Heroes for Heroes: The Badass Celebrity Smackdown

Heroes for Heroes: The Badass Celebrity Smackdown is a charity event to be held at Comicpalooza that benefits Impact a Hero, a non-profit organization that provides emotional and financial support to severely wounded veterans from post-911 conflicts. In addition to the heroes event, there will be a villains event as well.

Celebrities participating in the charity events include:

Michael Biehn (Terminator, Aliens)
Claudia Christian (Babylon 5)
David Della Rocco (Boondock Saints)
Sean Patrick Flanery (Boondock Saints)
Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica)
Christopher Judge (Stargate SG-1)
Richard LeParmentier (Star Wars)
Rachel Lutrell (Stargate Atlantis)
Kevin Sorbo (Hercules, Andromeda)

In the heroes event, fans will have the chance to shoot or be shot by their favorite heroes in a once-in-a-lifetime game of laser tag. To qualify for one of the fan teams, a fan may either make a $300 donation to Impact a Hero to reserve one of the fixed spots, or win one of several open spots that will be raffled-off at the Impact a Hero booth from among all the fans making donations over the convention weekend.

Richard LeParmentier will be featured in the villains event, leading a team of the 501st Stormtroopers against fans. There will be one villain game on Friday and one on Saturday, while the heroes games will both take place on Sunday, May 27. Fans will be able to register for the villain game on-site, immediately before it takes place.

Registration for the Heroes event will be on our Special Events Registration page. Sign-up now — space is extremely limited!

**Please note that donation amount does NOT include admission to Comicpalooza, which must be purchased separately.

Live Art and Auction benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities

Have you ever wondered what it takes for your favorite artists to create their art? What it looks like as they're painting or drawing? Have you ever thought it might be fun to see their process and watch the art take shape? Do you want the opportunity to own a great piece of original art? If so, Comicpalooza has a treat for you!

After the Dealer's Room closes on Saturday night, watch the artists in action as they create one-of-a-kind works at the Live Art event, sponsored by Texas Art Supply. At the end of the evening, you can bid on your favorite pieces in the silent auction. Proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Live Art begins at 7:00 PM on Saturday evening, and art will be displayed for bidding as soon as each piece is completed. Be sure to come back throughout the evening to see new pieces as they're available! The silent auction will end at 10:30 PM. You must be present at the time the auction closes to pay for and take possession of your purchase. Cash and credit cards accepted.

For more information on Ronald McDonald House Charities, please see www.rmhcghg.org.

Participating artists include Chris Beaver, Bob Eggleton, Jon Hughes, Mark Nasso, Vo Nguyen, Tommy Phillips, Juan Carlos Ramos, Andrew Robinson, Dirk Strangely, Chris Summers, Marcio Takara, Ben Templesmith, Shane Davis, Michelle Delecki, Angus Oblong, Brent Peeples and Thom Zahler.

Jedi Training Seminar

Sword master, international stuntman and Star Wars stunt coordinator Nick Gillard and his apprentice will be hosting Jedi training seminars at Comicpalooza! You certainly do not want to miss this unique opportunity to not only meet the master, but also receive a rare autograph, train to fight like a real Jedi Knight and even battle Gillard himself!

Gillard started his stunt career in 1977, working on the classic James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. Since then, he has worked on over eighty-six films & television series, including Legend, Labyrinth, Willow, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Alien, Interview with the Vampire, Waterworld, GoldenEye, Reign of Fire and perhaps most notably Star Wars Episodes I–III. While working on Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones & Revenge of the Sith, Gillard served as Stunt Coordinator, training Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Ian McDiarmid, Ray Park, Hayden Christensen, Christopher Lee and Samuel L. Jackson how to use and fight fluidly with a light saber. He also played Jedi Master Cin Drallig in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.

Each 1.5 hour training seminar is $150 per person. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity, and don’t blame us if you run into a Sith Lord and have no way to defend yourself! Sign up at our Special Events Registration page now — availability is extremely limited! Please note that $150 class registration fee does NOT include admission to Comicpalooza, which must be purchased separately.

This event is available thanks to Galactic Productions.

Portfolio Reviews

Aspiring Artist? Have your portfolio reviewed by Ape Entertainment editor Weldon Adams (Strawberry Shortcake, Pocket God, Dark Axis and Helldorado) — he’ll review as many portfolios as a two-hour time block allows on both Saturday and Sunday at Comicpalooza!

Register with our online form by 11:59 pm on Monday, May 21. All registrants will be placed on the list, but applying for the review does not guarantee your name will be called.

The order of applicants will be randomized and participants notified by email of their queue position before the convention — this will serve as confirmation that you are registered. A list will be posted outside the portfolio review room during Comicpalooza. It is the responsibility of participants to appear at the room with their materials on time. During the review, names will be called three times. If a participant is not present after the third call, they will be marked absent and the next person in order will be called.

Adams will review any style portfolio you bring and give you his critique of its artistic and professional merit. Color work is not required, but your portfolio should include some pages of sequential artwork if at all possible. He is also looking for more artists to expand Ape’s growing line of young readers books, so if you draw in that style and are looking for work, be especially sure to sign up and attend!

More Portfolio Reviews

22Veins is looking for interested contributors, and editor-in-chief Gabriel Dieter will review as many portfolios as a two-hour time block allows on both Saturday and Sunday at Comicpalooza! Potential contributors should have a fundamental understanding of art composition, writing skills and a unique drawing style developed into something presentable for public consumption.

Register with the online form by 11:59 pm on Monday, May 21. All registrants will be placed on the list, but applying for the review does not guarantee your name will be called.

The order of applicants will be randomized and participants notified by email of their queue position before the convention — this will serve as confirmation that you are registered. A list will be posted outside the portfolio review room during Comicpalooza. It is the responsibility of participants to appear at the room with their materials on time. During the review, names will be called three times. If a participant is not present after the third call, they will be marked absent and the next person in order will be called.

Houston Roller Derby

Come and check out lots of live roller derby action at Comicpalooza! This year, Houston Roller Derby will host two full-length bouts, a comic book themed tournament, races, and strong (wo)man contests! On Saturday at noon, Houston Roller Derby will host a bout between their newest team, The Valkyries, and the Spindletop Rollergirls from Beaumont, TX. At 2:30 HRD's second tier traveling team, The Knockouts, will take on a mash-up of other Houston Roller Derby skaters. Sunday afternoon the capes come out and they'll unleash their inner super heroes with a comic book themed tournament. In between each bout they'll have Super Hero skater races! We'll finally get to find out who is faster on skates — Superman or the Flash. And in impressive displays of strength our skaters will participate in the Super Hero Strongest Blocker contest. Come and watch these ladies knock each other down and out and discover if Juggernaut really is stronger than The Thing. Crowd participation in these two contests is a must!

Live Performances by After Midnight

The After Midnight shadow cast troupe will be performing live versions of Repo! The Genetic Opera, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog at Comicpalooza! Check back for updated showtimes.

Foam Fighting

Learn how to kill your friends in this demonstration from the Far Harad, Houston's local chapter of Dagorhir, the nation's largest historical and fantasy war reenactment battle game. Schedule TBA.

The Real Neuromancers of Houston

Ever wanted to lose the mouse and just plug your brain directly into a computer? Well, now you can... but we really don't recommend it! A bunch of neuroscientists from Baylor College of Medicine (doctors Chan, Dewell and Reimer) will discuss the current state of Brain Computer Interfaces and brain research in general. Forget about frying your brains in cyberspace — today neuroscience can help a quadriplegic “type” on a computer or a one-armed woman move her other prosthetic arm.

Ghosthunting 101: Introduction to Ghosthunting

Join America’s Haunted Road Trip author Michael Varhola and a panel of experts for an interactive introduction to the subject of ghosthunting examining the basics of this popular phenomena and answering questions from attendees.

Ghosthunting 102: Equipment

Experts from the local Pasadena Paranormal Research Team will conduct this hands-on workshop introducing attendees to the various equipment used by ghosthunters, including cameras, recorders, EVP meters, laser grids and night-vision devices.

Ghosthunting 103: Investigative Techniques

There are almost as many methods of ghosthunting as there are ghosthunters! This panel discussion looks at everything from “naturalistic” means of ghosthunting, to means heavily dependent on equipment and to those based on psychic ability.

Ghosthunting Texas

This seminar looks at some of the most interesting haunted sites in the Lone Star state, including locations in and around Houston and paranormal events that some of the participants have experienced at them!

Texas Confidential: Paranormal Activity in the Lone Star State

Michael Varhola, author of Texas Confidential: Sex, Scandal, Murder, and Mayhem in the Lone Star State, discusses UFO crashes, cryptids like chupacabras, zombie invasions and other paranormal activities he encountered while researching his book. 

Blood Drive

Comicpalooza is pleased to announce that we will be holding a blood drive in conjunction with the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. Each blood donation can save up to 3 lives, and fan conventions (comic, science fiction, anime, etc.) donated over 11,000 units of blood in 2011. Comicpalooza is proud to do our part to "Pay it Forward" in 2012! The blood drive will be located just inside the main entry doors and will be on-site both Friday and Saturday. Appointments are highly encouraged, but not required. To make an appointment, visit www.commitforlife.org/gcrbc/login.php. After logging in or registering, you can select "Comicpalooza" from the blood drive menu.

Jacob Film Screening

Lonely and disturbed, Jacob Kell loved his little sister more than anything on Earth. When she is tragically murdered by their stepfather in a drunken rage, Jacob retaliates the only way he knows how… and all those who cross his path will know his brutal vengeance. Join director Larry Wade Carrell and cast members Dylan Horne and Grace Powell for a special screening of this Odyssee Pictures film at Comicpalooza!