It started 10 years ago as an opportunity for enthusiasts to come together at comic book stores, and it is now one of the larger regional comic book-related events.
Hundreds of people were on hand Saturday morning as the doors to the Black River Coliseum opened for a diverse array of people looking to satisfy their hobbyist needs.
James Hoyer, one of the founders of SEMOcon, said he believes there is such a positive response due to the fact that the convention provides a place for everyone to feel welcome. Especially those who participate in cosplay — dressing as a particular character from comic books, anime, or any pop-culture medium.
“I have been involved in cosplay for several years. I’ve been the Grinch since 2000,” Hoyer explained. “And I think cosplay offers an outlet for some individuals who might have some form of social anxiety — maybe they’re introverted — and this is a chance for them to feel comfortable because they’re surrounded by like-minded individuals.”
Hoyer went on to explain that by 2017 he had gotten together with the two other founders, Chris Pense and Bill Drake, to discuss making a full convention.
“Bill (Drake) had been approached by some people about doing a comic book convention, and he was pretty well known because of his comic shop,” Pense explained. “So, I basically just kind of brought Bill and James (Hoyer) together, and we took it from there.”
In addition to being encouraged by the large number of individuals participating in cosplay, Hoyer said he continues to be encouraged because the number of attendees grows every year.
“There’s something here for everyone,” Hoyer remarked. “We have the cosplay and comic books of course; but we also have video game enthusiasts, old toys and board game enthusiasts. We have local and regional artists of all kinds, as well.”
Hoyer said the vendor spots were filled very quickly, once the convention was announced.
“Our vendor spots filled up almost immediately, and we have a waiting list of vendors as well,” Hoyer noted. “And we also selected 4-H as the charity we want to support this year.”
Hoyer explained the convention selects a different charity each year. This year there was a silent auction taking place during the convention to raise funds for the local 4-H club.
“Everything here is about positive influence and positive reinforcement,” Hoyer stated. “Our goal is to have 2,000 people in attendance this year. Last year we had approximately 1,500 or so. We get bigger every year.”
Both Hoyer and Pense noted the growing drawing power of Semo Con, as this year they were able to feature renowned comic book artist Sam de la Rosa, who is known for illustrating elaborate covers for well-known comic books like “Venom.” Carey Means — also known as the voice of Frylock from the show “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” was also available to sign autographs and answer questions.
The convention ran from Friday through Sunday.