Press Release
North America’s largest pop-culture tour opens the 2012 season as Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, a huge success in its inaugural event last year, returns to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, January 28-29, 2012, with standout guests Adam Baldwin, Mary McDonnell, James Marsters, Michael Biehn, WWE® Diva Kelly Kelly™ and WWE® Superstar Zack Ryder™ headlining the list of celebrity attendees. The event, produced by Wizard World, Inc. (WIZD.PK) will bring together thousands of fans of all ages and dozens of celebrities and industry professionals to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.
Baldwin (FULL METAL JACKET, “Serenity”), Marsters (“Buffy: The Vampire Slayer,” “Caprica”), and Biehn (THE TERMINATOR, THE ABYSS) will attend both days, while Academy Award Nominee and Emmy Award Nominee McDonnell (“Battlestar Galactica,” DANCES WITH WOLVES), Kelly and Ryder are currently scheduled to appear on Saturday.
“Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con was a huge first event for us in 2011, and we have even more in store for this year,” said John Macaluso, Wizard World Board of Directors. “TV and movie stars like Adam Baldwin, Mary McConnell and James Marsters, two WWE stars and many superstar creators make it a pop culture extravaganza, and a great way to kick off the 2012 Tour.”
The lineup of superstar artists at Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con is also impressive, including Carlos Pacheco (“X-Men,” “Green Lantern”), George Pérez (“Superman,” “JSA”), Jesus Merino (“Avengers Forever,” “Superman/Batman”), Félix Ruiz (“Halo: Fall Of Reach – Boot Camp,” “Marvel Zombies 5), Tyler Kirkham (“Green Lantern: New Guardians,” “Amazing Spider-Man”), Barry Kitson (“Uncanny X-Force,” “Spider-Man”), Greg Horn (“Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark,” “X-Force”), Bernie Wrightson (“Batman,” “House of Mystery”), Norm Breyfogle (“Batman Beyond, “Life with Archie”) and Arthur Suydam (“Marvel Zombies,” “Army of Darkness”) and dozens of others.
Other popular celebrity guests scheduled to be on hand in New Orleans include Paul McGillion (“Stargate: Atlantis,” “Star Trek”), Norman Reedus (“The Walking Dead,” BOONDOCK SAINTS I & II), Sean Patrick Flanery (BOONDOCK SAINTS I & II, SAW 3D), Diora Baird (TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING, WEDDING CRASHERS), Jennifer Blanc (“Dark Angel,” “Party of Five”), Doug Jones (FANTASTIC FOUR, HELLBOY), Paul McGillion (“Stargate: Atlantis,” “Star Trek”) and Chandler Riggs (“The Walking Dead”).
Children and adult attendees are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite villain, superhero or pop culture personality for the chance to win special prizes in costume contests. Event-goers may also try their hand interactive product exhibits and shop for collectible comics, movie and television memorabilia, toys and games at scores of dealer booths.
New Orleans Comic Con is the first stop on Wizard World’s 2012 North American tour. Hours are Saturday, January 28, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; and Sunday, January 29, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets are available in advance online at http://www.wizardworldcomiccon.com/neworleans.html at a savings over tickets purchased at the door. Advance adult single-day tickets are priced at $25 ($30 on site); weekend all-session tickets are $40 ($45 on site), and tickets are free for children age 10 and under when accompanied by a paid adult (limit two children per adult). VIP packages with special entry and exclusive items are also available on a limited basis.
About Wizard World:
Wizard World produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests. Wizard World also produces Wizard World Digital, an online publication covering new and upcoming products and talents in the pop culture world, and is distributed on a weekly basis to online and iPad users worldwide.
