The Shriner's Collector Fest Was Great Fun!

The show as it kicked off.

I wrote a week ago about how I was excited to attend the Shriners' Collector Fest, which just happened today! I met a variety of new folks, saw some old friends, and had a ton of fun. Let's discuss how it went!

I began the show by trading some stuff I brought for a really cool Punisher comic, you can see it above. I was then lucky enough to run into my friend, author Jessica Mathews. We talked about some new books she had in the works, and I can't wait to read her new series! The always-awesome John Chaffee of Bigfoot Comics had an assortment of wares, too. I made the acquaintance of a group of friends who sell new and vintage video-games--Go Getter Gamez--as well! I met a video-game streamer Minz, who was really friendly and fun to chat with. She can be found on Tiktok, Youtube, Twitch, and more! Here she is at the show:

I continued to enjoy wandering around the show floor, where there was a wide range of cool stuff for sale. Everything from sports cards, to vinyl records, old model kits, and other vintage toys were all on offer. I also saw my old friend and creator, Lorenzo Lizana. We had fun catching up! Here he is:

As I kept exploring, I had fun conversing with various vendors--it was fun to see new folks at this show as well, younger and older, who love collectibles. Creator Brian Atikins was showcasing his superb comic too, and I also saw the awesome individuals behind Heroes for Kids raising funds/awareness. Plus, The Hero Initiative was present as well. I traded some cards with a nice fellow named Mike, whom I told about the best Moon Knight comics to read when I expressed interest in checking the character out. I met William, "Andy," Bove, a gothic horror author, who chatted with me about our love of horror-themed stuff. He was kind enough to pose for a photo as well:

Between the creators/authors, an ample number of vendors, and an energetic crowd, this Shriners' Collector Fest was a great deal of fun! I want to thank the Arab Patrol Unit of the Moolah Shriners for putting on such a great event, and the main event planner, Jason Shell, for allowing me to attend as press. I hope they plan another event in the near future, as I'll be sure to go to it as well!