First announced a year ago, it now is official that the legendary FantaCon will be returning in 2013. FantaCon was first launched in August 1979 in Albany, New York by Kevin and Veronica Cahill and Tom Skulan. It was the first comic convention I ever went to, and the second. Wow Cool exhibited at the 1989 FantaCon with myself, Tom Hart, Sam Henderson and Paul Komoda at the table. Wow Cool and Alternative Comics will be exhibiting at the 2013 FantaCon. Special guests yet to be announced on our end. Of special note in the larger con programing is a very rare appearance by Stephen R. Bissette (his only one in 2013).
The FantaCon comic book, horror and fantasy convention will be held on September 14 & 15, 2013 at the beautiful Marriott Hotel on Wolf Road in Albany, NY. This location is just 5 minutes from the major highway system connecting Albany to NYC, Boston and Montreal (That’s I-87 & I-90, folks) and also just 5 minutes from the Albany airport.
Here’s some history:
FantaCo Enterprises, Inc. was created on August 28, 1978 and FantaCon was conceived just a few months later. FantaCon was envisioned to not be just a single subject convention but a blend of many types of interests. In planning the first FantaCon we envisioned a blend of comic books, horror films and fantasy elements. We wanted to help promote new filmmakers and special effects artists as well as new comic book creators and publishers.
The first FantaCon was held in August 1979 at the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, NY. Things were sure a lot different then! We had to try and contact all guests by phone or by mail. Same thing with the dealers. We actually pasted together the first program magazine by hand. We wrote and performed all our own radio spots. And the tickets for the show were drawn by Raoul Vezina. That show was conceived, organized and executed in just a matter of months! It’s amazing that we were able to do it and have a successful show. And one that continued until the 1990’s.
FantaCon 2013 exists solely because the fans wanted it to happen. It is being organized by the original FantaCo creator and FantaCon organizer from all those years ago. The vision for the show has not changed one bit from the first show in 1979. FantaCon 2013 will feature comic books and comic book artists and creators along with a healthy dose of horror films, horror film personalities and fantasy elements. And perhaps the most important thing of all is that FantaCon 2013 will continue its tradition of giving talented new comers a large audience to display their creations to. After all they are the future of this industry of imagination.
And finally we acknowledge our friends who have passed. Phil Seuling, the inventor of the direct sale comic market, gave us an example of how to run a show and was a mentor and dear friend. Raoul Vezina who created many of the earliest FantaCo and FantaCon graphics was a brilliant cartoonist and had more friends than anyone else we have ever known. And Chas Balun, author, editor and artist contributed mightily to the success of all the later FantaCo endeavors. All three of these talented individuals are missed. FantaCon 2013 is dedicated to Phil, Raoul and Chas.
