NYCC day two (Saturday) was awesome. I met Chris Metzen and Micky Neilson for the first time. I had been in contact with Metzen a few times in the past 6-8 months, but this is the first time we met face to face. It wasn’t possible to meet him when we visited the Blizzard offices on October the day prior to Blizzcon. So it was great to finally do.

I was quite surprised to find out that he visits Blizzplanet very often, and that he has seen my news at Worldofwar.net too. I really love the passion he puts on everything he works with. Both, Chris and Micky are very down to earth folks, very friendly, and humorous. Very geeky in the good sense. Heck, I’m geeky. I got over 1,600 comic books, all Blizzard games (non-arcade), all Warcraft RPG books and Pocket Star Books.  I have been covering Blizzard games and products news for a bit over six years now.  Am I geeky? Hell, yea.  Blizzplanet turns six years old this very month of February.

During the interview, Chris and Micky hinted Sargeras is not out of the picture. He will eventually return. That’s gonna be an epic fight to take down a renegade Titan. We are going to find out a lot about Arthas’s turmoil within his mind as he slept for the past years in order to regain his strength and control.  Those who read the excerpt know that in that lapse of time, Ner’zhul, Arthas and Matthias Lehner (the ghost child from Icecrown) are the three personnas within Arthas the Lich King during his slumber.

We will see Calia Menethil and the events of Day of the Dragon through the eyes of a young Arthas.  His love triangle with Jaina.  We will see Arthas’ thoughts the moment he disbanded the Order of the Silver Hand, and more. Micky Neilson said there is much more happening behind Arthas’ actions at the time he did that.  Overall they are very happy with Christie Golden’s work. She is a WoW player in an RP server, so she knows the world and the lore by heart. and pours that knowledge into her books.  I recommend reading World of Warcraft: Arthas, the Rise of the Lich King. You can pre-order it here. (Ships April 21)

As for Diablo, there is big secrecy about upcoming Diablo books. I will keep watch over the next months until it pops on my long range radars. I am still testing different conversion formats for the video interview with Chris Metzen and Micky Neilson. Each test takes a while to process. So bare with me. Just know it was an awesome interview. Very informative, teasing and humorous.

I got footage of their book signing session at the Simon & Schuster booth and at the Tokyopop booth. There I got them and Keith R.A. DeCandido to sign 14 Starcraft comic book posters (1’ x 4’) to giveaway to fans. Pop around for details of the contest once the video interview is online.

Sadly, I missed the DC book signing and the comic book interview with Metzen around 12:30-1:30pm. I arrived around 1pm to start setting up the camera and tripod at Simon’s. I thought it would happen in the late afternoon after the Simon & Schuster signing. Fret not. I will send the questions via email instead.  I am geeky about comic books, and I know there are many out there that love the World of Warcraft comic book. Especially this new arc that is so full of thrill.

I had the opportunity to briefly interview Walter and Louis Simonson about the World of Warcraft comic book (Wildstorm). I interviewed him last year when the comic book launched.  This video interview will take a bit longer before making it public, until I submit it to Blizzard and DC.  There were some answers that are too HOT. They did try to not spoil much of the new arc that started with issue # 15 introducing Garona and her son. I could feel the passion they have for writing World of Warcraft.

Those who visited the DC Unlimited booth on Friday, and didn’t do so again on Saturday, there were three new action figures showcased there. Chris Metzen told me about it, and I was obliged to go back and see by myself. I was astonished. I really want one now. What is it? King Varian Wrynn (Lo’gosh) is part of the new action figures series by DC Unlimited. There is also a new Night Elf female hunter with a Owl pet—a character that I was told at the booth might join the Comic Book at some point. I think her last name was Moonbreeze.  And a Ghoul.

Many thanks to Jaime and all the Simon & Schuster staff that helped me set up the video camera onsite. And for facilitating this interview with Chris Metzen and Micky Neilson the past few weeks. And all the back and forth preparations with Shon Damron and Rob Tokar from Blizzard Entertainment.

This weekend has been exhausting, and I barely have time at home. Need to run to day three to cover Aaron Rosenberg’s signing at 11am. See you later tonight.

UPDATE: Full interview available now. Watch both videos here.