KINGMAN — The fourth King Con Comic Con will be happening this year at the Mohave County Fairgrounds in Kingman over Memorial Day weekend. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 25. Admission is $10 for one day, $15 for both days, and $30 for a VIP ticket, which includes a lanyard and a T-shirt. Kids under 8 are free with an adult ticket.
The “Summer Camp” themed event will feature a scavenger hunt, giveaways on the hour every hour, and a cosplay contest. Around 50 curated vendors will offer a mix of toys, comics, and art. Food trucks will be available all weekend long as well.
This King Con has also attracted a few celebrities as well. Actor Brett Wagner voiced the radio ad for King Con and will be attending the Comic Con. Wagner is best known for playing Leatherface in the 2003 remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and also appeared on the television show Sons of Anarchy.
King Con will also feature WWF and WWE Hall of Fame wrestling icon Greg Valentine (aka “The Hammer”), as well as Ruben Najera, a well-known comic book artist whose work includes Batman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Archie.
Notable local sponsors of the event include Preston Investments, Bailey’s Window Cleaning, and Kingman Dumpsters. The UFO-themed local business Kingman 53 sponsored a spot on Artist Row, as did local artist Kaleb Clemins.
King Con is organized by Mike Esser, owner of Big Mike’s Toy Reunion, located in the old Wells Fargo building on Beale St. downtown. Esser credits the community with making the event possible and highlights those that purchased sponsorships for local artists that might not be able to afford a spot on Artist Row.
“It’s in all this synergy that we really do come together as a community in Kingman,” Esser told his followers online in a video promotion for these sponsors. “This is my place to be. Route 66, baby.”
Esser decided to hold this year’s King Con at the fairgrounds because of the extra space. The convention will also feature several games and competitions that require more room, and interest has grown.
For example, the local art company Savage Graphics will be hosting Flips on 66, its second fingerboard skating competition. Kingman Cornhole League and the local tabletop gaming club Wizard Club will also be holding events over the weekend.
The Mohave County Fairgrounds is located at 2600 Fairgrounds Blvd. in Kingman. For more information about King Con, visit the website at: https://kingmancomiccon.com/
