PTG Episode 39 is brought to you by Anime Festival Orlando 10, coming up this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 31st-Aug. 2nd at the Wyndham Orlando Resort. PTG will be there on Saturday morning to cover its first ever anime-themed event, and we’re looking to spread the word about the show while checking out some panels and getting an idea of what’s going on in the anime world. Hoping to run into Gary Holmes from Just Push Play, as he’s actively involved in the Swords of Orlandia role-playing game that has become a signature event at AFO, but Gary’s a busy guy and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he turned up later in the weekend. Anyway, should be good times for anime fans and cosplayers, so I’m looking forward to it!

Speaking of big events, just want to follow up on a few items relating to PTG 38 and the great job that James Wright, a.k.a. “Chuck Spear”, did for us reporting on his unique San Diego Comic-Con experience. During his report, he mentioned that he and some friends had gone to the show equipped with some custom-designed t-shirts that sounded very cool, so after obtaining his blessing I have those designs for you right here–check these out:

The images are linked to Geoffrey’s Comics Shop in Gardena, CA, who provided the shirts and is selling them … for now. There MIGHT be a licensing issue with using Marvel properties in this fashion, but until the cease and desist comes down, no reason why you can have a cool shirt, right? Right! Once again, many thanks to James–there’s a chance he’ll be attending Wonder Con in San Francisco this February, and he’s offered to represent PTG out there at that show, so you can look forward to more Chuck Spear bringing West Coast ‘flava’ to the show in the months to come!

You the Man, “Chuck”!

One last note: Don’t forget, PTG/SomaCow Karaoke Tweetup Part Deux is TOMORROW night at Colonial Lanes in Orlando, off SR 50 (Colonial Dr.) and Primrose Ave. If you’re local to Orlando and you’re a fan of Orlando podcasting in general (not just SomaCow!), come out and join us for a drink and some singing! It all starts at 11PM (though we’re likely to be there “warming up” (drinking) at closer to 10PM. Hope to see you!

For now, here’s an interview with Ned and Margie Cox (Flash and Starfire, respectively), who aside from attending comic conventions in AWESOME costumes also work with the Heroes Alliance costuming group doing charity work all over the state of Florida. Visit http://www.southfloridaha.com/ to find out more about these wonderful people, the good work they do and the fun they have doing it.

Both Hour 1 and Hour 2 of PTG Episode 10 kick off with clips from the classic (at least in my mind) Kevin Smith drama Chasing Amy, because in all honesty I couldn’t think of any other movies I’d seen that captured the hilarity often found at comic book conventions quite like Smith did in this film. If you’ve seen it, you know EXACTLY what I mean and you probably recognized the clip anyway. If you haven’t seen the film, treat yourself to it, but be warned–like any other Kevin Smith film, comedy or otherwise, potty-mouths abound.

First segment of the show features my interview with George Pérez, conducted Sunday morning, nice and early before the lines really started forming around MegaCon’s Guest of Honor. It had been quite a weekend for Pérez–in addition to being the convention’s Guest of Honor, Saturday had been named “George Pérez Day” by Orange County, FL Mayor Richard Crotty. As Pérez said during the DC Universe panel the day before and reiterated to me, he had just been growing accustomed to his hold high school naming a day in his honor, and now a whole city was following suit. It was a delightful chat and I felt truly honored and privileged to get as much time with him as I did.

After the first break, talked about Booster Gold and happenings in his book, and who better to comment on developments with ol’ Booster than the man who created him and currently writes his monthly series, Dan Jurgens. Jurgens was also a delight to talk to, very forthcoming in his plans for Booster Gold over the next year as Booster continues to be the timecop nobody knows about. Jurgens’ gregariousness partially stemmed from his being in Florida and not his native Minnesota this time of year, he was quick to say when asked about how he was enjoying MegaCon, so I’m certainly thankful the weather was for the most part good on Friday and Saturday. I also talked a little about “Origins and Omens” and how it’s been affecting the DC books over the past few weeks, both positively and negatively … oh, all right, more negatively.

Finally, I wrap the hour by talking about the MegaCon Indie Film Expo, whose winner was awarded (hopefully) a scholarship to the New York Film Academy. That winner, as determined by ballots from viewers, was “Back to Life”, an animated feature by Mike Salva that presents a comedic look at Frankenstein and his Monster. You can find that video HERE, and believe me, you’ll enjoy it. The Expo also featured a sneak preview of The Graves, the new cinematic vision from Lady Death creator Brian Pulido, who I had the opportunity to interview on camera right after the preview screened. Watch for that interview later this week along with other video stories covering MegaCon 2009, right here at primetimegeek.com!

The DC Universe Panel at MegaCon 2009

Prime Time Geek’s coverage of MegaCon 2009 continues with this recording of the DC Universe Panel, hosted by Senior VP and Executive Editor Dan Didio and featuring panelists Tony Bedard (R.E.B.E.L.S), Dan Jurgens (Booster Gold), Jimmy Palmiotti (Power Girl, Jonah Hex), George Pérez (Legion of 3 Worlds, Brave and the Bold), Ethan Van Sciver (Green Lantern: Rebirth, The Flash: Rebirth), and Billy Tucci (Sgt. Rock). Listed below are some highlights of the panel and the time index during the audio file when they occur. Enjoy!

3:00 – Dan Didio reads the official Orange County, Florida proclamation, signed by Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty, declaring Saturday, March 28th as George Pérez Day.

6:00 – Didio discusses DC’s plan to follow up on the momentum of Final Crisis, with Battle for the Cowl, Superman: World of New Krypton, Flash: Rebirth, and “Rise of the Olympian” in Wonder Woman.

7:30 – Tony Bedard talks R.E.B.E.L.S. and why Brainiac 2 (Vril Dox) is such a fun character to work with.

8:50 – Dan Jurgens talks about what’s to come in the pages of Booster Gold

10:00 – Jimmy Palmiotti talks about what’s in store for Power Girl in her new solo title and also his work on Jonah Hex.

12:54 – George Pérez discusses Legion of 3 Worlds and tries to be vague about his next “epic” project.

15:10 – Ethan Van Sciver talks about his work with Geoff Johns on The Flash: Rebirth and what the newly-resurrected Barry Allen encounters in the first issue, as well as teasing a momentous meeting in issue #3.

16:20 – Billy Tucci touches on his work on Sgt. Rock and also gets to tell a great story about a particular gift he gave to Didio one year recently.

20:40 – Floor opens for questions

21:00 – Didio fields a question about “done-in-one” issues and about the fun of characters like Jonah Hex, Sgt. Rock, and the soon-to-return Warlord, who work and play outside current continuity.

23:08 – Question about the possibility of “letters pages” returning and also an “explanation book” to help readers out with the end of Final Crisis.

26:00 – J. Michael Straczynski still writing an arc in Brave and the Bold?

29:00 – Will Bruce Wayne’s current status be addressed in “Blackest Night”?

30:18 – MY question to Didio, regarding the decision to divulge the identity of certain Black Lanterns LONG before “Blackest Night” begins through DC Direct solicitations for Blackest Night action figures (if you’ve been listening to PTG, you’ll recall that particular spoiler got under my skin REAL bad. Apparently, I was the only one bothered by it in that room.)

32:30 – Didio addresses the relaunch of the Batman family of titles in June, along with listing the new titles joining that family.

36:51 – Didio poses this question to the audience: If a new Flash regular series were to begin, what would the number of the first issue be (assuming it resumes numbering from an earlier Flash series). The answer they get from someone in the front row left even me stunned at the level of memory power displayed.

38:52 – Question to Palmiotti about Power Girl and where she fits in now in the Superman family of characters, in particular her relationship to Supergirl.

41:48 – Didio fields a question about the current Batman/Superman title and when will it start to reflect current continuity (e.g. Bruce Wayne gone). Answer: “It won’t.”)

43:00 – Recap pages possibly in DC Comics?

44:18 – Upcoming appearance by the Suicide Squad? Didio: watch for Rick Flagg and Amanda Waller in “Final Crisis Aftermath: Escape”.

45:00 – Question to Van Sciver: “Will you be drawing any more Green Lantern?” Answer: “I don’t see why not.”

48:00 – Question to the entire panel: “What is you all reading right now, which books?”

54:00 – What worked and what didn’t work in Final Crisis?

The wait is almost over.

MegaCon starts in just over an hour, so those of you out there who can get out and enjoy the show from today’s noon start, have a blast! I’ll be there this evening from 5PM onward, mainly to cover the MegaCon Indie Film Expo, so if you’re planning on attending, look for me or my cameraman, wearing t-shirts with ‘PTG’ in HUGE letters across the backs, and say ‘hello!’ Also, plan to get there EARLY, as the film expo has been SRO for a few years now, and this year will be no exception. Among the short films being screened at the Expo, legendary Lady Death creator Brian Pulido will be screening a preview of his new horror film The Graves, and I’ll be talking to him after the preview screens, so watch for the video of that interview right here at primetimegeek.com in the days ahead!

On Saturday, I’ll be at the show from start to finish, and I hope to get lots of interviews with folks attending the show, especially if you come in costume and plan to take part in this year’s MegaCon Costume Contest. So if you’re at the show in costume and want to show off your hand-made costumes and gear, hunt us down and get on camera! Also I hope to score a few interviews with the various comic book luminaries attending this year’s show, including Guest of Honor George Pérez, Ethan Van Sciver, Chris Claremont, Ron Marz, Mark Waid, Greg Land, and many more. Whatever interviews I’m able to obtain I’ll be featuring on the MegaCon wrap-up edition of Prime Time Geek, airing on SUNDAY from 6-8PM. Should be a great day, and once the con is done for Saturday, of course, I’ll be headed to the Wolfpack Elite’s MegaCon Afterparty at the Embassy Suites Orlando, starting at 9PM. No cameras for that, though!

Well, I’M not, but Laura Roslin sure is.

In Hour 2 of PTG Episode 7 we talk about people getting REALLY pissed. Yes, they’re fictional people, but Superbrat-Prime (currently being featured in Final Crisis Legion of Three Worlds #3) when pissed, can be truly terrifying (Hi! I’m harboring years of pent-up anger, my world blew up and was replaced by a world I consider to be truly crappy, and I have the power to move planets. Please, piss me off.), and if you saw last Friday night’s Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5 episode, “Blood on the Scales”, then you saw that Laura Roslin could get mighty scary when prodded into a righteous fury. That episode gets covered in the “After-Action Report”; also, Hour 2 covers Garth Ennis’ delightfully raunchy superhero satire comic, The Boys Vol. 1: The Name of the Game (v. 1), and its twenty-eighth issue, along with JC Martinez of the Podgnosticast blog talking up the joys of mini-camcorders like the Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black) and what they can do for the future of Vlogging. Check it all out right HERE at http://primetimegeek.com!