Comic Expo coming to Middletown

Superheroes and comic book characters will soon come alive at the first-ever Middletown Comic Expo at Miami University in September.

“There is a strong fandom in Middletown for comic books and characters, so it only made sense for us to bring a Comic Expo to town,” said Jeri Lewis, community projects coordinator for the City of Middletown. “We are excited for this first edition of Middletown Comic Expo and to watch it grow for many years to come.”

She said Tony Klapper, a Middletown native, comic book writer and creator, and co-host of FiveStar Fridays and What the Fig podcasts, approached the city last year with the idea of bringing a Comic Expo to Middletown.

“I had an idea, or more like a dream really that having one here in this city would be just so cool because I know there’s a lot of kids here that would love to go and experience a Comic Con,” Klapper said.

Participants can attend workshops with expert panelists, visit vendors, take advantage of photo opportunities with some of the most popular comic book characters like Spiderman, Iron Man and Captain America as well as characters from Star Wars.

“Comic Expo’s are huge in some of the larger cities, and it attracts all kinds of people from many different backgrounds. What I love about the thought of bringing it to Middletown is giving that experience to kids here, locally,” Lewis said.

In addition to Klapper, there will be special guest appearances from Craig Boldman, Darryl Banks, Michael Watson, Ryan Robinson, Victor Dandridge, Adam Fields, David Cain and more.

“I’m the writer and creator of a title called ‘FiveStar’ and I am here from Middletown. I was born and raised here in Middletown. The character FiveStar actually represents two people that are also here from Middletown that I based the character off of, and there are a lot of Middletown references in the book,” Klapper said.

Middletown Comic Expo will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 14 inside Johnston Hall at Miami University Middletown. For more information, including a complete list of artists, vendors, creators and exhibitors, go to middletowncomicexpo.com.


How to go

What: Middletown Comic Expo

When: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 14 (Early entry for VIP ticketholders at 10 a.m.)

Where: Johnston Hall at Miami University Middletown

Cost: Purchase advance tickets online for $10 and $12 at the door the day of the event. Children ages 11 and under are free with a paid adult. (VIP tickets are also available and include extras such as early 10 a.m. entry, a Con Shirt and more. A VIP Silver Ticket is $25, and a VIP Gold Ticket is $50.)

More information: middletowncomicexpo.com.

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