Home-grown pop culture convention returns to Springfield

Date: 10/18/2022

SPRINGFIELD – The Bing Comic Con is back with its first show since 2019. The long-running regional pop culture convention will return on Oct. 29 to Ashbury Hall at Trinity Methodist Church on Sumner Avenue.

Although the Bing Arts Center, which was the recipient of revenues raised by the show is gone, the nonprofit organization, Bing Productions, will be supported by this show.

The show’s producer and co-creator, Springfield artist Mark Masztal, told Reminder Publishing, “We are very excited to have Bing Comic Con back this year. After seven successful years, we were sidelined by COVID[-19], but we’ve worked very hard to make this year our best. We have all-new, exciting guests as well as local Springfield artists, writers, creators and crafters. Our pop-culture event focuses on creators of art, writing and crafting and having families come out and having a fantastic time at our very affordable event. With free parking and a $5 admission, you can’t beat that for a great time on a Saturday afternoon. Springfield’s Bing Comic Con, run by local, Springfield citizens.”

The guests of honor include:

Jim Lawson, one of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle artists, also known for his own titles.

Bob Eggleton, award-winning painterå and illustrator known for his depictions of Godzilla and Marianne Plumridge who are a married pair of artists that have been working professionally for over 30 years. Plumridge is a fantasy painter whose work has appeared internationally.
Steve Murphy, the writer of the renowned graphic novel, “Puma Blues,” as well as his work on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Rolling Stone magazine ranked “Puma Blues” as one of the 100 graphic novels a person should read.
Thomas Sniegoski, is a veteran comic book writer, novelist and New York Times best-selling author. He has written in many different genres from horror, science fiction, young adult fiction and mystery. He has worked for all of the big-name comic book companies and is currently writing “Vengeance of Vampirella,” “Pantha” and “Vampirella Strikes” for Dynamite Comics.
Jeannine Acheson, a writer working with Sniegoski, on the new “Vampirella” comic book series She has worked on “Pantha,” “Vampiverse” for Dynamite Comics and along with Sniegoski will be showing off their children’s book preview, “Halloween Head.”
Popular Batman cosplayer Matches Malone will be greeting guest and posing for photos.

Joining these guests will be Jim Taylor, Warren Onufer, Kit Henry, Gary Smith, Matt Szulborski, Michael Valade, Gabriele Sepulveda, David Barsalou, Groundman Comics, John Amenta – The Pint, Aaron Wood, Markellus Ragans/Adam Wallyhawk, Tim Jones, Keith Gleason, Donald Montgomery, Scott Hamilton, Marc Lapierre, Holey Moley Comics, Skot Pierce/Too Sketchy Dudes, TC Ford Obsidian Matador, Phantom Enterprises, LLC, Len Mihalovich, Douglas Arthur, Jay Kennedy, Todd Mulrooney, Leeleechanlee, AmysCakes, Justin Bourgeot Toys, Tanner Ogle, Tom Ryan, Andy Curto, Megan Stivison – Small Monster Games, Mike Doherty, Elizabeth Ayres Ryan, Riverview Sewing Studio, Mea Clark, Casey Coller – Rose Coller and Robber Barons.

Cosplayers are encouraged to attend in costume and there will be a costume contest as well as the popular “Art Fight” in which two artist or writers will be asked to draw a subject suggested by the attendees in 30 seconds.

The show will from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information go the event’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bingcon2014.