After two years of uncertainty and disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kansas City’s Planet Comicon will return to Bartle Hall this weekend, with some dedicated Platte County volunteers making sure the planet keeps on spinning.
Billed as the largest pop-culture event in the Midwest, Planet Comicon regularly draws more than 50,000 guests over the course of the weekend. The con, now in its 22nd year, was cancelled in 2020 and the 2021 con was held in August. This year, Planet returns to its usual spring time slot to bring whimsy to downtown Kansas City.
Platte County resident Kris Manthe had never been to a comicon - the common term for a comic book convention – before 2017 when she decided to volunteer. Some of her friends had volunteered and Manthe was intrigued.
“It sounded like a lot of fun and a great way to experience the event from the inside of it all,” she said. “ I’ve had a great time and made many friends in the other volunteers. It’s like a family reunion every year when we get together for the next event.”
This year, the con will be held from Friday, April 22 through Sunday, April 24. Celebrity guests, costume contests, panel discussions and special events vary by day, but the main attraction is the show floor, taking up the bulk of Bartle’s exhibition space.
“I love to volunteer on the main exhibit floor because you get to see so much,” Manthe said. “All the booths with great things for sale, and all the attendees that come in costumes. I get to see the various celebrities that came to the show. It’s a lot to take in but the exhibit floor is the place to see it all.”
Over the years, Planet Comicon has hosted pop-culture icons such as William Shatner, of Star Trek fame, and Stan Lee, Marvel Comics legend. This year, celebrity guests include Adam Savage, of Mythbusters, Ralph Macchio, of The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai, Joey Fatone of NSYNC, and more.
One of Manthe’s favorite experiences from a past con was meeting Wallace Shawn – best known as the wily Sicilian from The Princess Bride – as Shawn wanted to ask her about her experiences as a volunteer.
“He kept talking with me so long that I actually had to tell him that it was wonderful to get to talk to him but that ‘we should probably both get back to work,’” Manthe said. “Without Planet Comicon I never would have had a chance to speak to and shake hands with some of my favorite celebrities. I now have autographs from Mark Sheppard, Wallace Shawn, Samantha Smith, and Flash Gordon himself, Sam Jones.”
She had so much fun volunteering that she roped her husband into the action. While she enjoys working on the main floor, her husband David has worked in the front of the house helping to herd droves of attendees and in the Artist Alley – home to the comic book writers, illustrators and other artists.
This year, that’s where Kris will be as well.
“There are so many talented and interesting people there,” she said.
Featured creators this year include Garth Ennis, famous as writer of The Boys, which inspired the Amazon Prime series of the same name, as well as classic Spider-Man artist John Romita Jr.
Planet Comicon will start Friday, April 22 at Bartle Hall in Kansas City. For more information or tickets, visit planetcomicon.com.