Memphis Comic Expo lures legends of comic-book and cartoon arts
Memphis is now host to multiple annual conventions devoted to science fiction, fantasy, anime, "cosplay" (costume play) and comic books.
But it's possible that no previous Memphis genre "con" has been as loaded with legends of both the mainstream superhero comic-book industry and the "indie" comic-book scene as the third annual Memphis Comic Expo, set to take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in its new home at the Memphis Cook Convention Center.
The artists-in-residence this weekend may not be household names, but many of them are revered by devotees of what — along with jazz, rock and roll and the Western — is one of America's most significant contributions to international popular culture, the comic book.
The all-star lineup testifies to Memphis Comic Expo founder Donald Juengling's idea that the convention is an event where "Creators Come First" — where the emphasis is on the talents of the graphic artists, writers and others who create comics and cartoons, rather than on the movies, TV shows and other products adapted from their works.
"The giant love affair the media is having with comic book properties, it wouldn't be possible without the people who laid the groundwork," said Juengling, 44.
"We really enjoy the old-fashioned comic-book conventions, so we picked Memphis to come to because we figured we would have a good time," said Las Vegas-based writer-artist Gilbert Hernandez, 59, who will be at the comic expo with his brother and collaborator, Jaime Hernandez.
The Hernandez brothers' most famous creation is "Love and Rockets," which Fantagraphics Books first published in 1982. A milestone of the alternative comics mini-industry and proof that a continuing story with Latin American characters could reach a wide audience, the series — mostly realistic, but with touches of the surreal, magical and uncanny — chronicled the live of friends and lovers in Los Angeles and fictional Palomar, a village in Mexico.
Because of the comics' themes and milieu, the Hernandezes (third brother Mario also contributed to "Love and Rockets") have been lionized by academics and cultural critics as well as by comics fans; as a result, they receive about as many invitations to colleges and scholarly conferences as they do to comic cons. "I actually like both," said Gilbert Hernandez, who plans to bring his wife and daughter to Memphis, so they can visit Graceland and Sun Studio. "At a university, I get to hang out with academics, and we have really great conversations. You get a different type of education at comic book conventions. I don't travel that much, but when I do, I like to go to these all-purpose cons."
Some of the other notable guests at the Memphis Comic Expo will include Marvel and DC superstar artist George Perez, whose credits include "Wonder Woman," "The Avengers," "The New Teen Titans" and the milestone "Crisis on Infinite Earths" miniseries; cartoonist Peter Bagge, famous for his Fantagraphics "Hate" series, one of the best-selling alternative comics of the 1990s; humorous writer-artist Kyle Baker, creator of the "Cowboy Wally" graphic novel; the multi-award-winning Ed Piskor, whose "HIp Hop Family Tree" series documents the history of hip-hop culture; voice actor Greg Cipes, who provides the vocals for Beast Boy on the current Cartoon Network series "Teen Titans Go!" and for Michelangelo on Nickelodeon's ongoing "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"; Mike McFarland, the voice of Master Roshi on "Dragon Ball Z"; writer Peter David, who scripted a 12-year run on "The Incredible Hulk"; and longtime artist Kevin Nowlan, whose Marvel and DC work covers Doctor Strange, Batman and the X-Men, among others. (The expo is nothing if not egalitarian, however: Joining these and other luminaries on the guest roster is a diverse roll call of local comic book artists, cartoonists and celebrity fans, including Jerry Lawler.)
A longtime manager at Memphis Comics & Collectibles at 4730 Poplar, Juengling was inspired to create the expo after traveling to a Little Rock convention specifically to meet one of his idols, artist Berni Wrightson, a horror specialist best known as the co-creator of Swamp Thing. (Wrightson, who has been battling cancer for several years, was booked as a guest for this weekend's convention, but had to cancel due to surgery for a brain tumor.)
Juengling decided to organize a creator-centric convention that would bring respected and influential artists to Memphis. "Believe me, I didn't have any desire to do this myself, but nobody else had done it, and it's something I believe in," he said.
The Memphis Comic Expo started as a one-day event, and for its first two years, it was held at Agricenter International on Walnut Grove. This year's expo is a more traditional convention, with panels, "cosplay," and other events, in addition to great numbers of merchandise tables. But it ends at nightfall, to give out-of-town attendees — fans and artists — a chance to experience Memphis outside the confines of the convention center. Juengling said he expects about 3,000 attendees this year, which would be an increase of about 800 over 2015.
"We're trying to get on the national stage," Juengling said. "We're trying to make something so good that people will travel to Memphis to come to this."
Memphis Comic Expo
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Memphis Cook Convention Center, 255 N. Main.
Admission: $30 for the weekend or $20 per day (adult) and $5 per day (ages 6-12). Kids 5 and younger admitted free.
Visit memphiscomicexpo.com.