Want to go?
WHAT: Gem City Comic Con
WHERE: Dayton Convention Center, 22 E. Fifth St., Dayton
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 2-3
COST: $8 per day, $15 for weekend pass. Kids under 12 are free with paid adult.
INFO: 937-333-4700 or gemcitycomiccon.com
Despite its name, the Gem City Comic Con was never technically held in Dayton.
For the first 10 years, the event was at Wright State University in Fairborn, first in the Student Union and later in the Nutter Center. Now, the annual gathering of comic book enthusiasts has moved downtown to the Dayton Convention Center, 22 E. Fifth St., Dayton, where it will be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 2 and 3.
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"The move needed to be made," organizer Jesse Noble said. "It's a great location logistically because we don't have to cart people around town. We're in walking distance of all the great nightspots and restaurants downtown Dayton has offer. At the Nutter Center, you're by the mall, which is fine too, but there's not as much easily accessible culture for convention guests and attendees out in Fairborn. We decided this was the right time for the Gem City Comic Con to come to the Gem City."
Last year, the convention's 10th, had an attendance of about 5,500 people. A similar turnout could have a major impact on downtown restaurants, bars and shops.
"Last year was our big year and being in the Convention Center is giving us an opportunity to grow a lot bigger," Noble said. "We're hoping we can help bring a lot of people to downtown businesses. It could make a profound difference to the whole quarterly reports of these small places if they triple their business for the weekend."
Featured guest creators this year include Mark Waid, Mike Norton and Ryan Bodenheim. Part of this year's focus is on inkers such as guests Art Thibert, John Beatty and Joe Rubenstein, who ink the work of original pencil artists in preparation for the coloring phase.
"The inker is the unsung hero of the comic book world," Noble said. "A good inker is super important to a book, and this time around we'll spotlight those guys. It's kind of turned into an inker's paradise this year."
The convention runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. It also features comic book vendors, cosplay contests, gaming tournaments and panel discussions.
"The convention has definitely taken on a life of its own," Noble said. "I knew there was an audience for it but I didn't know it would get so big. It was always my hope it would, and we've still got some growing to do, but I'm always flattered and humbled by the turnout we get from the fans in Dayton."
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