Oct. 14, 2013
Eleanor Skelton
[email protected]
Comic conventions may strain many college students’ budgets, but the Colorado Springs Comic and Toy Convention offers a local, donation-based alternative.
The mini con will run from Oct. 19-20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Embassy Suites located at I-25 and Woodmen Road.
Clint Randolph, the con’s founder, held the first event in November 2012 and a second one in April 2013.
“I went to San Diego to the comic con up there [two years ago], and I noticed we didn’t have anything like that around here,” Randolph said.
Randolph stated that 1,500 people, 200-300 in full costume, attended the first two conventions and is expecting around 2,000 attendees at this event. Also, 60 vendors are scheduled.
Like the two previous cons, admission is free, but this time Randolph is encouraging monetary donations and pet supplies for the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region.
Attendees who donate are entered to win raffle prizes, such as games and gift cards from vendors and local restaurants.
“Costumes are fully encouraged,” Randolph said, adding that costume prizes will be awarded each day by Lair of Wonders Productions and ihatepeacocks2.com. Game World and More from the Security-Widefield area is also hosting a game contest with prizes both days.
The 501st Legion of the Mountain Garrison, part of a nationwide Star Wars group known for authentic movie replicas, “will be out in full force,” according to the event website.
Tim Henderson, an officer in the Anime Club on campus, plans to attend schedule permitting. When asked what character he would cosplay, Henderson responded in an email, “I normally go as an OC (original character). I’ve recently completed the outfit for my ‘mad geneticist’ Chemu. I might go as him, or one of the current in-production costumes.”
Chemistry alumnae Kat Johnson cosplays as Tank Girl, a punk character from a 1980s British comic book.
Johnson said about the con, “So I don’t really know what to anticipate since I randomly received the flyer from a friend, and just thought it might be really interesting to check out. Having been to the Denver ComicCon, I notice that since [this event is] geared toward younger audiences, I expect there to be lots of extraordinary but affordable art.”