credit – Kansas Press Association’s
photo credit : jdhancock
Superheroes, nefarious villains, artists and the megafans who love them will all congregate in Hutchinson June 20-21. Is it a dastardly plot? An epic battle between good and evil? Blazes, no! It’s Kansas’ newest fun and whimsical event: Smallville ComicCon.
A few years ago, three comic book fans noticed the similarities between the City of Hutchinson and Clark Kent’s fictional hometown of Smallville, Kansas. The three launched a grassroots campaign to recognize Hutchinson as the official Smallville. Their efforts caught the attention of long-time Superman fan Jon Robinson, who loaned some of his memorabilia to the effort. The movement eventually garnered the support of the city of Hutchison and the Kansas Hall of Fame, which inducted Superman as the most recognized “Kansan” in pop culture, coinciding with the Man of Steel’s 75th anniversary celebration.
Fast forward two years, and Smallville ComicCon is ramping up for its second year. It brings together celebrities, artists, writers, vendors and fans for two days of celebrating comic book and pop culture. Activities will include interactive panels, comedy music entertainment, replicas, a costume contest and lots great of people watching. This year’s developing guest line-up is announced periodically via Smallville ComicCon’s website, Facebook and Twitter accounts. ComicCon luminaries to appear include:
- Billy Dee Williams, AKA Star Wars’ Lando Calrissian
- Neo Edmund, writer for film, TV, comics and novels
- Lee Meriwether, known for Batman the movie, Star Trek, The Munsters Today, Barnaby Jones and All My Children
- Kelly Hu, X-Men 2’s Yuriko Oyama; also known for Arrow, Scorpion King, Young Justice, Vampire Diaries, Phineas and Ferb, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Manu Intiraymi, Star Trek: Voyager/Renegades’ Icheb; also seen in 5th Passenger, Abstraction and One Tree Hill
- Vernon Wells, seen in Mad Max 2, Power Rangers Time Force, Commando and Weird Science
- Comic legend Mike Grell, writer and artist for DC Comics, known for contributions to the Warlord and Green Arrow characters; has also worked on Aquaman, Batman and The Phantom Stranger
- Plus many other stars of the comic, convention and costuming world.
The second annual Smallville ComicCon will be Saturday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, June 21, 2015, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Kansas State Fairgrounds’ Meadowlark Building. Advance tickets are available online. All other tickets will be available at the venue on the days of the event. Parking is free.
For more event information or interviews, contact Jon Robinson at [email protected] or 620.897.7420.
