By VANESSA McCRAY
TRAVERSE CITY -- POW! ZOINK! KA-BOOM!
Local comic book fans will have a blast this weekend. Cherry Capital Con 09 brings comic book writers, artists, publishers, vendors and fans to the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa for two days of mixing, autograph signing, collecting and discussing.
The event promotes comic creators with Michigan ties, said Mike Akerley, convention organizer and owner of the Traverse City store Top Comics. The show starts at 10 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets purchased at the door are $10 per day or $15 for a two-day pass.
"You are going to be able to sit there and talk to a vendor, artist, writer," Akerley said.
The convention includes panels with comic book artists and writers, vendors selling comics, toys, posters and other items and chances to show portfolios to publishers such as Transfuzion Publishing, Top Shelf Productions, Desperado Publishing and Slave Labor Graphics Publishing.
A "really big costume contest" will take place at the end of Saturday, Akerley said. Yes, it's a stereotype of comic conventions, but it's also tradition.
"You are going to see the 'Star Wars' people," he said.
One of the special guests scheduled to appear is Marvel writer Daniel Way of "Wolverine: Origins" and "Deadpool." He grew up in West Branch and has visited Akerley's Traverse City store.
"I really liked the area. I really liked the people, (it's) just a cool vibe," Way said. "Traverse City felt like it was kind of growing on its own, independently."
He wants to introduce new people to comic books. Traverse City seemed like a good place to do that in "a more relaxed atmosphere" than some of the mega-conventions held elsewhere.
"I want comics to kind of break out of the stereotypical 'dorky guys that don't have girlfriends and read comics instead.' It's really not like that," he said.
Movie makers and musicians have gotten into comics, which are unique in their ability to move quickly and cover topical material, said Way. He also wants aspiring comic book writers to know they can make it, even if they live in an area that doesn't have a rich comic culture.
"I came from a town smaller than Traverse City..., and I remember thinking as a kid... nobody ever comes from here," Way said.
Now, he tries to show people that "where you're from has nothing to do with where you're going."
Other scheduled convention guests include artists Jason Howard and Tommy Lee Edwards, who created special art for the event. For more convention information, visit the Web site www.cherrycapitalcon.com.
