Comic Con-nections:

While comic conventions are known for extravagant costumes and mint condition issues of classic comic books, some local businesses and artists have come to know the Cape Comic Con for providing a niche market of convention-goers from a variety of areas.

The show attracts over 100 vendors to the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau to form a community for any and all types of fiction fanatics.

In the side halls of the Osage Centre, gaming fans like Gary Newman of KAPOW Arcade and Gaming Center in Jackson can be found helping players test their decks in casual and tournament play of Magic: The Gathering.

"It's a strategy game -- it's a good thinking game. You get to be creative in building decks, you have to think through processes of different phases of the game -- different scenarios of what all could happen. I think it's good for a lot of people to play it."

Newman has organized Magic: The Gathering tournaments for the past three years at Cape Comic Con where trading card game gurus can compete for prizes or exchange cards with other players. Newman said these connections over cards can not only lead to new friendships, but also help form a community of players throughout the area.

Gary Newman stands behind a counter holding Magic: The Gathering cards Thursday at KAPOW Arcade and Gaming Center in Jackson.BEN MATTHEWS

"You get to meet a lot of new people," Newman said. "Most of the people in the games aren't as outgoing or forward, but it gives them a place to come and meet a bunch of other people. And then they start branching out and playing at other stores and meeting more new people."

On the main floor of the convention, vendors like Toy Bomb owner Matthew Rodden can be found selling mint-condition, premium collectors items like Mezco One:12 action figures or Pop! collectibles.

"I get pretty much everything that's on order. Sometimes I get it faster than the Hot Topics and the Targets, which is always fun, because I like beating them," Rodden said. "So we have stuff for every demographic. The higher end collector does like to come in here a lot because there's stuff that they're not going to find anywhere else."

After his first Cape Comic Con last year, Rodden began utilizing the events' marketing abilities and now averages two conventions a month in cities across the country.

"It's good because you can sell a lot of items in a short time frame," Rodden said. "You know, the store might have a couple of sales today. I might have 20 on Friday. But Comic Con, it's like bam, bam, bam -- non-stop. It's always good for business."

Robert Gentry stands with a display of gourmet chocolates at Corner Grocery Store in Cape Girardeau.BEN MATTHEWS

Corner Grocery Store owner Robert Gentry has become known around the convention for his gourmet chocolates and prepares for the weekend by making hundreds of chocolates including his signature bourbon balls, giant chocolate turtles and a dozen types of fudge.

"We know that no matter what, when there's a gathering of people they like to have a little something to nibble on."

Gentry fondly remembers his first year as a vendor at the Osage Center for the weekend-long event.

"I had never attended a Comic Con event before taking my goods there," Gentry said. "I was just overwhelmed. It has been one of the most enjoyable events that I do."

As a child, Gentry read comic books which he said helped him develop his reading skills. Now, the Cape Comic Con provides him with an annual event of entertainment and nostalgia -- all while staying hard at work.

A steampunk-themed decorative hand sits on the desk of Brittany Colbert in her Jackson home studio March 29.KASSI JACKSON

"It's a really good thing for Cape Girardeau. It pulls in a lot of folks from the surrounding areas and brings some commerce into the city, and like I said, the bottom line for me is fun. And I'm able to go out and introduce my candies to a lot of new people. It's a good marketing tool because we'll see thousands of people that we wouldn't see come into the Corner Grocery Store."

Cape Con is not only a place for larger shop vendors, but also allows artists like Brittany Colbers of SteamDragon's Den to sell handmade jewelry and collectibles. Colbert gives "unwanted items a new life" through her mix of antique and modern styled creations.

"Each year I try to challenge myself with something new," Colbert says of her artistic style, reflecting on the craft she adores. "I don't ever want it to become something I don't enjoy doing."

The 13th annual Cape Comic Con begins April 20-22 with the convention floor opening at 4 p.m. Friday.

bmatthews@semissourian.com

Brittany Colbert makes steampunk-themed necklaces in her Jackson home March 29.KASSI JACKSON

(573) 388-3652

kjackson@semissourian.com

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