Faster than a speeding bullet. Able to mix metaphors with a single stroke. Look! It’s Art Improv, a fast, fun-filled adventure into the world of making up a comic-book story.
Scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Art Improv is one of many interactive sessions for Comic Con visitors.
“It’s kind of like ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ but with drawings,” said cartoonist Jon Murakami, who draws an occasional cartoon for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and whose work graces this week’s TGIF cover. “We ask for audience participation, and then the artists who are on stage draw whatever they request — but we try to surprise the audience. It’s really fast-paced and fun.”
At one session, the question was, “What movie would you like to see Totoro in?” The question made reference to the owl-like Japanese anime character.
“People yelled out things like ‘Fast and Furious,’ and then all of a sudden ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ came out,” said Murakami, who drew Totoro wearing sunglasses for that suggestion. “We have no idea what to expect.”
About a half-dozen artists participate in the event, with one picture getting projected on a screen. Artists get just a minute or two to create their drawings, which are usually distributed to audience members at the end of the session.
Comic Con Honolulu offers dozens of sessions related to comics, popular films, gaming, cosplay and other pop culture topics.
Highlights include “Star Wars”-related events: a panel discussion on the character of Rey (11 a.m. today); a role-playing session using characters from the films (noon today); a fan panel discussion on “Rogue One,” a film set in the “Star Wars” universe that stands apart from the Skywalker saga (1:15 p.m. today); another panel on “Living with ‘Star Wars’ Fandom” (5 p.m. today); and a demo of “Star Wars” games (3 p.m. Sunday).
“Star Trek” fans, meanwhile, all gave a collective “Oh my” at the announcement that George Takei will be making multiple appearances at Comic Con Honolulu (see story at left). Trekkies will also be beaming at a fan panel at 10 a.m. Saturday, offering a retrospective on the first 50 years of the franchise.
Featured guests include Sean Astin of “Lord of the Rings” fame, actors John Barrowman, Phil Lamarr, Colin Ferguson and Erin Gray.
Writers and artists will appear, including Marvel and DC Comics illustrator Andy Lee; Rich Bernatovech, creator of the independent “Sentinels” series; and writer Fabian Nicieza, co-creator of “Deadpool.”
Whatever category of fandom you might fit into, you’ll be sure to fit in. That’s because Comic Con Honolulu, which originated as a single room at Kawaii Kon dedicated to “everything that isn’t anime,” is designed to appeal to fans of all sorts, said Faisal Ahmed, CEO of Comic Con Honolulu.
“The underlying core value of it is providing a safe place to express yourself, whether it be fandom or whatever you want to talk about it,” he said. “There have been so many stories where kids are growing up, and they’re the nerds, the losers in school who feel ostracized. This is a place where they can be themselves.
“This is what people think of themselves when they look at themselves in the mirror.”