Raving Toy Maniac

ComiCONN Returns to Connecticut to Let Comic and Sci-fi Fans Soar to New Heights

TRUMBULL, Conn., July 17, 2012 -- With "The Avengers," "Spider-Man" and "The Dark Knight Rises" raking up huge box offices, "The Walking Dead" and "The Big Bang Theory" drawing millions of viewers – the comic book culture is more popular than ever! However, New England fans needn't go to San Diego or New York to celebrate their geekdom – they can be part of the action - right here in Connecticut, when ComiCONN returns for its 3rd annual show August 18th at the Marriott in Trumbull!

Connecticut's coolest celebration of Comics, Collectibles and Cosplay is back! This year's ComicCONN has a great line-up of comic creators scheduled to appear like Peter David; the New York Times bestselling author of numerous Star Trek novels and comics like the Hulk, Joe Kelly; comic book writer and co-creator of Ben 10, artists Jerry Ordway, Billy Tucci, Michael Golden, Chris Giarrusso and many more will be on hand. "This show was created to give comic fans a chance to meet, get sketches and talk to the folks who created the heroes you "marvel" at!" said Mitch Hallock, co-founder and co-president of ComiCONN, "ComiCONN is a great time for fans without traveling for hours and spending a huge amount of money like the big city shows."

ComiCONN has over 140 tables of exhibitors selling comics, original artwork, toys and collectibles. Rub elbows or tentacles with the most creative costume players or "cosplayers" this side of the galaxy - from Jedi Knights and Stormtroopers to Super-heroes and Robots you do not want to miss a chance to get a photo with your favorite heroes or villains! Holy Hot-Rods – there will be TWO Batmobiles on hand PLUS the Green Hornet's - The Black Beauty! Door prizes for cool stuff including Spider-Man posters signed by the Stan Lee! PLUS an exclusive "Avengers" print will be available at the show! Radio station WPLR will be onhand with music and PLR's Wigmaster will be dueling Darth Vader in a lightsaber duel! There is a live concert in the Marriott lounge from Star Wars fan band "High Adventure", the Beardsley Zoo will show kids the animals and creatures that inspired comic heroes and villains like Spider-Man and the Lizard, the Secret Identity/80s Tees trivia contest and giveaways.

ComiCONN's Mitch Hallock added; "Who doesn't love superheroes? From Spider-Man to Batman, Indiana Jones to Luke Skywalker – we have all grown up with these stories. Heck, most of us have never grown up. I remember the first Batman comic my father gave me, and he told me all about the ones he had before my grandmother threw them away when he went off to the Marine Corps. I think that's why I held on to mine, collected them and still love them. It connects me to my childhood, relatives who have passed on and let's me share the great stories with my kids. These characters have taught us values, to do what is right, help those around us and make our communities better – pretty darn cool ideas if you ask me."

Begun in 2009, ComiCONN was the brainchild of lifelong comic and genre fans Erik Yacko, Mitch Hallock, Jay Claus and Joe Stintson. What began as a small gathering of fellow comic fans in the Nutmeg state quickly exploded into a massive fan event. The intimate setting allows fans to speak with the creators of their favorite heroes, dress up as those characters and best of all shop for the objects they need to add to their collections. "Everyone knew there was a great community of comic and sci-fi fans in the state, but we had no outlet to express that. So, we figured why not do it ourselves," Hallock went on to say, "And to borrow from the opening from the Avengers comic book; "There came a day like no other, when fans gathered together to share their fandom in a place that no one comic shop in Connecticut could hold. On that day, ComiCONN was born!" Now the fanboy four are about to unleash the third annual ComiCONN and fans in the area can rejoice!

ComiCONN is from 10:00am to 6:00pm on Saturday, August 18 at the Marriott Hotel on Hawley Lane in Trumbull, CT. Learn more at http://www.comiconn.com and on Twitter @comiconn and Facebook!