Those of us at The Marvel Report spend a lot of time attending comic conventions, movie premieres and other events throughout the year to bring you the latest news from across the Marvel universe. In today’s episode of 12 Days of Marvel, here is our list of Best Events of 2016:
Carolyn Poddig (Senior Staff Writer / Assistant Events Manager)
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. VFX Panel and Meeting Gabriel Luna
The Marvel report was privileged to host the VFX team from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Ghost Rider himself. Getting to hear about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and meeting future directors of such awesome characters like Yo-Yo Rodriguez was a personal highlight, not to mention meeting The Rider himself. Gabriel Luna was beyond awesome to come out and hang with us. It was a highlight of the convention and a mutual effort between Marvel and The Marvel Report.
Kathryn Calamia (Executive Comics Editor)
The Iron Fist Panel at NYCC
My favorite Marvel event this year was having great seats for New York Comic Con’s Iron Fist panel. Waited a few hours in line with great friends talking geek stuff, and then got to watch the Defenders walk on stage together for the first time. To end a perfect panel they then brought Sigourney Weaver on stage to announce her as the big bad, a female villain for Marvel’s biggest TV show!
Brittany Rivera (Senior Writer / Events Assistant Manager)
The San Diego Comic Con Experience
My favorite Marvel event this year has to be San Diego Comic Con. Sure Hall H was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, but the thing that was even more exciting than seeing what Thor did during Civil War or the announcement for Captain Marvel was experiencing it with my fellow Marvel reporters. Seeing Jonathan Hernandez turn to me as they brought out Tom Holland because he knew how much I love Spider-Man and seeing Blaise Hopkins’ face during the Guardians panel and hearing Clement J. Bryant say “OH MY GOD” during the announcement of the Black Panther cast was what made the experience one I will never forget. In that moment we went from strangers to life-long friends and that is the power of Marvel.
Jennifer Redelle Carey (Site Contributor)
The Civil War Hollywood Premiere
I absolutely love attending Marvel movie premieres, but doing it this year with The Marvel Report was very special. Many members of The Marvel Report came out for the Captain America: Civil War premiere. We met and assisted fellow fans with meeting celebrities and we got to meet some of our favorites, too! My most memorable moment is when I, dressed as Agent Carter, asked the Executive Producers of Agent Carter, Tara Butters, Michele Fazekas, and Chris Dingess, to sign my poster. Theirs were the first signatures I obtained on the poster. The total number of signatures now is 22, and includes such notables as Agent Carter costume designer Gigi Melton, Agent Carter writer Brandon Easton, MCU movie writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, MCU executive Kevin Feige, Marvel TV executive Jeph Loeb, and Agent Peggy Carter herself, Hayley Atwell. I intend to get as many people associated with the show and characters to sign it as I possibly can. The show changed my life for the better and the poster is a momento for me to always remember that.
Michael O’Leary (TV/Film Contributor)
The Doctor Strange Opening at TCL Chinese Theater
My favorite Marvel event of 2016 was more of a Marvel Report event. The release of Doctor Strange coincided with my trip out to Los Angeles this year so a big group of us got together at the TCL Chinese Theater to hit a screening as a group. It was great to experience the latest entry in the MCU with some of the best people I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know these last couple of years.
Shawn Richter (Director of Events)
Moderating the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. VFX Panel at LACC
My son Gavin and I attend a ridiculous number of events throughout the year, including every Marvel Premiere in Hollywood and every comic convention possible. While he and I had been on a number of cosplay-related panels, this was the first time I had ever moderated a panel. At Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con, The Marvel Report hosted the visual effects team from Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for a panel discussion. As a special surprise guest, they brought along Actor Gabriel Luna who plays Robbie Reyes / Ghost Rider on the show. It was a blast to not only moderate the panel, but to see everyone from the panel mingling with all of the fans to talk about the show and take photos.
To make the day even more special, my son was in his Ghost Rider costume, and Luna asked him if he would walk the exhibit hall floor with him. For about an hour the three of us wandered around the floor. The fans that were attentive enough to realize that they were walking right past the Ghost Rider stopped him to talk about the show and take photos. It was truly a day I will never forget.
Lauren Gallaway (Director of Operations)
Moderating the Concept Art of the MCU Panel at LACC
My favorite event of 2016 was TMR’s “Concept Art of the MCU” panel. We were honored to host the creative development team from Marvel Studios at Stan Lee’s Comikaze in LA. They shared their work on Baby Groot, Captain America, the helicarrier, Ant-Man and so much more. These guys work tirelessly behind the scenes at Marvel Studios and it was a delight to host them and showcase their work! They really are the unsung heroes of Marvel Studios.
“Snarky” Shawn Carpenter (Pop Culture Editor)
San Diego Comic Con Experience
San Diego Comic-Con honestly was one of the best moments of my summer this year. It being my first convention I was completely overwhelmed but at the same time I’m super happy I got to go. I’d have to say meeting and getting to know my fellow TMR writers was one of if not the best Marvel parts of the event, especially since I had never met any of them before. Also one last little note. Thank you to fellow TMR writer Jonathan Hernandez for putting up with my nonsense as my roommate for he entire con. You’re a really awesome guy and I’m glad to have spent that time with you!
