Comic book artists and vendors from around the world will be in Pullman Saturday for the city’s first major comic convention, Pac Con Palouse, at the SEL Event Center.
The event is spearheaded by Jake Mackessy, 31, and his wife, Beth, owners of Mercenary Art Studio in Moscow, which represents artists from around the world who produce work for role-playing games, comics and storyboards.
Mackessy formed the studio about three years ago while finishing a degree in general studies at the University of Idaho. Since then, he and his wife have traveled the international comics convention circuit to hubs like San Diego and Dubai.
“We wanted to bring a taste of that to the Palouse,” says Mackessy, who has recruited around 50 artists and vendors from around the world to Saturday’s convention.
Other featured artists at Pac Con Palouse include:
Stephen Platt, whose published works include, “Wolverine” and “Moon Knight” and whose recent Hollywood work includes blockbusters like “Iron Man,” “Oblivion,” and “The Day the Earth Stood Still.”
Comic artist Val Mayerik, co-creator of Marvel Comic’s “Howard the Duck” and the controversial early 1980s comic “Void Indigo.”
Tim Seeley, whose work includes “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero,” and “G.I. Joe vs. Transformers,” but is best known as co-creator of “Hack/Slash,” a comic about the one girl who always survives to the end of the slasher movie.
if you go WHAT: Pac Con Palouse WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday WHERE: SEL Event Center, 825 Schweitzer Drive, Pullman COST: $20 general admission, $15 students and military, available at Safari Pearl in Moscow or online at pacific-conventions.com OF NOTE: Comic books from every era will be for sale along with graphic novels, action figures and collectables. Panel topics include kick-starting a graphic novel, makeup specialists and live art demonstrations. Also featured are arcade and card games and a costume contest with a $250 cash prize and gift certificates.
