This one wasn’t so mini. About 1,600 people flocked to the Mini Comic Con on Nov. 16 in Lincolnshire, a popular in-person event that returned to the Vernon Area Public Library since the COVID-19 pandemic onset.
The last in-person Mini Comic Con at the library (300 Olde Half Day Road) was in 2019, said Christy Stroud of Buffalo Grove, the library’s communications coordinator.
“We want people to see the library as a central part of the community,” Stroud said. “As our sign when you enter says, ‘All are welcome,’ we hope events like Mini Comic Con will bring people into the library who maybe don’t use it or who haven’t been to the library in a long time.
“As they walk around the building, they not only participate in the fun activities, some of which they can check out, like the STEM kits, but they also get a taste of what the library has to offer beyond books,” Stroud said.
STEM’s educational principles stand for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. STEAM adds the arts component for those preferring to emphasize that model choice.
“It’s exciting,” Stroud said about Saturday’s Mini Comic Con.
The free five-hour Mini Comic Con began at 10 a.m. and included STEM stations, storytimes, a community art project, meet and greets plus photo opportunities with professional cosplay characters, a superhero training academic, challenge games like inflatable bowling, sticker collection sheets for a hunt, a mobile escape room, giveaways, an artist alley with Chicagoland artists and a chance to meet the Tooth Fairy in person who waved a magic wand of an oversized toothbrush.
Superheros can be role models, Stroud said.
“It just gives people hope to see something that they can emulate and just to know that superheroes don’t all look a certain way.
“Everybody can have different superpowers.”
Stroud agreed that larger Comic Cons can be cost prohibitive to many whose budgets cannot accommodate convention center Comic Con entrance fees where parking is also typically a cost. Larger convention halls can be packed with midways of dedicated fans.
“We just want to make it accessible and to give people that experience of going to a big Comic Con but here on a smaller scale to just make it family friendly for activities for all ages,” Stroud added. “People are excited to come in especially if they were younger back in 2019 or not born yet.”
Spider-Man Parker Parfitt, 4, of Gurnee was seen trying many challenges in the company of his parents Joe and Rebecca Parfitt and Parker’s sibling Carson, 3 months.
Attending a Mini Comic Con as a complimentary opportunity is, “pretty nice,” said Joe Parfitt, who indicated being, “a gamer.”
“I play games, yes,” Parfitt confirmed, who mentioned the popular Call of Duty franchise as a preferred gaming industry title.
Jeff and Rebecca James of Long Grove brought children Melody, 5, a kindergartner, and Dahlia, 2, who greeted Bugs Bunny outside of the library entrance. Melody was dressed as Rey from the Star Wars franchise and Dahlia was dressed as Rapunzel.
“We love this library, so any excuse to come back,” Rebecca James said, as a welcome outing. “They’re so excited.
“We love all sorts of fandoms and so we’re excited for them (Dahlia and Melody) to get exposed to all the excitement that comes from all the different fandoms.”
Both Rey and Rapunzel, as character examples for Dahlia and Melody, have empowered the girls, Rebecca James said.
“Rapunzel is such a great princess character, she does so much for herself but she really cares about people around her, I think it’s a really good message,” Rebecca James said.
“And Rey’s a really good one too, so the fact that they (Melody and Dahlia) both latched onto characters that are so easy to teach values with is really nice,” the girls’ mother added.
At the Super Strength Hero Training Academy was Leo Herrmann-Holden, 5, a kindergartner from Lincolnshire, trying out the barbells.
As a Mini Comic Con, “It’s a tremendous activity for kids to participate in and connect with artists and authors of many different genres and to come in and explore the different things and participate as a community,” Leo’s father Mike Holden said.
Sebastian and Natalia Karolkiewicz of Deerfield brought their daughter Nova, 19 months. The family members wore Incredible Hulk green-themed clothing.
Natalia Karolkiewicz said the family is, “just building memories,” with Sebastian Karolkiewicz adding that as parents, they also wanted, “new experiences for the little one.”
The 501st Midwest Garrison offered its Star Wars characters as part of other costumers who offered their talents and volunteerism at the Mini Comic Con. Since 1997, the 501st Legion has spread the Star Wars genre worldwide, according to https://www.501st.com.
Ryan Trottier of Gilberts, a costumer with the 501st Midwest Garrison, said, “It’s about putting smiles on faces.”
Rosie Maxie, 9, a fourth-grader from Vernon Hills and parent Felton Maxie took a photo with the 501st Midwest Garrison Star Wars figures including Darth Vader.
About the Mini Comic Con, “That’s awesome that it’s free, we’ve never been to one but we talked about going to other ones,” Felton Maxie said.
Rosie’s mother Leslie Maxie said to the Vernon Hills Public Library, “Thank you for hosting this, this is great.”
Visit https://www.vapld.info.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
