Mayor Daley Commends C2E2 Organizers; Debut is Enormous!!

ARTIST ALLEY AT C2E2 TO INCLUDE OVER 250 ARTISTS!
Debut of New Chicago Pop Culture Event is “Enormous”,
Notes Show Manager
Mayor Richard M. Daley Commends Organizers

Norwalk, CT, March 3, 2010: Officials at C2E2 (Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo), which is set to debut April 16 – 18, 2010 at McCormick Place in Chicago, have announced that over 250 artists have now been confirmed to appear in its Artist Alley. Convention organizers also note that there will be a total of 175 panels and screenings at C2E2 featuring top guests from every field of creative endeavor in the pop culture world. Additionally, there will be 200 exhibitors at the convention, creating an unparalleled business opportunity for all participants. In a recent announcement (December 4, 2009), Diamond Comic Distributors announced that they will hold their Diamond Retailer Summit in Chicago in conjunction with C2E2.

“We are working furiously on all fronts and our debut in Chicago will be enormous,” notes Lance Fensterman, Vice President for the Reed Pop Culture Group and Show Manager for C2E2. “Our Artist Alley now looks like it will be almost as big as New York Comic Con and the guests who we have already announced are among the top names in the pop culture universe. In addition, we are creating a first class business environment where our most important customers will be meeting with their most important customers. From the moment we first started thinking about building a massive pop culture event in Chicago, we knew we had to combine business with entertainment, and this is exactly what we have done.”

Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago states: "Comic books, with their innovative art work and creative storytelling, are reaching larger and larger audiences every year. Some of the most compelling new art in America is being made by the people represented here at C2E2. I commend the organizers for bringing this exciting Expo to our city and wish you all a memorable event.”

Show officials note that top exhibitors will be participating in C2E2 including: Aspen, Dark Horse, Image, Nintendo, Oni Press, Quirk Books, Random House, and Tonner. Both DC and Marvel will have 2500 square foot booths. “We are generating enthusiasm and attention for pop culture in the Midwest,” Fensterman concludes. “We are hearing about ancillary events that will be taking place in Chicago during C2E2 which are building on our own major show and presence. This is exactly what we had hoped for … a huge celebration that satisfies the fans and brings attention to our customers as well as their artists and creators.”

As noted, the C2E2 Artist Alley will boast more than 250 artists. Among some of the top artists who will be appearing in the C2E2 Artist Alley are Mark Bagley, Art Baltazar, Terry and Rachel Dodson, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Jim Valentino. These artists join many other creators participating in C2E2 including Keystone Guest of Honor Alex Ross as well as 75 other Guests of Honor and Featured Guests.

Organizers for C2E2 note that tickets for the show are selling fast and so all fans are encouraged to buy tickets in advance! For more information on guests, tickets, or C2E2 in general, visit www.C2E2.com or check out the show’s official blog, MediumAtLarge at www.mediumatlarge.net, or follow C2E2 on Twitter at www.twitter.com/c2e2.

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Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo Press Release