Comic Book Mania Convention to feature over 20 artists, writers
The Comic Book Mania Convention will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin. Every visitor will receive a free comic book. Everyone who wears a costume will automatically win a prize!
Visit the Artists Alley featuring more than 20 comic book artists and writers.
Comic books and pop culture merchandise will be for sale.
There will be free face painting for the kids.
Get your photo taken with the Star Wars 501st Legion and The Windy City Ghostbusters.
Special guest Svengoolie has been the premiere horror show icon of Chicago, since multiple Emmy award winner Rich Koz became the hand-picked successor to the original Svengoolie back in the late 1970s. Since then, generations of viewers have become fans of the monstrous mirth and movies that this video vampire dispenses every week over the airwaves!
Note, numbers to get free autographs and photo ops with Svengoolie will be distributed beginning at 11 a.m.
The Comic Book Mania panels will be:
• "Doodle To Dinosaur: Create Dynamic Dinos!" will be 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Grove Room (2nd floor). Artist Justin Castaneda uses the importance of shape in your art to create dinosaurs of different shapes and sizes. Learn how to put your own spin on these Jurassic and Cretaceous creatures. (Grades 2-4)
• "The Solution Squad - Creating a Comic Book" from 11 a.m. to noon in the Elgin Room (second floor). How do you make a comic book come to life? Jim McClain didn't know when he came up with the idea for Solution Squad, but over the past 10 years, he's learned and now he'll share that information with you! How do you find an artist? Serena Guerra came on board completely by chance. Listen to her talk about what you have to do to draw a complete comic. We will talk about all kinds of things, from self-publishing to ISBNs to crowdfunding to software, literally anything you want! For creators of all ages!
• "Manga & Anime Meet-Up" will be noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Grove Room (second floor). Calling all fans of Attack on Titan, One Punch Man, and more! Here is your chance to watch anime, share fan art, and enjoy Japanese snacks while socializing with other fans. Students in grades 6-12 are welcome!
• "Grade Your Comics Like a Pro!" will be 1 to 2 p.m. in the Elgin Room (second floor). Is your comic book in very fine or near mint condition? Is it a 7.5 or a 9.0? Jesse Buck (owner of Modern Age Comics shops in Algonquin and Crystal Lake) will show you the finer points of grading comics.
• "From Doodle to Drawing!" will be 2 to 3 p.m. in the Grove Room (second floor). Chicago area artist and graphic novelist Justin Castaneda introduces new artists to the basics of drawing, focusing on the importance of shapes in drawing: how to break your art down into simple shapes, and how to turn a doodle into a work of art. (Grades 5-8)
• "Cosplay Meet-Up" will be 3 to 4 p.m. in the Elgin Room. Share tips, make new friends and show off your costume at this meetup of cosplayers. Refreshments will be served. (Costume required for entry.) All ages are welcome.
Check out the Super-Hero Trivia Wheel from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Bring the ticket that you will find in your free comic book bag to the Kidspace Youth Center help desk. Answer a trivia question and spin the big prize wheel! You never know what you might win.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Kidspace Creation Station will feature crafts and activities for kids including: create your own Pokemon card; create your own Pokemon mask; and superhero coloring sheets.
Visit www.gailborden.info.