By Olivia DeWan, contributor
The 5th annual Shenandoah Comic Con returned to the Rockingham County Fairgrounds on April 11, drawing crowds to celebrate comics, toys and storytelling.
Founder Mike Federali of Incredible Conventions launched the event to bring a comic show — and the broader comic scene — to the Shenandoah Valley.
“Really, it’s a fun place to be, it’s as simple as that,” Federali said. “When you were a kid, you would hang out with all your friends and watch superhero movies, and this is the same thing. It’s all people who love the same nerdy stuff that you do.”
Federali said that in his hometown, there wasn’t any kind of comic con, and he was willing to put in the work to bring something like life. That effort eventually led to the birth of the Shenandoah Comic Con.
The Comic Con featured a range of attractions, from nearly 100 tables and a vendor marketplace selling comics, toys, and other collectibles to an artist alley showcasing independent artists, writers, and crafters. A cosplay competition was also part of the lineup.
“We try to get special guests every year, and this year we had three comic creators,” Federali said. “We had a little bit of everything, but it mostly leaned in the comic con genre.”
Federali said that Comic Con is centered around the idea of “tribe,” which is a community of like-minded people.
“People want to find someone they can sit and talk to about Spider-Man for hours, or they’re really interested in something and don’t know how to reach those people in person. This is how you find them,” Federali said. “I have personally made life-long friends walking around shows and striking up conversations.”
Federali said the Comic Con is truly a place to be around people who love the same things you do, and, at its core, a hub for community.
“With this show [Shenandoah Comic Con] we just come in and have a blast,” Federali said. “It’s great to see the same people year after year.”
Federali said it’s amazing to watch how the local community brings more people every year. Friends bring friends, which keeps “catching on” until the Comic Con is filled to the brim with people.
“It’s nice to see that someone is spending the afternoon with us because we’re offering a fun time,” Federali said. “We even got invited to come back in September, and I’m super excited to bring this to more people again.”
Federali said that for him, at the end of the day, Comic Con is about bringing joy.
“I love bringing it to different places and people,” Federali said. “A show like this doesn’t make a ton of money, but it makes people very happy. The world isn’t always the happiest place, and it’s nice to be able to give people a bit of an escape.”
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