Friday, September 12, 2014

TopCon - Topekas First Comic and Gaming Convention

I have often thought Topeka needed a Comic Con type event here in Topeka. Now it actually is here.  The first ever TopCon will be held September 20, 2014, 9am-9pm.
The Creation of International Award Winning Tattoo Artist, Jim "The GYPSY" George who saw the need for a true Geek Convention to take place in his beloved hometown of Topeka, Kansas.
A press release issued this morning read as follows:
QUINCY STREET Conference & Event CENTER in association with TATMAN PRODUCTIONS is honored to present the first Comic Book and Gaming Convention to ever take place in Topeka, Kansas; TOPCON COMIC & GAME EXPO!

QUINCY STREET Conference & Event CENTER’s Curator of Exhibits and Owner of TATMAN PRODUCTIONS, Jim George AKA; The GYPSY, is the TOPCON COMIC & GAME EXPO Event Creator and Coordinator. The GYPSY puts his thoughts into why Topeka is overdue for an event of this kind. “With the ever increasing popularity of Comics and Games it was time for Topeka to step up to the plate and host an event of this nature. Kansas City has Planet Comicon, Hutchison has Smallville Comic Con and we after all are the Capital City of Kansas and Superman’s Metropolis; Topeka was long overdue.”

TOPCON will play host to numerous Exhibitors including comic book artists, comic book dealers, costumers, game hosts and trinket dealers. TOPCON will have something of interest for most everyone. One of the exhibitors, Charity Delay, owner of “Wantz” on SW 29th in Topeka has stated, “Topeka needs things and this is a thing.”

TOPCON will also host numerous free interactive activities for the public as well; Seminars, Discussions and Demonstrations. Table Talk Games of Topeka will be hosting 4 gaming tables. The Art Fusion Project will have a large canvas available that members of the public can paint on and add their own art to. The Washburn Gaming Club, as well as Steve Jackson Games local representative Bil Thompson, will be demonstrating several games. Special guests will conduct seminars plus many more planned activities.

But the biggest interactive activity of all at TOPCON will be the COSPLAY COMPETITION. Where competitors will have the opportunity to costume themselves as their favorite fictional character from comics, games, television, movies, etc. and compete for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place recognition's.

Special Guests at TOPCON range from local to International celebrities. At the top of the list is THE ENIGMA LIVE and in person at TOPCON. Star of Stage and Screen, The ENIGMA performs his Electric Acid Theater Show Devils Performance, an old fashioned Geeks Freak Show. The ENIGMA is also doing an exclusive appearance the day before the show on September 19, 2014 in The SKIN ART CREATIONS TATTOO EMPORIUM studio. Also appearing will be IBOT; IRON BROTHERS OF TOPEKA who just won Best Of Show in Chicago, Illinois in the Wizard World Comic Con Cosplay Competition. This year’s featured Artist is IAN ANDREW YOUNG who will be displaying and discussing his art of twisted board games.

The First TOPCON COMIC & GAME EXPO has a small admission fee of $5.00 at the door and will be held on SEPTEMBER 20, 2014, from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm at the QUINCY STREET Conference & Event CENTER, 707 SE Quincy Street, Topeka, Kansas. It promises to be an event to remember and plans for TOPCON 2015, a 3 day event, are already in the works.
I'm already excited about next year already and I haven't even been to this years one day event, but a three day event has got to be better then one day.

Accessibility:
The conference center is on the third floor (top floor) of the New Century Credit Union and is accessible via the elevator. 

Location:
Quincy Street Conference & Event Center
707 SE Quincy Street
Suite 300
Topeka, Kansas 66603