Comicon. You may have heard about the library’s comicon from radio spots, or from flyers around town, or even at the library. I’m here to make one final pitch for why you should come.
But, you’re saying to yourself, what if I don’t like comics? I have seen that San Diego Comicon (SDCC) monstrosity on the news and it looks terrifying!
Fortunately, comic and entertainment conventions come in all shapes and sizes. There’s everything from the SDCC city-of-nerds to smaller regional shows like Pittsburgh’s annual comic convention which features a variety of booths where attendees can visit with stars (I met Ernie Hudson from Ghostbusters one year!) or purchase art, or other unique prizes to show their pride in the entertainment they love. Probably every t-shirt I own has come to me from a comic, science fiction, or Doctor Who convention.
Why do I go? It usually starts out because I love a thing. A TV show, or a comic, or even a book. Going to an entertainment convention allows me to have more fun with the entertainment I love, and to make friends with similar interests. All of my friends are people I have met and connected with at conventions. I even met my husband over our mutual love of Batman. And there’s a convention for everything out there, if you’re willing to travel. Science fiction and fantasy novels, specific television shows, even My Little Pony and that cartoon show from the 1980s, Jem.
I don’t think that most of us can spend the time or the money that it takes to travel around the country to these events, so our library is bringing one to Liberal. We’re going to be celebrating everything from Superman to science fiction to fantasy, and even a tiny bit of Sherlock Holmes. We’re having Star Wars Story Time for the little ones (complete with tiny foam lightsabers for the young Jedi-in-training) to presentations about making your own fan works, to discussions about BBC Sherlock and Superman.
We have so many other things planned, like gaming and trivia that I can’t even list them all. But there will be something for almost everyone, big and small. There will be quiet spaces, and spaces where you can be as enthusiastic as you want.
And like any good convention, we will have the traditional costume contest, which is open to all ages. Even if you don’t want to be in the contest, come in a costume or fannish t-shirt, just to join in the fun.
Lastly, the advantage we have over the bigger conventions is that everything is free. There is no price for walking in the door, and all of our events, prizes and give-aways require absolutely no money. And our convention takes place on Free Comics Day, so every single person who comes will receive SOMETHING.
I hope to see all of you there. I will be dressed like the Eleventh Doctor, from Doctor Who, and I will be explaining to anyone who will listen how Lex Luthor is really the hero of the Superman story!
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