Comic fans off to see the Wizard

In a strange twist this year, Wizard World Philly finds itself competing for attention and the industry's big names with Heroes Convention in Charlotte.

But Wizard World Philly - today through Sunday at the Convention Center - can still boast hosting perhaps the biggest name in the industry.

This is the year Brian Michael Bendis hits town.

"This my first Philly convention ever, ever, ever," said Bendis, best known for helping launch Marvel's Ultimate line with "Ultimate Spider-Man" and a landmark run on "Daredevil." "It's fun but always weird being Guest of Honor."

Bendis is currently writing both of Marvel's Avengers titles and has a say in all their big events, some of which fans will learn about this weekend.

"I'm coming with big convention news on a couple of fronts and doing a couple of special panels I've never done before," he said. "So we are going to put on a bit of a show this weekend."

Bendis enjoys the Wizard World Cons.

"It's kind of Wizard magazine - a smorgasbord of pop culture," he said. "There's the icons, but there's also the underground stuff and Artists' Alley. The shows are about comics the joy of comics."

Speaking of icons, Philly will be graced with three true legends this weekend: Carmine Infantino, who co-created the Flash, Batgirl, Deadman and Poison Ivy; Joe Kubert, the legendary graphic novelist and founder of the Kubert School for Cartoon Arts, perhaps best remembered for drawing Hawkman, Sgt. Rock and Tarzan; and Steranko, cited by many - including Wizard magazine - as one of the most influential comic artists in history.

These three titans were brought together for this historic group appearance by Eisner Award-nominated author, artist, historian and publisher, J. David Spurlock, who said, "These are the guys who inspired me to write, draw and publish. If it weren't for them, there would be no comic industry."

"Heroes" star Hayden Panettiere will also be here this weekend, as will popular singer/model/actress Dazza Del Rio.

"I love shows like 'Heroes' and 'Medium'," said Del Rio, who has appeared in Playboy, produces her own films and will be publishing her own comic soon.

"My favorite comic was 'Flash Gordon.' I love the old school stuff.

"When I'm at the shows, all the money I make basically goes back into comics and t-shirts and animation cels, which I collect," she said. "I actually go crazy and have a lot of fun."

There are those who may wonder what the voluptuous Peruvian/Columbian/Portuguese uberbabe is doing at a comic convention, or even if it's appropriate.

Dazza has a ready response.

"All I have to say is Wonder Woman. I would ask how would they like to project a woman? Does she have to be hideous? I don't understand it. . . . Everybody is attracted to beauty, whether it's a picture or drawing, so why do they look at it when they see someone that basically is beautiful - why would you want to put that down? Because it's an actual woman?"

Dazza will be selling her wares all weekend and said she is "always looking for hot chicks" to appear in her films.

Convention staples Burt Ward (Robin, of TV's "Batman"), Lou Ferrigno ("The Incredible Hulk") and Dirk Benedict (the original "Battlestar Galactica") will be there, as well as wrestlers King Kong Bundy and Virgil, and scores of others.

In addition, comic companies from Marvel to local publishers like Zenescope (out of Abington) will be in attendance.

"We're gonna put on a great show," Bendis said. "Anything people want me to sign, I'll sign." *