This year comic book fans, cosplayers, roller derby girls, vendors, and droves of parents and their costumed kids gathered for the FallCon Expo, hosted by the Midwest Comic Book Association (MCBA). The annual single-day expo was held at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds Saturday, October 6th. The MCBA has been hosting two events per year, one in the fall, and their two-day event in the spring. This years FallCon has followed the trend of being bigger, and better than the previous year. The Expo featured notable comic book creators and artists from around the country. This May, the MCBA will be hosting their 25th annual SpringCon two-day comic book convention and will draw a huge crowd from all over the Midwest and beyond to revel in geeky-goodness.
Who Was at the Event?
Attendees and participants were primarily associated in some way with geek-culture although some were not. The MCBA has strong ties with charities and non-profit organizations. The event involves staff from local schools, the Lupus Foundation, and a local greyhound dog rescue to name a few. Midwest comic book conventions are evolving into an entirely new kind of beast that consists of more than just comic book collectors. Groups that were formerly on the fringe of geek-culture are making these events more accessible than ever. A local female roller ball team from the North Star Roller Girls has been attending the events the past few years because they openly admit that they are a bunch of big geeks too and love the people that show up to the convention. The roller girl calling herself Okeson made this admission of her geek-status while showing off a Boba Fett tattoo to establish some serious geek-cred. From cosplay to kid-play the audience was very well representative of the melting pot of growing geeky interests.
Humble Beginnings
I had the opportunity to sit down with Brian Wilson and Dominic Postiglione, two of the active organizers of the MCBA to hear their story. The year was 1988 when the discussions of bringing in comic book creators and artists first started in the old twin-cities comic book store, Comic City. Brian Wilson was part of the original group of founders that also included big names in comics like Dan Jurgens ( Death of Superman), Gordon Purcell ( Star Trek, X-Files, Xena), and numerous other industry insiders and fans alike. Dominic says that it was fifteen years ago that he got roped into helping with the event. Like many volunteers, Dominic had strong opinions about things that were wrong with events being hosted. That’s when the leadership at the time asked if he thought he could do better. Dominic laughs about it now and with a satisfied smile he gestures out to the huge space filled with artists, vendors, and fans. He is thrilled to have been involved for so long and had the chance to bond with other comic book enthusiasts, professionals, and volunteers. Dominic commented on the current state of affairs within the MCBA and said:
Dominic regaled stories about all of the (now-famous) artists and creators that started showing up to their event with nothing more than a pile of sketchbooks and a folding table to their events. He said that their philosophy is to create a venue in which they will treat every single creator, regardless of their skill level as a VIP for their event. As it turns out, this philosophy is what has allowed the show to grow as it has in the Midwest.
Julius Schwartz, long time editor of DC Comics had once commented on how serious the Midwest was about their comic books. According to Dominic, Julius had once said that if a comic book went over in the Midwest, it could go over anywhere.
Perspectives From Behind The Expo Table
Salina puts her illustrations on display as a first-time exhibitor.
Photo: Ryan Carlson/GeekDad
I walked around the show floor with my daughter and we would stop and visit with the people behind the table of any booth that she thought was interesting. The illustrators and writers that we spoke with were friendly, attentive, and happy to be there. As a GeekDad I was pleased with the level of respect everybody was showing the kids in attendance. First time convention participants like illustrator Salina Marie Trevino were surprised with how many people were at the event and commented that the staff and volunteers had been incredibly helpful. Her first-ever convention experience was incredibly encouraging and she plans to return in the spring for the two-day event. My daughter loved her illustrations and the patience she showed her when discussing what it was like to be an artist.
Tyler Walpole shows off one of his original paintings that he has on display. Photo: Ryan Carlson/GeekDad
Tyler Walpole is an experienced freelancer that has been repeatedly coming to the show to get his name out and sell some prints while having a good time. Shows like FallCon are not where he expects to get a new big job, it’s the networking events like those held at New Your Comic Con that puts artists in front of the right people. Tyler says that if your an artist trying to break into the industry, find the people you want to work with and go to them. For comics and book publishing he says New York is where it is at. When I asked him why he supports the MCBA events he said:
Christopher Jones interacts with fans at his booth at FallCon. Photo: Ryan Carlson/GeekDad
Christopher Jones, the illustrator behind Young Justice / Justice League Adventures (and more) has been coming for the past fifteen years and only missed two of the annual conventions due to circumstances outside of his control. He started before getting any work in the industry and was still treated professionally and it was both encouraging and appreciated at the time. He loved the fact that every creator was treated well whether you were a big shot name or somebody just starting out. Christopher reflects on his participation over the years and said:
From all of my other conversations with participants, the running theme was very clear. Those participating in events hosted by the MCBA were treated as valued guests and given great respect. And it’s knowledge like this that reinforces my desire to help raise geek generation 2.0.
Getting Ready for 2013 It’s no secret, the MCBA is already gearing up for their 25th anniversary at SpringCon this May 18-19. As one of the most venerable comic book events in the Midwest it’s sure to bring in a lot of fun attractions, knowledgeable vendors, interesting guests, and amazing cosplay. I know that my daughters and I are already planning the trip. As we left FallCon my daughter said:
Events like those put on by organizations like the MCBA are great events for parents to share their geeky passions with their kids. Showing up is the only prerequisite and costumes are optional (although what kid doesn’t want an excuse to dress up in costume?).
