Sixteen years ago, Martha Donato, Founder and President of MAD Event Management, organized and launched a comic convention in Long Beach, California. Widely praised for its comics-centric atmosphere and accessibility since its debut in October 2009, Long Beach Comic Con returns this Labor Day weekend after a hiatus of a few years under new management. Recently, LBCC founder Martha Donato sold a large portion of the show to Nerd Street owner and operator Ben Penrod, who currently runs Twin Cities Con, Central Florida Comic Con, Alaska ComiCon, and Des Moines Con. According to Donato, MAD Event Management will remain involved with Long Beach Comic Con, but as a minor partner moving forward.
“I’m incredibly proud of everything we’ve accomplished with Long Beach Comic Con over the past sixteen years,” said Donato in a statement. “This event has always been about the fans, the creators, and the unique culture we’ve built together. I’m thrilled to pass the torch to Ben and the Nerd Street team, who share that same passion and vision. I can’t wait to see how they take it to the next level.”
“Taking on Long Beach Comic Con is an incredible honor,” said Penrod in response, assuring LBCC attendees that he will bring a fresh perspective to the show but honor its legacy. “It’s a show I’ve admired for a long time– its energy, its diversity, its commitment to creators and fans alike. We’re grateful to Martha and the MAD Event team for entrusting us with this legacy, and we’re beyond excited to kick things off with this year’s Labor Day show. We’ve got big plans, and we can’t wait to share them with everyone in Long Beach.”
This year, Long Beach Comic Con will take place this weekend, from Saturday, August 30, to Sunday, August 31, at the Long Beach Convention Center. On Saturday, show hours will be from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM PST, and on Sunday, show hours will be from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST. Programming will vary between Saturday and Sunday, allowing attendees to enjoy a diverse selection of panel discussions, screenings, and Q&As with creators and celebrity guests.
On Saturday, for example, a Q&A will take place at 3:30 PM PST on the main stage, hosting voice actors from Helluva Boss and Hazbin Hotel. Members of this Q&A will include Amir Talai (voice of Alastor from Hazbin Hotel), Leslie Rodriquez Kritzer (voice of Rosie from Hazbin Hotel), Georgie Leahy (voice of Stella from Helluva Boss), and Morgana Ignis (voice of Sallie May from Helluva Boss). On Sunday, the main stage will host voice actors R. Bruce Elliot (voice of Whitebeard from One Piece), Daniel Baugh (voice of Jimbei from One Piece), Gabe Kunda (voice of King from One Piece), and Pam Dougherty (voice of Big Mom from One Piece) at 12:30 PM PST for a Q&A. Altogether, attendees can expect up to forty-five celebrity guests this Labor Day weekend. Attendees can also expect up to sixty-nine exhibitors on the showroom floor, including the non-profit Kids Can Cosplay and publisher Prism Comics.
On Saturday, attendees can also anticipate the Cosplay Contest, one of the most celebrated components of Long Beach Comic Con, where over fifty cosplayers of all ages compete in a variety of costume categories. Contestants will showcase their handmade costumes on the runway and be judged by a panel of experts, who will determine the winners of each category based on originality, attention to detail, craftsmanship, creative use of materials, and on-stage performance. According to the official LBCC website, this year’s categories will include Best in Show, Best Fabrication, Best Construction, Best Hero, Best Villain, Best Sci-Fi, Best Anime, Best Group or Couple, Best Kid, and Best Space-Theme.
The Cosplay Contest will take place on Saturday, August 30, at 5:00 PM PST on the main stage. Attendees who are interested in participating have until 3:00 PM PST to apply for entry. All paid admissions are welcome to enter the Cosplay Contest. No store-bought costumes are permitted. To be eligible, costumes presented for the contest must be handmade, and the designer must be prepared to describe the elements of their costume and how it was constructed.
With all this information in mind, are YOU interested in attending Long Beach Comic Con this weekend? Tell us in the comments. Tickets can be bought online via the official LBCC website or at the door.
