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lockportlegend.com life & arts
the Lockport Legend | August 9, 2018 | 17
Superheroes converge at Lockport library for Comicopolis
Laurie Fanelli
Freelance Reporter
In the City of Lockport,
where art and creativity
surpass the greatest of expectations,
only one event
could exceed the enthusiasm
of comic-loving residents:
Comicopolis.
White Oak Library District’s
free comic convention
— in partnership with
the City of Lockport Summer
Art Series, Amazing
Fantasy Books and Comics
and Zombie Army Productions
— took over the Lockport
Branch from 10 a.m.-
4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug.
4. Along with even more
vendors and exhibitors, the
fourth annual event featured
workshops, gaming,
activities for kids, a cosplay
costume contest and much
more.
There were even undead
inspired outdoor games
courtesy of Zombie Army
Productions.
“This is our biggest event
all year,” said Scott Pointon,
White Oak Library District
director. “We’ve had
over 1,000 attendees the
last couple of years and this
year we’re really hoping that
we push that number even
higher. Today, we got to 500
visitors faster than we ever
have.”
Mayor Steve Streit and
his wife Wendy were among
the attendee count as they
stopped by the library to
spend an afternoon full of
animated fun with their family.
“We love supporting the
library,” Wendy Streit said.
“Comicopolis is a wonderful
opportunity for families
and the kids love it. Our own
kids love it. We’re so proud
of our library district.”
Mayor Streit added that
Comicopolis is a perfect
pairing for the Lockport
Lockport resident Lillian Vahl dresses up like Princess Leia
in honor of Comicopolis.
community because it offers
something different right in
Lockport.
“Everybody likes something
that’s unique, and everybody
likes something
that is happening inside their
town,” he said. “Comicopolis
is great.”
Crest Hill resident Aris
Hill, 7, who was joined by
his mother Lady Hill, enjoyed
the selection of comics,
graphic novels and other
books available at the event.
Lockport residents Gregorio Adame (left) and Makaylah Parker show off their face paint
Saturday, Aug. 4, during the White Oak Library District Lockport Branch’s annual Comicopolis
event. Photos by Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media
“I like Marvel books because
I like watching superheroes
fight,” Hill said. “I
mostly like Marvel, but I got
a Batman toy so I’m starting
DC. I want to get a Flash
next.”
One of the many reasons
the library staff loves hosting
Comicopolis every year
is that Comic-Con style
events help to inspire more
people to reach for a book.
“The graphic novel is
such a great medium because
people who are visually
energized and want to
see cool things as well as
read cool things are drawn to
that medium,” Pointon said.
“It really does bring a lot of
folks into the library and into
reading, which is what we’re
all about.”
Entertainment from
Limestone Stage, animal
education from Crosstown
Exotics, bounce houses, giant
Jenga and an exhibitor
tent added to the outdoor
fun while, inside the library,
visitors were able to
attend cosplay workshops,
make-up demos and meet
with variety of artists and
illustrators including special
guests Bill Reinhold,
Linda Lessmann Reinhold,
Jeffrey Moy and Philip
Moy.
2018 was Comicopolis’
biggest year yet and Pointon
hopes it will continue to
grow in popularity.
“I say this half jokingly,
but someday, I think it would
be cool if Comicopolis was
even bigger than Canal
Days,” he said. “If this could
take over downtown and
be a massive pop-culture,
Comic-Con type festival in
Lockport, that would be fantastic.”
More information about
Comicopolis can be found at
www.comicopolis.org.