
While hundreds took to the streets of Aggieville on Saturday for Fake Patty’s Day, others gathered in the Kansas State Student Union to enjoy another installment of the Little Apple Comic Expo.
The comic book expo began at 10 a.m. and featured multiple panels with comic book creators, costume competitions and merchandise vendors.
Joshua Smith, co-creator of LACE, said he and his wife started the expo to make a home for comic books in central Kansas.Related:
Fake Patty's Day, as told by the RCPD Twitter account
“My wife and I were very involved in the comic book scene,” Smith said. “We go to all the shows from Planet Comic Con in Kansas City to Smallville [in Hutchinson], but there is nothing here in the middle.”
Smith said he held the expo on the same day as Fake Patty’s Day to provide a more family-oriented alternative.
“This year, we intentionally came on Fake Patty’s Day,” Smith said. “We are trying to run as counter-programming. There’s students, there’s military, there’s families, so I want people dressed up and having a good time.”
Ann Warren, K-State alumna, calligrapher and henna artist, said she has attended the expo since its beginning.
“I have been coming here since the expo opened, and I like these events because they challenge me,” Warren said. “I love to break out of the traditional way of doing things.”
Alex Walker and Kiedis Springer, Manhattan locals, attended the event.
They said they “just really love comic books” and they started attending about two years ago.
Special guests at this comic expo included B. Clay Moore, comic book writer, and comic book artists Megan Levens and Andy Kuhn.
Some of the exhibitors included TOPCON, Red Wagon Comics and Aunt Nancy’s Face Art.