Cincinnati Comic Expo 2010

The first annual Cincinnati Comic Expo happened last Saturday at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Having a comic show in Cincinnati is a blessing for anyone who has been traveling out of town for them over the years. I believe the closest shows were in Columbus, but you had to go to Chicago or further for some events.

For a first show the turnout, in terms of vendors and attendees was really great, so great that the date is already set for next year. They have secured the Duke Energy Center downtown for it, although I think a lot of us were hoping to have it at Union Terminal, but a proper convention center is ok too.

If you missed it, you should make a point to attend next year, as I imagine it will be bigger and better.  The vendors we talked to were really upbeat and impressed with the turnout and I'm sure this success will only make people more enthusiastic for the next year.

Reminder! Cincinnati Comic Expo is Saturday

Hey, just a quick reminder that Saturday is the Cincinnati Comic Expo at the Cintas Center - this is the first year for it, so be sure to attend. Tons of great sessions and speakers, not to mention a growing list of exhibitors and vendors! Our favorite, Clifton Comics will be there as well, so be sure to swing by and say hi.

For the most up-to-date information about the show visit their website: http://www.cincinnaticomicexpo.com/

Cincinnati Comic Expo 2010

We just got back from Comic-Con International 2010 in San Diego and had a total blast. If you weren't lucky enough (or crazy enough) to attend SDCC this year we have some good news for you! The Cincinnati Comic Expo is coming up in September and they've been sending out press releases boasting a pretty impressive list of guests that will be in attendance. Here's a quick rundown:

-Murphy Anderson (too numerous to list, see the press release)
-Michael Uslan (Executive Producer of every Batman movie and comic book historian)
-Allen Bellman (Timely/Marvel artist from the Golden Age)
-Russ Heath (DC artist from the Silver Age)
-Dave Aikins (Nickelodeon Publishing)
-Mark Kidwell (Fangoria, Bump)
-Tony Moore (Walking Dead, Fear Agent)
-Eric Adams (Lackluster World, Reflection)
-Steve Scott (DC, Marvel)
-David Michael Beck (Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image)
-Andy Bennett (Kolchak the Night Stalker / Sherlock Holmes)
-Josh Blair (Candy or Medicine)
-Dustin Carson (No Gods)
-Sean Forney (Scarlet Huntress, Star Wars)
-Daniel Frazier (The Adventures of Nightclaw & Prowler, Old World Comics)
-Joe Gentile (Moonstone Publisher, Sherlock Holmes/Kolchak: Cry of Thunder)
-Todd Goodman (The Powers That Be!, Old World Comics)
-Terry Huddleston (Big Bang Comics)
-Lora Innes (The Dreamer)
-Mike Maydak (1782: The Year of Blood)
-Michael Neno (The Mesh, Freak Cave)
-Jeff Preston (Old School Illustrator)
-Luke Smarto (Fangirl, Pillow Fight)
-Uko Smith (DC Legacy, FX- The Lost Land)
-David Uslan (Graphic.ly)
-Thom Zahler (Love and Capes)
-Moonstone Publishing (Captain Action, Domino Lady)
-Pop Culture Trading Pins
-Blue Line Pro (Art Boards, Paper, and other Supplies)
-Old World Comics Publishing (The Adventures of Nightclaw & Prowler, Atomic Bowler)

This is the first year for this Expo and so far it seems pretty impressive. Definitely mark your calendars for this one and show up to support this event.

Cincinnati Comic Expo

The show will run from 10:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday, September 18, 2010.
Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for students with an ID, and children under 10 are free with a paying adult. Parking is free around the Cintas Center. There will be comics, graphic novels, cards, toys, and a costume contest. The public is invited to check out http://www.cincinnaticomicexpo.com/ for details and updates.


Official Website: http://www.cincinnaticomicexpo.com/


Official Cincinnati Comic Expo Press Release

Comic Con!

For a year now, Dan and I have been saving our pennies so we could afford a trip to our Geek Mecca: Comic Con San Diego. We've been out of commission now as we finished up moving into our home, packed up our suitcases and flew across the country to fulfill a nerdy dream of ours.

You can expect posts much more regularly now. ;) We're back at home, snuggled into our happy apartment, and ready to delve back into our re-adventure. Thank you for sticking around!

Captain Comics

Hm. So.

Captain Comics was one of the first comic book stores I'd ever visited, back in the day. Dan, Bradley and I are always on the hunt for a different comic venue, so we decided to revisit Captain Comics one day when we were out in the Mt. Washington area.


Captain Comics is-- how can I put this?-- not a comfortable store. Yeah yeah, these stores are rarely warm and inviting to your average Joe, but c'mon. We're seasoned comic book store veterans here.

When we first walked in, I thought the door was locked, then stumbled into the store and nearly landed on top of the proprietor's desk. Even at that close proximity, dude hardly acknowledged that we were there.


The comics-- though a huge collection-- are awkward to sort through. There were items of clothing laying on top of open boxes, stacks of unboxed comics laying in a seemingly random order, unmarked boxes that may have been backstock or gawd knows what else, and tons and tons of memorabilia and trade publications that seemed wildly out of order. Besides your very basic lines of comics, if you wanted to find something specific, you'd better bring a divining rod.


When I finally overcame the silence and asked the proprietor to help me locate some Fray comics, he was able to. I'd been hunting for these issues for a while, and it's a miniseries that dates back quite a few years, so I was thrilled and surprised to see that he had them in stock. But otherwise, we were not bowled over with love for this store.

Queen City Comics (the other one)

It's a dream of mine to have more comic book-related posts than food-related posts. Some day!


Check out this glory. Comics upon comics. I can say that Queen City Comics-- both branches, the one in Fairfield and this one in Pleasant Ridge-- have the best selection of comic books that I've seen in Cincinnati.


It's a bit overwhelming, to tell you the truth. I walked out empty-handed, which is rare for someone as geeky and impetuous as I am. But there was too much to take in. And that was only comic books-- while many of the stores we've visited have some additional board games or Warhammer sets, this was 99% comics. They know what they know.

(They have a website now! I swear they didn't before.) Queen City Comics' website: http://www.queencitycomics.com/

Sci-Fi City

I dragged Dan all the way up to Northgate Mall to see if Nord's was still around. (Okay, we were sort of in the area and trying to kill time, but still.) Years ago, Nord's was *the* place to go for your geekery, especially if you were a college student at Miami and Northgate was pretty close. Alas, Nord's is no mor...ds.


But! Fret not! The owner of Nord's has apparently purchased a space two or three times as large, a bit further down the hallway! Enter the majesty which is... SCI-FI CITY.


Comics: they've gotcha covered. I wouldn't say this is your comics mecca, however-- if you need tons of obscure back issues, go elsewhere. But if you need this week's comics, they'll do ya right.


One of the things that sets Sci-Fi City apart from most of your geekery centers is its video game area! Some kids were going to down on Call of Duty (Xbox 360)... what a freakin' awesome setup, eh?


Mm, full setup for your tabletop gaming needs. I've been a little too shy (me?!) to engage with something of this level, but secretly I'm dying to go to a store like this and throw down in Magic or join my brother in Warhammer. Too infrequently do I find myself in need of a full felt-covered table!


And-- I saved this bit for last-- all the board games (and card games, and RPGs, and whatever) you could ask for. Tons of expansions and games I'd not heard of. There were a few items I'd discovered at Boardwalk Hobby Shop that were missing, but I could play Sci-Fi City's games for the rest of my life and never get tired of them.


Uh, here's Dan with Batman. ANYWAY. Sci-Fi City is definitely what I'd call a "hidden jewel" (except to the hardcore of the hardcore, I'm sure). I'm so glad we popped in to the otherwise-destitute Northgate Mall-- if you can make it up there and you're into video games, RPGs, board games, Magic, comics, WHATEVER, I sincerely recommend you make the trek.

I talked to-- mm, maybe not the proprietor, but at least someone higher up in the food chain at Sci-Fi, and he seemed like my kind of guy. Very amiable and passionate about his store. Say hi if you pop up there.

Sci-Fi City Cincinnati website (there are other branches, but not locally): http://www.sci-fi-city.com/cincinnati.htm
Northgate Mall website: http://www.mynorthgatemall.com/