Tri-Con 2019

Tri-Con is back Saturday June 8th at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington from 10am to 6pm.  The comic convention is put on every year by publisher Broken Icon Comics.

Guests for this year is a range of artists, writers, inkers, and other comic creators Darryl Banks (Green Lantern, Legion of Superheroes), Morgan Beem (Wolfsbane, Adventure Time), Tressina Bowling (Kentucky Kaiju, CASH + CARRIE), Jorge Corona (Big Trouble in Little China, Jim Henson’s Storyteller), Daxiong, Justin Birch (Action Lab, IDW), Rob Dumo (Robyn Hood, Eccentrix), Mark Kidwell (’68, BUMP), Jay Leisten (Uncanny X-Men, Death of Wolverine), Tommy Patterson (Game of Thrones, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Cory Smith (TMNT, Nova), Beau Smith (Wynonna Earp, Guy Gardner Warrior), Gavin Smith (Dead Legends, Deadly Class), Justin Stewart (Grrl Scouts, Howard the Human), Nick Wentland (Army of Darkness, GI Joe), and former WWE Superstar Ryback.

Exhibitors setting up this are comic creators Todd Beistel, Mike Belcher, Ray Coffman, Bob Corby; artists TodD Frazer, Andrew Heath; authors Seth Baker, Edward Brenwalt, and Mike Mallow; publishers ElectroMagnetic Press, Gravely Unusual Magazine, Mess Bucket Comics, Old World Comics; geek crafters Burrito Princess, PopStich, and many more others.

There will be vendor setting from shops like The Inner Geek, Atomic Comic and Collectibles, Classic Plastic Toy Store; dealers like Gem City Books and Planet Plush; others like Heroes By the Pint podcast and Kendama Institute.

Events at the con will include panels from the guests, a costume contest, new comics debuting, and a charity auction for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.  Gaming all day hosted by the Goblin Traders.  Cosplay props from the Black Mountain Guard and 501st Legion Squad Corellia plus the Mystery Machine.  Friday night before the con, there will be a Drink & Draw at Sharkey’s from 8pm to midnight.

Tickets will be just $10 at the door.  Kids under 10 get in free.  The first 1500 attendees get exclusive Tricon wristbands.

A must for comic book fans and collectors of general nerdy items.

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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.

First Convention in Logan

Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College is hosting S-Con Pop Culture & Gaming Convention Saturday July 28th from 1pm to 6pm at the Logan Campus.  Admission is free.

They will have gaming competitions, a console gaming area with new and retro games.  Southern’s IT Program will be demonstrating their UAS Drone program with drone races and demos,a Fortnite Tournament, and more activities.

Vendors at the event include the Southern Coalition for the Arts will be running two “Escape Rooms”, author Steven Paul Watson, Marshall University, Old World Comics, All-Star Wrestling, Wide Men Can’t Jump (collectibles and jerseys) who ill be doing a live podcast at 3pm, and Atomic Comics & Collectibles with a collection of Marvel and DC figures, and more.

A little event that could be fun for all.  A little mix of different fandoms, medias, and genres.  Also a great place to look at colleges for the kids out there.

 

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.

 

TriCon V

Tri-State Comic Con (Tricon) celebrates its fifth year with their biggest year yet.  The con is this Saturday June 4th from 10am to 6pm at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington.

Big named guest for this year are Rikki Simons voice of GIR from Invader Zim and a writer of prose and comics of his own, WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase, Ed Brisson comic writer currently working on the Sons of Anarchy comic, Beau Smith creator and writer of the Wynonna Earp comic which has been turned into a TV series on SyFy, Dave Aikins illustrator for Nickelodeon products and zombies, Darryl Banks famed for co-creating Kyle Rayner, DC Comics inker Jonathan Glapion, two-time Harvey Award winning writer Chad Lambert, writer on Uncanny X-Men Jay Leisten, Brian Level co-creator of Image’s The Mantle, Tommy Patterson artist on Game of Thrones comic, and illustrators Andy Bennett, Eryk Donovan, Rob Dumo, Nate Lovett, Drew Moss, Mark A. Robinson, Uko Smith, Justin Stewart, Kyle Strahm, and Nicholas “Iowa” Wentland.

Indy comic creator appearing include KC Anderson of Wafflecus, Tressina Bowling of Dracullama, Todd Beistel of Yuri: The Gypsy Hunter, Coffman 20XX of Araura, Landon Franklin of Zokusho, Timothy Fuller of Zombie Marge, Travis Horseman of Amiculus, Shawn Murphy of Meachanaflux, Lauren Sparks of Cats Talking Words, Jason Pell of Zombie Highway, and the guys from Support Group.  Plus artists Edward Choi, Todd Frazer, Tristan Kelly, Jesse Marks, Michael Mayne, Amanda Scharf, and Jimbo Valentine, authors Rob E. Boley, Edward S. Brenwalt, Russ Lippitt, and E.E. Martin, small publishers Broken Icon Comics, Electromagnetic Press, Headshrinker Press, Mourning Daily Publishing, and Old World Comics.  Plus podcasters the Standard Nerds, D20 Girls Project, and Power Up will be set up along with a few charities out in the atrium.

You can expect plenty of vendors with a wide variety of goods.  Comics, graphic novels, manga, toys, board and card games, figurines, card sets, collectibles, leather works, knitting, steampunk jewelry, t-shirts, decals, posters, buttons, and so much more.

For those looking for photo opportunities, you can get them with the con’s Ambassador of cosplay Harley Heartthrob, the Mandalorian Mercs Black Mountain Guard, the WV Ghost Busters with their 30ft Staypuff Marshmallow Man, a Supernatural themed Impala with a trunk load of weapons, and the actual shed used in Evil Dead 2.

For events they will have panels on cosplay, making your own comics, inking comics, and a Q&A about working for Image.  A charity auction for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and a costume contest for cash prizes and medals.  For the first time there will be gaming going on at the con.  The Goblin Traders will be hosting Force of Will and Magic: The Gathering tournaments along with board game and Star Wars X-Wing minis demos starting at 11am.  The Friday night before the con, they are having their 2nd annual Drink and Draw at Sharkeys.  There will be live drawing from 8pm to Midnight.

Tickets are only $10 and free for kids 10 and under.  They will also have for sell limited edition exclusive comic cover of Army of Darkness for sell.

This is con is just a must to see.  Lots of good creators to meet, things to buy, people to meet, and things to do.  All for a good price.

 

Over the Border: Highlanders Hero Con

The Highlands Museum & Discovery Center in Ashland, Kentucky is hosting their first annual Highlanders Hero Con this Saturday September 5th.  It will run from 10am to 7pm.

Special guest include writer/creator Beau Smith, artist Michael Mayne, cosplayer Bunny Bombshell, Heroes 4 Higher, publishers Canada Jack and Old world Comics.  Other groups that will be there include Boy Scout Troop 100, Gary Bussa and Rocky Bal-Boa  of Des Coveries Wild Animal Shows, Boyd County Library, Kentucky Star Wars Collectors Club, WV Ghostbusters, Girl Scout Troop 983, Mandalorian Mercs Costuming Club, and the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine for pictures.

There will be Q & As with Michael Mayne, Beau Smith, local cosplayers, and Batman and Spider-man of Heroes 4 Higher.  Goblin Traders will be holding a card tournaments starting at 11am.  The costume contest will begin 5pm with a category for adults and youths each with cash prizes.  They will also have arts and crafts for kids all day.

They have various vendors attending.  From comics, games, toys, collectables, video games,  steampunk jewelry, and more.

Admission is $8 for most.  Members of the museum get in for $5.  Take your Hero Con wristband to Ashland Fat Patty’s, La Finca Mexican Restaurant, Cafe Zeal at the Frame Up Gallery, and SuperHero Creamery to get a 10% discount on food.  This Saturday only.

The museum also is holding an exhibit “A History of Comic Books: From the Golden Age to Modern Day” on the main floor.  It has comics, toys, and collectibles that chronicle the history of comic books.