I’d like to take a moment to share with you, the loyal iFanbase the inside scoop on MorrisonCon, which has been 2 years in the making.
Later this year, September 28 – 30, 2012, MorrisonCon will be taking place at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. Curated by Grant Morrison and Ignition Sequence, MorrisonCon is aiming to be a comics event unlike any other. Earlier today the first batch of guests that will be joining Grant Morrison were announced: Jonathan Hickman, Frank Quitely, Gerard Way, J.H. Williams III, and Chris Burnham. Also announced were the full details on packages and the on sale date of May 9 at 3 PM ET / Noon PT. (You can also read about it on Wired.)
Now is a probably a good time to mention and disclose that I, Ron Richards, am one of the organizers of this event. MorrisonCon is the first event of a new endeavor I’ve started, along with James Sime and Kirsten Baldock of Isotope Comics in San Francisco. Together we have formed a new company called Ignition Sequence. Those of you long time iFanboy readers should not be surprised by this as iFanboy has teamed up with Isotope in the past for events in San Francisco, such as the Robert Kirkman Zombie Bar Crawl at WonderCon in 2011.
The genesis of MorrisonCon and the organization of Ignition Sequence is simple. After 10+ years of attending comic conventions and watching them grow bigger and bigger, I simply thought that there’s got to be another way to celebrate comics. About 2 years ago, I shared this thought with James and Kirsten and discussed a music festival I attended in 2008 called All Tomorrow’s Party. Curated by My Bloody Valentine and the organizers of All Tomorrow’s Party, this festival took place in upstate New York over a weekend and was limited to about 3,000 attendees. The small amount of attendees (the opposite of a huge festival like Outside Lands in SF or Lollapalooza in Chicago) created an intimate, once in a lifetime vibe and it’s a weekend I’ll never forget. James and Kirsten agreed with me in that this similar model could be applied to a comic event and suggested that comics rockstar, visionary and award winning writer Grant Morrison would be the perfect person to help us curate this first event.
I can’t tell you how excited we are, after 2 years, to see this finally becoming a reality. MorrisonCon will truly be like no other convention. With a small, intimate group of attendees and only 10 special guests total, fans will be able to meet, interact and celebrate comics like they’ve never done before. The fact that our first batch of guests feature the likes of Frank Quitely, Jonathan Hickman and J.H. Williams III should give you an idea of the kind of event we’re aiming to present. We’ve got 4 more guests to announce over the coming weeks and I promise you, they’ll knock your socks off. Add in the fun that will be had (Isotope is known for throwing some of the most unforgettable parties ever) and it truly will be a weekend to remember.
Now I’d like to try and answer a few possible questions you may have:
- MorrisonCon is NOT an iFanboy or Graphicly (iFanboy’s parent company) event. While I am known and associated with iFanboy and Graphicly and my work with Josh and Conor over the years, this is a new venture that I’m involved in. Will Josh and Conor and the rest of the iFanboy staff be at the con? You’ll have to ask them (but I sure am hoping they can make it, seems like we’d get some killer interviews, right?).
- This does not, in any way, interfere with my work with iFanboy or Graphicly. This is just another thing I’m working on in my spare time (like how I co-host tech podcasts for Revision3 and TWiT). I love working at Graphicly and iFanboy. I just like to keep busy (ask my friends and family).
- You are ALL invited. I sincerely hope that many of you can come. Part of the inspiration for doing this is to put on the kind of event that celebrates the love of comics that we’d like to attend, and we think we’re on to something and given that this is the place on the Internet that shows the most love for comics, I think many of you would enjoy what we have planned.
If anyone has any other questions, feel free to post them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer everything I can. There’s an extensive FAQ on the MorrisonCon site as well that I would point you to if you have specific event questions.
Thanks for indulging me this time to share with you the background on the exciting event and I hope you’re as excited as I am. Please check out MorrisonCon.com and I hope to see you there
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I demand everyone confront Gerard Way about The Umbrella Academy volume 3!
THIS!
I’m seeing Gabriel Ba on the weekend and will ask him the same thing and just hope I’m not accidentally talking to Fabio Moon.
Looks awesome. And the guest list makes me wish Morrison and JH Williams would do something together again.
I would love to go! but i don’t know if i can make it to vegas…
lol Morriscon, what a name
This sounds like something unique. I’m seriously considering attending.
Good on ya, Ron! This is exactly where I think cons should be heading.
Ron, you owe exactly zero of us an explanation for your choices. This is an awesome idea, and while I can’t get to Vegas, you’re just the guy to make it real. Good luck!
thank you sir – others may disagree with you though 😉
Well this certainly sounds awesome what with the guests and location. Morrison AND Las Vegas? We’re going for ‘The Hangover’ type of approach on this aren’t we?
Seriously though, major props to Ron and the rest of the Isotope gang for this. This sounds like a lot of fun and I hope it’s the start of something major.
man that is going to be wild, wish I could go.
Absolutely great idea Ron, wishing you all the best with this. I think it’s a great idea, and it really captures the spirit of community and comics. Very inspiring.
Here’s a question for you:
Looking at the schedule it looks like a lot of potential socializing and fun, which is awesome. But i’m wondering, how would a comic fan going alone, fare at an event like this?
I’m a pretty social dude, but even i have my moments standing at the bar, sipping it solo. : )
Have you guys got ideas for breaking down the potential awkwardness/shyness of fans-creators and getting people to interact, or is it just up to the fans really to make it work?
It’s going to be super social – there will be programming that you can sit in and watch by yourself and there will be opportunities to mix and chat and meet new people.
As far as breaking the shyness – we’ve got some ideas – we definitely want everyone to have a good time, however they define that
As someone else who would more than likely be attending solo, this was on my mind as well. I’m a very affable guy, but not naturally outgoing in large groups.
Still, I don’t think I’m gonna let that keep me from going. 🙂
Just a thought but perhaps there can be an ‘unsanctioned’ (?) iFanboy meet-up within the MorrisonCon.
This could give those of us who regularly comment on the boards an opportunity to put face to handle and break some of that glacial shyness.
@Smasher – if there’s enough iFanbase members in attendance, we can definitely do something!
It sounds like a very cool idea. Best of luck with this con and Ignition Sequence!
Thanks everyone for the kind words and support.
Looks like a great convention and the accessibility to creators seems to be incredible. I hope the show works out well!
My only dig is the price – I think even the cheapest rate (499) is gonna be a huge barrier to entry for folks these days.
Why couldnt it be in England, or at least the UK, he’s scottish. :'(
Wah, I wish I could come. I hope it goes great though.
I think of this more as a conference than a convention. I think that’s closer to what this seems to be. Either way, I like the idea of this. It’s a little pricey for me, but that’s fine. I hope it catches on and more of this type of thing takes place.
This sounds wicked cool! No idea if I’ll be able to attend, but all the best to your new endeavor, Mr. Richards!
I can’t think of anything more cool. Really hoping I can make it.
Congratulations, Ron! This looks awesome!
Thanks Scott!
What a truly awesome line-up, just wish I live in the states & near Vegas!
Waaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!
Ron, it’s so awesome you’re organizing a con.
I so envy every1 that’s able to go… I’m living in the Netherlands so I’m never able to attend events like these.
I know I’m prone to hyperbole but this looks like the coolest freaking thing ever! Definitely a fan of the package idea, btw. My birthday is in September so I think I know what I’ll be asking for. Looks like it will be an unforgettable experience.
Dude birthday shots!?
Congrats Ron and everyone involved. And, thank you for bringing a con to my home state of Nevada. 9/28 is my b-day and going to my first con sounds like the perfect way of spending it. Thank you so much this is fucking awesome.
Put this on a cruise ship and you’ve got something.
I really love that just about every comment I read from you I can hear in Ron Swanson’s voice.
Seriously, if I had a spare $4000 I’d be there in a heart beat, but the $2k return flight kinda puts a damper on it 🙁
Best of luck though, can’t wait to see the footage and feedback for it 🙂
Ron this is an amazing idea, not only is it a convention based around the work of my absolute favorite creator but the idea of centering it around TED-type panels is inspired. Im really really really stoked for this. I do have to admit though that the price is a little concerning. I completely understand why it’s that high and i definitely do like that it includes lodging but what concerns me is that if my wife and i both want to attend, we only need one room. Paying for two tickets and two rooms seems a bit silly and prohibitive for couples. Is there any other option for us?
Hey Mike – I think you mis-read the ticket prices. There’s The Singularity (Single) package which gets you a room for 2 nights at the hotel and a ticket to the con for $699 and then The Polarity (Double) package, that gets you ONE room for 2 nights and TWO Tickets to the show for $1099
So for you and your wife, getting the Polarity package would be the way to go, and only cost $1099, which is about $550 each, quite the savings over the single package.
hope that helped to clear things up
Man, if I didn’t have this crippling gambling addiction…
(I’m biased, but I think this is brilliant and I’m proud of ya, man.)
What payment options will be available for the packages? (Visa, Master card, or Paypal)
good question…wondering this myself.
fuck it, i’m in.
paid and done : )