Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Aug 4, 2014 18:29:33 GMT -6
www.tricities.com/news/article_50e286da-1aa7-11e4-aa1d-001a4bcf6878.html
BRISTOL, Tenn. – The streets and parking lots around Viking Hall were packed Saturday, as countless Spider-Man, Batman and Stormtrooper impersonators converged for the 29th annual Rob-Con.
Organizer Robert Pilk, co-owner of Mountain Empire Comics, said there were more vendors, artists and writers than ever before. With additional special guests, Pilk also expected more visitors, who had already filled the building by 10 a.m.
Many first-time comic book fans attended Saturday morning.
Wearing an Amazing Spider-Man shirt, Grundy, Virginia, resident Nathan Vandyke attended with a couple of friends. He brought enough cash to grab a few special copies of the Amazing Spider-Man book that he didn’t already have in his collection.
Vandyke said he often visits Bristol’s comic book stores, where he met Pilk, who persuaded him to attend Rob-Con. He said he was excited to attend.
Another first-timer, vendor Bob Cunningham, came from Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Cunningham has been selling comic books for decades. He said about 35 years ago, he was visiting his local mall, when he stopped at the comic book store.
“It brought back a lot of memories,” he said. “I saw a lot of comics that I had when I was younger.”
The mall visit inspired him to start collecting again. After buying box loads and then room loads, he had enough books to set up at conventions. Now, Cunningham sets up once a month at conventions around the country.
Cunningham said there has been resurgence in comic book popularity in recent years. During the 1990s, he said, comic book sales and interest was minimal. But with several comic-based blockbuster movies in recent years, sales and interest has increased.
Jeff Hale of Piney Flats, Tennessee, attended Rob-Con with his two children, Caleb and Ethan. Hale said he has attended every Rob-Con event since it began.
“Each year it gets bigger and bigger,” he said. “It’s really amazing how much it’s grown over the past 29 years.”
Hale said he became interested in comic books when he was young. While living in a subdivision, he and his friends started collecting.
“Everybody picked their own superhero,” said Hale, who chose Spider-Man. “And we started collecting from there.”
Over the years, Hale has continued trying to collect all of the Amazing Spider-Man comic books, a title that first launched in 1963. He said he still lacks the first seven issues in the 700-issue series.
“Comic books have become so popular in mainstream, with the movies, everyone wants them,” Hale said. “Now, we sell some of our collections and spread it with others.”
Hale’s children have also become comic book fans. Both boys have several of their own books at home.
“They love coming here as much for the toys as the comic books,” Hale said.
Another convention visitor, Andy Bowen of Kingsport, Tennessee, took his 4-year-old son Oliver Bowen, to Rob-Con. Oliver dressed as one of his favorite characters from Power Rangers. He’s also a fan of Friday the 13th and My Little Pony characters.
Andy Bowen said he has been to a couple conventions, previously visiting Rob-Con when it was held at the Paramount in downtown Bristol.
In addition to comic book sales, writers and artists also attended Rob-Con. There was also a popular costume contest and panels.
BRISTOL, Tenn. – The streets and parking lots around Viking Hall were packed Saturday, as countless Spider-Man, Batman and Stormtrooper impersonators converged for the 29th annual Rob-Con.
Organizer Robert Pilk, co-owner of Mountain Empire Comics, said there were more vendors, artists and writers than ever before. With additional special guests, Pilk also expected more visitors, who had already filled the building by 10 a.m.
Many first-time comic book fans attended Saturday morning.
Wearing an Amazing Spider-Man shirt, Grundy, Virginia, resident Nathan Vandyke attended with a couple of friends. He brought enough cash to grab a few special copies of the Amazing Spider-Man book that he didn’t already have in his collection.
Vandyke said he often visits Bristol’s comic book stores, where he met Pilk, who persuaded him to attend Rob-Con. He said he was excited to attend.
Another first-timer, vendor Bob Cunningham, came from Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Cunningham has been selling comic books for decades. He said about 35 years ago, he was visiting his local mall, when he stopped at the comic book store.
“It brought back a lot of memories,” he said. “I saw a lot of comics that I had when I was younger.”
The mall visit inspired him to start collecting again. After buying box loads and then room loads, he had enough books to set up at conventions. Now, Cunningham sets up once a month at conventions around the country.
Cunningham said there has been resurgence in comic book popularity in recent years. During the 1990s, he said, comic book sales and interest was minimal. But with several comic-based blockbuster movies in recent years, sales and interest has increased.
Jeff Hale of Piney Flats, Tennessee, attended Rob-Con with his two children, Caleb and Ethan. Hale said he has attended every Rob-Con event since it began.
“Each year it gets bigger and bigger,” he said. “It’s really amazing how much it’s grown over the past 29 years.”
Hale said he became interested in comic books when he was young. While living in a subdivision, he and his friends started collecting.
“Everybody picked their own superhero,” said Hale, who chose Spider-Man. “And we started collecting from there.”
Over the years, Hale has continued trying to collect all of the Amazing Spider-Man comic books, a title that first launched in 1963. He said he still lacks the first seven issues in the 700-issue series.
“Comic books have become so popular in mainstream, with the movies, everyone wants them,” Hale said. “Now, we sell some of our collections and spread it with others.”
Hale’s children have also become comic book fans. Both boys have several of their own books at home.
“They love coming here as much for the toys as the comic books,” Hale said.
Another convention visitor, Andy Bowen of Kingsport, Tennessee, took his 4-year-old son Oliver Bowen, to Rob-Con. Oliver dressed as one of his favorite characters from Power Rangers. He’s also a fan of Friday the 13th and My Little Pony characters.
Andy Bowen said he has been to a couple conventions, previously visiting Rob-Con when it was held at the Paramount in downtown Bristol.
In addition to comic book sales, writers and artists also attended Rob-Con. There was also a popular costume contest and panels.