ERBFest, part of the larger PulpFest 2024 event, was an absolute blast for everyone involved. The gathering saw the presence of three Carolina Calots and a total of thirty-seven other passionate Burroughs Bibliophiles, ensuring that the atmosphere was electric and full of enthusiasm.
Kicking off the festivities was a fun-filled opening night featuring Palaver and Pizza, where fans of Edgar Rice Burroughs mingled and shared their love for his work.
One of the highlights was an engaging panel discussion titled "The Women of Edgar Rice Burroughs," led by Burroughs enthusiast Bernice Jones and Cathy Mann Wilbanks, who serves as the Vice President of Operations for ERB, Inc. They delved into how Burroughs crafted his female characters, examining iconic figures like Jane Clayton from the Tarzan series and Dejah Thoris from the Martian saga, as well as women from his Western and contemporary stories. The speakers made a compelling argument that Burroughs was quite progressive for his era, showcasing a nuanced portrayal of women that was ahead of its time.
This year's event was buzzing with a huge turnout of Burroughs enthusiasts, which meant that the convention floor was packed with a variety of ERB merchandise for fans to explore. From books and comic books to stunning artwork, it felt like every corner was filled with something that would catch the eye of any Burroughs aficionado.
One of the highlights that attracted a massive audience featured Christopher Paul Carey, the VP of Publishing at ERB, alongside VP of Operations Cathy Wilbanks and several special guests. They took the stage to share exciting updates about the latest projects in the pipeline. Among the new releases were titles from the ERB Authorized Library, Universe, Wild Adventures, and the Limited Edition Collections. A significant portion of the discussion was dedicated to the John Carter of Mars: The Audio Series, which had just kicked off its Kickstarter campaign the day before and quickly hit its initial funding goals. In an exciting revelation for many attendees, Overpower, a collectible card game, announced its licensing agreement with Edgar Rice Burroughs and Top Cow for a much-anticipated relaunch set for 2025. The company has pledged to provide the highest quality original artwork for the collectible card game community, enlisting a lineup of exceptional artists to contribute.
One of the standout panels at the festival was definitely the Pulp Paleontology session. The incredibly talented and multi-award-winning artist and writer Mark Schultz teamed up with Mike Chomko, the Director of Marketing for PulpFest, to dive into a lively discussion about dinosaurs in pulp literature and popular fiction. They covered everything from "The Land That Time Forgot" to "Tarzan at the Earth's Core," and so many more stories, exploring both the serious and the absurd aspects in a way that had the audience in stitches. If this session was recorded, I highly suggest you give it a watch; it’s bound to be entertaining!
The ERB-themed sessions came to a close with discussions centered around Burroughs, Farmer, and the world of pulp fiction. In an engaging interview, novelist and journalist Craig McDonald sat down with artist Doug Klauba to delve into his artistic journey and the inspirations behind his work. Klauba expressed his admiration for legendary pulp artists and shared his passion for the writings of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Robert E. Howard, showcasing his enthusiasm for the pulp genre. Notably, Doug was responsible for the cover and interior illustrations for Chris Adams' "Dark Tides of Mars," the newest installment in the Wild Adventures of Edgar Rice Burroughs series.
On Saturday night, the Burroughs Bibliophiles switched things up by hosting the Dum-Dum Banquet instead of their usual annual fan convention. The event took place at Bravo! Italian Kitchen, with Jason Aiken and Henry Franke III serving as the hosts.
One of the standout moments of the evening was when Jim Goodwin received the Outstanding Achievement Award, while Mark Schultz was honored with the Golden Lion Award.
Guests left the banquet with delightful goodie bags filled with art, and many were lucky enough to snag some fantastic door prizes.
For those who still had the energy, the weekend wrapped up with the Barsoomian Bull Session, where die-hard ERB fans gathered to chat about all things ERB, reflect on the weekend's festivities and brainstorm ideas for future ERB events.
Comments