Crazy 4 Comic Con: Recent Episodes
Tony B Kim
Covering what's new, best and weird at Comic Cons and in geek culture. Please rate and comment! Get my exclusive content at Crazy4ComicCon.com!
I had a great time chatting with Frank & Chris of the Nerdpreneur Podcast. On this extended interview, I share about my background in design, my scary transition into Hero Within and walking away with a 6 figure deal at San Diego Comic-Con 2016. If you are into Nerd Entrepreneurs, make sure to check out all of their interviews!
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Wow! What a year! I know I seem to say that every year but one thing is always certain about Comic-Con. While it may not always go the way you want, the surprises never disappoints! Not since 2019 has Comic-Con felt like this and wowza, is there a lot to talk about. To recap this epic show, Trevor, Kate, Pablo, Megan and myself– the same veteran team assembled from the previous Comic-Con Prep Podcast. We talk about the many highs, a few painful lows, the super-cool and the weird from the crazy 5 days in San Diego. We conclude with an extended conversation about what we thought of Robert Downey Jr return and if the MCU is headed for the right direction.
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My annual tradition is back- interviewing Hall H campers on Friday night. Last year, because of the Writer’s Strike, there were no big panels to camp for. This year, Hall H is back with Star Trek, Marvel and more! Team Hero Within boldly goes into the darkness and void of the Hall H line to interview various campers asking why do they camp, what they are looking forward to and why this is so important to them. These interviews really captures the best spirit of San Diego Comic-Con. Lets do this!
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Have you ever been paralyzed with indecision because you were afraid of making mistakes? Making mistakes is all a part of the creative process and essential to reaching success. Whether you are writing a story, creating art, or manufacturing products, mistakes are inevitable. However, many mistakes are really blessings in disguise. At our San Diego Comic-Con panel, Worst Mistakes I Ever Made, creators share about their own mistakes and the unexpected results that came out of it. Panelists include myself (Hero Within), Amy Chu (writer), Allison Cimino (RockLove Jewlery), Stella Chuu (cosplayer) and Alex Sinclair (artist).
It’s San Diego Comic-Con week which means it’s time for my annual Prep Episode! This year is my 15th Anniversary of Comic-Con podcasting and every year I look forward to this final episode before Comic-Con. In 2009, Comic-Con was a much different animal and preparing for it has turned into whole thing that involves charts, graphs and Google docs. On this episode, I am joined by con vets Trevor, Kate, Megan and Pablo. Not only do these pros give advice about the exhibit hall, panels and activations but I take them through the gauntlet of the ‘Comic-Con Games’ to test their collective SDCC wisdom. If you are a first timer to Comic-Con, this is a must for you! Enjoy and see you in a few days!
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With San Diego Comic-Con 2024 just days away, we want to welcome Star Trek Wines here for the first time! As one of our Hero Within Energize Lounge partners, I got a chance to chat with Howard Jackowitz and Craig Spurrier about how Star Trek Wines began, their most popular bottles and their new exclusive, the Star Trek Advent Calendar. It will appear in public for the first time at the Energize Lounge. Come check out their amazing display and place an preorder for the Advent Calendar!
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Next up in our San Diego Comic-Con series is extraordinary Star Trek artist Kavita Maharaj of Retrospect Studios. We are honored to feature her work at the Energize Lounge during Comic-Con. Starting out as a Spock enthusiast, her works have expanded to across the entire Star Trek Universe. In this interview, she talks about growing up in the Bahamas, why Spock had such an impact on her growing up and how her Star Trek art has helped her to heal from past pain.
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We are continuing our San Diego Comic-Con series with another awesome Energize Lounge partner. Have you ever considered vacationing on a cruise before? I’ve never been but have always been curious what it is like. That’s why I am so happy to have Chris Hearing of Entertainment Cruise Production to talk about Star Trek Cruise VIII– which sets sail in February 2025. On this episode, Chris shares his personal history with Star Trek, what a day in a life of a cruise guest is like and what makes a Star Trek Cruise so special. We even get into the upcoming Comic-Con Cruise in January. Hero Within and the Star Trek Cruise are collaborating on a special project to be announced this week- and it will be featured at the Energize Lounge too!
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Captain’s Log 0712202.4:
The Enterprise is in Earth orbit just over California and we are about to beam down for an important mission to the Hero Within Energize Lounge at San Diego Comic-Con. In preparation for this away mission, Starfleet Command has sent us a brilliant engineer named Chris Barnardo from The Wand Company. Chris’ new Tricorder is a revolutionary piece of technology and is sure to astound the inhabitants of San Diego Comic-Con. In this personal log, Chris shares his long history with the Starfleet, the process of developing high-tech devices and breakdown some of the unique features of this new Tricorder. In San Diego will be the first time it appears in public! Thanks for listening and make sure to see it live at the Energize Lounge during Comic-Con!
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We are thrilled to feature the art of amazing pop culture painter Jenny R Johnson at the Hero Within Energize Lounge during San Diego Comic-Con. Since Jenny can’t make it down to the show from Canada, I wanted to introduce her to you all. In this episode, we chat about her history with Star Trek, her creative process as a painter and what it has been like exhibiting at various shows. Make sure you visit the Lounge during Comic-Con to see her art in person and get more info on how you can place an order.
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It’s the most wonderful time of year! San Diego Comic-Con 2024 is just around the corner and with it, a new series to help you prepare. Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be interview our Hero Within Energize Lounge partners kicking off with Rebekah Plants of the game, Star Trek Fleet Command. In this interview, Bek shares about her own Star Trek journey, her first experience with San Diego Comic-Con and what makes Fleet Command a must for any Trek fan. We end with some advice for Comic-Con first timers and how you can connect Fleet Command at the Energize Lounge.
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It was so great to be back at WonderCon Anaheim! I was honored to host my annual panel, How I Built This. Here is the panel description with the audio link below:
The journey of getting into the creative industry is different for everyone. It’s a path fraught with peril, serendipitous moments and bold steps of faith. Join Tony B Kim (Hero Within) as he interviews creative professionals about how they built their careers. This will be a lively, inspirational discussion filled with tips, tricks and side-steps to help you reach your creative goals. This panel is perfect for novice writers, artist, content or product creators. Featuring industry professionals Patrick Ballesteros (artist), Amy Chu (writer) and Bernie Bergman (Event Producer) Room: 300A
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San Diego Comic-Con 2023 is in the history books! Wow, what an unexpected experience! After the reduced attendance and masked year of 2022, we all expected Comic-Con to be back in full force. However, just days before, the SAG Actors joined the Writers Strike which meant, a massive cancellation of talent and panels for the show. How would Comic-Con be affected? Would it feel the same without the big panels? Would the fans passion be diminished? We answer all these questions and share our highlights and lowlights. Joining me are con veterans Jeff, Becky, Kari and first timer Dana. If you enjoy this subscribe and leave me a review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening!
One of my lifelong dreams has been to share the stage with Levar Burton. I finally had that chance at Awesome Con! We chatted about his start on the acclaimed series Roots. Then he reminisced about his 2 decades of Reading Rainbow. We concluded what it was like to step back onto the bridge of the Enterprise-D after all these years. He was such a lovely guest backstage and I will truly never forget this day. Thank you Awesome Con! If you enjoy this subscribe and leave me a review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening!
San Diego Comic-Con is just next week and I’m back to get you ready for another amazing year. This time, I am joined by the guests of my panel How To Boldly Go Into Star Trek (Thurs 1p). These professional nerds are not only well versed in the Trek universe but also have respective Star Trek podcasts of their own. Joining me today are Myrriah Gossett and Clyde Haynes from the Star Trek Discovery Pod and Giraffe from Strange New Pod. In this episode, we talk about the lack of big studios this year’s Comic-Con and how it will affect the fan experience. We speculate on what Paramount will share at the Star Trek Universe panel in Hall H. We then conclude with a variety of hot topics as it relates to modern Trek. If you enjoy this, please come out to our panel at Comic-Con on Thursday. Remember to subscribe and leave me a review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening!
Recently completing her journey as the Thirteenth Doctor, Jodie Whittaker along with her Mandip Gill joined me on stage at Awesome Con. They were so much fun and clearly they are BBFs in real life. We chatted about how they began their life in entertainment, auditioning for Doctor Who and how it has changed their lives. They were lovely! If you enjoy this subscribe and leave me a review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening!
Back to the Shire! At Awesome Con, I had the privilege to revisit Middle Earth with cast members Sean Astin, Elijah Woods and Andy Serkis! They each shared how they came upon their respective roles, challenges of shooting and favorite memories from the experience. They were all such a delight and I am grateful to have this opportunity. If you enjoy this subscribe and leave me a review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening!
I had a fantastic time in our nation’s capital at Awesome Con! I had the honor of being the Main Stage Host for the weekend and I had a chance to interview many amazing talent. All the guests were so generous and I’ll be posting the audio from a few of the panels over the next couple of weeks. Awesome Con is a fantastic show and you should definitely check it out next year. If you enjoy this subscribe and leave me a review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening!
It’s June and you know what that means? Comic Con season is in full gear! I am excited to announce I will be moderating panels for Awesome Con (June 16-17). Hosted in our nations capital, Awesome Con is packed full of incredible opportunities and experiences to create the ultimate fan weekend in Washington DC. I had the privilege to interview Lauren Dabb, the Awesome Con Show Director. In this chat, we talk about the behind the scenes challenges of hosting a con. Lauren also shares the unique elements that make Awesome Con special and some of the events that you won’t want to miss. If you are a fan of comic cons, this is great insight in the mind of a showrunnner. If you enjoy this subscribe and leave me a review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening!
I’m back with another episode in my Nostalgia Series. This time, I reconnect with a friend I literally haven’t spoken to in several decades! Ross was one of my best middle school buddies and I was so happy to catch up with him. When I knew him, he was fanatical about Lego and in this podcast, I discovered that his passion hasn’t changed. When I was a kid, they ran a big marketing campaign with Zack the Lego Maniac. Ross is now definitely him! If you are a Lego fan you’ll love this episode! If you enjoy this subscribe and leave me a review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening!
It’s the second installment of my Nostalgia Series and in this episode, I reconnect with Bob, one of my oldest friends. In this trek through memory lane, we focused on our formative junior high years. We went in deep recalling early role playing games, Warhammer 40k, comic books and getting into mischief on our bikes. It stirred up a lot of fun experiences that I had forgotten about. If you enjoy this subscribe and leave me a review on Apple Podcasts. Thanks for listening!
One of things that has made being a Comic Con fan so important to me is how fandom has been so directly connected to my childhood. Over the years, it’s been such a joy to see many of my nerdy passions grow as I have grown up. I’ve finally reached an age where I am taking a deep dive into my childhood by connecting with old friends- most of which I haven’t spoken to in years! I start with Brian, my best bud from late elementary school through to 8th grade. We reminisce about our favorite toys, how he introduced me to role playing games and him owning the first computer on the planet! We go into detail about He-Man, Transformers, Space 1999, Star Trek and more. For you retro toy and tech fans, it’s a fun stroll down memory lane. If you enjoy this, I’ll continue this series with other old friends so subscribe and leave me a review with some of your favorite memories. Autobots, roll out!
I’m back from WonderCon 2023 and I’m happy to report it was a FANtastic show. Not only was it an energizing time at the Hero Within booth, but we had an amazing discussion at the How I Built This Panel. Joined by industry professionals Joshua Ovenshire (aka: Jovenshire), Megan Ruiz and David Baron, we all shared about how we got into the industry, making critical pivots and how to overcome criticism. Then we fielded some questions from young creators in our audience. Listen below and you can check out their individual interviews on Apple Podcast.
It’s WonderCon week and I can’t be more excited! To get you in the mood, my special guest on the pod this week is illustrator and animator Megan Ruiz. This is only her second WonderCon and she shares about her first time experience. We continue with an interesting perspective about her decision to go to art school and the disillusionment of working in the animation industry. Megan also goes into detail about starting out as an independent artist and the joys of publishing her first art book! We conclude with her WonderCon tips about shopping artist alley. Listen in the link below or on Apple Podcasts.
I’m excited to continue my Road to WonderCon series with special guest David Baron. David and I have known each other for years and he’s a familiar face at comic cons all over the nation. In this interview, David shares about attending his very first San Diego Comic-Con in the 90’s and also recounts his very first WonderCon. We then go into depth about his early days as a young artist at Wildstorm, working on Batman and adventures in self publishing with his comic Stained. David then shares some great Do’s and Don’t about shopping in Artist Alley. This is a great way to prepare for WonderCon as well as get an inside perspective of life as a professional artist. Listen in the link below or on Apple Podcasts.
Our con season begins with the return of WonderCon in Anaheim! This is one of my favorite shows of the year since it has all the quality that you would expect from Comic-Con International but with more manageable crowds. Hero Within will be returning (Booth 918) along with my panel on Friday called “How I Built This”. I’ll be posting a series of WonderCon podcasts where we not only chat about this show but San Diego Comic-Con. I begin our ‘Road to WonderCon’ Series with our first guest, Joshua Ovenshire, AKA: Jovenshire. In this episode, Joshua shares about his early memories of Comic-Con, breaking into YouTube in the early years, adventures at FailArmy and challenges of being a content creator. Stay tuned for the next couple of weeks as I follow up with great WonderCon interviews right here or on Apple Podcasts!
After months of waiting, James Gunn finally shares his plan for the reinvigorated “DC Universe”. Shared on his social media on Jan 31st, Gunn revealed the film and tv roadmap for the next few years. My DC BFF, Trevor Kaihoi and I, recorded this reaction podcast about what we thought about all the new pieces of this plan. Including the entire Gunn announcement in this podcast, we react to the good, the bad and the ugly. Then we conclude with our personal predictions on what we think will fly and what will fall from this ambitious plan. Check out this podcast and let us know what you thought of Gunn’s announcement and what you are most looking forward to.
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Comic-Con 2022 is officially in the books! After 3 looooong years, we finally return to the greatest show on Earth- but did it live up to the expectations? The same group of con veterans that joined me for the 100th Episode Comic-Con Prep Special, returned together to do an official review of the show. We …
On Saturday of Comic-Con, I had the privilege to host the “This Panel Will Give You Emotional Damage” Panel in room 5AB. To a full capacity crowd, several Youtube stars- each with millions of followers, shared their journey as a content creator. They dispel myths about social media, when they made the big leap as …
The infamous Hall H line. There is nothing like it in the world. For some, it is the most exhilarating pop culture experience and for others, it’s the most disappointing way to spend Comic-Con. With DC, Star Trek and Marvel panels, Hall H is a high stakes game where winner takes all and losers go …
In just 24 hours, Preview Night of Comic-Con opens after 3 years and you know what that means? Shopping! Whether you are hunting for the latest PopVinyl, an original artist piece, the biggest Sideshow statue or a Hero Within Exclusive, at San Diego Comic-Con there is something everyone. On the eve of the show, I …
Time flies when you’re having fun! In 2009, I posted my first San Diego Comic-Con podcast with my group of friends. Since that time, I’ve been so grateful to attend many conventions all over the nation as a fan, press, moderator, professional and exhibitor. I’ve captured many of those experiences here on my podcasts and …
With only 17 days till San Diego Comic-Con, our final COMIC-CONversation is with my friend Rob Salkowitz. Not only is Rob a seasoned con veteran but he’s the author of Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture. He is also an entertainment and pop culture writer for Forbes and ICv2. In this podcast, Rob and …
Can you believe we are just 24 days away from from SDCC?! Have you ever wondered what the experience of being ‘Press’ at Comic-Con? My friend Cherry takes us through the good, bad and ugly of experiencing Comic-Con as the member of the press. If you are interested or new as press this year, she …
Don’t panic, but we are officially 1 month away from San Diego Comic-Con! We will be able to commemorate the conclusion of this 3 year journey together in just 31 days. To celebrate, here is a cosplay focused episode of COMIC-CONversation. Shawn and Lisa met at a comic convention just a few years ago and …
With only 38 days till Comic-Con, we take a break from our regularly scheduled COMIC-CONversation to chat all things Star Wars! For over a decade now, Crazy 4 Comic Con has covered all kinds of conventions so we had to dedicate a podcast episode to Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim. I’m especially excited to have …
With Comic-Con just 45 days away, I’m excited to introduce Jason Gutierrez to you. Not only is he a 10 year Comic-Con veteran, but Jason is also a Funko Pop Vinyl enthusiast as well as a Hero Within fan. In this episode of Comic-Conversaton, Jason shares how he got into collecting Pops, his favorite Pop …
In two months, San Diego Comic-Con returns after a long 3 years! I think I can speak for everyone when I say that one of the biggest experienced missed during the pandemic was this show. It’s not only the return of the the greatest show on Earth, but the return of new episodes of COMIC-CONversations! …
After over two years, I return to Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle! During the beginning of the pandemic, ECCC was the first convention to cancel just days prior so it feels good to be back to pick up where we left off. I’ve especially missed hosting panels and while I’ve done some virtual ones, …
Like the rest of you all, we were hoping to post our traditional San Diego Comic-Con Prep podcast. Unfortunately, we have to wait another year since SDCC was cancelled again. Back in 2009, our team posted our very first Comic-Con podcast- time flies while you’re having fun! However, while there have been many amazing shows …
We hope you were able to enjoy WonderCon @Home this year. We missed seeing you at yet another con but hopefully we can reunite all again someday. Here is the audio from this year’s panel: Creating Content In A Constantly Changing WorldThe pandemic has given us more time than ever to create content, however, being …
We hope you had a FANtastic Comic-Con At Home! It was definitely a surreal year but I was really looking forward to participating in this online event. This is our 4th year for the Build A Geek Brand panel and honored to have some amazing guests. Check out the panel description: Do you dream of …
My Build A Geek Brand (that changes the world!) Panel returns to Comic-Con for a 4th year in a row! Hosted by Hero Within, we gathered a talented group of professional nerds to not only share their stories but offer advice to young content creators. Check out the description and audio below: Do you dream of …
We recorded outside so apologize for the wind interference. It clears up later in the episode. It’s San Diego Comic-Con week! Are you ready? Join Tony, Trevor, Abby and Johnny as they reflect on the significance of 50 years of Comic-Con, share what they are looking forward to and offer advice to first timers. They …
[Sorry for the audio crackles, it clears up in about 10 mins] We love nothing more than a great superhero film- but in contrast, there is nothing more frustrating than a terrible one. Our Road Trip Edition continues as Trevor and I head to Las Vegas for Licensing Expo. On our trip through the desert, …
10 years ago, no one would have bet on a Marvel cinematic universe let alone experiencing something as epic as the Infinity Saga. So much has changed. Built on the foundation of 22 films, Avengers Endgame did not disappoint and has permanently changed the future of the MCU. On our Phoenix Fan Fusion Road Trip …
After 8+ long years, winter has come and gone and a new royalty now rules over the realms of Westeros- but was it all worth it? Abby and I continue with our Phoenix Fan Fusion Road Trip Edition where we give our pros and cons of the the finale and decide if it was all …
Hey Friends! The Crazy 4 Comic Con Podcast is back with the Phoenix Fan Fusion Edition! We are on the road to Phoenix, AZ from Southern California and we took the opportunity to record a few relevant podcasts as we speed through the desert. We start off our road trip with an in-depth look at …
I had an excellent time last week at Austin Comic Con hosted by Wizard World. It was an honor to be able to host a few awesome panels including the Doctor himself, Peter Capaldi. Coming off his tenure as the 12 Doctor, we had a chance to discuss how he got into entertainment, what it …
Over the weekend, I had a chance to share a meal with some crazy friends to discuss Crazy Rich Asians! However, this time, it was not just in front of mics but over some authentic Chinese food! Recording at Mama Lu’s Dumpling House, Johnny, Alice, Jessica and myself discuss our cultural backgrounds, the struggles of …
17 years ago, a tiny spaceship landed in a wheat field in a small town in Kansas and gave us the icon superhero show Smallville! I am not only a huge Superman fan but a faithful follower of this seminal TV series so it was an honor to be a part of this panel at …
Welcome back from Comic-Con! I hope you have caught up on some well deserved rest! It was an amazing year with a lot to celebrate. Personally, it was one of the most stressful and challenging years but in the end, everything turned into an unbelievable experience. IN the midst of the chaos, I still love …
It’s finally here! In just 24 hours, thousands of amazing nerds of all shapes, sizes, cultures and interests will descend upon the Gaslamp to experience 4 1/2 glorious days at Comic-Con. This is my 13th year going and in many ways, it still feels like the first. Before the fun begins, I wanted to share …
From the theater and straight into therapy, it’s our Avengers Infinity War podcast review! If you are like us, we experienced all the rollercoaster feelz in this epic film commemorating 10 years of Marvel Studios. But with so many characters and so many storylines, could Infinity War bucket under its own epicness? Our C4CC team …
The 1000th Issue of Action Comics comes out today- a feat no other comic in history has been able to accomplish. It’s fitting since 2018 marks the big boy scout’s 80th anniversary year. 80! Can you believe it? That’s eight decades of leaping tall buildings in a single bound! Not only has he overcome a …
It was another awesome WonderCon in Anaheim this past weekend. Being awesome on many levels, WonderCon also marks the beginning of the con season. Besides traveling to many cons, the best part is being reunited with old friends to talk about relevant pop culture topics. In the past year and a half, my journey has …
WonderCon is easily one of my most favorite shows of the year. I first WonderCon back in 2011 when it was celebrating it’s 25 anniversary at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Having no idea that it would eventually find a home in Anaheim, I thought it might be the only one I might ever …
I’ve been saving this interview for a time such as today. This weekend, Syfy channel is celebrating it’s 25 year anniversary with the best series they ever produced, Battlestar Galactica. In fact, arguably it’s one of the best dramatic and sci-fi-fi series ever made in the history of the 12 colonies. Earlier this year, I …
I’m back from San Diego Comic-Con and after sleeping for 3 days straight, I’m finally ready to post some updates. It was an amazing show that definitely ranks up there as one of the best for me. However, it wasn’t because of panels I saw or booths I visited but the various events I was …
I’m back as a guest on one of my favorite con shows each year- the Geek Speak Show San Diego Comic-Con Edition! On the show, I discusses my panel, Building a Geek Brand, as well as the others I am on. I also share about Game of Bloggers and all the fun with Hero Within. Special thanks to …
The DC Extended Universe has been changed forever with the arrival of Wonder Woman! Recorded live at Sacramento Comic Con, I am joined by Victor Dandridge, Genese Davis, and Ivy DoomKitty to review the film. Plus we have very special guest, Trina Robbins, the very first female comic book artist for Wonder Woman! In this 45 minute …
This weekend at Minneapolis Comic Con, I had a chance to interview the 12th Doctor himself, Peter Capaldi. He was a total delight- so grateful for his experiences, appreciative of Whovian fandom and he was a total Doctor Who fan himself. In our interview, he shares about his life growing up, funny stories on-set, his …
This weekend at Minneapolis Comic Con, we did a weekend of release live podcast review of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2! Besides having an awesome Minneapolis crowd, I was joined by fellow geeks @ballzv2 @VantageInhouse and @trevKai. In this review, we give our thoughts on all the major plot points of the film, compare it to …