The San Diego Comic-Con in San Diego, California, is always a big week for comic publishers, and Rocketship Entertainment is no exception. The Ringo Award-winning publisher that puts webcomics to the printed page will return to SDCC this week, from Thursday, July 20th, through Sunday, July 23rd, bringing merchandise, creators, and portfolio critiques, as well as appearances on panels about the comic industry. Just today, the publisher revealed its full schedule via press release.
At the Rocketship Way Station booth #2707, attendees will have the opportunity to meet Rocketship creators, including Leeanne M. Krecic (Let’s Play, Dragon King Oath), Nick Seluk (Lars the Awkward Yeti, Heart and Brain), Ryan Benjamin (Brothers Bond, Stan Lee’s Genesis), Thom Zahler (Cupid’s Arrows, Warning Label), Reilly Brown (Outrage), Sanford Greene (1000), and Rob Feldman (Cyko KO).
In addition, Benjamin, Zahler, Greene, Brown, and Feldman will be on hand for free signings and live art, with Seluk doing signings and free sketches. Krecic will be on hand for signings and new SDCC Exclusive Let’s Play print that will be available for free while supplies last.
SDCC 2023 Exclusive LET’S PLAY print
Creator and Rocketship CEO & publisher Tom Akel will be at the booth to sign a limited run of preview decks for the upcoming Heroverse: Battleforce 20th Anniversary Edition card game. Akel and Benjamin will also critique portfolios for up-and-coming artists.
The full details for these booth appearances and signings, as well as panels featuring Rocketship creators, can be found in the press release below:
Rocketship Entertainment, the industry leader in publishing hit webcomics and the 2021 Ringo Award winner for Favorite Publisher, will make its appearance at San Diego Comic-Con from July 20-23, 2023 at the San Diego Convention Center.
The Rocketship Way Station (booth #2707) will be on the main show floor where fans can pick up graphic novels, games, and merchandise.
Eisner and Ringo nominated creator Leeanne M. Krecic (Let’s Play, Dragon King Oath) will be at the Rocketship booth throughout the weekend for signings and will have a new SDCC Exclusive Let’s Play print that will be available for free while supplies last.
New York Times bestselling author Nick Seluk (Lars the Awkward Yeti, Heart and Brain) will be at the Rocketship booth for an hour each day of the con for free signings and sketches of your favorite Lars, Heart, and Brain characters!
Creators Ryan Benjamin (Brothers Bond, Stan Lee’s Genesis), Thom Zahler (Cupid’s Arrows, Warning Label), Reilly Brown (Outrage), Sanford Greene (1000), and Rob Feldman (Cyko KO) will all have free signings and be doing live art that will be made available in upcoming Kickstarter and Zoop campaigns. Additionally, there will be a limited run of preview decks available for the upcoming Heroverse: Battleforce 20th Anniversary Edition card game with creator Tom Akel on hand to sign copies.
Finally, the Rocketship booth will feature portfolio reviews for new and aspiring artists to have their work critiqued by Tom Akel and Ryan Benjamin.
The signing schedule will be posted at the Rocketship booth, and there will be free prints available while supplies last.
In addition to its activities at the Way Station, Rocketship CEO & publisher Tom Akel will appear on the Kickstarter panel, Kickstarting Comics in 2023 and Beyond, Leeanne M. Krecic will be appearing on Japanamerica: How Anime Grew from Niche to Mainstream, and Ryan Benjamin will be hosting the Comic Pro Boot Camp Workshop as well as premiering a teaser for the upcoming Comic Pro Boot Camp book series.
Kickstarting Comics in 2023 and Beyond!
Thursday, July 20th, 3:00 – 4:00 PM
Room 9
In 2022 comics on Kickstarter raised over $30 million and had a 78 percent success rate. Kickstarter’s head of publishing Oriana Leckert, Rocketship Entertainment CEO & publisher Tom Akel, Legendary SVP of publishing Robert Napton, Bad Idea CEO Dinesh Shamdashani, and Vault Comics managing editor Der-shing Helmer discuss best practices, success, and failures, and what’s next for crowdfunded comics.
Japanamerica: How Anime Grew from Niche to Mainstream
Friday July 21, 2023 11:00am – 12:00pm
Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library
Panelists Leeanne Krecic (Let’s Play), Justin Rojas (Studio Nano), Beth Taylor (Bioworld merchandising), Mason Lieberman (anime musician, Pokémon), and Fintan Mooney (anime blogger) talk about how anime and Roland Kelts’ book impacts their lives. Moderated by Amanda Nanawa (former GM, Funimation Channel).
Comic Pro Boot Camp Art Demo
Saturday, July 23rd, 12:30 – 2:00 PM
Room 3
This is your chance to get a taste of what it’s like to be a professional comic book artist. Learn details on production and art strategies from three professional seasoned artists. Bring paper and pencil and be prepared to get critiqued.