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Date: 7/13/2022
SPRINGFIELD – Several comic book staples will be on display at the Springfield Comic Con on July 23. The celebration will take place at the Mass Mutual Center and run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Springfield Comic Con comes after a series of delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Sam Schaefer of Incredible Conventions explained that plans for the comic book gathering were underway before the advent of COVID-19 in 2020.
“We were finalizing plans for events before COVID-19 started and then it happened that March. We had to postpone everything and try to offer refunds to people who wanted them,” said Schaefer in an interview with Reminder Publishing. Incredible Conventions delayed the festival to the summer of 2021 before enacting another delay due to a steady rise in COVID-19 cases.
Despite the delays, Schaefer explained that the Incredible Conventions team remained dedicated in delivering a local comic con experience.
“The owner of Incredible Conventions, Mike Federali wanted to stick with it and make sure the convention happened for Springfield. So, we kept pushing through…It’s been a process, but it’s finally going to happen,” said Schaefer.
Springfield Comic Con features a gamut of comic book talents along with other pop culture artifacts. Special guests range from comic book authors, like former Marvel Comics editor Jim Shooter, Todd Dezago and Jim Salicrup, to a bevy of comic book artists, like Mike Decarlo, Steve Mardo and X-Men artist Larry Stroman. Each talent brings a wealth of experience from their work on famed comic book series like Avengers, Rick and Morty, Archie and Spider-Man.
In addition, the comic book gathering will feature marquee names from the cosplay industry alongside several memorabilia items, like a Gotham Police Department cruiser from Batman or the Pizza Planet truck modeled from the famed “Toy Story” vehicle. Local staples, like the Western MA Ghostbusters and the Western Mass. Pinball Club, will also be in attendance.
Schaefer said that Springfield Comic Con features content for all age groups. She also expressed excitement for Incredible Conventions finally reaching the debut of the comic book celebration in Springfield.
“A lot of these exhibitors have been hanging with us the whole time. Finally getting it to them and the public, it’s great that it’s finally happening,” said Schaefer.
Readers can learn more about the Springfield Comic Con at https://www.springfieldcomiccon.com/.