HurriCon landed in East Rockaway at the Bethany Congregational Church on Saturday with a comic book show that featured artists, writers, and comic books galore. From 10am to 4pm people packed in, circulating through the hall as they picked up custom pins, collectables, stickers, toys, and comics both new and old.
For a $5 donation attendees were entered into a door prize with comics and collectable plates among the giveaways. There was also a raffle with a number of opportunities to win everything from collectables to omnibus comic books.
Those who missed Free Comic Book Day were able to snag the giveaway comics thanks to Cosmic Comics & Games.
Among the creators at the show on Saturday were Anthony Respect and ChristieBear, illustrators and graphic artists who make apparel, patches, stickers, and pins for sale.
Comic illustrator and writer Kristen Gudsnuk was also on hand, doing live drawing and signing books. Gudsnuk started out creating her webcomic Henchgirl, later published by Scout Comics and Dark Horse Comics. Her latest project is Touched by a Demon, also published by Dark Horse Comics. It’s about a demon named Bifrons who, tired of his evil ways, opens up an earthbound life coaching practice hoping to earn his way into Heaven with his good deeds.
We also met Michael Birch from Symbiotic Comics, a self described dynamic tendril artist with graffiti roots and a comic soul.
All profits from HurriCon, including admissions, raffle sales and vendor fees, go back into supporting Bethany Congregational Church and its local outreach efforts, including food pantry support, thrift programs and community services.
For organizer David Donnahue, HurriCon’s raison d’etre is inclusivity.
“At New York City comic book shows I encountered welcoming fans from all ethnicities and sexual orientations,” he previously said. “That is what we want to create here at HurrriCon, that welcoming atmosphere; you are safe here and you are welcome here. Just as Bethany Congregational Church of East Rockaway is ‘open and affirming,’ so is HurriCon.”
If you missed HurriCon on Saturday, don’t fret! Another HurriCon is landing in December.
Check our list of Long Island pop culture cons for the details on the next HurriCon and all the great gatherings happening all year.
