We have very exciting news!
Since our blog started in 2009, the popularity of San Diego Comic-Con has grown into the premiere event for popular culture in the world. Nearly 150,000 people descend upon the San Diego Convention Center and its surroundings the better part of a week each July, but thousands more follow the action on the internet from places near and far.
In the past few years we’ve done our best to keep up with the growth of the convention and provide the best possible coverage of the convention to our readers. But this year, we’re not taking anything for granted. We’ve asked some of the biggest names on the convention scene to help us out this year, so that we can really take this year to the next level.
So without further ado, please say hello to our team of contributors and writers for 2013! Avengers, assemble!
Zack Young – Founder/Managing Editor. Without Zack, The San Diego Comic-Con Unofficial Blog wouldn’t exist. He started the site in 2009 and helped build it into the top fansite covering the convention. A big television and movie fan, he’s been commanding the Helicarrier for the past couple of years making sure the team has the tools and resources to provide our readers with the best SDCC coverage you’ll find anywhere. Because of this, he is largely responsible for assembling the team you see before you today.
Jeremy Rutz – Editor-in-chief/SDConCast Host, Producer. After years of longing from afar, his first year of attending SDCC was 2010. He made the most out of that first experience as a reader of The San Diego Comic-Con Unofficial Blog, and vowed to help make other attendees’ experiences just as awesome by becoming a writer in 2011. Last year in addition to writing for the blog he produced the popular SDConCast podcast, the only podcast devoted to San Diego Comic-Con. His two little rugrats consume his life, and he loves being able to share his favorite comics, movies and cartoons with them. He could really use that 70-year cryogenic sleep for some much-needed rest, though. You can find him on Twitter at @SpotAnime.
James Riley – SDConCast Host/Photographer/Writer. Despite living in San Diego most of his life, James didn’t go to his first Comic-Con until 1995. He hasn’t missed one since. Throughout the years he has spent his time at Comic-Con taking on a variety of guises. His first appearance was as a retailer where he honed his knowledge of comics, toys & cards from the other side. Next came time as a normal fan, spending most of the con hours walking the floor targeting all the cool stuff that helps make SDCC world famous. In 2005 he joined a new team, working with fellow Browncoats to run what some consider the best fan group booth at the con and ended up leading the non-profit California Browncoats from 2007-2011. Now he’s a member of the fourth estate, shooting everything in sight with his trusty camera, co-hosting SDConCast and occasionally writing an article. He’s also teamed up with his lovely wife (and fellow photographer) Beth to bring a one-two punch to capturing the con. He hopes his experience at, and love for, SDCC helps others have that special week in July they’ll remember for a lifetime. Keep a close eye on him though, you’ll never know what he’s aiming for next. He can be found across the internet via his photo company, GeekShotPhoto.com.
Kim Twombly – Writer/Contributor. Her first experiences with con life started with Star Trek TNG, X-Files, and other fan-run conventions in the 90’s. Later, Kim branched out to CCI’s WonderCon and then the 24-hour party that is Dragon*Con in Atlanta. She has attended Comic-Con since 2006, gaining more and more insight into how to navigate both the convention and the plethora of events in the surrounding Gaslamp Quarter. In 2012, Kim brought her experiences together to start the website OutsideComicCon.com and its accompanying Twitter feed @OutsideComicCon. Much like Black Widow, she is resourceful and innovative, tracking down information and using her knowledge for good and not evil (we hope!). She aims to help other con-goers discover the opportunities outside the convention center for giveaways, virals, screenings, parties, celebrity-sightings and other amazing events. You can also find Kim on her personal Twitter feed, @Earth2Kim, and you might even catch her driving around San Diego sporting her Doctor Who-themed license plate!
Shawn Marshall – Writer/Contributor. His secret origin is one buried underneath stacks of comics and containers of Star Wars and Star Trek toys. Having not had a traditional upbringing, it is only because of comics that he ever learned to read and as a result their hero-filled pages hold a special place in his heart. Since those early days, he’s read comics and collected toys fairly consistently. The next step in his transformation to a super nerd was learning the con scene. Cons are important, as they’re the perfect marriage of all the things that make me who he am. As such, he loves sharing advice on how to get the most out of these shows. His SDCC specialties are swag, exclusives, comics and health (attending SDCC since 2005 and no con flu yet!). He’s overjoyed to be assisting the Avengers of Comic-Con in bringing fans the best SDCC possible. Outside of the SDCCBlog, you can find him at www.con-news.com, www.therealmcast.com, www.youtube.com/user/theconfluence1 and on Twitter at @The_Con_Fluence.
Evic Oropilla – Writer/Contributor. It all started when at a young age he attended a small comic convention at Golden Hall. Not knowing what he was getting himself into at the time the experience would become addictive. He was exposed to what we know today as “Nerd Mecca”, “Nerdvana”, “Nerdtopia” aka the San Diego Comic Con and has been hooked now for over 25 years! His mission is to provide information to help make the SDCC experience a fulfilling one to fans as SDCC can be overwhelming! By combining tech, experience and knowledge he is able to offer a unique perspective in helping to create the best con experience possible. As SDCC gets closer his excitement level increases and the release of adrenaline triggers the monster within who is consumed by ALL things SDCC!!! If you have any questions you can find him on Twitter at @evico.
Tony Kim – Writer/Contributor. It was that faithful summer of 2006 that changed everything. His first San Diego Comic-Con was not only overwhelming, but transformed him from mild-mannered geek to super nerd. Now, he passionately fight a never ending battle to empower con ‘noobies’ by teaching them to maximize their 4-days in ‘nerdvana’. As a fan, his obsessions are Doctor Who, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Comics, The Walking Dead, and Game of Thrones. Besides writing for The San Diego Comic-Con Unofficial Blog, you can find more of his writings at Crazy4ComicCon.com and follow him on Twitter at @Crazy4ComicCon.
For your convenience, we’ve created a Twitter list of the team mentioned above. All you have to do is follow the list, and you’ll follow all of our individual updates leading up to and through this year’s SDCC. And of course, continue to follow the site’s main Twitter @SD_Comic_Con for all the news leading up to and through the con.
Say hello to the new team by leaving a comment below!
