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With Further Ado #415: To Boldly Go

With Further Ado #415: To Boldly Go

Posted on by Ed Catto

I admit it; I tried to play it cool. I tried not to go all fanboy. But after about, oh, one-and-half minutes I was as a giddy as a seven-year-old feasting on birthday cake and ice cream.

But, like I told my wife,  it was a work thing. And yeah, she just rolled her eyes too.

As a part of my day job as an Assistant Professor at Ithaca College, I teach the Practicum Class for the MBA candidates. It’s a unique program focusing on entertainment, media and live events.  So for this program, unlike, say, Wharton’s or even Cornell’s, we graduate fewer Investment Bankers and more brilliant/innovative creatives who work for entertainment or sports companies.  I wish this type of MBA program existed for me back in the day.

And one of the annual trips in this program is a trip to the Adirondacks, where the students meet a plethora of entrepreneurial start-ups and volunteer at a live event. It’s a fantastic way to get some hands on learning, a hallmark of the Ithaca College School of Business.

This year, while in Ticonderoga, NY we participated in The Star Trek Original Series Set Tour.  It was arranged by our friends at ANCA (the Adirondack North Country Alliance) and TACC (The Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce). Continue reading “With Further Ado #415: To Boldly Go” →

With Further Ado #395: Student Winner #4 -Tessa Dill and The Hannah Montana Craze: Twenty Years Later

With Further Ado #395: Student Winner #4 -Tessa Dill and The Hannah Montana Craze: Twenty Years Later

Posted on by Ed Catto

I’m so pleased to announce that that this year’s ITHACON was another rousing success. It’s a unique convention. Bill Turner, Carmelo Merlo and the Comic Book Club of Ithaca have been running this one for 49 years. Next year will be a big one!

In my day job, as a professor at Ithaca College’s School of Business, I teach the Promoting and Managing ITHACON Class. The students learn about trade shows and work hard to actually run the convention.

Every year we embrace this annual tradition, writing about fandom, conventions, or their experience with the With Further Ado column. Each spring, I ask the students to submit a column on pop culture as if they were the author of this space. Our crack editorial staff pours over the submissions and selects a winner, and they get published on the Pop Culture Squad website.

Anyway, we have several amazing columns to publish this year.

Our third runner-up winner of this year’s fill-in columnist contest is Tessa Dill. She’s written a fantastic essay on Hannah Montana. Of note, she was part of our crack Registration Team at the convention this year. Congrats and thanks for all the hard work managing ITHACON this spring, Tessa.

* * *
The Hannah Montana Craze: Twenty Years Later
by Tessa Dill

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana, which is crazy for someone who grew up watching Disney Channel in the late 2000s. The era of sparkly jackets, catchy theme songs, and a blonde wig disguise is now officially old enough to be nostalgic. Continue reading “With Further Ado #395: Student Winner #4 -Tessa Dill and The Hannah Montana Craze: Twenty Years Later” →

With Further Ado #392: ITHACON Is Almost Here!

With Further Ado #392: ITHACON Is Almost Here!

Posted on by Ed Catto

The nation’s second-longest running comic convention, ITHACON,  is coming up this weekend! I can’t wait. I do have a bit of a history with this fabled event:

  • As a young kid I went to ITHACON #2 (although it might have been ITHACON #1 – I’m not 100% sure) by nagging my mom to take me after I spotted a poster in Fay’s Department Store.
  • Then in college, I was part of the Comic Book Club of Ithaca, and I helped organize the convention. To be honest, I wasn’t one of the major contributors back then.
  • About fifteen years I was invited as a guest, and that was really fun! We were doing a lot of conventions back then (NYCC, SDCC, etc.) but ITHACON was still really special for me.
  • And now, I work with folks like Bill Turner, Carmela Merlo, Bailey Day and TA’s Addy Wells and Teddy Pribulick to help run ITHACON. And the not-so-secret-sauce is that I teach a class of students all about tradeshows, conventions, creativity, and entrepreneurism.  And they will do all the heaving lifting, figuratively and literally, for ITHACON 49.

ITHACON has a long history of cool traditions—the Cosplay Runway, the Coloring Contest, Cosplay Live Model Sketching—and always has a lot of great guests. This year’s no different. Some of our “new” (and returning after a long-time guests include: Continue reading “With Further Ado #392: ITHACON Is Almost Here!” →

Brainiac On Banjo: Sods

Posted on by Mike Gold

“I’m always excited, I just love to walk! My jaws keep on moving and churning out talk! I love to draw pictures in layers and layers, and say the words backwards when I say my prayers!” From The New Amphetamine Shriek, written by Peter Stampfel.


Four bits o’stuff this week, as I bow to the reality of my short attention span.

Superman and The Kennedy Papers

On January 23, 2025, our duly elected Presidential Rapist signed Executive Order 14176, a.k.a. the “Declassification of Records Concerning the Assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” Tens of thousands of pages are being released slowly, and are presently available online at the National Archives. This presidential poseur is quite familiar with the National Archives, and perhaps some of the papers will be found in Trump’s Golden Toilet throne room.

But those of us who have read Superman #1 — the first Superman #1, from 1939 — know who killed Kennedy. So does the Man of Steel, and I provide the evidence here.
Here’s a clue. It wasn’t a man. Continue reading “Brainiac On Banjo: Sods” →

With Further Ado #338: The Small Convention That Thinks Big

With Further Ado #338: The Small Convention That Thinks Big

Posted on by Ed Catto

We’re getting ready for the ITHACON #48, and it’s looking to be another fun one. ITHACON is the nation’s 2nd longest running comic convention—right after San Diego Comic-Con—and it’s unique in many ways:

• It’s still a fan convention. The go-to phrase has always been that it’s “run by fans for fans”. None of the organizers are in it to turn a profit.
• Nobody ever told ITHACON that it’s not one of the big shows. Somehow, baked into the DNA, is a directive to run this event with the professionalism, customer service and grand vision of one of the large comic conventions. If you were to say ITHACON is like a major show, but without the crowds and parking fees, you wouldn’t be wrong.
• Topnotch guests come to ITHACON every year—and this year is no different. Many guests, like Louise & Walter Simonson and Roger Stern, have enjoyed their visits and return frequently. Recent returning friends/professionals include Mike Gold, Don Simpson and Dean Haspiel.
• New Guests for 2025 include: Continue reading “With Further Ado #338: The Small Convention That Thinks Big” →

What To Expect at Ithacon 46 – April 22-23, 2023

What To Expect at Ithacon 46 – April 22-23, 2023

Posted on by PCS Staff

You may have heard about Ithacon, the second longest running comic convention in America, before. Our own Ed Catto is a major force behind making it a terrific little comic show. It is going to happen next weekend, and as the weeks leading up to it are now down to just days, we wanted to let you know all the amazing things that will be there.

First of all Pop Culture Squad will be attending. Mike Gold is a Featured Guest and will be the subject of the discussion panel “Reinventing Characters with Mike Gold” on Saturday 4/22 at 11:30AM. You won’t want to miss it.

Also Bob Harrison will be representing Pop Culture Squad and hosting and participating in a bunch of panels at the con. Follow this link for a look at the complete programming schedule.

The list of Featured Guests also includes Will Dennis, Jamal Igle, Roger Stern, Glen Whitmore, Tom Peyer, and Stuart Moore. The full list of guests can be found here.

Here are some of the things to look for at Ithacon from their announcements that you may have missed.

Continue reading “What To Expect at Ithacon 46 – April 22-23, 2023” →

ITHACON Returns This April and Pop Culture Squad Will Be There

ITHACON Returns This April and Pop Culture Squad Will Be There

Posted on by PCS Staff

A long running tradition in Central New York is returning, and tickets are on sale. Pop Culture Squad will once again have a presence at the ITHACON comic convention which is held at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY. The show organizers have released ticket information that you can find below:

Press Release: Continue reading “ITHACON Returns This April and Pop Culture Squad Will Be There” →
With Further Ado #196: Third Annual Guest Columnist Contest 2022 Runner-Up Tyler Haraden

With Further Ado #196: Third Annual Guest Columnist Contest 2022 Runner-Up Tyler Haraden

Posted on by Ed Catto

Well it is that time of year again. Spring is finally really here, and kids are getting antsy because school is coming to an end. As I have mentioned, I teach the Promoting and Managing ITHACON Class at Ithaca College, and we have developed a bit of a tradition that ties this column to the class.

Each year, I ask the students to submit a column on pop culture as if they were the author of this space. The crack editorial staff at PCS pours over the submissions and selects a winner, and they get published on this website. (The fact that it gives me a couple of weeks break right after Ithacon is of no concern to anyone but me.)

Anyway we have decided that we will publish two columns this year. The first one is the runner-up and the winner will be posted next week.

Just a reminder the first year we did this, there were two columns published Anthony Hernandez and Tyler Jennes. Last year we published three winners: Jordan Green, Maya Lewis, and Caleigh Clarke.

The runner-up of this year’s fill-in columnist contest is Tyler Haraden and his lament for the lack of Grand Theft Auto VI.

Will we ever see Grand Theft Auto VI?

Guest Columnist Tyler Haraden – Ithaca College

Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is one of the greatest gaming titles ever released. Developed by the famous game development company, Rockstar Games, Grand Theft Auto can be traced back to its first game of the series, Grand Theft Auto One, released back in 1997. Since the release of GTA One, we have seen many great games including Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto Four, Grand Theft Auto Vice City, and more. Continue reading “With Further Ado #196: Third Annual Guest Columnist Contest 2022 Runner-Up Tyler Haraden” →

With Further Ado #195: Whew! A live convention, and it was fantastic!

With Further Ado #195: Whew! A live convention, and it was fantastic!

Posted on by Ed Catto

Whew!  Last week I pulled back the curtain as we were in the throes of planning for ITHACON. It was the first year we’d be back live, after the pandemic restrictions, and there was a lot of anxiety in the air.

And as you might recall, ITHACON is a unique show: Bill Turner, the founder, is still very much involved, but I have the privilege of teaching an Ithaca College course about tradeshows and conventions, and as a part of that class, the students promote, plan, and manage ITHACON.  Having worked for Reed Elsevier, I set the bar really high too.

But you know what? It all worked out. The show was a huge success.

I’ll rely on the photos to tell the tale this week, but I still want to fire away with five random thoughts (If I was trying to impress you, I’d label them as “Five Insights”) about ITHACON 2022.

1. People like people – and they are excited to gather together. There were a lot of happy smiles all around and just about everyone: the attendees, the guests, the dealers/exhibitors, the cosplayers, the students (they did all the work), the volunteers, the Comic Book Club of Ithaca (and even the facilities staff) reported they had a great time.

2. ITHACON attracted the people who wanted to be there. Attendance was down from when we were last in person, but that was expected. And you know what? We didn’t want it too crowded anyways. This resulted in quick lines and opportunities for fans wander about and to discover new things.  The dealers were happy too; many of them told us tales about how ITHACON 45 was their best show in a while/ever!

Continue reading “With Further Ado #195: Whew! A live convention, and it was fantastic!” →

With Further Ado #172: Five-and-a-Half Questions with Tyler Jennes

With Further Ado #172: Five-and-a-Half Questions with Tyler Jennes

Posted on by Ed Catto

Tyler Jennes is a newly minted comics professional who’s on a career rocket ride. He’s currently working at Modern Fanatic, but there’s so much more to what he does. I was so impressed with everything he was doing and involved with at NYCC that I just had to catch up with him. I think you’ll enjoy what he has to say.

Question 1:

Ed Catto: What sort of comics and pop culture things did you like before you became part of the industry, and how deep into it were you?

Tyler Jennes: Well, I did go to Ithaca College as a film major, so I was definitely trying to watch as many movies as I possibly could. Besides that, I know I watched a hell of a lot of sitcoms when I was supposed to be doing work, so I can always talk shop about the Norman Lear and James L Brooks output! And I’d like to think I was pretty deep into the comic book scene before I was ever officially in the industry! I would go to NYCC annually and try to meet as many creators as I could (some of whom I now have the pleasure of working with!). But in terms of avidly following characters, there was a period of time where I’m pretty sure I had read every Deadpool title ever published. Now I try to keep myself caught up on all the hot new titles for work purposes!

Question 2:

EC: At Ithaca College, you were very involved with Ithacon (the nation’s second longest running comic con). Can you tell me a little bit about it?

TJ: Like you said, Ithacon has been around for a WHILE. I’m pretty sure it was even one of the first conventions that Frank Miller ever attended. It has a deep, rich history in the comic world, and what makes it even more special is that it’s now student-run! Of course, they still have the original organizers around to supervise things, but the convention is now hosted at the Ithaca College campus, and the student put together the whole thing, from handling guests to setting up events to running booths. I’d also like to add that you can find some amazing stuff at these booths. I vividly remember looking at used comic trades and coming across a Superman collection signed by Curt Swan, Murphy Anderson, Julie Schwartz, and John Byrne. The seller didn’t even realize what he had on his hands, so do you know how much I paid for that? Eight dollars.

Question 3:

EC: There’s a general consensus that many professionals have got to find their own way into the industry -there’s no set plan (unlike a classic profession like, say accounting). How did you get involved?

TJ: I was a junior poised to go off for a semester in LA and start the production assistant grind many film students go through when the pandemic kicked in. At the time, I was in the class for Ithacon, gearing up to put all our convention plans into motion. Obviously, the con wasn’t going to happen that year, so to make it up to us, our professor, the one and only Ed Catto, started having industry folks join the remote classes every week to talk about the biz. These were folks like Rob Salkowitz, Paul Levitz, and even Dan DiDio. But one of those guests was an IC alum, comic editor Will Dennis, who was involved with just about every title Vertigo put out. During the class I tried to make myself stand out by asking a bunch of inside baseball-type questions. He had also mentioned being overloaded with work recently and probably needing an assistant. So, I crossed my fingers and contacted him afterwards, and the rest is history. I started working on Scott [Snyder]’s stuff with Undiscovered Country, and after about a year, I fully hopped on the Best Jackett train and I’ve been running with those two guys ever since. Continue reading “With Further Ado #172: Five-and-a-Half Questions with Tyler Jennes” →