How sweet is to be back at Rhode Island Comic-Con!

Well, the title says it all! On Nov. 5 and 6 I had the chance to reunite with the convention community at one of my favorite events—Rhode Island Comic-Con. I checked out the amazing cosplays, met cool creatives and bought some great merch over the weekend. And of course, many interviews were done.

To start, I met up with Author Coral Isabella Aurora to learn about her new book and the messages about bullying and treating others fairly.

Next, the writers from the comic Starside catch me up on a series I got into two years ago and give a few hints about the story's future.

Cosplayer Stevie Oaks shares his dead-on impersonation of Peter Griffin and what it's been like being at a convention for the first time as one of the guests.

On the convention's second day, I chatted with Wayward Raven founder Mark Frankel about the diverse stories they publish, a special request for submissions, and why in their comics, dead is dead.

Bringing this episode to a close is Khepera Cosplay, who shares how it feels to be back after two years and the various villains she's cosplayed as.

SuperMegaFest: Cosplay, haunted houses, and the danger of typos

Ben and I with the cast of Typo Squad 

In this episode, Ben Chou and I enjoy a day at the great local con, SuperMegaFest. There's some amazing creatives here and we showcase a sampling of them on the show. First up, authors Killarney and Margaret Traynor tells about their Encounter Series, a collection of stories that begin with the phrase “what if?” This includes haunted houses and alien invasions, but more is coming.

Next, Stephen Lomer debuts the short film adaptation of his book series, “Typo Squad.” Stephen talks about the transition from book to film and how the story changed to fit the medium. We also look at the stellar cast of this film and the different qualities they bring to the show.

Cosplay artist Chelsea Von Chastity closes out the day by telling us about the Princess Ariel costume she wore for SuperMegaFest as well as the many other ones she has created over the years. She's been to a number of other cons over the years and shares a few stories about those great times.

Rhode Island Comic-Con, Part 2

In the second installment of our Rhode Island Comic-Con coverage, I speak with cosplayer Zabracus about joining the vast community of convention-goers, some of her more challenging costumes, and being on the East Coast for the first time.

Writer Jenn Dugan and artist Ryan Butt share their comic series “Gnaw” and “Circadia”, stories of rodent apocalypses and love across worlds. We dive deep into the concepts and the work done to bring them to life.

Author Debra Zannelli has some great tales to talk about! Her books, “Dark Night of the Soul” and “Sister World I: The Arrival” offer deep, introspective characters, some amazing alternate histories, and ominous backdrops, and tells us all about them.

Cosplay Dad has been to a number of the conventions in New England, whether it's as Bruce Wayne from Batman Beyond or Mr. Rogers. He tells us about what got him into cosplay, experiences with the RICC, and what he has planned for future costumes.

Rhode Island Comic-Con, Episode 1

In the first episode of Citywide's coverage of Rhode Island Comic-Con, I open the show with Jane Lei, creator of the popular webcomics Pigeon Gazette and Genji Cat. Jane talks about how these comics came to be, where the inspiration comes from, and how she powers through events like the RICC.

Cosplayer Dezcreepcore and I spoke at last fall's Keystone Comic-Con, and this weekend we got to catch up on what she's been up to, new cosplays that she's done, and the work it takes to make it into a career.

Michael Terracciano, the writer behind the Star Power comic series, is another familiar face, whom I spoke to in January. He and I talk about the upcoming volume five of the series, as well as some of the conventions he and artist Garth Graham will be appearing at.

The character of Vortex Man has become something of a staple at conventions in the New England area, with that larger than life green statue and a booth that commands attention. We take a deep dive into the character's history, the series' immense cast, and the goal of encouraging a positive change in people's environmental actions.

It wouldn't be a comic-con without some gaming, and so this episode is closing with Clark Huggins, co-creator of the Reckless Deck card game. In this game, you make the hero—literally. By choosing a combination of characteristics, including weapons, items, and abilities, you craft a unique individual that is brought to life through your story.


 

PAX East, Part 3

Kelsey Choi

Ben Chou's Pax East coverage wraps up with three great interviews. Kelsey Choi—a cosplayer and League of Legends Pro-Am player—opens the podcast with an in-depth look at how the games work and how she became an ambassador. She also talks about the games she grew up on and how it helped her overcome her shyness. She's been cosplaying for years and has been making her own costumes as well, and talks about what she's learned through doing this. 

Angelica Marie as Skull Kid

Angelica Marie is also a cosplayer and talks about her Skull Kid costume from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. She's been cosplaying for six years and takes it back to the beginning to what got her into it and the different costumes she's done. She talks about the good parts of the Pax community and how the people help each other. Angelica also highlights some of the games she's enjoyed at Pax and some of her favorite games. 

Zeen Rachidi is a Pax Enforcer and walks us through his time with Pax East and West. He's definitely a Pax East fan and talks about what has made the event such a success. He shares his origin story on how he became a Pax Enforcer and what the role entails. Though not security for the event, they have a lot to do, including helping with booths, providing information to attendees, and making sure everyone has what they need.


Playlist (In order of airing)
Cat Beach—Get After It

DDK-Margarita Mix

Rhode Island Comic-Con Part 1

Max with Cares O-Lot Cosplay

Welcome to the first episode of Citywide Blackout's podcast series from the Rhode Island Comic-Con. In these interviews Max and Ben talk to the cosplayers, writers, and other creatives that attend this convention to share their art with the public. 

In this episode, Max talks to the cosplay couple Hybrid Brieze (Briezerker and Hybrid Spyder) and learn about some of the duos they've portrayed over the years and some potential future ideas. Later on, Cares O-Lot Cosplay dons her Robin suit and talks about how she got her start in the cosplay world, how she learned to make her costumes, and the wide array of characters she's taken on.

Author Andi O'Connor walks us through the epic fantasy Dragonath Chronicles and other books she's written and talks about her “pantser” style of writing. She's got a new book coming out soon and has an online launch party planned for that.