The Four Color Media Monitor: NYC Comic-con's debut is spoiled by yet more pretend acts

Looks like DC is desperate to try and keep a straight face. Webwire reports that Jim Lee and Brad Meltzer are guests of honor at the new NYC Comic-con, and while the former is okay, the latter is not. The news bulleting I linked to certainly isn't, given how it predictably whitewashes Meltzer's track record, and to make matters worse, it seems as though DC has signed him on for another one of those "exclusives":

DC Comics also announced today that Mr. Meltzer has signed an exclusive contract to write for DC Comics. Meltzer’s acclaimed graphic novel Identity Crisis has received numerous critical accolades and was the bestselling comic book title of 2004, when it was originally published in the traditional monthly comic book format. Meltzer is perhaps best known as the author of the New York Times bestselling novels The Tenth Justice, Dead Even, The First Counsel, The Millionaires and The Zero Game.

Remind me not to buy any book he writes for them, not even if it's from the Vertigo line. And as for bestselling, has anyone writing for Webwire ever read this?

Now, what have we here, but a very laughable speech by the vice president of Launch Pad for Reed Exibitions:

“I am enormously grateful to Jim Lee, Brad Meltzer, as well as everyone at DC Comics, for making these appearances at our convention possible,” notes Greg Topalian, Group Vice President in charge of Launch Pad for Reed Exhibitions. “DC Comics’ support of our show is critically important and, while DC’s guests are a huge addition to our stellar line up of appearances, they also convey the enthusiasm that DC Comics is feeling about New York Comic-Con. Jim Lee is a legendary illustrator, and Brad Meltzer is a writer with few peers. Together, they will be a huge attraction for the thousands of fans attending our show and I know their appearances will be a convention highlight of convention activity.”

One may be, but the other is enough to frighten me for one away from the whole show for good. Clearly, the company exec whom Webwire quotes above hasn't read this either, has he? Or, he's just plain oblivious to the facts.

Some way to ruin what could otherwise be a big event, ditto the chance to meet Jim Lee. Needless to say, if I were in Lee's position at the convention alongside such a colossally overrated, overhyped "author", I'd be embarrassed.

Labels: conventions

I'm not sure I understand your complaint. Did you just hate Identity Crisis? I didn't like it very much, but I certainly don't dispute Meltzer's right to appear at a comic convention.

Posted by Jhunt | 8:23 AM

I think what appalled me about this was that DC Comics themselves were acting as if everything's fine, and acting oblivious to any of the more legitimate arguments about the whole matter.

Other than that, to be honest, I respect Meltzer's right to appear at a convention, but given what a mess IC was, it's really dismaying that DC themselves are acting as if nothing's wrong.

Posted by Avi Green | 11:12 AM