Community Responds to Cancellation of Universal FanCon With Pop-Up Event WICOMICON 2018

While attendees are still reeling from the abrupt cancellation of Universal FanCon, local organizers have announced a one-day pop-up convention for the folks stranded in Baltimore. WICOMICON 2018 is a joint effort by The Nerds of Color, Black Heroes Matter, New Release Wednesday, and theblerdgurl, along with André Robinson of Carbon-Fibre Media and Elijah Kelley of the Be A Boss App to provide a venue and event for guests, panelists and attendees of the cancelled FanCon.

The event will take place in a historic building at 1100 Wicomico Street (hence the name) in Baltimore on Saturday, April 28. In a statement from Hard NOC Media and Nerds of Color founder Keith Chow, “We knew there were a lot of people in and out of Baltimore hurting when FanCon was postponed, and we wanted to provide some relief. Fortunately, we were able to come together as a community and find a place to celebrate the things we love in the city we love.”

Amazing what we can do as a community when faced with a challenge. 😊 Honored to be affiliated with a group of partners who pulled this event together in record time. BigUps @MSHINDOKUUMBA who blessed us with the epic art!!! INFO: https://t.co/0MA22r7V4Z pic.twitter.com/T1PHbHYmBs

— Black Heroes Matter® (@BHMatter) April 23, 2018

WICOMICON will feature a selection of exhibitors, panels, cosplay contests, food vendors, and special guests, including cast members from the SYFY series The Magicians and Killjoys. Admission will be $10 ($5 if you already bought a FanCon ticket). Several more events are popping up all over Baltimore in support of WICOMICON, including a karaoke party with the cast of The Magicians, and a pop-up dance party/vendor space called Universal FanCon Redemption Function hosted by local artist and DJ Meagan “Ducky Dynamo” Buster.

“My WICOMICON organizing partners have risen to the occasion and like Peter Parker: ‘with great power comes great responsibility,’” said Patrick Michael Strange, host of The New Release Wednesday Show. “So, like pop culture and the comics that we are fond of, it is in times of tragedy and adversity that real heroes emerge and people come together. This is that time.”

(via The Baltimore Sun, Hard NOC Media, image: Universal FanCon)

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