Last November, I was one of the many geeks here in Los Angeles who attended the brand new Comikaze Expo at the LA Convention Center. I was also one of the many who had a great time (the Geekscape booth actually did more business at Comikaze than we did at either WonderCon or SDCC that year). But the new convention wasn’t perfect, with an awkward floor-plan, some understaffing issues and a hall that wasn’t quite right for it’s size. Still, ask anyone, including Comikaze organizer Regina Carpinelli, and they’ll tell you that the event was a success.
But was it enough to ensure that Comikaze would survive to see another year? In today’s “You’re Either Comic-Con or Your Not” convention landscape, even the nationwide Wizard World conventions are unable to keep attendee’s interests. So what’s a Con to do to stand out from the pack?
You rebrand yourself by associating your name with a marquee talent that is instantly recognizable to your target audience. Comic book writer Mark Millar successfully launched Kapow! Comic Con two years ago in London, bringing to Europe some of what made Comic Con so great back in the day (all the Hollywood flash without ignoring the comics). Just this morning, readers woke up to GeekChicDaily buying themselves a new life as the Nerdist News Network, a branch of Chris Hardwick’s popular Nerdist brand. Why not? It’s a smart thing to do.
So why do I think Comikaze Expo is becoming Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo (or Excelsior Expo or Generalisimo-Con or something similarly Stan Lee)? Well, something has to be going on.
First, Comikaze canceled its upcoming spring one-day expo that was going to be held at LACC. Why? I’d like to know. I was looking forward to it. But maybe it’s because Regina Carpinelli is too busy globetrotting with Stan Lee to even return my phone calls or emails.
Here she is in Park City during Sundance:
And she’s also been seen with Stan Lee on enemy territory at last month’s Wizard World New Orleans. Actually, since last summer’s Pow! Entertainment, Comikaze Expo, Geekscape SDCC 2012 party, Regina and Stan seem to have become BFF.
Am I feeling like the jilted lover? Would I want Stan Lee to buy a piece of Geekscape? Probably not. I love Stan Lee, but at our first meeting, Stan was having a tough time getting what Geekscape was all about:
All I’m really saying is two things:
– Regina, call a guy back, will ya?
– Expect something big to be announced involving Stan Lee and Comikaze Expo. I can’t say what but I’m guessing a merger/acquisition of some kind.
UPDATE: As I was writing this piece, Comikaze has taken down their homepage. But look what I saw moments before they did! A screen grab of a news story that POW!, Regina and Stan probably don’t want you to see until later this week. That’s what you get for ignoring calls, Reg!
CONFIRMED!