ROANOKE, Va. – This weekend, pop culture enthusiasts are in for a treat as Big Lick Comic Con makes its much-anticipated return, promising to be bigger and better than ever. Dubbed the “Super Bowl for pop culture fans,” the event is expected to draw a massive crowd.
JD Sutphin, owner and creative director of Big Lick Comic Con, shared his excitement, stating, “I’d say definitely over 15 thousand for sure for this weekend. We’re looking at 30-40 percent ahead of where we were this time last year.”
For vendors like Frank Brevard, owner of Frank’s Cool Stuff, attending the event is a no-brainer. “This is a very large show now, and it draws from all over the region and outside. And I’ve come to the point where I might as well be here because all the fans are going to be here,” Brevard said. “So, my wife says it’s going to be a slow weekend if we stay at the store and not be at the Big Lick Comic Con.”
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Brevard also noted the positive impact on his business, saying, “Folks that come down from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, just to shop here and come to these conventions, so it does help quite a bit.”
The event will feature nearly 300 vendors, including Mandi Chillemi and her family, who traveled from Delaware to participate. While in Roanoke, they’re taking the opportunity to explore the area. “We’ve really gotten to see more since we’ve spent more time here,” Chillemi said. “I’ve never been to the Roanoke Star before coming to the show. One day we set up early, and we were like, oh, let’s go look. But we’ve been to the pinball machine place and the Starcade and all that kind of stuff.”
This year’s lineup is packed with nostalgia, offering fans a chance to meet new faces and beloved characters. JD Sutphin shared his excitement: “So me as a kid from the 80s and early 90s, I have the entire cast of the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles show coming, so all four turtles and April O’Neil, plus guests from Pinky and the Brain, from the Power Rangers, Sergeant Slaughter from WWE, we have the creator of Deadpool.”
Big Lick Comic Con kicks off this Saturday at 11 a.m. and runs through Sunday.
