Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "comic-con"

Superheroes combat unhealthy villains

2011-07-27T06:53:25Z

A new league of superheroes will debut on the Sacramento comic book scene this December.

The premise of the comic, “Health-E-Man and the Champions of the Chewniverse,” is a band of heroes will fight against the forces that prevent access to good health.

In an attempt to promote health awareness in South Sacramento and in communities beyond, the nonprofit Building Healthy Communities has embarked on the comic project to create an innovative digital comic book series that will teach young people healthy eating habits.

“We’ve always seen fast food restaurants catering to kids – whether it’s toys, superheroes or happy meals. You’ve seen their heroes promote unhealthy foods,” said Alberto Mercado, project coordinator for BHC. “What if we had a superhero that eats everything that is healthy – that’s fighting for justice and (access to) health? (It’s) teaching kids that there’s a better way than just getting a happy meal.”

The South Sacramento region has been identified as one of the biggest “food deserts” in the state by the California Endowment, a private statewide health foundation that grants money to organizations such as the BHC that seek to expand health access to under-served communities, Mercado said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines “food deserts” as areas that lack access to affordable fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat milk and other foods that make a healthy lifestyle possible. According to the CDC, a population living in such regions can suffer from bad health.

A marked characteristic of a “food desert” is the lack of supermarkets in what are often minority communities.

“ ‘Health-E-Man and Champions of the Chewniverse’ is the perfect way for us to reach those who don’t get the regular (health) information,” Mercado said. “Nutritional information is kind of boring, and we’re putting (nutritional lessons) into the comic book so that people know that there’s good ways to eat and bad ways.”

The comic project is funded through Asian Resources, a community organization that acts as a fiscal agent for the California Endowment in the Sacramento region. Asian Resources is one of 27 organizations that received grants from the Endowment. Additional fundraising for the project will be done through www.kickstarter.com, a website that accepts donations for art and media projects.

Christine Tien, project manager for the California Endowment, ~~Asian Resources, a community organization that acts as a fiscal agent for the California Endowment in the Sacramento region~~ , gave the green light for the “Champions of the Chewniverse” comic book project.

The target demographic is sixth graders to high school-age youths.

Funding for the comic was granted on the basis that it could spread the vision of community health. If the digital comic can influence the eating patterns of students, Mercado said, he thinks the project could go beyond Sacramento.

Health-E-Man was inspired by the 1980s superhero series “He-Man and Masters of the Universe.”
In order to avoid too many comparisons to He-Man, creators of Health-E-Man have made efforts to differentiate their hero.

“If you’ve ever seen (He-Man), he’s a typical white male – knight-in-shining armor. But if you look at our character, he could resemble any ethnicity that you could think of. He could look Mexican, he could look Native American, he could also look Asian,” Mercado said. “We know Sacramento is a very diverse community, and we want to make sure everyone is captured.”

Creators are also currently working on their first storyline concept. Each issue will be accompanied by a lesson, such as the benefits of exercise.

“Kids can teach their parents about eating. Kids can influence their parents in doing things. If we did it the other way around, it wouldn’t work, and we’ve seen it,” Mercado said. “If you have a youth coming to you and telling you the things that could happen, it makes a bigger impact.”

Two teenagers have been brought on board for storyboard consulting because creators wanted input from youths. In addition, Frank Stone, a comic book illustrator from Stockton, was enlisted to bring their concepts to life.

In order to raise community involvement, Mercado said that creators of Health-E-Man will launch a coloring contest in August in order to decide the color scheme for the comic. The details of the contest are still in development. Mercado said the fusion of colors makes or breaks a comic.

Stone took the concept of “Champions of the Chewniverse” to Comic-Con in San Diego recently in order to debut Health-E-Man to the comic book community. Health-E-Man will also have its own booth at the first He-Man convention beginning Sept. 28 in Los Angeles.

Editorial Note: A correction has been made to this story after it was published. The incorrect information has beeen struck out and the correct information has been added.

Costumed characters promote California Museum's 'Out of this World' exhibit

2009-10-01T03:49:15Z

Halloween came to Sacramento early Wednesday morning as a group of six local science fiction lovers marched downtown dressed in Klingon, Death Star Trooper and Sith Lord costumes. Dozens of children and sci-fi fans flocked to take photographs and speak with the costumed characters.

Others gawked, laughed and one child even cried as they meandered from the California Museum down K Street and past the Capitol to Cesar Chavez Plaza.

The march was organized to promote The California Museum's new sci-fi exhibit "Out of this World: Extraordinary Costumes from Film and Television," which will run from Oct. 3 to Jan. 10. It will feature more than 50 props and costumes from some of Hollywood's most memorable sci-fi films.

Among some of the exhibit's main attractions are the Darth Vader robe and cape from Star Wars, the leather jacket worn by Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the hat worn by the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.

Besides viewing these items, visitors will also learn how clothing designers and artists came up with ideas for the costumes and props, according to Ashley Robinson, the California Museum's communications manager.

Mark Lin, normally a business analyst in Elk Grove, was dressed as a death star trooper from Star Wars. He and another costumed storm trooper represent part of a group called the 501st Legion, a group of friends who dress up as villains from the Star Wars movies, Lin said.

Besides comic book and sci-fi conventions, the 501st Legion attends the Rose Parade and even visits children at Shriner's Hospital and the Salvation Army. Lin mentioned that he is looking forward to some of the older sci-fi costumes at the upcoming exhibit, especially the jumpsuit, proton pack and utility belt from Ghostbusters.

Three other costumed sci-fi fans were part of a Sacramento Klingon Assault Group (KAG) called "Ikvnomhegh," which means "swift death," said Chris Mumma, a KAG officer. Mumma wore a Klingon warrior costume from Star Trek complete with a plastic "bat'leth" or "sword of honor."

KAG "Ikvnomhegh" member Julio Alcala was also dressed as a Klingon, but in a plainer costume from the original Star Trek series. He mentioned that sometimes locals must travel as far as Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas to attend sci-fi or comic conventions.

After displaying an uncanny vocal impression of a Wookie from Star Wars, Alcala added that he was looking forward viewing the black leather jacket that Arnold Schwarzenneger wore in The Terminator at the exhibit.

Another KAG members, Von Bean, dressed as a female Sith Lord from Star Wars. Unlike others, she sewed the costume herself, she said.

David Mello, not affiliated with any costume group, dressed up as Fourth Who, which he explained was the fourth incarnation of Dr. Who from the BBC series "Dr. Who." Recently back from San Diego's Comic-Con, Mello blogs about movies under the pen name Impaler General.

Mello said he is excited about the variety at the Out of this World exhibit. "Even if one person is a drawn to a [specific] genre, they will look at others," he said.

"[By] putting sci-fi costumes in the same gallery space as the Lincoln exhibit, the museum will be able to reach people with different interests," Robinson added. Besides being for sci-fi fans, it's also for people who love movies or costume design in general, she said.

California Museum members will get a sneak preview of the exhibit this Thursday at 6 p.m. during a members-only preview reception. In addition to being able to party in the Star Wars cantina and eat from a table based on the monkey brains scene from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the gatherers will also participate in a costume competition.

Prizes include a round-trip ticket from United Airlines, a resort package from Le Rivage and Scott's Seafood Grill and Bar and four tickets to see "Star Wars: In Concert" which takes place Oct. 9 and 10 at Arco Arena. Non-members can attend the preview by signing up at the door, calling (916)-653-1752 or visiting Californiamuseum.org/membership.

The California Museum is located at 1020 O St.