FCBD & Invasion Dublin
Saturday, 05 May, 2012
FCBD
As it happened, this year two (sub)cultural events have been held on the same day. One, as it's been the first Sunday of May, was the Free Comic Book Day. I don't want to explain the background of this event, as I did it last year. Lets get to the details instead. Forbidden Planet Dublin took part in this global movement again. Although, they have changed the protocol a little bit: this year visitors must have bought something to get a free comic book pack at the till. It wasn't really a change for me. I bought some TPBs last year as well as this year, because it felt fair to give something (a purchase) in exchange of the free stuff.
Just like last year, there was three different size of packs, golden, silver, bronze; even fever books inside them. Last year the locusts got the big packs, because the fair visitors picked up some books to buy first, while the looters headed directly to the checkout for the packs. This year the fair visitors carefully selected what they wanted, while the looters just picked a random book from the 1 euro box and headed to the ckeckout. As I said, it didn't really felt like a change.*
And looking at the quality of the free books, I did not regret not getting a golden pack, not for a second. Most of the free books delivered mediocre or lame stories. I found only the Dinosaurs vs. Aliens book interesting, due to its design and freshness. On the story side... let's just say, it did not amuse me. Besides the DvA maybe Gossamyr (Th3rd World Studios) and the Bad Medicine (ONI Press) were worth a look. DC and Marvel continued to disappoint. A radioactive spider has bitten Peter Parker again. So he got upset, and he bent a steel pipe accidentally, again. Again. Again. I'm not sure who died more times on comic book pages: Bruce Wayne's parents or Peter Parker's uncle. And DC delivered the Cartoon Network version of Superman again. Seriously WTF? FCBD is supposed to showcase the taste and greatness of the publisher's selections. Is this Marvel's and DC's best?
(Intermission: Imagine me, cycling 20km from the inner city to Citywest, having an annoying puncture, fixing the tyre, texting the friend who was interested in both events, but kind of a night owl so we missed each other.)
Invasion Dublin. Ooooh, baby!
The other event was held on this weekend because 4th of May, a.k.a. Star Wars Day. (Not many knows, it originates from a German talk show in which they asked George Lucas what he says to the fans, he answered "May the Force be with you" and the translator misheard it and said in German "May the 4th I'll meet you"
As for an introduction, we need to understand, that Ireland has many (many!) charity events. From hikes to skydiving, from busking to dog walking, they collect and distribute money on many levels. Invasion Dublin is orchestrated by a civil organization (just like the Hungarian Star Wars Club's evens). The 30-40 EUR entry fees and the price of the Invasion Dublin merchs cover the rent of the hotel's lobby, then the rest of the money goes to a charity fund for Autism.
Not knowing this tiny but important detail would lead us to a false consequence that we've been scammed for our money. As there was almost nothing on display or showed for the visitors. Just a few life size models (an A-Wing, an ST-ST, Yoda's hut). Nice sets, but strictly not for touching. Same goes for those few preps behind glasses: Vader's mask, Han Solo's gun. In one of the corners there was a projector, showing the original trilogy back to back all day. Assuming one's able to sit eight hours on those uncomfy chairs.
They had a podium for the obligatory panels, and five desks where the celebrity guests did their signing sessions. Five guests at a time. More likely three "faceless" artists and two better known actors. No big names thought. For example the man behind the mask and without words, Jeremy Bulloch who portrayed Boba Fett. Or a cartoon-voice actor Jeremy Bulloch. Or the man who played one of the ewoks: Mike Edmonds, who was most likely asked to sign a Harry Potter photograph, as he's portrayed a goblin in that series. The biggest name of the event definitely Billy-Dee Williams was, a.k.a. Lando Calrissian.
Sorry for my blasphemy, but a solo, hardcore fan, like me, couldn't find much interesting things here. This convention, as most of the events nowadays, was targeting families. When mom and dad brings the kids wherever, and there the kids get face painting and jumps in the bouncy castle. Although, here they queued for a photo option with a wookiee or Palpatine, and the physical activity was basically an 20 square meters arena, where roughly fifty kids were hitting each others in the head and in the chest with plastic, fluorescent light sabers. Further amusement were the jedi-school for kids, and a how-to-draw-Star Wars-characters class - strictly for 10 years and under.
Invasion Dublin was a great experience for families with kids, less interesting for elder fans. Even we cosplayed and talked to other cosplayers (special shout out to 501st Ireland Garrison and their extraordinary costumes), deep in our souls, where the little kids live on, that wasn't enough. We'd like to jump into those spaceships models and drive them through a simulated asteroid field, we'd like to have real meals in a the replica of the Mos Eisley Cantina, we want jump into Hyperspace and so on. This event was for the younger, new generation.
Parental Guidance was not recommended.
More photos this way -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/vEF8J7ZejxyYaYZu9
--
Editor's note:
* They realised that this was a mistake and no purchase was needed in the following years.
FCBD
As it happened, this year two (sub)cultural events have been held on the same day. One, as it's been the first Sunday of May, was the Free Comic Book Day. I don't want to explain the background of this event, as I did it last year. Lets get to the details instead. Forbidden Planet Dublin took part in this global movement again. Although, they have changed the protocol a little bit: this year visitors must have bought something to get a free comic book pack at the till. It wasn't really a change for me. I bought some TPBs last year as well as this year, because it felt fair to give something (a purchase) in exchange of the free stuff.
Just like last year, there was three different size of packs, golden, silver, bronze; even fever books inside them. Last year the locusts got the big packs, because the fair visitors picked up some books to buy first, while the looters headed directly to the checkout for the packs. This year the fair visitors carefully selected what they wanted, while the looters just picked a random book from the 1 euro box and headed to the ckeckout. As I said, it didn't really felt like a change.*
And looking at the quality of the free books, I did not regret not getting a golden pack, not for a second. Most of the free books delivered mediocre or lame stories. I found only the Dinosaurs vs. Aliens book interesting, due to its design and freshness. On the story side... let's just say, it did not amuse me. Besides the DvA maybe Gossamyr (Th3rd World Studios) and the Bad Medicine (ONI Press) were worth a look. DC and Marvel continued to disappoint. A radioactive spider has bitten Peter Parker again. So he got upset, and he bent a steel pipe accidentally, again. Again. Again. I'm not sure who died more times on comic book pages: Bruce Wayne's parents or Peter Parker's uncle. And DC delivered the Cartoon Network version of Superman again. Seriously WTF? FCBD is supposed to showcase the taste and greatness of the publisher's selections. Is this Marvel's and DC's best?
(Intermission: Imagine me, cycling 20km from the inner city to Citywest, having an annoying puncture, fixing the tyre, texting the friend who was interested in both events, but kind of a night owl so we missed each other.)
Invasion Dublin. Ooooh, baby!
The other event was held on this weekend because 4th of May, a.k.a. Star Wars Day. (Not many knows, it originates from a German talk show in which they asked George Lucas what he says to the fans, he answered "May the Force be with you" and the translator misheard it and said in German "May the 4th I'll meet you"
As for an introduction, we need to understand, that Ireland has many (many!) charity events. From hikes to skydiving, from busking to dog walking, they collect and distribute money on many levels. Invasion Dublin is orchestrated by a civil organization (just like the Hungarian Star Wars Club's evens). The 30-40 EUR entry fees and the price of the Invasion Dublin merchs cover the rent of the hotel's lobby, then the rest of the money goes to a charity fund for Autism.
Not knowing this tiny but important detail would lead us to a false consequence that we've been scammed for our money. As there was almost nothing on display or showed for the visitors. Just a few life size models (an A-Wing, an ST-ST, Yoda's hut). Nice sets, but strictly not for touching. Same goes for those few preps behind glasses: Vader's mask, Han Solo's gun. In one of the corners there was a projector, showing the original trilogy back to back all day. Assuming one's able to sit eight hours on those uncomfy chairs.
They had a podium for the obligatory panels, and five desks where the celebrity guests did their signing sessions. Five guests at a time. More likely three "faceless" artists and two better known actors. No big names thought. For example the man behind the mask and without words, Jeremy Bulloch who portrayed Boba Fett. Or a cartoon-voice actor Jeremy Bulloch. Or the man who played one of the ewoks: Mike Edmonds, who was most likely asked to sign a Harry Potter photograph, as he's portrayed a goblin in that series. The biggest name of the event definitely Billy-Dee Williams was, a.k.a. Lando Calrissian.
Sorry for my blasphemy, but a solo, hardcore fan, like me, couldn't find much interesting things here. This convention, as most of the events nowadays, was targeting families. When mom and dad brings the kids wherever, and there the kids get face painting and jumps in the bouncy castle. Although, here they queued for a photo option with a wookiee or Palpatine, and the physical activity was basically an 20 square meters arena, where roughly fifty kids were hitting each others in the head and in the chest with plastic, fluorescent light sabers. Further amusement were the jedi-school for kids, and a how-to-draw-Star Wars-characters class - strictly for 10 years and under.
Invasion Dublin was a great experience for families with kids, less interesting for elder fans. Even we cosplayed and talked to other cosplayers (special shout out to 501st Ireland Garrison and their extraordinary costumes), deep in our souls, where the little kids live on, that wasn't enough. We'd like to jump into those spaceships models and drive them through a simulated asteroid field, we'd like to have real meals in a the replica of the Mos Eisley Cantina, we want jump into Hyperspace and so on. This event was for the younger, new generation.
Parental Guidance was not recommended.
More photos this way -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/vEF8J7ZejxyYaYZu9
--
Editor's note:
* They realised that this was a mistake and no purchase was needed in the following years.
Comments
Post a Comment