The evolution of a comic book superhero is fascinating to track. Spider-Man, for example, was introduced in 1962 as an ordinary teen — no otherworldly backstory, no alien superpowers. A small spider bite set into motion a fantastical adventure that comic book fans have loved and moviegoers have flocked to ever since.
The organizers of the Cincinnati Comic Expo, aware of that following, are preparing for this weekend’s convention to be the biggest yet. Stan Lee, the creator of such iconic characters as Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four and Iron Man, to name a few, is headlining. The 93-year-old Lee appears all three days of the Expo at the Duke Energy Convention Center — portions of Friday and Sunday and the full day on Saturday. His appearance is important enough that Mayor John Cranley has declared Friday to be “Stan Lee Day.”
This is evidence that the Cincinnati Comic Expo is, like a superhero, changing shape before our eyes. “We’ve grown into a pop culture convention, an entertainment venue where we try to have something for everybody,” says Matt Bredestege, one of the event’s founders.
He joined forces with childhood friend Andrew Satterfield, a longtime comic collector and fan, in 2010 for the area’s first comic expo. That year, more than 1,800 people came to the Cintas Center at Xavier University. It has grown every year since: In 2015, 24,000 people flooded downtown’s convention center, clamoring to meet famous artists, television and movie actors and like-minded fans. So getting Lee seemed like a natural step for this year.
“Getting Stan Lee is a thing any convention wants to do,” Bredestege says. “It’s the epitome of pop culture.”
He cites Lee’s influence on the world of comics and the ripple effect of that accomplishment on movies, television and culture as reasons to lure him to the Cincinnati Comic Expo. But he and Satterfield knew they didn’t previously have the pull to bring Lee to town.
He credits the Expo’s commitment to growth and inclusion with finally snagging the world-renowned artist, along with help from a friend who was able to facilitate a meeting between Bredestege and Lee’s team. There, Bredestege says, he was able to show the Expo’s track record with fans and guests, and Lee agreed to come.
Of course, the Expo wouldn’t exist without its fans or the pop culture it embodies. This means bringing in a wide range of media guests (television and movie stars), artists, writers and more.
Other guests at this year’s event include Dr. Who actor John Barrowman, a “fan favorite” according to Bredestege, and Teddy Sears of Flash. Lee Meriwether, a former Miss America who played Catwoman in the 1966 Batman movie and on episodes of the 1960s television series, will be in attendance to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the film. Billy Dee Williams, the veteran actor who played Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back, will make an appearance, as will Dave Prowse, the British native who originally played (but did not voice) Darth Vader.
There will also be props and vehicles on display, including Batmobiles from 1966 and 1989 as well as a Batcopter.
“As organizers, we know Cincinnati,” Bredestege says. “We realize that people love the nostalgia stuff.”
At the same time, Bredestege says, the organizers have to focus on the current comics franchises, too. David Mazouz of the TV show Gotham, based on DC Comics characters, will make his first Expo appearance, as will Karen Fukuhara of the summer blockbuster film Suicide Squad, also based on characters from DC Comics.
The Expo has positioned itself as familyfriendly, thus planting seeds for fandom in the upcoming generation. That is good not just for the Cincinnati Comic Expo, but for comics as an enduring entertainment form.
“Nowadays, you can get part of the storyline from the movie or TV show,” Bredestege says. “But if you really want to see more of that, you have to read the book. And that’s where the comic books come into play.”
The 2016 CINCINNATI COMIC EXPO takes place Friday through Sunday at downtown’s Duke Energy Convention Center. More info: cincinnaticomicexpo.com.
This article appears in Sep 21-28, 2016.