Boston Comic Con 2013 Preview

The sixth annual 2013 Boston Comic Con will take place on April 20th and 21st at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA. I’ll be in attendance, and I’m quite looking forward to it, as it’s shaping up to be a great time. Two of the biggest names attached to the event are “The Walking Dead” stars Lauren Cohan (who plays Maggie) and Jon Bernthal (who plays Shane). They’ll be meeting fans all weekend and will participate in a Q&A panel on Sunday. With an appeal that extends far beyond comic readers, these two are sure to be big draws all weekend.

Also on Boston Comic Con’s guest list is Jason David Frank. A childhood favorite of mine, Frank has the distinction of appearing in more “Power Rangers” episodes than any other actor. He is most well-known for his portrayal of the original Green Ranger, and he later acted as the White, Red Zero, Red Turbo and Blink Dino Thunder Rangers. Following his Mighty Morphin’ days, Frank has since become an accomplished mixed martial artist. He will do a Q&A on Saturday.

Actors are cool, no doubt, but real comic fans will be interested in the many guest artists and writers scheduled to appear at Boston Comic Con. This year’s guest list includes Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), Mike Mignola (Hellboy), Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash), George Perez (Superman), Carlos Pacheco (X-Men), Mark Bagley (The Amazing Spider-Man), Alex Saviuk (Web of Spider-Man), Paul Ryan (Fantastic Four), Ed McGuinness (Deadpool), Bill Willingham (Fables), Don Rosa (Scrooge McDuck) and many more. Be sure to peruse the full list here.

In addition to the many established guests, Boston Comic Con’s “artist alley” features a ton of up-and-coming artists and companies. Furthermore, there are several events held throughout the weekend, including a costume contest hosted by costume designer/model Yaya Han, portfolio reviews by Marvel Comics editor Lauren Sankovitch, a comic art auction and more. There will also be Magic: the Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh gaming contests, along with various groups and organizations on hand promoting their wares. A film festival will take place on Saturday, and a classic zombie movie marathon will be on Sunday.

Sounds like a great time, right? I hope to see all my fellow New Englanders there. If you happen to spot me, be sure to say hello. And if you can’t make it, check back for my write-up about the event after. For more information about Boston Comic Con, visit the official website.