Long Beach Comic Con Draws the Talent

Before I reported my first real Patch ''news'' story I was out in the field at 2010 Comic Con, and It's hard to describe it to someone who's envisioning a full-on Trekkie freak show or business convention. Yes there have been people in full facepaint and a whole suite of Nintendo games hard to pry out of. There may be talons bared, swords brandished and ample cleavage inked. (See the accompanying photo of this author with two of the three.)

Among those attending will be directors John Carpenter and Shane Black, actor-comedian-producer Seth Green, Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Gos, and of course many comic book artists, editors and writers including Philip Tan, Robert Tinnell, Peter Steigerwald, Jeff Balke, John Bogdanove, Gerry Conway, Amanda Conner, Brandon Easton and Kevin Eastman.

Officially called the Long Beach Comic and Horror Con, it's at the Long Beach Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 29 and 30, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Any undead in attendance can make a full day of it downtown by joining in attempts to break the world records for the largest Zombie walk in the world and the largest choreographed "Thriller" Mass Dance.

The free event at Broadway and Pine Avenue will be followed by a Dead Man’s After-Party, which will feature a live performance by Johnny Vatos’ Tribute to Halloween featuring former members of the ultimate Halloween band Oingo Boingo, on the stage of the historic former home of the Press Telegram. There is even a Zombie Art Exhibit.

Tickets for the after-party are $10 with the purchase of a Long Beach Comic Con ticket at this special site: zombiewalklb.com/buy-packages/.