On Feb.22, there was a mini comic convention put on by YC3 (Yellow City Comicbook Convention). This con was held at The Table’s Edge Gaming and Comic store. The comic con lasted from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Yellow City Mini Comic Con helped raise money through donations for the Children’s Miracle Network.
“It’s pretty big for a mini con,” Brett Strobel, a graduate student studying English at WTAMU, said.
This mini con had artists and vendors from all around the region and from all over Texas.
Also present at the con was Amarillo Steampunk. This group will be hosting the first con to be held at an amusement park. That will be on May 31st of this year at Wonderland in Amarillo. The con will include Steampunk artists and groups from all around the country and possibly all around the world. The entry price will be the same as it is to get into Wonderland normally. The con will have a story line and is from 1 p.m. until 10 p.m. At 8:30 p.m., there will be a free concert by Marquis of Vaudeville.
“I’m really tickled with the turnout,” Keith Lathan, a member of Amarillo Steampunk, said.
Also present at the Yellow City Mini Con was Amtgard. They are a live action role-play group and their chapter kingdom is called Barony of Evermore Hollow. They meet every Saturday at Conner Park in Canyon at 3 p.m. Anyone who wishes to join is welcome. Amtgard is a nationwide and international organization.
“This [con] is pretty successful, glad that we could be part of it,” Darren Seymour, a vendor at the mini con for Recycled Entertainment, said.
Yellow City Con is not affiliated with AMA-Con. The Friends of the Amarillo Public Library put on AMA-Con, but they do like to work together. YC3 has a free comic book day on May 3rd and their next mini con is October 25th of this year. These mini cons are in preparation for their big event in 2015 which will be at Sunset Center.
“We are hoping to grow for the next mini con,” Darren Hutchinson, one the members of the YC3, said. He is one of the members who helped organize the mini con.
Also present at the mini comic con were many tabletop gamers. Ed Packineau, a senior secondary education mathematics major, was there to promote his new steampunk game, Tephra.
“I absolutely love it, it’s a great idea,” Packineau said when asked how he liked the mini con.
The group chose to raise donations for the Children’s Miracle Network when a little boy, who is about four, began coming into the store to buy a toy after his chemotherapy treatments. The members of YC3 were hoping to raise a $1,000 to donate to the Children’s Miracle Network.
“I’m pleasantly surprised that we have had such a large turnout,” Heather Hutchinson, another member the YC3, said.
A little after 5 p.m., Steve Cardenas, who played the Red Ranger for the 90s show Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers and appeared in the motion picture adaption, arrived at the Yellow City Mini Comic Con. He signed autographs and took pictures with his fans of all ages. He was there in support of a friend who works with the Guardian Anti-bullying Campaign. Cardenas said that he has 18 conventions lined up so far this year and when he is not meeting fans, he teaches martial arts.
“I love it, I do this six months out of the year,” Cardenas said.
More information about Yellow City Mini Con is available through Facebook at www.facebook.com/yellowcitycon. More information about the Wonderland Steampunk Convention is available at steampunkworldofwonderland.com.
