x24", acrylic on canvas)
Dedicated to my father (Jan 11, 1940 - May 16, 2011)

We Heart Japan

Happy St. Patrick's Day! If you're in L.A. today, celebrate until you're green in the face at We Heart Japan's charity auction at Meltdown Comics on Sunset. There will be food trucks, free drinks, raffles and appearances by anime voice actors. Plus, you can bid in the silent auction for art, including three paintings by me! All proceeds go to the Japan NGO Earthquake Relief and Recovery Fund.

Fill in the Groove

This past Saturday, I attended the opening reception for the "Fill in the Groove" 3rd Annual Vinyl Art Show in Tempe, Arizona, where artists were invited to create their work on vinyl records. Two of my paintings were on display (they'll be there through April 15), so I went on a road trip to see them.

"Sushi-Go-Round"

"Pac-Man Fever"

Painting on vinyl was difficult and driving 400 miles from L.A. to Arizona was tough, too, but the hardest part for me, actually, was finding records I was OK with defacing. I'm such a music nerd that I spent an hour at Amoeba Records' bargain bin trying to find suitable vinyl victims. (Jenni got mad that I used a Justin Timberlake 12" single as a test painting and another friend asked if I had painted the sushi on The Vapors' "Turning Japanese." I wish I was that clever. And to think I thought I was smart for rendering an Aqua record unplayable.)

There are lots of great pieces from around the world on display at the show (I bought this great record art from UK artist, Popcorny), so it's worth a look. You have until April 15 to get your groove on.

Sanrio Grande

It's the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty's company Sanrio, so last month, we visited Sanrio's Small Gift expo, which featured carnival games, a gift shop, mini golf, food trucks, an arcade, an art show and more cuteness than you could shake a stick that has googly eyes and rosy cheeks at (see, everything in the Sanrio world has a face). Anyway, this post is a month overdue, but it took us that long to recover from our cute overload. Seriously, stop staring at me, hamburger!

Check out our picture blowout after the jump.

Getting LOST: The LOST Auction

Now that LOST the TV series has ended, it's time to clean house and get rid of all the props, so ABC is holding LOST: The Official Auction and Exhibit in Santa Monica, California this weekend.

The event continues through Sunday, August 22, 2010, just two days before the Blu-ray/DVD release of LOST: The Complete Collection, which contains "The New Man in Charge," an all-new 12-minute chapter that reveals what happens after Hurley becomes protector of the island.

Here's a sneak preview:

If the Weezer news can't tide you over, check out some highlights from Saturday at LOST: The Official Auction and Exhibit after the jump.

Comic-Con 2010 - Saturday: Cosplay & Effect

Saturday at Comic-Con is all about the big celebrity panels and the masquerade (and a reported nerd fight involving a stabbing in the face). BioShock costumes! Sid & Marty Kroftt! Billy Dee Williams! Chicks in skintight PVC outfits!

Keep an eye out for these pics (just don't stab yourself doing it) after the jump.

Comic-Con 2010 - Friday: Geeky Friday

Today's highlights from Comic-Con International: San Diego 2010 include panels for Yo Gabba Gabba! and 30 Days of Night: Dark Days along with Friday's exclusive Minimate giveaway, more toys and more movie props.

Check it all out after the jump!

Comic-Con 2010 - Thursday: The Nerdical Limit

Thursday morning I arrived in San Diego to attend Comic-Con International 2010, and let me tell you, my warp drive is exhausted! Nerd humor! I'll be here all weekend. Try the veal! No, really, I'll be here all weekend. Dunno about the veal, though.

Anyway, Day 1 of my annual trip to the San Diego Convention center culminated in reaching the nerdical limit of geekdom -- previewing movie props and new toys including merch sneaks from Monster High, Marvel Super Hero Squad, Super 7, Scott Pilgrim, Mez-Itz and Minimates, scoring bags full of freebies and exclusives, and attending a highlarious panel with Rob Corddry, Rob Huebel, Ken Marino and the rest of the cast of Adult Swim's Childrens Hospital.

Read more (and see almost 100 pics!) after the jump.

Up, Up and Away Art Show

Halloween is coming up, but before your senses get overloaded with sweet candy and naughty outfits for every random vocation under the sun, take in some culture by visiting Monkeyhouse Toys in Los Angeles. This Saturday from 5pm - 9pm is the opening reception for Monkeyhouse's group art show, "Up, Up and Away," which, believe it or not, has nothing to do with the Balloon Boy. Instead, it's a superhero-themed show, and here's a preview of my painting of The Thing:

"Clobberin' Time"
acrylic on 8" x 10" canvas


Up, Up and Away group art show
Monkeyhouse Toys

October 24th - November 29th, 2009

Opening reception October 24th 5-9pm

I'm listed on the art show postcard as "and more..."

Dr. Seuss Art Show

Here is a preview of my two paintings for a Dr. Seuss-themed group art show that's opening at L.A.'s Monkeyhouse Toys this Saturday, August 29th.

"LOLcat in the Hat"
Acrylic

"Hang in There"
Watercolor and graphite

I know you're all planning to spend this weekend in the theaters watching The Final Destination 3-D ("Death saved the best for 3-D!") and Halloween II: Not in 3-D ("Rob Zombie saved the best for 2-D!"), but why not cleanse the palate by taking in some art and seeing my paintings this Saturday ("Jason saved the best for you! In 3-D! And in 2-D if you close one eye!")?

Here's the flyer with all the info and stuff:

I'll be attending the opening reception, so if I owe you money or if I might be your baby's daddy or if you need to serve me a summons, you'll know where to find me.

Oh, the Art You Will See!
OPENING RECEPTION:
Saturday, August 29th
4pm - 8pm

Monkeyhouse Toys & Art Gallery
1618 1/2 Silver Lake Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Comic-Day 1: Thursday and the Half-Blood Prince

Welcome to my Thursday coverage of Comic-Con, that nerdgasmic time of year in San Diego when thousands of people will go crazy if you shout out "Excelsior," "May the force be with you," "Team Edward," "Team Jacob," "Live long and prosper," "Free Corn Nuts" or "Look! Boobs!" I'll try to post photos and tweets from the show each day. And if you want to be annoyed by me in real time, follow me on Twitter right now!

Marvel Superhero Squad statues of Iron Man and Dr. Doom.

Upcoming Marvel characters to be added to the Superhero Squad series of toys.

10:19am @pantsarama: Is that Doritos, farts and Mountain Dew I smell? Then I must be at Comic-Con! I'll tweet updates until I find myself a slave Leia.


10:27am @pantsarama: San Diego Trading Co on 5th is giving away free GI Joe hats to press. Ugliest hats ever. Now you know, & knowing is half the battle.


10:35am @pantsarama: It seems the she-nerds at Comic-Con aren't used to my pheromones & are attracted to it. It's called "deodorant."


10:45am @pantsarama: Star Trek cologne. Smells kinda woodsy with a hint of mom's basement.

11:18am @pantsarama: If you wear a bikini to Comic-Con, guys will photograph you. As a red-blooded male, I guess I was asking for it by dressing that way

Cute version of Sora from Kingdom Hearts.


Batgirl as one of DC's Blammoids

He-Man prototype toys from Mattel.

Darth Vader's pimp helmet

3:22pm @pantsarama: I overheard someone talking about the "Dr. Parnassus" panel at Comic-Con debating whether Heath Ledger will show up. I really hope not

3:27pm @pantsarama: I saw David Faustino at the Sony booth. No, he didn't have a broom. He was signing autographs.

Coraline stop-motion figures from the movie.


Characters from the upcoming movie, 9

Toffee dolls from Huckleberry Toys.

3:30pm @pantsarama: Tyrese Gibson has a comic book and is signing them. I don't even need to make up a joke.

3:34pm @pantsarama: I'm in the looooong line for the Chowder and Flapjack panel. They're Cartoon Network shows not food, but now I'm hungry.

Slasher characters done up in the new style of Mez-Itz from Mezco.

Bioshock.


Silver paint Tokidoki show exclusives

6:11pm @pantsarama: Ziggy & Family Circus are criminally underrepresented at Comic-Con. In honor of Ziggy, I'll be attending tomorrow without pants.

Star Wars Chubby Series 2, due out in November '09, will include Princess Leia, Ewok and bounty hunter nesting dolls.


Beverly Hills Cop Minimates. Finally, a Minimate with a tiny mustache and a big banana.

Iron Man movie props

Brian Cox and Lauren Lee Smith from Trick 'R Treat, due out on DVD and Blu-ray this October. Anna Paquin was a no-show since it was her birthday, but the director called her voice mail during the panel and had the audience sing to her. Harry Knowles moderated the panel. At first, I thought it was a dude in a Jabba the Hutt costume.

12:00am @pantsarama: Saw Comic-Con screening of "Trick 'R Treat," a horror anthology w/ Anna Paquin. Not bad.Scariest part was Harry Knowles moderating the panel

DC figures with disturbingly realistic looking faces. Kneecaps, not so realistic.


Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow movie costumes from the upcoming debacle, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, the Lowering of America's Standards


Seth Rogen's Black Beauty car from the upcoming Green Hornet


New Transformers Mighty Muggs: Optimus Prime with flame detail and Shockwave

Attention, Cyberstalkers: Jason's Next Art Show

Dear Cyberstalkers,
I'm participating in BoredLA.com's upcoming art show, "Underwater Is Where the Action Is." The opening reception is Saturday, March 7th from 7pm to 11pm at the Ragazzi Room in L.A.

There will be live music, a DJ, food, drinks and some live art demos. Basically, it'll be a very public event, so it's not ideal for abducting me if you're that sort of cyberstalker. Also, if you happen to be that sort of cyberstalker who wants to kidnap me, I'm actually gonna be somewhere else that night so maybe look for me across town or something.

If you're not a cyberstalker or if you're a harmless cyberstalker, please check out the art show. Otherwise, thanks in advance for not raping me.

Sincerely,
- Jason

Vote for Christmas!

It's time to vote again! The Paley Center for Media in L.A. and New York will be hosting a screening of five TV holiday specials as voted on by the public. Even if you won't be able to make the L.A. or NY screenings, you should still vote because we all know how fun voting was this past election, what with the free Starbucks, Ben & Jerry's and Krispy Kreme. You won't get any of those freebies this time around, but we'd really like to see the "John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together" and the "Star Wars Holiday Special" because neither is officially available on DVD or VHS and they never air on ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas.

Not to say that Bea Arthur is the huskiest of The Golden Girls, but what are they insinuating by giving her top billing with "Wookiees" in this special?

Click here to vote! Cast your ballot for Denver/Skywalker in '08!

If you're in L.A. or NY, visit The Paley Center from December 10th through December 24th to watch the top five holiday specials.