The nerdiest day on the Sudbury social calendar is coming up June 9.
In its fifth year, Graphic-Con is bigger than ever before, said organizer Pierre Dubuc, the children and youth programmer at the Greater Sudbury Public Library, which puts on the event with help from the community.
“Compared to last year, we have expanded it quite a bit,” he said, adding that there will be more than 100 vendors, exhibitors and artists at the Sudbury Arena, the event's main venue from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Of course, the first question people always ask about fan conventions is what special guests are coming.
Fans of the Power Rangers franchise may recognize the names Jeff Parazzo and Kevin Duhaney, who played the White Ranger and Blue Ranger, respectively. They're the featured guests at Graphic-Con this year.
Toronto writer Ryan North who's the man behind Dinosaur Comics, Machine of Death and Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, is the convention's featured author.
Several cosplay groups have been invited, including the 501st Legion, who dress up as Star Wars stormtroopers, as well as Klingon Assault Group Star Trek cosplayers out of Timmins and Sudbury.
Graphic-Con participants are encouraged to dress up and take part in the Cosplay Contest — the winners will be announced sometime around 5 p.m.
A popular component of the convention, the free-of-charge Kids Con, is moving to Memorial Park this year from its previous location at The Market so it can expand.
Running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., you're invited to take part in a costume parade, make a superhero costume, enjoy superhero inflatables and more.
New this year is the age 19+ after-party, Graphic-Con Fan Jam, which takes place at Science North from 8-11 p.m.
“We're going to have some nerd-style drinks while being entertained by an amazing group called The Cybertronic Spree,” Dubuc said.
The musical group is known for dressing up like Transformers and singing “nerd” music and, unsurprisingly, the soundtrack from the Transformers movies.
“They're very, very popular at cons everywhere that happen in North America,” said Dubuc.
Check out Cybertronic Spree's cover of "True Survivor," the theme song from the cult classic "Kung Fury."
Tickets to Graphic-Con's main event cost $10 except for kids age 12 and under, who get in for free (you still need to get them a free ticket, though). It'll cost you $17.50 to get into Graphic-Con Fan Jam.
Tickets to both events, as well as more information about what's going on at Graphic-Con, are available online at graphiccon.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the door, subject to availability.
