Mountain State Pop Expo 2019

Mountain State Pop Expo is this Saturday November 9th and Sunday November 10th at the Holiday Inn & Suites in South Charleston.  100% of admission goes to the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia.

Some of the planned events are a Harley Quinn meetup, a raffle, door prizes every half hour, an adult cosplay competition on Saturday and kids costume contest on Sunday, a cosplay lip sync battle on Sunday, performances from Final Form Fusion and the No Pants Players on Saturday, a live Fantastic Floor Nerdcast, live Twitch stream of Untitled Goose Game by Advancing Wall of Doom, panels on cosplay, dance, writing, and more.

This year they have a room dedicated to tabletop gaming, plus a gaming area in the cafeteria open from noon to 4pm on both days.  Gaming will be brought by Charcon, Bonus Round, and Critically Absurd TV.

Vendors and exhibitors at the expo are varied and include Mandalorian Mercs Black Mountain Guard, Santana, Sheena Bot & Captain Fish, WV Ghostbusters, Hobby Hole, Glen Brogan, Classic Plastics Toy Store, RJ Haddy from Face Off, Maddy’s Marvels, IWA East Coast wrestling, Third Floor Comic & Collectibles, JR Earls, Forgotten Realms Gametorium, A-Dork-Able Bath Bombs, South Charleston Public Library, The Nice List, Joshua E.B. Smith, and other creators and sellers.

Admission is $10 for a day or $15 for both days.

A good event for collectors, gamers, and cosplayers.

Parkersburg Pop Con 2019

The 4th annual Parkersburg Pop Con 2019 this Saturday September 28th from 11am to 5pm at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

The Special Guest for the event is cosplayer Christian Foster.  Groups Outer Rim Praxeum, Shawn Langley, 501st, WV Ghostbusters, Mandalorian Mercs, and Extra Life will all be there too.

Some of the vendors there are authors Terry W. Ervin and Joshua Smith, Chippies Anime, Adorkable crafts, Comics & Kicks, Cronin’s Critical Creations, Extra Life, Geekhammer, Multiverse Comics, Gold Star Anime and Games, Third Floor Comics, Transhunter Toys, Super-Fly Comics & Games, That Shiny Kitty Kat, artists, crafters, and other sellers.

Events will be a Sewing Workshop, youth and adult cosplay contests, pop culture trivia contest, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate video game tournament, Magic: The Gathering tournament, and lightsaber academy.

Some of the vendors authors Terry W. Ervin and Joshua Smith, Outer Rim Praxeum, Shawn Langley, 501st, WV Ghostbusters, Mandalorian Mercs, Chippies Anime, Adorkable crafts, Comics & Kicks, Cronin’s Critical Creations, Extra Life, Geekhammer, Multiverse Comics, Gold Star Anime and Games, Third Floor Comics, Transhunter Toys, Super-Fly Comics & Games, That Shiny Kitty Kat, artists, crafters, food venders, and other sellers.

Admission is $5 and free for kids 10 and under with adult ticket.  Free for military personnel.

Interesting little show with plenty of to look over.

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.

4th Annual Mountain State Pop Expo

Mountain State Pop Expo is back this Saturday November 3rd and Sunday November 4th at the Holiday Inn and Suites in South Charleston.  All funds from the event will benefit the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia.

The Children’s Home Society is a statewide nonprofit children and family services agency. We have 13 locations throughout the state, each of which have a variety of programs including emergency child shelters, foster care and adoption, early intervention, and family strengthening programs.

Funds from this event will go specifically to benefit the Children’s Home Society’s holiday help. Because of you, children in foster care, emergency shelters, and needy families in the community will have the holiday gifts and necessities such as winter coats that they otherwise might not receive.

There will be exhibitors selling various nerd crafts, plushies, patches, decals, art work, pearlier beads, paintings, authors Edward A. Holsclaw and Josh E.B. Smith, Mermaid Lagoon Boutique, artists Glen Brogan and JR Earls, various other local cons will be set up.  Plus cosplayers James Hamilton, Advancing Wall of Doom, Santana, Sheena Bot, Mandalorian Mercs Black Mountain Guard, Outer Rim Praxeum Lightsaber School, and WV Ghostbusters.

Ricky Henry of Electric Tapes will be showing the 5 part micro-series Space Foxes (plus they will have copies of their Space Fox Atari 2600 game), children cosplay contest on Saturday, adult cosplay contest on Sunday (winner gets a championship belt), replica Lightning McQueen from Pixar’s Cars, Final Form Fusion performances, improv comedy from No Pants Players, Q&As, gaming provided by Charcon, snacks on sale from the hotel, charity raffle (with items from Bethesda and Fallout 76),

The show is $10 per day or $15 for the weekend.

A fun show with nerd community going on and for a good cause.

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.

JediCon WV and Marx Toy & Train Show

This Father’s Day weekend includes a few shows for collectors.

Jedi Con WV is June 16th from 10am to 4pm at the New Martinsville United Methodist Church in New Martinsville.  Admission is $1 and all proceeds go to the Children’s Miracle Network.

The event will have a lightsaber demonstration and training by Outer Rim Praxeum Lightsaber School, guests speakers Kim Simmons (Kenner Star Wars toys photographer), and Jason West who will be talking about Jawa focus collecting, a silent auction, and guest apperances by the Garrison Corellia of the 501st Legion and Mandalorian Mercs Black Mountain Guard.

———————————————————————————————————————-

The 20th Annual National Marx Toy & Train Show is at the Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum in Wheeling.  The show is June 15th 8am to 7pm and June 16th 8am to 5pm.  Admission is $10, for student 3-17 admission is $5.

Events include guest speakers, group photo, Custom’s Contest, pizza social, and a chance to show off your unusual or rare Marx items.

—————————————————————————————————————–

A Sports Cards and Collectables Show at the Charleston Town Center from June 15 through June 17th.  The show is open during mall hours and is hosted by Select Cards & Collectables.  Tickets are $10.

On Saturday from noon to 2pm they will have College Football Hall of Famer and Mountaineer great Major Harris signing autographs.  They will also have an expert comic book grader, David “Speed” Jones, there, he will grade your first comic for free and varying charge after that.

All of these events are great for collectors.  Just depends on what your focus is.

WV Pop Con 2017

This year’s WV Pop Con is Saturday August 26th and Sunday August 27th at Mylan Park in Morgantown.

This year’s featured guests are from Action Lab Entertainment, who are celebrating five years, Chad Cicconi (NFL Rush Zone), Bill McKay (Zombie Tramp, Vampblade), Shawn Gabborin (Fracture), Bryan Seaton (Dollface), and Dan Mendoza (Zombie Tramp).  They are offering an exclusive Danger Doll Squad variant cover at the con.

Other guests are Andrew Carter (Habitat Against Humanity),  J.R. Mounts (Scairy Tales Noir), David Newbold (Runaways), Jason Lenox (King Conan), Electro-Magnetic Press, and YouTube channel Let’s Play All The Games.

There will also be plenty of other artist and exhibitors; selling their own comics, prints, portraits, cosplay items, books, tattoo artists, geeky crafts, candles, soaps, card games, jewelry, steampunk sculptures, perler art, clothing, and more creative items.

Cosplay guests and groups for the show are 501st Legion Garrison Corellia, Rebel Legion, Amtgard, Mandalorian Mercs Black Mountain Guard, Bunny Bombshell, Morgantown Roller Vixens, Vintage Theatre Company, and the WV Ghostbusters.

Vendors will have a variety of items a the con including Funkos, figures, comics, graphic novels, table-top gaming, video games and consoles, t-shirts, collectables, plush items, leather goods, toys, cards, posters, weapons, and more.

Events for the con include Cartoon Theme Song Sing-A-Long Bingo, an anime theater, kids costume contest on Saturday and an adult one on Sunday, food vendors, Outer Rim Praxeum Lightsaber School demos, Paint Me Pokémon, and panels.  Let’s Play All The Games are running retro video game tournaments on Saturday.  Tournaments are Tecmo Super bowl, Tekken 3, and WWE Day of Reckoning 2, all are $5 to enter.  Cartridges Galore are running tournaments of Smash Brothers Melee and Goldeneye on Sunday with a $10 entry fee.  Pop-up tournaments are possible throughout the weekend plus open gaming areas for all.  For tabletop gaming there will be Pathfinder Society of WV, games of Munchkin, and Magic: The Gathering tournaments.

Tickets are $10 per day or $18 for two days if you order online.

Another fun con with lots of different people to see, even if I am not sure what they are all there for.

CharCon 2017

CharCon returns this year earlier than in the past.  Leaving its date in October it this Friday July 21st to Sunday July 23rd.  It has also moved from the Civic Center to the Clay Center in Charleston.  Still the same old CharCon though.

This year’s games will include miniatures games of Aerodrome, Kings of War tournament, Tech Commander, Battletech, Warmachine/Hordes, Sailpower; a series of social deduction games like Werewolf and Resistant; board games Agricola, Pandemic Survival, Mystic Vale tournament, live action Red Dragon Inn, a Catan National Qualifier, a bunch of Play to Win games, and more; a series of Family Games on Sunday; RPGs from Pathfinder Society, SPARKS, Star Trek Adventures, Dungeon Dragons Adventures, Call of Cthulhu, Ponyfinder, and Metal, Magic, and Lore.

Non gaming events scheduled are a Quick Draw with JR Earls, a Sci-Fi Sing Along, the Artemis Spaceship Bridge Simulator, a murder mystery game, a game show, Junior Ghostbuster Training, panels, attendee swap meet on Sunday, a Paint and Take, and the CharCon Raffle.  The con is trying to do a lot with cosplay this year as well.  Besides their Cosplay Contests for adults on Saturday and kids on Sunday, they will be filming a cosplay video, holding photo shoots, a cosplay panel by Bunny Bombshell, a mermaid swim, the Mandolorian Mercs and Ghostbusters will be set up, and their only announced guest is cosplayer John Clark from Galaxy Productions.

Charcon After Dark will be going are at near by bars both Friday and Saturday night.

There will be reps from Portal Games, Mr. B Games.  Vendors and exhibitors at the con will be selling all kinds of board, card, collectible, miniature games and gaming accessories, plus comics, art, dice, t-shirts, and more.

Admission for the weekend is $40, $30 for Friday or Sunday, and $25 for Saturday only passes.  Children twelve and under can get in for $20 for the weekend or $10 for a single day.  Non-gaming passes are available for $10 per day.

The con has a nice line up of gaming for all.  I say any gamers out there can find something to do.  There is also plenty for cosplayers.

Jedicon WV XV

JediCon WV XV will be on Saturday June 17th at the New Martinsville United Methodist Church in New Martinsville from 10am to 4pm.  They are celebrating the 40th anniversary of Star Wars this year.

Guests for the event are Kim Simmons, know as the Man Who Shot Luke Skywalker, the principle photographer for the Kenner Star Wars toy line.  His son, artist and comic book writer Scott Simmons.  Bill McBride the Guinness Book of World Records for largest Darth Vader memorabilia.  The Outer Rim Praxeum Lightsaber School, performance swordplay using the Seven Traditional Lightsaber Forms of the Star Wars Universe.  Plus the 501st, the Mandolorian Mercs and the Rebel Legion.

The will have door prizes, a silent charity auction,and  a video game booth set up.

There will be several vendors selling Star Wars collectibles.  From vintage to modern and everything in between.

Admission is just a dollar for everyone six and up.  Free for those five and under.

Jedicon WV is the ‘Mountain States’ first and ONLY Star Wars convention.We started out as a group of collectors who met once a year and bought / sold / traded SW merchandise.Nothing has changed in that time except now we do it with another purpose,Children’s Miracle Network ( CMN ) in which ALL money made from ticket,food & silent auction sales all go to CMN through the WV Children’s Hospital in Morgantown! The show continues to grow each and every year and this year is no different.This years show has the makings of being our best yet!

 

CharCon: Bonus Round 2017

Charcon’s Bonus Round returns to the Flatwoods Days Inn and Suites in Sutton this Saturday May 6th 9am to midnight and Sunday May 7th 9am to 7pm, with some early events Friday night.

They have Jeremy Ambler, the Ghostbusters, Black Mountain Guard (Mandolorian Mercs), Mermaid Mal Gal, Kesra Cosplay, John Gibson, and Ray Hartzel as guests.

Friday night will include open gaming and two SPARKS sessions.  The rest of the weekend will filled with role-playing sessions of SPARKS (Star Wars RPGs), Pathfinder Society, Confluence META RPG, Ponyfinder, Star Trek Adventures, Metal Magic and Lore, and 7th Sea.  Plus a board game library, open play area, play to win games from Double Exposure, and Aerodrome on Saturday.

They will have panels from the guests, Artemis Space Bridge Simulator, a Causal Cosplay Ball with bit tune musician SoftServo, the CharCon Green Screen, Causeplayers, Braxxie the Flatwoods Monster, a paint & take, mermaid swim, various artists and vendors, replicas of Lightning and Mater from Pixar’s Cars, and the usual raffle for great prizes.

It costs $25 for the weekend.

A fun weekend for gamers and cosplayers to get together and have fun.