Don't come to Genghis Con dressed as Captain America or Iron Man. The stars of the small-press comic books, graphic novels, art books and zines here are edgier: a nerdy high school-aged Jeffrey Dahmer from Derf Backderf's My Friend Dahmer and a brainless humanoid teenager from Nathan Ward's Fun-O-Planet. "The first few years especially, we were the punk rock, DIY, underground, word-of-mouth grassroots show," says co-founder John Greiner. At this year's Nov. 29 con at the Screw Factory, he expects 80 vendors, including local fixtures such as Gary Dumm beside relative unknowns such as Justin Michael Will. "Independent print media has always been the paradigm," says Greiner, who is also co-creator of The Lake Erie Monster comics. "Seeing these exhibitors year after year is really rewarding." 13000 Athens Ave., Lakewood, genghiscon-cleveland.blogspot.com
Best of Cleveland 2015: Comic Book Convention
Genghis Con gives a a glimpse into the comic world of Northeast Ohio.
