Due in part to the success of many superhero franchise films, Comic Cons (short for “comic conventions”) are becoming more and more popular every year. This year, the Huntington Library will host its first Comic Con to celebrate the end of this year’s superhero-themed Summer Reading Program! Open to all ages (whether or not you have a library card), the Comic Con will take place Saturday, July 18th from 9am-3pm at the Huntington Library and is free to enter.
Customary to Comic Cons around the country, the library’s will feature an Artist’s Alley, where area comic book artists will set up tables to chat about what it’s like drawing comics and to sell art prints. There will be a sci-fi/fantasy book sale to benefit the Friends of the Library, as well as anime movie screenings, Comic Con Bingo, and a tabletop gaming area.
The Comic Con will also host three panels, open to all ages. At 10am, library staff member and avid cosplayer/make-up artist Courtney Kilander will hold a Special FX Make-up 101 panel, where she’ll demonstrate make up techniques to create a ghoulish monster face, and the best ways to use costuming to enhance your make-up.
At 11:15am, Tony Zishka and Fawn Szymoniak of Sanddriver Studios will lead a Costume Constructions Basics panel. In this panel, Sanddriver Studios will introduce you to the fundamentals of sewing. They’ll cover basic terminology, explore the anatomy of the sewing machine, discuss fabric selection, and offer suggestions for choosing a pattern. No sewing experience required!
And at 12:30pm, local artists Kevin Meinert and Fawn Szymoniak will teach How to Draw! Learn the basics of drawing characters and creatures through live demonstrations. This panel is great for kids or aspiring artists of any age.
And of course, it wouldn’t be a true Comic Con without costumes and cosplay! The library encourages all to come dressed as your favorite character, and you can even enter our Cosplay Costume Contest! There will be displays of cosplay costumes and graphic novels, and Iron Man will be in attendance, in his suit, for photo opportunities!
A full schedule will be available on the library’s website at http://hctpl.info closer to the date of the event, as well as available during the Comic Con.
