Super growth: Comic Con organizer hopes to continue upward trend

Cape Comic Con has outgrown Buckner Brewing Company, a university owned property, a venue at West Park Mall, the Osage Centre, and will now call the Arena Building home for its eighth annual event.

Cape Comic Con organizer Ken Murphy said he hopes to have 1,000 people attend the three-day trade show of professional comic book artists, publishers, games, merchandise, costume competitions and more today through Sunday.

"Our show here in Cape Girardeau, Cape Comic Con, falls into what we hope to be a regional show that draws from four or five or six states, draws a couple thousand people," Murphy said.

The featured guest this year will be WWE Hall of Famer Jerry "The King" Lawler. Murphy said he thinks getting Lawler, who has been in the wrestling business since 1970, was great because he is from Memphis, Tenn., which makes him regional. "An Audience with the King," a meet-and-greet opportunity with Lawler, will take place at 8 p.m. today.

The second featured guest is Joplin, Mo., native Jeremy Haun, a freelance comic book artist that Murphy said is a friend of the show.

Nathan Bonner, author of the webcomic ‘InDavo,’ sketches while at his booth at the Cape Comic Con 2012 at the Osage Center in Cape Girardeau on April 21, 2012. (ADAM VOGLER)

Haun has worked on Detective Comics, "CIVIL WAR: Iron Man/Captain America," "Arkham Reborn" and more.

Other guests include Twisted World, a professional costume company coming from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which will hold a panel on how to make costumes at home.

Murphy said "cosplay" has become a big part of the Comic Con industry.

"Cosplay is a new term that has kind of come into the forefront of shows like mine and larger shows around the country," Murphy said. "Cosplayers are men and women of all ages that like to dress up and create the characters in our shows. We have a stage this year set up where there will be a lot of photo opportunities."

One of the most popular events of the weekend is the costume contest, a show staple. There will be a costume party this year for people ages 18 years and older at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Mary Smith dressed as the Marvel comic book character Mystique for the Cape Comic Con 2012 costume contest at the Osage Center in Cape Girardeau on April 21, 2012. (ADAM VOGLER)

"This year, we have added a Saturday night costume party -- kind of a costume ball if you will," Murphy said. "It will be at the Arena Park 4H Building Saturday night. We're kind of branching out, doing more social events kind of after the show floor ends at 6 o'clock on Saturday."

Another staple of Comic Con are the gaming tournaments. Some of the tournaments available are the Magic Legacy Tournament, Heroclix Tournament and Magic 1K Tournament.

Murphy said he started Comic Con because he wanted to provide an event that was interactive, entertaining and educational, and he believes it has been a success because of the community support.

Murphy owned Cape Girardeau comic and hobby shop Marvels and Legends Comics for 12 years. He wanted to create a show similar to the largest of its kind, Comic Con International in San Diego, but on a regional level.

Southeast Missouri State University student J.C. Reeves said he appreciates the fact that people in Cape Girardeau can attend an event where he has a chance to see other people who are interested in this industry, and pick up a few collectors' items not normally found in stores.

"The cool thing about a comic con is that it isn't usually just comics," Reeves said. "They incorporate video games, TV shows and movies into the mix too. I think the Cape area is good because there are really a lot of people who are into comics, video games and stuff like that who don't really have the time or money to go to the comic con in New York or San Diego."

A “Superboy” comic pokes out of a box at a booth at Cape Comic Con 2012 on April 21, 2012, at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. (ADAM VOGLER)

This year is the second year the event is co-sponsored by Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation.

Murphy said his event has grown into something more than just comics.

"I talk about reality stars, I talk about actors and voice actors and video games, professional video game players," Murphy said. "They lend themselves to shows like mine. Shows have become a whole lot more than just the staple that is comic books."

A full list of events, spotlights on guests, gaming schedule, ticket information and updates are available at cape-con.com and on the Cape Comic Con Facebook Page.

Pertinent address:

Arena Park, Cape Girardeau, MO

1625 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO