The Economic Hero’s of RI Comiccon Prov 2013

Todd Giroux

The Convention Center was the place to be for an all ages Super Hero, Sci-Fi event that tripled in  venue size in the second year of RI Comiccon Prov 2013.  All the comic book hero’s were there including the first Batman and Robin played by Adam West and Burt Ward, The Ghostbuters and The Ecto 1 station wagon, The Power Rangers, Buck Rogers and Stars Wars characters were all there to bring to life the experience of Hollywood magic at its best.

I spoke with several event staff including the Providence Event Coordinator Frank Durant working directly with Steven Perry the creator of The RI Comiccon events. Walking through the gates escorted by Frank I  was beyond press pass privilege with doors opened and access to the stars, handshakes, and the inside scoop on the details of RI Commicon 2013.

 Art Imitates Life
In the years since Star Wars was first a story told, then a movie, and now as the future of space life is alive in the collective conscious of generations all around the world we need only look at our communication devices to realize we have touch screens and can play music, watch movies and text/call our friends around the world in a few clicks of a button and in fractions of seconds we are connected.  

These gadgets were fantasy even in 1980 when a cordless phone was only useful 50 feet from the base.. so we dare to dream and marvel at the super devices that super hero’s use fight crime as they show us the future, clearly and example of art imitates life.

The Nostalgia
The RI Comiccon experience is one for all generations. I myself was swept up in memories of my first C3PO and R2D2 figures as I shopped the action figures of my own youth I saw the original toys in authentic packaging and watched the life size characters interact with the crowds and I have to say seeing Buck Rogers aka Gil Gerard I was awestruck as a childhood idol stoically greeted fans signing autographs. Just telling the story I sense the need to just run on and can’t stop for punctuation.  It is truly exciting and captivating.


The 2013 RI Comiccon Venue Expanded
In 2012, the total number of venue attendees was 22,000.  On the first day by 1pm, that number was surpassed.  On Sunday Nov. 3 at 2pm the estimates were at 35,000 in attendance. The sales revenue is driven by entrance fee and mostly smaller ticket items such as toys, souvenir and autographs which is a very affordable and direct benefit to patron and hero alike.

This unique event is affordable. Unlike car shows and boat shows where big ticket items are tire kicker events with few able to purchase and most reminded of what they cannot afford, the RI Comiccon event is win win for all ages equal access to be hero’s  for a day with the hero’s of our dreams.. Equally important is the number of smiles and the long lasting memories of Hero’s that traveled to be with us in our city. It makes everyone feel special.