Biggest Pulp Culture Expo Ever Takes Over Auckland

Press Release

Biggest Pulp Culture Expo Ever Takes Over Auckland

The largest pulp culture event of the year has arrived in Auckland for four days of gaming, entertainment and more mind altering exhibits than you can poke an All Spark at.

Friday was the highly anticipated preview day for true gamers to kick-start the event, a day in which tech enthusiasts attended to try out the latest in gaming technology. Today, the stars come out to play. From 9am today fans of all ages will crowd the ASB Showgrounds desperate to get close to their favourite cult international film and television stars.

Festival director Bill Geradts says “This year’s Armageddon Expo is the biggest yet, with huge names from cult TV series and voice artists from blockbuster movies such as Transformers, and it’s going to be a very exciting 4 days.”

Stand out features of the show over the next few days include international TV, movie and comic guests, the Armageddon Burning Man, massive interactive gaming stands, comics, amusement rides, live wrestling, paintball and much, much more.
This year’s list of celebrity guests includes a dream team selection of some of the most iconic small screen and movie heroes headed by Adrian Paul of the TV series Highlander, Nicholas Brendon of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, who is joined by his twin brother Kelly Donovan.

Also making an appearance at Armageddon Expo 2011 is the beautiful Alaina Huffman from Stargate Universe and Smallville, Stargate SG1’s brilliant young astrophysicist Amanda Tapping, Mark Sheppard the versatile villain from Doctor Who, Supernatural, The X Files and much more. Mark Ryan from the Transformers films will be there, along with the charming Sylvester McCoy and Louise Jameson from the Doctor Who (Classic Series) just to name a few.

From the heard but not necessarily seen category, internationally renowned voice artists such as Kevin Conroy from the awesomely dark Batman Animated, Justice League, Dragonball Z’s Kyle Hebert will be in attendance and hosting the ‘must been seen to be believed’ Kamehameha competition. The man behind the voice of Grandpa Max on Ben 10 and Preceptor in the original Transformers cartoon Paul Eiding will be in attendance, alongside other voicing celebs including Scott McCord from Bakugan Battle Brawlers, Steve Blum from Wolverine and the X-Men, Cowboy Bebop, Transformers Prime and more.

For the more comically minded, Armageddon Expo 2011 presents some of the big hitters from the world of graphic print like Frank Cho, artist of Mighty Avengers, Shanna the She Devil, Liberty Meadows (writer/artist). Whether it’s Manga, Anime or cartoons you’re into, you’ll find someone who knows how to draw them at Armageddon. Don’t miss the digital release of New Zealand’s biggest comic’s publisher Beyond Reality Media, with creators, artists and live in person including The Warden superhero himself!

The Armageddon Expo 2011 is a great chance to show off creative flair in a world that loves all things geek and Anime. Show goers dress up as their favourite movie or TV character, and enter the crazy and colorful realms of the Cosplay Parade or unleash their inner angry beast in a crowd favorite; the Dragonball Z Kamahameha event.

Concluding the Armageddon Charity Masquerade Ball at 10pm on Sunday night, is one of the highlights of event. The 8 metre high wicker giant Armageddon Burning Man will be set alight for a spectacle rivaled in pure awesomeness only by the accompanying fireworks display, courtesy of Pyro Company.
Prepare for a serious case of square eyes as the Armageddon Expo 2011 sees the biggest and most exciting display of all things Gaming in New Zealand ever.

With both Xbox 360 Gaming Zone and PlayStation Zone each bringing a line up of new release and pre-release titles, the Gaming zone at Armageddon is the place to be for all level gamers. Other must-sees include Activison Blizzard’s Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure and the much anticipated Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, the Five Eight stand will host highly anticipated titles such as Assassin’s Creed: Revelations and the Kinect Zone will be heaving with all day sport action and always popular Dance Central. NZGamer.com’s site manager Aaron Scott has been overseeing the Armageddon Gaming Zone. “It’s going to be the biggest Armageddon for gaming ever, we’re looking at around ten pre-releases for some very cool titles,” says Scott. “With the gaming industry continually growing there’s definitely something for every gamer.”

One exciting feature is the Warner Bro’s release of Batman: Arkham City where the voice of Batman – Kevin Conroy will be available for autographs.

On top of all those superstar TV, movie, comic and voice artists, the Armageddon Expo brings in a humongous amount of bust-a-gut fun. Including a huge Paintball Gun Shooting Range, the stomach churning Fear Factor Challenge and Tip Top Ice Cream Eating Challenge. There is the epic Laser Tag, and the opportunity to smash a friend during The Giant Pillow Fight. There’s also the Cheapskates National Skateboarding Championships as well plentiful Anime and movie screenings.

Armageddon Expo 2011 also brings the pain with IPW Live Wrestling for those with a penchant for a smack down, the thundering vibrations of a thousand horse’s under one bonnet in the V8 Supercar Simulator and even the opportunity to walk on water in the Aqua Bubble.

Amongst all the madness is the back bone of Armageddon Expo 2011 - the vast array of exhibitors displaying their wares, everything from swords, to toys, to guns to action figurines and much more.

Armageddon has grown from strength to strength since it’s inception in 1995, becoming the largest fantasy event in Australasia, boasting a whopping 44,000 attendees at last year’s festival. With shows in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Melbourne it’s clear to see Armageddon Expo embodies the pulp culture phenomenon.

Festival creator and director Bill Geradts has seen industry trends come and go, with being a comic writer himself and believes there is a bit of nerd in all of us. “Due to the breakthrough of mainstream movies such as Transformers, the X-Men franchise to name a couple, being a geek is more acceptable. Now they can embrace it openly, in fact it’s even cool!”

Show information available at: www.armageddonexpo.com/

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Event Information:
The Armageddon Expo
Friday October 28th – Monday October 31st, 2011
ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, Auckland

Tickets are available at www.ticktek.co.nz or at the door.

Opening Hours:
Friday October 28th – 10am to 5pm
Saturday October 29th – 9am to 6pm
Sunday October 30th – 9am to 6pm
Monday October 31st – 10am to 5pm

Ticket Information:
SINGLE DAY ENTRY
Adult - $20.00
Student (with ID) $17.00
Child (5-12) $10.00 or FREE with a full paying adult
Family (2 adults and 3 child) $45.00

MULTIDAY PASSES
Special discounts apply for purchasing tickets to three or four days of the event.

THREE DAY PASS
Adult - $50.00
Student (with ID) $45.00
Child (5-12) $25.00

FOUR DAY PASS
Adult - $60.00
Student (with ID) $55.00
Child (5-12) $30.00

Special events of Armageddon Expo 2011 include:
• The Armageddon Burning Man!
• Masquerade ball
• Amusement rides
• Paintball
• LAN event
• Massive gaming area
• National skateboarding championship
• Trading card tournaments
• Anime and movie screenings

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