Plastic City Comic Con!!!

By: Manuel A. Carmona

   On Saturday July 13th, I attended my first Plastic City Comic Con not knowing exactly what to
​expect other than it was a long way from home. I did know a few things beforehand though.

1. Keith Gleason and his wife Amy (the organizers of this convention) are genuinely good people.
2. Keith, besides being a creator himself; LOOOOVES comic books! 
3. Plastic City is supposed to be an artist/comic book centric show. 
4. They had a great lineup of creators for this show.
5. Table pricing was great!

So what were my thoughts on Plastic City Comic Con? In order to give a proper review I feel I have to judge
every aspect separately. 

Set-Up - From the moment you arrived Amy and Keith were right there to greet you either in the front lobby or the loading area, they were on top of things and with a warmth that is quite rare in these type of events; especially from the organizers. Loved the chill vibe!

GRADE - A+

Artist Alley - Well... there was no "artist alley" per se, creators were seated evenly throughout the convention floor and some on the top level front lobby. The way it was organized they sprinkled mid to low level creators (popularity wise) throughout the floor and the bigger names sat along the wall of the skating rink. I feel they did a great job distributing creators and actually liked the idea much better than having a hundred artists chomping at the bit whenever a "would be client" walked in the "alley".  

GRADE - A

Attendance - Attendance wasn't bad although it could've been better, but the people who actually attended were great and really interested in everything that was going on. I'm sure as more people find out about PCCC throughout the year the bigger it'll get in 2020. This convention will only get bigger and bigger!

GRADE - B

Food - I feel there wasn't enough food variety but hopefully that changes for the next one. Although... they did have a table with Brownies so I there's that. Maybe next year there will be a proper cantina... Star Wars style! ;D

GRADE - B-

Vendors -  There was a variety of vendors selling products ranging from a lady selling Brownies to card games, hand crafted hats, self published comics, action figures; you name it! My only real gripe is the same one I have with every convention that allows it to happen... PRINT JOCKEYS!!! I truly feel that people who set up booths selling thousands of unlicensed prints/posters should be banned from conventions... but it's not my call to make. Other than that it was a a really fun show all around and can only get bigger and better! I already talked to the organizers about Truthful Comics being a part of it next year.  

GRADE - B-

   On a side note, we left Norfolk, Virginia on Friday around 7:00pm, drove all night and arrived at Agawam at 5:30AM. Dropped our boys with my mother-in-law and head straight to Fitchburg, MA. Arrived at around 7:45AM to start setting up our table... If that ain't love for comics and what we do I don't know what is! 

Till' next year PCCC, it's been real​. 

-MC