A prolific comics writer who’s tackled major characters like DC’s Wonder Woman and Marvel’s Scarlet Witch is returning to Central New York this month for Syracuse Collectors Con.
Steve Orlando will be among the featured guests at the comics, toys, collectibles and pop culture show from March 16-17 at the New York State Fair’s Horticulture Building. Celebrities scheduled to attend include “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” actors Judith Hoag (April), Francois Chau (Shredder), Robbie Rist (Michelangelo) and Kenn Scott (Raphael); WWE wrestling stars Demolition (3-time WWF Tag Team champions), Alundra Blayze (Madusa), Lisa Marie Varon, and Kayla Sparks; “Courage the Cowardly Dog” voice actor Marty Grabstein; and “Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers” cast members Tracy Lynn Cruz (Yellow Power Ranger), Blake Foster (Blue Power Ranger), Christopher Khayman Lee (Red Power Ranger), Patrick David (Psycho Red Power Ranger), Roger Velasco (Green Turbo & Black Space Ranger).
Advance general admission tickets are $15 for a single day or $25 for both days at syracusecollectorscon.com or in person at Funky Town Comics and Vinyl or Larger Than Life. Tickets are $20 at the door on the day of the show (or $35 for both days). Admission is free for children 12 and younger, who must be accompanied by an adult. Autographs and photos with featured guests may cost extra.
Orlando, who grew up in Syracuse and attended Hamilton College, is a full-time freelance writer whose credits include major titles for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Image Comics, IDW Publishing and AfterShock Comics. His credits include “Batman,” “Wonder Woman,” “Scarlet Witch,” “Justice League of America,” “Marvin the Martian/Martian Manhunter,” “Star Wars: Life Day,” “X-Men Green,” “Marvel Voices: Pride,” “Supergirl,” “Love is Love,” “Rainbow Bridge,” “DC Pride,” the GLAAD Award-nominated “Midnighter,” the Eisner Award-nominated “Outlaw Territory,” and the animated series “Ben 10.”
In an interview with syracuse.com | The Post-Standard, Orlando said he fell in love with comics at a young age.
“For me, it was always about the wild wonder of comics, and everything they make possible,” he said. “And I found out about comics from the back issue bins at flea markets, as well as non-sports cards at sports memorabilia shows.”
It’s for that reason that his favorite characters aren’t the same names you typically see on the big screen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe or the DCEU.
“I love Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern,” Orlando said. “I love the Martian Manhunter. I love the Shadow. I love the West Coast Avengers. And I will always have a soft spot for the Image launch books, especially Cyberforce.”
If he could have any superpower, Orlando would want to be able to clone himself to work on all the stories he’s writing — or to have Superman’s super-senses, experiencing everyone on the planet simultaneously.
“Like Lex Luthor says when he steals those super-senses in ‘All-Star Superman,’ we’re all in it together on this planet. We’re in this thing alone, and all we’ve got is each other. And I think with how busy our lives can get, how stressed we can get, it’s sometimes easy to forget that,” Orlando said.
Orlando first got into the comics industry when he was 12 years old and attended his first San Diego Comic Con with sample scripts in hand. He met with writers, artists and editors, then honed his craft and studied the industry while constantly networking, writing and revising, eventually getting shorts published in anthologies. At 29, his first long form work was accepted for publication.
“Every day, no matter what, I wrote for some amount of time. As I was told when I was young — if I didn’t treat writing like my job, it would never be my job,” he explained.
It’s a hard job, too, as Orlando is very aware that each title and character has its own history and fans who feel an intense connection to them. Orlando said he’s especially proud of his work with “Wonder Woman” and “Scarlet Witch,” and lists “Martian Manhunter” and “Kill a Man” among his favorites.
“If we think the job’s easy, then in my opinion, we’re not really taking the work seriously,” Orlando said. “Every single character is someone’s favorite, and as such, deserves care and respect. That said, characters like Wonder Woman and the Scarlet Witch, characters who hold compassion as one of their core values, are always going to be a challenge to write in the present moment — when compassion and love are radical ideas.”
Comics do not always follow the same storylines as superhero movies, though different publishers have different relationships with studios. Orlando says he’s always felt encouraged to get creative, and find ways to draw in more fans from the film or television adaptations.
“…In every scenario, our mandate is to deliver something in the comics that readers could never get watching film or TV, or playing video games. We have to be bigger, wilder, and more daring,” Orlando explained. “We have to know the strengths of the comics medium and maximize them, especially when a character we’re working on is appearing in other media.”
Orlando even sometimes gets to take characters to places they don’t ordinarily visit. In 2023′s “X-Men Unlimited 70,” the mutant villain Nature Girl (a.k.a. Armageddon Girl) takes Silver Surfer and other characters to Syracuse, decrying Onondaga Lake’s past as one of the country’s most polluted lakes.
“Now they think some dredging and a waterfront park can hide it — but the soil remembers!” Nature Girl said. “Volcanoes turn water acidic. So does Armageddon’s touch, but stronger. Next time the locals dance to their dated butt rock… they’ll be doing it over a lake of death.”
Orlando said there’s a “morbid pride” in Onondaga Lake’s history that he’s always found interesting. He’s also well acquainted with the music scene at the New York State Fair and the Empower FCU Amphitheater (formerly St. Joe’s Amp and Lakeview Amphitheater).
“I’ve been the one dancing to that dated butt rock, artists who were popular decades ago, and often still am when I’m home. I’ve certainly heard Buckcherry more times in my life than most people should,” Orlando joked.
Taking characters out of big cities like New York City can be special for readers, too. Orlando distinctly remembers seeing a Syracuse reference in a DC comic about a character named Tomorrow Woman when he was a child.
“I felt like I’d been seen by the book, it was just so exciting to me to think that these wild adventures could be happening in my hometown!” he told syracuse.com. “So, since then, I try to showcase new locations and new places whenever I can. As writers, we most often get to choose the settings of our stories, so it’s not usually a struggle to showcase somewhere new.”
Orlando is looking forward to returning to his hometown for Syracuse Collectors Con. He’ll be signing books and will likely have some limited items available to sell, plus will be there to talk to fans.
Orlando said he’s eager to see friends and family, too. Whenever he’s in town, he said he tries to visit Skaneateles, Brooklyn Pickle, the Columbus Bakery or the Salt City Market.
Syracuse Collectors Con takes place Saturday, March 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, March 17, from 109 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the New York State Fairgrounds’ Horticulture Building. The fun includes celebrity guests, artists and authors, a RetroGameCon “Mario Kart” tournament, a Play the Game Read the Story tabletop game area, an exclusive “TMNT” variant comic book by Matt Flint, cosplay characters and additional vendors.
For more information, visit syracusecollectorscon.com.
Steve Orlando will be part of Syracuse Collectors Con this month. Read More