Wicked Comic Con Recap

I was at Wicked Comic Con earlier this month. This is still a young convention, only 4 years old, and I think is going through a little bit of growing pains. If you look back at my prior coverage, you can follow its history.

Back in 2022, it seemed like a modest con with a couple of creator draws. But it also was big for vendors with a main ball room comic vendors and the bigger creators, a small artist alley for locals, and a whole hall for non-comic merchandise. In 2023, it seemed to explode with a guest list that might rival bigger, more well known cons. It was big enough I needed two review posts and got two commissions from well known comic artists. I thought it might suddenly rival some of the bigger con shows in the area. Last year, seemed to stay the course with a very large footprint in the venue with an entire massive room for non-comic merch as well as a great creator guest list with both newer and classic creators in attendance. Again, it seemed to be growing ... or at least stabilizing to a very solid, medium sized con. 

So I was a little surprised when I saw this year's con description. Only one day. A smaller, more modest guest list. Free attendance. 

This seemed more like a 'year one dip your toes in the water' strategy rather than a 'year four, we had stars like Jeph Loeb and Adam Hughes in the past' con. When I got to the con, it had also shrunk in physical space, now just occupying the main ball room as well as a nearby hallway. 

I am not complaining. There were a couple of creators there I wanted to meet. I went with friends and had a great time. And I bought comic books, always the best part of shows. And there seemed to be very good traffic there, although now everyone was in one room instead of dispersed. 

I just worry that such a dramatic ...well ... downsizing doesn't bode well. Boston needs a true comic con of its own. And Fan Expo doesn't feel like a true comic con. So I hope this style of production for Wicked Comic Con works out. I hope it is around next year.

On to some details.

I've met him before but it is always great to see Shawn McManus at a con. I have been a fan of McManus' art since the Swamp Thing/Omega Men days. 

He doesn't do con sketches unfortunately. Each time I see him I ask. 

I got him to sign the books above for me and maybe a couple for some buddies.

Mike McKone was another name I was glad to see again. 

I got a commission from him waaaaay back in 2010 so I was just there to get some signatures from him.  He was very friendly and we chatted about his career.

But that was about it for guests for me.

After that, it was all about looking for comics to buy. There were a lot of good deals to be found with plenty of vendors with everything from dollar boxes to high end slabbed books.

As crazy as it sounds I was looking for these 2 random issues of Unexpected because I remember being terrified by the stories in them and have been looking to reread as an adult. I really don't remember them so we'll have to see if they hold up.

I was able to get them for a pretty good price. They are in nice condition too. 

I didn't really fill many gaps in the collection but there were solid bargains to be found. One vendor had a dollar box but you could get 20 for $10. Who can refuse such a deal!

Here are a couple of books I found there, some bronze age horror stuff. That House of Mystery is a hoot with several highly violent tales as well as one starring writers Jack C. Harris and Paul Kupperberg! I also got some random Bronze Age Superman books and a couple of Atlas Comics from the 70s.

I had 11 books I wanted which meant I had 9 basically free. I was able to get the whole Havok/Wolverine Meltdown mini-series and the whole Jonah Hex Riders of the Worms and Such mini to give to a friend.

I'll hope that this con continues to chug along here, filling a void here in Boston. 

If anyone else went, I'd love to hear your thoughts!