Bing Comic-Con 2016

The Bing Arts Center will present Bing Comic-Con 2016 at Trinity Church’s Asbury Hall at 361 Sumner Avenue in Springfield on Saturday, October 22, from 11 to 5.

Organized primarily by well known local aficionados Mark Masztal and Mike Dobbs, the event will feature dozens of fantastic artist/creators including: Stephen R. Bissette, Artist on Swamp Thing and Tyrant; Bob Eggleton, Award winning book cover painter and illustrator; Stephen Murphy, Writer on TMNT and creator of Umbra; Jim Lawson, Artist on TMNT and creator of Paleo Tales; Casey Coller, Artist on Transformers; and Matt Smith, Creator of Barbarian Lord.

There will be a cosplay parade and contest, a DJ, MC, great food on site by Benson’s Bagels, and plenty of convenient free parking right at Trinity. This will be a positive and enjoyable event for all ages! Admission is only $5. The day will end with a screening of Labyrinth at 7 p.m. at the Bing Arts Center, 716 Sumner Avenue. The screening is $5 but is free to Bing Con attendees with their ticket stubs.

We are encouraging Cosplay at Bing Comic-Con 2016. Bring your friends and support your craft! We are planning on a Cosplay Parade and Stage Appearance with judges for prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place for Best Costumes as well as an honorable mention in two categories: Kids & Adults.

We encourage costumes from all genres and styles ranging from, but not limited to: superheroes,  pop culture icons, comic book characters, tv & movie characters, and everything else representing iconic Geek Culture. Cosplayers are welcome to make their costumes by hand, mix found elements with custom props, use store bought items, apparel, props, facepaint, and everything in between. This is a cosplay contest for everyone and is not centered solely on 100% accuracy and hand-made creations (though they are of course highly encouraged.)

• All Kids participating will receive a prize
• Adult prizes will be determined and handed out for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place as well as honorable mention

Labyrinth is a 1986 American adventure musical fantasy film directed by Jim Henson, executive produced by George Lucas, and based upon conceptual designs by Brian Froud.

The film revolves around 15 year-old Sarah’s (Jennifer Connelly) quest to reach the center of an enormous otherworldly maze to rescue her infant brother Toby, who has been kidnapped by Jareth, the Goblin King (David Bowie).

With the exception of Connelly and Bowie, most of the film’s significant characters are played by puppets produced by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.