I love to experience new things, whatever they may be. My hobby, if you can call it that, is collecting experiences that I can look back at and say, "Yup, I did that." Living in the Adirondack area has afforded me many opportunities to learn and see and do a myriad of things that I can add to my collection. From summiting some of the Adirondack 46ers (hiking all of them is on the to-do list) to whitewater rafting Class 5 rapids to skiing my first black diamond trail, I have been lucky enough to continually add to my collection.

Anyone who lives, works, or plays in the area knows that there is no better place in the world to experience everything the great outdoors has to offer than Upstate New York.

Sometimes, however, we may forget that there is so much more in the area than just the great outdoors. Even I fall victim to that thought process from time-to-time -- until I stumble into a wonderful artists' gallery, mom-and-pop gift shop, or local event that snaps me back to reality and makes me realize that I live in a place that offers so much more.

Imagine my surprise when I saw an event online that would indulge my drive to try new things--a Comic Con right in my own backyard! As soon as I saw the event, I cleared my calendar and prepared for another experience to add to the list.

What is a Comic Con?

A comic convention, commonly called Comic Con, or "Con" for short, started in 1970 in San Diego. Over 45 years later, the Comic Con is the most popular it has ever been and can be seen in many pop culture references.

A Con usually features special guests such as artists, writers, actors, and directors of many popular comics and its derivatives. These guests give lectures or sit on panels that allow fans an insider's view of their past or upcoming work or lets fans get to know the person better. There are also many opportunities to walk home with hard goods, autographed materials, and of course, comic books.

A Comic Con isn't complete, either, without the costume-clad attendees and exhibitors which is known as cosplay. Event attendees can often-times be found in handmade costumes that reflect some of their favorite shows, characters, or even real-life actors.

What is the Malone Comic Con?

The 1^st Annual Malone Comic Con is scheduled for Sunday, January 31^st at Mo's Pub & Grill banquet space, The Adirondack Room. The one-day event starts at 11 a.m. and runs until 6 p.m. and will help benefit the Malone Chamber of Commerce.

The family-friendly event is part of the Malone Winter Carnival and will feature vendors, meet and greets with special guests, at least one prominent cosplay artist, and games and activities.

Vendors

Whether attending a Comic Con or not, vendors are a staple at the majority of conventions. The Malone Comic Con is no different. Medusa Comics and Cards out of Plattsburgh, NY, will be the exclusive dealer and will be selling comics, cards, board games, action figures, and other comic and fantasy related goods. There will also be additional local artists selling their comic-related illustrations, crafts, jewelry, and other handmade items. Other local artists will be on site as well, selling wares that might not follow a comic related theme, but will showcase the wonderful talent that comes from the area.

The best part about convention vendors is the ability to touch, feel, and in many cases, try out an item that you are interested in purchasing. While it's safe to follow a rule of thumb to ask before touching anything, many vendors want you to experience and interact with the products that they carry. Additionally, the vendors generally have a robust knowledge of the product that you are interested in purchasing because they either made it themselves or they share a passion for the goods that they are selling and are happy to have a conversation about it.

And one of the best things about a Con, especially the one in Malone, is that purchases help support local businesses that are in our area--many that you may not even know about!

Meet & Greets

Another integral part of Cons is the ability to have meet and greets with famous and up-and-coming authors, writers, illustrators, and actors that play an integral part in advancing the comic and sci-fi genre.

The Malone Comic Con is proud to host two very local authors, and a third colorist from the Finger Lakes region to the area. Marc Spicer is a Franklin Academy English teacher who has a published book, Saviors Among Us: Situation Critical, that is set in the region. David Monette, from Plattsburgh, is the artist and author of the book The Zombie Axiom. Both authors will be on premise to meet and chat about their books--and you can even purchase one straight from the source!

The final guest, Jon Haeffner, has worked on well-known pop culture webcomics such as "Breaking Bad," "Better Call Saul," and "Into the Badlands" as a colorist. He is also the artist on Nicktoon's "Alien Dawn."

Walk through any check-out line in a grocery store and it's easy to see that people are always interested in the lives of the prominent. Being able to see a renowned person on the street is even better than reading about them in a magazine--imagine being able to actually meet people in their respective fields and have a conversation with them!

Cosplay, Games and Activities

If you have never seen a cosplay artist in action, you are in for a treat. Most prominent cosplay artists don elaborate handmade costumes and stay in character all-day. It's the closest thing you may get to meeting a character from your favorite TV show, movie, or comic instead of just the actor. The Malone Comic Con will feature The Arrow, the television version of Green Arrow from DC Comics.

Event attendees are also encouraged to participate in cosplay. Whether you wear your favorite T-shirt donning characters, purchase a costume, or make your own, part of the fun of a Con is showing off your passion and style. There will even be prizes for best costume for ages 13 and under and also 14 and up. Don't worry though, dressing up isn't necessary and everyone is welcome through the doors!

Part of the Malone Comic Con will be interactive as well. Medusa Comics and Cards will have board game demonstrations such as "Chew," "Lanterns," and more. Con guests have the ability to play and get involved with the game demonstrations. Attendees can also bring their own Magic the Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh cards to play against other in a non-sanctioned, loosely based tournament.

Is Your Calendar Cleared Yet?

While the Malone Comic Con won't hit the attendance of Cons such as the San Diego Comic Con that top 130,000 people, it will be something that the area has never seen before and will be an experience not to forget.

Not everyone collects experiences like I do, but as I write this, I don't see why anyone wouldn't want to head out to The Adirondack Room this Sunday! It's going to be a great family event and a wonderful way to support your local chamber as well as local artists and authors. And... don't forget you can also Shop Small!

And, after you've made your appearance at the Malone Comic Con, you'll be more than ready to attend the Krebashia Kingdom Fantasy Fair, another wonderful Malone experience not to be missed!

Photos from previous Comic Con events provided courtesy of Megan Manson. Are you ready to take your own? Make a weekend of it -- find great lodging and enjoy all the fun Winter Carnival events!