Artist: Andrea Tamme

   Our Wonder Woman of the Week image comes from an Emerald City Comicon (ECCC) regular, Andrea Tamme (above).
   Bonus: Wonder Woman is featured alongside a bevvy of iconic DC ladies.
I love WW's pose and expression so much, I kind of wish there was a standalone of just her.


But where's Zatanna?

Ah, there she is.

   The image above was the last purchase I made at last year's ECCC.  I think it's become con tradition for me, that as soon as the "fifteen minutes to closing" announcement goes down, I realize that all my procrastination has caught up with me; and I make a mad dash to every artist and vendor I had told in previous days, "I'll come back." 
Such was the case at ECCC 2013.  Weaving in and out of rows like a lunatic, with an ever-shrinking amount of cash in my hand, I made it to Andrea Tamme's booth just in time.  I bought the poster, but immediately gave it to a good friend, who also happens to be a big DC fan.
 This year, however, I got the time to actually speak to Andrea, a Calgary-based artist, and check out more of what she brought to the convention. She does a lot of conventions - more than ten last year - both in the USA and Canada, alongside fellow Calgary artist Drake Tsui. (more on him here.)
   I love when I come across an artist who can tackle very different styles.  Even moreso, when I meet someone who can do them all with the same degree of skill.  And based on Andrea's portfolio, I'm not entirely sure what style she isn't good at.  The doe-eyed, flirty superhero women are fun, and I am always a fan.
But then, I look at pieces like her classical style "Mr. and Mrs. Lemongrab," which is beautifully surreal, and I am even more impressed.  Rosa and I grabbed a post card version of the painting - and of course, another "DC Ladies" poster-  and a handful of other pieces.  I'm hopeful that she will be back to Emerald City's con, or something closer to me.  I look forward to seeing a lot more of her work.
  


"ACCEPTABLE!!!"

Here's her website, which links to all things Andrea Tamme.  http://www.andreatamme.com/
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Costumes: Emerald City Comicon Favorites

 There's still lots more to write about from Emerald City Comicon, but I've been sitting on this stack of cosplay long enough.  I admit there may have been some research involved, as well as texting of friends to figure out just who everyone was. Anyway, here's a look at our favorites from Seattle, including my personal Top 5.

Black and white

 

Beetlejuice.  Better than Robin Thicke any day.  And way less creepy.

Black Cat.  Under-represented in Spidey movies.
Someone should remedy this.

I never want to like Zatanna, but she's just
so damned likable!

Bright, Bold and Awesome

Just when I am totally sick of Poison Ivy ...
someone changes it up.

Oh Speed, I have made you look quite derpy. 
But that scarf is effing sweet!

Tank Girl being Tank Girl

This is more or less exactly how I pictured Oracle-era
Barbara Gordon

Livewire braves a fear a water to visit Seattle

'Evil-Lyn? I just thought your name was Evelyn."
Oh Robot Chicken quotes.
Also, this woman is awesome.

Where does he keep his Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator?
 Scared to ask, huh?

Cosplaying Aquaman requires bravery
(That's a lot of orange)
Carrying a trident around all day requires commitment!

Mutants

A quite detailed Pixie. 

A fantastic Jubilee, complete with ... whatever her power is.
ECCC was definitely the convention for me to love cosplay of characters
that I previously despised. 

A bespectacled Magik and a Thousand-yard-stare Psylocke

Can you ever have too much Psylocke?

The ultimate crossover. 
Batman is gonna be piiiiissed!

X-23, ready to eviscerate purse snatchers.

A ferocious Wolfsbane and a very serious M.

Pairs, Groups and Face-offs

What?!  No Jager?! Come on guys, do it right!

Witchblade, Phoenix and ... umm... I am not sure.
#fakegeekguy!

 As with Psylocke, Spidey and the 47 different kinds of Wolverine and Catwoman, it's always interesting to see which version of a character one choses to cosplay.

Before: Ms. Marvel

After: Captain Marvel

 Raven and Robin.  Please notice the device I will
be bringing to next year's Con, a big flag
to wave in the air, so we all stop losing each
other on the floor.

Also Raven. 
Up to no good, based on her expression.

 ... meet actual Loki ...

Actual Thor ...

Storm Shadow and a very committed Destro.  Not just to getting the face right,
but to giving us maximum pimp chest.

 

Miyazaki

There were several great Miyazaki-based characters.  I only managed to capture two.

A quite friendly looking Princess Mononoke

An adventurous Nausicaa.

My Top 5 Favorite Costumes of ECCC14

#5 This Pam Poovey was not an elaborate
costume.  But it is damn perfect.
Dicknuts!

#4 More hardcore than balancing a book for posture,
the Eye of Sauron!

#3 Steampunk Mario Brothers
Not only is every detail - from mustaches to hats, to weapons - a cleverly
re-imagined reference, I really wish this was an actual video game.

#2 That guy sitting in the corner doesn't seem ready for the sheer baddassery
happening right in front of him.  Clearly, Hawkman did not take a Mini to get to the Con.

All the cute!  Ever!  This little Diva from The Fifth Element is so perfect, she
made me forget all the overexposed Leeloos running around (and sadly no Ruby Rods!)
Book your Fhloston Paradise concert now!

Wonder Woman of the Week and other flashbacks

My third trip to Emerald City Comicon was the best one yet.  In addition to bringing a few more friends along, I always look forward to seeing artists and cosplayers I have become familiar with and who have become favorites.  These three creative minds have already been featured here, but are too  great not to revisit. 
Liana Hee
This week's WWoW comes from one of my absolute favorite artists, Liana Hee.  I believe I have described her in the past as supremely talented, and I stand by that statement.
She is currently a designer for Nickelodeon Animation Studio! She was also recently featured at the Disney WonderGround Gallery as the Artist in Residence doing live paintings for what I must assume was an adoring audience.  Because I have commissioned her twice in the past, I was looking forward to a second in my Wonder Woman series.  Thankfully, she was on board; and I now have a Can-Can Wonder Woman to accompany my Flapper Wonder Woman from 2013. 
(Also, it was fitting, since our group caught a show at the Can-Can Cabaret at Pike's Place Market in Seattle.  I highly recommend that any trip to Seattle should include a show there.)
As always, the amount of detail in Liana's work is amazing and her work has so much life and energy. 

No one make any sudden noises ...

 

Catch our original post here.  And check out her blog and (for you superfans) her 365 day photo project.

Livio Ramondelli
If you're a fan of Transformers, you'll love Livio Ramondelli.  If you're a fan of Star Wars, you'll love Livio Ramondelli.  If you're a fan of laser guns, explosions and probably robots, you'll love IDW artist Livio Ramondelli.

Almost makes you wanna root for the villain!

If his work looks familiar, it may be because he has drawn for such comic titles as Transformers, G.I. Joe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Battlestar Galactica and Star Wars.  He has provided art and Design for Google, Hasbro and Upper Deck as well.   I made sure to find time to hit his table alongside, my buddy Scott - the perpetual kid who never grew up.  His transformers collection fills a pretty massive assortment of shelves and closets in his house.  I saved the trip to Livio's table as a day three reveal at ECCC.  He did not disappoint.  What I have come to love most about his art is that he captures an entire story in one moment.   I assure you, that's no exaggeration. 

Check our first spotlight here.  And have a look at Livio's homepage and deviantart page. 

Ani-Mia
 Ani-Mia was one of the first well-known cosplayers we featured on the blog. (here) She makes made it quite easy, actually.  She is genuinely funny and approachable and there's a cheeky, very unapologetic sexiness to her cosplay.

I hate lanyards!

Really hate lanyards.

She has been featured in every cosplay and geek culture website and magazine we can think of.  She is always full of love and fan service on her Facebook page, and even with all the travel, she still finds time to fit charity work in with her cosplay with groups such as Comic Book Characters for Causes.  She is also a lovely model of non-geeky things too.

She'll be at Awesomecon next, (mark your calendars!) right in my own backyard. Woohoo! No jet lag necessary.  Check her tumblr for more of her thoughts and deviantart for more images.
Aaaand gratuitous Princess Leia in ...

5...

4...

3...

2...

1...

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Artists: Sho Murase made my brain explode

Walking around the artists alleys of various comicons is one of my favorite things to do.  Not just at the conventions, but really one of my favorite things to do of all time.  Seeing talented artists working in every medium and seeing what they can do with respect to beloved characters as well as their own original work - it's always impressive. 
And then. 
Sometimes. 
Sometimes you meet an artist whose work makes you say "What thafuuuuuu..."
Sho Murase is one of those artists. 
She has done a large number of covers for the Nancy Drew graphic novel series. several pin up books including her Harajuku Girls and Heroines, covers for Marvel, IDW and Image, and of course, her own original work.  Her full-color, more conventional art (if you can even call it conventional) is beautiful, with angles and perspectives that are uniquely hers.  And eye contact that you can feel coming off the screen or paper.

Yeah.  Got your attention now, huh?

Vader just became the second most intimidating character in Star Wars.

Those are, of course, amazing enough.  But what made my head explode was her series of silhouette-color-gradient-elongated-figures- ... I don't even have a word for it. 
Here! 
These...

I want this art on my wall, and I don't even LIKE Poison Ivy.

Like a beautiful sunset.  A ... sexy sunset? 
Is there such a thing?

It's like a tradition that we seem to find the best artists at the last possible moment on the last day of conventions.  So of course, that's when we found her.  Our buddy Scott was furious/elated to find and buy an awesome Phoenix piece.  As for Rosa and me, since Sho has no Wonder Woman, we decided on one of her uniquely gorgeous images. This one below.  There was also one of her coffee table art books there, which we did not get. 
I regret that. 
Next time!


I wish my cats could do this.

Check out her homepage and Facebook
Even more of her thoughts, updates and artwork can be found on her blog. Which, if you're at work while reading it, I guarantee you'll get nothing done. 

Also, you should---OH MY GOD, SHE ACTUALLY DOES HAVE A WONDER WOMAN!

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