Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Mar 21, 2014 7:04:22 GMT -6
From:
thesouthern.com/entertainment/feature/moving-toward-the-mainstream-cape-comic-con-appeals-to-all/article_4cc18d70-1ffa-5bab-ae28-88627061bfd0.html
CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The San Diego Comic-Con has become a mecca of pop culture through the years, and its continued success has created opportunities for smaller conventions to set up shop in cities from coast to coast.
Most major cities across the country have launched their own comic-con events, bringing in artists, celebrities and more for multi-day affairs, drawing crowds up to the thousands.
But people like Ken Murphy want fans to realize the fun and excitement isn’t limited to big cities. Murphy, who ran a comic book shop in Cape Girardeau for 13 years, first dreamt of planning a convention as part of a 10th anniversary celebration for his shop.
And that’s just what he did in 2006. Having a connection through a customer to Gary Friedrich, co-creator of the “Ghost Rider” series, Murphy built the con around his appearance.
“We had a really successful, really fun first year,” Murphy said, noting the event drew about 400 attendees.
The event has seen continued growth each year, with about 1,100 people attending last year. Murphy hopes to see that number grow to at least 1,200 or 1,300 when the Cape Comic Con returns to the A.C. Brase Arena Building, 410 Kiwanis Drive, from Friday, March 21, to Sunday, March 23.
“I get vendors wanting to come back every year,” Murphy said. “It took a track record of success in this community to make that happen. Now we’re able to get a chance to compete with places like Tulsa, Okla., or Indianapolis.”
Featured guests on this year’s lineup include professional wrestling icon Jim Cornette; “Superman: Earth One” illustrator Shane Davis; artist Michelle Delecki, who inked several of Davis’ covers; Douglas Paszkiewicz, creator independent comic “Arsenic Lullaby;” and Missouri-based artist Brian Koschak, who drew a number of “Star Wars” comics for Dark Horse.
In addition to the featured guests, the convention will also include a variety of vendors, numerous gaming sessions and a cosplay contest, among other activities.
After filling the building with more than 300 people for last year’s cosplay exhibition, this year’s event will feature a red carpet walk and Hollywood feel for participants.
While comic conventions used to be a niche affair, they’re becoming more mainstream, Murphy said. In the wake of movies such as “Avengers” and Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy, the characters and stories once reserved for comic book pages are finding new, wider audiences. Each of those films drew millions of moviegoers and broke box office records.
“They weren’t all comic book fans,” he said. “That is mainstream America that is going and enjoying these shows. And that opens their eyes to events like mine.”
General admission tickets for Cape Comic Con are $5 for one day or $15 for a weekend pass. Other aspects of the convention, like the Jim Cornette Experience and certain gaming events, have additional fees. Full admission price information can be found on the event website, www.cape-con.com.
For Murphy, the most important thing is for the event to be accessible to people in the local community.
“This is my home; I want it to be here,” he said. “One of the best feelings I have is when I get thanked for doing the show. People tend to appreciate it when you bring this kind of event to the area.”
thesouthern.com/entertainment/feature/moving-toward-the-mainstream-cape-comic-con-appeals-to-all/article_4cc18d70-1ffa-5bab-ae28-88627061bfd0.html
CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The San Diego Comic-Con has become a mecca of pop culture through the years, and its continued success has created opportunities for smaller conventions to set up shop in cities from coast to coast.
Most major cities across the country have launched their own comic-con events, bringing in artists, celebrities and more for multi-day affairs, drawing crowds up to the thousands.
But people like Ken Murphy want fans to realize the fun and excitement isn’t limited to big cities. Murphy, who ran a comic book shop in Cape Girardeau for 13 years, first dreamt of planning a convention as part of a 10th anniversary celebration for his shop.
And that’s just what he did in 2006. Having a connection through a customer to Gary Friedrich, co-creator of the “Ghost Rider” series, Murphy built the con around his appearance.
“We had a really successful, really fun first year,” Murphy said, noting the event drew about 400 attendees.
The event has seen continued growth each year, with about 1,100 people attending last year. Murphy hopes to see that number grow to at least 1,200 or 1,300 when the Cape Comic Con returns to the A.C. Brase Arena Building, 410 Kiwanis Drive, from Friday, March 21, to Sunday, March 23.
“I get vendors wanting to come back every year,” Murphy said. “It took a track record of success in this community to make that happen. Now we’re able to get a chance to compete with places like Tulsa, Okla., or Indianapolis.”
Featured guests on this year’s lineup include professional wrestling icon Jim Cornette; “Superman: Earth One” illustrator Shane Davis; artist Michelle Delecki, who inked several of Davis’ covers; Douglas Paszkiewicz, creator independent comic “Arsenic Lullaby;” and Missouri-based artist Brian Koschak, who drew a number of “Star Wars” comics for Dark Horse.
In addition to the featured guests, the convention will also include a variety of vendors, numerous gaming sessions and a cosplay contest, among other activities.
After filling the building with more than 300 people for last year’s cosplay exhibition, this year’s event will feature a red carpet walk and Hollywood feel for participants.
While comic conventions used to be a niche affair, they’re becoming more mainstream, Murphy said. In the wake of movies such as “Avengers” and Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy, the characters and stories once reserved for comic book pages are finding new, wider audiences. Each of those films drew millions of moviegoers and broke box office records.
“They weren’t all comic book fans,” he said. “That is mainstream America that is going and enjoying these shows. And that opens their eyes to events like mine.”
General admission tickets for Cape Comic Con are $5 for one day or $15 for a weekend pass. Other aspects of the convention, like the Jim Cornette Experience and certain gaming events, have additional fees. Full admission price information can be found on the event website, www.cape-con.com.
For Murphy, the most important thing is for the event to be accessible to people in the local community.
“This is my home; I want it to be here,” he said. “One of the best feelings I have is when I get thanked for doing the show. People tend to appreciate it when you bring this kind of event to the area.”