Con Job, Saturday-Sunday, November 3 and 4

It was Frank Miller’s 1986 four-issue limited series The Dark Knight Returns that helped propel comic books from the bedrooms of children into a full-blown adult pastime. A picture, after all, is worth a thousand words… so why should the medium of visual storytelling be limited to juvenile fantasies?

Miller’s dystopian take on Batman, alongside comic milestones like Elfquest before and The Crow after it, proved comics could challenge readers using complex themes and character development comparable to the best traditional fiction. These days, comic saviors and antiheroes alike have sprung onto the big screen in well-received movie adaptations; this year’s Marvel’s The Avengers grossed $1 billion quicker than any film released before it.

Old Pueblo comic fans, both newly minted and longtime die-hards, will congregate and celebrate Saturday-Sunday, November 3 and 4 at the 5th annual all ages Tucson Comic Con at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. With $10 full weekend admission at the door ($6 for one day, kids 10 and under free), this opportunity to meet artists and peruse exhibits will be affordable as well as entertaining.

The folks from Geeksville AZ, Arizona Ghost Busters, and Arizona Browncoats are among others scheduled to appear at Tucson Comic Con. Most exciting for amateurs seeking to break into the industry, a panel discussion titled “DIY to Image” featuring The Li’l Depressed Boy creators Sina Grace and S. Steven Struble takes place Saturday November 3 from 3 to 4 pm in the Crystal Ballroom of TCC. For more information, visit TucsonComic-Con.com and TucsonAZ.gov/tcc.

Need more? TusCon 39, the self-proclaimed “Best Little SciFi, Fantasy, Horror Con in Arizona” arrives Friday-Sunday, November 9-11 at Hotel Tucson City Center, 475 N. Granada Ave. Between the anime and LAN gaming rooms, dealers galore, an art show and a masquerade, TusCon 39 should satisfy every imagination. Staffed by volunteers and organized by the nonprofit Baja Arizona Science Fiction Association, this is truly a convention by and for the fans.

Lectures like “Moebius Corpus: Math as a Source of Storytelling” and “Comets: New Insights into Visitors That Influenced Our World” are sure the stretch the boundaries of the known. TusCon 39’s guest of honor is best-selling author S.M. Stirling of the Emberverse series. Space at TusCon 39 is limited to 500 attendees; buy your badges at TucsonSciFiCon.com today!

Category: Arts, Community, DOWNTOWN / UNIVERSITY / 4TH AVE