Those who have ever dreamed of meeting the people behind today’s greatest comic book heroes and video game characters, may find their dreams come true at the Long Beach Comic and Horror Convention.
The Long Beach Comic and Horror Convention (LBCHC) will celebrate its 5th anniversary with a weekend full of special guests, panels and a myriad of exhibitors from the comic book industry.
LBCHC celebrates comic books and popular culture by showcasing works from talented writers, illustrators and artists. It will have exhibitors selling and promoting a variety of products comic book enthusiasts won’t want to miss.
LBCHC is a smaller version of Comic-Con, but it offers abundance in value.
Pierre Bernard, graphic artist from The Conan Show, is doing “Pierre Bernard’s Sexy Cosplay,” an uninstructed drawing event for those with a desire to be creative. LA’s Gallery Girls, the models for the evening, will be dressed in different cosplay-themed costumes to help get the creative juices flowing, according to the LBCHC website.
Cosplay, for those unacquainted with the culture, is a hybrid of the words “costume” and “play.” At pop-culture conventions such as the LBCHC, the majority of attendees dress, and behave like their favorite fantasy or comic book characters. You’ll find several fans dressed as Wonder Woman and Poison Ivy, wearing only body paint, full coats of arms or walking on stilts.
While events like LBCHC are opportunities for fans to express themselves through their attire, they can also have the opportunity to meet the artists and creators that have inspired them.
For talented designers who are serious about breaking into the comic book industry, framed inker and creator of Hack Shack Studios, Art Thibert, will host a portfolio review. College students with a passion and desire to enter the industry can have their ink portfolios viewed at his table throughout the show.
There will be a number of comic book artists and cartoonists making special appearances. Gamers won’t be left in the dark either, since a few designers and sound engineers will be in attendance as well.
Notable guests include John Kricfalusi, the creator of Ren & Stimpy, and Ryan Benjamin, a penciler and cover artist for DC and Marvel comics. Benjamin’s work includes “Ironman” and “Batman Beyond,” to name a few.
More than 100 scheduled exhibitors are expected to attend the event so guests will have a large selection of events to choose from.
Last year, LBCHC opened to a projected 10,000 attendees. The debut of “Long Beach Comic Con Presents: The Marshall Report,” an online talk show was filmed during the event. Exhibitors and sponsors in attendance were Mysterious Galaxy, “Boom! Studios,” Hero Initiative and Raw Entertainment.
Comic legend Stan Lee, former president and chairman at Marvel Comics, was also in attendance. Lee also did the ribbon cutting for the opening. In a video promo hosted on the LBCHC website, Lee said the event’s hosts were “the best and the attendees were nice and very enthusiastic.”
LBCHC is home to a loyal following of comic book enthusiasts in Long Beach. Every year, it expands in size and is becoming a more prominent event. Attendees dress as their favorite super heroes and get a chance to meet the people behind the stories and art they consume daily.
If you missed out on the San Diego Comic-Con or just want to expose yourself to more comic euphoria, don’t miss out on this year’s event at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center on Nov. 23 and 24.