I PLAY ROCKY review – Great bio film on the making of ROCKY

Director: Peter FarrellyStarring: Anthony Ippolito, AnnaSophia Robb, Toby Kebbell, P. J. Byrne, Stephan James, Jay Duplass, Robert Morgan, Tracy Letts, and Matt DillonMovie Length: 2 hours 8 minutes What it's about: A biographical film about how the 1976 movie Rocky came to be from the early stages to the theatrical release.

theconventioncollective.com

Joseph Illidge In Conversation With Mike McLarty

Recently I had the chance to chat with Joseph Illidge about his career, his new company Illuminous, and a lot more. Check out the full interview below. Mike McLarty: Tell us about the inception and journey of Illuminous, as well as the desired destination. Joseph Illidge: The journey of my company, Illuminous, started in 1993 with my first job in the comic book industry at Milestone Media, a company founded by four men to own and create a multicultural superhero universe for comics, animation, and other media.

theconventioncollective.com

October Season of Anime is about to start!

We haven’t had as packed an Anime lineup in quite a few months, and it's starting to look like October is going to be a great month of Anime! Announcements have just started coming in over the past weekend and throughout this week so far, and I feel like I’m not prepared enough for all these shows coming out! Plenty of new series are just starting up…BUT, we finally have the next season for so many other great series! 

theconventioncollective.com

VERITY movie review: An unserious, melodramatic movie full of beautiful people making terrible decisions

Director: Michael ShowalterStarring: Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, Josh Hartnett, Ismael Cruz Córdova, and Brady WagnerMovie Length: 1 hour 57 minutes What it's about: Based on Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel a struggling writer (Johnson) moves into a remote woodland estate to ghostwrite the remaining books for a famous, incapacitated author (Hathaway) who is paralyzed and catatonic after an accident.

theconventioncollective.com

Fun for the Whole Family at Dragon Con 2026!

Where do I even begin? Dragon Con 2026 was the best event all year! I got to meet Critical Role critters all over the con in my Vax'ildan cosplay, attend a dozen fun panels, and make it into my first year doing the Bunny Hutch party. And I got to do all of that while running into my friends and making a few new ones along the way.

theconventioncollective.com

Dragon Con 2026: I Was a Finalist in Master Dungeon Master!

Dragon Con 2026 went by in a blur of amazing cosplays, fantastic panels and parties, and unforgettable connections with both fans and guests alike. The love that attendees (including myself) bring into making Dragon Con special is more evident every year, with a culture of giving around trinkets, ribbons, stickers, and more on top of the grand feeling of inclusion and positivity in every corner of the con.

theconventioncollective.com

Now live on Kickstarter from Kubert School Graduates: DECADES

While I was at Baltimore Comic Con I briefly chatted with Torrie Wilkinson about a new Kickstarter project she was going to launch soon titled Decades. The project is an anthology comic book with work from alumni of the prestigious Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art including Angelo Concepcion, Torrie Wilkinson, Ash Cassera Gonzalez, …

theconventioncollective.com

Dragon Con 2026 recap: A great time was had again

This past Labor Day I once again made the trek down to Atlanta for Dragon Con and just like my previous 4 times (2021, 2023, 2024, 2025) I had a terrific (and exhausting!!!) time. From the countdown at the Marriott (complete with confetti drop) to the multiple days in the vendor hall and multiple nights traversing the habitrail connected hotels I saw so many great cosplays and tons of great art from the artist alley vendors (and I went home with a few pieces thanks to the art auction and my ever growing sketchbook).

theconventioncollective.com

LACC 2026: L.A. Comic Con celebrates its 15th Anniversary in fine style with stellar guest lineup – Hayden Christensen, Nicolas Cage, Christopher Lloyd…

For their fifteenth year, the L.A. COMIC CON team are celebrating in style with one of their strongest lineups to date over the weekend of Fri 30th October - Sun 1st November 2026, featuring Nicolas Cage, Hayden Christensen, the casts of AHSOKA, BREAKING BAD, K-POP DEMON UNTERS and more.

theconventioncollective.com

NYCC 2026: ‘Get that Spider… MEN??’ Guinness World Record attempt at largest Spidey gathering at New York Comic Con

What happens when hundreds of Spider-Men take over New York Comic Con, next weekend? On the Thursday of the convention, Jazwares and Disney Consumer Products are hoping to find out as they organise a Guinness World Records attempt for the 'Largest Gathering Of People Dressed As Spider-Man'!

theconventioncollective.com

NYCC 2026: Whatnot brings Nas, Marvel Comics, F1 exclusives and appearances to New York Comic Con with 5,000 sq ft presence

Online retailer Whatnot are making their presence known at New York Comic Con next weekend with a MAMMOTH 5,000 square foot 'mall-inspired space', with appearances from the worlds of comics, music and even sport.

theconventioncollective.com

NYCC 2026: Mad Cave Studios reveal massive New York Comic Con signing, panels schedule – John Cusack, Stephanie Williams and more

Mad Cave Studios are just going from strength to strength in 2026 with some incredible books featuring renowned talent hitting the shelves; they are well positioned as not just a well-established indie publisher but yer genuine comics superpower - and they're demonstrating that with an epic showing at next weekend's New York Comic Con

theconventioncollective.com

FORGOTTEN ISLAND movie review – a dazzling, hyper-kinetic masterpiece with a massive beating heart

Directors: Joel Crawford and Januel MercadoStarring: H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, and Lea SalongaMovie Length: 1 hour 48 minutes What Leo thought: Forgotten Island is a dazzling, hyper-kinetic masterpiece with a massive beating heart. It proves that Puss in Boots: The Last Wish…

theconventioncollective.com

NYCC 2026: DC unveils panels, fan experiences, exclusive covers for New York Comic Con

DC announced today their New York Comic Con presence with its expanded multilevel DC Booth on the convention show floor at Booth #4365. Right next door at Booth #4657 is DC’s new 360° cosplay photo installation for fans wanting to walk the runway as a DC Super Hero or Super-Villain!

theconventioncollective.com

NYCC 2026: Skybound brings the Energon energy to New York Comic Con with panel & events lineup

Skybound Entertainment, the creator-first studio behind global franchises including Invincible, The Walking Dead, Impact Winter, and Stillwater, is bringing a powerhouse lineup of panels to this year’s New York Comic Con, running from October 8-11.

theconventioncollective.com

Bride of the Barrier Master 3rd teaser visual & teaser promotional video released!

I have been reading the light novels for Bride of the Barrier Master for a few years now and I am so excited to finally see it in anime! It is such an exciting time with all of these popular series getting made into anime, and Bride of the Barrier Master is a great choice! Hana Ichise is such a good main female lead!

theconventioncollective.com

RESIDENT EVIL movie review – Cregger’s Resident Evil Breaks New Ground, But is it Better Than What Came Before?

Director: Zach CreggerStarring: Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter HauserMovie Length: 1 hour 35 minutes What Mike thought: Boy does the movie studio want audiences to know that this is a film written (with Shay Hatten) and directed by the notable new comer Zach Cregger, the man who brought us the box office hits…

theconventioncollective.com

Dragon Con 2026: In Conversation with Drew Nolosco of Mothership Games (Cataclysm Arcade)

While I was at Dragon Con 2026 I had a chance to chat with Drew Nolosco of Mothership Games about their new TCG (Trading Card Game) Cataclysm Arcade. We talked about the game, some of the characters, and what is coming from them. Check out the full roundtable audio below!

theconventioncollective.com

Dragon Con 2026: In Conversation with Chip Zdarsky

While I was at Dragon Con 2026 I had a chance to participate in a roundtable interview with Chip Zdarsky. The roundtable discussion included questions about his new Avengers: Armageddon series, his story in the new THE MUPPETS TAKE THE MARVEL UNIVERSE #1, and more! Check out the full roundtable audio below!

theconventioncollective.com

ANIME NYC 2026 recap

Anime NYC returned to the Javits Center this summer for another record worthy weekend, with favorable weather and a standout guest lineup cementing the conventions reputation as one of the fastest improving conventions on the East Coast. New attendees and longtime Anime NYC goers notice a clear pattern: it gets better every year. The organizers have earned a reputation for taking attendee feedback seriously and implementing changes the following year.

theconventioncollective.com

FOREVER HOME #1 review – A new book to make forever at home in your collection (Ward, Kivelä, Wordie, Otsmane-Elhaou) Oni Press

Writer: Christian WardArtist: Sami KiveläColorist: Jason WordieLetterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou Thanks to Oni Press for the review copy! The Forever Home is a new six-issue post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller from Oni Press. Billionaire scientist, Henry D’mour failed to save the world from the apocalypse. Instead, he built a luxurious high-tech building, called “The Forever Home” to protect his family. He has a wife, two children, and a dog named Dodo.

theconventioncollective.com

David Hedgecock’s new MISS MINA Kickstarter campaign draws superstar talent – Chuma Hill, Tony Harris and more

San Diego publisher Fun Time Go! taps into the perhaps-not-so-fun but equally thrilling gothic world of fantasy and vampires with new project, THE LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN JAGUAR, the latest instalment from founder David Hedgecock's MISS MINA AND THE MIDNIGHT GUARDIANS saga.

theconventioncollective.com

Superstar writer / artist Becky Cloonan announces new Kickstarter ‘mosaic’ artbook project, FEVER DREAM

One part A COMPANY OF WOLVES/one part THE HUNGER, FEVER DREAM is a new 116-page art book that collates some brand new and never-before-seen work from Becky Cloonan's drawing board, coming soon to Kickstarter

theconventioncollective.com

SDCC 2026: Brad Bird: My Cinematic Journey panel recap

While I was attending San Diego Comic-Con this year, I had a chance to attend the Brad Bird panel in Hall H. It was a great panel, and here's a recap of what Brad talked about during it. Brad Bird knows how to make great films. Two of his movies, The Iron Giant and The Incredibles rest atop by favorite superhero genre movies.

theconventioncollective.com

Fan Expo Chicago – Good times in the Windy City

Recently, I attended Fan Expo Chicago for the first time at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. This event was packed with celebrities, comic creators, and comic vendors which was beyond my expectations. It was also jam packed with congoers! Many of the attendees came to see their favorite celebrities.  Making a rare con appearance and most likely his first ever appearance where fans could purchase autograph and photo opportunities with him was actor, Kurt Russell. 

theconventioncollective.com

HAMMERFIST #1 review – A mix of hard-boiled crime and supernatural horror (Rememder, Epting, Hollingsworth, Wooton)

Writers: Rick RemenderArtist: Steve EptingColorist: Matt HollingsworthLetterer: Rus Wooton Thanks to Image Comics for the review copy! Out this week is Hammerfist #1, the new creator owned series from Rick Remender and Steve Epting published by Image Comics.   Remender is best known for books such as Black Science, Deadly Class, Fear Agent, Tokyo Ghost…

theconventioncollective.com