Some Non Cancelation News

A quick round up of some new on events and projects going on in the state.

The Spring Sport’s Card & Collectible Show will be at the Huntington Mall April 16-18, during mall hours, Barboursville. There will be dealers with new and old sport cards, gaming cards, memorabilia, toys, comic books, supplies, posters, records, and more from dealers around the tristate area. It is a free to go.

1d4Con is finally having their 2020 on May 15th this year digitally. Unfortunately their planned in person 2021 event has been canceled due to their hotel going through renovations and won’t be open in time. They are taking game submissions now and already have some up.

Huntington Comic & Toy Con is resecuring and adding guests for their first year. Check out the list of Star Wars, Power Rangers, voice actors, TV/movie actors, wrestlers, and more on their site.

The Beckley Gaming Expo will be happening this year on July 31st in Beckley. Tickets go on sale May 1st.

West Virginia Penitentiary Para-Con is September 11th with tickets for the con and tours; plus a load of special guests and presenters.

The Outer Rim Praxeum Lightsaber School is having a Blade Match Tournament on Facebook Live. Check out the members fight to prove who is the best.

WV Native comic writer/artist Jason Pell has launched a Kickstarter for his project Pinpricks: The Graphic Novel. The follow up to his Pinpricks book, about single page horror story/drawings. This will be in color and feature creepy stories in graphic novel form. Already reached its goal, but he has stretch goal plans to unveil.

8th Annual WV Pop Con

The 8th Annual West Virginia Popular Culture & Comic Book Convention (WVPopCon) is this Saturday and Sunday September 7th and 8th at Mylan Park in Morgantown.

The featured guest for this year are Bryan Seaton of Action Lab Entertainment where he writes Miraculous Ladybug and Cat Noir comic and co-creatored Dollface, Shawn Langley and Stan Konopka of the Rejected from Source Point Press.  Other creator guests are Andrew Carter (Habitat Against Humanity, Let’s Play All The Games),  Kelci Crawford (Validation, Thoughtful Dinosaur), Christopher Lee Baird (Chronicles of the Raven Clan), Jason Lenox (Lords of the Cosmos), Jason Pell (Suicide 5, Season’s End), Paul Michaels, Larry Morgan of Electro-Magnetic Press, Brian Middleton (Wander for Colesmith Comics and Press), and Gary Morgan (Abington Press).

Entertainment groups that will be there are Rebel Legion, 501st Legion Garrison Corellia, Morgantown Roller Vixens, Outer Rim Praxeum, Mandalorian Mercs The Black Mountain Guard, cosplayers Nubzcosplay, Sheena Bot, and the Illustrious Captain Fish; Thirteen Palm Trees Podcast Productions, horror entertainment company Head On A Stick Productions, and Westwood Middle School robotics team Steam Botics.

Vendors for the con include Awesome Minis, Lonely Hero Games, New Dimension Comics, TeeMinus24.com, Plush in the USA, Cartridges Galore, Comic Paradise Plus, Classic Plastics Toy Store, and several other comic shops and dealers.

There will also be crafters and artisans like Multi-purpose Design, Diabolical Whimsy, Something Wicked, Bubble and Geek, Retro Steam Studios, Minotaur’s Magical Wands, Implexity Designs, Amber Kantes, and plenty more.

Events at the con include panels on cosplay and make up, tabletop gaming, podcasting, crowd funding; lightsaber combat from the Outer Rim Praxeum, Magic: The Gathering tournaments, Warhammer demos, video gaming lounge, photo studio set-up for cosplayers, coloring/drawing contest, plus a kids, teen, and adult cosplay contests.

Admission is $18 for the weekend and $10 for daily admission.  Free for children 10 and under.  Free on-site parking.

An event that covers a lot of fandoms for all.

First HerdCon

The first HerdCon is this Saturday March 16th from 9am-8pm on the Marshall University Campus in Huntington.

Panels for the con include panels from college professors (Pop Culture in the Classroom, Star Wars and Personality, Psychology of Social Exclusion) and regular fan panels (Cosplay Modeling 101, LGBT History and Representation in Video Games, Socializing in Online Gaming).  There will also be Quick Draw with JR Earls, belly dancing workshop and performance from Final Form Fusion, a cosplay contest hosted by Kiss A Frog Cosplay and Brittany Whitt, mobile escape room from Lost Escape Room, ARTEMIS: Starship Bridge Simulator, Outer Rim Praxeum Light Saber School demo, relaxation lounge, live podcasts, create your own video game workshops, screenings, slime fun station from the Ghostbusters, and more to enjoy.

Table-top gaming during the day include various RPG sessions (D&D 5E, Mystic Forces by Noble Quests, different Cthulhu games, Cypher System, Starfinder, and others) games of Werewolf by Critically Absurd, and various games from Goblin Traders (Dragon Ball Super TCG, Flames of War miniatures, Keyforge TCG, historic tabletop wargaming, Transformers TCG, Warhammer 40k), Magic: The Gathering tournaments hosted by Hometown Hobbies, game demos from Family Game Night, and game libraries from Charcon and Hunting Unplugged Gaming Society.

On the video game side of things you have a Smash Brothers tournament, various retro games, and Fallout 76 set-up.

Vendors and artists lined-up include 2nd Chance Games, Anime Palace, Ben Durfee, Burrito Princess, Frech Studios, Jason Pell, Joshua Smith, Mermaid Lagoon Boutique, Off the Hook, Two Tinkers, Third Floor Comics, Travis Tomblin, Tri-State Toys, and more.

Exhibitors include Black Mountain Guard of the Mandalorian Mercs, Cabell county Public Library, Causeplayers, Fantastic Floor Nerdcast, Knerds of the Roundtable, various Marshall clubs and departments (Comic Book Club, Japan Club, Roleplaying Club, Hackers for Charity, Game Development Guild), Rebel Legion/501st Legion, and various local conventions.

Admission is free to MU students, faculty, staff, and for anyone 18 or younger.  VIP tickets are $25 which comes with early access, a t-shirt, custom HerdCon die, and other swag.  General admission is $5.

WV Pop Con 2018

West Virginia Popular Culture & Comic Book Convention (WV Pop Con) is back this Saturday August 25th and Sunday August 26th at Mylan Park in Morgantown.

The featured guests for the con are Patrick Olliffe (Scooby-Doo Apocalypse, Spider-Man, Batman), Shawn Gabborin (Puppet Master, Dollman Kills, Action Lab), Chad Cicconi (sketch card artist, NFL Rush Zone), and Mike Okamoto (Lost in Space, Kabuki, Lady Death).

There will be Jerry Frech, Andrew Carter, writer Daniel Foster, Mytron Studios, Ernie Stiner (Nick Fury, G.I. Joe), David Newbold (Fantastic Four, Runaways), Bomtron Art (Topps Sketch Card Artist), Jason Pell, Larry Morgan and Electro-Magnetic Press, and other artists and creators selling comics, books, prints, and other creations.

Other interesting people at the con include all-girl VEX Robotics team from Westwood Middle School Steambotics, #ixlab, indie horror movie and comic creators Head on Stick Productions, indie video game studio FYRE Games, Mandalorian Mercs The Black Mountain Guard, Rebel Legion, KITT from Knight Rider, Thirteen Palm Tress Podcast Productions, Morgantown Roller Vixens, 501st Legion Garrison Corellia, Outer Rim Praxeum Lightsaber School, card game creators Milton Roe Creative, Youtubers Let’s Play All the Games, cosplayers Nubzcosplay, Bunny Bombshell, Santana, Kesra, Sheena Bot, and The Illustrious Captain Fish.

There will be several fandom crafters there as well selling things like coasters, keychains, jewelry, bags, candles, soaps, pallets, stickers, pillows, bath bombs, clothes, cosplay items, plushies, dream catchers, leather goods, quilted items, and lots more.

Vendors at the con will have your supply of posters, Legos and sets, chainmail jewelry and armor, comics, graphic novels, games, collectables, vintage and new toys, video games and systems, Funko Pops, plushies, cards, and more.

Activities during the weekend include photo back drop, table top gaming library, paint and take, panels on table top games, indie comics, cosplay, and more; kids costume contest on Saturday and adults on Sunday.  Food trucks will be out in the parking lot both days to choose from.

One day admission is $10, two-day admission is $20, a Pop Con tee will be $15, two-day admission with tee is $35.  Children under 10 get in free.  Cheaper if you pre-reg.

WillCon 2018

Willcon is back for their second year at the Williamson Field House in Williamson this Saturday August 4th from 10am to 6pm.

Featured Guests for the con are celebrity artist Matthew Atchley, filmmaker/graphic novelist Daniel Boyd, indie comic creator Jason Pell, Tim Shockey with the Green Goblin Head from Maxium Overdrive, caricaturists JR Earls, and WV Ghostbusters Division.  Cosplay guests for the con are Santana Maynard, Kiss A Frog Cosplay, and Noble Armory.  Music guests performing are The High Incident Project and Black Coal Brass Quintet,

The artists alley will include prints, commissions, Ball Jointed Dolls, t-shirts, paintings, authors, roleplaying game creators Noble Quests, Old World Comics, and other creators.
Event Hosts include Gotcha Archery Games, Escape Rooms from the Southern Coalition for the Arts, horror make-up from Hainted FX, and NERO Adventure LARP.

Vendors will have all kinds of items for sell: bath bombs, pixel art, hair bows, key chains, collectible shoes, Funko Pops, vintage toys, comics, collectible cards, card games, graphic novels, chainmail items, figures, jewelry, leather goods, sculptors, stuffed animals, video games, crochet items, buttons, magnets, totes, and more.

Events for the con include cosplay contest, Magic: the Gathering Tournament by Play and Paint, FORTNITE Dance Contest, concerts, comedy workshop, LARP demo, make-up demo, drones exhibition, emulator lounge, games of Werewolf, and more.  Video game tournaments from Rare Drop are Injustice 2, Mariokart 8, Super Smash Bros, and Dragon Ball Fighter Z.

Admission is $5 at the door; free for kids 10 and under.

Another one of those smaller cons in the state with various fandoms activities that everyone can find something to enjoy.

Unofficial after party at the Play and Paint of Williamson with Fearless Fools Comedy Troupe.  Starts at 8pm with $10 cover charge.

Two Cons For Good Causes

This Saturday November 4th two different cons will both be running in Charleston to raise money for charity.

At the Capital City Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police in Charleston will hold this year’s Extra Life Con, a board game convention to raise money for WVU Children Hospital.  The event goes from 11am to 11pm and is part of the Extra Life charity Game Day.

From 2pm to 8pm there will be raffles for over a dozen donated prizes; such as board games and two passes to the Lock & Coded Escape Rooms.  Entry to the event comes with five free tickets and you can buy more for $1 each.

There will be pods of Magic Commander, with free booster packs given out, through out the day as they get enough people.  No extra fee to play.  A tournament table will be set up with different games you can join for $2.  Winners will receive an extra ten raffle tickets.  Games will be played as they fill up.

The board game library from CharCon will have around fifty games for anyone to try and play.  Donate old games and buy news ones, with the money going to the WVU Children’s Hospital.

Entry to the event is $25.

Mountain State Pop Expo will be at the South Charleston Holiday Inn and Suites both Saturday and Sunday.  It is a celebration of fandom and a benefit for the Children’s Home Society of WV.  The vendor room is open from 10am to 6pm with events in the panel rooms going even later.

Set up will be artists, writers, cosplayers, comic and toy dealers, the 501st, nerdy craft makers, video games, video production companies, Ghostbusters, table-top games, and more fun stuff to buy.

There will be a performance from Final Form Fusion belly-dancing, a cosplay contest, raffle prizes, and panels (including one on Nerd Music from myself).

Tickets are $10 for one day or $15 for both.

Either event looks like fun and helps out a good cause.  In fact you could do both if you really wanted.

 

First Willcon

The first Williamson Pop Culture and Entertainment Convention, Willcon, takes place this Saturday August 26th at the Williamson Field House in Williamson from 10am to 6pm.  The event is put on by the Williamson Convention Visitor Bureau and meant to give the Tug Valley area an event to attract fans of all kind.

Their line-up of guests are Bram Stoker Award winning editor Michael Knost, writers Steven Paul Watson, Chris Estep; Old World Comics & Killers Serials; film makers Sal Lizard, Funtime Productions, the Green Goblin head from the movie Maximum Overdrive; cosplayers Noble Armory, Xehnis Cosplay; Jeremy Ambler, effects studio Hainted FX, band Black Coal Brass Quintet, Transformers Bumblebee replica, light saber combat Odd Todd’s Tournament of Champions, and comic creator Travis Tomblin.

They will have a special exhibit from the art departments from local high schools and others.  Plus several artists in attendance.  Their line up of vendors will be selling video games and consoles, gaming supplies, comic books, graphic novels, board and card games, RPGs, toys, action figures, POPS, art, plush, jewelry, crochet items and other nerdy crafts, steampunk apparel, totes, and more.

The will have laser tag from Autannaco Family Fun Center, two escape rooms from Adventure Games, face painting, panels on anime and Game of Thrones, Pokémon Scavenger Hunt, cosplay contest, light saber battle demo, photo studio, music performances, writer’s workshop, and more.  Table top gaming will be hosted by Play and Paint and include table game demos, gaming library, tournaments for Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Pokémon TCG.  Mario Kart 8 and Smash Bros tournaments by Rare Drops.

Admission is just $5 and free for kids under 10.

Another small event with a little bit of all kinds of fandoms for everyone to enjoy.

 

2017’s Classic Plastics Toy & Comic Expo

This year’s Classic Plastics Toy & Comic Expo is this Saturday March 4th from 10am to 5pm and Sunday March 5th from 11am to 4pm at the Parkersburg Art Center.  The show is put on by Classic Plastic Toy Store, Downtown PKB, and Parkersburg Art Center.  Proceeds from the event go to the Parkersburg Art Center and Downtown PKB.

The expo will have guests Steve Cardenas the 2nd red ranger in Might Morphin Power Rangers and Tim Clarke who worked in Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and created the toy lines of Boglins and Sectaurs both days.  Others of note are Remix Pro Wrestling will have their Remix Pro Riot Champion Jack Pollock at their table on Sunday, cosplay groups 501st, Mandalorian Mercs, and the WV Ghostbusters with their 30ft Stay Puft, local film production companies casts and crew of Dirty Candy Productions and Dizzyboy Productions, comic creators James Patrick and Jason Pell.

There will be vendors with toys, comics, cosplay items, collectables, movies, anime and manga, video games and systems, Pez, games, nerdy crafts, action figures, geeky accessories, and plenty more to look through.  There will be artists at the expo selling prints and comics plus doing commissions, and caricatures.  There will be two exclusive art prints at the show, one from Glen Brogan and one from Ren Mckinzie.  DM’s Pizza Shop and Bombshell Cupcakes & Cookies will be selling food during the event as well.

There will be cosplay contest on Saturday with categories in Juniors, Original Design, Novice, Journeyman, and Master.  The Industry Game Center will be running table top gaming this year.  They will have an open game library both days, Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG events, Dicemasters Draft and Pokémon Draft tournaments on Saturday and a Hero Realms Tournament on Sunday.  Rare Drops will be set up with retro gaming and tournaments.  The Vienna Public Library will be hosting kid friendly events on Sunday like Superhero Story time, LEGO building, and Comic Book Crafting.  Plus raffles.

On Saturday there will be a special event downtown called Savor Saturday.  Several local restaurants will have samples of their food for only a $1.  If you try every one that is offer you can enter to win tickets to the Taste of Parkersburg in June.  Pokémon Go lures will be dropped at every stop along with way.

Admission is $8 for both days and $5 for one.  Children 10 and under get in free with an adult.

This is shaping up to be the best year yet for the expo.

 

First Parkersburg Pop Con

The first Parkersburg Pop Con will be held at WVU Parkersburg in Parkersburg this Saturday October 8th from 11am to 8pm.  An event to both promote pop culture, STEM, and WVU Parkersburg.

The 501st, Bunny Bombshell, Burning Bulb Publishing, Derek Croston, Dirt Candy Productions, Dueling Ogres Podcast, WV Ghostbusters, Hades Ladies Roller Derby, James Patrick, Jason Lewis, Jason Pell, J.D. Williamson, Mid-Ohio Valley Superman, Nathan Arnold, Shawn Langley, Storyteller Publishing, WV Wonder Woman, and more promoting and selling their creations.  The Gaming Club, STEM Department, and Legal Studies Department will all be set up there.  The Legal Studies will have a crime scene on display for you to puzzle over and figure out what happened.

Vendors will comics, games, collectables, video games, toys, nerdy crafts like soaps and plushies, cosplay items, anime and manga, movies, clothes, jewelry, a photo booth, and more.  Several restaurants will be set-up with food as well.

Panel on video games, cosplay, three panels on women in horror, how to get into comics, and podcasting with Dueling Ogres.  Closing Ceremonies start at 7:30pm.  The Girl Scouts will have a table teaching kids how to debug a video game and how to create their own. There will also be a Pokémon Go hike through the campus and a kid friendly room with activities and face painting.

Video competitions hosted by Game Stop will be $20 and starts at 2pm, sign-ups at the con.  They will have Super Smash Bros, Pokken, Street Fighter V, and Mario Kart 8.  Some of the stores will have table top gaming going on.  A Cosplay Contest with categories for Best Hero Male and Female, Best Villain Male and Female, Best Hero and Villain Youth, and Most Creative.  They have also promised special Snapchat filters for the con.

Cost to get in is only $5.

Another fun and cheap little con with several interesting things to see and do.

ShockaCon 2016

Shockacon returns Friday September 30th 4pm to Sunday October 2nd 5pm at the Beni Kedem Shrine Center in Charleston for its fifth year.

 

Actor guests for this year are Zach Galligan (Gremlins 1 & 2), Camille Keaton (I Spit On Your Grave), Oliver Robins (Poltergeist 1 & 2) ,Brandy Mason, and Geretta Geretta.  John Tice, Willy Mcquillan, and Will Bill from Mountain Monsters.  Plus Scott Gregg of Razor Sharp Studios, Hollywood make-effects artist Steve Johnson, bands Renfields, Orvill Rex, Miniature Giant, Hurl Brickbat, Charlie Ant Eater; belly dancers Bint il nahar and Naughty Samadhi, DJ Thunder, authors Dustin Coffman, Josh Kent, Daniel Boyd, artists Jason Pell, Chris Woodall, Two Tinkers, JR Earls; prop builder Tiffany Steele, Cult Classic Creatures, WV Ghostbusters, cosplayer Santana, Cemetery Knights Hearse Club, and Weird Paul Petroskey “the Original Vlogger”.

Events during the day include costume parade, adult costume contest for $10, kids costume contest on Sunday, R2D2 robotics demo, origami workshop, wand and building-a-torso workshops, guest Q&As, game shows, embalming demo by James Lowry, scream contest, mummy wrapping contest, learn the Thriller dance, and more panels.  On Friday and Saturday night starting at 8pm to midnight they will be holding their Shock & Roll Party with musical performances, belly dancing, gaming from CharCon with Werewolf and Cards Against Humanity, drink and draw game.  Then an after party at the Blue Parrot.

Not much info on vendors put out, though if you have been before I would expect the same.

Weekend badges are $50, Friday and Sunday  badges $20, Saturday $25, youth badges are each just $5 less.  VIP tickets are $100, with it you get preferred seating at all events, one celebrity autograph ticket, line skip, and a bag of goodies.  Come after 8pm for only $10.  T-shirts are available for $15.

 

Fans of horror movies, art, books plus prop making, punk style music, and the like will enjoy the con.  If you have the money for it.