Free State Comicon ramps up for next weekend in Lawrence

Over the past six years, the Free State Comicon has become an annual tradition in Lawrence, Kansas. The 2011 show is only a week away on Saturday, September 10th.

Promoter Craig Klotz is expecting a great crowd for the event. “We’re focused on maximizing the value for the attendees’ entertainment dollar,” Klotz said. “The Free State show is an old-school style of comic book convention that’ss designed to be fun for the comic book fan and the non-comic book fan alike. And for a mere $3.00 admission, you won’t find this kind of entertainment anywhere else.”

“We have a greatly expanded guest list, topped with many of the top creators from the state of Kansas, Missouri, and the KC area,” Klotz said. “Creative talent will be oozing from the walls at this show! And all of the guest creators are super-nice and very accessible.”

Klotz says that the array of talent is the largest ever at the show. “We’ve got legendary creators such as Kevin Nowlan, Ande Parks, Steve Lightle, and Terry Beatty. These guys are career comic book artists who have worked on various titles for years and years, and they’ll be sitting next to other established contemporary and beginning creators, many who currently work for the big publishers, or self-publish their own books, or have web-comics. We’ve got every type of comic book creator represented from writer to penciller to inker to colorist and letterer. It’ll be the whole package.”

One of the attractions of comics conventions is the chance to meet artists and commission sketches. “Most will create convention sketch art for low cost, depending on what you ask them for,” Klotz said. “Some may charge as much as $20 – $40 for a sketch, but you will get a one-of-a-kind piece of art, created on the spot, that you’ll be proud to hang on your living room wall.”

Kansas City Comics’ editor Kirk Chritton is also on the guest list.

Some of special guests come from beyond the world of comics creators. We’ve got an honest-to-gosh horror host!” Klotz said. “His character name is Gunther Dedmund and he hosts old-time horror flicks on public-access cable and has his show syndicated on the Monster Channel. We’ve also got the uber-talented girls from the Foxy By Proxy Revue coming to the show. These gals are ultra-nice, and smokin’ hot! I’ve been told that most of them will be in costume, so note to fans: bring cameras and be ready for some memorable photos!”

Klotz is also inviting attendees to come in costume. “Cosplay, as it is now referred to, is becoming huge,” Klotz said, “and we want everyone to know that the Free State Comicon is costume-friendly!

The show will also have the trademark extras typically found at Klotz’ smaller KC Fan Con shows: freebies, including lots of movie and genre swag direct from the film studios; raffles of comics, media, and science fiction merchandise; and incentive short comic boxes that are typically given out to patrons of the show who spend $25 or more with a single dealer. “We may have a few Sketch Boxes as well,” Klotz said, “but you’ll have to come to the show to see them!”

In addition to creators and costumes, comics conventions are about finding new additions for the fan’s collection. The Free State Comicon dealer floor will have 28 booths of comic books, graphic novels, toys, statues, t-shirts, posters, and other merchandise for purchase.

The 2011 Free State Comicon is scheduled for September 10th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. It will be held in Building #21 of the Douglas County Fairgrounds at 2110 Harper Street in Lawrence, Kansas. Admission is $3.00.